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The Pocket Monster Initiative

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Professor Takasugi Tomorokoshi has just invented the Poké Ball. He feels this invention will change the lives of everyone and how people interact with the monsters many have lived in fear of. He just needs more people to test his project…

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This is the story I wrote for @hisuizine! It’s backstory for Commander Kamado, told from the perspective of the person who invented the Poké Ball. Professor Tomorokoshi watches as his invention changes Kamado’s life, for better and for worse. This is actually a cut version of the story, as I went a liiiitle overboard with the story and forgot to mind the length.

However!! I will be posting the full version, chapter by chapter, on AO3!

I will also include small illustrations on the side that I didn’t think would fit with the zine itself.

I want to thank everyone who worked on the @hisuizine project, for inviting me as a guest, and for letting me write this story. You lot are champions in my eyes!

Hit Read More to see the printed version of the story!

Abridged Cut of Takasugi Tomorokoshi’s Personal Journal

Editor’s Notice: The following journal entries were selected to display how the advent of the Poké Ball affected day to day life, demonstrating both the positive and the negative changes.

This is not the complete version of Professor Tomorokoshi’s journal. If you wish to read it in full length, please visit the Ecruteak City Library, where we keep an archive of our own history.

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Entry #1

This is the personal journal of Tomorokoshi Takasugi. I will be using this to detail the progress of my invention, the Pocket Ball.

It is my hope that this invention will bring great change across the world. The ability to ensnare monsters and keep them close at hand… not only is it a boon for researchers such as myself, but perhaps we can put this era of fear behind us…!

Entry #2

Kaneru told me that “Pocket Ball” was a ridiculous and foolish sounding name. How could a daughter of mine possess such sass?! I asked her to come up with something better and she offered me “Poké Ball”.

…Well, to her credit, it rolls off the tongue quite nicely. I suppose it shall henceforth be known as the “Poké Ball”.

Entry #3

The past few weeks have been a struggle. While I’ve been able to consistently activate the “Shrink” mechanism of the Poké Ball, it appears there’s something lacking from the actual capture mechanism.

Everything I throw the Poké Balls at is summoned inside of its chamber… There are times when the ball lands on the ground and is shattered instantly by the monsters making their escape.

However, there are times when I can see the monster struggle inside the capsule. Twice now I’ve seen the ball retain its target for a few moments. During both occasions, the ball would wobble and bounce on the ground before shattering like all of the others.

I must ask my colleagues for any suggestions.

[…]

Entry #5

Professor Katsura, my colleague from Pallet Grove, has returned to Kanto to advance her “Type Theory”. I asked if she may need my help, to which she scoffed, saying the only thing slower than me was a Slowpoke.

The unkind sentiment inspired me to try something. I snuck out in the middle of the night to the Rainmaker’s Well. I know it’s a sacred site, but my esteem in the sacred crumbled with the ash of Brass Tower.

My decision in picking Slowpoke is laughably pitiful, which is why I won’t include my reasoning in my research papers. The only things my colleagues need to know are that I picked Slowpoke of my own volition…

…and that the Poké Ball succeeded.

Entry #6

The Ilex Priestesses had some objection to me invading the well, but the arguing ceased when I brought Slowpoke out of the ball. It looked pleased as it stretched its neck the slightest bit. I never thought a Slowpoke would also sparkle in the sunlight the way this one does…

To my delight, the recall function works perfectly as well! Now that my design works exactly as planned, I will focus my efforts on making many more! The townspeople have even volunteered to bring me the required Tumblestone and others have been bringing me their Apricorn shells!

[…] I need to run more tests. For all I know, this could have been a fluke. I also fear that I may in fact lack what it takes to tackle something feistier than a Slowpoke.

The other residents here in Azalea Town seem apprehensive, so I may need to extend recruitment efforts elsewhere. When my supply is ready, I’ll make my way to the bustling settlement of Goldenrod. It is my hope that the large population plus their proximity to Peachlily Village and Violet Village should make recruitment easy!

Entry #7

I am currently staying at the Goldenrod Inn. The first day has been a bust. Many people were quick to call me ‘insane’, which I understand but find rude nonetheless.

