Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 2

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. A bit earlier today, as I going out to celebrate my birthday. I will post the polls for next week's chapters shortly.

Lucas was in the midst of a nightmare that seemed impossible to escape until he was broken out of it by a soft humming. The soothing melody comforted him, helping him to awaken. The memory of the nightmare was quickly forgotten.

He opened his eyes and stared up at the white ceiling, taking a moment to get his bearings. Slowly, he began to recall what happened when he was attacked by Arbok and felt fortunate to still be alive. He was sure that he was a dead man.

Recalling the pain at the time, he was certain that he had wished for death more than once. The trauma would not be easily forgotten. It certainly wasn't the best start to his new life in the Pokemon World.

His left leg felt numb as if it were still asleep. Lucas panicked when his first thought was that his leg might be gone. He tried moving it, and almost sobbed in relief when he felt it shift slightly beneath the bed sheets. He must be dosed up on drugs if he couldn’t feel any pain.

“You’re awake!”

Lucas turned his head to his right to see a woman sitting in a chair, her features partially obscured by the sunlight that was shining through the window. It looked like she was in her late twenties or early thirties. Her brown hair was kept in a loose ponytail as if it was an afterthought. She was dressed in a pink short-sleeved jacket with a yellow undershirt and a voluminous purple skirt

“You had me worried,” she said, standing up and approaching his bed.

“Who are you?” Lucas asked.

Close up, he could see that her eyes were warm, a lighter brown than his own, like toffee. “I was the one who found you under attack. It is fortunate that I happened to be in the vicinity.”

“Thank you for saving me,” Lucas smiled. “May I know the name of my beautiful saviour?”

She appeared unperturbed by his flirtatious behaviour. “It’s Delia Ketchum.”

Lucas' eyes widened upon hearing the last name. Even though he hadn't watched the anime, Ash Ketchum was an iconic character. Was she related to him?

“Well, my name is Lucas—”

“....Walker,” Delia finished. Her gaze shifted to his knapsack on the bedside table. “I looked through your belongings to determine your identity. I found your adventurer’s guild card in your wallet.”

“Well, since you rescued me, you may call me Lucas.”

“Call me Delia.”

“Is Icarus alright?” Lucas asked.

“Icarus?”

“My Pidgey.”

“Oh yes,” Delia replied. “I returned him to your Pokeball. It’s in your bag.”

Lucas was tired of lying on his back, so he tried sitting up. It was not easy, as his leg was heavily bandaged, and felt like a dead weight. Delia helped him, adjusting the bed so that his back was supported.

“Thanks,” Lucas said. “So do you know the prognosis for my leg?”

“I believe you will keep it,” Delia assured him. “I will let the doctor know you are awake.”

Delia exited the room, leaving Lucas the chance to check out his room. What struck him as peculiar was that there was no medical equipment. Surely, there would be some to monitor his vitals at least. He would've thought it to be a normal room but for the faint aroma of medicine lingering in the air.

His attention was drawn to a large map on the wall opposite him. Kanto was written in bold letters at the top. Lucas was confused by the region's size since it was considerably larger than he remembered it from the game. He could make out the distinct protrusion of land where Pallet Town was located.

However, there was a problem. Because it was located in the center of the land mass, instead of the left-hand side as usual. Then he realised what the problem was. The map included the Johto region, but no border separated it from Kanto. Before he could think about it further, the door opened. Delia walked in with a middle-aged man wearing a white coat.

“Hello, Mr. Walker, nice to see you awake,” the doctor greeted him. “My name is Doctor Potts. You had us worried that you wouldn’t pull through.”

“How long have I been here?” Lucas asked as the man began checking his vitals.

“A week,” Doctor Potts replied. "You were minutes away from death when Mrs Ketchum brought you in."

“Is my leg going to be okay?”

“It will take a few weeks to fully heal, but it should regain all functionality. I will write you a prescription for some pain medication.”

“Great,” Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. “Does that mean I can go?”

“You can, but I'm afraid I've got some bad news,” Doctor Potts said. “I contacted the orphanage regarding your situation. You've been missing for a few days, so they assumed the worst. They have already cleaned out your room and discarded your belongings.”

