《Pokemon Freelancer》 Chapter 1: The Big Man ¡° ¡° ¡° This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 2: Gut Feeling ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 3: On the Edge ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Chapter 4: Creative Nickname As he marched to the lighthouse, Joe realised why the light was out. If Jasmine was here to tend to a Pokemon, and it was at the top of the building, then it was probably responsible for operating the light. Or maybe the Pokemon was the light. Whatever illness the Pokemon had incapacitated it to the point where it couldn¡¯t illuminate the sea. Joe craned his neck to observe the building he approached. It looked old. The paint could do with a refresh. But more important to him was how tall it was. He estimated sixty or seventy meters. Three metres per storey, so ten storeys. Hundreds of steps. He wasn¡¯t even considering backing out. He was just considering what lay ahead. What trial he was about to overcome despite his tiredness. He walked up the concrete steps carved into the base of the lighthouse and entered the structure after pushing a thick wooden door aside. Finally out of the rain. The ground floor of the lighthouse was a large open space. Orange, rectangle lights lined the white walls at regular intervals. At the opposite side of the room, forty feet away, were metal doors and a button on the wall next to it. An elevator. Joe was tempted to start a victory dance, but he held himself back. Instead, he walked like a normal human. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s the medicine?¡± Joe asked, finally able to use his indoor voice again. Might as well get it out of the way. He had a theory about it falling down the cliff and being destroyed. If that were the case, he didn¡¯t know what to do next. He wasn¡¯t a doctor. Olivine¡¯s Gym Leader stayed silent until Joe covered most of the ground to the elevator. He felt like this confirmed his suspicions, but he wanted to hear it from her anyway. She opened her mouth. ¡°¡­I dropped it.¡± Jasmine started to quietly sob. When Joe noticed her crying earlier, was it not for herself and the pain she was in, but for the Pokemon she was supposed to treat? If so, she was tougher than she looked. Joe admired that. ¡°So, what now? Can we get the medicine from another shop?¡± Joe felt the swishing of hair on his neck. Jasmine was shaking her head, her bangs slapping him. The medicine must be a specialist product. Not something they could casually buy. ¡°Do we call for help then?¡± After saying it, Joe realised Jasmine wouldn¡¯t have a smartphone on her because of her dress. It¡¯s not hard for Joe to imagine his own phone is dead now. It was in his pocket. He¡¯d been hit by enough rain to fill a swimming pool. If it somehow survived that, the engineer of the phone should receive a raise. ¡°...I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll figure something out.¡± If he had to, Joe would carry Jasmine¡¯s Pokemon to the nearest nurse. He¡¯d been on occasion. Places called PokeCenters. If the Pokemon was too big for him, then he¡¯d just have to run somewhere and get assistance from someone. He was involved now. He wasn¡¯t going to abandon Jasmine. Joe arrived in front of the elevator and put a hand out, his pointer finger moving to push the call button. The exact moment the button sunk into the panel and a ding rang out, the room went dark. The orange lights were replaced a moment later by a dim blue hue. Emergency power, backup lights. Power to the building had failed. Joe sucked air through his teeth. Silver lining. At least they weren¡¯t in the metal box when the power went decided to call it quits. Backup power wasn¡¯t going to fuel an elevator. He was back to needing to climb hundreds of stairs. ¡°Well, end of the road. I don¡¯t think I can carry you to the top. You¡¯re surprisingly heavy. Must be the influence of all those steel-types.¡± Joe had never told such a bold lie. Jasmine started to wriggle free of his arms holding her legs and pushed against his back to get down. He automatically loosened his grip in response. She hopped down. Joe heard her breathe sharply from the pain of landing on her injured ankle. ¡°It was just a joke.¡± Joe turned to the Gym Leader. ¡°N- No¡­ I can¡¯t keep relying on you.¡± Joe took a big step forward to stand a mere inch from Jasmine. He put an arm around her shoulders and another under the back of her knees. He lifted her in a carry usually reserved for a husband carrying his wife away from the wedding. A bridal carry. ¡°You¡¯re not going to get far on that leg. It¡¯s fine to rely on others. If you need help, just ask.¡± Jasmine was clearly embarrassed. She covered her face with her hands. Her ears turned red though. Gave her away. Her hands muffled her speech, but Jasmine followed through on Joe¡¯s recommendation. ¡°T- Then, can you please help me get upstairs¡­?¡± She got quieter the longer she spoke. ¡°Gladly.¡± Joe smiled as he moved away from the elevator, Jasmine in his arms. Off to the side of the room was a spiral staircase that, Joe rightfully assumed, would take him to the top. Joe ascended, light tapping of footsteps echoing throughout the building from the thin metal stairs. Rain could be heard pounding the outside of the lighthouse. Jasmine soon removed her hands from her face, cheeks still slightly red, and instead held them to her non-existent chest. That was okay. Joe didn¡¯t discriminate based on size. Thinking about it, Joe was growing more attached to Jasmine than he expected. Right now he only had casual flings in his life. He didn¡¯t want to be like that with Jasmine. Didn¡¯t seem fair to her. But commitment wasn¡¯t something for Joe right now, so he wasn¡¯t going to pursue Jasmine. He¡¯d love a proper relationship, his own family, but certain circumstances prevented him. It was a problem Joe had let fester for too long. After today he was going to look into it. Without realising, Joe took one more step and was at the top. That was easier than he expected. The room at the top of the lighthouse wasn¡¯t big. It didn¡¯t need to be. Joe estimated a diameter of fifteen feet. Around him was a wall of curved glass to let light out. In the centre, next to a podium that amplified light, was a Pokemon collapsed on its side. Yellow back and plump white belly, like a guy at the bar that drank too much. Red gem on its head and tail. Black stripes on its ears, neck and tail. ¡°Amphy!¡± Jasmine called, scrambling out of Joe¡¯s arms. She winced and limped on her first step, but quickly ignored the pain and ran to her Pokemon. She really was tough. She could ignore her own pain if it were for someone else. Amphy the Ampharos had been in her family for a few generations. It was old and sick but determined to fulfil its duty. Her concern stemmed from the fact that Amphy wasn¡¯t just a pet. It was family. She¡¯d grown up with the Pokemon. Given its age, Amphy was like a grandparent to Jasmine. Jasmine crouched by Amphy, her hands hovering over it, shaking. Joe checked his phone. Sure enough, it was done. No saving it. He casually walked up to Jasmine and knelt beside her. He waited to see if she could figure out a solution on her own, but when he saw her face, he knew she wasn¡¯t thinking straight. Didn¡¯t know what to do. Joe put a hand on Jasmine¡¯s shoulder to get her attention. ¡°Hey, look at me.¡± Joe said. Jasmine turned her head but her eyes focused on Amphy for a few more seconds. She finally looked at Joe. ¡°Calm down. You can¡¯t help anyone when you¡¯re flustered like this. Take a deep breath and think. What next?¡± The Gym Leader obeyed. To help her, Joe breathed with her. Slow and steady. In and out. A minute later, he nodded. She was calm and seemed to be ready to act. She had been given the time to sort her thoughts.