Ch. 20

The two of them held each other until Green shifted uncomfortably. Emily quickly let go and apologized.

"Sorry Green I forgot you have broken bones. Are you ok."

"I'm fine Em. I needed that just as much as you did."

Looking down at his son he smiled sadly.

"I was just getting used to the new normal."

"Me to."

The two of them sat together silently until visiting hours were over, then Emily took Jake back to the hotel for the night.

The next morning when Jake woke up he felt the same strange feeling as yesterday. At first he wanted to ask his mom about it but he saw she was still asleep. Not having anything else to do he opened his System. The Daily Mission were still upgrading so he couldn't do anything with that. Suddenly a thought that was not his popped into his head 'Item Box' was all it was. Following that thought he opened his Item Box and saw an item was highlighted, with a thought it appeared in his hand. It was a letter addressed to him.

Hi Jake.

It's nice to meet you. You are probably a little confused right? Where did this letter come from and who wrote it? I'll answer that but there is something else you are probably confused about. The feeling that something is missing? That something you had is suddenly gone?

It's OK to feel like that and I will explain why. About two weeks ago you woke up with memories from another life. Me. Unfortunately my memories were taking over and you were starting to be erased. I didn't want that so, I did the only thing I could to save you, I had mom's friend help seal away the memories of our past life. I left everything I knew about this world, Pokemon, and the System; you just have to focus really hard to pull it up. Everything else is sealed away deep inside. So now you know, that feeling you have is normal.

I just want to tell you three things. The first: don't trust Professor Oak, something is off about him. The second: don't use the Pokemon information from me too much, experience everything for yourself first. And third: be good for mom and dad. They love you more than words can say.

That's all Jake. If you are still confused talk to mom. Until we meet again, goodbye.

The Other Jake.

Jake just sat there stunned and confused. He didn't know how or what he should feel right then. He didn't move until some time later when his mom called out to him.

"Sweetie how long have you been awake?"

Not getting a response she got up and sat next to her son.

"Jake. What's wrong."

Still he gave no response. Seeing a piece of paper in his hands Emily tried to take it. Feeling this snapped Jake out of his thoughts as he gripped the paper tighter.

"Mommy!"

He yelled as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. Feeling his mom's arms around him helped to settle his jumbled mind. After a few minutes he remembered that the other Jake said to talk to mom if he was confused. So he decided to do exactly that as he leaned back to look his mom in the face.

"Mommy.....what was the other Jake like?"

His question had taken Emily completely by surprise. Then she thought about the piece of paper Jake was holding and it all made sense.

"Did he write you a letter sweetie?"

Jake nodded.

"Can mommy read it?"

Jake nodded again and handed it to her. She read it quickly and with what was written in her own letter everything made sense. Seeing she had finished Jake repeated himself.

"So what was the other Jake like?"

With a small sigh Emily answered all of Jake's questions, helping him understand when he was confused. They talked for hours before Jake's belly rumbled and they realized they had skipped breakfast and it was already lunch time. Quickly getting dressed they went and had a large lunch before going to the hospital to visit Green.

Sitting up in his bed Green welcomed them in, Emily sat with Jake on her lap and handed Green the letter. Green read it quickly, nodded, and then frowned.

"Em. What's this part here about not trusting Professor Oak?"

"I'm not sure myself. Jake mentioned something about it but I thought it was nothing."

"He was concerned enough about it to warn himself. That's not nothing."

Looking at his son he asked.

"Jake do you have any idea about why you should be careful around the Professor?"

"Not really daddy. It's just a feeling I get when I'm at the lab."

Jake closed his eyes for a second before adding.

"The feeling wasn't as strong yesterday morning before we came here."

"Was there anything different about yesterday than the day before?"

"Just that I had scanned a lot of Pokemon into my Pokedex."

Looking to Emily for details she explained what Jake had said about the number of Pokemon out there and wanting to get a head start on filling his Pokedex.

"Can I see your Pokedex Jake?"

Jake nodded and pulled it out of thin air before handing it to Green. Green didn't take it just stared at his son.

"Emily. Please close the door."

Emily rose looked both ways down the hall and then closed the door.

"Jake. This is very serious. The System is a secret so you need to be more careful when you use it. Normal people can't pull things out of thin air like you did with your Pokedex. Be more careful next time."

"Ok daddy."

Jake hung his head at being reprimanded by his dad. Green used a finger to raise his son's head.

"It's OK Jake you just need to be more careful in the future. Now let's see how many Pokemon you entered."

Seeing the big 89 at the top right corner Green let out a sigh.

"Jake on your daily missions is there anything different?"

"Yeah. It says upgrading and there is a progress bar."

"I was afraid of that. Now that your Pokedex is over half filled the missions will become more difficult. If you need help just ask."

"Ok daddy."

"Have the doctors said when you can come home?"

"They took x-rays I'm just waiting for the doctor to give his verdict."

"Daddy?"

"Yes Jake?"

"Why don't the System items work on humans?"

"That's just the way it is."

Jake thought about it and said.

"But you said the System was given to humans to help them survive in this world. How can it help do that if the items only work on Pokemon?"

The three of them went quiet until Green spoke.

"Um...Allister he has a point."

There was no response for a few heart beats and then a message appeared in the eyes of everyone with an active System.

[User Jake Grady has pointed out an anomaly in the system shop. New Items available.]

An additional message appeared in Jake's vision.

[You have detected an anomaly in the system shop. You have been given 10 free status points as a reward.]

** Grady family estate **

Far to the north of the Kanto Region an old man with graying green hair opened his tired eyes to the message floating before him.

