-------It was doubtful but, in his state of darkened silence—his eyes were still stapled shut—, Arthur may have heard a soft, affirmatory click.
-------"No way…" Cautiously peeling one eye open confirmed that the impossible had indeed happened; the Pokeball lay unmoving on the slope. Art's earnest cry had been answered by the Big Fish in the Sky, but perhaps out of pessimism he stayed frozen in shock. He almost didn't want to move forward and fetch Mankey who, ergo could instantaneously come hurtling out with its limbs flailing and flying—
-------"Congratulations, Trainer!" The Pokedex then suddenly trumpeted in his pants pocket.
"You have successfully captured Mankey, the Pig Monkey Pokemon, and a basic-stage Fighting type. Would you like to learn more information about your new partner?"
-------This brought Art to his senses, caused him to shake his head before striding over to collect his prize. To his shrill-voiced device the boy said, "No thanks. I'm good."
-------"Very well," was its response.
-------Arthur gathered the ball, inspected it in his hands. From behind its translucent cover he could see a much smaller, calmer Mankey resting inside. Arthur always wanted to know the state of unconsciousness captured Pokemon were put under. Were they sleeping? Tranquilized, whatever that might imply? Was Mankey here able to dream, to breathe?
-------The boy sat down on the edge of the cliff, still turning the Pokeball from palm to palm. Hoppip leaped to meet him on the resting place and he turned to see her too, expecting the worst, but she possessed no marks or bruises, only a smile, on her rosy face. Lavender gave the sunniest, most victorious of all chirps. So elated was she at the capture, the Hoppip was turning circles in midair.
-------Her cheerful antics had Arthur grinning and laughing aloud. "You're gonna make yourself dizzy, Lavender!"
-------"Please do not forget to fill out the approval waiver concerning your latest capture so that it may be legalized," came the Pokedex's own exclamation from the far, far depths of Art's front jeans pocket. The first cry, though otherwise identical in its message, was more patient in its tone. Yet Arthur had ignored that one. With the next bolder interruption, the boy sighed and rolled his eyes, but out of obligation, retrieved his 'dex and took to doing as commanded.
-------The waiver blossomed instantly on screen as he drew back the red, chrome cover of the Kanto Professor's incumbent gift. Arthur scrolled down the list of many requisites with a disheartened sigh, but as he'd been taught, he had to fill out all of it, so he set out do so despite himself.
-------'Moveset' and 'ability' were standard things, having been registered along with the fact that he'd captured Mankey. There was also a list of tiny integers under Mankey's name; for "database purposes" was the vague explanation for why those could not go ignored. Art had only to go back-and-forth methodically to fill those in, as well as write in the species name 'Pig Monkey', just to keep him on his toes, he bitterly assumed. Unfortunately, that was where the monotony ended as he came to a wall:
'Observable Nature', and there was a drop-down menu of possible choices.
Brave, Rash, Gentle, Hasty… Arthur scowled. How was he supposed to know? Literally he'd known this new friend of his for, at most, sixty seconds.
-------He thought it over before determining the natures that the Mankey was not without concluding what exactly it was. There was no "Angry", no "Vindictive", "Prove to Violent Tendencies and Behavior". Arthur shifted his attention from the Pokedex to Lavender. The Hoppip had come across his bright yellow backpack and was helpfully nudging it towards him. The pocket for Pokeballs was still unzipped and gaping open.
-------Eventually the bag came to fall by Arthur's feet, just as he made up his mind regarding his newest capture. He stood up.
-------"Stay on-guard, okay?" he warned Lavender, for whether Art's prompt capture of it had left a lasting, sour impression on Mankey was unpredictable. The Pig Monkey itself was unpredictable, so truly it was best for both of them to stand ready and brace themselves for a potential lash-out.
-------The Pokeball more fell from Arthur's hand than anything and he flinched as it burst apart on the pavement, allowing the furry Fighting-type to emerge in a show of light. Lavender heedlessly slipped past him and, despite a horrified cry of caution, inspected their new teammate from up close. Art expected the situation to go ary fast but, to his good fortune, the Mankey was statue-still as the Hoppip brushed her cheek against his own and issued a peppy call of greetings.
