Pokemon: Age of Ellipses

Started by Scales March 29th, 2009 10:33 PM
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  • 16 replies

Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
Here is a brand new Pokemon fanfic that just came to mind. As I recently received my copies of Crystal and Blue back, I feel I need to write a new fanfic to pour all my recent ideas through.

Age of Ellipses takes place in a slightly alternate history of Pokemon. It draws many allusions toward versions such as Mystery Dungeon and the Color generations of games. This is the first novel length fanfic I have written that does not include death or psychological horror as a major theme. Rather this is a trainer redemption style story with several twists

Age of Ellipses

ACT 1: A hero awakes

Chapter 1: In the beginning

Ocho Beta Gamma: Awakening procedure. OKAY-OKAY-OKAY.

The wording flashed on the screen for several seconds until finally the capsule opened. Clouds of gas and vapor exhumed around the area as the capsule finally rested in place. The capsule was a long thin rectangle shaped to hold a human being. The capsule was lined with dark red leather, The leather was observed to hold stuffing behind it. The figure resting in the capsule appeared motionless and did not react to the awakening procedure.

The room the capsule was in, was a large viewing chamber. The Capsule was attached to a wall which was opposite a large viewing area. The viewing area was surrounded by glass, holding only a computer on a desk facing the capsule.

There was a man seated at the computer, slowly typing in several commands into a black screen. After he loaded in a 30 character command another form of gas spread through the area around the capsule, soon the figure inside began to stir. The man motioned toward two others, who were tall men wearing exact black 3 piece suits with matching Windsor knot ties. As they walked in, they soon held the figure and began walking. They walked robotically toward a door on the other side of the room.

30 minutes later.

The figure shook his head slightly on the hospital bed he was on. Thin IV's lead through nodes attached to his forehead and his arms. The bed was within yet another viewing area, with the man just behind it.

"He has healed just as expected. No freezer burn, nor is there any damage from the surgery." Behind the man was a handful of people of all different races and sizes. He continued to type commands until a diagram appeared on screen. The diagram was a silhouette of a human being. Several areas on the diagram highlighted themselves. As the man began to speak he directed his attention to the figure. The man motioned inaudibly toward the suited figures as they walked in to pick the figure up once more.

10 minutes later.

Jack Croft slowly opened his eyes, as the world slid into focus. His first instinct was to raise his head, but found he couldn't do so. His entire body felt too exhausted to move. To exhausted to care about anything. Eventually he finally managed to raise his arms toward his head. Soon he heard the sound of microphone feedback high above him. The voice was gruff and old. As if a spider had crawled up someone's voice box and made a web.

"Jack? Jack? This is deputy Administrator Francis Kellar. Please don't try and move to much. Your body is currently recovering from a six month healing coma." Something about the name Francis Kellar reminded him of something. Much of his memories felt to strained to think about. Took to much energy to remember anything but his name and his age, which was 21. He slowly managed to regain some energy in his arms to push himself up from the floor he was on.

Jack quickly took in his surroundings. He was in a large room, which was square with white tiling. The room was rather wide and had a desk with an observation area high above him. There was a small speaker box on the wall to the right of him, which was where Kellar's voice sounded.

"Take it easy now. The implants you have undertaken have committed some strain on your mind. It will take some time for your mental capacity to remember more then simple things. For now take a look at the table nearby and see if you can walk toward it." Jack soon found himself labored to walk. The energy it took felt to staggering. He took several steps before having to take in several breaths before trying another few. He continued to do so until he collapsed on the table he was directed toward.

The table had several things piled onto it. There was a folded dark brown hooded jacket, which Jack recognized. But several other things he didn't. There was a brand new pair of jeans with undergarments, along with blue sneakers and individual shoe laces. Jack felt his brain attempting to piece together the meaning of these pieces of cloth. Until he felt his concentration kick in as he individually put the laces into the shoes. His concentration kept going on as his brain began to fully process the meaning of shoe laces. As he laced the shoes up, he slowly placed them on the ground. Noticing there were socks inside of them. He quickly put the shoes and socks on, then the jeans and picked the hooded jacket up. Noticing there was a white t-shirt underneath it. The t-shirt was very stock and folded. He picked it up and moved it to his face, smelling a faint odor of disinfectant. He put the shirt on, and then slid his limbs into the hoody. As he zipped it up he heard the familiar microphone feedback.

"Very good. Your mental capacity is returning as expected. Look toward the other objects on the table now." Jack's hands slowly went for a small hand mirror on the table. He picked it up and pointed it toward his face.

Jack's forehead was small and rather distant from the rest of his face. His bushy eyebrows jutted out and cast a light shadow over his eyes. His eyes had pale cerulean irises, with a tinge of red in the sides of them. His cheekbones jutted out slightly, however strangely, the cheeks themselves had lost all mass from previously. Giving his face a gaunt look he did not recognize. His jaw was thin, giving his chin a sharp appearance. Small amounts of bronze facial hair grew on his chin and around his thin mouth. His nose had small amounts of hair growing on it, though were to small to notice. He ran his hands through his hair, as he noticed it was messier then he normally combed it. He saw a comb on the table which he immediately picked up.

Jack ran the comb through his hair. Before wincing in pain as it touched a faint scar on his head. The microphone feedback sounded once more.

"Easy there Jack. You had your neural implants installed in your head. Just try and keep from picking at a scar on your scalp." Jack slowly and carefully combed his rough hair to stay down flat. He combed his bangs toward a side of his head, opposite of his hairline. Small puffs of blond hair slowly fell to the ground. Indicating his hair was shaved previously.

"Now that you may be a little more conscious. Take care to walk toward the door in front of you." Jack's eyes looked up to see a door in front of him, a door which wasn't there previously. He slowly walked around the table and toward the door.

The hallway in front of him was Grey and monotone. It was relatively straight, ending in a door at the end. He slowly walked down the hallway. All the while resting his hand on the wall and taking a breath before walking again. As he walked he felt rather odd hearing his sneakers thud on the ground. Something about it seemed... unnatural, cold, unforgiving. A combination of all three.

The door lead toward another white room, identical to the previous one. There was yet another table in the middle of the room. Instead of clothing or mirrors, this one had three pokeballs fitted on a white tray. Jack walked toward the table and slowly ran his hands on the pokeballs.

"Alright Jack. Now it has been six months since you previously released your pokemon. While your reputation as a pokemon champion is still heard throughout your native region of Johto. Here in Kanto, if you chose to take up training once more. You will need to have a pokemon. In these three pokeballs are pokemon my associates managed to catch only a few minutes ago." Jack quickly heard a large crack of static in his head. It startled him so much, that he stumbled back several feet. A cool voice sounded in his mind.

"Testing... testing..." Then another voice sounded. "Alright Jack it seems your neural implants are working perfectly."

"What did you do to my head?" Jack said as he shook his head several times.

"The pokeball you are holding in your right hand holds the pokemon Riolu. The other two hold the pokemon Sandshrew and Dratini. If you would be so kind as to choose one." Jack slowly placed the Riolu pokeball down and slowly looked over them.

