Chapter 22: Rewards and Aftermath

Atlas walked toward the balcony attached to Aeron's room.

"Nurse Joy asked me to rest."

"Stop pretending. Unlike Pokémon, we humans are fragile and also easy to fix. A few [Heal Pulse] were enough to bring you back from death." Atlas smirked at the boy who was on the bed. He knew the boy was fine; how could he not be? Since he was not just a simple human.

Aeron sighed and decided to follow the man's words. And indeed, just like Atlas had said, he was better than ever. He carefully picked up Axew and placed him beside the sleeping Nessa on the bed.

He walked toward the balcony and stood beside the Kanto Special Task Force Captain.

"I heard from others about what you did." Atlas started the conversation. "You got a pretty good head if I have to say." He turned around and looked down at the boy. "But do you know what you did could have gotten someone killed?"

"I know."

There was no hesitation in Aeron's reply. He knew someone might die if things went wrong, and the situation got out of hand when Douglas appeared.

"And you still did it?" Atlas asked with a frown on his face.

"Why shouldn't I have done it?" Aeron asked instead. "Should I have waited for the league to come? It had been a month, and the League had still not rescued those trainers. What if they did not for another month?"

Atlas looked at Aeron's face, but he could not see any signs of panic or fear on the boy's face. He was too calm, just like 'them.'

"I had to save myself and Axew. So, I did what I thought was right."

Aeron was expecting a lecture from Atlas, but the man patted his back instead.

"Good job."

"Hmm?

"What? Did you think I was going to lecture you? You did the right thing, kid. I would have done the same if I were you. It is foolish to leave your life in the hands of others and depend on external force to save yourself." Atlas gave a wide grin as he said those words. "But don't get yourself killed next time you are in a situation like this. After all, if not for Lady Agatha's Gengar influencing the minds of the Grunts, they would not be easily fooled by you."

"I will be careful," Aeron replied, keeping in mind the help from Lady Agatha, the Ghost-type Elite Four. No wonder scamming those guys was so easy; her Gengar made it possible, not his [Bullshit All The Way] technique. Aeron then remembered something and immediately asked Atlas. "I had a Pokeball on me…."

"The Pichu is dead." Atlas gave a straightforward reply. "By the time he was brought to Pokémon Centre, the Pokémon had died." He took out a Pokeball and handed it to Aeron. "Here, its dead body is still inside. Since the Pokeball is registered under your name, you can decide what you want with it."

Aeron got hold of the Pokeball and looked at it. He felt pain in his chest, knowing the second Pokémon he had caught in the Pokeball registered under his name had died.

"Deaths happen." Atlas patted Aeron's shoulder. "How many trainers get their Pokémon killed in the wild? Or how many trainers give up once they see their Pokémon eat other Pokémon?"

Aeron shook his head.

"Uncountable," Atlas answered. "The Pokémon we know are our friends and partners, but we sometimes forget they are creatures who can spit fire out of their mouths. This might not be the only Pokémon you will see dead on your journey to be a trainer. So, you better grow a pair."

"I will remember your words."

Atlas nodded his head as if he was satisfied by Aeron's response.

"Anyway, for the reason I am here." Atlas tapped his Pokedex, and Aeron felt a vibration on his dex. "The League has decided to reward you for your merits. This is the first reward."

Aeron looked at his Pokedex, and his calm eyes flickered in response.

-0-

[Aeron Duskborn

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Trainer License: F-class (Silver Perks)

Carry Limit: 5

Residence: Florian Town

Region: Kanto

Affiliation: None

Badges: 0

Ribbons: 0

Number of Pokémon: 1]

-0-

"500,000 P$ and 10,000 League Points. You can use the points on the League Store to buy items that might be otherwise hard to get. Moreover, Silver- Perks have been added to your Trainer License which opens up an advanced database for you as well as increase your roster by two."

"Thank you so much." Aeron bowed his head a little with a small smile. The money and League Points would be of great help to him.

'Tsk.' Atlas internally clicked his tongue. 'How can a kid be so calm to such a huge reward?' Shaking his head, he continued. "The League had prepared one more reward for you."

"Oh?" Aeron thought it was already a great reward, but there was more.

"The League has seen great potential in you for various reasons." Atlas raised his finger. "You are allowed to request any one item, no matter what. The League will try to get you the best grade available."

"Any item?" asked Aeron while nodding his head. 'There are so many things I need but cannot find or afford. I need to make the best use of this opportunity.'

Atlas, who watched Aeron silently contemplate his words, could not help but sigh. Why was it so hard to get a reaction from these people? The boy was nothing but a fledgling, yet his emotions were all hidden away, and the black-haired youth wasn't even trying.

