Journey

Death of Duty

Part 3: The Battle of Celadon

Expansion

Every pokemon is different. But one common approach? They like food. — Safari Zone Warden Baoba

I scowled at the shelves of merchandise, my eyes falling on the item I was here to buy. It had taken me three floors of useless guided shopping to reach this point. I may have been in a good mood at one point, but shopping never was my thing. Especially when one of my arms was trapped in a sling.

I pointed at the lumpy and misshapen stone that seemed to glow faintly red. "The fire stone," I said. "Along with the medical and training supplies that I picked out earlier and the larger travel pack that you sold me on. Pack in a full set of all-weather training clothes as well, a pair of new boots too. I've worn through my jeans and my coat could use replacement with one of the super-durable softshells that you showed me."

"Absolutely, mister Wright! Is there anything else I can assist you with?" The store clerk was nothing but helpful. He'd droned on for hours about the many different products that I had no use for. I think he had caught my annoyance at some point on floor two and mercifully cut out the beauty products on three. "As well, our TM selection is unrivalled in Kanto and…"

My uninterested glare cut his sentence short. "I think the bill would be fine, sir. You've been incredibly helpful."

He nodded and handed me the itemized bill he had been writing. "Not a problem, mister Wright. Your items will be waiting for you at the checkout down on One."

I nodded in thanks as he left and pocketed the bill. I fumbled with my pocket as my ringtone started blaring. I flipped open my pokegear as he walked away and sighed at the incoming call. "Morning, Gemma."

"So, how was the trip?" she asked, hardly missing a beat. "Heard you caught a heracross."

"Also made it into Celadon with an entire day to spare. I don't have to fight Erika until tomorrow night, so I think the team will be ready to go."

"Even Pride?"

I nodded absently. "Yeah, nurses gave me the go ahead to use him for the battle. He might still be a little bruised, but his ribs will be healed by the morning." I paused for a moment. "How'd you know I caught a heracross?"

I heard her chuckle. "I did tell you I was bored. I got daddy to give me access to our sponsored trainer program and figured I'd try my hand at being your handler."

"Was I supposed to have one of those?" I asked.

My entire tenure with Silph had been incredibly informal. I'd met with a man at the pokemon centre in Vermillion. He had me sign a temporary league contract and given me an expense card. That had been the entirety of my interaction with Silph outside of Gemma.

"Technically, everyone has one. You were assigned to Lionel Bonne, but I doubt he ever reached out to you outside of an email."

"I don't have an email address," I replied in a droll tone.

"Explains things," she replied. "He's a bit lazy, hands off for the most part. Now you have me!"

"Great," I replied with a sarcastic grin. "So what do I get?"

"Since you're my only charge at the moment, you'll have my full attention. I'll work with you every step of the way, at least until I can get out of this prison and join you."

"I think I would like that. It hasn't been the same without you."

My phone beeped and I pulled the gear away from my face. Aya had answered.

Glad you made it safe! Frank called me in for a double tonight, so I won't be off until late. Call me if you're still up?

I tapped out a quick response as I stepped onto the escalator. I answered quickly but not quickly enough to escape notice.

"That your booty call?" Gemma asked, positively giddy by the idea. "I bet it's some nice saucy pictures."

I inhaled quickly, suddenly uncomfortable at the thought of that. "Don't wanna keep telling you it ain't like that. We just talked. She took me to the beach that I was defending during the tenta-swarm attack and let me vent about some shit."

She laughed and I could hear the smile in her voice. "It's just fun to tease you, novice. I do remember being your age, you know."

I smirked as I stepped off the escalator onto One. "So what can I expect from my inexperienced new handler?"

Gemma cleared her throat and I heard her put on some professional speaking voice. "You get my support for every step of your league journey. Looking for a particular evolution method? I can look into Pride's evolution, same with Curie."