Jack recalled a situation several years before. Back when he had to make a similar choice between three pokemon. The final pokemon he chose he was so content with, that he mastered battling almost to an art form with it. Currently however he was tasked with choosing between three pokemon he never before caught or raised.

"Why did I release my team?" The thought rang through his skull for several seconds. Before his hand reached for the pokeball holding Sandshrew. As soon as he did so, the other pokeballs disappeared in a flash of light.

"Interesting. Now please exit through the door to your left. We will brief you on the implants you have signed up for." Jack's index finger on his right hand slowly reached for the button on the pokeball. Once the ball minimized itself he placed it into his pants pocket and walked through the door.

The hallway this time went on an incline upwards. Finally after several minutes Jack found another door, this one opening to an observation area. The observation area was a rectangle-shaped room with one side devoted to windows. Several scientists walked around. Many holding clipboards and writing down information. The man in the middle of the room, facing him was what interesting Jack the most.

"Jack Croft, the last time I met you was six months ago when you were prepped for surgery." Kellar's voice sounded unmistakable coming from his mouth. Memories of Kellar seemed to flash within Jack's mind for several seconds.

"Yeah... why was I in surgery?..." Jack asked as he placed his hand on the back of his head. "... I can't really remember to much. The last thing i remember was..." The man waved his hand to Jack.

"No need. Just to alert to you that your Neural Implants are functioning properly. Now follow me and I can brief you on them." Jack shrugged as he followed Kellar through another doorway opposite the windows of the observation platform. The doorway lead down another hallway, this time toward a large lobby area with a front desk.

"What is this place?" Jack asked curiously. He did not recognize the lobby in the least.

"We are in a medical center in Viridian city. You were moved to Kanto shortly after your surgery." Something about it bothered Jack slightly. But he followed Kellar down to another hallway. Something about leaving the sun drenched lobby bothered him slightly. He followed Kellar down several more monotone hallways until he reached an office.

The office had a drab and boring sense to it. It's walls were dull and grey with a small lamp attached to the ceiling. Kellar walked over to a filing cabinet behind his desk, where he pulled out a small beige folder. He motioned to a seat where Jack quickly sat down. Kellar soon sat down opposite him after opening his file.

"Let me see here." Kellar pulled out a small card with Jack's picture on it. "I believe this is yours." Jack reached for the card, recognizing it instantly. He remembered getting his trainer card several years before. Back when he received his starter pokemon.

Kellar slowly pulled out a sheet of paper from the folder and held it up. "Let me see now. The Mach five Weldonfeld Neural Implant. Prototype for a larger system we designed. Now Jack the neural implant we placed within the cerebral cortex of your brain. It functions by allowing your neurons and brain cells to focus on certain sounds and scents in the environment... yada yada yada whatever. I don't exactly know how this thing works. All I know is that you were selected based on your past during the Endgame." Jack heard that word and shivered slightly before recoiling in his seat.

Dark red flashes echoed within his skull. He felt a tear come to his eye as he saw corpses everywhere. Blood dripping from his head. He shook his head violently until he saw Kellar's face once more. "You were chosen based on your decisions during that era. Now this implant that you were chosen and signed for will allow your brain to listen and smell certain excretions made by pokemon."

"Which means what? Why did I sign for this again?" He rubbed his temples slightly but couldn't find an answer.

"Never mind about that. Anyway I suggest taking that..." Then he rubbed his head slightly. "... oh yes, that Sandshrew of yours you picked and trying to reclaim that glory you threw away several months ago." Jack slowly got up, though felt himself stumble as he walked out of the office. He wandered through the hallways and slowly made his way back to the lobby. His hand reached for the pokeball he received back in the room as he slowly expanded it.

"Alright lets see what Kanto has to offer." Jack slowly walked out of the lobby and face first into sunlight.

Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
Chapter 2: Acquaintances

Jack walked down a narrow road toward Viridian city in a slight daze. Whenever he moved his head to much, his vision would slightly blur and distort itself.

"What did they do to my head?" He thought to himself. Even more puzzling was why they discharged him with this many problems. Nothing was beginning to make sense to Jack anymore. That was probably because he couldn't sit down without feeling the temptation to vomit. Eventually he wandered toward the city several minutes later. Jack had heard good things about Viridian city in the past. It was supposed to be a starter city for many trainers. Jack for instance, needed some supplies if he wanted to redo another trainer journey. Something about starting on a new journey clicked in his head properly. He still didn't understand why he released his pokemon team all those months ago. From what he remembered, they were his best friends of all time.

Jack made his way to the city and wandered into a local pokemart. The pokemart had the quant and elegance to it that the marts in Johto had. They were all very simple and to the point. Just like here with this simple shop. He walked past the nearby aisles and past the counter until he reached the back of the shop.

On the wall of the shop were simple backpacks hung from hangars bolted to the plaster. Jack eyed each of the backpacks uneasily, as he was never one for making a big choice. The left most one was a traveling backpack, beige in color with a Sliph Co pokeball symbol etched on it. Jack scoffed at this one and continued onto nearby backpacks. One of which was a simple handbag.

"Who in their right mind would go on a long journey with a handbag?" He thought to himself humorously as he continued through the row. He caught sight of a light grey backpack with a red Sliph Co pokeball symbol etched on the bottom of it. He looked at it curiously, then continued walking to the rest. One backpack was actually a belt, which he didn't keep a second glance at. Another was a backpack with a single strap, it was colored in beige and green.

"Honestly. Does this shop get it's goods second hand?" He thought to himself. He looked around at the backpacks until he sighed and finally settled on the beige backpack he saw first. If only to blend in with the masses and rabble a little better. He looked in his pants pocket and felt a small lump of paper. He pulled out the lump and saw a fist full of pokedollars on a money clip. Attached to the dollars was a small note.

"Consider this a loan." He smirked slightly and tossed the paper before putting the money back into his pocket. He looked down the isles once more and saw packages of pokeballs.

Jack walked toward a package of pokeballs and retrieved a 5 pack quickly. He placed the package into the backpack and continued to look down the isles. He caught sight of a bargain bin with pokegear sticking out of it. He placed the pokegear into his backpack and continued looking. He stopped short as he glanced at a hat on a coat hanger on the other side of the store. Jack quickly rushed through the isles until he made it to the hat. The hat was a dark brown colored leather fedora. The Fedora had a small white feather sticking on a band wrapped around it. As Jack reached for the hat he saw his hand swing at mid air. As another person overshadowed him, holding the fedora.

"Sorry. Last one." Jack felt the rise of an old familiar feeling. The person was a tall burly looking trainer. He wore a white tank-top with black leather pants and combat boots. At his belt were three pokeballs. All surely held pokemon within them. Jack watched in misery as the trainer purchased the hat and gave him a smirk as he walked out of the door.

Jack swore underneath his breath and approached the counter. Placing the backpack on the table, along with the moneyclip. He waited until the transaction was finalised until he opened the package containing the pokegear.

"Alright. Lets see if I can still work one of these. Jack walked out of the store and quickly imputted his own information. Such as his full name, trainer card ID and several presents. He clasped the watch around his left wrist and tightened it slowly. He strapped the backpack to his back and took out the pokeball from the pocket of his jeans. The one that contained Sandshrew. His apparent "new partner".

