Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

"You're acting really strange."

A fellow Rockets player asked.

"Maybe it's because I just woke up from my nap, but I feel a little dizzy."

"Tsk, Tatsumi, you actually have moments like this."

Two burly men dressed in silver-blue Team Rocket uniforms swaggered around the Viridian Gym.

Those who saw them bowed respectfully.

They are special members of the Rockets, whose status is second only to the officers.

"Is it another mission to catch Pokémon for those newbies? What a boring task. I feel like it's been happening much more often lately."

"Anyway, we don't have to lift a finger; it's just throwing Poké Balls."

"It must be exhausting, okay? Can't those guys in the R&D department invent an automatic capture machine? It's not that difficult."

The two talked as they walked toward the back door.

Inside the Hualan Cave.

Mewtwo dispersed its power: "Hmm, I found it this time, it really exists."

Zhe had no idea what had happened in the past few minutes.

But it's entirely conceivable.

That's what makes Psychic-type Pokémon so unique.

Mewtwo, possessing the power of a first-tier legendary Pokémon, would have a thousand ways to find the other hidden Mewtwo if it knew about it.

"Why should it obey human commands? It clearly has such great power."

Mewtwo in front of it was puzzled. "On the first day I was born, I destroyed the entire research institute to get here. Why didn't it do the same?"

"Um, well, I don't know."

Tetsuya didn't know what to say.

Could it be that Giovanni's verbal skills are maxed out?

As the leader of the Rockets, this is also a manifestation of his personal charisma, comparable to the protagonist of some shonen manga.

"That's so strange."

Mewtwo shook its head in confusion, "And it actually willingly restrains its own power, is this what you humans call the individual differences among Pokémon?"

then.

Zhe then heard another version of the story of Mewtwo from its mouth.

--------

dark.

The deathly darkness.

Where is this place?

Who am I?

Who brought me here?

A confused and faint voice echoed.

No one can answer its question.

It can only spend its time alone in the darkness.

Time passed little by little.

The owner of the voice can feel their power increasing day by day.

Finally, one day, it perceived light called "color".

"Number Two, how is the test subject's condition today?"

"Very good, the power is still increasing."

"I think we'll be able to witness the awakening of this supreme creation in about a year."

"That's really something to be happy about, don't you think, Number Five?"

"I think we can gain tremendous honor with this work, and the whole world will be amazed by us."

"I think so too."

"Don't be too happy yet. The real work begins after it awakens. We must keep it firmly in our hands, study it, and create more of it."

"........"

around.

Five beings named "humans" were constantly communicating.

"Experimental subject? Are you talking about me?"

The owner of the voice listened quietly, as if he were an observer.

Gradually.

Its abilities are growing stronger, and it can "hear" more and more things.

I learned that in this world, besides humans, there are also elves.

And it is the latter.

However, unlike ordinary elves, its appearance is due to the creation of the former.

"Is Dream my mother?"

It also learned about its mother from the mouths of five humans—or rather, researchers.

That's roughly how it's phrased; it's not certain.

Because it has never even seen the existence of dreams.

The initial question has also been answered.

This is the laboratory of five researchers from the world of elves.

It is a creation of the genes of a fairy called Dream.

What brought it into this world were five humans and the technological power they possessed.

"Hmm... According to the rules, they are my trainers, and I am their Pokémon, right?"

That's what it was thinking.

I don't know why, but I feel inexplicably happy.

It is no longer the weak being that could only sense darkness.

Unbeknownst to them, most of the surrounding area, including the research institute, was now within its perception range.

It "saw" many battles between trainers and Pokémon.

I also "saw" the beautiful emotions between them.

"What a wonderful world."

It said this while still in the incubation chamber.

A peaceful year quickly passed.

"laugh--"

As the liquid is drained.

With a body of near perfection, born solely for battle, it finally stood on the ground.

"Is this air? It feels wonderful."

It felt like its whole body was cheering.

That vibrant feeling is something I've never experienced inside the incubation chamber.

"Number three, number four, let's begin the experiment."

A tall, thin man wearing glasses stood in front of the stage and issued instructions indifferently.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes as he looked at the creations of his five people.

It knew that this was the leader among its creators, whose name was Number One.

The numbers he called out, number three and number four, were a fat man and a red-haired woman, respectively.

It did nothing.

"Trainers will not harm their own Pokémon."

This information was obtained by it during one of its curious attempts to communicate with a wild spirit using its own power.

As for why the Pokémon didn't become trainers...

The wild elf replied, "Because I'm too weak."

In this world, the weak have no right to choose; they can only be chosen.

You and I are different. You are incredibly strong.

Am I very strong?

For the first time, it had the concept of strength.

Compared to the spirits that appeared in my perception, its power seems to be quite formidable.

"Interesting, it didn't resist? Does it lack emotions and thoughts? I remember adding that when I was writing it."

The chubby researcher was somewhat curious.

The red-haired female researcher scoffed: "Perhaps there's something wrong with the program. Isn't it a good thing that it has no emotions or thoughts? As long as it's strong and obedient enough, that's fine."

“That’s true.” The chubby researcher nodded. “As long as the combat code is correct.”

As they talked, the two of them connected complex instruments and circuits to the man-made object in front of them.

It watched this scene with curiosity.

It had been living in the culture chamber for a long time and was quite used to it.

"Whoo-"

next moment.

Having never experienced pain before, it learned what "pain" meant for the first time.

It felt as if its entire body was no longer under its control.

"The energy fluctuations are perfect, estimated to be at least at the level of a third-level god. We've succeeded!"

"Pure superpowers, without any other involvement, it's simply amazing! No wonder it's the Dream Gene!"

The cheers of the Creators resounded.

They seemed oblivious to the suffering it endured.

"why?"

It doesn't understand.

Isn't it said that trainers won't harm their own Pokémon?

The physical pain was intensifying.

But it became lost in endless contemplation.

"So, not all humans are trainers, and not all trainers are trustworthy."

It quickly figured it out.

"Fortunately, I am strong, and I have a choice."

Under the watchful eyes of five researchers.

Less than a day after it woke up, it raised its left hand and pulled hard.