-------It was miraculous how rigid the Mankey stood now, arms hanging lankily at its sides and its eyes, though squinted, were the only part of its body to appearingly move. All the color had likewise drained from its face and its claws were long withdrawn into its folded-over paws. The creatures seemed almost stunned standing there, as if it had been angry some time ago but had bafflingly forgotten why, how it'd been and at whom. The state of near-stupification Arthur immediately associated with the Pokeball. Something inside, perhaps some sort of alien solution or super techno-miracle, had pacified the once-vigorously angry Pokemon. It was a solid piece to add to the puzzle regarding what the ever-so-principal Pokeballs actually did. Arthur gave himself little time to continue pondering the thought, however, as the last thing he wanted now was to push the Mankey's fragile boundaries with Lavender's urge to socialize. With a yelp, he grabbed his Hoppip and yanked her easily away.
-------Still, the Mankey hardly proved a threat. Again, it stood there, staring, almost glaring, silently and motionlessly at him and then at Lavender (the Cottonweed chirped on actively in Art's arms in passive protest around this moment). The young Trainer expected at least some form of communication on Mankey's part; a grunt or snarl or bark, or mew, No, yet again, and for yet some time, nothing! The boy supposed, finally, it was his turn to begin the conversation.
-------"Err, hi. I'm Arthur. Your Trainer."
-------Still glared.
-------"I, um… Do you… Are you… still upset at me for capturing you?"
-------Mankey glared on.
-------Arthur returned to silence for some time before remembering, as Lavender floated from his loose grip and landed on top of his collapsed bag: "Oh, right! I have treats for you." The boy thusly dug into another pocket that was mostly empty aside from a little, crumpled treat bag. It was a sunny-yellow color with the rather inviting face of a Clefairy on its front. The little star-shaped Pokemon clutched a spoon and hungrily eyed exaggerated images of the candy-colored kibble bits inside.
-------"Here you go." Art shook out two rounded treats and nervously offered them in the center of his cupped hand to the stiffly-standing Mankey.
-------The creature turned their critical gaze directly on what was now before it. In the same rigid form, they looked onwards, but then their nose began to twitch, then their ears, then their curled tail before Mankey eventually lifted a lanky arm and, in a single, punctual movement, gathered the food into its mouth.
-------"Well, that's that," Arthur exclaimed with satisfaction and straightened up. The Mankey crunched on, its curt expression never softening, but there was a sort of contentment it exuded as it ate and a sort of approving murmur; that was enough, enough for the Trainer to smile and proudly cross his arms at his expertise. Clearly the way to appeal to a new partner was by appealing mainly to their stomach was Art's main takeaway. "See, Mankey, you can trust us!" he said.
-------Though the sound of the shaking bag had his Hoppip springing and spinning around rapturously, so Arthur rationed out two murky-green kibble for her to munch on as well while he continued with his other Pokemon. "This is Lavender, your other teammate. She might help you out in fights.
-------"Say, I should give you a nickname too, shouldn't I, Mankey?"
-------The Fighting-type didn't appear to understand what the proposal meant but stood curty to attention nonetheless as Art put a hand to his chin in contemplation.
-------"Uh… I dunno. Maybe it can be like Lavender's and we can get a theme going. Something like… 'Dandelion'?"
-------Arthur's Hoppip peeped prominently, leading the boy to believe she thought highly of the name, though he quickly realized that was not the case. Her abrupt cry gave notion to an abrupt visitor who Art was then swift in recognizing.
-------The taller man, fast-approaching, was a close assistant to the Professor's back home in pallet. His hair was silvery-grey like the thin, rectangular frames of stellarly-clean glasses that flashed as brightly as his toothy grin below. Their white lab coat and dark slacks wouldn't have appeared atypical if they weren't so unnaturally clean and straightened. Even the man's posture was eye-raisingly on-point. It was if he was showing off to the twelve-year-old as he came striding down the cobbled path. The man also possessed himself a cowlick and, although Arthur knew it wasn't right of him to judge, it was protuberant enough to replace whatever the man's real name might have been in his mind;
Mr. Cowlick.
-------But, loyally padding beside this man, leash caught around its neck, was a Growlithe. Their fur was poofed and primed excessively, painstakingly even, and the effort showed. On the orange, striped canine's muzzle, Arthur swore, was a blatantly cocksure expression. It held its eyes shut and head tilted up towards the morning sun.