"As soon as I get to Pewter or Cerulean I am pawning this Shrew off on the next Geodude or even Magicarp I can find." Jack never had experience with ground type pokemon. Especially Sandshrew, as he never had experience raising one. He faintly recalled back in Violet city, losing a battle to a punk with a Sandshrew. The rage was to great for him back then and now, it was too great for him.

Jack slowly wandered down the road toward Viridian forest. Hoping to see if the Sandshrew was actually decent at battling. He heard his shoes thud on the mossy forest floor as daylight barely peeked through the rough canopy. He recalled hearing rumors that it appeared like night in Viridian forest. The forest did not scare him as much as Ilex forest did back when he was 11. But it was still mildly creepy now. Jack continued walking until he spotted a tree stump in the rough foliage up ahead. Thinking of resting a little, Jack sat down on the stump and enlarged the pokeball.

"Alright. Lets see who I get." He tossed the pokeball slightly, causing it to open in midair. Light poured out of the ball quickly, eventually disappearing as quickly as it came. A small Sandshrew sat in the middle of the road in front of him, still untangable until the red light faded from view. Jack walked toward the small mouse pokemon and crouched slightly.

"So your the runt I got stuck with? I should have chosen the Riolu" He whispered barely inaudiably.

"Oh bad idea." A voice rang in his head. Jack literally jumped back and ran from behind the stump. The voice was so crisp and clear within his head, that he was too frightened. He looked around the canopy until his eyes laid upon the Sandshrew.

"Was...... was that... you?" He asked pulling off his backpack as if it was a sheild. He felt he was faced with some legendary shape shifting pokemon about to teach him a lesson in respect.

"For once. A human who understands what a pokemon needs." Jack heard a Sandshrew growl coming from the small mouse. Yet in his head, crisp as daylight, was a small human voice. Jack slowly stood up from the stump and walked back toward the pokemon.

"How are you speaking to me?" He asked as he kept his ground. Expecting a rabid Deoxy's or Mew to jump up from it's skin and cut his head off. He slowly walked toward the mouse. Still very cautious until he finally managed to reach down to his level.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I just recall being with my brothers down by the river and suddenly a red light flashes. Next thing I know, I am having a delightful chat with a simpleton in a forest and I have no idea where I am." The Sandshrew's voice was full of sarcasm and contempt. A small amount of anger tinged in Jack's mind slightly. He did his best not to display it.

Suddenly a thought came to mind. He rubbed his temples and felt a sharp sting. Then it came to him.

"So that's what this implant was for? Talking with rabid animals about nothing in particular?" He thought to himself. He slowly picked the Sandshrew up and carried it to the stump. As he did so the Shrew attempted to wrestle out of his grasp.

"Unhand me human. Lest you wish to feel my jaws." The pure English coming from this puny runt of a pokemon was laughable at best. More laughable was the fact he was talking to a random pokemon, in the middle of a random forest about absolutely nothing in particular.

"Tell me Shrew. What is your name?" He asked it politely.

"My brothers called me Claws. Shortly before I was swept here. What is your name peasant? Is it filthy human beast? Was I close?" He gave the cutest look on his face, which was a tilt sideways. If Jack did not have the implant. He would have suspected he was saying something nice to him.

"My name is Jack Croft. I don't know how I got here either. But all I know is I am talking to a runty Sandshrew in the middle of a bug infested forest. So if you don't mind Claws. I would rather keep the chitchat to a minimum." Before the Sandshrew could object Jack whipped out his pokeball and watched as he evaporated into red light. "That was annoying. Lets hope I don't have to use this little guy." He shrank the pokeball and quickly picked up his backpack. As he began to walk away, Jack did not notice a Beedrell following him from a distance.

Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
Chapter 3: First Battles

Jack continued to wander through the forest, idly watching as the sun continued to disappear between the rough canopy. The buzzing of wild pokemon sounding just in the distance from where he was. The nice clean air filling his cold nostrils with small droplets of water. The mood was familiar to Jack, as he felt it before. The mood was idle and restful, the perfect feeling for a battle.

Ironically Jack only had to turn around to find one. Jack walked for minutes on end until it came. The sound, at first he thought it was just a flying Butterfree wandering around. But now, the buzzing was too loud to ignore, it echoed in his mind. He spun around instantly to see a Beedrel following him. His hand reached for the pokeball in his pocket instinctively. He quickly enlarged it and threw it at the wild enemy

Claws emerged from the pokeball in a cool second. He checked his surroundings, then looked at the Beedrell. Claws bared he growled at the beast.

"Alright runt lets see if your any good. Or if you know any half decent moves. Do you know how to scratch?" Jack asked the Shrew through his teeth.

"Of course I know how to scratch. That is what these are for." Claws answered quickly and aggressively. He lunged at the Beedrell instantly. Claws bared he slashed at the flying anthropomorphic insect until finally it quickly flew away and out of sight.

"No sport." The Shrew said as it finally walked toward Jack slowly. It was an odd sight watching it walk, as he was accustomed to seeing Sandshrew either fainted on the playing field or in the ground. Where they belonged.

"Alright, you done? You want to see if you can take on every bug in this forest?" Jack asked the small Sandshrew as he walked. His pokeball stayed dormant in Jack's pocket, he wanted to see where this was going. He continued walking with the Sandshrew for several meters until he spotted something straggle across the road.

Jack saw in the distance a small Catterpee slowly crawl across the road infront of the both of them. He felt instinct flush over him, he saw Claws felt it to. That feeling that comes over both Pokemon and Trainer alike. The feeling to win, the feeling to defeat anything that dares to stand in your way. It was more dramatic in his head then the situation they were in. Jack quickly said out.

"Alright Claws..." He swallowed his pride a little. "Use scratch attack". Claws rushed at the Catterpee and quickly swiped his claws at the creature. As soon as he did, the green worm flew a meter and fell to the ground. Claws had fainted the pokemon in one single instant. Jack was surprised, considering how quickly the Sandshrew was captured.

"Well you are pretty good." He said slowly, no need to swallow his pride. "Can you take on some more?" Jack asked him curiously. The Sandshrew scoffed his head in a different direction and continued to walk with him. They continued to walk until a clearing appeared in the forest.

"Do you want to go to Pewter or do you want to keep acting with attitude?" Jack knew that If he wanted to continue on another journey he needed the Sandshrew. He had no other pokemon and he sure as hell knew he couldn't beat Brock with a bug pokemon. He needed the Sandshrew since it had a ground type advantage.

"Fine human." They continued to walk toward the clearing in the forest. Before they could Jack saw a rough silhouette appear in the light. It was a shadow of a human in Jack's piercing retinas." As soon as the both of them came closer, Jack managed to make out several features.

The trainer infront of him appeared vaguely similar to Jack. It was a taller tanned male, wearing a yellow tank top with blue shorts on. The trainer had three pokeballs clipped to his belt, as if mocking Jack in a way. What amused Jack the most, was he wore a dark brown fedora.

"What do we have here? A puny trainer with a puny pokemon. Easy money." The Trainer laughed as he spoke, curdled rage slowly seeded itself in Jack's psyche. He barely contained it, though he looked down to see Claws look up at him at the same time. Claws didn't even speak into his head, but the look on his eyes just told him everything.