Whether it was in jest or not is lost on me, but someone suggested I go to Peachlily Village to recruit the man who is “stronger than an Ursaring”.

I wonder what it took to earn such a reputation…? I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow.

Entry #8

When I arrived in Peachlily, I asked the townsfolk who in their village was stronger than an Ursaring. They directed me to the “Denboku” family residence. The man I was searching for was seated outside with his children.

I approached him and asked if he was stronger than an Ursaring. The children giggled as their father put down his tea and stood up. I followed him to his yard, and upon my approach, he held his arms out imposingly and stared right into me.

I tried to clarify that I wasn’t challenging him, but asking if he could work with me. He simply said that if I lacked the courage to tackle him, then I wasn’t someone worth working with.

So I did as he requested, and I charged at him with my best battle cry.

Seconds later, I was being hurtled through the air.

Hours after, I awoke on a futon, where the man who threw me knelt on a cushion seated next to his wife, who was a Galarian woman, curiously enough. I thanked her for her hospitality but she told me not to thank her yet. She turned to face her husband, and with an authoritative tone, commanded that he apologize to me.

He bowed low over his legs, apologizing for “rough handling” me. That’s when we formally introduced ourselves to one another.

That’s how I came to meet Denboku Kamado, along with his children, Nanako and Ollie, and his wife Jubilee.

Entry #9

Kamado told me the story about the Ursaring. The monster was threatening his children. He grappled with the beast and executed a perfect sumo throw on it, weakening it significantly.

I was shocked to say the least. I never thought such an… interesting character would agree to help with my research. His fearless (or reckless) behavior may be exactly what I need to try capturing specimens with aggressive temperaments.

Entry #10

While discussing the Pocket Monster initiative with Kamado, we’ve taken a liking to calling the creatures “Pokémon”. It’s a charming moniker. Something about it is so disarming. I’m sure Kaneru will be pleased to hear that her little prefix idea is starting to spread.

Yet… I can’t shrug off the feeling like I’ve heard the word before.

Entry #11

Another resident of Peachlily has expressed interest in the project, though I didn’t expect an elderly man to step in. I told him of the dangers and he told me not to sweat it— that he’s stronger than he looks.

He asked for a single Poké Ball. After handing one to him, a Pokémon teleported into the room! I was amazed— I’d never seen a Kirlia up close before.

The old fellow, Beni, as he requested to be called, was apparently well-traveled though he was sparing in the details. He invited Kirlia into the Poké Ball — and to my continued awe — it went inside without complaint.

I never considered that a Pokémon would willingly stay by a person’s side… no less choose to go inside of a Poké Ball.

Why would Kirlia choose to imprison itself?

Could it be that I was thinking of this the wrong way? […]

Entry #12

We are spending the night in Azalea Town. Tomorrow, we will embark on our first field trial. As Beni and I both have Pokémon, our first priority is capturing another for Kamado.

Beni seemed to command his Kirlia with confidence, asking it to display its strength. The creature did so with the utmost elegance.

Beni explained to me that Pokémon obeyed humans they deemed worthy. The criteria for “worthiness” is unclear, but I think the mental and emotional resolve of a human might be involved.

I asked Slowpoke to show me its strength. It looked up at me curiously — vacantly. […]

I think it may just be that Slowpoke preferred to relax.

Entry #13

I have just returned from the field test.

In the field just outside of the Uniting Tunnel, we encountered a good number of Rattata, Spearow, and Ekans. Beni’s Kirlia was quite skilled at handling any Pokémon who were agitated by our presence, harmlessly hypnotizing them with ease.

I actually managed to catch some of the sleeping Pokémon! This method was far easier than what Kamado chose to do.

I knew the man was reckless, but I didn’t expect him to put his fists up against a Geodude. It was rather irate when he accidentally stepped on it.

Apparently he attempted to grab it before throwing a Poké Ball at it. The rocky beast was not going down without a fight, and after some wearing down, Kamado claimed his first catch.