“I just turned eighteen,” Lucas shrugged. “So they would have kicked me out anyway.”

“That's not nice,” Delia said with a frown. “Do you have a place to stay?”

“I will find something,” Lucas replied, shaking his head. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Young man, your leg is still recovering. You need a place—”

“He can stay with Ash and me,” Delia interrupted.

She held up a hand when the two of them looked ready to protest. “It’s only for a few weeks, and I have the room for it.”

Lucas was about to say something, but the doctor grabbed her arm and led her to the corner of the room and began to speak quietly. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t quiet though, or maybe he didn’t care if he was heard. His impression of the doctor immediately worsened after hearing what he said.

“Mrs Ketchum, you cannot invite these kinds of undesirables into your home,” Doctor Potts said condescendingly. “You have a young boy to think about.”

“Dr Potts, I appreciate your concern, but Lucas is a nice boy. You have nothing to worry about.”

“How is going to repay you for the Pokedollars you spent on his medical fees?”

“Let me worry about that.”

Dr Potts leaned in closer to her. “I am sure we can come to some kind of arrange—”

“Goodbye Dr Potts,” Delia returned to Lucas' bed. “Let's get you out of here.”

Lucas saw Dr Potts give him an angry look before he left the room. What an asshole. He turned his attention to Delia who was pulling back his bedsheets.

“How much is it?” Lucas questioned.

“What are you talking about?” Delia played dumb.

“How much is the medical fee?” Lucas persisted.

Delia let out a heavy sigh. “It’s five thousand and two hundred Pokedollars.”

Lucas winced. Despite not knowing the actual value of the Pokedollar, if it was the same amount in dollars, then it was a considerable sum. Medical fees were not cheap.

“I will pay you back,” Lucas said. “I thank you for your generosity, but I do not like being beholden to anyone.”

“You're hardly in a position to pay me back,” Delia said bluntly. “I saw the contents of your wallet. You have sixty Pokedollars to your name. Focus on healing before worrying about anything else.”

“I have the capability of earning Pokedollars,” Lucas argued. “I—”

“You should already know this by now, but this world isn’t kind,” Delia said, the serious tone catching his attention. “So let me give you a bit of advice. Human kindness is in short supply, so welcome it whenever you come across it. I assume you heard everything Dr Potts said?”

Lucas nodded.

“He was asking for sexual favours in exchange for waiving your medical fees. He has a lovely wife at home, but that is clearly not enough for him. People are selfish."

Lucas fell silent.

Delia was about to help him to his feet when she realised that he was only wearing some pyjamas. “How silly of me. I forgot about some clothes for you.”

“I don’t suppose my old clothes are still good?” Lucas asked hopefully.

“Your shirt is fine, but your jeans had to be cut open to get to your leg. I will be back shortly with some clothes.”

“Take the Pokedollars in my wallet.”

Delia waved her arm dismissively. “Nonsense. I still have my late husband’s clothes at home that should fit you.”

She left the room. Lucas took the chance to move about as had a pressing need for the bathroom. Grabbing the crutches near his bed, he slowly got to his feet. He leaned heavily on the crutches for support as he was unable to bear weight on his leg. Lucas walked to the only other door in the room, assuming it was the bathroom. With a bit of effort, he managed to do his business.

Lucas shuffled over to the map, unable to contain his curiosity. At the bottom, there was some small writing that cleared up his confusion.

A map of the unified regions of Kanto.

Was Johto no longer around? It still had the same town and city names, but both regions were now considered Kanto. Already,he was seeing some changes from the actual game. It was no surprise, as this was an actual living breathing world. So he expected it to transcend the scope of the game. Just not on such a large scale.

Delia returned and helped him change his clothes. If she wasn’t so matter-of-fact about it, he would have been more embarrassed. She was a beautiful woman after all.

She had chosen a simple T-shirt and shorts. The latter fitted easily over his bandaged leg. Lastly, he donned a pair of worn black sneakers that were somewhat loose, but still comfortable.

