Pathfinder

Part 1

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Jason Creight awoke in his sleeping bag, amidst the cold, damp grass on the outskirts of Viridian City.

Two weeks had passed since he’d first set foot in Pallet Town. That his life had changed so dramatically over the past month was certainly remarkable in and of itself, but he believed it even more so, considering what he was doing now... an avenue of life for which he’d never before felt any ambition. Now, all of a sudden, I’m working as a Pokémon trainer and helping Professor Oak with his research into Pokémon social behavior. If I’d actually been handed that choice on a silver platter, it’s iffy whether I would have taken it.

He looked above his head, where his backpack lay within easy reach, and he reached out to pat it, as though to confirm to himself it was still there. Within the carrier were virtually all of his possessions – perhaps the most important among them was his capture ball belt, which now bore three occupied Poké Balls.

He unzipped his sleeping bag and climbed out of it, then promptly rolled it up and clipped it to the underside of his backpack. He’d learned quickly on his travels along the relatively benign route between Pallet and Viridian – a path that, according to the PokéDex’s information, Professor Oak had dubbed “Route 1” because he considered it “the first route from Pallet Town to typical human civilization” – that if he left the bag unoccupied and unattended for even a few moments, Pokémon were apt to scamper towards it and take shelter within. It was during that rude awakening to the truth that he’d first called out Gyarados for use in a battle against wild Pokémon.

Jason recalled the incident vividly. Most of the time he considered Rattatas as fairly harmless, and at worst a nuisance... but the sheer number of them swarming around inside the unzipped covers had frightened the living daylights out of him, to say nothing of the look of the top cover roiling about over them. He’d only gone around a tree to do his business, but that was evidently enough time for them to call all of their local relatives and a few of their not-so-local ones to host some sort of bizarre party. It was only after the incident that Jason had consulted his PokéDex on Rattatas, to discover – quite belatedly – that such creatures were allured by softness and warmth since they usually did not live their daily lives with such comforts.

“But,” he reminded himself aloud, “I did get a Pokémon out of that deal.”

And it was true. Once he’d thrown Gyarados’ Poké Ball and revealed the one Pokémon he had in his arsenal, it had been more than enough to send most of the verminous creatures scurrying. One, however, had tried to retreat further into the covers – evidently convinced that if it could not see its attackers, they weren’t there. Unfortunately for that Rattata, Jason panicked and directed Gyarados to attack the remaining contents of the bag.

Gyarados had, in response, brought the fan of its tail down upon the lump at the foot of the bag, from which Jason heard a satisfyingly pained squeak. But only an instant later, it occurred to him that sending Gyarados against such a weak foe was surely overkill, and in embarrassment he’d returned Gyarados to its own Poké Ball – then used a second one to capture the dazed and injured Rattata. After gathering up his belongings, he’d immediately rushed to the local PokéCenter in Viridian City to get medical treatment for the Rattata.

Less than half an hour later, Nurse Joy had invited Jason into the recovery room, where the Rattata was munching happily on a treat she’d given it. Jason recalled that he’d blinked in surprise. “You patched him up that easily?”

Nurse Joy had giggled at him. “Of course! Pokémon get into dust-ups like this all the time, especially if trainers are trying to capture them. This was no worse than most I’ve seen.”

Jason wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to this, so he had kept his thoughts mostly to himself after that remark. No worse than most? I thought catching Pokémon was supposed to be at least a little more... I dunno... glamorous than that. Like it should’ve been poetry in motion, weakening Rattata to the point where he couldn’t resist capture.

Any qualms he might have gotten over the incident, however, were dashed away once he saw the way the Rattata acted as he’d approached. He had thought the little Pokémon would react with hostility, but this wasn’t the case. In fact, the purple-furred creature expressed a joyful noise and faced the teen more fully with what Jason could almost have sworn was an expression of happiness.

This had prompted Nurse Joy to offer commentary. “It looks like your Rattata is taking a bit of a shine to you.”

The teen distinctly remembered the odd frown that had worked its way up to his features. “Isn’t that a bit weird? I did attack him with my Gyarados.”

“True, but in defense of your own territory. And you didn’t leave him behind to die or pass out. You caught him instead, and in so doing, you said, ‘I’ll take responsibility for you.’ You brought him here right away so we could treat him. I think it’s all unexpected kindness for him. Usually trainers don’t want to even try catching Rattatas. You’ve done this one something of a rarer honor.”

Jason reached into his backpack and withdrew the belt, then fingered each Poké Ball adorning it in turn. Trainers were discouraged from placing empty capture balls in their belts, except for stamping purposes; so despite being in ownership of more, Jason only had three in his belt, and he hesitated as he ran his fingers over the third one. Rattata’s capture might not have been particularly glamorous or flashy, but Pidgey’s capture had been something else again. Jason scoffed and shook his head as he recalled how foolish it had felt to him, trying to instruct his Pokémon – first Rattata, then Gyarados – to take it easy and just wear the little thing out.