The trainer pulled out a pokeball quickly. He rotated it on his index finger for a second before tossing it into the middle of the playing field. In a bright flash of light, a large butterfree appeared. The bug pokemon flapped it's wings and hovered in the air peacefully.

"Go Butterfree. Hit his puny Sandshrew with a Stun Spore." The trainer cackled as he ordered the pokemon. Within seconds the Butterfree's wings changed different colors instantly, causing spores to release in the air.

"Claws, Dig". Instantly Claws dug a hole in the ground. Causing dust to sprinkle to the ground and fade. The trained had a surprised look on his face, contrasting Jack's look of complete confidence. The Butterfree mimicked the trainer's expression like a mirror. It was almost too perfect for Jack.

Before the Butterfree could notice Claws launched himself from the ground and lunged at the Butterfree. The Butterfree landed to the ground, completely incapacitated.

"NO!" The trainer yelled out. Arrogance fumed within the Trainer's face, almost immediately at Jack's smirk and snide expression.

"Come on. Lets see you try and take me down." Jack laughed as he spoke, Claws was also very joyful as well. He spouted various cheers and laughs into Jack's mind.

The next pokemon the Trainer took out was a Dodou. As the Dodou materialised it pecked at air in a threatening gesture toward Claws. Claws laughed in his head, but did not show it on the battlefield. On the playing field Claws was angry, with his claws bared. But in his mind he was laughing at the challenge these weak pokemon posed to him. Something about Claws was different then most other wild pokemon that he knew about. Claws was obviously a rather high level compared to these weaklings. But how was he able to take down these pokemon so efficiently? Something was very odd about this. Jack didn't mind at the time, he was to preoccupied with the rush he felt.

The Doudo charged at Claws quickly, beak bared it lunged and pecked at him. Claws dodged a few of it's attacks for a few seconds until the Dodou suddenly appeared behind him and pecked him from behind. Claws stumbled for a few centimeters before the Dodou hit him again from behind. Jack thought quickly, then the answer came to him.

"Claws. Turn around." He looked into Claws's eyes for a few seconds until he did so.

The plan worked, Jack figured it out. Claws instantly faked turning around, then at a split second turned back and hit Dodou in the face with one of his claws.

"Scratch him down now." Jack said quickly. Claws continued to scratch Dodou until both of it's heads drooped down and it slowly fainted. Claws cheered silently, looked toward Jack and nodded appreciatively.

The trainer looked dumbfounded at Jack. Obviously because he had just beaten his best pokemon and did it so easily. The last pokeball in his hand fell to the ground, and a Metapod popped out quickly. Claws walked toward the weak bug pokemon and simple stood next to it.

What happened next was a blur. Instantly the Metapod hardened and Claws caught it in the face. The Metapod fainted instantly before anything could happen. Jack was a little surprised Claws was capable of fainting a Metapod that quickly. Something about it continued to puzzle him, drawing upon the questions that raised through his mind minutes before.

The Trainer seemed to buckle. In a state of confusion and anger. Jack's hand was on the pokeball as he quickly enlarged it and began walking. Claws started to walk and as he did Jack summoned him into the pokeball with a quick flash. Before the trainer could stand up Jack snatched the hat off his head.

"Thank you." He said with a smug grin on his face. Jack walked past the trainer and off through the clearing. Pewter lay before him, and he was ready to give it all he could.

Incinermyn

The Abomination Lives!!!

Age 37
Male
Wisconsin, USA
Seen July 29th, 2018
Posted May 21st, 2016
646 posts
15.8 Years
I like Jack. He seems like a guy who might have a few issues, and he's not so straight out like so many of the characters other fan writer's tend to use. But, you could beef up the description a little, just a little bit. It just seems somewhat plain, and the dialogue seems to outweight the rest of the narration... That's just my opinion. Good job, though, Scales.

Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
I humbly thank Skunter for commenting on my fanfic. I am the sort of fanfic writer who if goes unnoticed I eventually lose interest. The review lifted my spirits a tad and motivated me to write this chapter today

Chapter 4: Sacrifices must be made

Jack didn't know how long it took him to make it to Pewter. What separated Viridian forest and Pewter city was a long road that intersected between forest and canyons. To the left was more forest, while to the right was a canyon that had a cave built into it. The cave was, as Jack suspected, Digletts cave.

Claws was restless in his pokeball and Jack could sense it. Though he couldn't hear his thoughts like before, he felt he could feel some emotion through the cold, small pokeball in his pocket. As Jack walked, he sighed and finally stopped in a large brush of tall grass to the left, near the forest. Tall grass as Jack knew, was always full of wild pokemon especially in Kanto. In this case, he needed an extra pokemon just in case Claws might lose actually or just get to frustrating. His shoes thudded on the dusty dirt as he walked into the grass and slowly scavenged for pokemon.

"Come on. There must be some pokemon in here." He said to himself as he walked through it. The only wild pokemon he could see were Caterpee and Weedle. Which were all runty caterpillars, to small and to scared to do anything against the likes of a trainer that was 10x their size.

Jack walked through the grass for several minutes. During which he stubbed his toe five times, tripped and landed face first into a wild Pidgey (which pecked his face and then brushed sand into his eyes) and almost ran into a rare pokemon (though he was rather dehydrated at the time). By the time the sun began to set Jack was too tired to do anything productive.

"Damn is there anything useful here? At all?" Jack sighed and kicked a rock next to him. The city of Pewter was already to close for him, he needed to rest and recuperate before tackling Brock in the morning. Jack slouched his back and started to trek toward the city.

Jack entered Pewter city roughly a half hour later. He marveled at two massive rock sculptures at the city gate (which colloquially said "WELCOME TO THE ROCK CAPITAL OF KANTO"). He walked into the city and traversed it's streets for a good ten minutes before spotting the Pokemon center in the distance. The pokemon center seemed to have undergone several renovations during hte past few years. Now it was made out of rough brick and brown stone. Which made it look like someone splattered mud all over the pokemon center's walls. Once Jack walked in through the center's automatic doors he breathed a little air conditioning and smiled.

The pokemon center was crowded with ten year olds.... as usual. Jack was used to it, going into a pokemon center and finding ten year olds was customary. Many were standing at trade machines, while others went to the battle arenas a floor down. Where their Charmanders fought their Pidgeys and the like. Each of them had apparently dreampt of "catching them all" when they were 6-9 years old and now they were outside in the real world battling each other. It was sufficiantly laughable, since only two years before Jack earned the Champion of Johto title... which for some reason he couldn't remember. Though his memories were returning slowly, Jack could not remember very much about his battle for the Championship. He did remember battling the Elite four very vaguely. But everything was all to blurry to make out, all he remembered was he kicked their asses.

The champion however felt like a different story. It was someone... he knew a lot about and someone who almost beat him. But he could not remember a damn thing about it, it was very strange and odd to Jack. He shrugged the ordeal off, walked to the counter of the pokemon center and quickly placed the pokeball containing Claws on it. He clicked his tongue slowly at the nearest Joy.