I stopped dead in my tracks. My heart skipped a beat and I forgot how to breathe. I'd had Gemma at an arms length for so long. It had been easy enough to lie during our once a week conversation, but this was different. I could never keep this up if we were going to talk every day.

"Look," I started. I had to be careful with my words. I knew who was listening. "I lost Curie. Almost a month ago, before I even caught Acolyte." I heard her gasp and knew she had bought it. "Pride spooked a ryhorn herd. I couldn't return her in time, and…" My voice trailed off and I cleared my throat as if I was choking up. "I don't really want to talk about it," I continued. "Please just don't bring her up if you can help it."

"I understand," Gemma replied. "Lilith was my second loss. They never get easier. I still feel for her ball on my belt almost every day." She paused for a long moment and both of us were silent. "I'm sorry, Marcus."

I silently breathed a sigh of relief. She had bought it. "Thank you," I said in a somber voice. I stepped into line at the checkout. "I'll call you in the morning, alright? Once I have most of the team back for training."

"Most?" She asked.

"Pride needs as much time as possible in the healing machines."

"Alright," she answered. "I'll send you some video to go over as well. Erika shouldn't be too difficult now that you have a heracross."

"Hold up," I interrupted. "I haven't even let the thing out of its ball yet. There's no way I can get it to listen to me in a single day."

"It doesn't have to listen intently. Just enough to follow basic orders and fight. I'll do some research and send over anything useful."

I nodded as the line moved up and the cashier waved me over. "Alright Gemma, I gotta get going."

Talk to you later," she said. The line went dead as I fumbled with the gear and dropped it into my pocket.

"Alright there, sir?" the cashier asked.

"Fine," I replied, thoroughly done with shopping for a long while. "Just tired. It was a tough trip to get here."

He smiled. "Well, you get your rest today. Everyone is excited for your battle tomorrow!"

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a neutral expression. "You know who I am?" I asked as he swiped my Silph expense card.

He nodded. "How could I not? You're big news! Kanto hasn't had 3 new challengers in a season like this in decades. You and those two kids are hot shit right now."

I nodded respectfully. "Well, I'll try to put on a good show."

He handed me my receipt and passed back my card. "I'm sure you will, mister Wright." He gestured to a row of bags behind me. "Your purchases are ready for you."

I glanced down at my ragged, filthy outfit. My boots were caked in mud and dirt, my jeans more brown than blue. I looked back at the cashier with a grin. "Do you have a changing room I could use?"

Celadon was the second largest city in Kanto, behind only Saffron City. Vermillion was third, but it had maybe a quarter the population of Celadon. I had been utterly lost in Vermillion. Celadon had me baffled. It seemed as if the entire city had been designed by a smeargle that had ingested some messed up hallucinogens.

It was claustrophobic in a different way than the forest had been. I felt eyes on me the entire time, jumped at every backfiring vehicle, bumped into passerby's without noticing. I knew to expect pickpockets so I kept everything in my inside pockets and fastened the small lock on my new pack.

I'd found the gym after almost an hour lost in Celadon's horticultural quarter. I originally wanted to introduce myself to Erika, but the gym leader wasn't in so I wound up just exploring the area around the gym.

The gardens that dotted the horticultural quarter were well worth the trip. Exotic plants sat in dozens of connected greenhouses and foreign grass types looked at me from a few of them. I couldn't place some of them and realized that I didn't know much about grass types.

I had intended to make my way back to the pokemon centre I was staying at, but found myself hopelessly lost once I left the gardens.

The city was a haphazard mess outside of the horticultural quarter. Roads were run-down and crumbling, houses were condemned shells. I even caught the howl of wild growlithe once or twice when the roar of the city died down for a moment. Lines of people waited outside warehouses, dark clothed people handing out bags of food to the people. I caught a few suspicious stares from some of the people in line and hurried along before I could get myself in trouble.

I rounded a corner, looking for one of the map booths that were dotted around the city. Not one of them were visible, instead more shady looking warehouses lined the lonely street. I had passed through several neighbourhoods of dilapidated houses and seen far too many people watching from the shadows.