I can only hope that his wife will be so excited to see the Pokémon he caught that she would forget to lecture him for the bruise on the cheek he earned from handling Geodude the way he did.

At least I’m sure he won’t act this way again now that he has a Pokémon as reckless and sturdy as himself.

Entry #14

I’ve been recording data nonstop. We distributed captured Pokémon to those who were interested in working with them. The task of acquiring more still falls on the shoulders of my team.

Every two weeks, Kamado and Beni have assisted me with locating and capturing Pokémon. They even helped me find a new friend! Chikorita keeps me company when I’m busy crafting more Poké Balls all day. It loves sunbathing, not unlike my Slowpoke.

I visited the Denboku family a few days ago, and I was delighted by the sight of Nanako and little Ollie playing with Kamado’s Geodude. It seems that craggy old rock is jollier than it appears.

Miss Jubilee gave me a basket full of Apricorn husks as well as a few completed balls that Nanako crafted herself. She was quite proud of her daughter’s work.

It seems Kamado has been encouraging his family to help with my efforts — including the Geodude. It helped Nanako bend the iron fittings into a proper ring shape. Dare I say, it even looked happy to be helping.

Perhaps I should find a helper of my own.

Entry #15

On our most recent treks, we’ve encountered a few spots of scorched ground and blackened trees. They were erratically spread out from location to location, as if whatever was causing the damage was roaming aimlessly.

This is concerning to say the least. I’m going to need to look closer into the flame-harnessing Pokémon within Johto… though perhaps I can learn more by asking other colleagues for help.

Entry #16

My crew and I ventured to Kanto to seek out new Pokémon to catch. We also hoped to find something consistent with the blazes we’ve seen in Johto.

On our way to Professor Katsura’s isolated lab in Palette Grove, Kamado ran into the caves of Mt. Moon with zero hesitation. The cave was so dark, I could hardly see where I was going, yet Beni navigated with ease.

When we located Kamado, he was cradling a small, injured Pokémon in his arms. It emitted a cry not unlike that of a distressed human infant. For the rest of the trek, I’ve never seen Kamado tread more carefully.

Upon arriving at Katsura’s lab, she helped treat the poor creature. It seemed so elated to receive care that it glowed with gratitude. It seemed larger in size than it was previously but I’ll credit that to it having its strength back. I would later come to know this Pokémon is called “Clefairy”.

I described the curious burnings I came across and the typically condescending Katsura uncharacteristically met me with equal concern. “Fire-types”, as she called them, don’t tend to recklessly loose their flames in the grasslands and forests they inhabit.

I think the three of us in Johto should split up and ask other villages if they’ve seen anything strange. Katsura promised to write to me should she find out more.

Entry #17

Katsura, the accursed menace that she is, seems to have left Kamado with a parting gift. Beni took me to Peachlily in hopes that I would understand the situation.

I found that a Pokémon gifted to him by Katsura had nearly wiped out their pantry. It resembled Snorlax, save for how active it was in its pursuit for a meal. I’m told that it won’t stay in its Poké Ball for long until it next hungers.

Kamado refuses to release it into the wild, worried that this Pokémon would wreak havoc on the farms and exacerbate the issue.

Jubilee is concerned that as long as they keep the Pokémon, they won’t be able to safely feed their children. She asked if I could watch over Ollie and Nanako while she and Kamado found a solution together.

Before parting, Kamado put a Poké Ball in Nanako’s hands. He left us his loyal Geodude to help the kids feel safer.

Next time I see Professor Katsura, I will ask my Slowpoke to descend a deluge upon her.

[…]

Entry #20

I have seen the beast behind the blazes.

I saw it just outside of Port Olivine. A vortex of fire spun around its large, bulky form.

We locked eyes and the beast roared, causing the vortex to expand in size. I shielded myself to the best of my ability, but the flames did not reach me. When I was able to look again, nothing but a scorched radius remained.

I heard it roar again as it disappeared into the wilderness.

I must warn others not to provoke this beast, starting with the residents of Port Olivine. More than anything, though, I feel it’s important I tell Kamado and Beni to tread carefully.