"*tisk tisk* Oy Joy." He said to her. Joy spun around and walked toward the counter. All Joys looked the same for some strange reason that was unknown to Jack. It was the same in Johto where he originally came from and obviously the same in Kanto.

Joy asked Jack for his trainer card. Which he quickly flashed to the nurse and ordered to quickly heal his pokemon. Joy took Claws's pokeball and a few seconds later it was placed on a large rejuvination machine. He waited a few seconds and it was presented infront of him again. Still warm from the machine's radiation waves.

"There you go, your pokemon is fighting fit." Jack always liked that term "Fighting fit" it was laughably hilarious yet it made so much sense. They were going to batlte these pokemon to almost near death anyway, so call it "fighting fit" because thats all we are going to do with them.

Jack shrank the pokeball and walked over to a nearby row of seats near a wall. He sat down and slowly slouched his back. He felt very good resting in his seat, however he was quickly alerted by sounds close to him.

"... So you know. I had my Catterpee tackle his Pidgey. Took him out with a one hit KO." One kid said to a group of friends. The kid looked around 11 years old. He was pudgy with a red little jacket and a small t-shirt underneath. He wore a red baseball cap with blue shorts and sneakers. The outfit was just laughable to Jack, though he couldn't compare since he had the same clothes 2 years ago.

"That's nothing. My Dad's Alakazam took down this guy's Gengar. I heard he even faced Red back in the day he trained in Kanto." Red was the former champion of Kanto, who eventually left to train in Silver cave in Johto where he was last seen by a Champion of Johto, Gold. Red supposedly went to every city in Kanto and beat everyone who ever faced him, caught 150 pokemon and decided to go to Silver cave to train. Apparently those who faced Red were immensely famous, which was laughable. They were famous for being schooled by a legendary trainer at the age of 11. Though that was all more then 10 years ago and most likely Red was older then Jack was now.

The kids all made awe struck sounds, as if it was anything spectacular. "Yeah. My dad had a slowpoke and he was training above Cerulean. Red came up there and he narrowly..." Jack laughed softly, which the children didn't hear. "... beat him. Then Red flew on some flying pokemon to Lavender town or something. I dunno." All the children quickly heralded such phrases as "your dad is the coolest. Can I battle him" and different variations. The lead kid was almost laughably taking in all the attention like it was something to be proud of.

Jack stood up and walked over to the other side of the pokemon center. Seeking some peace and quiet, where he actually saw someone interesting. There was a man wearing a very baggy trench coat and grey fedora. His face could not be seen, but it was a strange sight. Jack slowly walked over to the wall the man was standing near, and leaned on it.

"I am guessing by the way youve been watching me. You know my name?" Jack said looking in the other direction to the man.

"You have more brains then I thought. But I already figured that, Mr. Croft." The man said from behind his trench coat. The man had a very gruff voice that sounded almost synthesised to a degree.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" Jack asked the man curiously, switching legs that he leaned on the wall.

"My name is not of any importance. But you may call me White Coat, I know much about you Mr. Croft. My associates and employers have been watching you closely since your very spectacular win two years ago. They find it odd that you have surfaced now, two years after the Endgame." Jack shivered at the word "Endgame". Endgame was a word Jack didn't even understand, yet just thinking the word outloud just scared him so much. He didn't know why or how it was possible he could be scared of a word. White Coat obviously took notice to his hesitation.

"Tell me something White Coat. Refresh my memory, what was the Endgame?" Jack knew White Coat obviously would think he was mentally slow if he asked something like that.

"Oh? I find this turn of events interesting Mr. Croft. Well all you will need to know is the Endgame was a spectacular massacre that occurred two years ago. Shortly after your win at the Indigo Plateau actually. But I am sure your memory will refresh itself to the incident with due time." Before Jack could ask White Coat shuffled himself and walked out of the pokemon center. Jack stood up properly, with a bewildered expression on his face. He scratched his temple slowly and shrugged. Jack took out his pokeball containing Sandshrew and slowly walked down the narrow steps that lead to the arena areas of the Pokemon center

Incinermyn

The Abomination Lives!!!

Age 37
Male
Wisconsin, USA
Seen July 29th, 2018
Posted May 21st, 2016
646 posts
15.8 Years
Same here, about the often ignored part. Usually I get more readers on smaller boards than I ever do here or on larger ones like Serebii or, more recently, PE2K. But do you have a great sense of how to build character; I'm really impressed by it. Pity this fic isn't more popular. Can't force people to read, though. That's my policy at least.

dumbpikAchu

suckingCharmanderIntoMybu tt

Age 27
Making sure that Charizard is still in my butt
Seen December 30th, 2017
Posted July 8th, 2011
222 posts
14.6 Years
Ok, All I read was Pokeball, and Jack, but the spacing is great and everything. I'll read it later. Oh and check my fic, I have the story there :D It sucks though.
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Sweet Dreams

are made of these~

a store near YOU!
Seen January 23rd, 2018
Posted January 3rd, 2018
703 posts
15.3 Years
Wow. Every time you write a fic, I feel like writing one of mine, as well.

Very interesting plot so far. And I adore Claws already. You may have figured out that I just love Sandslash and Sandshrew, so...

John seems interesting. And your description is appropriately bleak for the mood of the story, but... It's Doduo, not Dodou. You've really improved since Lost Heaven, I must say. Good work.



Friends for Infinity
art (right) by the amazing Kitty


Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
Many thanks to everyone who commented :)

Oh to Dreamsy there. It's Jack not John. Just want to point it out a little.

Chapter 5: Rambling Gambling dood

Jack walked down the staircase, his pokeball tightly gripped in his hands. His face had his all to common smirking expression on his face. Jack tipped his fedora slightly to the right of his head, to draw all attention toward the hairline on the left of his head. He adjusted the zipper of his hoody slowly so it rested in the middle of his chest. Jack also quickly fixed the cuff of his pantlegs and rested his socks properly.

As Jack made it to the arena area of the Pokemon center he marveled at it's space. It was a large rectangular room the size of a football field, with a ceiling incredibly high. Small lights hung from the checkerboard pattern on the ceiling, which buzzed inaudiably. The room had three identical patterns on the ground side by side. Each taking up equal amounts of space on the floor. The pattern was a typical rectangle with a circle in the middle and a line striking through it. Indicating the amount of space a pokemon had to each other per round.

Jack was stricken in awe at the magnificent size of the room. But noticed it wasn't used very much. At the far end of the room only one arena was being used. It was being used by two ten year olds who jumped up and down, cheered and thrusted their fists into the air like they had to much energy on their hands. The pokemon battling in the middle of the arena were a Pikachu and a Bellsprout. Which was obviously winning in favor of the Bellsprout, as it was far more properly trained.

Jack smirked slightly, then caught sight of several other children on the sidelines leaning on the wall. Several of which were half the size of the 6'1 Jack Croft and half his age. Though facing them and beating their pokemon into the ground wouldn't be fair. He needed both money and experience for the Sandshrew in his pokeball.

