Chapter 71 - Night In The Forest

Julian was engaged in conversation with a well-dressed salesman near Professor Oak's laboratory. The man in the white suit was presenting a house to Julian, highlighting its ideal location and spaciousness.

The salesman pitched, "Sir Julian, as you requested, this house is the closest to Professor Oak's laboratory. It offers ample space, so you won't have to worry about guests visiting. Additionally, the backyard is a vast, open area, which is neither government-owned nor claimed by anyone else, making it a hotspot for Pokémon sightings."

Julian, clearly impressed with the property, made up his mind. "I really like this place. I'll buy it."

With that decision, Julian was set to acquire a new home, one conveniently situated near Professor Oak's laboratory, making it even more accessible for his activities in Pallet Town.

The salesman was pleased with Julian's decision. "An excellent choice, Sir Julian. Let's head back to our office to finalize the legal documents, and the house will be officially yours."

Julian agreed, saying, "Great."

Together, they completed the necessary paperwork and financial transactions. With everything settled, Julian now owned the house. However, upon returning to his new property, he realized it was empty and needed to be furnished.

Julian mused, "I'll have to buy some furniture for the house. Until then, I'll stay at the lab."

He made his way to Professor Oak's laboratory, where he found the professor relaxing on the couch, engrossed in watching the Kanto Now news channel, a familiar sight in their daily routine.

The host's voice filled the room as he delivered exciting news. "The Pokémon League Committee has made an announcement! The winner of this year's Pokémon League, Julian, has officially decided to take on the Elite Four. The first battle will take place at the Indigo Stadium, and Julian will be facing off against Lorelei, a member of the Elite Four and an Ice-type Pokémon expert. All the seats for this match have already been booked, and fans everywhere are buzzing with excitement. The internet is ablaze with debates as Pokémon enthusiasts from all around speculate about who will emerge victorious."

Julian, taking a seat on the couch, couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building as the news of his upcoming battle spread far and wide. The challenge ahead was one that had caught the attention of the entire region, and he was ready to face it head-on.

Professor Oak and Julian engaged in conversation about his new house.

Julian responded positively, "I like it a lot. It's spacious, and the backyard is enormous, which is perfect for my Pokémon."

Oak inquired about Julian's readiness for the upcoming battle. Julian affirmed, "I'm all set."

But then Oak brought up a topic that piqued Julian's curiosity. "Do you remember that GS Ball I was talking about?"

Julian recalled the discussion about the GS Ball and confirmed, "Yes, I remember that you were interested in it. If I recall correctly, it's located in the Orange Islands."

Professor Oak nodded and explained, "Indeed, I initially considered sending you to retrieve it, but since you're occupied with your upcoming battles, I've assigned the task to Ash."

Julian acknowledged the decision, saying, "I see. It will be a good experience for him."

Oak agreed, "Yes, you're absolutely right."

Julian, feeling the need to focus on training his Pokémon, decided it was time to depart. "Professor, I'll be heading out now. I need to continue my Pokémon training."

Oak replied, "Of course, Julian."

Julian headed to the open field outside and released Snorlax from its Pokéball. As Snorlax appeared before him, Julian noticed that it was still in a deep slumber.

Julian observed Snorlax's behavior and noted, "When Snorlax is sleeping, he tends to ignore every noise around him. So, if I want to make him fight in a battle, I think I should command him telepathically."

Julian mentally directed his thoughts toward Snorlax, addressing him with telepathy: "Snorlax."

The sleeping giant awoke, stretching and yawning before acknowledging Julian with a wave of his hand.

Julian was pleased with the results. "Great, it seems that Snorlax can hear me when I command him telepathically. Now, let's begin some training."

Julian, ready to begin training with Snorlax, offered an enticing incentive. "Alright, Snorlax, now that you're awake, let's do some training. And as a reward, I'll treat you to some delicious food."

