Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the first of two chapters this week. I will release the second chapter over the weekend.
Chapter 23
A week later, Lucas hired a carriage to transport him to Viridian City for the Pokemon Breeder's Exam. He had left early to arrive at the Pokemon School with plenty of time before the start time. If he arrived late, he would have to reschedule the exam and would only be reimbursed for half of the fee.
Professor Oak had briefed him on the exam's content. The first component would be a written exam worth 70% of the overall grade, with the remainder being a practical exam. He was particularly confident in the latter, which required him to choose compatible Pokemon from a group. He knew he would ace this part thanks to his Insight skill. The passing criteria for the exam were difficult, requiring a score of more than 90%, which is why so many people failed every time.
Lucas leaned out the window to look at the road behind him. He frowned as he noticed the familiar black carriage that had been seen around town for the past week.
"Is there a problem, sir?" The driver asked.
"It is nothing," Lucas said, taking his seat again.
"Would you like me to find out who they are, partner?" Meowth whispered in his ear.
"It's fine. Leave it alone for the time being."
The carriage belonged to a couple of men in suits who had been following him around town for the past week. They hadn't been particularly discreet either. He had been tempted to approach them and ask what they wanted, but since they were not doing anything particularly egregious, he left them alone. He assumed they were just there to keep an eye on him for whatever reason. Nonetheless, he made certain that he was never placed in a situation where he was isolated, and they could do whatever they wanted with him.
His phone rang just as he was about to enter the city. He answered the phone the moment he saw Sabrina's number. They had not spoken since she left because her phone had gone out of range. He was curious about what she had been up to, but he was not going to pry into her affairs.
"How are things going?"
"I am fine," Sabrina replied. "I received word of Marcus' arrest. The news was so delightful that I almost did an impromptu dance."
"That would have been quite a sight."
"It is my fault you were put in danger. I should have left Salem with you.
"If Marcus decided to hurt me because he couldn't take an insult, that is his problem. You aren't responsible for his actions."
Sabrina made an inarticulate noise, as if unsure whether to agree with him. "I am calling to let you know that I won't be able to return to Pallet Town for quite some time. My uncle has asked me to assist him with something."
Lucas frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be on vacation?"
"It has been pushed back a few weeks. I can't let my uncle down."
He wondered if she felt compelled to help her uncle because of his position as prime minister or because he was family. The man better not take advantage of her, or he will have something to say about it.
She hadn't returned to Pallet Town since leaving, even though she could do so in no time at all. Aside from the Pidgeot Charter Service, in which flying Pokemon transported people to different locations within the region, there was a more expensive and faster way to get around. The teleportation towers were a service that allowed Pokemon who knew how to teleport to instantly transport someone to another tower in the United Kanto Region.
The towers served two purposes. They helped guide the Pokemon to a specific location. While Pokemon could teleport on their own, it was different when they were carrying something or someone. The addition of external elements to the teleportation process disrupted the move's functionality. To address this issue, a tower equipped with a signal beacon directed them to its location, preventing them from becoming disoriented.
The second purpose was to allow the government to regulate teleportation in order to prevent criminals from using it for illegal activities such as smuggling and stealing Pokemon. There were other methods criminals employed, but at least they were making a concerted effort to eliminate the easiest method.
"You have been out of service range," Lucas said. "Will that continue, or will you remain closer to the city?"
"I will be working within the city. Why?"
"Because I will be going there in a few days to visit the Alchemists Guild after I get my breeder's licence and finish up some loose ends."
Is it already time for you to take the exam? I hope everything goes well for you."
"Thank you," Lucas replied before something occurred to him. "By the way, for the past week, I have had a couple of stooges in suits following me around. You wouldn't know anything about it, would you?"
There was a pause at the other end of the line. "Can you describe their appearance?"
"Wait a moment; I will take a photo and send it to you," Lucas said. He leaned out the window once more, taking a photo of both the carriage and one of the men driving it.
He sent her the picture and then heard her softly curse a moment later.
Lucas smiled. "I'm guessing you recognise them."