A single man stood under a streetlight, intently watching me. His eyes didn't move away from me and I felt a chill run down my spine. I got the sense that this man's eyes were not the only ones trained on me.

I turned and kept walking. I didn't like the steely look in his eyes and didn't want to tangle with anyone without my pokemon. I felt alone without them, exposed like I was in danger with every step.

The next street had a few crappy motels and a small diner nestled among the warehouses. I figured asking directions wouldn't hurt and walked over to the diner. The smell of freshly cooking eggs wafted under my nose as I opened the door.

"Hi there!" shouted the server behind the counter. "Sit anywhere, I'll be with you in just a moment!"

I took a seat at one of the empty tables as she pulled a plate of eggs and bacon off the counter and dropped it with the only other patron of the diner.

She pulled out a pad of paper and smiled at me. "What can I get you?"

"The biggest, greasiest burger you have," I replied. "And some directions, if you'd be so kind."

The server nodded. "Any bacon and cheese with that?" She glanced at me and smirked at my questioning look. "I'll take that as a yes." She tore the paper off her pad and looked down at me. "Where you headed?"

"Closest pokemon centre to the east gates," I replied. "Went for a walk to see the gym and got myself lost on the way back."

"Good news is, you're close. The east gates are just a few blocks away from here. You'll be heading right past the Game Corner on your way." She scrawled a quick map out on the next paper on her pad. "That should get you there," she said. She turned and dropped my order on the kitchen counter.

I ordered a drink when my food came. My burger was as large and greasy as I had been expecting and my stomach did a happy somersault at the smell of it. The plate had been stacked high with fries and I got the sense that I had been the first customer in a while.

I tipped her well, adding on forty percent of my bill as the tip. It wasn't much to Silph, but these people were struggling. It would mean the world to them. I left with a happy spring in my step and a full stomach.

True to word, the Celadon Game Corner was just a few blocks away. It was huge, covered with glittering lights and flashing dollar signs like an oversized tribute to opulence. I couldn't shake the contrast with the rest of Celadon's run down tenements and dilapidated houses.

It was impossible to ignore. The gaudy lights only served to draw me in further, just like the trio of girls at the door begging me to come in for a game. I shook my head and offered a weak smile. Like it or not, I had no cash of my own to gamble.

Then I saw her. Her hair was different and she was in a stunning sheer dress, but I couldn't mistake her charming smile for anyone else. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes raked over me. I saw her eyes widen and realized that she hadn't been expecting me.

The man walking with her stopped and followed her gaze. His eyes were cold and I suppressed a shiver down my spine as he looked me over.

"Marcus," Domino started as she approached me. She glanced nervously at the man as if she wasn't entirely sure what she should do. "Enjoying Celadon?" She asked hesitantly.

I crossed my arms, hoping that I could be left alone. "I was just on my way to the pokemon centre."

"That was not the question," remarked the man. He looked at Domino and raised an eyebrow. "This is the one?"

"Yes, Archer. This is the Silph trainer."

I glanced over at Domino, her show of deference scaring me. She hadn't backed down from Vicious, so this man was clearly a superior of some kind. I turned towards him, the gears in my head starting to turn as I realized I was in mortal danger.

He looked at me, his eyes seeming to analyze me with cold precision. A wry smile crossed his face and I fought the instincts to run. "Join me for dinner, if you would be so kind. I have a business proposition for you and this establishment has the best restaurant in Celadon."

I shook my head. "I'm out," I started. "Not interested in any more business with your organization." I turned to leave, but he stopped my with a gentle hand on my chest.

"I'm afraid that I wasn't really asking." He nodded at Domino without taking his eyes off me. "Mister Wright will be joining me in my private booth for dinner." He finally turned to look at Domino and I breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Domino, would you be so kind as to inform the boss that our meeting will have to be delayed?"

She bowed her head. "Yes, Archer."