One child caught sight of the pokeball in his hand and stepped forward. "You have a pokemon? I challenge you!" The child said the words with such enthusiasm. He had a pokeball pointed at Jack for some odd reason. Jack motioned to the middle arena and jogged to the far end of it. Jack understood the need for such large arenas, just incase a trainer took out a Steelix and decided to pull out a can of whoop ass. But this was Pewter city, if you wanted to have large pokemon fighting each other you needed to go to Brock's Gym. Which was only a few blocks away from the pokemon center conveniently.

Jack quickly released Claws and watched as he landed into the middle of the arenaThe first pokemon the trainer sent out was strangely a Scyther, who immediately slashed open air as soon as it was released. The Scyther had the strangest look in his eyes. As Jack peered into them, he felt a cold feeling flood his body. With tinges of contempt and furious anger. Claws took one look at the Scyther's blades and simply ran at the bug pokemon. As soon as the Scyther swiped he dodged to another direction and swiped his claws at the insect.

"Come on Sandshrew. Hit him again!" Jack called out to the rodent going crazy in the arena. Scyther's trainer had a very peculiar look in his eyes that Jack noticed. Jack raised the tip of his hat slightly downward and commanded Sandshrew to hit him again.

Soon Scyther got a new plan into his head. Strangely it was without interaction from his trainer. The Scyther instantly multiplied into several shadow clones that soon surrounded the rodent pokemon. Sandshrew darted back and forth until Scyther swiped at him from behind. Sandshrew flew roughly a meter away, though soon got up. Despite a narrow gash in it's side.

Got to think a little. Jack thought to himself. He peered at the Scyther and called out. "Sandshrew dig." Claws quickly dug a hole which confused the bug pokemon quickly. It darted it's scythes around into mid air. Until the rodent pokemon launched up from the ground, claws bared. The Sandshrew swiped at the Scyther's head and soon downed it to the ground.

Jack quickly summoned Claws back into his pokeball. The trainer walked into the middle of the arena with his hand outstretched. Offering to shake the opposing trainer's hand. As soon as he did so, the trainer quickly summoned Scyther back into his pokeball and ran out of the arena.

"That was odd..." Jack whispered to himself. He shrugged slightly and walked up the stairs toward the main level. He recalled his meeting with White Coat less then ten minutes before and began to dwell on it. Something about the creepy trench coat guy rubbed him the wrong way. Nevertheless Jack walked out of the pokemon center and soon found himself on the nearest road out of the city.

Jack released claws into the middle of the grassy area he was in before. Claws looked around at the area and quickly questioned him. "Why are we here again?" He asked curiously toward Jack. He shrugged and crouched down to his level. "You took down that Scyther clean. I think we can actually catch some nighttime pokemon if we get the jump on them." Claws gave him a very confused glance and eventually turned around.

Jack's attention darted toward a loud rustling in the bushes nearby. He pointed toward it and before he could say anything. The same Scyther he had battled previously walked out of the bushes. Still carrying the scratches it had obtained in the battle against him. He watched as small driblets of blood fell from it's scythe hands. Jack recognized the Scyther due to the same glance it still had.

The Scyther cackled within Jack's mind. "I am going to cut you up little trainer and feed you to my blades." The Scyther charged for Jack with it's claws bared at him. Jack backed up slightly and soon stumbled backward. Knocking himself off his feet. He found himself underneath the Scyther's gaze. The moonlight shined off his sillouette like a drawing he had seen before. Before the Scyther could swipe at him he saw the Sandshrew Claws jump on the pokemon's head. The Scyther writhed in agony at Claws scratched at it's rough exoskeleton until finally it fell to the ground, exhausted with a fainted glance on it's face as it closed it's eyes.

Jack soon got to his feet, and quickly thanked Claws who merely scoffed slightly. He took one glance at the bloodied scythes again and looked toward the bushes. Jack walked over to the bushes and peered over them. Seeing the trainer he had battled only a few minutes before. Now stone cold dead in his face, with a large gaping hole in his torso.

"Why did it do this?" Jack asked as he lifted Claws from where he was standing. Claws shared similar feelings Jack did, which he expected. Jack heard a small croaking sound emanating from his mind. He turned around and saw the Scyther slowly picking itself up with it's blades.

"He..... lost.... he des..." The Scyther soon fell ontop of itself. Eventually it looked up and struggled to pick itself up again. Jack didn't know whether to help it or stand his ground. The scyther tried to kill him only seconds before after all.

"...deserved... to die...." The Scyther mearly looked up at him and eventually closed it's eyes and lowered it's head. Jack soon placed Claws on the ground and looked at the trainer's corpse again. His hand reached for his pokegear as he felt his fingers reach for the emergency button.

"Emergency control. Pewter Branch." A soft cool female voice emanated from his pokegear.

"My name is Jack Croft. I found a dead body here in the woods." He said cooly into the watch-like device. He waited patiently for an answer before another voice came on.

"We are sending a shuttle to your location based on your pokegear's map function. Please note, any hoaxes will cause you to be fined 500 pokedollars." The line went dead instantly as soon as he finished.

Jack looked toward Claws who was staring at the Scyther. "Claws. What are you doing?" He asked the rodent pokemon.

"Jack. What'll they do to it?" Claws asked him, soon looking up at him.

"I dunno. Probably put it to sleep. That is if it is still alive." Jack said leaning on a tree behind him. He shifted his self to allow the bark to connect with his back comfortably.

"Why don't you just bring him along?" Claws asked him enthusiastically.

"Sure, and i'm a Rambling Gamblin' Dood. Lets break out the champaign and have a rogue psychotic Scyther join our little band of merry men. Next we are going to bring along with us a Sneasel who is a serial killer and a Blaziken who is a pokephile." He laughed slightly as he spoke the last word.

"I talked to it... before I defeated it in the arena..." Claws said as he looked up at Jack. "It began whispering little things. Such little things that I couldn't quite make out. It sounded like screaming, like death. This thing sounds like, if it could be trained properly. To actually be a normal happy pokemon again.. It sounds like when it was with him, it didn't have a good time."

"Sure Claws. Sure." Jack scoffed at the pokemon slightly as he rested his head on the tree bark again. He looked down and saw the pokemon's eyes again, and then he understood. Claws didn't want Jack to try and take the psycho because it was badly treated. Claws wanted a friend, and he felt this scyther could be it. Jack sighed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pokeball.

"Fine Claws. For you." He dropped the pokeball on the Scyther's unconscious body and soon it evaporated into light. The pokeball wobbled for several seconds before finally, the light went out.

The shuttle came soon afterward and the pokemon police soon took his body. Jack flashed his ID several times to them and claimed he just found the body there in the woods while training. Eventually after taking the body in a body bag Jack was left alone by them. He soon picked himself up and walked back to the pokemon center exhausted.

If I didn't walk down those stairs none of this wound have happened. The thought rang through his mind until he walked through the automatic doors of the center.

Sweet Dreams

are made of these~

a store near YOU!
Seen January 23rd, 2018
Posted January 3rd, 2018
703 posts
15.3 Years
I'm sorry Nere... Scales. Heh, I'm still used to your old username. I'm sure I meant to write Jack...

Interesting development - a completely crazed Scyther. And Jack has a soft side, and Claws, too... But perhaps a bit more description in the battle scene would be better. Maybe.

I give it the thumbs up, at any rate.