"The men are part of the security detail that protects the Prime Minister and his family," Sabrina explained. "I recognise their carriage. My uncle seems to be interested in you because we have spent time together."
"That isn't nearly as bad as I had imagined. But having them following me around is inconvenient. I value my privacy."
"I will speak with my uncle and persuade him to stop spying on you," Sabrina promised.
"I understand why he is acting in that manner given his position, but he should also respect your privacy."
"Unfortunately, given my history, he has reason to be cautious," Sabrina said. Following that cryptic remark, she quickly changed the subject. "What day are you planning to visit Saffron City?"
"Do you miss me as much as I miss you?" Lucas asked. "It will most likely be the weekend."
"I will show you around the city once you arrive. But don't you have to work?"
"I have already submitted my resignation. After passing the exam today, I will not be returning to the lab. I don't require the funds, and I want to focus on my breeding career."
"You sound confident. Alright. I will see you soon."
Lucas ended the call. The carriage entered the city and proceeded down the main street.
The driver turned in his seat. "Sir, where would you like to be dropped off?"
"The Pokemon School."
Ten minutes later, Lucas and Meowth got out of the carriage. He checked his watch and discovered that he still had some time before his exam began. Others had congregated on the front lawn for the same reason as him. The school was closed today, and only exam participants were allowed in.
He summoned his Pokémon so that they could get some fresh air. Saphira wasted no time climbing up the bench, where she rested her head on his lap. He affectionately scratched behind one of her fins, and she trilled in contentment.
Some people pointed to him and whispered amongst themselves. Saphira and Icarus received the majority of the attention. The former is due to her rarity, while the latter is due to his size.
"Kid!" Max stood in front of Lucas, tugging at his trousers.
Max pointed to Icarus, who was strutting around, soaking up the attention of the onlookers. Icarus enjoyed being the centre of attention, a trait he developed after fighting in the arena.
"Let me guess. You want to be as big as Icarus."
He didn't need Meowth to translate because he was well aware of Max's desire. For some reason, he disliked being shorter than his teammates, which had become obvious since Icarus evolved.
"You need to level up some more before you can evolve," Lucas told Max. "It should be another week before I finish my business, after which we can focus solely on training. I have already prepared a growth potion for you; you will grow much bigger in no time."
Max nodded and set off to explore his surroundings. He was just over two feet tall, which was about the maximum height for his species before evolution. Even without a growth potion, his final evolution, Electivire, would stand taller than five feet. But he didn't think Max would be content with that.
The assessors arrived, and Lucas was led to a classroom where the written exam would be held. He had four hours to answer fifty questions. It might seem like a lot of time, but none of the questions were multiple-choice, and had to answer them in his own words.
Three and a half hours later, Lucas put his pen down and stretched. He was confident that he had answered every question to the best of his ability. Looking around, he noticed that everyone else was still focused on answering the questions. He spent the remaining time going over his paper to make sure he didn't make any mistakes.
The practical part of the exam came next. Lucas was led to the back of the building, where dozens of Pokemon had been brought in specifically for the test. Each person had to observe the Pokemon's interactions to determine which were potentially compatible. This would be a difficult task because none of the Pokemon had met before today, so their interactions would be completely new.
Although those who were compatible would eventually gravitate towards one another, it was difficult to see at first. It was more subtle, so people had to carefully observe them to find those nuances, and they only had a short time to give their answers. Lucas had no trouble with this and quickly paired up three different Pokemon that were compatible. This was more than enough to get him full marks on the practical exam.
Lucas left the school around lunchtime, confident that he had done enough to pass the exam. He planned to spend the night in the city because he would receive the test results the next day. After his exam results were known, the process for receiving his licence would be quick, allowing him to take care of it right away. He booked a hotel room and then ordered room service for dinner.
He was getting settled in for the evening when he received a phone call.
"This is Officer Jenny from the Viridian City police station."
"Good evening, Officer Jenny. Is there something wrong?"
"I need you to come into the station to see if you can identify someone connected to the incident at Professor Oak's house a few weeks ago. When is a good time for you?"
"I'm actually in the city at the moment and will be staying overnight. How about tomorrow morning?"