The battle had begun simply enough. Jason had laid down a small sprinkling of bird bait, hoping to attract a Pokémon capable of flight. Sure enough, before long, there were a few Pidgeys that passed through and a Pidgeotto that also gave the sprinkling several seconds of attention. He waited until there was only a single bird in the clearing – that took a little longer, but he was eventually faced with a lone Pidgey – and then he’d rolled Rattata’s Poké Ball towards the far side. When the ball came to rest, it popped open, and a brilliant flash of color and noise later, Rattata was poised and ready to fight.

Jason had made sure to mark down in his notes that this was Rattata’s first real “battle”, and it acquitted itself admirably during the furball, tackling and nipping and squeaking without a hint of hesitation. The teen was surprised to have earned Rattata’s loyalty this quickly, but was not at all displeased. If anything, it’s only going to help me explore the sorts of bonds I can establish with Pokémon in general.

Sadly, Pidgey’s counterattacks were strong and effective, and had eventually downed Rattata. Jason had then resorted to Gyarados, which only had to bat Pidgey with its fan-tail to deliver the result the teen was looking for. The capture came as quickly and decisively then as it had for Rattata, and Jason made a point of coming back to the PokéCenter right away to make sure both Rattata and Pidgey received the rehabilitation they needed.

Each of those captures had occurred last week, only a couple days into his journey, and it was from there that Jason had decided it would probably be pertinent to train his Pokémon to survive battling with each other and preserve Gyarados for slightly more “special” occasions. Since then, Rattata and Pidgey had battled against many other Pokémon of their kind, but thus far had yet to encounter anything other than that. Jason was coming to the conclusion by this point that little else inhabited the wild grasses between Pallet Town and Viridian City. This being the case, he thought it reasonable to assume that Pidgeys and their ilk nested in the immediate area, and if so, they most likely gained easy dominion over it by hunting local insects. Rattatas, on the other hand, were burrowers and gatherers, and weren’t easily driven completely out of an area they frequented. Certainly they could be frightened and chased away, but almost never for very long. They would find their way back to their usual haunts.

He got to his feet and wrapped the belt about his waist, then cinched it and removed the three occupied Poké Balls it carried. He enlarged each and tossed them into the air; the three balls emptied their contents as one, releasing Pidgey into the air while Gyarados and Rattata appeared on the ground. Pidgey didn’t miss a beat and took wing immediately; it even chirped, which Jason had decided was its way of informing him of its pleasure at being exposed to the open air.

Gyarados appeared to be less energetic about being released, however, and settled its head on the ground almost immediately. It let out a low growl and tilted its head to one side, a sure indication to Jason that it would prefer to slumber a while longer. Rattata offered perfect juxtaposition to the serpent, offered an enthusiastic bark, and scampered around in a figure-8 pattern – the morning was its domain.

Jason surveyed his mismatched team of Pokémon and chuckled. “Okay, so today’s going to be another one of those days, I guess. Let’s have a little pow-wow here.”

Pidgey settled on the ground next to Rattata, who meantime had calmed itself and was watching Jason attentively, much in the manner of an adoring pet. Both smaller Pokémon were giving Gyarados a wide berth, and it didn’t surprise Jason in the least that they did so. It wasn’t just humanity that knew the reputation the Gyarados species had built for itself; that reputation was legendary among virtually all known species of Pokémon.

Fortunately for those two, Jason was already well-aware of what his particular Gyarados could do, especially when enraged, so he only released Gyarados when it was necessary, or when he was in stress-free environs. Thus far in the journey, neither Jason nor his other Pokémon had suffered any ill effects from a Gyarados temper tantrum.

Jason got down on one knee and offered each of his Pokémon an encouraging smile. “Hey guys, I think it’s about time we move on. I haven’t seen any other Pokémon in the area and there’s not much point in sticking around here. Ready to do a little traveling?”

Pidgey flapped its wings and chirped; Rattata barked and scampered in another figure-8. Gyarados’ response was another low growl from somewhere near its stomach, which made the other two glance to their right and then inch cautiously to their left. Jason shook his head in amusement at his water-dwelling Pokémon. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to find you a lake or something to keep you happy. And you won’t have to come out for a while, Pidgey and Rattata need the exercise more than you. You’re just out here to share in the excitement.”

Predictably, another growl was all Jason got from Gyarados for his pep talk. Pidgey and Rattata appeared heartened by the news they would be acting as the workhorses, however; Pidgey fluttered up to Jason and perched on his shoulder, while Rattata made a show of running around Jason’s feet. Jason had by now gotten used to the feel of Pidgey’s talons taking root in his shoulder – just the slightest bit uncomfortable, but strangely reassuring at the same time. In addition, it told him Pidgey preferred to remain out in the open. He chuckled at the bird. “Fair enough, if you want.” Then he looked down at Rattata. “How about you, wanna stay out?”