He turned away from her and put a hand on my shoulder. He spun me around and steered me through the doors of the Game Corner. I tried to follow Domino with my eyes, but we rounded a corner and left her behind.

I didn't say a word as the man led me through the restaurant portion of the Game Corner. We passed dozens of tables, walking past posh patrons wearing outfits that likely cost more than the farm I grew up on.

Archer arrived at a booth that was tucked away in the back corner of the restaurant. A waitress was waiting with a bottle of chilled wine in her hands. The server behind my chair pulled it out, ushering me into the seat and setting utensils in front of me.

Archer took the wine, admiring it with a keen eye. "An excellent choice, Nadia. However, Domino will not be joining me tonight." He handed the bottle back. "If you would be so kind, some of the Unovan whiskey. The oldest bottle we have." He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Unless there are any objections?"

I realized he was testing me. "I don't drink," I replied.

A knowing smile spread across his face. "Well, what an auspicious occasion for your first! You just have to try our Unovan whiskey. I do believe we have some of the oldest bottles still in existence. Nothing quite compares to proper Unovan liquor after a century or two. A shame they drank most of it." He smirked. "They may be bloodthirsty savages, but those unovans can make a fantastic whiskey."

I watched him carefully, remaining silent as the server returned with a pair of glasses and a well-worn bottle.

"Thank you, Nadia. Please bring two of my usual order when you get a chance." Archer turned to look at me, as if he was expecting some kind of resistance.

"I'm not hungry," I said. I saw the sly smirk spread across Archer's face and knew that was what he wanted.

He sat himself in his chair and slowly pulled it into the table. "Nevertheless, you are my guest." He turned his head. "Nadia, bring a few takeout containers with my guest's meal. He can enjoy my hospitality in the comfort of his own space." He looked back at me as the server walked away. "It really is the best restaurant in the city."

"What's your game?" I asked. Something strange was up, and this man was the closest I had come to answers. Even if he was toying with me, he might be able to give me some information. "Who are you?"

"Forgive me for the rushed introduction outside," he began. He lifted the bottle of whiskey and casually uncorked it with his free hand. "My name is Archer, I represent the same organization that our dear friend Domino works for."

"That's not your real name," I retorted. "You know mine, why shouldn't I know yours?"

He smirked. "Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to hand out that information. You understand of course, my alias is to protect my family." He lifted the first of the two glasses and poured a generous amount. "Now, as for what I am after?" He poured a second glass of whiskey and pushed the first towards me. "That would be you, Marcus."

I raised an eyebrow as I pulled the drink towards me hesitantly. "You have me," I started. "You have a hostage over my head and have threatened people close to me. What more could you need?"

Archer sighed and sat back in his chair. "I believe an explanation is in order." He raised his glass. "To getting the full picture."

I raised my glass, mirroring him but not saying a word. He tipped his glass back and I did the same, savouring the bitter amber liquor.

Archer set down his glass as I set down mine. His was empty. "Have you noticed anything about this city? About any of Kanto's cities?"

I thought for a long moment. I looked up at Archer's analytic gaze. "They're overcrowded. Too many people, not enough space. Not enough work either. People can't feed themselves and they're scared." My gaze hardened. "I lived outside the walls, on a farm. I know how dangerous it is out there. I know the cost. I know that settling the frontier is not worth the blood it would take."

He nodded and I saw some measure of approval in his eyes. "You are smarter than I have been led to believe." He lifted the bottle and poured himself another glass. "Our civilization is crumbling under its own weight. We dare not leave our strongholds, even while they fall to ruin around us. We fear the death that waits us outside the walls." He looked back at me and smiled knowingly. "You see what is happening, no? We must act, or our species will face extinction." He shrugged. "So we do," he said. "We feed those who cannot feed themselves, protect humanity from monsters that the Rangers could not fathom."

I took another drink. He was trying to appeal to the humanity in me, something that I thought was ironic.I just couldn't figure out exactly what he was getting at. "So, you mentioned a business proposition. I'm listening."