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°W- We need to get Amphy to a PokeCenter.¡± Amphy¡¯s medicine was a specialist item. Most PokeCenters kept stock of important medicines just in case a situation like this occurred for a Trainer. Jasmine looked up at Joe. The thought crossed her mind again. She couldn¡¯t keep asking him for help. ¡°But...¡± In response Joe just shrugged. ¡°Then that¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Going down is the easy part. You get on my back and I¡¯ll carry Amphy in my arms.¡± Jasmine nodded and for the first time since they met, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She climbed on Joe¡¯s back immediately. The breathing meditation had aided her more than expected. Her mind was always full of thoughts. It¡¯s what often slowed her down. Too much information to sort through. Giving herself a reset, clearing her mind, allowed her to immediately think more clearly. Once Jasmine was on Joe, he spun his body, still crouched, until he was facing Amphy. He put his hands under the Pokemon¡¯s arms and hefted it up. It was shorter than Jasmine, and heavier. He let it rest against his body so he could adjust his grip and found out Amphy was conscious. It was just resting its eyes. Amphy made a noise, a tired whine, and stood on its own two feet. Joe moved his hands and lifted Amphy. The Pokemon curled its head into itself. The weight of the Pokemon really hit Joe. He stood there for a moment, collecting himself. Must be the bulbous belly. Or maybe Joe was just tired. His muscles were screaming at him to stop. He¡¯d listen soon, after he got Jasmine and Amphy to the PokeCenter. It wasn¡¯t doing much anymore, but Joe was thankful for his decision to work out. At first he just did it on a whim, but it¡¯d come in handy. When Joe moved to Olivine, he had already decided to save up for a big holiday. He liked the great outdoors. Because of this desire, Joe wanted a hobby he could enjoy for cheap. As he explored his apartment¡¯s surroundings, he stumbled across a fitness centre ten minutes away. He tried it and found it reinvigorating to work on himself. It helped that they had televisions above most machines. The fitness centre aired shows and livestreams from the Internet. From Pokemon battles to regular TV dramas. Even a couple of documentaries. It was two Pidgeys with one Rock Throw. Joe got to work on himself and enjoy typical entertainment, TV shows. He was fine with this combination as his hobby. On his descent, Joe noticed there were a few other doors attached to the stairs. He glanced inside as he passed since the doors were open. One seemed like a room for Amphy. A pile of hay poked out from beneath a blanket. Another was a simple kitchen and lounge area. With technology as advanced as it was, Joe was surprised the city was relying on a Pokemon for this job. Especially a sickly Pokemon. If it isn¡¯t broke, don¡¯t fix it. Such a saying no longer applied now that Amphy was ill. Maybe this would show the mayor they should renovate the lighthouse. Let Amphy finally rest. Pride was fine, but not if it caused injury either to oneself or to others. It seemed time for Amphy to move on. Towards the bottom of the stairs, Joe chuckled to himself from a dumb thought. Jasmine peered over his shoulder, curious. ¡°...Why are you laughing?¡± Joe hefted Amphy, making sure his grip on the Pokemon remains strong while also bringing attention to it. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± It took a second, but Jasmine eventually understood and shrunk away. Joe imagined her face. Embarrassed again, her cheeks red. He smiled at the thought as he reached the bottom of the lighthouse and walked out the door. The storm seemed to have passed, but it was still raining. Back to a light drizzle. Joe marched through the streets of Olivine as Jasmine pointed over his shoulder to where the nearest PokeCenter was. He soon saw a building, three storeys tall with smaller two storey segments coming off the sides. A bright red roof, heavily slanted. The roof stopped right as it touched the top of the windows for the third floor. Above the door was a massive sign. Bigger than Joe. A sphere. Top half red, bottom half white. Frosted glass backlit by bulbs. He entered through massive automatic glass doors. He was noticing a trend with these double doors. Always fully glass. The interior of the PokeCenter seemed cosy. Orange tile flooring. Long leather seats in the corners for people to rest as they waited. Small plants here and there to add some life. A cafeteria in a corner, the scent of coffee reaching Joe¡¯s nose. Dead ahead was a desk with a nurse standing behind it. Pink hair fashioned into buns. Big, kind eyes and a smile permanently plastered on her face. A rotund pink Pokemon stood beside her with an egg in a pouch. The rotund Pokemon ran away when it saw Joe, returning with a stretcher on wheels right as Joe reached the desk. ¡°Please place the Ampharos on the bed.¡± The nurse used a hand to gesture towards the stretcher. Joe had to stop himself from laughing as he obliged and put the animal down. He didn¡¯t expect that. Amphy the Ampharos. How creative. Although to be honest, if he had a Pokemon he doubted he would even bother with a nickname, so really, who was the one that lacked creativity? Once Ampharos was lying down, Jasmine hopped off Joe¡¯s back and winced at the pain that shot through her leg again. Amphy was carted away into the back to be looked after and Jasmine went with them after smiling at Joe. It was genuine and reached her ears. He liked her smile. ¡°I hope everything goes well.¡± He said as he watched her go. A stranger approached Joe, a lanky kid that looked like he was still in school. No doubt waiting for his Pokemon to be healed. He handed Joe a towel. Joe gave his thanks and handed it back after drying his hands and face. Joe yawned deeply and stretched his arms above his head. He should be getting back to work, but he was so tired. He desperately needed to rest his aching body. He was all about routine and discipline, but surely his manager would forgive this one selfish request. He walked to a brown leather couch and lay down, his head resting on his arm. Joe was asleep in seconds. A few minutes later, after informing the nurse of what medicine Amphy needed and hearing her Pokemon would be okay, Jasmine went to the lobby of the PokeCenter and saw Joe fast asleep. She smiled to herself and walked over to him. She struggled with people, she didn¡¯t know when she would be able to thank Joe properly, but she could push her anxiety aside if he were asleep. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Jasmine then realised she didn¡¯t even know his name yet. He did all this, not seeming to consider leaving Jasmine to sort her own problem out, and she didn¡¯t even know who he was. The nurse returned to her desk and saw Jasmine hovering over Joe, staring at his face. It was a little creepy, if she had to be honest. But the nurse could see the duo was still drenched from head to toe. She went to a backroom and grabbed a portable heater. People weren¡¯t going to fall ill on her watch. She went and placed it next to Joe and Jasmine to warm them up, helping Jasmine into a seat too. It was around this time that emergency services visited the lighthouse under recommendation from the bespectacled Gym assistant. She feared for Jasmine¡¯s safety. Joe seemed like trouble. Emergency services found nothing. Not even Amphy. The Gym was thrown into panic at the news as Jasmine was considered missing. The confusion wouldn¡¯t be corrected for another few hours. After the Gym was informed of Jasmine¡¯s whereabouts and the situation calmed down, there was another mess to clean up. Joe had skipped work. The manager liked Joe, but he felt he had no other