Friends for Infinity
art (right) by the amazing Kitty


Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
This fanfic has a lot more interesting developments lined up

Also this is the first "nightmare" sequence of the fanfic. These nightmares are meant to be surreal situations that delve into Jack's psyche and show off a lot of my foreshadowing.

Chapter 6: A fine heroic line

"Have you ever... danced with a demon... by the pale sunset...." The voice sounded sickeningly pretty. The words hissing as they paused in the black abyss Jack saw himself in.

"JACK.... JACK...." The cheers and screams for him were almost deafening. If Jack could have recognized where he was, he would have plugged them. Suddenly he heard his own breathing. But it wasn't coming out of his own mouth, it was in the background.

"... JACK... WAKE UP..." The voice was strangely familiar. But he didn't recognize it at all. It didn't sound like it came out of someone's mouth or, came out of someone's excretory thoughts. It sounded almost like someone... beamed the words into his mind and he understood them perfectly. Like he had heard them long ago... Jack heard a sharp shrill female scream somewhere near him. Then a blinding flash of purple and blue light tore his retinas apart.

~~~

2 years earlier

"Ladies and gentlemen have I got a treat for you all. Up next in our Elite four tournament is our favorite. AGATHA!" A male announcer's voice sounded on the PA. The arena was packed to the prim with cheering crowds and TV cameras circulating the stadium. The stadium had a rough stone floor with the all too familiar pattern etched on them.

Agatha was an old woman, who apparently was a very famous trainer back in the day. She was a rival to Professor Oak until he turned into a Professor and eventually invented the Pokedex. Now Agatha had become a bitter old woman, angry that she could never beat Samuel in the ring and now he no longer battled. Now she was a member of the Elite four, testing anyone who could best her.

The last champion who managed to actually make it to this old woman and defeat her was Red. Who she immediately hated with a blind vengeance. Though Blue had defeated her, he only won by a hair technicality. While Red had won only using his Charizard and barely broke a sweat defeating her. Now she had, in the first time in twenty years. Felt like a pathetic old woman who could be defeated by anyone. Suddenly the clouds around the arena formed as a sprinkle of rain came down. The roof of the arena quickly closed itself and turned transparent to give light.

"Now for our challenger. A particularly popular trainer from the Johto Region. He is known for his amazing connection to his pokemon and how he has never before been defeated. I give you JACK CROFT." There was a tremendous amount of cheering that echoed through the arena. It continued as soon as Jack walked onto the playing field.

Jack still looked like he did during his years as a wry trainer. He wore a dark blue hooded jacket with long cargo pants and sneakers. Resting on his face was a pair of aviators that reflected all of his surroundings. Jack's face was expressionless and very monotone. His face was unshaven and a goatee made of blond hair rested around his mouth.

A referee appeared on a view screen to the side of the arena. He cleared his voice and spoke. "Alright challenger and defending sides are you ready? This is a straight pokemon battle, one on one no holds barred. Once my hand goes down you may do anything. Until one pokemon falls to the ground fainted this match does not end. Both trainers nodded and reached for pokeballs.

"Gengar I choose you." Agatha cried out as she tossed the pokeball. A large dark Gengar appeared where the pokeball opened itself. Jack continued to remain emotionless and enlarged the pokeball in his hand. He tossed the pokeball into the middle of the arena, which caused an Alakazam to appear. Like Jack the Alakazam had the same expression on his face.

Jack rasied his left hand and revealed a pokegear watch. Agatha had a very confused look on her face as Jack reached and pressed a small button on the Pokegear. What is this little pup doing? Calling one of his friends? She thought to herself humorously.

As soon as Jack pressed the button he suddenly shivered. A blue flash of light eminated from the Pokegear, surrounding his body. Alakazam had a dark blue glow in his eyes that eventually drifted away. Jack's mouth began moving quickly with only the distorted words "We... are... one..." coming out. The voice wasn't Jacks, but it wasn't entirely different. It was like someone spliced his voice with someone else's.

Jack dipped his head and remained motionless. However Alakazam looked around slightly and pointed one of it's spoons toward Gengar. Gengar charged for the Psychic pokemon but as soon as it opened it's mouth to lick him. Alakazam did a quick roll to the side and appeared directly behind him. Gengar had barely any time to react as Alakazam's eyes glowed dark red and bright rainbow circles cried out from his mind. Gengar was instantly thrown out of the arena and soon appeared on the ground unconscious.

"THE WINNER IS... JACK!" The Announcer cried out. Agatha stood there completely bewildered. Jack had just defeated Gengar in less then 10 seconds with one attack. Jack's head soon looked up and reached for his pokeball. He recalled Alakazam and took a bow, which caused the crowd to roar. Agatha buckled to the ground in despair, she had lost again to a rookie trainer and finally thought she would never be able to beat Samuel.

~~~

Present day

Jack awoke instantly to a feeling of intense pain in his forehead. He opened his eyes and saw that he had fallen from his bed and hit his head on the nightstand while asleep. His undershirt felt moist from sweat, and he felt a small dribble of blood start to seep out from his nose. Jack had a very difficult time getting up from the position he was in on the floor, as he felt his arms had lost all feeling. Several minutes later however he managed to lug his way to the bathroom.

Underneath Jack's eyes were several dark brown circles. His eyes were almost completely bloodshot, which caused his irises to turn black with veins intertwining around them. Jack washed his face several times, but felt worse every time he put water to his skin. He looked around and saw a large bottle of mouthwash with a pokeball symbol etched on the lable. He immediately opened the childproof cap and guzzled down the dark green liquid.

The mouthwash was repulsive and tasted strongly of alcohol. Yet he felt somewhat more awake and a little better then before. As soon as he finished the entire bottle he dropped it to the ground and walked out of the bathroom. He soon leaned against a wall of his bedroom and sat down. The temptation to lose conciousness so tempting.

Jack went to his clothing and reached for Claws's pokeball. He quickly released the rodent who immediately took shock to his appearance. "Jack? What did you do?" Claws asked him. His concern immediately angered Jack quickly.

"I had a ****ing nightmare and I feel hung over." Jack's hissing voice had a snarl attatched to it. He sounded like a crazy drunk coming out from a bar.

I feel so tired. The world began to spin. Jack felt a very large temptation to both vomit and cry. His eyes welled up, his mouth began to water instantly. His teeth began to hurt like knives in his gums.

"Calm down Jack. Why are you acting like this...." At that moment Jack lost consciousness.

Sweet Dreams

are made of these~

a store near YOU!
Seen January 23rd, 2018
Posted January 3rd, 2018
703 posts
15.3 Years
Apart from using "temptation" and "tempting" a few too many times too close to each other and needing a question mark in "Why are you acting like this...?", the part was fantastic.

I'm really interested in what's going to happen and what that was about. Very compelling. Claws seems to be a lot more friendly than before, too.



Friends for Infinity
art (right) by the amazing Kitty


Scales

Man of Infinite Jest

Age 30
Male
From whose bourn No traveller returns,
Seen August 12th, 2010
Posted July 1st, 2010
1,718 posts
16.4 Years
Chapter 7: To myself

Jack found himself staring at his hand for several minutes until he blinked out of focus. He moved his fingers all in a continuous motion until he managed to regain some feeling in his right hand. Soon he flexed his muscles in the rest of his body to regain feeling.

