As if on cue, the machine in Colress's coat pocket begins to beep. The beeping only lasts for a few seconds, however: a tinny, stilted voice — not unlike that of Ash's PokéDex — follows, issuing forth from rudimentary speakers.
"NEW POKÉMON DETECTED. CLOSEST MATCH: PIKACHU. 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL. PRIMARY EMOTION: HOSTILITY..."
"Aha!" says Colress, beaming. "You see! My machine is currently able to detect the emotional states of Pokémon. Pikachu isn't suffering any adverse effects from its emotions being read.
"Anyway, it's just as I told you." He holds up a finger, all threat of a Thundershock seemingly forgotten. "Before you arrived, I was testing it on the Pokémon here in the woods, but it can only interpret very basic thoughts for now. You'll notice they're not a bit bothered either."
Pikachu stops his growling and glances up at Ash, confused. "Pi?" He questions. Ash just shrugs. Not as impressed with the device as he might have been. Clemont had built something similar before but unfortunately, it had kind of exploded.
"I don't know why you would need a machine to tell you that, It's not that hard to tell what a Pokémon is feeling." Ash points out. He thinks it's pretty obvious that Pikachu was mad.
If he's not hurting the Pokémon though, there's very little reason for him to try and get in the way. Although, he's still not sure he trusts the man. Anyone that thought of Pokémon as weapons wasn't someone to be trusted so easily.
Colress blinks. For a moment, he considers demonstrating to Ash the actual utility of the Machine, pointing it at a nearby Rattata and showing him, you see, it can tell what Pokémon are thinking! — but, truth be told, he's not sure how well a tech demo would land for an already unimpressed ten-year-old. Especially not in the middle of the woods, after encountering someone who, for all intents and purposes, could be considered an enemy.
Remembering this, he smiles, laying a hand on his chest as he bows. "Excuse me," he says, "I'm getting carried away. That's not all it can do, but the exact details of my Colress Machine can always be explained in greater detail at a later date. —How are you and Pikachu? I must say, I'm surprised to cross paths with you again. I would have thought you too busy to come back to Pallet."
Ash tenses just the tiniest bit more when the machine is pointed towards a Rattata. Coless said it didn't hurt them, and Pikachu was clearly unharmed but he's still ready to jump in if something bad happens.
"Pika Pika. Chu Pika!" Ash's attention returns to Pikachu, it's pretty obvious he doesn't trust this man either.
"We're taking a break." Ash finally admits, Pikachu glances up at his trainer in concern because he's pretty sure why they're back in Pallet is none of this man's business.
"That doesn't mean I won't stop you if you are trying to hurt Pokémon again." He says firmly.
"A break? So am I! What a coincidence that we've ended up crossing paths again."
Setting Machine №329 to OFF — the chassis is starting to feel a tad too warm in his hands for comfort, and besides, it seems to put his two companions on edge — Colress drops it back into the pockets of his lab coat. Then, tilting his head, he takes a good look at the two of them, the boy who stopped Ghetsis and his trusty partner Pikachu. They seem to have matured, somehow, since their confrontation at the White Ruins... not physically, since Ash is just as short as Colress remembers. But something in the way they carry themselves, the looks in their eyes...
He snaps back to it when Ash issues him a warning. "You don't have to worry about that," he reassures them, pushing up his glasses. "As I said, I'm no longer affiliated with Team Plasma, and I despised Ghetsis from the start. It's just that, when somebody says they'll fund your research, that's an offer most scientists can't refuse! ...Not that I expect you to understand."
Ash isn't sure how he feels about the casual nature in which Colress continues to address them. He feels on edge and ready for a battle but the man is not matching his mood at all. It's a little disorienting.
"Yeah, coincidence." He's not so sure he agrees with that. It seems like no matter where he goes he always run into some form of disaster. It's not so much that he minds having to help the legendaries and occasionally save the world. It's more that being tortured and watching a Zygarde kill someone would leave anyone wanting a break. However, it doesn't seem like he's going to get one.
"You're lucky, you know. Reshiram showed you mercy. Some Pokémon aren't so forgiving."
"Am I lucky?" Colress chuckles. "I suppose I am. If Reshiram had wanted it, I would probably be dead. Ergo, I wouldn't be standing here conducting experiments on Pokémon's thoughts and emotions. But that's a matter for hypothetical Colress, living in a universe where he's been incinerated to ash, to deal with. No pun intended."