“Rat!” the little creature yelped, and it scampered towards Jason and snuggled against his leg.

Jason released a laugh. “Okay, guess that answers that.” His gaze panned to Gyarados, who still lay lethargically on its side. He scoffed in amusement. “More sleep for you, obviously. Fine, then.” He held out the sea serpent’s Poké Ball. “Return!”

The voice recognition software in the ball processed the command – which was meant as much for the Pokémon as it was for the capsule in which it was kept – and from a mirror screen embedded in its activation button, fired a neon laser at Gyarados. The laser was a scanning beam to confirm the Pokémon being recalled was the same Pokémon that belonged in the ball, and it took less than an instant to confirm the fact. Then the laser was replaced with a crackling bolt of energy, which wreathed Gyarados and melted it into intangibility; then the ball popped open and the mass of energy leaped inside, followed by the crisp snap of the capsule closing itself. The entire process took only a moment, and Jason had seen it any number of times before – including by his own use – but he still took a moment to marvel at the piece of technology in his hand.

He pressed the button, shrinking it back down to portable size, and looked at each of his other Pokémon in turn. “You guys probably don’t get it, but this thing is a remarkable piece of technology,” he said, holding up the miniature Poké Ball for emphasis before returning it to his belt.

Pidgey flapped its wings restlessly and chirped. Rattata looked up at Jason in curiosity; evidently the marvel was beyond both of them.

Jason shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s head on north, then.”

The path was both uphill and winding. In point of fact, it wasn’t even continuous – there were any number of patches of overgrown grass that had completely overtaken where the beaten path was supposed to be. When he’d inquired about the matter at the Pokémon Center in Viridian City, Nurse Joy had explained how there had been lack of support for making any paved paths between Viridian and Pallet Town. The dirt path, despite being broken in some areas, was enough of a guideline for anyone traveling between the two locations. She also made the point that Pokémon released from the preserve Professor Oak kept beyond his laboratories needed space to learn how to live in the wild.

It hadn’t occurred to Jason, since all breeding of Pokémon at the CBC had been under precise and controlled conditions, but it made sense to him upon consideration. If the Pokémon at Oak’s lab were truly as free to do what they pleased as it had seemed, then one could reasonably assume they found mates amongst each other there. But if that’s true, wouldn’t they want to keep the offspring for their Pokémon social studies experiment? Jason found himself wondering.

No, he realized, because if they did, the Pokémon born in captivity would establish an entirely different society from the one that’s “out there” in the world at large. The interactions wouldn’t be the same. Sure, they’d want to examine how parent Pokémon would treat their children, but beyond that... Pokémon ought to experience the life they’ve been living since creation began.

He blinked. Wow. Don’t think I’ve ever quite thought like that before. He glanced at Pidgey, then Rattata – the latter had run slightly ahead and was waiting expectantly at the top of the next incline. Jason shook his finger at Rattata in admonition. “Now, now, don’t get yourself too far ahead of me. You’ll get yourself in trouble.”

“Rat?” The purple-furred Pokémon tilted its head at Jason in puzzlement.

Jason chuckled. “Not really. Just stick close. Keep making me think in new ways.”

The dirt path led them northward and into the limits of Viridian City, a sprawling landscape of jarring modernity to anyone from Pallet Town who might have been accustomed to smaller and cozier arrangements. There were clear sections devoted to industry, commerce, and residential zones. Industrial buildings could be seen to the northeast and consisted mostly of grain elevators and refinement plants; to commercial business went the southwest, marked by storefronts and a strip mall that housed mostly food courts, clothiers, and sports equipment retailers.

Directly north of the commercial sector, meantime, sat the bulk of houses and apartments – and it appeared to Jason as though no expense had been spared in the maintenance of these places. Each and every house, condominium, and apartment complex looked like it had been built within the last five years. Even Tangelo Island, a modern establishment itself, seemed a small and pale imitation of the modern grandeur of Viridian City, and it had given Jason pause when he’d first come upon the city.

Upon passing the city’s welcome sign, he found a paved path to travel, and Rattata paced gingerly beside him. Jason raised an eyebrow at his Pokémon. “Hot pavement?”

“Rat!” it barked, hopping on opposing pairs of feet – a clear yes.

Jason gestured with his left hand. “Well, then, get up here, dummy. You’ve got an open shoulder, I need to balance out the weight somehow with Pidgey up here. She’s not too proud to let me do all the work.” He chuckled as he glanced to Pidgey and scratched the top of the bird’s head with one finger. “Are you, now?”

Pidgey cooed in ecstasy from being scratched. Jason knew well the foibles of many Pokémon species, and this one was inherent in most birds – they were unable to reach their own heads, and the space on top tended to itch.

