A/N
I apologize if this feels rushed.
This chapter carries a lot of heavy emotions, and it's hard to fully capture that dilemma.
Two Years Later
(Age: 6 years, 8 months)
James was… tired.
No—
broken.
Two years of constant punishment.
Two years of manipulation.
Slowly, quietly… it had worn him down.
He wanted to leave.
More than anything—
he wanted to escape.
But he couldn't.
Because if this was how his parents treated him—
their "favored" child—
Then what would they do to his younger brother. if he ran away?
Still—
he made a call.
To Pop's.
He asked a strange question—
phrased as if it was about him… and Growlithe.
And after that call—
James understood.
"…So that's the only way."
That night—
he made his decision.
I'll leave… and come back when I'm strong enough.
Strong enough to save his brother. Even if he hates him for leaving him behind.
For a moment—
he thought about taking Satoru with him.
But then…
he shook his head.
"I won't drag him into this…"
The Call
"Yo, bro—what's up?"
Satoru's cheerful voice came through.
"Why do you sound weird? Want me to come over?"
James forced a smile.
"Shhh…"
He pressed a finger to his lips instinctively—
even though Satoru couldn't see him.
"Nope."
A pause.
"I've decided… I'm going on a journey."
"To become a Pokémon Master."
A lie.
Satoru blinked.
"It's being two years since you banned me from coming home for some reason and only visit me "
"Oh… then why now? Why not wait for me?"
"We could go together."
James looked down.
His hands trembling slightly.
"Nope."
He forced a laugh.
"That'd be cheating."
"Remember our bet?"
"It ends when we turn twenty-five."
Satoru frowned.
"But you're older than me…"
"Exactly."
James swallowed.
"That's why I'm starting early."
"I'll be back when I'm twenty-five."
"…But—"
The call ended.
Goodbye
James knelt down.
In front of Growlithe.
"Groooow…"
(Take me with you.)
James smiled faintly.
"…No, old friend."
"I need you to stay."
Growlithe whimpered.
But didn't argue.
James placed a hand on his head.
"Protect Satoru."
A pause.
"And if he ever tries to leave like me…"
"…follow him."
His voice softened.
"He's not like me."
"…He's a genius."
Flashes crossed his mind—
Satoru copying moves after seeing them once.
Understanding things no child should.
"Even if he doesn't know it yet…"
James stood up.
"Please… take care of him."
And then—
he left.
Chaos
The estate erupted into panic.
Servants running.
Orders shouted.
Fear everywhere.
Satoru arrived—
just in time to hear it.
"Maybe… we shouldn't have gone that far…"
the butler muttered.
"SHUT UP!" Marcus roared.
"Find that brat!"
"We need him for the alliance!"
Satoru froze.
At the door.
"…Alliance?"
Another voice—
cold.
"Who would've thought he'd run like that?"
"He even stopped us from securing that white-haired brat's engagement…"
"…promising he'd obey us if we left Satoru alone."
A pause.
Then—
"Well, we'll just bring that brat here…"
"…and beat him until James comes crawling back."
Break
Silence.
Satoru didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
"…What?"
The world tilted.
A sharp pain—
pierced through his skull.
"Ah—"
He couldn't scream.
Couldn't think.
Only pain.
The door burst open.
Marcus grabbed him—
dragged him forward.
Growlithe lunged—
but was already injured.
Burn marks.
Water attacks.
He collapsed.
Satoru was thrown to the ground.
"Well, well…"
his mother smiled coldly.
"Our dear son."
"How about we proceed with your engagement instead?"
She raised a whip.
"First—
you need discipline."
Awakening
Satoru's eyes—
turned white. He was still clutching his head.
"…Get…"
The air changed.
"…lost."
Something — just awakened.
A presence—
like a dragon opening its eyes.
Everyone froze.
Fear.
Instinctive.
The whip stopped mid-air.
The ground trembled.
Objects began to float.
Servants screamed—
grabbing onto anything they could.
Satoru wasn't Satoru anymore.
His psychic power—overflowed.
His aura— roared to life.blasting his surroundings
Uncontrollable
Defensive.
Hattrem rushed forward.
Alongside Growlithe.
The Pokémon Egg—
was placed in Growlithe's mouth.
They moved closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Trying to calm him.
Marcus and the others—
ran.
For the first time—
they felt fear.
Hattrem activated Teleport—
But—
The space warped.
Distorted and Unstable.
Because of Satoru.
And then—
As their figures vanished—
the space they left behind didn't stabilize.
For a brief moment—
everything went silent.
Then—
It collapsed.
The overwhelming psychic energy…
the sudden eruption of that dragonic aura—
both unleashed at once—
exploded.
A massive blast tore through the mansion.
Walls shattered.
Windows burst outward.
The very foundation cracked under the pressure.
The entire estate—
was blown apart.
Outside—
Marcus, his wife, and the remaining servants barely managed to escape.
They were thrown across the ground—
rolling through debris and dust.
Coughing. Bleeding. Dazed.
"…What… was that…?"
Marcus struggled to stand—
his body trembling.
Behind him—
what once stood as a symbol of power and control—
was now nothing more than ruins.
His wife clutched her arm, injured, her expression shaken for the first time.
"…that ungreatful brat tried to kill us "
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Marcus' face darkened.
"That… thing…"
"…wasn't supposed to be like this."
He looked at the destroyed mansion—
then toward the empty sky.
"…Find him."
His voice was no longer calm.
No longer controlled.
It carried something new—
Fear.