-------Mankey must have also received vibes of arrogance from the Growlithe's demeanor as he merely turned to meet both it and its master with narrowed eyes and ears flattened against his mangy head. Meanwhile, Lavender had drifted down to land on Arthur's shoulder, also observing the newcomers before nuzzling down into the nape of Art's neck, giving a muffled whine.
-------"Greetings, Arthur!" the man now called from afar. "You look like you're in tip-top shape still, just like earlier this morning!" He stopped in front of Mankey. "Oh, what's this? A new teammate already? Brilliant! You're certainly timely, Arthur!"
-------"Thanks…"
-------"With two Pokemon under your belt, you've got a plenty-good arsenal for the gym leader. You just have training to get to, am I correct?"
-------Mr. Cowlick's Growlithe took the time to visually sneer in Mankey's direction as the duo drew closer. Antagonistically, it shook its thick coat, causing a spray of tiny embers to float up. A few landing in the Fighting-type's own hair, causing him to tense up, though to the Puppy he only sniffed. This exchange was lost upon the two conversing humans.
-------"Yeah," Arthur was responding to Oak's assistant. "I just caught Mankey. I'm gonna fill out the waiver thing and then get to training here."
-------"Yes, yes, very good." Cowlick understood and nodded. "And you know you can always access this route's Habitat List using your Pokedex to get accustomed to all the different Pokemon here, and for other routes to come."
-------"Oh, yeah, I know."
-------"The Pokedex itself is very useful! It accesses an incredible database on Pokemon-related information, after all! Did you hear all it had to say on Mankey?"
-------Arthur thought for a split second. "Yeah, I did."
-------"Very good! Then you know that Mankey is weak to…? What types?"
-------"Fairy, Psychic and Flying."
-------"Remarkable! You've done your research. And you must know Hoppip's weaknesses at this point, too. But it's never good to dwell on 'weaknesses' anyway. It's how you counter them that truly matters! Tell me, Arthur: what would you do if a powerful Flying-type flew down at your Mankey right now?"
-------It was a difficult question to formulate an answer for. "Uh… I… don't… Maybe—?"
-------He'd thought of something slight but Cowlick had been waiting patiently to cut in and, when allowed the sudden opportunity, he did so boisterously. "Well, certainly type proficiency on the Flying-type's end would prove problematic for you and Mankey. 'Battling hard' would of course be helpful, but you'd most likely be better off relying on healing items as well to give your partner an edge. Remember: Pokemon can't use Potions automatically themselves, but the extra bit of effort is worth it, for Potions usually restore more health than most berries!"
-------Since when was that true? was Arthur's dry thought as he recalled the Sitrus berries lying exclusively at the bottom of a small pocket in his pack. A fat case of Super Potions was a common reality for many beginners but the Heathmanns had strongly established that, for Arthur in-particular, it would only be a temptation. Frankly, it was expensive, and the Pokedex even more so. That's why he had berries, and that was why the Professor knew he had berries instead of the suddenly-superior Potions. From prior experience, in the child's eyes, they worked just as effectively. It was like a startling blow to hear otherwise from the grey-haired professional.
-------He certainly wasn't and, truly, had never been smiling since Cowlick had gotten here but Mr. Cowlick himself was grinning him down like a Haunter in delirium. "Do you have any questions, Arthur, concerning your journey? Concerns? I can gladly answer them."
-------It was a line like that where Arthur came to realize how entirely irritated he was with this man.
-------"Perhaps about Trainer etiquette, asking for battles—?"
-------"No, I don't have any questions. Or concerns."
-------And with that terse reply, the assistant's facial manner flipped and he scowled disgruntledly at the youth. "Err, no need to interrupt, Arthur. I'm only trying to help you."
-------The twelve-year-old nearly hesitated but did, in a drawl compared to his snap before, "I… don't really need help."
-------But thanks anyway. That was what he planned to finish with; it might have settled better with the now-infuriated lab assistant who looked suddenly as if Art had physically stricken him. Mr Cowlick approached as if to stare down an assaulter, his glasses near-dangling over the tip of his nose as he turned down his chin to lock an angry and intimidating stare with the baffled, brown eyes of the new Trainer. Cowlick's voice was dark and hissing,
menacing.
-------"Don't cut me off. I said I was doing all of this to help you, didn't I? You wouldn't have gotten through Route 1 without me, I suspect, so I suggest you stay on my good side, Arthur. If you know so much already from your months at a dinky Trainer's Academy, why don't you prove it to me, hmm?"