Much of the headache from before had disappeared completely. He didn't feel as drowsy or as angry as before, really he felt laid back and calm now. Jack picked himself up off the floor he cowered on and looked around. Claws was sleeping in a small nook at the edge of the room. Jack smirked slightly and glanced at his clothing. He was midway toward zipping up his fly when Claws finally opened his eyes and looked at him.

"Jack?" Claws asked as Jack stood up. Jack began to put on his socks and replied. "Yeah." Claws scrambled out from where he slept and crawled forward to him. "What happened to you? First you send me out and get all angry. Then you pass out. Now your awake and acting all calm. What happened to you?" Claws's concern was noted, but Jack didn't have an answer for the shrew. His guess was as good as Jack's really.

"I dunno. Anyway Claws you mind going back into your pokeball? We should really head out." Jack didn't know where his concern for the shrew came from. He recalled the contempt he felt for Claws a day or so before. Now somehow he felt admiration for the shrew pokemon. It was possible they were just naturally compatible due to their love of battling. Or maybe it was because Jack had proven how worthy he was for Claws.

Once Claws had been returned to his pokeball and Jack had washed his face over 20 times. He quickly checked to see if he forgot anything and left the small hotel room. The hallway that his room was on, was simple and stock. It had cheap red felt lining around the walls with bronze paint on the wooden floors. It was all too cheap and dull for Jack's taste, so he scrambled to the elevator at the end of the hallway. While he waited at the elevator Jack began to silently hum "The late goodbye" by Poets of the Fall. Once he got to the chorus the elevator doors dinged and opened.

There was one other person in the elevator with him. From Jack's glance it was another trainer. The trainer was a tall male with rough brown hair underneath a faded orange cap. He had a very straight forward face that accompanied his hair rather well. He wore a faded orange hoody with a dark brown T-shirt over top of it. The t-shirt had the words "JUST DO IT" printed on it. Underneath the words was a picture of a man standing on top of a Venomoth very high in the sky holding a cowboy hat. Jack found the image very humorous and he quickly complimented him.

"Just do it? Rather funny isn't it?" Jack said while hiding a snicker in his voice. The trainer looked toward him and nodded.

"Yeah, you know it." Jack backed up and stuck his hand out to the trainer. "Jack Croft." The trainer took his hand and replied.

"Cal Winchester." The name rung a bell slightly. "Wait I heard about you. You came from New Bark right?" Jack asked him curiously. Cal nodded, he noticed a smile on his face.

"Yeah. I haven't been there for a while." Cal's voice was rather friendly and deep at the same time. He sounded like he was a trainer for quite a while. Just like Jack was. "Wait Jack Croft? Weren't you the Johto league champion?" He asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Yeah. That was two years ago though.." He said a little dismayed.

"Yeah.. you were like a legend when I was last in Johto though. Man I couldn't go into a Mart back in Goldenrod without seeing your face with a Feraligatr right beside it. Suddenly a fierce memory of a Feraligatr sliced within Jack's mind. His starter pokemon he won so many battles with. "So what are you doing with yourself?" Cal's enthusiasm was very uplifting for Jack.

"Nothing really. Just starting over with a new team, trying to replicate my glory." Cal nodded quickly.

"Cool cool. I'm heading to Cerulean myself. Maybe I'll see you there?" Jack nodded. The elevator doors opened to the lobby. "Hey I'll see you in Cerulean. Cal walked out of the lobby and back onto the street.

Jack headed to the front desk and rang for the teller. Who responded instantly. "Can I help you?" The teller asked him.

"Yes. Jack Croft. I want to check out." Jack placed his door key onto the table. In a few moments the Teller took the card and typed up several commands onto his computer.

"Um Mr. Croft. We recently received a package that was forwarded to you from a safety deposit box in your name. It appears that your box expired and it was sent to your current location. Would you like your package?" The teller's face was full of curiosity. Jack looked puzzled but nodded slowly. The Teller walked away from the counter and out of sight. Jack began humming again and leaned on the counter. Jack looked out a nearby window and out toward the horizon.

"So... much... blood..." The image sparked through Jack's mind he stumbled slightly. The mutilated corpse in front of him so vivid. The blood dripping from his hands, from his hair. From it's claws... He didn't snap out of it until...

"Mr. Croft?... Mr. Croft?" Jack snapped out of his malaise and spun around to see the teller. The Teller had a beige paper envelope in his hand. Jack signed for the package and quickly walked out of the hotel.

As he walked back to the pokemon center Jack opened the package with his teeth. The envelope was very light and was labeled on the front.

"TO JACK CROFT.

FROM CORK FTJOC" A badly done anagram of his name. It was a package to himself... but why? Something was very puzzling, even more puzzling was the thing that slid into his hand.

Sliding from the package was a small piece of paper surrounding a light square object. He unraveled the paper to reveal a small chip with an arrow, signifying to be inserted into a device. On the paper were simple instructions.

"Insert into EXPANSION PORT A. Use the code 859754 and press the MUTE button". Jack didn't know what the words meant at all. He scratched his head slightly until his eyes went to his pokegear. Along the side of it was a very small hole with the words "EXPANSION PORT A" written on the side. Jack quickly inserted the square into the expansion port which soon disappeared completely into the black port.

"What just happened?" Jack asked himself pathetically. He shrugged as he imputed the code into the pokegear's keypad. His finger went for the mute button which was underneath the sound function. But as he did so he caught sight of the pokemon center in front of him. He had drifted quite a few yards from the hotel. He closed his pokegear and went into the pokemon center.

The center was far less crowded, the only people inside of it were Nurse Joy, a trainer sitting at the seats at the far end and what looked like a fish salesman at a corner. There was a table with a fish tank propped up on it. Jack walked to the man and eyed his fish tank.

"Hey... what's in the tank?" He asked curiously. He bent down and looked inside to see a small Magicarp and a Tentacool.

"Selling some stuff I caught back in Vermillian. 500 for the Magicarp and another for the Tentacool. Jack shrugged and his hand went to his money clip. He placed 500 onto the table and pointed to the Tentacool.

"Why would I want some useless orange fish? I'm taking the Jellyfish." The Salesman shrugged and he took out what looked like a Lureball. He summoned the Tentacool into the ball and handed it to Jack. The Salesman suddenly stood upright and snarled "No Refunds." Jack shrugged and walked away. He walked to the counter, toward Nurse Joy and asked.

"Excuse me? How many trainers come here regularly from Brock?" He asked her curiously. Joy shrugged and responded.

"Usually 2 or 3 per day. Give or take. Brock doesn't get to many trainers lately." Jack smirked and walked out of the pokemon center rather quickly. His hand went to the pokeball containing Claws.

Sweet Dreams

are made of these~

a store near YOU!
Seen January 23rd, 2018
Posted January 3rd, 2018
703 posts
15.3 Years
Ah... I haven't commented? I thought I did...

Okay, so any number under ten, or even a hundred, you can spell out in English. Otherwise, it was a very good part. I'm just wondering what happens next? Or what had happened before?



Friends for Infinity
art (right) by the amazing Kitty