Snorlax responded with unbridled enthusiasm, jumping around happily, causing the ground to tremble beneath him. Julian spent several hours training with Snorlax, forging a strong bond with his Pokémon.

After the intense training session, Julian provided Snorlax with a satisfying meal. In no time, Snorlax had gobbled up the food and promptly fell into a deep slumber. Observing this, Julian sighed and decided to return to his room.

Upon entering his room, Julian received a telepathic message:

System: 'Project Mewtwo has been modified, but we were unable to eliminate the side effects caused by the DNA extraction.'

This unexpected message left Julian with a sense of unease, as the implications of the failed modification to Project Mewtwo were uncertain.

Julian questioned the system about the failed modification, seeking an explanation.

System: 'Extracting a single DNA and multiplying it is not possible. Forcing this process can result in numerous side effects and will not unlock the full potential of the parent genes. This is the reason why Mewtwo always suffers from emotional distortion, which is a fatal flaw.'

Julian absorbed this information and realized that he might not be able to help Mewtwo in the way he had hoped. He concluded, 'It seems that I can't assist Mewtwo after all. It's probably best for Mewtwo to remain hidden, especially from people like Giovanni. I know he won't give up on Mewtwo, but I won't interfere this time. Giovanni is ultimately digging his own grave by relentlessly pursuing Mewtwo.'

With his decision made, Julian contemplated his next move. 'I think I should head out towards Victory Road tomorrow.'

The next day, Julian bid farewell to Professor Oak and set off toward Viridian Forest, eager to explore even deeper into its depths.

Upon his arrival at Viridian Forest, Julian ventured further into the woods in search of new Pokémon to discover. He reflected, 'Last time I came here, I encountered a few Pokémon that aren't native to Kanto. Let's see if I can find something intriguing this time.'

As he continued his journey through the forest, he eventually reached the area where he had previously encountered the Ursaring. To his surprise, the Ursaring was nowhere to be seen. Julian considered that they may have altered their territory and decided to press on, continuing his exploration deeper into the forest.

Julian's disappointment grew as he continued his search without encountering any new Pokémon. With dusk approaching, he made the decision to set up camp in his current location. Before doing so, he instructed his Pokémon to scout the area to ensure it was safe. Receiving the all-clear signal, Julian proceeded to set up camp and prepare a meal for himself.

While cooking, he suddenly felt an intense gaze fixed upon him. Startled, Julian turned to find a pair of glowing eyes peering at him from the nearby bushes. His instincts kicked in, and he and his Pokémon became alert, ready to respond to any potential threat.

However, as the figure in the bushes revealed itself, Julian's initial anxiety turned to relief.

Julian was pleasantly surprised when he realized that the mysterious presence in the bushes was none other than Mew, a rare and legendary Pokémon.

Julian greeted the tiny pink Pokémon with warmth, "Mew, where have you been all this day?"

Mew, showing its playful and affectionate nature, floated toward Julian and perched on his shoulder, eyeing the food he was preparing.

Julian chuckled, understanding Mew's intent. "Ah, I see, you came to see me because you want to eat this."

Mew nodded eagerly, and then, in its characteristic whimsical manner, it began to float playfully around Julian. It seemed that Mew had come to visit Julian during his camping trip, adding an unexpected but welcome twist to his evening in Viridian Forest.

Julian affectionately scolded Mew, saying, "Well, you can't eat this; it's my food. But I made something special for you."

He retrieved a bag filled with Poké Blocks that he had prepared specifically for Mew. Mew, with its tiny nose, gave the homemade treats a sniff and then eagerly devoured them, expressing its delight.

After enjoying its meal, Mew socialized with Julian's other Pokémon, playing with them as they all bonded and had a good time together. Julian couldn't help but smile at the heartwarming scene.

As night fell and the stars lit up the sky, Julian decided to call it a day. He retreated to his tent, content with the unexpected visit from Mew and the memorable experiences of the day in Viridian Forest.