Having made his intentions clear, Colress takes his eyes off of Ash to examine their surroundings. The deep green of forest makes it impossible to penetrate beyond a few metres in any direction, save for the waterfall and pond Ash and Pikachu are standing in front of. Everywhere he casts his attention, there's the rustling of a wild Pokémon in the trees, in the tall grass, in the leaves. He shuts his eyes for a moment, taking it all in. Then he turns back to Ash.
"You two... you truly believe in the relationship between Pokémon and people to be mutually beneficial, don't you?"
So sorry for the late! I could have sworn I tagged this
Ash narrows his eyes. He doesn't find it to be amusing at all. Do people really not understand the destructive power the Legendary Pokémon possess? That when they mess with them or send them on a rampage it messes with the balance of nature? However, being angry isn't going to solve anything.
"Pika." Pikachu nods, still agitated. Ash is, after all, living proof of the concept. Not that he wants Colress to know that.
Ash just chances closing his eyes and takes in a deep breath. With it, he allows himself to feel the life around him. The Pokémon, The trees, the flowers and every single blade of grass. He opens his eyes again as he releases his breath, feeling a good deal calmer.
"I don't just believe it, I know it." He says with determination.
Colress had expected no less from Ash, but even still, he seems pleased with the answer. "A worthy response from the aspiring Pokémon master," he says. "And your Pikachu seems to agree as well. Yes, you have quite a bond! And that bond is what allowed you to defeat Team Plasma, Team Aqua, Team Magma, Lysandre of Team Flare... you're quite busy for a child. And a talented Trainer, to boot."
He pauses again, this time to reflect. Younger, he had been busy in his own right; he too had had goals and dreams of his own, but they were nothing like Ash's, desires to understand and quantify the world and the shared reality of Pokémon. He can't fathom being the kind of person who travels from place to place, righting others' wrongs; he can only think of all that time, wasted. But he can't help being curious about it, too — about what kind of a person someone needs to be to answer "I know it" with such certainty.
"I think the forest is an awkward place to keep having this conversation," he says, at length. "Don't you? I imagine you're wondering why I'm not still in detention at Interpol. Likewise, I'd like to know more about your journey with Pikachu. Do you want to meet up again later?"
The name 'Lysandre' gets a reaction from both. Ash's eyes widened slightly and he might have even leaned away just the tiniest bit. It's a such a small movement it'd be easy to miss.
Pikachu, however, narrows his eyes and lets out a few warning sparks, staying protectively in front of Ash and just daring Colress to come closer. He had failed to protect him from Team Flare in Lumiose City but that was never going to happen again.
Ash isn't sure how he feels about Colress knowing about what he's been up to. It's creeping out a little and sparking a small panic in his chest. What else did Colress know about him? Did he know about The Orange Islands, or Mew and the Tree of Beginning?
Despite how he sometimes seems, Ash Ketchum isn't stupid and if he's being honest, this does sound like a trap. However, he knows that if there's even a chance the safety of a Pokémon is at stake there's no way he can refuse.
"Pikapi. Pikachu." Pikachu tells him insistently. Ash gives him a slightly apologetic look.
"Where?" He asks, attention turning back to Colress.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"NEW POKÉMON DETECTED. CLOSEST MATCH: PIKACHU. 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL. PRIMARY EMOTION: HOSTILITY..."
"Aha!" says Colress, beaming. "You see! My machine is currently able to detect the emotional states of Pokémon. Pikachu isn't suffering any adverse effects from its emotions being read.
"Anyway, it's just as I told you." He holds up a finger, all threat of a Thundershock seemingly forgotten. "Before you arrived, I was testing it on the Pokémon here in the woods, but it can only interpret very basic thoughts for now. You'll notice they're not a bit bothered either."
no subject
"I don't know why you would need a machine to tell you that, It's not that hard to tell what a Pokémon is feeling." Ash points out. He thinks it's pretty obvious that Pikachu was mad.