"Perfect. I will see you then."
Lucas hung up the phone, wondering what was going on. He didn't know what help he could give to the police, as he didn't know anyone from Team Rocket besides Jessie, James, and Giovanni.
He took a notebook from his inventory so he could organise his thoughts. He was confident that he would pass his exam, so he could make plans based on the assumption that he would receive his breeder's licence. Now that he was financially secure, he was ready to make more concrete plans.
Before proceeding, he opened his menu to review the progress he had made in the previous week.
In addition to studying, he had been working tirelessly to create the growth potion. He went through a lot of ingredients, but he finished the potion two days ago. It was the primary reason he wanted to visit Saffron City. He had the idea to auction the potion off at one of the auction houses there, and he also needed to register with the alchemist's guild.
Lucas also used his days off from work to continue exploring the Viridian Forest and gaining experience. He didn't need to be so cautious now that he had three strong Pokemon and some methods of protecting himself. He explored a section of the forest populated by Pokemon ranging in level from twenty to twenty-five and battled every wild Pokemon he came across.
It took some getting used to using Saphira in battle, but she was smart and learned quickly. Her abilities were impressive, and she significantly improved the rate at which he was defeating Pokemon. It was important to level her up because she would be the main offence when he returned to the mine to deal with the rock-type Pokemon.
Max had also participated in the battles in the mines. He purchased a new TM for Max, which was ironically called Rock Smash. Max's fighting-type affinity hadn't advanced much since they hadn't been to the Fighting Dojo in a while, but he had enough to learn the move. It would be effective against rock-type Pokemon, and he would serve as a backup for Saphira.
Even though he hadn't yet used Meowth in battle, he had persuaded the Pokemon to train at least. His stats were maxed out for his current level, and his affinities had significantly improved.
Lucas had also made good progress. His Pokemon Breeder profession advanced to level four. He suspected he was gaining passive experience by bonding with his Pokemon Egg, based on how long it took him to level up. Although he was gradually gaining experience by working in the lab, he suspected it was already slowing down.
He accumulated nearly two levels' worth of experience points. He had been hoping for a new function once he reached level twenty-five. However, it turned out to be different from his expectations. Instead of learning a new function, the number of skill points he received at each level was doubled. This was a welcome addition because he was learning too many skills and didn't have enough points to go around.
Lucas wrote a sentence in his notebook.
Find a rental property in the city.
Although he appreciated Delia's generosity, Pallet Town was too small for him to stay indefinitely. He could visit them whenever he wanted. The Ketchums had become like his family since he arrived in this world, so he wasn't going to cut them out of his life. He needed to keep his promise to Ash as well.
He decided to set up shop in Viridian City because it was close to the mines. In the future, the mines would be one of his primary revenue sources. If he wanted to open his own store in the future, he needed to earn a lot of pokedollars.
But he would need specialised equipment to mine the stones, which wouldn't be cheap. He had to spend first to make a profit from the mines. If he was able to earn pokedollars from his growth potion, then he would have enough pokedollars to further his plans.
"Hey partner, listen to this!" Meowth said, catching Lucas' attention. Meowth grabbed the remote and increased the volume on the television.
A commercial was playing, and the topic immediately piqued his interest.
"The S.S. Anne will depart Viridian City in two days and arrive in Vermillion City three days later. There will be plenty to do onboard, with several events planned and fantastic prizes to be won. Tickets for this trip are free, but there are only a limited number available. Head down to the harbour master's office in Viridian City before it is too late to get your free ticket!"
"Perfect timing. If I manage to grab a free ticket, I won't have to fork out the fee to travel to Saffron City. And since Vermillion City is just a short distance away from Saffron, I won't be delayed and should reach it by Sunday."
Lucas had planned to spend the next few days looking for a partner for Icarus before taking the Pidgeot Charter Service to Saffron City. But he needed to move faster if he wanted to make the ferry on time. He wasn't too concerned because he already had a location in mind where he could find a partner for Icarus.
He could also use Pokemon Search to find a Pidgeotto with high potential, though he wouldn't be able to narrow it down to specific requirements. If that didn't work, he would have to put it on hold until he returned from Saffron City.