Once he was ready, Delia grabbed his bag and slung his arm over her shoulders and guided him outside the building. The smell of Honeysuckle filled his nose as he breathed in her scent.

Outside, Lucas paused to look back in confusion. This medical centre was attached to the Pokemon Center, which seemed a bit odd. As humans and Pokemon have completely different physiologies, he wouldn't have expected the treatments to be the same. Upon further reflection, he understood. It is likely that a lot of trainers got injured along with their Pokemon, so having the two medical centres located next to each other made sense.

“What’s wrong?” Delia asked.

“Nothing,” Lucas shook his head. They stepped onto the sidewalk and made their way slowly down the street.

Lucas didn't want to reveal his ignorance of the world. As he did not have access to the previous host's memories, he would have to play it by ear. He needed to do some research on this world quickly, otherwise, he would give himself away at some point.

Delia led him through a few streets until they reached her neighbourhood. His leg was already hurting, and he was sweating profusely, so he was grateful the distance was short. Whatever pain medication they gave him, it was already wearing off.

As she led him down a row of single-family detached houses. Lucas couldn’t get over the feeling that he was overlooking something obvious. Recalling the sights they had passed along the way, he was finally able to identify the source of his uncertainty.

There were no vehicles on the roads. The only modes of transportation were large quadruped Pokemon pulling carriages, and people riding bicycles. Was Pallet Town a car-free zone? Another thing he noticed was the quaintness of the houses and streets he had walked past. He felt as if he was in a suburb from an earlier time period. The Pokemon Centre was the only thing that looked remotely modern.

Delia stopped in front of a home where her yard featured a variety of colourful flower beds, surrounded by a white picket fence. The house was painted pale yellow, and its roof was clad in slate-blue shingles. Although it wasn't the most spacious house, it certainly looked cosy.

There was a Pokemon sweeping the front porch with a broom. It spotted them and raised a hand in greeting. “Mime.”

There was something familiar about the Pokemon. “Have I met Mr Mime before?”

“Mimey is the one that saved you from the Arbok,” Delia said, opening the gate and leading him to the front porch.

“Hello, Mimey. Thank you for rescuing me,” Lucas said.

“Mime,” The Pokemon waved a hand dismissively.

“Let’s get you inside,” Delia said with concern, taking a close look at his pinched features.

They entered the house and Delia led him to the living room. Seating him on the couch, she brought over a stool that allowed him to elevate his leg. In front of him was a television. He wondered if it could provide any information on the world. Noticing his interest, Delia handed him the remote.

“I’m going to go and get this prescription filled,” Delia said, waving the piece of paper. “Can I get you anything before I go?”

“I’m fine,” Lucas replied.

“Well, Mr Mime will be here if you need anything.”

Lucas switched on the television after Delia left, and began flicking through the channels.  He didn’t find anything that contained any information that was useful. There were plenty of channels dedicated to Pokemon, but nothing about the world. Additionally, a variety of daytime soaps were playing. Grimacing, he switched off the television.

Grabbing his bag, he pulled out his Pokeball and released Icarus. The Pokemon launched himself at Lucas, and he caught him in his arms.

“Pidgey.”

It was nice that Icarus was happy to see him, even though their relationship was relatively new. Lucas checked Icarus’ status and noticed that he had gained a hundred points in favourability. Was it out of concern for him? Or because he got some entertainment from seeing his trainer being seriously hurt. Best not to question it.

Icarus flew off Lucas’ chest and began investigating his surroundings. He sure hoped Delia didn’t mind him releasing the Pokemon inside her home. But he didn’t want to leave him inside his Pokeball for too long. He didn’t know how they worked in this world, so it was better to be cautious.

Lucas opened his bag and grabbed the notebook that had the previous host's thoughts written down. If he wanted to act as if he was the same person, then he needed to know more about what he had been like. Opening to the first page, he began reading.

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Lucas awoke from a light nap a few hours later. Delia had prepared him lunch, and he had become tired and drifted off to sleep. The feeling of idleness was annoying because it wasn’t in his nature to be unproductive. In spite of what his barmy relatives may think of him, he was an overachiever. His hard work hadn't yet translated into real success, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

According to the notebook, he had a tough time at the orphanage. The place was poorly run and seemed to be a recruiting centre for a local gang. Lucas had been approached several times, but he refused to join them. That led to some harassment from other teens who had already joined. It was a relief that he had already turned eighteen and didn't have to return.