[…]

Entry #22

I’ve returned home. It would seem Miss Jubilee took Ollie back with her. Nanako stayed at my lab and reported that her mother discovered how to curb the damage caused by their new pet “Munchlax”. The Pokémon can stomach anything — including mere scraps and food waste. Sounds like a fantastic way to keep a place clean and fresh!

Nanako has been hard at work in my absence. She and her newly evolved Graveler have been making Poké Balls nonstop! Thanks to that extra set of arms Graveler grew, we’ve actually got an excess of Poké Balls. This could keep us set for a while when we resume our studies.

I am still left disquieted at the thought of that Pokémon of volcanic wrath scourging the region. Katsura worked hard to understand these Fire-types… Perhaps I can recruit her to help repel the beast.

[…]

Entry #24

Katsura has arrived. She was more than proud to show me her newest catch, Lapras. Immediately afterwards, she commanded Lapras to blast me with water. She claims it’s part of her “training regimen”.

While she’s always an incorrigible witch and liar, she was glad to offer help. Fire-types are weak to Water, Ground, and Rock-type attacks. As such, I’ve been training Slowpoke to use more powerful Water moves.

The two of us will head for Peachlily Village. It would help to have Kamado and Beni to combat the

Entry #25

Peachlily Village is gone.

I almost can’t believe it still. Katsura and I saw the blaze occurring in the Northeast yesterday. We rushed to the scene on the back of Katsura’s Arcanine.

We did all we could to contain the fire with our Pokémon. A crowd of volunteers from other towns started pitching in. Many of them had Pokémon dousing the fire, others sent theirs for search and rescue.

I wish I could walk away from all of this, elated and grateful to all the people who used my invention to help save the village… but the village is gone. Not a single building can be recognized in the piles of ash and char.

For the survivors, numbering less than twenty, they’re being housed and nursed in neighboring villages.

Entry #26

I’ve been told that Beni and Kamado are alive, though the latter is in far worse condition. I can only guess that Kamado ran headlong into the flames to save his wife and son.

Last I heard, all three were recovered alive but remain in critical condition. Katsura’s been helping the medical team and keeping me updated. She recommended that I bring Kamado’s daughter to be by her family’s side.

I told her I would leave tomorrow morning. She sternly told me to leave immediately.

She lent me her Arcanine to hasten the trip. I’m about to leave.

I don’t know how I’m going to tell Nanako about this…

Entry #27

Kamado woke up today. Nanako cried with relief when she heard her father’s voice.

Katsura pulled me out of their ward to give me more news on the family.

Jubilee and Ollie didn’t make it.

Entry #28

Kamado has not looked me in the eyes since I gave him the news. It’s been days.

He did grant Nanako permission to return to Azalea with me, to my surprise. Just as well — she wanted to get out of Goldenrod as soon as possible. Currently, the urns containing Jubilee and Ollie’s ashes are under my care.

I still find myself wondering… how did it come to this…?

Entry #29

Beni came to Azalea today to check on us. Nanako has been despondent, though she did open up to Beni a bit. He was able to convince her to eat the potato mochi he prepared for her.

My daughter is keeping her company as she rests. When Nanako fell asleep, Beni told me about the events that led to the village’s demise.

He told me that after I warned them about the fire beast, he and Kamado devised a plan between themselves to oust the monster.

Beni has always been the most talented when it came to tracking Pokémon down. He was able to predict where the beast would next appear. They attempted to corner and strike it down utilizing their Pokémon and any weapons they had at their disposal. Kamado was able to grapple it in place as Beni gave Kirlia the command to unleash its strongest attack.

It released a horrifying, guttural roar causing Kirlia to withdraw into its ball. In that moment, It broke free of Kamado’s grasp when it then surrounded itself in a vortex of flames. Kamado tried to grab at it again despite the fire. He clung to the beast as it ran, intensifying its flames to try and repel its attacker.

A wildfire began as it let its flames loose. They spread as fast as the beast could run. Beni gave chase and found Kamado incapacitated not too far from the village.

Through what I consider an impeccable display of self restraint, I politely asked him to leave as I “reviewed the information he supplied me with”.

