POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

It seemed that Rax Chand's gaze was too direct, making Cubone, who always wore a stoic and distant expression, feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Cu?"

"Cubone, here," Rax said gently. "This is an energy cube suitable for ground-type Pokémon... want some?"

He retrieved a small bowl filled with the rations left by the previous handler and offered it to Cubone.

The Pokémon sniffed cautiously but didn't hesitate for long. It accepted the bowl and began eating silently.

Under the mask of its skull helmet, Rax couldn't see Cubone's expression.

However, judging by the steady pace at which it ate, Cubone seemed to like the taste of the energy cubes.

Rax let out a quiet sigh of relief, a small, unconscious smile tugging at his lips.

When he turned his head, he noticed Captain Yusaku observing him with an approving look.

"Boss..."

"Haha, don't mind me," Yusaku chuckled. "Just seeing you with Cubone reminded me of when Big Mouth Bat and I first met. We were just as cautious around each other... but also curious and hopeful."

The Golbat nearby, busy with its own meal, seemed to sense the sentiment and gently nuzzled Yusaku.

Rax blinked, and for the first time, the intimidating Golbat didn't seem as scary anymore.

---

After dinner, Yusaku took Golbat and Raticate to the backyard for training. Naturally, cleaning up the kitchen became Rax's responsibility.

As he scrubbed away at the dishes, Cubone stood silently behind him, watching intently. Its eyes, hidden beneath its skull helmet, seemed to narrow at the sight of Rax plunging his hands repeatedly into the water—something Cubone instinctively disliked.

A few minutes later…

"Finally done!" Rax exclaimed, stretching as he wiped down the last of the countertops.

Turning around, he noticed Cubone taking a few cautious steps back.

For a brief moment, Rax felt a pang of disappointment.

But then he saw Cubone dart off to the side, grab a towel, and run back, holding it up with tiny but determined hands.

"Cu-bone~"

Rax stared at the Pokémon, then understood. He felt a warm wave of gratitude wash over him.

Here he was, thrust into this life he hadn't chosen, forced to conceal his true identity and tread carefully at every step.

And yet, in this strange and chaotic world, Cubone had offered him the purest act of kindness.

Squatting down, Rax carefully took the towel, making sure not to let any water drip onto Cubone.

"Thank you, Cubone," he said softly.

Cubone turned its head away, still exuding its usual air of cold detachment. But in Rax's eyes, the Pokémon suddenly seemed a little... cuter.

Drying his hands, Rax smiled. "Want to watch Golbat and Raticate train?"

Cubone didn't respond, but Rax was beginning to understand its unspoken language.

"I want to watch them train. Would you come with me?"

After a moment of hesitation, Cubone followed Rax as he made his way to the backyard.

---

As soon as Rax entered the backyard, Yusaku noticed him but only gave a brief nod before returning to training.

Rax stood quietly in the corner with Cubone by his side, careful not to disturb the session.

Cubone was silent, as always.

While observing the training, Rax found himself thinking about Cubone's story—the one buried deep in the original memories he'd inherited.

Cubone was among the Pokémon Team Rocket captured in batches. Hatched from an egg and raised in the organization's breeding facility, it bore no resentment towards Team Rocket.

Such Pokémon were considered far more valuable than the wild captures like Ekans, Koffing, or Zubat typically issued to low-ranking members.

Rax's predecessor had earned Cubone through his IT skills and was being groomed as an intelligence agent. However, as a non-combat specialist, the previous handler had neglected Cubone, rarely training it and leaving it mostly to fend for itself.

Despite its small size, Cubone possessed a fierce determination to fight and grow stronger. The bone club it carried wasn't just for show.

Yet the lack of attention and care had left Cubone disheartened. Over time, its loneliness and aloof demeanor only deepened, further alienating it from its handler.

For Rax, this was a revelation.

Squatting down, Rax gently placed a hand on Cubone's helmet. The Pokémon froze for a moment, startled by the unexpected gesture.

"I want to ask the boss about your training methods," Rax said softly. "Would you come with me?"

"Cu!"

For the first time, there was a spark in Cubone's eyes—a fiery determination breaking through its cold and lonely exterior.

---

"Cubone, I've never trained a ground-type Pokémon before," Yusaku admitted, scratching his head. "To be honest, I don't have much advice to give you."

Seeing Cubone's crestfallen expression, Yusaku quickly added, "But there's still hope! Why not use your points on the platform to exchange for some training notes? If you're short on points, I can lend you some."

Cubone tilted its head, confused but intrigued.

Rax smiled reassuringly. "Got it. Thanks, Boss."

After thanking Yusaku, Rax led Cubone to the warehouse.

There, he booted up a computer and logged into Team Rocket's internal system using a unique password and ID.

The interface displayed three main options: Mission Submission, Points Redemption, and Personal Info.

Opening the Personal Info tab, Rax reviewed his details:

Name: Rax Chand

Age: 16

Region: Lavender Town, Kanto

Position: Second-Class Intelligence Agent

Points: 1,245

Next, Rax navigated to the Points Redemption section.

After a brief search, he found the items he needed:

Beginner's Ground-Type Training Manual – 200 points

Beginner's Ground-Type Care Manual – 400 points

Cubone-Specific Skill Training Manual – 400 points

Basic Ground-Type Energy Cube (Box of 100) – 100 points

Cubone currently consumed about two or three energy cubes daily. For training and combat, the supply would need to increase.

Rax didn't hesitate. Selecting the manuals and the energy cubes, he confirmed the purchase.

As the system deducted the points, Rax turned to Cubone with a confident smile.

"Let's get started, Cubone. We're going to make you stronger."

For the first time, Cubone's stoic expression softened, its cold eyes gleaming with newfound hope.