It surprised him how a gang was allowed to operate in Pallet Town, but the notebook revealed the reason. The population of the town was close to fifty thousand, making it a large town. Unfortunately, there was also a class system that separated the privileged from the less privileged.

Pallet Town was situated on a large hill. The wealthier individuals were living at the summit of the hill, while the poor lived near the bottom. It was not quite a slum area, but the living conditions were a lot poorer, and it was rife with crime. The authorities were less inclined to maintain a presence there. They would only act if the criminal elements affected the upper class. Delia had said that this was not a nice world, and she hadn’t been lying.

Delia seemed to be living in a middle-class neighbourhood, so she was better off than most. If he didn’t want to end up at the bottom of the hill, it meant that he had to find a way to earn Pokedollars fast. Aside from owing Delia, he needed funds for his own place to live. He wasn’t going to rely on her charity because he wasn't that kind of person.

His initial plan was to see if he could make a living off his artwork. Given the popularity of Pokemon in this world, there should be a huge demand for things like portraits and the like. It wasn’t like he would be able to do any kind of physical work for the next few weeks.

“I’m home,” a voice shouted, followed by a loud bang. Running footsteps could be heard, and he got a glimpse of a boy running past the doorway. The boy must have seen him, as he poked his head into the living room.

“Hi,” the boy said.

“Hello,” Lucas greeted him. “You must be Ash.”

The boy entered the room in a rush and sat next to him on the couch. Lucas was amazed to see how much he resembled Ash from the anime. He was short and had spiky black hair and black eyes. He could see some similarities to his mother, but he probably resembled his father more.

“You're the guy who almost got eaten by an Arbok,” Ash grinned. “What did it feel like?”

“Would you like me to show you?” Lucas smirked. “I guarantee you will cry.”

“Whatever,” Ash shrugged. Something caught his eye and turned to look at the drawing on the table. Lucas had placed it there when he was emptying his backpack.

“Awesome,” Ash breathed, picking up the drawing. “How did you get Palkia to look so realistic? I don’t think I have seen a cleaner image of it before.”

“Palkia?”

“You don’t know?” Ash looked at him as if he was dumb. “It is one of the most powerful Legendary Pokemon out there. Apparently, he has the power over space, and can even travel to faraway places. Additionally, it lives in a spatial dimension and rarely visits our world. Besides Arceus, he is the most elusive of the Legendary Pokemon.”

Interesting. It explained how Palkia came to be on Earth. But it kind of worried him that such a powerful Pokemon was such a dick. If he never saw it again, it would be too soon.

“Do you think it’s worth anything?” Lucas asked with interest. Had he found a solution to his lack of funds already?

Ash screwed up his face in thought. “I think Professor Oak would buy this for a considerable amount of Pokedollars.”

“How much?”

“Dunno. Why don’t I call him?” Ash handed him the drawing and dashed out into the hall. He heard a gasp, followed by Delia’s voice.

“Ash, stop running in the house,” Delia scolded him. “Do you want to injure me?”

“Sorry, Mum. I have important business to take care of.”

“What business?”

“Lucas and I have figured out a way he can make some Pokedollars. So, he doesn’t have to sponge off you anymore.”

Why you little shit!

Where did he get that from? The voices fell silent, and a minute later, Delia entered the room.

“Sorry, if Ash bothered you,” Delia said with an awkward smile.

“He wasn’t a bother,” Lucas assured her.

Best not to mention he wanted to give the brat a beating.

“Ash told me you were planning to sell your drawing,” Delia said. “I never gave it much thought when I first saw it, but it’s extraordinary that you have a drawing of Palkia. How did you manage to draw it? Did you copy the image from somewhere?”

“Would you believe me if I said that I encountered Palkia?” It was technically true. Just not in this world.

Delia looked concerned. “Is that how you ended up in the gorge?”