I feel nothing short of betrayed. How could they take on a monster that surely resents humanity? How could they go behind my back to commit this lunacy?

What am I supposed to do now that they have…?

Entry #30

Since the fire, I’ve received updates from several villages that there have been no sightings of the fire beast: Entei, as the people of Ecruteak call it.

I’m suspending my surveys in Johto while the dust settles. I will be aiding Katsura in fleshing out her theories on Pokémon types.

For now, I shall put this journal to rest. I will take my time thinking about how to resume my operations later.

Entry #31

It has been three months since I last wrote in this… and things have only gotten worse.

Kamado and Beni came by. Kamado greeted me curtly. He wanted to see Nanako, which I had no intention of getting in the way of. I wish now that I had.

He told Nanako that they were leaving Johto in search of a new life. It seems they’re headed to Beni’s ancestral region of Hoenn, but Nanako wasn’t sure what to say. Before she could express a thought, Kamado demanded that she leave Johto with him, so he can keep her safe from Pokémon.

She refused, saying she wanted to dedicate her life to Pokémon research. She believes the more we understand Pokémon, the more we can prevent tragedies from occurring.

He was unmoved and called her naive. He demanded that she listened to him as a father looking out for her. Nanako only resisted more and more until the tension finally snapped.

Apparently, she’s known all along that Beni and Kamado were the catalyst of the fires. From there, neither side was holding back. All I could do was stand there helplessly. I didn’t know if it was my business to say anything.

Kamado said that as long as she stayed with me, she’d be in danger of being killed. He said it was my fault the village was destroyed by a mad Pokémon, all because I wanted to closely research Pokémon. Nanako defended me and called her father a hypocrite.

She abruptly went to her quarters and retrieved Graveler’s Poké Ball. She held it out to Kamado and told him to take it back. She didn’t want anything that would remind her of him because she never wanted to see him or think about him again. He was as dead to her as her mother and brother.

Kamado and Beni left without another word. Nanako hasn’t said anything to us since the fight erupted.

I can’t help but think he isn’t wrong to blame me.

The pursuit of change and innovation always comes with great risk… but I never thought it would come to this.

Kamado… Nanako… Ollie… Jubilee…

I’m so sorry.

Entry #32

I dug this old thing up again. It’s been about 3 years. Kamado came to my lab today and I only felt it was right to keep the history of our interactions in one place.

He brought allies with him and told me he was starting a new project. He wanted to establish a home that was free of grief and strife. He’s still in the early phase of recruiting people for his team, and he came to me requesting that I invest in his ambitions.

I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still angry with him.

Imagine the face I made when he told me he wanted to go to Hisui of all places to establish this new village. All I could say was that he hadn’t learned a thing from his extremely reckless behavior.

I was ready to dismiss him before two other members of his group approached me— a survivalist expert named Cyllene and a fellow scholar, Pokémon Professor Laventon.

He had some new ideas on how to research Pokémon and believed that Hisui was the perfect place to make it happen. He was grateful that Kamado offered him the opportunity to understand the Pokémon of Hisui.

With that, I agreed to give Kamado’s team my patronage. Though I support Professor Laventon’s ambitions, the real reason I made this choice was because I was surprised to hear that Kamado gladly recruited someone to study the Pokémon he was so terrified of.

I told Kamado that I expected him to make an effort to live harmoniously with the Pokémon of Hisui. I told him I wanted regular updates on his progress.

I told him this was likely his final chance to redeem himself in Nanako’s eyes.

He thanked me and left abruptly, leaving Cyllene and Laventon to further discuss their plans on how to operate a team of surveyors.

I was happy to give them my guidance. As they were about to leave I asked them to do everything they can to ease Kamado’s distrust of Pokémon, because I did not trust him to be a leader until he proves he can learn.

Laventon promised me he’d do all that he can and took his leave.

There’s nothing left for me to do now, in regards to Kamado. All that I can do now is offer my support. All I can do is hope that his wounded heart can still heal.

May we soon see the day that all Pokémon and humans can live together in peace.

-Tomorokoshi Takasugi

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