choice. He had to fire the young man. Adults had a responsibility to commit to tasks like work. Ditching obligations was a sign of bad character. But when Jasmine stuttered and stammered her way through the story, the manager instead fired the two useless employees. The pompous brat and her worthless friend. Joe was only away from the shop because the brat didn¡¯t do her job. If the blame went to someone, it was definitely her. Considering how much effort it took, Joe praised Jasmine and stroked her head, causing her to turn bright red again. Joe wondered if he was overstepping, but it ended up being a good choice. The praise gave her some confidence. From that point onwards, Jasmine would only deal with Joe when it came to the PokeMart and the League¡¯s business relationship. She essentially got Joe a promotion. The delivery was an extra service that helped Joe earn more money. He researched how to be genuinely strong and used the increased income to enter a handful of martial arts clubs. It turns out the solution was simple. Instead of just gaining muscle, he needed to actually use it. Every Monday and Friday, Jasmine would wait for Joe in the Gym¡¯s reception area, a smile on her face. She opened up to him and slowly managed to hold conversations. She was still slow to talk. Wanted to be sure about what she was going to say. But overall she spoke more and more as time passed. Joe helped Jasmine come out of her shell and fight her anxiety. Chapter 5: SpriGOTito Back in the present, Joe shifted in his seat, and Sprigatito took the hint. The big man wanted to stand up. The feline hopped off Joe¡¯s lap, having just finished the entire pack of food. It hovered around his legs, clearly attached to him now. Joe smiled down at the little Pokemon as he stood up and stretched. He scrunched up the packaging and shoved it into a pocket and wiped crumbs off his trousers. The automatic glass panel doors hadn¡¯t moved in a while. Not a single customer during his little reminiscing session. Sometimes he wondered how the store was still in business, but they earned more than enough during busier hours. As the superior here, the manager¡¯s assistant, Joe felt he should check on his underlings. See if they¡¯d done a good job. He walked the aisles. Shelves were stocked neatly and any free space was spotless. No dust. The tiled floor was squeaky clean too. As he performed this check-up, Sprigatito walked beside him, humming deeply. Whenever he stopped for a moment, the feline brushed the side of its body against his leg. Joe knew little about this species of Pokemon. He wondered if Sprigatito was marking territory or property. If not, then it was just a sign of affection, like other felines. Joe was happy to receive. It was a good reward for his efforts. He made it to a corner and observed large hiking backpacks hanging from the wall. They were covered in straps so people could hook items onto them. Plenty of compartments that used zips. A few exterior pouches. He used one of these to deliver products for years, and he¡¯d be using one again soon for its actual purpose of exploring the great outdoors. Perhaps it was a man thing, but Joe felt a call to the wild. He¡¯d lived in a large city for over half a decade. It was time for a different view. For a different life. The month-long trips around Johto weren¡¯t enough. Joe walked back to the counter and saw his coworkers putting away cleaning products in the storeroom. He was happy to have finally worked alongside diligent, decent people. He¡¯ll be sad to say goodbye to them. Joe imagines, when he returns, both Hydie and Shaun would have moved on. Especially Hydie. She¡¯d been at university for a few years already and she got this job for simple experience, to have a good reference for a future position. Shaun was in that phase of his life where he tended to go from job to job until he finally found a place he liked. Maybe he¡¯ll stick around, but Joe expected the kid to be gone in the near future. When they came back into the store front, Joe praised them. ¡°Good job, you two. The place is spotless.¡± Hydie gave a ¡®V¡¯ for victory using her index and middle finger. Shaun gave a thumbs up. It¡¯s Joe¡¯s last day, they can¡¯t have him leaving annoyed that his employees can¡¯t do simple tasks. He¡¯s been good to them. Lenient in what they can and can¡¯t do. They respect Joe and want him to think well of them. Light poured in through the wall of windows, drawing Joe¡¯s attention away from his coworkers. Joe looked to see the storm left as quickly as it had appeared. Clouds parted to reveal the sun. Not liking the constant reminder of time, Joe didn¡¯t wear a watch at work. However, he had a good internal clock. He could tell his shift was going to end soon. That was the reason for his one last check of the PokeMart. No harm in doing his job properly in his last hour here. Slacking off would be a sign of bad discipline. Thanks to his distracted state, Hydie and Shaun managed to sneak back into the staffroom to grab something without him knowing. Sprigatito noticed though. It watched them use the door with curious eyes and the tilt of its head. ¡°Hey, Joe.¡± Hydie called out as she approached, causing him to turn to her. In her hands was a little rectangle cake, no more than a foot long. Pure white icing was layered on thick. ¡°You¡¯re a difficult guy to buy for, you know.¡± ¡°If we couldn¡¯t get you a decent present, then you can¡¯t go wrong with some good cake, right?¡± Shaun joined in. Joe gave them a wry smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Well we did, so eat up.¡± Hydie stated, puffing out her moderate chest. ¡°What, the whole thing? Right now?¡± Joe teased. It¡¯d be one of the last times to bait her. Might as well take the opportunity. ¡°No, silly. It¡¯s already cut into four.¡± Joe observed for a moment then grabbed a slice. The cake was so expertly cut that he didn¡¯t notice at first. The white icing didn¡¯t give anything away. He thought about it for a moment. Only one reason for it to be split into four. ¡°Cats are allowed to eat this?¡± He threw the slice into his mouth. Wonderfully sweet. As good as the cake his mother got him every year for his Birthday. Might the same brand, actually. Joe wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Hydie contacted his mother. Some may find the cake to be sickly sweet, but it was just right for Joe. Hydie gently bit into her piece and nodded in response to Joe¡¯s question. After enough chewing, savouring the flavour, she spoke. ¡°The shop advertised all food as being edible for Pokemon.¡± Shaun was a bit of a messy eater, shoving his slice into his mouth and munching fast before going in for seconds. Hydie slapped his hand away and Joe grabbed the last slice. He crouched down to Sprigatito. ¡°You still got room in there for more?¡± ¡°Of course she does. Every woman has a second stomach for sweets.¡± Hydie replied in Sprigatito¡¯s place. Indeed, the feline nibbled on the cake as the man looked up at Hydie. A rare scene. He¡¯s not usually looking up at anyone. ¡°How do you know Sprigatito is a she?¡± ¡°Intuition.¡± Both Joe and Shaun gave a half-hearted, ¡°Sure.