“Yes,” Lucas nodded. He needed to spin a believable tale that wouldn’t be analysed too closely. “It wasn't the friendliest Pokemon. I climbed down into the gorge to escape it, although I think it just lost interest in me. The place I ended up in turned out to be difficult terrain that kept me trapped for days. I had just found my way out when I encountered the Arbok.”

“You need to tell Professor Oak about this,” Delia said. “Palkia may be still in the area. I don’t think we have anything to worry about, since some time has passed already, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Ash ran back into the room. “Professor Oak is coming for dinner, Mum.”

“Okay, dear. Make sure to shower and wear a fresh pair of underwear.”

“Mum!”

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Later that evening, Delia led an old gentleman into the lounge. Professor Oak had a compact build with short grey hair and bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a lab coat, which seemed like a strange thing to wear to dinner.

“Where is the drawing?” Professor Oak demanded without introducing himself.

Delia sighed and shook her head at his rudeness.

“Nice to meet you too,” Lucas muttered, handing the drawing to the professor.

Professor Oak pulled out some glasses from his pocket and put them on. He made some little noises as he examined the drawing. Eventually, he lowered the paper with a smile on his face

“Remarkable,” Professor Oak said. “Tell me about your encounter with Palkia.”

As Lucas described the experience, Professor Oak asked a series of questions to gather as much information as possible. The man grew more excited during the conversation, so he must have sounded credible.

“I need to send a team to investigate the area. Where did you encounter Palkia?”

“On the cliffside overlooking the gorge I was found in,” Lucas replied.

“It’s the gorge where I go to harvest the berry trees,” Delia added.

“All right,” Professor Oak nodded. “I will have someone investigate. Young man, I will give you twenty thousand Pokedollars for the drawing.”

“Sold,” Lucas said quickly. There was no point in negotiating with him. He wasn’t in any position to ask for a better deal. Besides, the drawing was only a sketch, and not anything amazing.

The professor took out a chequebook and wrote him a cheque. The man was so casual about it as if the amount of Pokedollars meant little to him.

“Delia, what is that heavenly smell emanating from the kitchen?”

“It’s pot roast, professor,” Delia said. “It’s almost ready.”

Lucas looked down at the cheque with a happy expression. With this, he could pay off the Pokedollars he owed Delia, and even contribute some for rent. He would get some clothes and art supplies with the rest and see if he could make even more Pokedollars.

If that didn’t work out, there was always the adventurers guild. Although, he needed stronger Pokemon if he was going to venture into the wild.

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The next day, Delia hired a carriage to take them into town. Lucas needed to cash the cheque, but he didn't even know his bank account number. Fortunately, Delia suggested that he open a bank account here, instead of venturing down to the poor section of town. It was good advice because there was a chance that he would be robbed before he even left the bank. His adventurer’s guild card provided enough identification to open an account.

Lucas deposited two thousand Pokedollars into the account and cashed out the rest. He paid Delia, which left him with two thousand and eight hundred on hand. His assumption had been correct, as the monetary value of Pokedollars was similar to dollars.

Delia took him shopping for some new clothes, shoes and some personal care items. It felt good to be wearing his own clothes, despite how grateful he was to Delia lending him her husband's clothes.

Lucas asked Delia if there was a library nearby, and she led him to a small brick building that was located on the outskirts of the shopping area. Lucas wanted to spend some time here doing some research, so he told Delia she could do her own thing if she wished.

Having spent time with Delia last night, he discovered that she had inherited a lot of Pokedollars from her parents. There was also the insurance payout from her husband’s passing as well. This man had been a soldier with the Kanto Army, and he was killed while on a mission. Delia worked part-time for Professor Oak, helping him out at his laboratory.

Lucas searched the library for some general information and the history of the world. Thankfully, he came across a book that looked like it could answer many of his questions. It was as if it had been written for people like him, who didn’t have a clue about the world. He found a comfortable seat and settled in for a long reading session.

The information was illuminating and answered several questions that he had about the world. It was far more complex and changed than he ever would have thought. There was an entry that pointed out the discrepancies he had seen with the technology of this world.

Legendary Pokemon: The Cruel Oppressors or our Salvation?