Rattata, meantime, did not let Jason’s invitation go to waste, and scampered up his leg and side as quickly as its legs would carry it, then settled into place on the teen’s left shoulder. It was visibly relieved at being on a cooler surface and nosed at Jason’s ear in gratitude. Jason ducked his head away instinctively and laughed. “Hey, quit that, you’re freaking me out.”

The walkway took them straight north, straddling the line between the industrial and commercial zones. Jason had already availed himself of the retail comforts Viridian offered with the line of credit Oak had extended him: new clothing, camping supplies, food suitable for trainer and Pokémon alike, even a few extra Poké Balls. He’d spent a fair amount of time drooling over the glass display cases that showed other brands of capture balls, including those of Great and Ultra class, but those had been far more expensive than his budget allowed.

And I learned my lesson from spending all my money on Gyarados, he thought. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Spend a little at a time, eventually you’ll get what you want, but focus on what you need.

As for clothing, he had purchased two pairs of light blue jeans and two white shirts, trying to keep with the idea that lighter colors would reflect rather than retain the light and heat of the summer sun. It was one such set that he wore now, and his borrowed clothing was tucked away in his backpack. He still wore the vest that Mrs. Ketchum had provided; it was proving extremely useful in offering extra pockets, in the event a Poké Ball needed to be accessed or medicine needed to be distributed.

He emerged from the business district and began passing blocks of housing. On this warm morning, children were already out in their bathing suits, chasing each other through sprinklers. A couple of them noticed him passing by and took note of the Pokémon on his shoulders; they waved excitedly at the sight of a Pokémon trainer in their midst. He smiled and politely waved back but didn’t slow his pace. Bet it’s nice for them, not having to worry about money and responsibilities outside of school, he thought. And to think, that was me not too long ago.

He let his shoulders slump just slightly at that train of thought. In purchasing his supplies, he had nearly drained the credit account and had only a couple hundred pokéyen remaining. It might be enough to continue furnishing food for a while, but even that would get harder if he didn’t find himself a source of income. And with the lifestyle I’ve got here, there’s really only one recourse for that – battling other trainers on their own journeys. He chewed his lip, stuffed his hands in his vest pockets, and stared at the ground perpetually beyond the reach of his toes.

Just about every kid I’ve ever met has had that dream sometime in their life, wanting their own Pokémon, wanting to become a trainer and go on adventures all over the place. It’s always had appeal to both kids and parents. For the kids, it’s being able to get out on your own and make your own rules on how you want to live. For their parents, it’s all about getting the kid out the door so they can finally have some alone time. Even I’ve had that dream once in a while. But we never think about failing. And what if a trainer fails? Consistently loses, loses all the money he was given, and just can’t make ends meet anymore?

He scoffed, and glanced at Pidgey, then answered his silent question aloud. “Tell you what happens to those trainers. They leave their Pokémon behind at the nearest day care or lab, and they find themselves jobs. Real, honest, human jobs. Anything that doesn’t have to do with training or competition.”

Pidgey tilted its head, clearly uncertain as to what Jason was talking about. The teen waved his hand dismissively. “Nah, never mind, you probably don’t care that much anyway.”

Pidgey chirped. Rattata, however, pawed at Jason’s ear curiously, forcing the teen to jerk his head once more. “Ack, knock it off!” he said, turning to face the rodent.

“Rattata!” it proclaimed playfully, unaware – or perhaps simply uncaring – that the behavior was annoying its trainer.

Jason considered admonishing the Pokémon more forcefully, but after a moment thought better of it and reached up to scratch the creature behind its ears. Rattata hummed in joy at the sensation of Jason’s fingernails raking its fur where the Pokémon itself was unable to reach.

The teen chuckled helplessly. “Okay, we’re gonna have to work something out where you don’t pester me like that. You want my attention, just speak up. I’m not planning on quitting this job so we’ll be sticking together for kind of a while.”

Rattata merely squeaked in answer, and draped itself lazily across Jason’s shoulder. Jason chuckled again, then glanced up.

The path was by this point taking him past what many considered to be the crown jewel of Viridian City. It wasn’t any of the skyscrapers, condos, or industrial plants, or even any of the multi-level retailers that littered the rest of the landscape – instead it was a building that stood slightly less than three stories in height. It stood apart from all the rest of the structures he had yet seen for its bright paint, lack of windows, and the large sign that stood in front:

Viridian City Pokémon Gym

Jason felt a shiver go down his spine, and he leaned close to Rattata. “Déja vu,” he muttered.

I wonder if the order was ever completed, he found himself thinking. If not... if Gyarados didn’t ruin everything, then that probably would have.

Not content to continue dwelling on the subject, he quickened his pace and hurried towards the north exit leading out to Route 2.

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© Matt Morwell, 2011