He smirked. "Right to business? I thought we might enjoy a meal first." He glanced back, his smile genuine. "And here it is."

Nadia appeared over his shoulder with a pair of plates. Both were piled high with steaming vegetables and a large tauros steak. She placed one gently in front of Archer and glared daggers at me. She pushed my plate towards me and dropped an armful of takeout containers on the table beside it.

"That will be all, Nadia." He pulled out a bill and held it out for her. "You have been excellent tonight, my dear."

She disappeared with her tip, leaving us alone again.

Archer stared at me with a calculating glare. His smile died and I saw that he was testing me again. "Eat. This is the best restaurant in Celadon," he said. "It's rude to refuse hospitality."

"I told you I wasn't hungry," I retorted. I tipped back the rest of my drink and slammed my glass down. I was scared to shit, but I wasn't gonna let him intimidate me. "Thank you for the meal, I'll take it to go. Now, what was your business proposition?"

He scowled at me, eying his plate. "I would have preferred this to be a relaxed conversation, but no matter. Team Rocket recognizes your talent."

"Team Rocket?" I asked incredulously. "Stupid name. I guess that's what the R stands for?"

Archer sighed and I sensed some frustration in his voice. "I was not the one responsible for naming the organization. Nonetheless, we see that you are talented, skilled and highly principled."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"It means that we trust you to do the right thing. To do what's best for everyone. You're a good person." He smiled softly. "You may not agree with some of our less honourable methods, but please understand that our organization is essentially good. We only want what's best for humanity."

I raised an eyebrow and had to stop myself from storming out. "So, my happiny was pokenapped and threatened because of good intentions?" I paused as righteous anger started flowing. "And a cubone colony was captured to be sold to the highest bidders because of good intentions?"

He sighed. "I did say that our methods were less than honourable at times." He shrugged. "We are the only ones doing what is necessary. The league sits complacent, watching us die while they do nothing!" He crossed his arms and looked at me down his nose. "Team Rocket will save the world, with or without the League's help. We would prefer to have you work with us willingly, but-"

"Like Domino?" I spat. "Or that masked asshole? No, I'm not a part of your goddamn criminal syndicate. You aren't saving the world any more than you are serving your own interests. I want out. I want no part of this."

He raised a hand. "I would suggest you think this through. Do what's best for your own interests."

I closed my mouth and glared daggers at him. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of bending me to Team Rocket's cause. I was better than that. I was better than them.

He lowered the hand and I felt his eyes studying me again. "You will be working with us either way, Marcus Wright. I would prefer that you work willingly. You would be well compensated for your time." A shrewd grin tugged at the edges of his mouth. "Perhaps financial support for your family would help you come to a decision? I do believe the bank has been in the process of foreclosing on your old family farm…"

I don't think my brow could have furrowed any further. He was straight up trying to bribe me. I didn't know if the bank foreclosure was true, but I sensed the threat underneath his offer of assistance. "How would you know that?"

He smirked again and I felt the malevolence behind it. Gone was the polite, courteous gentleman. This was the real Archer and he terrified me. "We have eyes in Silph. What makes you think that a family farm is so safe and secure?" He leaned forward and smiled as the shadows crept over his face. He lifted the bottle of whiskey and filled my glass nearly up to the brim. "We have eyes everywhere. We can reach anywhere. It would be smart to stay on our right side."

My eyes didn't leave his. I didn't show him anything. I slowly reached down for the takeout container and picked up the first one. "I'll be taking my meal to go," I said calmly. I slowly began transferring the meal into the containers

He leaned back, his face an emotionless mask. "I see," he replied. "Best of luck with Erika then." He looked down at my take out containers and smirked slightly. "I do hope you enjoy the meal. This really is the best place in the city."

I saw his eyes soften and couldn't help but believe that he was really being truthful about the food. I got to my feet and pounded back the drink he had poured me. "Thank you for the meal," I said plainly.