'New items? I doubt they will help me but I'm curious.'

With sluggish thoughts he opened the System Shop. There were seven new items, all berries. Still curious he read the item descriptions for each, his excitement slowly growing.

[Chesto Berry EX....when consumed prevents sleepiness for six hours]

[Pecha Berry EX....when consumed cures most poisons.]

[Leppa Berry EX....when consumed completely restores stamina.]

[Oran Berry EX....when consumed instantly heals small cuts, rapidly accelerates healing of fractures, slightly increases healing of medium sized gashes, and slightly increases healing of broken bones.]

[Persim Berry EX....when consumed settles nerves and reduces fatigue.]

[Sitrus Berry EX....when consumed instantly heals small and medium sized cuts, instantly heals minor fractures, rapidly accelerates healing of large cuts and broken bones.]

[Lum Berry EX....when consumed cures many common illnesses and diseases.]

Seeing the new items tears trailed down the man's face. The new items were double the price of the original but even if they were 100 times the price the man would still by them. Selecting buy, a berry appeared in the man's hand. Tossing the grape sized Lum Berry EX into his mouth he chewed and swallowed. At first nothing happened, then energy burst from the man's stomach flooding his body, his body felt like it was on fire and he cried out in pain. A man dressed as a butler burst into the room.

"Patriarch what's wrong!? SOMEONE BRING A DOCTOR!"

Pain coursed through the man's body until he coughed up mouthfuls of foul black blood. As the pain subsided the old man lay back. Weakly he told the man at his side.

"I'm fine Sebastián. I actually feel better than I have in years."

"Patriarch you were just coughing up blood we need to have the doctor check you."

"Give me a moment and I'll prove it. Now let go of my hands."

Operating the System once more another berry appeared in the old man's hand. Eating the plum sized Leppa Berry EX in two bites a gentle flow of energy moved through the man's body restoring his strength.

"Help me sit up Sebastián."

As the man was about to object he was cut off.

"That's an order. Help me sit up."

Not willing to go against the Patriarch Sebastián helped sit the old man up. Letting go but staying close by he watched as the old Patriarch shifted his legs of the bed and tried to stand.

"Patriarch please wait. You haven't risen from your bed in over a year please wait for the doctor."

"I know the state of my body better than those quacks my children keep sending. Where is my cane?"

Sebastián ran to the closet and came back with an innately carved cane. Passing it to the old man he watched in disbelief as the Patriarch who had not walked in over a year rose from the bed and took his first unsteady steps. After walking back and forth across the room to get used to walking again he looked at the baffled man.

"I'm going to my study bring my daughter there."

Leaving his bedroom on his own two feet for the first time in nearly five years the old man smiled.

"Thank you Jake Grady for this gift you have given me. Now who and where are you?"

Looking over the books in his study he pulled out the family registry. Flipping to the most recent additions and working his way back he found no Jake Grady listed, when he came across his brother's name his hand shook. Closing the book he spoke in his mind.

'I've been an idiot Allister.'

'Yes you have but could you be more specific? You are an idiot alot.'

'I banished my brother for no reason other than my ego and now it would appear that his son or grandson has unknowingly saved my life.'

'All true. So what are you going to do about it?'

'There is only one thing I can do. Apologize and bring them home.'

'Your home. Their home is where they are now. Do you even know where they are?'

'No I don't and can I assume you won't tell me?'

'That's right privacy restrictions.'

'So the search could take years however I have a few things going for me.'

'And what's that?'

'They are still going by Grady and obviously this Jake Grady is just as talented as my brother. He will stand out even if he doesn't want to.'

At that moment there was a knock on the study door.

"Come in."

The door flew open and a beautiful woman walked in. Stopping dead in her tracks at the sight before her.

"Dad!"

She ran across the room to hug the man.

"When I was called to the study I thought brother was being pompous again and using your study. What are you doing out of bed?"

Holding the woman in his arms he chuckled.

"A lot has happened in a very short amount of time. A family member has awakened a System and found an anomaly that was fixed adding new items to the shop. One of those items cured me."

"I'm so happy you're cured dad. Do you know who the System holder is? Are you stepping down as Patriarch?"

"I'm not ready to step down now that I have my health back and as for who it is, I know his name and I have an idea about how we are related but he is not in the registry."

"But I thought everyone was added to the registry."

Turning away he spoke softly.

"Not if they were banished."

Hearing his words his daughter sucked in a sharp breath.

"Who? I don't remember anyone being banished in our classes about the family history."

"It was an unofficial banishment. Look up Blake Grady if you must know."

Nodding she added.

"How are we going to find him?"

"It will take a long time and I plan to kill two Starly with one stone. When they turn 15 I will send your twins out on the S.S. Anne for a world tour. They can search and learn about the world at the same time."

"If you are sending them I'm going too."

"No. I will send Sebastián with them. If their mother is along to baby them they will not grow."

"But.."

"I have already decided Becca."

"Yes Patriarch."

The woman turned and left the room and Sebastián came in.

"Prepare travel documents for yourself and the twins. I won't send you off until they turn 15 but sometimes the paperwork can take years to go through."

"Yes Patriarch I will have it done."

Rising from his chair he spoke into the empty room.

"I look forward to meeting you Jake Grady."

** One of the Sevii Islands **

Seeing the message before his eyes a man with green hair smiling slightly.

"Green it would seem that your son is just as talented as you and me. Maybe even more so. I hope I get to meet my grandson someday."

The man's words drifted out across the sea, just a whisper on the wind.