Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

Ballonlea City seemed plucked straight from a storybook, its cobblestone streets winding between pastel-colored buildings with curved rooftops and ivy crawling along their walls. Soft, multi-colored lights shimmered from lanterns and shop windows, casting a dreamlike glow. Large mushrooms and flowering plants grew in tucked-away corners and along the edges of buildings, blending the city seamlessly with the dense forest that cradled it. Every so often, a whisper of movement among the trees hinted at Pokémon watching silently, their eyes reflecting the warm lights like scattered stars.

The city’s residents matched its whimsical aesthetic, moving with grace and adorning themselves in bright, flowing garments that complemented the soft glow around them. Festivals were common, with music, dancing, and lanterns filling the streets, but beneath the cheerful façade, the people of Ballonlea were intensely protective of the forest and its Pokémon. Outsiders were treated with polite curiosity at best and suspicion at worst, especially if they disrupted the delicate balance of the city’s ecosystem.

At the heart of the city stood the Gym, its exterior elegant and understated, framed by flowering vines and glowing fungi. Inside, Bede, the Gym Leader, maintained an aura of both refinement and intimidation. Known for his strictness and unwavering control over his Pokémon, Bede demanded respect from any challenger, making it clear that Ballonlea and its forest wasn’t a place for carelessness or arrogance. The Gym, like the city itself, combined beauty and danger, with every corner holding an air of enchantment, but any misstep could provoke the city’s guardians, reminding all visitors that Ballonlea’s charm was inseparable from its vigilance.

It was all well and good, Alex thought, as he toured the city on his way to the Pokémon Daycare. What interested him most, however, was the distinct lack of criminal elements. There was no suspicious loitering, no wandering eyes beyond those of the locals, and based on the police records, barely any encounters with criminals. It was as if the Underworld had simply designated the area off limits.

This was no doubt because of the dominance the forest held over the city. After all, the best place to hide here was within the forest, and without access to it, outsiders couldn’t operate freely; they had to obey the rules the forest imposed.

No doubt many organizations had tried to bend the rules but were ultimately forced to conduct legitimate business rather than pursue nefarious schemes. It was a breath of fresh air compared to all the other cities Alex had visited. Even his own Clearstone City was controlled by an Underworld organization, so he was certainly no exception.

He arrived at the northeastern edge of the city, where a large mansion stood, its bright neon sign reading "Pokémon Daycare." Behind the building stretched the dark forest, and further beyond, the snowcapped mountains surrounding Route 10 and Wyndon loomed out of sight.

Alex stepped into the building and immediately noticed a worried young trainer, no older than 16, fidgeting nervously in the waiting area. He was probably the owner of the rogue Pokémon Alex had been tasked with tracking and capturing.

"Alex Wattson, bounty hunter, and the hired help sent by the owner," Alex said as he entered, already familiar with the routine from his visits to previous locations.

"Thank Arceus you’re here," the daycare manager, an old woman, said. "We’ve been struggling with this problem for a long time. We just couldn’t find a strong trainer capable of tracking down and capturing the rogue Pokémon."

"Can you provide me with the details?"

"Of course, dear. Young Johnny here left a Primeape with us a week ago so they could go on vacation without worrying about bringing supplies for their Pokémon. They also left a few others, but none of them have caused any problems. They’re all such adorable little things," the old woman began, only to drift off into a tangent about how well-behaved the other Pokémon were.

"Can we focus on the rogue Pokémon?" Alex asked, steering the conversation back on track. "I’m sure Johnny would want his Pokémon back as soon as possible."

"Oh... right... silly me, going off like that," the old woman said with an embarrassed laugh. "Old age has turned me into a chatterbox. I wasn’t always like this, you know. I used to be quite the trainer myself. Traveled a bit, challenged a few Gyms here and there. Never made it very far though. Money was always tight, and I could never really give my Pokémon everything they needed to grow. Good Pokémon too, loyal ones. Just never had the resources to push them to their limits..."