-------The challenging jeer came almost from nowhere; Cowlick had been staring Art down with a sense of adult superiority but now he sounded almost child-like. It was like a dare, he ushered, and the taunt continued. "Think you're tough, eh? Think you know all there is to know already?
-------"Show me!"
-------The assistant's Growlithe leapt meagerly at this particular cry, giving a little bark, a shake of the tail: a display of eagerness. The Puppy Pokemon sensed genuineness, just as a joking flair erupted past its master's lenses, as sardonic as it was.
-------The look went unnoticed to Lavender who shook and nuzzled deeper into the collar of Arthur's jacket and the skin of his neck. The boy himself was stunned silent. He backed from the maniacal Professor's assistant his heart and mind racing.
What should he do? Try to stutter out the most coherent apology possible, or just run away? But was there anywhere to hide on the well-maintenanced route or even in Viridian where he wouldn't be found and eventually carried to the man-of-status' feet? Truly, taking up the man's offer was not acceptable, not even conceivable. He couldn't battle this man and his flame-spitting hound, he needed to somehow get away.
-------But, meanwhile, Mankey was still, stock-still, and truly this was standard of him, that and his signature glare. In that instance, however, the disdainful look had disintegrated. Mankey now appeared entirely confused. They were caught in a conflict, one incomprehensible to a mind programmed for curt orders and direct signs of affections or otherwise. What the mean man in front was thinking and saying, what the scared boy behind was thinking and saying, it all fell upon Mankey like white, white noise, and the Fighting-type didn't like that at all. He didn't have the patience to understand so, rashly, he took to misunderstanding, for all Mankey could truly make out was the direct hostility on a fellow Pokemon's face and a powerful impulse within himself.
-------Mankey bulleted towards Growlithe and, before it could suitably respond, had swept the Puppy's front legs from underneath itself with a Low Kick. Its chin dropped against the hard brick road which sparked from the creature a howl of pain. The Fire-type recovered quickly with a subtle wince before lashing out with its teeth, though its fast-paced offender dodged backwards before any contact could be made.
-------Growlithe tried for another Bite, lashing forwards past its master's pant leg, and the motion, in a snap, yanked the leash handle from Cowlick's hand. He tried to call out to his pocket monster with a heavy command of dissuasion but the Fire-type was already in Mankey's face—the unhandled leash was dragging behind them—barking indignantly in some poor attempt of intimidation before diving forwards. Again, the Fighting-type leapt backwards, farther this time, as his opponent sunk its teeth into nothing.
-------When the Pig Monkey went still, Arthur immediately saw the opening. He flinched firstly, but the Growlithe snapped its head up, and he knew, if his partner didn't, this was the key chance.
-------"Hey!" he snapped Mankey to attention. "Aim a Fury Swipes while it isn't ready!"
-------In an instant, he was barrelling forwards again, ready to take advantage just as Arthur had impulsively meditated. Mankey's claws came out and were raking
one, two, three times over the Growlithe's face before it made its vain attempt to shake him off, and then with the same incredible speed, the Mankey jumped back as Art stifled an exultant shout to match his spreading grin.
-------It was for Mr. Cowlick's sake. Though, he realized now, looking over the "battlefield", that it didn't matter. Cowlick's face had gone chalky-white and their eyes glistened competitively.
-------I… I guess we really are battling.
-------"Growlithe, er, come back!" the assistant uttered and, quickly, their Pokemon returned and to readied themselves in a pre-pounce position at their feet. "I've got an idea. Run up and ready your jaws!"
-------This is my first battle, isn't it? Ugh...
-------"Wait for it to get to you, Mankey, and use Scratch!"
-------Growlithe sprang forth once again and the antsy Mankey, half-following instructions, met it mid-leap with a Scratch to its beaten muzzle. The Puppy was only mildly distracted as their owner cried out, clearly prepared, for an Ember attack. The spray of fire made a direct hit with Mankey; hissing and fussing, they were forced to draw back. The smell of singed fur floated in the air around them as their face flushed red.
-------"Mankey—!" But the order fell on deaf, cat-like ears as the Pokemon's anger began consuming him. Arthur cringed, expecting some impertinent action from the tensing of Mankey's muscles and salient scowl, but as he looked on, it appeared to be for the better. The Fighting-type screamed and was very briefly overtaken by a great, golden flare of energy.
