CHAPTER 11: DESPERATION AND SOLITUDE

"Cyrus, can I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?" Cyrus just stared at him in curiousity.

Archer knelt down infront of him and kowtowed, saying, "Please teach me. I want to be stronger."

"But I have plans for these coming days, and it involves going back to my homeplace." Cyrus tapped his right foot, now sitting on a big rock. "Why should I teach you anyway? I didn't help you just because I've wanted to, but it's because I had no choice."

Archer kowtowed again. "Please, Cyrus, - "

"Stop begging me, it will not result to anything. What made you think that I would agree?"

"I...I'll help you with your plans. I don't care if they will call me evil, I just wanted to become strong and survive."

Cyrus shook his head. "You don't know what you are talking about. Aren't you scared you'd be implicated by my actions? Do you know what they call me back then? I'm a demon. I can't waste my time on you."

Archer just stared at him blankly. He felt useless, and everything that happened to him revealed his glaring weaknesses. Back on earth, he was adored. His family have always taught him that he was the best, and trophies decorating his tables and cabinets were their evidences. People were claiming that he would be just like his parents.

He thought that his intelligence could always solve his problems. But now here he was, facing things that needed absolute strength to overcome them. Of which he did not have. He was not even eighteen. What could he even do here in this world to make a difference?

What should I do?

"Are you sober now?" Cyrus went to the clearing and took out his Pokeball. "Honchkrow, come out."

"Honchkrow!"

The hat-wearing Bird Pokemon flapped its wings as it landed beside Cyrus. Nudging its head on his chest, Cyrus smiled and took out a Pokeblock and fed it. "You already have your Girana with you, so I've done my part. Nothing personal."

Climbing up to ride on Honchkrow's back, Cyrus then threw a bag toward Archer, hitting him on his chest. Archer fell down, yet he didn't scream nor act in pain; he was listless like a doll. "A friend told me to give that to you, believing that it could help you on your journey. I hope that you can find what you seek."

The dusts scattered around Archer as Honchkrow flew up toward the sky. Before they were gone, Cyrus shouted, "If you really are decided to join my Team, then go to Sinnoh. I believe you will find me there."

Archer did not move for a long time, even after Cyrus went away. An hour. Or two. It did not matter for him. What good is he if he could not even defend himself from these things, that's what he kept repeating inside his mind.

Should I go back to the Pokemon Center? I...I don't even know where to go. I'm confused. I'm not used to this helplessness.

It was getting darker, and he saw the sea was now sparkling red, just like what he had seen in Pallet Town. It seemed like the trees were whispering to him as he heard its rustling leaves. Archer faced the sunset, and somehow, his burden was lightened. "Indeed, sunset can heal wounds."

Archer ruminated on things that happened as he took hold of the bag that Cyrus threw at him. Girana was now on its head, again, sleeping without a care in the world.

How I wish I could be just like you, Girana.

Everything's troublesome. Everyone's full of agenda. They think I didn't know that they were using me for some sort of plans they have. I've tried to keep ignoring them, but the evidence was there.

They think I didn't know that Ericka, Shane, Drok, Eric, and Jax were involved in the act. The money they had given me, the Pokeballs, everything was just plain baloney. Believing to themselves that they can just lead me on.

Everything. Shiela have told me everything. She sent me proofs, and everything coincided with what I've heard and saw.

Only Shiela was sincere. If only I could find her whereabouts.

Did they really think I'm an idiot?

Thank God for my Mom's advice, it really works. 'Act stupidly and you will be treated stupidly' and 'Act childishly and you will be treated like a child'. At least it put their guard down against me.

Fucking Team Rockets. What do you want with me?

Archer took out the notebook and pen that he bought in Pallet Town, and decided to keep a diary. Of things he encountered. Of events that took place. Of people that got involved. Of Pokemon that he met.

The moon was bright and the sea was roaring, yet Archer was not distracted. He went on writing. And writing. And writing until his wrist was stiff in pain. He lied down but he could not sleep, for his worries overweighs in his mind.