The Duskborn might not have noticed, but his black eyes now had purple spots, as if small stars were shining in the night sky and some blue that was not visible to anyone, even Atlas. The two colours meant many things, and the boy was in for a ride.

"You can take your time to decide; no need to rush. One week, one month or even a year," Atlas said. A trainer could need so many items, and he could understand if the boy could not choose one on the spot.

"Thank you so much. But I won't keep you waiting for too long." Aeron took on the offer, still determining what item to request. He might as well take his time to decide lest he regrets it later.

"Now, onto the final reward," said Atlas before handing over a sheet of paper to Aeron. "You can choose any one Kanto Pokemon written on that list."

"Hmm?" Aeron finally showed a surprised expression as he looked at the sheet of paper in his hand. It had names of different Pokémon belonging to the Kanto Region. However, they had one thing in common.

"So, what do you think?" asked Atlas, pleased with himself for getting a reaction out of Aeron.

"The growth rate of these Pokémon is not as slow as Axew." It wasn't hard to see the similarities among these Pokémon. Aeron had studied hard for the exam and knew all the information about every Kanto Pokémon. At least what was available to him. "But this shouldn't have been a reward; you pushed for it, right?"

"Yes." Atlas did not deny it.

The League was always looking for talented trainers, especially young ones. They always had room for growth, and with the number of resources the league had, if even one of these rookies could become a strong trainer, their investment would be considered successful. Atlas had pushed for Aeron to be given a Pokémon, with that as a basis.

Even if Aeron could not get ranked top three in National Exam, he was still better than the top rankers. Atlas knew a diamond in the rough when he saw one.

He had researched and learned that Aeron's Axew was timid, but Atlas knew what kind of monstrosity the Dragon-type would become after the events with The Syndicate grunts. Haxorus was not called The Juggernaut for no reason.

'He is better than them by leaps and bounds.'

After Atlas learned how Aeron planned everything during the escape, he was impressed by the boy's calm and decisive nature. As for why he wanted Aeron to have another Pokémon?

Dragon-type Pokémon were sought after by every experienced trainer. The keyword here was 'Experienced.' A new trainer would always avoid starting with a Dragon-type due to their slow growth rate. Although they became powerful later on, they were severely lacking if they were not in their final evolution, most of the time.

Axew would have barely reached his second evolution when a Charmander would evolve into Charizard. This meant Aeron would be lacking in firepower until his Axew was fully evolved unless he had some other Pokémon that could make up for it.

"Thank you so much."

Aeron was grateful for everything Atlas had done for him.

"Don't mention it. I have a soft spot for people like you, the ones with a strong heart." Atlas ruffled Aeron's hair before adding. "So, which one do you want? You can take your time..."

"A Growlithe egg." The Duskborn boy replied without hesitation.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Aeron. "A fire-type that is not only strong but also very loyal. I plan to challenge a gym after getting my third Pokémon; a Fire-type would be of great help. Moreover, I have been interested in Growlithe line since long ago."

"Interested? Can I ask why?"

"Well..." Aeron paused for a second, collecting his thoughts. "Wherever there is a representation of three Legendary Pokémon of Kanto, an Arcanine is always portrayed beside them. Are the three Legendary Birds real? If so, why is a normal Pokémon portrayed beside them? Why is it guarded so heavily by the Jenny Clan, and we need special permission to raise one?"

The Duskborn went into deep thought after finishing his words. He had always wondered why a Growlithe, a Pokémon, although rare but not so unique as the three Legendary, had so much mystery around it. There was a small mural of Kanto's three legendary Pokémon in Viridian City Pokémon Centre, and with them was also a mural of Arcanine. Why? What was so special about this Pokemon was that it deserved to be portrayed alongside the three legendary birds, which were nothing but myths among people.

Atlas watched the black-haired boy go into deep thought. 'Why do I feel he is more of a Pokémon Professor than a trainer?' But he couldn't waste any more time here.

*Ahem* *Ahem*

"Ah, I must have been lost in my thoughts."

"Don't worry. As for the Pokemon, I will let the league know, and you will get an egg by tonight. It will be the best egg available; I promise you that."

"Thank you so much."

"Axew!"

Aeron suddenly heard a familiar cry and looked at Axew, who had woken up. The Dragon was panicking as he looked for Aeron under the sheets. He seemed incredibly adorable to Aeron.

When the Dragon was about to lose it, he heard footsteps and saw a familiar figure walking toward him. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes as he looked at Aeron's face. Without waiting for even a second, he jumped toward his trainer.

"AXEW!"

-------------------------End of Chapter-------------------------

Author's Note:

- Drop some Power Stones to support the book. Let's take the book up in rankings.

- If you want something to happen in the story, let me know, and I will see if I can play around with it and make it happen.

- Have a wonderful day, you all.

- Peace!