The Great War

It was sixty years ago when the world as we knew it changed forever. The regions of Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn were embroiled in a devastating war. There are some points of contention, but it is generally agreed that the main aggressor that initiated the war was Johto.

Trying to feed an ever-growing population, Johto made some incursions into the Kanto’s borders, seeking to capture some of its fertile land for themselves. Kanto responded with aggression, driving out the invaders from their lands. Over the next few months, tensions rose as more conflicts erupted. The outbreak of war seemed inevitable.

There were other regions that were pulled into the conflict. The Sinnoh region, which borders the Johto region to the north, feared that Johto would attack them next. When they allied with the Kanto region, it appeared as if the war would end before it even started. However, there was another player that entered the fray. Hoenn had some significant trade agreements with Johto that were affected by the conflict, so they joined the region against the other two.

The worst period in human history followed. Tens of thousands, both human and Pokemon alike, were killed in the war. The main culprit was when humans started employing devastating weapons of mass destruction. The lands between Kanto and Johto were permanently scarred by the destruction. It got so bad that the normally passive Legendary Pokemon made a move that changed the entire course of history forever.

Fall of Technology.

The Legendary Pokemon, the most powerful and enigmatic existence in our world, began systematically destroying our infrastructure. Their main targets initially were the weapon manufacturers who built any sort of weapon used for warfare. Humans were helpless to resist their overwhelming power. Even the other regions of the world were not spared.

It was then that we witnessed the arrival of Arceus. It descended to our world and communicated its displeasure at our actions. If told us that if any of the technologies they targeted continued to be built, then they would continue to destroy them. While it was a heavy-handed statement of intent, it got the point across.

A few attempted to resist, aiming their weapons at the Legendary Pokemon. However, Arceus alone was able to handle them. It was a demonstration of the Pokemon's power, and it is still something we fear to this very day.

Over the next decade, a number of other technologies were targeted, such as the automobile industry. It seems like the Legendary Pokemon did not like the effect fossil fuels had on the environment. Any other items that had huge manufacturing processes were also not permitted.

It has led to the current world where technology is skewed towards certain industries. In some fields, we are advanced, such as Pokemon technology. In other areas, it is like we are living as we did a century ago. However, it has also led to new innovations, and old craftsman trades have come back into prominence. Pokemon, as always, are a vital part of our lives.

It cannot be denied that the Legendary Pokemon has had a beneficial effect on our lives. Ever since Arceus descended onto this world, there have been no major conflicts, and people seemed to lead more positive and fulfilling lives.

So, is it really a bad thing, to live under the so-called oppression of the Legendary Pokemon? Since there is a religion that worships them as gods, there are plenty who do not think so….

Lucas put the book down, letting the information sink in. Legendary Pokemon sounded like they were weapons of mass destruction in of themselves, only several magnitudes higher. He never stood a chance of escaping Palkia.

Could it be that the Great War was the reason for Johto being assimilated into the Kanto region? And what did that mean in terms of Pokemon? Did they stick to their own defined territories, or did they intermingle?

Lucas continued to browse through the book until he came upon an entry about professions. There were plenty of crafting and trade professions, but that was no surprise. If you took away the ability to manufacture on a large scale, then it led to more skilled workers among the population producing handcrafted goods.

His attention was drawn to a profession called Alchemy. It was very profitable since herbal pills and potions had replaced a lot of traditional medicines. Apparently, plants in this world were a lot more potent and had many beneficial properties.

He was also intrigued by the Pokemon Breeder profession. The ultimate goal of a breeder was to create powerful Pokemon Eggs that inherited their parents' traits. An egg could sell for tens of thousands of Pokedollars. If the Pokemon was rare, it may be worth even more.

Considering the ability he had, the profession sounded perfect for him. He wasn't interested in a traditional Pokemon journey. Breeding Pokemon, on the other hand, sounded way safer and more lucrative.

Should he go for it?

So, what do you think? I have decided that Lucas is going to be a Pokemon Breeder. But he will still gather a team of powerful Pokemon. The world is not a safe place, after all.

Thanks for reading.