"I don't see what's so amazing about the sea. Salty air is bad for my fur, Meowth."
"Then stay in your pokeball," Lucas retorted.
"No way." Meowth jumped onto the bed, rubbing his paws together. "There will be plenty of opportunities to acquire some loot with so many wealthy people on board the ferry."
"I'm not saving you if you get caught, and I won't acknowledge you as my Pokemon. They can throw you overboard for all I care."
"That's a little cold, Meowth."
Lucas hurried over to the harbour as soon as he awoke the next morning so he could be there when the harbour master's office opened. He wasn't the only one who had the same idea, as there was already a line forming in front of the building. Fortunately, he was able to obtain a ticket and left shortly thereafter. He then ate breakfast at a café before going to the police station.
Officer Jenny greeted him as he entered and directed him to her office. She showed him a photograph of a deceased man after they had sat down. Lucas grimaced and quickly averted his eyes. The man's face was bloated, and his neck was in shambles, with a chunk of flesh ripped from it.
"Who am I looking at?"
"You don't recognise him?" Officer Jenny asked, taking the photo back.
"I have never met the man in my life."
"This man ordered the attack on Professor Oak's house," she explained. "He was a senior member of Team Rocket. We learned this from Jessie Maple, the woman who was present with James Turner that day."
Lucas was taken aback. So Giovanni wasn't the one who ordered the attack. That made sense given the man's surprise at the Ketchums' involvement in the altercation with the two Team Rocket members. Furthermore, he appeared to have genuine affection for the Ketchums, even though he may have an ulterior motive by staying close to them. Giovanni must have been enraged by his subordinate's actions and administered the ultimate punishment.
Officer Jenny leaned over the desk. "The man was found at the bottom of the sea near the harbour. He was bound and weighed down by a rock. A horrible way to die."
Lucas nodded. "I can imagine."
"Who do you think did it? Was it a Team Rocket member, or an outsider with a grudge against the man?"
Why was she asking him? Did she suspect him of being involved in the man's murder?
"I wouldn't have a clue," Lucas said, shrugging. "Was this Team Rocket's doing? You would have a better idea than me of how they operate."
Officer Jenny leaned back in her chair and rubbed her neck. "It appears to be the work of Team Rocket. But what motivated them? Do you think it had anything to do with the attack on Professor Oak's house?"
"Maybe."
"They were trying to kidnap you. Do you believe someone was attempting to exact revenge on your behalf?"
Lucas looked at her incredulously. "I'm just an orphan. I don't know anyone who would commit murder, either inside or outside of Team Rocket. Besides, I wasn't even there at the time of the incident. The victims would have been the Ketchums, not me."
That piqued her interest, and he could predict her next question before she even asked it.
"Who is closest to Delia Ketchum?"
Lucas paused for a moment to respond. "Professor Oak and Giovanni. The latter has been hanging around her lately. Her husband was a subordinate of his in the army, so they are well acquainted."
After answering the final question, she thanked him, and he left her office. She was now interested in Giovanni, though Lucas didn't think he was a suspect by any stretch of the imagination. There was no reason to suspect Giovanni was a criminal, and accusing a gym leader wasn't something to be taken lightly.
He hoped she didn't discover anything incriminating about the man for her sake. Because he knew Giovanni was ruthless enough to dispose of her without hesitation. He wouldn't be surprised if Giovanni had spies in the police force, so any inquiries she made wouldn't be kept secret for long.
Lucas made his way to the real estate office. He was looking for a place to rent that would last him at least a few months. He wasn't sure how long he would stay in the city, but he didn't see it as a permanent residence. Given its population density and proximity to other cities, Saffron City was a more suitable location. If his relationship with Sabrina blossomed, that would be an added incentive to live there. The Rota Kingdom was also an option because the church had no influence there.
After considering several options, he chose a location in a residential neighbourhood just outside of the city centre. It wasn't in a posh neighbourhood like Professor Oak's, and it only had one bedroom, but it was more than enough for his needs. It cost him sixteen thousand pokedollars per month, but that wasn't much at this point. Nevertheless, after paying the exam fee, the bond, and two weeks' rent on the house, his finances suffered.
