Second Pokemon

"So, Ariana Tanaka," Looker said when he saw that I wasn't lying, "give me your evidence."

"I don't have one; I saw it on the Rocket team; investigating it is your job."

"Okay, one more thing: I need you to go down to Team Rocket's basement with a microphone."

"In exchange for?"

"Another 3000 Pokédollars."

"Okay, and when do you need that job? Because I'm only allowed in on Tuesdays."

"So on Tuesday, you will go down to the basement with a microphone and serve as a temporary spy. If what you say is true, this will destroy an important Team Rocket base. Although who was going to tell me that there would be a Team Rocket lair in Viridian City?" the executive being the ex-wife of the gym leader, this seems like a joke without offense."

"I am not offended; I understand my situation, but I assure you that I am not lying."

Well, meet me tomorrow at the same place, act normally, and you'll be off the hook.

Happy as a partridge, and with 9 thousand more Pokédollars on my account, I ended the discussion. It was not a millionaire amount, but enough to start an adventure with a few Pokémon. Yes, at the moment, having a team of six is impossible. Normally, it costs $1100 on the market; that's too expensive. It's normal that trainers are so scarce, so I have to be careful how I use them.

I made a mental outline of what I should buy.

A Poké Ball for the mysterious Dark Pokémon.

Two emergency Potions: 400

I had 7,500 Pokédollars left for food and lodging.

It could work for a while, but the money was not infinite. I must haggle more the next time I see Looker.

Anyway, now I had a Pokémon to look for.

Getting to the peak described by Karen was complicated. On Route 203, an intermediate mountain, at the top I will find a Dark-type Pokémon.

After arriving, I found nothing; it was dusk. Just like in the game, Dark types are more likely to hunt at night.

On the way, we found some wild Pokémon, which Konrad was in charge of punishing.

They were quite pathetic—a Fearow, a Rattata, and an Ekans around level 10—nothing difficult for my currently level 24 Shuppet; in fact, they were good practice for the Will-o'-the-Wisp move.

Currently, Konrad had already mastered the useful Will-o-Wisp technique; one could say that he even had fun using it against his enemies. I could guess it from his sadistic smile when he saw his enemies dry up due to his movement.

And here comes another feather.

"Will-o-Wisp"

"Yes, Boss."

The three flames hit the bird squarely, directly causing burns.

Fearow counterattacked with a Drill Peck, a bad move.

"Receive it and use Feint."

Fearow's attack was severely reduced by Will-o'-the-Wisp, which caused it to not do much damage to my Pokémon that surpassed it by almost 10 levels. The response did not take long; the ghost accumulated dark energy and gave a superhuman headbutt to the bird.

Fearow tried to flee, but he already feared this development of events.

"Feint, don't let him escape."

This is how the second feather of the day fell.

Finally, after 3 hours of searching, at dusk, we found the Pokémon.

He screeched when he saw me. "Hello, human, your species is not welcome.

A Murkrow.

"I don't remember there being a Murkrow on the mountain," I began, trying to start the conversation.

"There wasn't one before my former coach arrived."

"And where is he?

"Where?" The Murkrow sneered; his voice was very high-pitched.

"They left me here, that waste of space; he said it wouldn't work for him in my current state."

Shrug; I didn't say anything else.

More time passed. Konrad, bored with our interactions, emerged from his Poké Ball.

Murkrow narrowed his eyes at me. "Why don't you go?" He asked.

"Oh, I was just thinking."

"Do it somewhere else."

I laughed, much to his annoyance. "But I think I'm fine here. Anyway, I was thinking about you."

Somehow, his eyes narrowed even more. "I know what you think. I won't become your Pokémon. I won't be captured again."

"Why don't you let me catch you?" I asked bluntly. A Pokémon with the Trickster ability was invaluable.

"Because I don't have Stockholm syndrome with humans."

"But you want more strength, right? To get revenge on your trainer."

"Oh, always the same; you offer power in exchange for being trapped in a ball all day; I've already experienced it; I don't like it."

"You don't have to be inside the Poké Ball if you want; only when it's in the city are the humans there cowards."

"I'm not interested."

"And if I told you your hidden ability,"

" Ability?" "The mention of a hidden power caught his interest."

"That's right, your ability."

Konrad decided to intervene. "It's true, he has strange knowledge of my powers too; my ability is Pat-down; he can also understand you, not like other humans; he will notice when you are upset with him."

"Every Pokémon has its strengths and weaknesses, and your height along with your ability can be both."

He paused, thinking. What was the best way to get his attention? To show interest?

Was it the best way to get his attention? To show interest?

"And tell me which one it is, then?"

"Prankster, you are very fast at spamming status moves."

"So what's the point? I don't do attacks," she demanded.

"I assure you that this ability is the most unfair that exists in the Pokémon world."

Then he laughed in surprise.

"Good," he laughed. "Let's follow this train of thought; you teach me that skill to get revenge on my trainer in exchange for what? Fight your battles for you? Just because you can understand what I say doesn't guarantee that you won't treat me like property."

"Yes," I told him bluntly; he was the one who would fight, and I was the one who would command, "but I assure you that it would be as fair as I can; a third of the money will go to you, counting maintenance costs, of course."

At that, he showed a hint of doubt in his raven eyes.

"Are you going to participate in what humans call a league? My trainer is going there; he abandoned me, claiming that I bring bad luck and that I am a 'companion of witches', not of trainers."

"That's the idea," I replied. Inside, I was jumping; this is just what I wanted.

"Good! At least you're an honest human," the crow screeched. "Then I'll join you; just to blow his stupid head off, you'll also teach me how to use money."

"Okay! Then there's only one thing left to do." I put the Poké Ball on the ground.

The wild Murkrow had a few seconds of hesitation but ended up getting into the Poké Ball.

Captured Murkrow

"From now on, I will call you Corvus."

Murkrow

Lvl 18

Gender: Male

Moves:

Wing Attack and Pursuit