Maybe the Goddess of luck will smile upon me? I hope so. For the wheel of life is not always down.

________________________________________________________

The winds hit his face as the chirps of birds roused him from his sleep. Yawning loudly, Archer reached out for his bag and took his toothbrush and other stuffs to do his morning rituals. He never knew that living in the wilderness was actually...not bad. Fixing his gaze on the rocky path just beside the clearing, he observed that a certain boulder-like Pokemon was checking up on him.

Geodude Height: 1'04" Weight: 44.1 lbs. Type: Rock, Ground

Description: A Rock Pokemon

Many lived on mountain trails and remain half buried while keeping an eye on climbers.

Ability: 1st (Rock Head)

2nd (Sturdy)

Hidden (Sand Veil)

Weakness:

Water

Grass

Ice

Fighting

Ground

Steel

Strength:

Flying

Bug

Fire

Ice

Electric

Poison

Steel

Rock

No Effect: None

ERROR! Evolution

Graveler

(from Geodude)

Golem

(from Graveler)

to Graveler

(Natural Evolution)

"Geodude!"

Archer avoided it and took the other path. It was a winding trail and the sideways were covered with mangroves. It took him more than an hour of walking to reach the first shop of Cinnabar Island. Glancing at his watch, it was 9 am, still too early for him to eat his lunch. He stayed away from the road and houses he felt familiar with, noting that they led to the Fossil Lab. He strolled along the road, seeing the kids playing and the adults doing businesses at the place they called the Agora Market, but he didn't mind it and took a seat on a bench while resting his tired feet.

"Sweet Jesus!" Archer exclaimed as he finally found a place to rest for a bit. Nothing to do, he decided to check on the bag Cyrus threw at him yesterday. He grabbed it, noticing that one of its zipper was ripped off. He opened it and saw an old notebook, an old ring, an orb, and 5 bluish-black Pokeballs.

Being a scientist, he took the notebook and read its content. Soon, a smile could be seen on his face. So the Goddess of luck indeed took pity on me. Now I've got something to do.

Archer thought of his future plans, if he wanted to be strong, then he needed to take some drastic measures. The world would not wait on him to grow, this he was sure of, and every opportunity wasted could not be regained. This gift was like a lifeline to him. It was simply heaven-sent.

Archer searched for something that could give him any information about Pokeballs, because he wanted to address his problem right away: to catch Girana before it could be stolen from him. And luck really was on his side today, because there were things about Pokeballs. As it is written:

"There are two types of Pokeballs, the catching-type and the containing-type. Catching-type Pokeballs are used to catch wild Pokemon while the containing-type Pokeballs are needed to house the Pokemon you own as you carry them along with you. So you must make sure that you have these two if you decide to take on a journey, who knows what Pokemon you might meet along the way.

There are many kinds of catching-type Pokeballs, like Great Ball, Ultra Ball, Nest Ball, and the rarer Love Ball and Level Ball, of which you can mostly buy in Pokemarts as long as you show your Registry Number. The higher the badges you have, the better the quality of catching-types you can buy. That is why it is also important to get those recommendations from the gym leaders, if you are planning to catch rarer and stronger Pokemon using those rarer catching-types. But some Pokeballs can't be bought, like the legendary Master Ball. As a rule, catching-types are used by pressing its knob, which will automatically absorb some of your Pokessence, albeit temporarily. Then, you throw it or make the Pokeball touch the wild Pokemon, and the Pokeball would then transfer your Pokessence to the target, invading its consciousness. If the Pokemon is overpowered, then the Pokeball would then convert the target's body to Pure Pokessence, and hereby absorbed by the Pokeball, merging your Pokessence with the Pokemon's Pokessence, making the catch temporarily successful. Therefore, it is imperative for a Trainer to weaken the wild Pokemon before catching, since their mental strength are weaker in that state.

It must be noted that owned Pokemon have positive Pokessences that are from his owner. The only Pokemon that could be catch using Pokeballs are those which are purely negative, and those are the wild ones."

