[Happy new year to my amazing readers!]
Surge led the group through a hallway until they reached a door with a polished silver plaque reading "Private Quarters." He opened the door, revealing an opulent room adorned with military memorabilia, vibrant furniture, and an enormous flat-screen television mounted on the wall.
"This is my room," Surge said with a grin, motioning for everyone to sit on the plush couches arranged around a coffee table. "Make yourselves comfortable."
Ace and the others obliged, curiosity piqued by the unexpected turn of events. Surge disappeared briefly into his bedroom and returned holding a sleek black disk.
"This," Surge said, holding up the disk, "is something that might interest you, Ace. Watch closely."
With a click of a remote, the television screen flickered to life. The video began playing, displaying a battlefield set against a war-torn backdrop. Both trainers in the video wore military uniforms, and one of them was a younger Surge. His trademark grin was just as cocky, and he exuded an aura of unshakable confidence.
The opposing trainer, introduced as Dan, had a stoic demeanor, and his uniform bore insignias of high rank. Surge's Raichu stood at the ready, its sparks crackling with anticipation, while Dan sent out a Pokémon unfamiliar to most of the group except Ace and Cerise—a Toxtricity in its Amped Form.
"This is a recording of my military days, before I became Vermillion's Gym Leader," Surge explained as the group watched intently.
As the battle began, Dan gave a command that shocked everyone in the room except Cerise and Surge. "Toxtricity, unleash Technician!"
A vibrant, flame-like aura surrounded Toxtricity. The colour of the aura kept changing colours like a disco light as the Pokémon let out a guttural cry which made the aura intensify.
"Whoa," Ace whispered, his green eyes wide. "What's happening to it?"
"That does not seem normal." May added, leaning forward.
The battle unfolded with a ferocity that left the group speechless. Toxtricity's moves, from Thunderbolt to Boom Burst, seemed magnified to an almost unimaginable level. Each attack hit with devastating power, as if even its weaker moves had been elevated to the strength of high-tier ones while the high-tier ones seemed to have been evaluated to One Hit K.O moves.
"That," Surge said, pausing the video, "is Technician when it's awakened."
Cerise took over, his tone that of a seasoned professor delivering an important lecture. "Pokémon abilities, as you know, are passive traits. Technician, for example, boosts the power of weaker moves by fifty percent. But in rare cases, Pokémon can achieve what's called ability awakening. This phenomenon allows them to actively control and amplify their ability at will."
He gestured toward the screen. "In this case, Toxtricity's awakened Technician doubles the power of all its moves, not just the weaker ones. The boost is consistent and under complete control, as you can see from the video."
The group sat in stunned silence, trying to absorb this revelation. Dawn finally broke the silence. "Wait, so... this is like the Pokémon going beyond its limits?"
"Exactly," Cerise confirmed. "Awakened abilities are exceedingly rare, though. It's estimated that only one in a million Pokémon can achieve this state. And even then, it requires rigorous training, an unbreakable bond with their trainer, and often some unique circumstance or trigger."
Ace's mind immediately went to Smeargle. 'Could Smeargle do this? If we could awaken Technician...' He clenched his fists, already envisioning the possibilities.
Surge shook his head as if reading Ace's mind. "Before you get any ideas, kid, don't go thinking it's easy. In Kanto, there are only two Pokémon with confirmed awakened abilities. Champion Blue's Blastoise has awakened Torrent, and Pokémon Master Red's Charizard has awakened Blaze. That's it."
"Only two?" May echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yup," Surge replied. "Even with all the trainers in Kanto, it's that rare. And both of those trainers are at the pinnacle of what a Pokémon trainer can achieve. It's not something you can just decide to do and make it happen overnight."
Ace's thoughts drifted to the Sinnoh regions arc—Ash's Chimchar. It had been abandoned by Paul, but under Ash's guidance, it grew stronger and eventually awakened its Blaze ability as an Infernape with complete control during Ash and Pauls Match. The memory reignited his determination.
'I'll make it happen,' Ace thought, his resolve solidifying. 'Smeargle and I will train harder than ever. We'll find a way to awaken Technician, no matter how long it takes.'
He stood abruptly, his fists clenched tightly. "I don't care how rare it is. Smeargle and I will do it. We'll awaken Technician, and we'll prove that anything is possible!"
Surge and Cerise exchanged glances, a mixture of amusement and approval on their faces. Surge grinned. "Well, kid, if anyone's crazy enough to pull it off, it's probably you."
Smeargle, still perched on Ace's shoulder, gave an energetic bark of agreement, its tail wagging enthusiastically. The group smiled at Ace's determination, though Chloe's gaze lingered longer than most, her admiration for Ace intensifying further.
While the group said their goodbyes to Surge and left the gym as it was getting late, a much darker scene played out at the city's docks. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the faint echoes of the waves crashing against the pier.
A group of people, their faces bruised and clothes torn, were tied to a tall metal pole. Their muffled cries for help were met with cold indifference. A lone figure stood nearby, meticulously wiping the blood from a gleaming katana. His movements were methodical, almost reverent, as he examined the blade under the moonlight.
"That was easier than I thought," the figure muttered, his voice low and dripping with malice. His words hung in the air, a chilling contrast to the distant hum of the city nightlife.
Beside him, a black briefcase lay open, filled with stolen Pokéballs. He carefully closed the case, securing the latches. Without missing a beat, he pulled out a Pokéball and released a Honchkrow. The large, menacing bird spread its wings wide, letting out a deep, resonant caw that echoed through the docks.
The figure climbed onto Honchkrow's back, his black trench coat billowing slightly in the night breeze. "Air Cutter," he commanded, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Honchkrow's wings glowed briefly before unleashing a razor-sharp wave of wind. The attack struck the tied individuals with unrelenting force, their cries abruptly silenced as their lifeless bodies slumped against the pole. The scene grew eerily quiet, save for the faint rustle of the wind.
A sinister chuckle escaped the figure's lips as Honchkrow took flight, ascending higher into the night sky. The moonlight cast a faint glow on his face, illuminating the iconic Darkrai-shaped mask that concealed his identity. There was no mistaking him—it was Sin, the infamous enforcer of the underworld.
Pulling out a sleek black phone from his coat, Sin pressed it to his ear. "The job's done," he said, his voice calm but with a dangerous edge. "The Pokémon will be delivered to the black market as promised. Anything else for me?"
A voice on the other end rattled off a series of potential tasks, but one in particular caught Sin's attention. His expression, though hidden behind the mask, seemed to sharpen with interest. "Oh? That one sounds... entertaining," he mused.
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he chuckled again, a sound that sent shivers down Honchkrow's feathers. "Team Rocket sure is stirring the pot lately. Guess it's time I joined the fun."
Honchkrow let out another caw before tilting its wings and speeding off in the direction of Viridian City, its dark silhouette blending into the night. Behind them, the docks were left in grim silence, a chilling testament to Sin's ruthlessness.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Pokemon:Ace's Adventures!)