¡± and left it at that. It must be true though. Hydie was never left alone with the cat. It was always in Joe¡¯s hands or by his side. Hydie only stroked Sprigatito¡¯s head once or twice. After the feline was finally done eating, Joe saw the state of her face. Of course, she was an animal. She was going to be a messy eater. What did that say about Shaun? Regardless, Joe was about to stand up when Hydie stuck her hand out. She was holding the white towel Joe bought earlier to dry the cat. Joe thanked her and grabbed Sprigatito by the back of the neck to keep her in place. He rubbed her face to get rid of all the icing and crumbs. Apparently the feline liked the sensation as she yipped once she was clean. Joe pulled the towel away and saw a smile on her face. He was amused how easy it seemed to please the Pokemon. With the snack tucked away in everyone¡¯s stomachs, they bickered for a bit before the trio for the next shift arrive. The manager arrived first, his hair entirely grey but well-groomed. His grandson was by his side. A prickly kid that still needed to grow up. His attitude annoyed those around him, but he didn¡¯t care just yet. He would one day. It was just a phase. After that, a man in his mid-forties arrived. Someone Joe didn¡¯t know. Must be his replacement. He¡¯s the last of the new shift for now, until busier hours. Everyone was wearing the same blue shirt and black trousers. The PokeMart¡¯s uniform. Customers chose this moment to start appearing. With the sun bursting through clouds, people were out again. Parents getting their children out of school. Other adults finishing shifts like Joe was about to. The manager¡¯s grandson and Joe¡¯s replacement get to work as Hydie and Shaun disappear to avoid having to work overtime. Joe stood aside, out of the way. He¡¯s thankful for the storm. He had an hour of little work. He got to relax at the end. The manager stood beside Joe and observed his new employees. If his hair colour didn¡¯t give away his age, his wrinkles would. His face looked like a thick rug that¡¯d been pushed together from both sides. His eyes were completely covered. Yet his vision was perfect. No one knew how. When the manager was satisfied his employees were doing a good job, he turned to Joe and put a hand out to shake. Joe obliged, having gotten on well with the old man since the beginning. ¡°You enjoy yourself, kid. It¡¯s probably a once in a lifetime holiday. Make the most of it.¡± Joe nodded, briefly looking at the item that was handed to him within the handshake. He knew what it would be based on the size and shape, but he had to check. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. You look after yourself, old man.¡± With the faintest hint of a smile, the manager shooed Joe out the door as the big man pocketed his gift. The manager knew Joe never brought anything with him. No bag to grab from the staffroom, unlike Hydie and Shaun. Being an assistant manager had perks, like Joe got to keep his smartphone on him. No need for a locker. Joe walked outside with Sprigatito trailing after him. He was never going to see his share of the bet. He¡¯d forgotten about it already. He looked up into the sky, using a hand to cover his eyes. Starting now, he was free to go wherever his feet took him. Sounded like a dream. There had been a brief discussion about going out drinking tonight with his coworkers, but Hydie had a test tomorrow so she was out. Joe wanted to set out early tomorrow so didn¡¯t want to deal with a hangover. Shaun was a severe lightweight so stayed away from social events at bars. It was easy for the group to say no to a night out.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He looked down at Sprigatito, lowering his hand back down to his side. ¡°You look after yourself, Sprigatito.¡± The feline¡¯s face immediately shifted from cheerful to sad. The smile vanished. Its eyes clouded and it looked at the ground. Joe had seen this before, dozens of times. It¡¯s why he¡¯d never adopted a stray Pokemon. The first time he looked after a wild one like this, he returned it to its urban home. He regretted it a few days later and went back to see if it wanted to be adopted, only to see it happy with other Pokemon. It had found its own family. For Joe, that was the best-case scenario. People¡¯s, or Pokemon¡¯s, happiness was important regardless of whether Joe was the one supplying it. He¡¯s sure Sprigatito will be happy elsewhere. Besides, he couldn¡¯t adopt every troubled Pokemon in the city. He¡¯d end up with hundreds, thousands, of Pokemon. He was in no position to help so many creatures that all had different needs. So, this was it. No more Sprigatito. Joe enjoyed having the Pokemon around, however brief it was. He always enjoyed the company of animals. He gave the green cat a final smile and goodbye as he turned to head home. A modest place, a small one-bedroom apartment suitable for an adult male. As expected of someone that thought about discipline, it was well kept. Clean and tidy at all times. He occasionally received jabs from friends about the interior being bland, but Joe didn¡¯t feel the need to decorate. Sprigatito watched Joe leave until he was out of sight. She turned and walked alongside a road in the opposite direction. Her enthusiasm was gone and her head remained hanging low. She thought perhaps she would finally have a place to call home with a good human, but apparently Joe didn¡¯t care enough to adopt her. As she walked, trying to decide what to do next, Sprigatito¡¯s ear twitched. She looked up, turning her attention to what she heard. She saw a child being picked up by his mother and realised she really wanted that. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of Joe continuing to look after her. She had been alone her entire life, a few months on the streets. She had no one to return home to. Sprigatito could still be considered a newborn too. After receiving a taste of what a family could be like, she wanted more. No other human had bothered with Sprigatito, which made the one that did put in some effort more special than the others. He might be willing, with a little push. She was going to become his Pokemon and continue to experience that soothing aura. She desired to finally have a good life, not needing to fight to survive every day, living off scraps. Not wanting to waste another second, the feline rushed the way she saw Joe headed. A curved road heading away from the city centre. He was noticeable due to his size, but that also meant he took half the steps normal-sized people took to cover the same distance. Sprigatito believed it would be tough to catch up to him. She could wait around the shop, but that showed a lack of determination. She¡¯d do what she had to in order to reach him immediately. Running as fast as she could, Sprigatito skidded to a halt after running along asphalt paths for a few minutes. Her goal was surprisingly easy. She had caught up to Joe. Of course, it was because he had stopped to help an old lady cross the road. Given his size and strength, Joe could pick the woman up and carry her across, but he wanted to help maintain her independence. People appreciate assistance, but they also don¡¯t like to feel like their autonomy has been stripped from them. Made them feel less capable. It can be a difficult balancing act. So Joe just held her hand as cars stopped. Whether they stopped out of respect and compassion or because it looked like Joe would beat them up if they refused, no one but the drivers knew. Having safely escorted the old woman, Joe waved at her and continued on, to his apartment. It wasn¡¯t much further, just around the corner. A white structure with red brick outlines. A little basic, but the price was reasonable so he accepted it. Function over form. Sprigatito hung back, not entirely sure how to approach. She watched from afar as Joe walked up some stairs on the side of the four storey building. Joe moved until he was at the top, then he walked along an outdoor hallway. Constantly hopping up the stairs seemed annoying, so Sprigatito used another method to ascend. The apartment building had a handful of trees out front. Sprigatito used her claws and natural agility to climb one. She hopped from branch to branch until she was as close to Joe¡¯s home as she could be, and she curled up and waited, eyes fixed on his front door. She was just a little too slow, he was already inside. Leaping to the wall of the outdoor hallway seemed