He didn't say anything. I turned and left, not daring to look back. I didn't look back until I arrived safely at the pokemon centre. I collapsed against the door and breathed a deep sigh of relief as I locked it.

I picked up my pokemon some time after breakfast. One of the training fields was open, so I booked it for the morning. I headed outside before the sun managed to break through the thick morning clouds.

I let Pride and Acolyte out first. Both of them ran the length of the field in an impromptu race, one that Pride won by a healthy margin. I smirked at the sight of Pride's happy trot and knew his ribs had properly healed.

Luna was next, materializing at my side with a lazy yawn. I scratched her affectionately behind her ears and smiled as she leaned into it.

"Gather round," I ordered.

Pride and Acolyte lazily trotted back to my side. They took their places on either side of Luna as I pulled out the container of honey I'd bought the day before.

"We have a gym challenge later today," I said plainly. "Now, I know we haven't done much training for it, but I think we can pull out a win. It'll be a tough battle, but Surge was probably tougher." I lifted the heracross' ball, knowing I was going to draw a reaction. "And he's gonna help us."

Luna sniffed cautiously at the ball. Her lips curled back as she bared her teeth and growled at my newest capture.

"I know he tried to kill us, but we don't really have any better options." I opened the jar of honey and smiled innocently at my starter. "And besides, I read that heracross go crazy over honey. Makes them compliant. maybe we'll get lucky and he'll be a softy like Pride."

Her teeth were still bared, but she didn't continue growling. I set the auto-return function on the heracross' ball just in case it decided to run.

I raised the ball and tapped the release button. A spear of red light erupted from the tiny ball, coalescing into a five foot tall bug. I got a clear look at him for the first time and gasped.

He had a hard shell of matte blue-green chitin covering his body. His horn stretched another half a foot above my head and I realized that he was larger than I had originally thought.

The plates on his back shifted and a pair of powerful wings flitted out experimentally. I watched the bug gingerly test his wings as if he was expecting them to still be damaged from his battle with us.

Then he saw me. His tongue flitted out, tasting at the air. His eyes darted around his surroundings, jumping from Pride, to Luna, then Acolyte and back again. His wings buzzed slowly and I sensed that I had little time before he attempted to take off.

I lifted the container of honey and smiled as best I could. "Good morning!" I offered the honey out and the heracross flitted his tongue out hungrily. "I'm Marcus, and you've already met my team.

Luna growled at her introduction and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Pay her no mind," I continued. "She's just protective of me. I know that you'd never do something to hurt me!"

I had heard long ago that pokemon understand tone and body language innately. I was willing to bet that the heracross had no clue what I was actually saying. However, I knew I had his attention and that was the first step.

"You can have some of this honey," I said. "I read that your kind really love honey and I thought you'd like some." I gently put the honey on the ground and slid by it towards my bug.

He lowered his head towards the jar, his tongue flitted his out again to test the honey. I saw his eyes light up and his tongue dive eagerly into the container.

"Give him some space. Practice evasion for now. Dodge and counter drills just like we've been doing," I ordered to the rest of my team. "Except you, Luna. I have something for you."

Pride and Acolyte wandered off into the field and began the drill. They would prowl around each other in circles until one decided to attempt a physical attack. The idea was to dodge the attack and counter it with one of your own.

Despite their rivalry, Pride and Acolyte were fantastic training partners. They constantly pushed each other harder, going above and beyond to improve themselves. Their sparring matches were the fiercest by far and I would often have to heal minor injuries when they were done. It had done wonders for them both.

Luna sat patiently in front of me, carefully eying the heracross with disdain. She didn't dare outright challenge it, but I could tell she was not impressed by the bug. Probably because it had nearly torn my arm off.

I pulled the fire stone out of my pack and it was like a trance came over Luna. Her eyes seemed to deepen and her gaze lingered on the stone.