After touring his new home with his Pokemon, he received a text message confirming that he had passed the test. His final score was more than 98%, by far the highest on the exam. He visited city hall to obtain his certificate and apply for an official licence. It would take a few days to get the official documents, but for all intents and purposes, he was now a Pokemon Breeder and could legally sell Pokemon eggs.
Lucas ventured south of the city, returning to the forest he had previously explored. He remembered a small patch of territory that a flock of strong Pidgey and Pidgeottos had claimed for themselves. It was only a few hours from the secret base he discovered, so he stopped there for lunch and made his final preparations.
When he was about a mile from Pidgey territory, he activated Pokemon Search and selected Pidgeotto as his target. Two arrows appeared in front of him, only one of which pointed to Pidgey's territory. The other was pointing eastward. He chose the latter because it was the closest option.
When he found the Pidgeotto and used Insight, he was disappointed to learn that it was incompatible with Icarus. So he followed the other arrow towards the other potential option. He had to use all three of his teammates to battle through a group of Pidgeys blocking his way.
The second Pidgeotto was high up in a tree, partially obscured by the dense canopy. This one was smaller than Icarus, roughly the size of a standard Pidgeotto. Despite its small stature, it exuded a powerful presence, with a scar across its cheek and several old wounds visible on its body.
"This is the one," Lucas exclaimed after he used Insight on the Pidgeotto.
"Pidgeotto!" The Pokemon in question noticed them and clacked its beak as a warning.
"The Pidgeotto ain't happy about us stepping onto its turf," Meowth said.
Icarus responded by puffing out his chest and clacking his beak. It was a tense standoff that looked like it could erupt into a fight at any moment.
"When are you going to tell Icarus you are looking for a girlfriend for him, Meowth?"
Fortunately, Icarus was too preoccupied with his opponent in front of him to hear Meowth's words. Lucas motioned for Meowth to remain silent.
"I'm not going to say anything because I don't want to influence the outcome," Lucas said quietly. "Even if the numbers say they are compatible, it doesn't guarantee they will like each other enough to have an egg together. I don't want to influence Icarus' choice."
"Pidgeotto!"
Lucas was taken aback when the Pidgeotto in the tree abruptly called out. Within moments, several Pidgeys appeared, their wings pulsing with flying-type energy. He shouldn't have allowed himself to be so easily distracted.
Lucas acted quickly. "Icarus, take out the Pidgeotto. Saphira, use Thunder Wave to paralyse the Pidgeys."
Icarus took flight, and his opponent followed him high into the air.
Giving all three Pokemon specific commands was too difficult in such a situation, so he only gave them basic commands. He had recently turned off Battle Commentator because he was forced to fight all three of his Pokemon at the same time, and listening to it would have distracted him too much.
"Watch out!" Meowth called from atop his shoulder before leaping down.
As Lucas leaped backwards, a swarm of whirlwinds rose from the ground in front of him. The combined force of multiple Gusts intensified the attack, causing Lucas to stumble as the powerful winds they created pushed against him.
Before Lucas could recover an issue further orders, Meowth beat him to the punch. "Max, use Protect to shield us."
Max carried out the order as if it had been given to him by Lucas. He stood in front of Lucas and conjured a Protect.
The action caught Lucas off guard, but he quickly adjusted and allowed Meowth to command Max. Lucas only needed to command Saphira because Icarus was fighting the Pidgeotto on his own. Saphira took out the Pidgey one by one, with Max supporting her occasionally when he got the chance. They weren't too difficult to defeat because their highest level was only fifteen.
Meanwhile, the skies were filled with the sounds of battle as the two Pidgeottos clashed. The winds they generated stripped away the highest branches and leaves from the surrounding trees, resulting in a shower of debris falling to the ground.
Lucas looked up in amazement at the sight. The fight lasted quite a while, with both of the opponents' conditions gradually deteriorating. But Icarus gained the upper hand in the battle eventually. Despite being larger than his opponent, he was still faster than her. The female Pidgeotto made him fight for it, though, as she was a scrappy little fighter.