easy, but she held off. She didn¡¯t know how long Joe would be in his apartment. Being a grass-type, she was in her element here in the tree. She didn¡¯t want to wait around on brick or concrete. The feline must¡¯ve been tired. Joe was only in his home for twenty minutes before he came back out, and Sprigatito had fallen asleep within that time. Working as a lookout wasn¡¯t her future profession. It was boring. But Joe closing his door created enough noise to wake Sprigatito. Joe paid her no mind as he locked his door. Sprigatito was green, and in a tree in the middle of Summer. Perfect camouflage. He¡¯d come home to freshen up, have a late lunch, get changed into comfortable clothes and grab his gym bag. A single strap went over his head and onto his shoulder to secure it over his one-tone jacket and t-shirt. He turned to walk along the hallway to the stairs, the gym bag bouncing against his legs that now wore blue denim jeans. Sprigatito, still half asleep and feeling groggy from a weirdly timed nap, went to stand up and dash off the branch. She wanted to jump at Joe, he was close enough. But she put a paw too close to the edge and slipped, letting out a little yelp as she began to fall. This caught Joe¡¯s attention. He heard birds chirping all the time because of the trees around the apartment, but not¡­ cats? His emerald eyes widened as he glimpsed movement. It didn¡¯t fit in with the lush leaves. Big red eyes. Sprigatito. She was falling from a branch. He may be four storeys up, but Joe didn¡¯t hesitate. He placed a meaty hand atop brick and hopped over the four-foot wall of the apartment hallway. His brain was playing catchup with his actions and he realised he¡¯d seen cats fall from trees before. They were always fine afterwards. Cats were nimble and often immune to fall damage. Oh well, he was committed now. As he fell, he kicked the outer wall and used a long arm to reach out to Sprigatito. The feline was descending straight down while Joe was moving at an angle. The two intersected within moments. He caught the green feline in one hand and brought it to his chest. At the same time, he moved his gym bag with his other hand as he twisted his body. His bag would hit the ground first, followed by his back or side. It was a good job that, like most people who visit fitness centres, Joe packed too many clothes. He just tossed all his workout clothes in there. A dozen pairs. This one lazy decision in his life saved him from major harm. A second later, Joe hit dirt that surrounded the trees and rolled on his side once, twice, three times before stopping. He breathed heavily, despite not really doing much. It was less than five seconds of intense action. Atop his chest was Sprigatito, unharmed. His arm had covered for the feline successfully, as intended. He lifted his head to look at the shivering Pokemon. Scared once again, but not aimed at Joe this time. At least, he hoped the fear wasn¡¯t because of him. He was sure they were past Joe being a big scary man. Joe pats the cat¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re all right.¡± After saying that, he sat up, Sprigatito cupped in a hand. He winced from pain, squinting his eyes slightly. The adrenaline had kept him from feeling it immediately. It felt like he¡¯d been struck by a blunt weapon, hard. He was going to have a sizeable bruise on his side soon. The cat was wide awake now, and thankful to Joe. He didn¡¯t have to risk himself like that. It just made Sprigatito want to stay with him even more. She was right to go after him. Joe put her down and stood up to dust himself off, every movement cause pain to shoot along a couple of ribs. Maybe damaged tissue or a bruised bone. Joe would be sure to keep an eye on it over the next few days. If it took too long to heal then he was more injured than he thought. He then looked at Sprigatito. With a smile he put his hand in a pocket. Out came a sphere, red on top and white at the bottom. It was tiny, the size of a human adult¡¯s eye, until Joe pressed a button in the centre and it expanded. Now it was the size of a baseball. His manager hadn¡¯t just shook his hand. He¡¯d placed a Pokeball in Joe¡¯s palm. It was his parting gift. The manager¡¯s final words were telling Joe to make the most of his time off. Joe was all about seizing opportunities when presented to him. This was just another in a long line. His manager knew him well. Joe had always held off on having a Pokemon for one reason or another. Usually because he felt they didn¡¯t need him. It was tied to his need to constantly make himself useful to someone. If a Pokemon was going to come to him, he¡¯d gladly accept it into his life. Sprigatito was the first Pokemon to come back to Joe after he¡¯d temporarily cared for it. It needed him, or wanted him, for something. No one was capable of shutting Jasmine up when she spoke about battling, but she had also imparted general knowledge to Joe about Pokemon. Pokemon were more than capable of living harmoniously with people. They were easily domesticated. It¡¯d been happening for thousands of years. It was ingrained in their DNA, their instincts, at this point. As long as a person proved they were capable in some way, like through a show of strength or compassion, a Pokemon would accept a human. Joe didn¡¯t need to be told Sprigatito was a fan of the affection he had shown her. And he was happy about that. He knelt down to the green cat and showed the Pokeball to it. ¡°How about it? Want to come with me? I promise plenty of treats.¡± Sprigatito¡¯s face lit up, the biggest smile Joe had seen so far. She already felt comfortable with him thanks to his soothing aura. There was no hesitation in joining him. The feline had needed a parental figure and, in a way, she¡¯d found one. She headbutted the Pokeball, which opened and turned her into some sort of blue energy. The Pokeball absorbed her in this energy form and closed. The orb rocked back and forth in Joe¡¯s hand a few times before settling with an audible ding from¡­ somewhere. Did this thing have a speaker? Regardless, Joe had caught his first Pokemon. A Sprigatito. He let her out immediately, seeing her reform out of blue energy into the appearance he recognised. She yipped her excitement and hopped onto Joe¡¯s shoulder by first jumping onto his bent leg since he was still kneeling. Joe¡¯s broad shoulders made for a good perch. Sprigatito even had room to move around. A perk of Joe being bulky and the feline being smaller than average. Joe shrunk the Pokeball and pocketed it before reaching a finger up to stroke Sprigatito¡¯s chin. He always had a spare pocket. Smartphone in his front right and his wallet and keys in the back. Now he finally had an item to occupy his front left pocket. Sprigatito¡¯s Pokeball. He still had no desire to train or battle. His mother kept a pet Meowth around, so Joe was just doing the same. Although perhaps his mother wasn¡¯t the best example as she did also have Pokemon trained for battle. Whatever, Sprigatito seemed to scare easily. He didn¡¯t want to throw her into a battle if she wasn¡¯t ready or capable of fighting. Joe hadn¡¯t come across a problem he couldn¡¯t solve on his own yet, so he didn¡¯t need a Pokemon to fight his battles for him. Well, actually, there was one problem. Still ongoing. But he preferred not to think about it these days. It seemed impossible to solve so he just ignored it. He grabbed his bag that was lying a few feet away and felt some pain in his side as he stretched down. He was going to stop at a corner store and grab some painkillers before his work out. He should probably take it easy at the fitness centre today just in case. Maybe he should skip it entirely. Explore Olivine one last time, but now with his new pet by his side. Joe often acted on a whim so who knew what he¡¯d get