Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

Alex followed the old man as they ascended the tower.

He thought deeply about the old man’s words and was understandably confused.

He meditated quite often, learning to silence his thoughts while being more mindful of his body. It helped relax his mind and gave him a better understanding of how to control himself. It was a small exercise he often did when cooling down after being wailed on by Kommo-o every day.

He also understood, at least somewhat, how his energy or bond was murky. He felt it himself from time to time when practicing with his Dark type energy. It often needed to be coaxed heavily just to move through his body, though it gradually became easier over the years as he continued practicing.

What he didn’t understand was how to separate it, or that it was even possible to begin with. He had always thought of the energy as a single thread to be used and manipulated. Never considering the idea that it could be divided. The concept was entirely new to him.

As they ascended higher, Alex had to be mindful of his footing. The top of the tower swayed with the wind, and each step became noticeably more difficult. The movement forced him to be aware of his balance with every motion.

Eventually, the old man led him to what looked like a sparring room on one of the middle floors of the tower. There was no one else present. Only the two of them as they swayed along to maintain their balance.

"Are we going to have a battle?" Alex asked, receiving a chuckle in response.

"We only battle children to see how strong their bonds are with their Pokémon. Besides, we only use Bellsprout for our meditation. Neither you nor I will learn anything from your Zoroark beating them in one hit."

Alex expected as much. Bellsprout were simply too weak to contribute meaningfully to a fight. It was pointless unless the goal was to observe their opponents.

"Come, sit," the old man said as he gestured to the floor.

Alex followed as instructed and sat cross-legged, hands placed on his lap, back straight.

"Your energies are muddled, mixed and flowing freely. This shows you have given yourself to your baser instincts, following them as they please. To gain peace and understanding, you must learn to separate yourself from them. They are you, but not all of you, only a single part," the old man explained as he circled behind Alex, kneeled, and placed both hands on his back.

Alex felt his energy stir as something else joined in, guiding its flow. It moved from one part of his body to the next, following the rhythm of blood circulating through his veins. The movement gently coaxed his own energy to follow along, tracing the same path throughout his body.

"Your bond is strong which is good but it must also be balanced and flexible. You must maintain your sense of self while following its rhythm and bending to their needs. You are more than simply the sum of your parts."

Alex felt a trace of energy settle in his heart as the flow continued to circulate. Unlike the rest of his Dark type energy, which was heavy and oppressive, this one was delicate, gentle, and comforting, like a spark of life pooling in his chest. It seemed to enhance his heart, allowing it to draw more strength from his blood and subtly empower him.

"This is Aura, a unique form of energy present in all living things. It is the essence of our being and the foundation of our bond with Pokémon."

"Every human possesses it in varying degrees of strength and quantity. Yours appears weak and faint, as if you were standing at the precipice of death."

"You lack the natural talent for Aura, but do not be discouraged. With training, even this feeble amount can be used to control your other energies more effectively, allowing you to find yourself within the chaos."

As more Aura pooled in Alex’s heart, he could feel his Dark type energy becoming purer, more willful, and less within his control, yet simultaneously more powerful and effective. He occasionally caught sparks of yellow, like flecks of gold dust rising to the surface of a flowing black river.

"You have a talent for Electric type energy as well," the old man observed. "Although it is as weak as your Aura."

The specks of gold settled along his spine, subtly slowing time and enhancing Alex’s reaction speed. It was faint, barely making a difference.

The dark mass of energy, in contrast, had grown denser. It was heavier, yet stronger. Alex could feel it running along his skin, making the world around him feel colder.

"A very strong bond indeed," the old man murmured. "Now, try and move your Aura to follow my lead."

Alex did as instructed, gathering his Aura into a single thread of energy before circulating it through his heart. Warmth radiated from his chest as he timed his entry into the cycle, matching the rhythm the old man set.

At first, he lost control as the darkness swallowed the light, dimming it as it joined the flow. But as the energy passed through his heart, where the light had pooled, the lost light returned and rejoined the cycle, allowing it to continue flowing.

"That’s it," the monk said. "Keep going and use your heart to guide you."

Alex maintained his focus, circulating his Aura through his body and feeling lighter with each cycle.

He noticed a deepening sense of peace, each cycle of energy drawing more hidden emotions to the surface. Happiness and contentment slowly began to blossom, while impatience, irritation, and even the edge of murderous intent steadily faded.

He felt pride when he thought about his farm. He felt care and gratitude when thinking about his Pokémon. He felt regret when memories of past relationships surfaced. When he thought about the girls, it was not quite love, but there was a comforting warmth that remained.

Then the old man’s energy began to lighten as he gently withdrew it from Alex’s body. The Dark type energy returned, overpowering his Aura once more. It surged like a wild current before settling back into a still and murky pool.

Alex sat, bewildered, as the rush of Dark type energy overwhelmed him.

He took a moment to steady himself before attempting to regain control. He failed to stir the still pool into a river as before but could feel his control over his Dark type energy improve by a noticeable amount.

"You have done well for your first time. But it’s getting late, so you will have to leave. I suggest you practice on your own. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it."

Alex looked out the window and noticed the sky had darkened. He had somehow spent the entire day with the old man, deep in meditation.

He stood before bowing deeply to the monk.

"Thank you for this lesson."

"That’ll be 100,000 credits," the old man said while pulling out his phone.

Alex froze in shock before pulling out his own and paying the requested amount. He couldn’t exactly complain when the benefits were so tangible. If anything, he would pay more for future sessions.

Once the payment went through, the old man offered one final piece of advice.

"Find yourself in the chaos, young man. I wish you the best of luck. You may see yourself out."

On his way down the swaying tower, Alex reminisced about the emotions he had felt. There was peace and contentment in the life he now lived, and a thrill of excitement for the future ahead. It was a sign he was doing better in this life, far removed from the regrets of his past.

He also remembered feeling warmth when he thought about the girls. It wasn’t exactly love, but something was there. It wasn’t like his usual possessive impulses; instead, it felt more innocent and wholesome. It showed that he cared for them more than he wanted to possess them, which was a significant improvement.

Alex spent the rest of the night trying to circulate his energies and separate his Aura until he eventually fell asleep. He tried again for the rest of the next day, and by the day’s end, was only able to get a slow, heavy circulation going, as if he were wading through mud.

Still, there was progress, so it was worth pursuing in his free time. Even if he was far from mastering his energy, the sense of clarity and peace it brought was enough to keep him grounded. For someone like him, who often walked the edge of violence and control, that mattered.

But inner peace wouldn’t pay the bills.

For now, he had more criminals to catch and more credits to earn. So he returned to Dark Cave with his suit and continued to map his way through. He spent the days sleeping, training, and meditating, while spending nights deep in Dark Cave.

Two months passed.

Two months of dead ends, collapsed tunnels, and aggressive wild encounters. But then, just as Alex began to wonder if it was all a waste of time, he finally found another clue.

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