Containing-types are Pokeballs that housed the Pokemon while they are with you. As the Pokemon is caught, it can only stay inside the catching-type for as long as five minutes. If it is not then transferred to the containing-type, then the catching-type will automatically lock itself along with the Pokemon inside it, and could only be opened via the PC Booth System. It is imperative for a Trainer to visit the Booth right away, or not later than 60 days to register it and be sealed inside the PC Booth System. If not, then the catching-type will automatically self-destruct, releasing the caught Pokemon, and the positive Pokessence it once merged with will soon disappear, making it wild again. Once it is registered and sealed, then the Pokemon is officially caught. In order to retrieve the Pokemon from the system, we need to house it inside the appropriate containing-type.

Different Pokemon requires different containing-type. Water-type Pokemon needs water-typed containing Pokeball - simple as that. A caught Rattata must be housed inside a Normal containing-type if you wished to use that Pokemon as your companion.

Dual-type Pokemon, on the other hand, could still be caught using either of the two, but it is recommended to use a containing-type that matches the Pokemon's dominating Pokessence.

The meaning behind the kinds of containing-type Pokeballs generally indicates what Pokessence Nature the containing-type will convert into, which will then be used to nourish the Pokemon.

Now this is enlightening. Unlike the games and anime back on earth, the explanation here actually makes sense. At all. Now I know how to catch Girana easily. I already have my catching Pokeball, but my containing-type...Wait, I think I've seen it inside the other bag?

Archer reopened the bag and saw the 5 blue-black Pokeballs just beside the orb. He was not sure if it was poison, dark or ghost types. But, if he had to consider the one who gave him this bag, then poison was definitely wrong, and more or less, would be either dark or ghost. He wanted to make sure since this involved his starter pokemon, so he opened the book once again and looked for the correct information.

CLASSIFICATION OF CONTAINING-TYPES COLOR ASSOCIATION AND SYMBOL Normal White (SNORLAX) Fire Red (CHARMANDER) Water Blue (SQUIRTLE) Electric Yellow (PIKACHU) Grass Green (BULBASAUR) Ice Turqoise (SEEL) Fighting Maroon (MACHOP) Poison Violet (EKANS) Ground Dark Brown (DIGLETT) Rock Grey (GEODUDE) Psychic Light Brown (ABRA) Flying Sky Blue (PIDGEY) Bug Light Green (CATERPIE) Ghost Royal Blue (GHASTLY) Dragon Orange (DRAGONITE) Fairy Pink (GARDEVOIR) Steel Silver (ARON) Dark Black (POOCHYENA)

Archer was happy that indeed, for once, things were going his way. Scrutinizing the blue-black ball in his hands, he saw a 'Ghastly' figure stamped on it,

He needed to make sure that nothing would go wrong in catching Girana so preparation was needed. He had to buy some supplies, and counted his remaining Poke. Realizing that it was more than enough, he decided to spend some money.

Hmm, let's see and do my checklist for the week. One, catch Girana. Two, look for a place to turn into my 'secret lab', where I study, research, and possibly train. If possible, it must be not inside the city. Three, inquire about works from people so I can earn Poke. I should not wait until I used up my money. Fourth, learn about Pokemon Training School. And fifth, go back to Pallet Town and meet with Professor Oak to get my Pokedex, town maps, and stuffs. Lots of things to do huh?

I should avoid the Team Rockets like a plague.

Archer took Girana off his head, who seemed happy as it flapped its wings.

Girana Height: 0.5 foot Weight: 1.1 lbs. Type: Ghost, Normal

Description: An Anti-Matter Pokemon

A Pokemon that is bound between Reality and Anti-Matter. Its body can survive the harshest environment, since its carapace absorb most of the shock it receives.

Ability: 1st (?)

2nd (?)

Hidden (?)

Special (?)

Weakness:

Dark

Strength:

Ghost

Psychic

No Effect:

Normal (Only Ghost is Useless)

Ghost (only Normail is Useless)

ERROR! Evolution

?

?

?

Wow! Only one weakness for a dual-type? That's, crazy. This is the best typing that I could ever wished for!