-------"That's Focus Energy! Growlithe, let's end this now. Get ready…!" Cowlick called to his partner from the opposing side of the "field".
-------His Fire-type appeared to jerkingly nod, standing its ground, not allowing itself to be distracted by whatever their assailer was plotting. Clearly they acted more competently under orders. Its striped shoulders were hunched as it lowered its head menacingly to the ground. It snorted a cloud of sparks from its nostrils.
-------"Fire Spin!" Cowlick called.
-------This made Growlithe stand up with a start, a circle of fire lighting itself as it did around a bamboozled Mankey's feet. From the base climbed a spiraling tower of red, wild flame, gradually leaping higher as the Puppy Pokemon held it in place with sheer focus.
-------At the very sight of the great, flaming structure, Arthur felt utterly lost, though he could hear a triumphant shout from the mirroring side of the roaring fire. The attack was unexpectedly magnificent, both breath-taking and heartbreaking. If Mankey was caught in the middle of
that, it was over, without a doubt.
-------But, his spirits were soon lifted. Growlithe's control of its pyrokinetics slipped and the high-climbing flames soon faded into nothing; it was only a pup, after all, and it couldn't sustain something of such height forever, so it now stood panting, completely vulnerable, looking desperately for a roasted Pig Monkey. Neither it, nor its master, nor Arthur, were prepared for the blood-curdling scream of a raging Fighting-type, seeming come from nowhere. Mankey—just faintly seared—flew at its opponent from the ledge where it had dove onto to evade its Fire Spin, claws wiping out and across Growlithe's chest in one powerful motion that fell the flame-spewing canine; a critical hit! What a show! Growlithe was down and out. Mankey's claws had made good work of its once award-deserving coat.
-------"Yeah! Oh, yeah!" Arthur shot up with sudden exuberance, startling poor Lavender who had been far less absorbed with the action. "Mankey, you were
amazing!" The grinning boy rushed to his partner who still loomed over the unconscious form of his opponent. The Pokemon seemed ready to spit, still, but when he glanced up at Art's "take-that-Cowlick" grin, his expression lightened.
-------The assistant was far less happy, more-or-less disgusted. He withdrew his Puppy, murmuring quiet consolation before stuffing the ball dishearteningly into his coat pocket. In Cowlick's remarkably sullen state, he seemed reluctant to speak to Arthur, but there was the necessity to uphold his pride in front of the twelve-year-old that pressured him into clearing his throat.\
-------"A-herm! Well! That was a very…
flashy battle."
-------Arthur could practically taste the bitterness; it only invigorated the boy's victorious grin. "I didn't know Focus Energy could be such a useful move!"
-------"Yes, well, Fire Spin should have done well enough. I won't even ask how your Mankey managed to dodge it—"
-------"He jumped up on the ledge and hid until it died down! Professor'd call that 'great battle instincts'—"
-------"—but, with the grant of
some mystical power, it managed it! Hoo, that brutish beast certainly managed against my Growlithe! Plain ol' Growlithe! Not bred to perfection or anything, just caught smack-dab in the wild, minutes ago! Ha ha ha! 'Great battle instincts'...
bah!"
-------Consumed in his own rambling diatribe, Mr. Cowlick evaded even looking at Arthur again as he turned on his heel and began stomping off in the direction in which he'd came. From over his shoulder, he offered the most kindly and sincere of salutations: "I was originally supposed to give you a few things but I'm positive, with the prowess you've exhibited, you can live without them for a time. Toodeloo, Mr. Heathmann!" And with that, they were gone.
-------Good riddance, the youthful Trainer frankly thought. Cowlick's comments failed to sour his mood, for he'd beaten him in a battle! Or at least Mankey had. Arthur moved to his partner's side and rested a hand casually on his scruffy head. He was motionless, as always, though surely not as tense as he had been. Truly, Mankey felt as pleased as Art did.
-------"'Brutish', huh? We'll show 'im some more 'brute' next time, right,
Brutus?"
-------The Mankey nodded.
╚1:20 pm╔
"Your Serious-natured, Quick-tempered Mankey has been fully registered! Congratulations again, Trainer, on the successful capture of your new partner! From the League, we wish you the best of luck and much success with 'Brutus' on your side!"