She continued on like that for several more minutes, drifting through stories of old battles, old partners, and old regrets before finally circling back to the information Alex actually needed.

"My Pokémon never trained so hard, so they never really grew into their power. They were always on the lazier side, unlike Young Johnny’s Expert ranked Primeape. That one started training the moment we got him. All he did all day was punch trees with Rage Fist again and again and again. Then a few days ago, it suddenly evolved into an Annihilape out of nowhere. After that, it just went berserk. Started smashing trees, fought with the daycare’s guardian, and then ran off into the forest all by itself."

’So it’s an Expert or Elite ranked Annihilape, with power mistaken for Champion rank,’ Alex thought, focusing on the important details.

It was a shame it wasn’t a Champion ranked rogue Pokémon that had once belonged to an Elite ranked trainer. Pokémon at that rank usually broke free from their bonds completely because of their higher intelligence and awareness, which made them easier to claim without complications. An Elite ranked one, however, could still have a lingering attachment to its trainer, and that bond might be restored if they were reunited.

"Do you have any fur that the Annihilape shed?" Alex interrupted.

"Oh, yes. We have plenty from when it fought the guardian. Let me go get some for you," the old woman said as she ambled away.

Alex meanwhile turned his attention to Johnny and studied him carefully. Around 15 years old, thin, scrawny build, glasses, poor posture, low confidence. Dark bags under his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept for days, which meant he was genuinely worried about his Pokémon. Not the build of a particularly strong trainer, but worry like that usually meant attachment. Attachment meant he probably treated his Pokémon well, and that meant there was a decent chance the bond was still strong enough to calm Annihilape down.

Pokémon like Annihilape were tricky. The sudden change to Ghost typing and their naturally enraged state often muddied the bond between trainer and Pokémon. It took a very strong bond to reach them once they lost control. If the trainer and Pokémon had enough fond memories, the rage could be broken. If not, the Annihilape would just see everyone as an enemy.

"Are you Johnny, Primeape’s trainer?" Alex asked as he approached.

"Ye-yes... Is he okay? Did you find him?"

"No. But I’m about to head out and look for him, and I’m considering bringing you along."

"Can I?" Johnny asked, hope lighting up his eyes as he stood.

"Only if you answer me honestly."

"I swear I’ll tell the truth!"

"Did you treat your Primeape right? Did you take care of him? Did you force him to do anything he didn’t want to do?"

"Of course I did! No... I mean, I didn’t force him to do anything. He’s family," he snapped, anger flashing across his face. "Primeape is the only reason the bullying stopped. He fought for me, and I took care of him. I would never do anything to hurt him."

Alex nodded, accepting his answer. The reaction was genuine. If nothing else, the boy cared about his Pokémon.

"Then you have a good chance of getting him back," Alex said as the old woman returned.

"Is this enough, dear?" she asked, holding out a handful of wispy silver fur.

"It should be," Alex replied as he took the fur and headed out. "Let’s go, kid. You’re coming with me."

"Yes, sir," he said as he hurried after him.

Once they were outside, Alex released Arcanine and handed him the silver fur to sniff. It took a moment for him to pick up the scent, but eventually he lifted his head and locked onto a direction.

"Hop on," Alex said, patting Arcanine’s back.

"Are... are you sure?"

"Just get on already, or I’ll have you run the entire way," Alex threatened.

"Yes, sir," the boy said as he climbed onto Arcanine.

"Go, but be mindful of the kid," Alex said.

Arcanine immediately took off at Elite ranked speed anyway.

"Waaaa!" Johnny shouted, holding on tightly and clutching Arcanine’s fur.

Alex ran alongside them to keep pace. The speed was fast enough to qualify as a sprint, one he could maintain for hours without issue.

’Maybe I should make Arcanine bigger. It would slow him down a bit, but at least we’d look more intimidating together,’ Alex thought as he ran alongside them, heading north toward the forest and the snowcapped mountains in pursuit of the rogue Annihilape.

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