up to before his holiday tomorrow. Chapter 6: Jasmines Goodbye Sprigatito took over Joe¡¯s pillow that night. Joe owned a king-sized bed. He specifically laid her to rest on the other side so they both had their own space. No point buying a pet bed, he would be away for a year starting tomorrow. Joe didn¡¯t know how and why she curled up in front of his face, but her tail tickled his nose and he awoke with a sneeze. He saw how he¡¯d been pushed to the last third of his pillow. Apparently she moved a lot in her sleep. He put his head back down. His face felt a bit sticky against the pillow. Had he grumbled in his sleep and Sprigatito had tried to comfort him? Or maybe she was dreaming and he was just tasty food. He grinned and went back to sleep. That fall from his apartment did some damage, but he could be a still sleeper when necessary. He expected to wake up a lot during the night and to be tired the next morning, but he was all right. Now that he was awake, there was a fuzzy feeling in his belly. Anticipation and excitement for his holiday. After a simple breakfast, Joe set out into the streets, Sprigatito on his lying left shoulder. Her new home, apparently. Her belly was on his shoulder, two legs up front, two dangling behind. Joe was glad Hydie mentioned a gender for Sprigatito, otherwise he¡¯d be thinking of the cat as ¡®it¡¯ until he eventually learned. And he wasn¡¯t going to check himself. Joe wondered if PokeCenters could confirm a Pokemon¡¯s gender. Whatever, enough of this topic. He trusted Hydie was correct. He had grabbed the first clothes that entered his vision when he opened his wardrobe. One tone t-shirt, jacket and jeans. Simple and easy without looking awful, in Joe¡¯s opinion. Women wept whenever they opened his closet and saw his clothes all looked the same. Joe¡¯s destination was Olivine Gym, but he was an early riser. The Pokemon Gym was still closed. There was nothing to do except walk around the city for a bit. He ended up at the cliff overlooking the docks, where he met Jasmine two years ago. The path on the edge had been sealed off and a new path through the hill had been created. City planners only fixed the problem after someone ended up in danger. Typical. Amphy¡¯s lighthouse had been renovated too. No longer Pokemon operated. Amphy had retired to Jasmine¡¯s home. It was for the best. Amphy¡¯s failure could¡¯ve created a shipwreck. Could¡¯ve harmed hundreds of people. Amphy didn¡¯t want to be responsible for such a disaster. He looked at his watch, the strap made of leather that would soon make his wrist sweat. The Pokemon Gym would open soon. He headed that direction, rubbing his side after stretching a bit too much when he turned. Strapped to his back was a heavy pack with everything he needed for living in nature. Mainly a tent, sleeping bag, clothes and food. He¡¯d had to cram a bag of pellets for his new cat in last second, but it fit. He liked to make sure his backpack had spare room whenever he went hiking. It was usually for souvenirs, but those weren¡¯t urgent so his cat could take up the spare space. He also had a map, both physical and digital. Didn¡¯t want to have an over-reliance on technology. Plus, there was just something about handling a proper paper map that appealed to the young man. Joe liked to have a target destination and know roughly how long he¡¯d be away from society. He had limited resources, after all. He always had to top up at a nearby town, buying new perishables and getting his used clothes cleaned. Kanto being a mild region was helpful. Once there, he could shed some items. Hand them off to a pawn shop. He wouldn¡¯t be needing thicker clothing like a winter coat after Mt. Silver. He strode along stone paths until he reached the familiar Steelix head. He walked inside and was greeted by the Gym assistant. The same woman he¡¯d frightened to get information about Jasmine¡¯s whereabouts. She hadn¡¯t changed. Same glasses and hair. Didn¡¯t look like she aged either. Must be some form of magic. As it turned out, the Gym assistant was a good woman. When she learned that Joe¡¯s actions were for Jasmine¡¯s wellbeing, she forgave him and said she would¡¯ve done the same. She had been looking out for Jasmine since she got the job, trying to get the Gym Leader to come out of her shell. She was the one who encouraged Jasmine to call the PokeMart and inquire about her own delivery on that fateful day two years ago. As Joe¡¯s and Jasmine¡¯s friendship blossomed, the Gym Leader also managed to talk to and make friends with the bespectacled woman. The assistant always smiled warmly at Jasmine, like a big sister lovingly watching over their younger sibling. Joe supposed the woman¡¯s motherly instincts kicked in around Jasmine. It added up. Joe was convinced the assistant was at least as old as he was, and he was a couple years older than Jasmine. He had learned Jasmine¡¯s exact age when he looked her up on the Internet. Information on celebrities was easy to find. Even obscure ones like Jasmine. She was twenty when they met. Twenty-two now. ¡°She¡¯s in the arena.¡± The Gym assistant called out as soon as she saw Joe. She knew him well. He was here for one thing and one thing only. Jasmine. Might as well point him her way immediately. Joe moved through a simple but clean hallway on the other side of the reception area and picked up on the sound of battle. He soon entered a massive room. Powerful lights overhead lit up a dirt arena. There were rows of raised seats surrounding the arena, all empty. Anyone could come and watch a Gym battle at any moment, they were open to the public. Jasmine remained unpopular though. The battle looked like it would come to an end soon. Massive screens, a couple hundred inches, were on all four sides of the room, fixed to the upper walls and angled down so people could view them. Cameras dotted around the arena focused on the battle. Two Pokemon took up most of the display. But there was a small square in the top right and bottom left of the screens for the Trainers. In Jasmine¡¯s corner it showed she had two Pokemon left, while the challenger, a young girl, had one left. The girl could turn it around, but it wasn¡¯t likely. This meant Joe had missed the gimmick. A shame, he liked it. Simple but neat to watch. Jasmine had explained to Joe that every Gym had a gimmick. They varied wildly. Olivine¡¯s Gym had a steel cutting competition before the main battle. Joe likened it to watching martial artists cut boards of wood with a karate chop. It wasn¡¯t important to the Pokemon Gym or the outcome of battles. Just a little spice before the main event. Jasmine saw Joe enter and take a seat to watch. She had been dreading his arrival all morning, but she was also glad to see him. Catching a glimpse of a feline on Joe¡¯s shoulder surprised her. Had he finally caught a Pokemon? This distraction removed her focus from battle and caused her Pokemon, a metal bird called Skarmory, to be taken out. Jasmine returned Skarmory to a Pokeball. These storage orbs reached far and wide, blue energy reaching the Pokemon with ease and absorbing it. Joe saw the screens change to reflect this new development. One of Jasmine¡¯s Pokeballs faded out. Some electric-loving Pokemon called Rotom worked as an assistant to edit the feed live. These battles were livestreamed, but the cameras were only active when Rotom saw a challenger. Rotom were starting to pop up everywhere. Even Joe had encountered a few. The Rotom species loved working with electronics so they had no problem living in Pokemon Gyms and sharing the battles on the Internet. Down to her final Pokemon, Jasmine threw a Pokeball and released a Scizor. A red bug that stood on two feet and had clamps for hands. Looked like Joe wasn¡¯t going to be seeing the Gym¡¯s mascot, Steelix, today. A back and forth between Jasmine and the challenger commenced and the Gym Leader handily won, inspired by her friend being there as a witness. She wanted to show off a little. Something she rarely got to do for Joe since her strength was Pokemon battling and work kept them apart. Although this desire was a bit misguided. The point of a Gym was to lose. If one was unbeatable then no one would beat the Gym Challenge, therefore no one would move on to the Regional League. A challenge was something that could be overcome. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be an impossible wall to pass. The challenger returned her blue and white bunny called Azumarill to its ball. Gym Leader and challenger met at the side of the arena as Jasmine encouraged the girl, saying she did well. The girl thanked Jasmine and left, a sour expression on her face. Better luck next time. Joe stood as Jasmine approached, clapping at her success. ¡°Good job.¡± She smiled at his words. Always happy to receive praise from Joe. Her vision soon shifted to the Sprigatito on his shoulder. It¡¯d been on her mind since Joe arrived and if there was one thing Jasmine was bad at, it would be suppressing her mile a minute mind. She had to sate her curiosity. ¡°Is this another stray or have you caught a Pokemon?¡± ¡°I caught this one yesterday.¡± Joe said, stroking the cat under the chin. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± Jasmine replied. For someone that was constantly looking after Pokemon, it had taken Joe a strangely long time to adopt one. ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit you though.¡± ¡°What did you expect, a Machamp or something?¡± Joe was joking, but Jasmine earnestly nodded. She really had expected Joe to get a strong Pokemon. One that matched his own image. ¡°Well who knows, maybe Sprigatito will evolve and it¡¯ll be a meathead like me.¡± The cat started tapping Joe¡¯s cheek repeatedly until her Trainer looked. Sprigatito then began violently shaking her head. ¡°What? You don¡¯t evolve into a strong Pokemon?¡± ¡°Um, not really?¡± Jasmine answered for the cat. ¡°Meowscarada doesn¡¯t need muscle. It usually attacks from slight range with grass-type moves. It has a signature move it uses from a few meters away to keep foes at a distance. I¡¯ve fought a few and they rarely attack at close range. They always like to expand on the signature move, staying away from my Pokemon with other ranged attacks.¡± There she went again. It was easy to get Jasmine to talk about the capabilities of Pokemon. She excelled in the subject. Earlier on in their friendship, she would¡¯ve acted bashful at talking Joe¡¯s ear off, thinking she was a nuisance, but Joe didn¡¯t mind. He never had. Even if it didn¡¯t affect him, he was still curious and was happy to hear specifics. Joe hummed in response. He doubted Sprigatito would evolve anyway. He had already come to the conclusion that he wasn¡¯t going to use an easily frightened Pokemon in battle. And just in general he wasn¡¯t going to battle. No reason to.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. A brief pause in the conversation allowed Jasmine¡¯s mind to start racing. Now it wasn¡¯t just the challenger with a dour look. Jasmine¡¯s eyes clouded and the smile she had when Joe entered the arena dissipated. She knew why Joe was here. She looked at the ground and grabbed her dress with both hands. Not a sundress this time. A normal dress. It was light blue with white frills on her shoulders, white sleeves getting close to her elbow. ¡°Are you really going¡­?¡± While Joe had been looking forward to this day for a long time, Jasmine had been fearing it. She counted it down starting a few months ago. Joe often talked about his love of the wild and desire to see more of the world. Joe was leaving and there was nothing she could do about it. It was selfish to want him to stay, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself feeling this way. ¡°I sure am. I¡¯d ask if you want to come with me, but then it¡¯d be cut down to a six-month vacation.¡± Joe grinned. Tried to lighten the mood. If Jasmine tagged along then he, as the man, would be obligated to pay for everything. He didn¡¯t really need to, Gym Leaders had a brilliant wage, but he just couldn¡¯t picture himself letting Jasmine pay for anything herself. Besides his chivalry, they both knew it wasn¡¯t going to happen for another reason. Jasmine struggled enough here in her home town. She didn¡¯t want to go with him. Too anxiety-inducing. She was scared by the thought of an adventure on the scale of an entire region and didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d survive out in the wild. The exploration lifestyle just wasn¡¯t for her. The Gym leader didn¡¯t reply to Joe¡¯s comment. Instead, tears started silently rolling down her cheeks and hitting the dirt. She sniffled, giving her away. She rushed to rub her eyes with her arm and Joe placed a hand on her head. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t cry. You¡¯ve made friends, you don¡¯t need me around anymore. I¡¯ll be back before you know it, but only if you live your life properly. Time flies when you¡¯re living a fulfilling life.¡± Jasmine looked up at Joe to see a toothy grin. She was drawn into the moment and her lips curved too, despite her eyes still being wet. ¡°¡­Be sure to keep in touch, okay?¡± ¡°You bet. I¡¯ll write you a letter every month.¡± Hearing Joe laugh, Jasmine started feebly punching his rock-solid chest. ¡°Use your phone! It¡¯s what technology is for!¡± It¡¯d taken a while, but Jasmine had eventually gotten used to Joe¡¯s teasing and would retort when given the chance. When they first met, it was inconceivable that she would bite back like this. It just showed how far she¡¯d come. She had slowly worked through her anxiety. He didn¡¯t know because she had never voiced these thoughts, but Jasmine really enjoyed her time with Joe. She had a good friend. Maybe something more¡­? He was patient with her despite her shy personality and always helped when he was needed. He brightened her life up. Seeing that big grin always made her feel comfortable. Joe ignored the beating. If he couldn¡¯t see it, he wouldn¡¯t know it was happening. Jasmine¡¯s slender arms weren¡¯t made for hurting. It didn¡¯t take long for Jasmine to stop with the fake outrage. The duo walked through to the lobby while chatting about Jasmine being busy with the Gym since she was on rotation this year. Six-day work weeks every week for a year sounded rough, but she had also been given the entirety of last year off so it balanced out. Intense work followed by plenty of relaxation. Once they were in the reception area, Joe immediately noticed the assistant smiling at Jasmine. At this point he¡¯d find it weird if she wasn¡¯t following through on the big sister act. ¡°Well, it¡¯s about time I go. I¡¯ve got a ferry to catch.¡± Joe pat Jasmine¡¯s head again, but only briefly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, Jasmine.¡± He turned to leave and took a few steps. But then he was stopped. Jasmine had jumped at Joe¡¯s back and wrapped her arms around his waist. He raised an arm and looked down at her, but he couldn¡¯t see her properly. He took a step forward and Jasmine let her feet drag. That got him to talk. ¡°What are you, a kid? But damn, you must really be eating steel. I don¡¯t think I could carry you ever again. You¡¯re way too heavy.