Pokemon were always shown to be intelligent creatures. Though they cannot speak the same language as us, Pokemon have shown numerous times that they understand us to know what the words mean, how they sound, and the usage of tone.
The same can be said for Pokemon Trainers. A deep bond with a Pokemon and you can understand them to a deep level. You grow with them, understand each other, and learn more about each of them.
Though I love Pokemon and ensure they are healthy for the next battle, that was only through a screen and numbers. And numbers can be changed depending on how much they hate or love you.
I'm not one to omit that I... 'cheated' on the games. I love Pokemon but the grind can be too much at times and in Pokemon Fangames, you need to grind for the perfect EV and IV to ensure a good and fun game. Of course, the story helps but it's all about battles.
I should be excited. I should be ecstatic as I am about to live the greatest fantasy an anime fan could ever have. To become a Pokemon Trainer and have living, breathing creatures I can command to epic proportions.
But I am scared.
I'm scared of what my Pokemon would think of me. An outsider? An opponent? A stranger? My appearance doesn't match the ones in the game, not even my name is the same. Would they even recognize me through the screen they know as the 4th wall?
"Should I trust ROB? Should I trust my Pokemon?" In the end, it all comes down to the risk of knowing what will happen. 6 powerful creatures dwell within my soul, all no doubt eagerly awaiting my command. To receive an order and fulfill it. Like soldiers to a commander, or a slave to its master.
I don't want that kind of relationship, of a slave obeying its master. I want friendship, bonds forged through battle and joy. I want to be someone they care about, to be with, and to always enjoy being with.
I wanted a partner.
"Alright. Whatever comes, I accept it all." Even if they don't recognize me or are hostile to me, I'll prove to them that I am the same person who loved them, who trained them, who made sure they were healthy and loved from the moment they were with me.
And to start... I'll call upon my closest and greatest partner from the very beginning. I first picked him as my starter and he has been with me my entire journey, from start to finish. My friend whom I shared countless victories and defeats. My partner has been through thick and thin of my entire playthrough.
My Robin.
A burst of light spewed out of me and shot towards the wooden floor. The white light then materialized into form, a form I know well enough that I've seen through the anime and games.
A tall avian creature, with a head shaped like an owl, long wings furled into its collar and long legs with sharp claws appeared before me. The feathers and coat were red and brown respectively, with hair reminiscent of the straw hats of ronin in ancient Japan.
I know who this was, who this Pokemon is as I called upon my starter Pokemon from Rejuvenation.
My Hisuian Decidueye, Robin.
Robin opened his eyes, his red glare looking around the room before noticing me. To be honest, I felt intimidated by his stare and could feel the power terminating from him. That's a no-brainer as Robin was trained to become Champion Level so he is undoubtedly a strong Pokemon.
But I didn't back down. I will show him that I am his trainer and prove to the others I can stand tall with them by my side.
I walked towards him with no fear etched on my face. I asked one simple question to determine if he was the same Decidueye from the game. "Do you... remember me?"
The Pokemon looked stoic, its face unchanging against my question. For a while, I thought of the worst. My Pokemon couldn't recognize me as they had never met me, or even seen my real pathetic weak self.
I was ready to pull Robin back into my soul and try again when he suddenly pulled me into a hug against his fluffy feathers. Decidueye's aren't tall, only reaching up to 5 feet in height so it was more like me hugging my Pokemon but it's not worth saying.
The action surprised me for a moment as I turned to meet Robin's eye once more but something strange happened.
Robin talked.
"I remember you."
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"I'm glad you remembered me though the question is how though," I asked my partner Pokemon. The only interaction I ever had with Robin was through a laptop screen in a small room at a hospital. And that was through a game character I control.
Robin got confused when he turned his head slightly before responding. "Truthfully, I do not know as well. Memories of the past are not forgotten but the transition is unknown."
It's still weird for me. The fact that my Pokemon can talk now is jarring, to say the least. I know some Pokemon that can talk but that only revolves around the usage of Aura and being a Psychic type. A Pokemon like Lucario or Gardevoir are prime example of this and yet.
Robin had neither of these things. He is a Grass/Fighting type and although he can use Aura Sphere, it doesn't say he can use Aura like a Lucario can.
Is this one of the few things ROB did to my Pokemon? The ability to talk? Strange man.
"Wait, you said memories of the past? You remember what happened back then?" I am talking about the game he was in, the final confrontation of the antagonist, and the epilogue that followed.
Robin nodded. "Indeed. I cannot remember how we ended here or what happened with your friends but all of the events that transpired before the big battle is still there. As well as our bond, Trainer Lloyd."
"That still doesn't explain how you know me. I'm glad you do but there is a difference ." I mean, I am different but not similar to the protagonists in the game.
Robin nodded. "Again, I do not know how I know you, Lloyd. Yes, you look different than before but something has told me, told us, that our trainer with whom we've shared unbreakable bonds, the Interceptor, is you. The man who picked me as your starter, the one whom we explored the vast Aevium Region, both past and future, and one who has defeated an entire criminal organization, is undoubtedly the same one standing before me.
I, no, we remember you, Lloyd Caroc. Our Trainer."
I let out a sigh I unknowingly held, and a wave of relief washed over me. My fears were then wiped away cleanly. The ones who I was afraid the most had been my allies from the very beginning, all I needed was words of confirmation.
"Thank you, Robin. Everyone, please look after me." A surge of emotions flowed within me, all warm and accepting of my condition. "Robin, how are you feeling? You need a potion or ether?"
"I am ready and fully able to battle." Robin fully spread his wings and stretched before retreating them. "Shall we be off then towards the new world we are in?"
I shook my head instead. "As much as I love exploring a new world with you guys, there's one more thing I have to try out first. The power of the Plates."
Robin nodded. "The Plates. Seventeen plates corresponding to the types of Pokemon, all wielded by Arceus, the Alpha Pokemon. You chose a good power, Lloyd."
A quick nod was thrown to Robin, I got to work on figuring out which of the many plates I wanted to get.
Remembering the original fanfic of the plates, the plates change the user into the image of the shape, gaining their strengths and weaknesses but also knowing the moves of each plate. If I want to survive in a new world then I have to cover human weaknesses.
Let's start by raising my base stats. The Blank Plate. The easiest form of power with a wide variety to choose from, they are a jack of all trades with offensive, defensive, and supporting options. I don't think my appearance will change much since it is a Normal Type move-set so I'll keep this as my primary option.
A surge of power flowed through me like a feeling of being whole had been set inside me. This power feels... good.
The next plate would be the Flying Plate. Getting around will be a lot easier with this and also I just love wings and the freedom of flying, it sounds rather enticing to me. Another surge of power flowed in me. Wonder if I will get wings.
Following that is the Fighting Plate. Punch is good, karate is better.
The fourth one is Mind Plate. The notion of levitating objects and pulling them towards me has been a childhood dream from the start.
Now, the last plate out of all is the most important decision I will ever take. Among the many plates I have, only 5 will be available for me from the get-go. I do not have any prior training in martial arts or the like so becoming an elemental would be beneficial.
That said, I think I would have to go for the Spooky Plate. If I can't teleport using the Mind Plate, then I will become an astral projection and phase through conflicts, hopefully moving away from it all until it cools down.
And now, my set is complete.
Blank Plate, Flying Plate, Fighting Plate, Mind Plate, Spooky Plate.
These are the 5 Plates that will be with me the longest in my run. The others will be locked, dormant until I have gained the mastery to wield more until all have been unlocked.
Wonder if I can dual-type? I kinda want to try it out.