Icarus delivered one final blow, causing his opponent to fall to the ground in a steep dive. She hadn't fainted, but one of her wings looked injured. Lucas took out an empty pokeball and carefully aimed it. He threw it just as she was about to hit the ground, striking her and sucking her into the pokeball. Max dashed to catch the ball, which wiggled briefly in his hands before coming to rest.
Icarus touched down on the ground. He called out several times while scratching the ground with his talons. He didn't seem happy. Lucas was confused and turned to Meowth for clarification.
"He thinks you are replacing him with another Pidgeotto, Meowth."
Lucas had to reassure him that this wasn't the case, but he didn't provide any further explanation. He took the pokeball from Max and summoned the female Pidgeotto onto the ground. He approached her slowly, as she appeared wary of him. She couldn't flee, however, because she was still injured. He administered a potion that began to heal her wounds immediately.
"Hey, beautiful. I am going to call you Icaria."
He used Insight on her again to get a look at her parameters.
Species: Pidgeotto; Bird Pokemon
Gender: Female
Status: Wild
Favorability: Neutral: 300/1000
Favourite Food: Iaflepettle Seeds
Condition: Perfect
Level: 22
Next: [30%]
Exp Cache: [0]
Current Level Potential Met?: Yes
Special Ability: Keen Eye
Attack: 51
Special Attack: 49
Defence: 45
Special Defence: 38
Speed: 62
Luck: 12
Moves:
Tackle
Quick Attack
Gust
Wing Attack
Twister
Whirlwind
Description: Icaria is a scrappy little fighter who managed to evolve into a Pidgeotto by herself. She has been ruling her territory with an iron fist. Although she isn't the biggest Pidgeotto around, her ferocity makes up for it. She doesn't know what to think of her new trainer, but she feels the urge to continue battling Icarus, as she hates losing to him.
Hidden Stats
Intelligence: 5
Endurance: 8
Energy: 6
Aptitude: 5
Affinities
Normal: 31%
Flying: 45%
Dragon 15%
Move Proficiency
Tackle: 44%
Quick Attack: 65%
Gust: 51%
Wing Attack 45%
Twister: 21%
Whirlwind: 7%
Egg Moves
Brave Bird: {Not acquired} - Fighting Affinity: 80% required.
Traits
Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)
Flying-type Aptitude (Expert) - Increases flying-type affinity training by thirty percent.
Defence Aptitude (Intermediate) - Increases defence stat training efficiency.
Defence Boost (Intermediate) - Moderately increases defence stat potency.
Learned
Bird of Prey: Increases attack and speed by twenty percent when attacking from above.
Scrappy Fighter: Able to fight more effectively while in Critical Condition
Evolution Conditions
Pidgeot
Level 36
Condition: Perfect
Experience in Cache: 40000
Flying-type Affinity: 60%
Evolution Bonuses
Max Experience in Cache = 70000: + 15 to All Stats
Speed = 90: Aerial Ace learned upon evolving.
Two Rare Candy consumed: AP + 15
Three Affinities above 50% = Energy + 1
Defeat ten Pokemon with levels at least five above her own: Intelligence + 1
Breeding Compatibility/Conditions
Breeding Type: C
Same Species: +25%
Egg Group - Flying: -25%
Egg Group - Other: -50%
Same Level: +10%
Base Compatibility:
Type A - 3%
Type B - 1%
Type C - 93%
Type D - 60%
Type E - 21%
Icarus trotted over and began inspecting her with interest, but she slapped him in the head with her wing. The tension quickly returned, and it appeared that they would begin fighting again. It didn't look like their relationship was getting off to a good start.
Meowth grinned. "I am already feeling the love, partner."
Lucas ignored him. He didn't expect the two Pokemon to get along right away, especially since they had just fought a tough battle.
He returned Icaria to her pokeball. He was going to return to Pallet Town and say his farewells to the Ketchums before he travelled to Saffron City.
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas ventures out into the high seas and meets Brock on board the cruise ship.
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Thanks for reading.