"I know how we can evolve you," I started. "But it'll be difficult. I don't think you're quite ready yet either." I put the stone down on the ground in front of her. "Vulpix evolve naturally after enough time in the wild. Usually when they reach about fifteen to twenty." I frowned. "But evolution can be sparked early with the use of a fire stone."

Luna stepped closer to the stone, sniffing gently at it. She reached out a paw, cautiously batting at it. I half expected a rush of energy to flow out of the stone at her touch even if I knew better.

"You have to break open the outer shell with your fire. Only when your flames are hot enough to crack the stone will your body be strong enough to handle the transformation." I smiled and stepped back. "Try, if you want."

My starter planted her feet on each side of the fire stone. She looked at me and I saw the recognition in her eyes. She knew what this was. She knew what her evolution was. I didn't understand how, perhaps instinctive memory, perhaps just intelligent intuition. Either way, Luna knew what I was asking her.

She sucked in a breath of air and I felt myself go silent. A stream of white-hot flames erupted from her mouth, washing over the fire stone. I heard a high pitched whine and what sounded like glass slowly cracking.

Luna's stream of flame withered slightly and the sound died. I looked carefully and watched in dismay as a hairline fracture in the fire stone closed and sealed back together. Luna coughed and the flamethrower died suddenly.

I smiled, proud of my vulpix. "It's ok, Luna. Remember, I did say that I wasn't sure if you were ready for this yet."

She hung her head and I knew that Luna was ashamed. She hadn't failed at anything I'd asked of her up to this point, always my infallible stalwart. She had outlasted Brock. She had enabled victory against Misty. She had survived Surge.

I scratched her behind the ears. "You're close," I started. "Maybe we'll try again after Erika?"

Luna's gaze met mine and she nodded. I saw the resolve burning in her eyes and I knew that this one failure would not break her. She would be a ninetales and the league would fear that day.

The rest of our pre-challenge training revolved around acclimating our newest team member to professional battling. He was still yet to understand that we were his allies, but he had stopped attempting to flee from every attack. A few times he lashed out when Pride and Acolyte got too close, but he would allow me to come close to replace the honey.

We hit a break through just before we broke for lunch. I had my team practicing follow up moves, switching from long range to close in quick succession.

I had my back turned to him, but I knew that the heracross was watching. Luna splashed an energy ball off the target dummy and dashed forwards, using her agility to close the distance.

I heard a loud buzzing drown out the noise of the city. A rush of wind buffeted me and I stumbled forwards from the force of it. For a half a moment, I thought that the heracross was attempting to escape or attacking me. Then he shot past me, speeding just over the ground.

He clipped the practice dummy with his horn and cut his flight at the same moment. My heracross landed deftly on the other side of the dummy as it rebounded towards him and drove an armoured fist into it. The dummy bounced away, rolling to a stop against the wall of the pokemon centre.

I grinned ear to ear as my newest team member looked to me for approval. "Great job!" I shouted.

He buzzed off the ground excitedly and circled me as he chittered with joy. His long, thin tongue flitted out rapidly and he came to a stop in front of me.

"So," I started. "You want to be a part of our team?" I asked. A coy smile crossed my face and I knew his name before I even said it. "Vector?"

He chittered happily and buzzed his wings in agreement. The smile on my face was real. I was a trainer, and this was why. Erika didn't stand a chance.

I cracked my knuckles and let my smile show. "Alright then, let's get to work."

Pokédex Entry Addendum – Evolutionary Catalysts

There are some stones formed in extreme environments that are imbued with certain elemental energy. Some pokemon have been found to react with these stones, most notably the eevee family, however many pokemon have shown reactions to exposure.

A pokemon must be physically strong enough to withstand the evolution process. They must typically crack the stone itself, which is usually comprised of a protective shell over an elemental core, and absorb the catalytic energy from the elemental core.

Intermediate Trainer KT#07996101, Marcus Wright, current team

Luna, Vulpix

Pride, Nidorino

Acolyte, Marowak

Vector, Heracross