If he's not hurting the Pokémon though, there's very little reason for him to try and get in the way. Although, he's still not sure he trusts the man. Anyone that thought of Pokémon as weapons wasn't someone to be trusted so easily.
no subject
Remembering this, he smiles, laying a hand on his chest as he bows. "Excuse me," he says, "I'm getting carried away. That's not all it can do, but the exact details of my Colress Machine can always be explained in greater detail at a later date. —How are you and Pikachu? I must say, I'm surprised to cross paths with you again. I would have thought you too busy to come back to Pallet."
no subject
"Pika Pika. Chu Pika!" Ash's attention returns to Pikachu, it's pretty obvious he doesn't trust this man either.
"We're taking a break." Ash finally admits, Pikachu glances up at his trainer in concern because he's pretty sure why they're back in Pallet is none of this man's business.
"That doesn't mean I won't stop you if you are trying to hurt Pokémon again." He says firmly.
"Pika!" Pikachu agrees.
no subject
Setting Machine №329 to OFF — the chassis is starting to feel a tad too warm in his hands for comfort, and besides, it seems to put his two companions on edge — Colress drops it back into the pockets of his lab coat. Then, tilting his head, he takes a good look at the two of them, the boy who stopped Ghetsis and his trusty partner Pikachu. They seem to have matured, somehow, since their confrontation at the White Ruins... not physically, since Ash is just as short as Colress remembers. But something in the way they carry themselves, the looks in their eyes...
He snaps back to it when Ash issues him a warning. "You don't have to worry about that," he reassures them, pushing up his glasses. "As I said, I'm no longer affiliated with Team Plasma, and I despised Ghetsis from the start. It's just that, when somebody says they'll fund your research, that's an offer most scientists can't refuse! ...Not that I expect you to understand."
no subject
"Yeah, coincidence." He's not so sure he agrees with that. It seems like no matter where he goes he always run into some form of disaster. It's not so much that he minds having to help the legendaries and occasionally save the world. It's more that being tortured and watching a Zygarde kill someone would leave anyone wanting a break. However, it doesn't seem like he's going to get one.
"You're lucky, you know. Reshiram showed you mercy. Some Pokémon aren't so forgiving."
no subject
Having made his intentions clear, Colress takes his eyes off of Ash to examine their surroundings. The deep green of forest makes it impossible to penetrate beyond a few metres in any direction, save for the waterfall and pond Ash and Pikachu are standing in front of. Everywhere he casts his attention, there's the rustling of a wild Pokémon in the trees, in the tall grass, in the leaves. He shuts his eyes for a moment, taking it all in. Then he turns back to Ash.
"You two... you truly believe in the relationship between Pokémon and people to be mutually beneficial, don't you?"
So sorry for the late! I could have sworn I tagged this
"Pika." Pikachu nods, still agitated. Ash is, after all, living proof of the concept. Not that he wants Colress to know that.
Ash just chances closing his eyes and takes in a deep breath. With it, he allows himself to feel the life around him. The Pokémon, The trees, the flowers and every single blade of grass. He opens his eyes again as he releases his breath, feeling a good deal calmer.
"I don't just believe it, I know it." He says with determination.
No worries, I've been stupid busy orz
He pauses again, this time to reflect. Younger, he had been busy in his own right; he too had had goals and dreams of his own, but they were nothing like Ash's, desires to understand and quantify the world and the shared reality of Pokémon. He can't fathom being the kind of person who travels from place to place, righting others' wrongs; he can only think of all that time, wasted. But he can't help being curious about it, too — about what kind of a person someone needs to be to answer "I know it" with such certainty.
"I think the forest is an awkward place to keep having this conversation," he says, at length. "Don't you? I imagine you're wondering why I'm not still in detention at Interpol. Likewise, I'd like to know more about your journey with Pikachu. Do you want to meet up again later?"
no subject
Pikachu, however, narrows his eyes and lets out a few warning sparks, staying protectively in front of Ash and just daring Colress to come closer. He had failed to protect him from Team Flare in Lumiose City but that was never going to happen again.
Ash isn't sure how he feels about Colress knowing about what he's been up to. It's creeping out a little and sparking a small panic in his chest. What else did Colress know about him? Did he know about The Orange Islands, or Mew and the Tree of Beginning?
Despite how he sometimes seems, Ash Ketchum isn't stupid and if he's being honest, this does sound like a trap. However, he knows that if there's even a chance the safety of a Pokémon is at stake there's no way he can refuse.
"Pikapi. Pikachu." Pikachu tells him insistently. Ash gives him a slightly apologetic look.
"Where?" He asks, attention turning back to Colress.