¡± In response, Jasmine glared up at him even though he was facing the door and couldn¡¯t see what face she was making. Jasmine decided to pinch his sides, which earned a yelp from her friend. Jasmine had actually managed to cause Joe pain, albeit only by using an existing injury. Joe took a few more steps and Jasmine continued to let her feet drag, not letting him go. With no other option, Joe worked to unburden himself of Jasmine by tearing her arms off him. Her grip was strong, but ultimately her arms were too short compared to Joe¡¯s size. If Jasmine had been taller, had longer arms, then maybe she could¡¯ve intertwined them in a way that made it near impossible to get rid of her. But alas, Joe eventually succeeded. He held her arms out so they were as far away from him as possible, then he ran. She was too slow. He¡¯d escaped before she could catch him again. Joe dashed out the building while shouting his goodbyes once more for good measure. Jasmine stood in the doorway, watching him go. She never did thank him properly, person to person, for his help with Amphy. It¡¯d been building up for years. She opened her mouth. For perhaps the one and only time in her life, Jasmine raised her voice and shouted. ¡°I love you, Joe!¡± Even Jasmine was surprised, but not unhappy, at the words she spoke. She looked to see if perhaps he had heard her and returned, but no such luck. He was long gone into the sea of buildings. A couple of people walking nearby were startled by the sudden shout, but soon went back to walking. The Gym assistant came out to stand by Jasmine and put a hand on her arm. ¡°There¡¯s always next time.¡± Jasmine didn¡¯t know it yet, but this action caused quite a stir for fans of Pokemon Trainers. Rumours spread as people wondered if she had always been this cute. A woman in love just looked different, apparently. Through word of mouth, more people started talking about Johto¡¯s steel-type Gym Leader and how she had seemingly confessed to someone. This created curiosity as people realised they didn¡¯t know much about her. They started tuning into livestreams of her battles. Some people cheered her on while others fought over who her lover was. Her fanbase steadily grew over the subsequent months. She¡¯d avoided it until now, but perhaps it was inevitable. Gym Leaders usually had a lot of eyes on them regardless of their personality. A confession that few heard managed to drag Jasmine into the limelight. It spread like a myth or legend due to the lack of evidence and people that witnessed the event. * * * * * Joe rushed through streets, aiming for a pier to the south. His chariot awaited. As much as Joe liked making his own way to a location, it¡¯d take him over a month just to walk to Mt. Silver. He figured he might as well speed things up a bit. Catch a ride to a town called New Bark at the base of Mt. Silver. The ferry was going to travel through the sea south of Johto. Pass by towns and cities like Goldenrod, Azalea and Cherrygrove to eventually arrive at New Bark. The ferry would then move on to some other region that wasn¡¯t Kanto. New Bark was the last stop for new customers to join or old customers to disembark before the ship was out at sea for a while. As he ran, he could hear Sprigatito¡¯s excitement. She¡¯d never moved this fast. She was enjoying the sensation of wind on her fur. He arrived just in time. Only a minute to spare. He walked up a long metal walkway to the deck of the ferry. His chariot was a large white vessel with red accents for company branding. Once he was aboard, he spotted a Pokemon battle arena at one end and a swimming pool at the other. He remembered the company advertising a casino and other forms of entertainment. Some people would be aboard the ship for a few weeks. They needed a variety of activities to keep them busy. A stewardess stood at the end of the walkway to greet customers with a polite smile plastered on her face, but when Joe approached, she seemed to waver. She looked at him with pleading eyes. Joe ignored it and moved on. He figured she was just silently asking him not to be a troublemaker. Bedrooms were below deck and that¡¯s where Joe headed first. He leisurely strolled down a narrow staircase and through white hallways until he arrived at a door with ¡®47¡¯ on it. Iron numbers painted gold. He knew the room would be small, but he barely fit through the door. He ducked his head and turned sideways. No other way of getting inside. Behind him, Joe heard a kid laugh and a mother shush her boy. Joe grinned at this. He could imagine what he looked like trying to fit through the small door frame. Once inside, he realised why the stewardess looked at him funny. The bed was tiny. No way was he fitting in that. He tossed his backpack in a corner as he thought about tonight. The best option was probably to pull the quilt onto the floor and rest on it. He had a blanket in his bag so he could put that on himself. A problem for later. Joe went and enjoyed all the forms of entertainment he could for the rest of the day. Sprigatito was a scaredy-cat so Joe wasn¡¯t going to enter the arena, but he still watched some battles from the sidelines because why not. He had to admit, being close to a fight was totally different to watching a battle on television. He could feel the pressure from elemental moves. Waves of rushing air washed over him as fire and water collided or two blades clashed hard. He lost a bit of money in the casino. It was working as intended. Gamble long enough and everyone¡¯s a loser. It didn¡¯t take long for Joe to find his way to the cafeteria. The food was mighty fine. His favourite was a steak. He enjoyed the grilled meat as Sprigatito looked at him with shock on her face, shivering at the thought that that could¡¯ve been her. That night, Joe was in his room, doing push-ups. No gym on the ferry. Sprigatito stood on his back and yipped every time Joe reached the peak of his ascension. The cat was frightened of him just yesterday afternoon, but now look at her. It was nice to permanently have someone around, even if they were an animal. Joe wanted a family one day, so he¡¯d have to get used to others being in his life. Sprigatito felt like preparation for having a child, but without all the troublesome bits. Once he could see the moon high up in the sky through his room¡¯s oval window, Joe got his floor bed ready. As he lay there, Sprigatito curled up by his head, he thought of Jasmine. He had heard her confession but had run away from it. He liked Jasmine, but he wanted to solve his own problem first. At this point though, he had no idea how he was going to fix his life A couple of years ago he asked for help. Joe had approached his mother and told her he noticed something wrong with his memories. His adult years were fine, but his school years were a bit of a blur. He struggled to recall specifics. Beyond that, his single digit years, before he was ten years old, were completely gone. He couldn¡¯t remember a thing from before middle school. Joe¡¯s mother had always been a doting parent, but when he mentioned his problem, she had been unusually stern with him and told him to drop the subject. Joe obeyed, for some reason. It was weird. Like he had no free will in that moment. He just casually moved on without answers. It sounded like brainwashing to him. He was conditioned to avoid specific memories, and if he started questioning things, he was brainwashed to just¡­ leave it alone. This was why he didn¡¯t feel right accepting Jasmine¡¯s feelings. His brain was scrambled. Couldn¡¯t always think straight or act the way he wanted. While he¡¯d only noticed the inability to research himself, there could be more to it. He may have forgotten other parts to his problem. It wasn¡¯t fair to get involved with someone when his head was messed up like this. It may result in errors in the relationship, and Joe may not even know. Joe believed his adult years were fine right now, but what if that changed? What if he suddenly forgot how he met Jasmine? What if he forgot what she looked like and thought there was a stranger in their home? Joe sighed, rolled over and closed his eyes knowing he would have no motivation to look into his past when he awoke.