Chapter Text
<SYSTEM START>
“Yes! She’s finally operational. Can you hear me?”
<VOICE ID: PIETRO POLENDINA>
“So you can! Finally. Can you walk?”
<MOTOR FUNCTION DISABLED>
“Still have some issues to figure out, then. Penny, sleep mode.”
<POWERING OFF>
“Is it functional?”
The jolly scientist was startled, a voice playing over an intercom.
“S-Somewhat, sir,” Pietro replied, nervously readjusting his glasses. “She needs some work, but she’s able to talk.”
“Good,” the voice spoke, stern and deadpan. “Keep working. It needs to be completed soon.”
“I-I know.”
“In other news, you were to report to me two hours ago.”
“My mistake, sir. I’ll come right away.”
The scientist packed up his belongings and rushed out of the room. However, he forgot one thing.
In the corner of the room, a screen flashed with the lights of a stadium. Two challengers, a white-haired gym leader and the current champion, readied themselves, Pokeballs in hand. As their Pokemon cried out, the machine blinked to life.
<SYSTEM START>
<POKEMON ID: GARCHOMP>
<POKEMON ID: WEAVILE>
Her eyes blinked open with a slow whirring, turning to the screen. The battle between the two trainers had begun.
<TRAINER ID: WEISS SCHNEE>
<TRAINER ID: YANG XIAO LONG>
The battle was intense, a close fight between two master trainers. The machine watched as closely as she could, but she was still too far to see it clearly. If only she could get up.
<DIVERTING POWER>
<MOTOR FUNCTION ENABLED>
She fell off of her mount, slowly getting to her feet. Her first steps were rough, but she eventually a seat by the screen. Now, she could see each move with full clarity. Each furious punch, each blast of fire and ice was absorbed into her knowledge banks. But not only that but another feeling entered her artificial mind. It was warm, not like a Fire Blast, but like a hug. Did she know what a hug was? The phrase “Find out what a hug is” was added to her database. Whatever this feeling was, she wanted more. Eyes far too close to the screen, she absorbed all the information she could. The ferocity of the Pokemon. The tenacity of the trainers. The adoration of the crowd. All of it just seemed so right. Despite her advanced programming, she was able to lose track of the time.
Footsteps approached, Pietro muttering, “I could’ve sworn I turned the lights off.” He paused the moment he entered the room. “You got up.” He sat by the machine, smiling at her. “You like the battle, huh?”
<VOICE ID: PIETRO POLENDINA>
“Yes, it’s me.”
<SCIENTIST ID: PIETRO-~-
With a soft whisper, she uttered a single word.
“Father?”
The scientist gasped.
“Your vocal systems function?” a tear rolled down his cheek. “What do you mean ‘father?’”
“Father. Pietro Polendina. Creator.”
“Your AI is advancing far faster than I thought it would. Can you say a full sentence?”
“Sentence.” She turned back to the screen in thought. “Why is that Salamence green?” Pietro chuckled, giving the girl a gentle hug.
“It’s called being shiny. It’s a rare genetic difference that some Pokemon have.”
“Can a person be shiny?”
“Heh. That’s not possible.”
The girl looked down at her silvery hands, replying, “But I appear to be shiny.”
“Shiny’s not literal. It’s just a word we use.”
“Why do I look different from them?” she asked, still staring at her metallic body.
“Because you’re special.” Intrusive thoughts aside, she turned back to the screen.
“Their Pokemon. Why do they fight?”
“The Pokemon enjoy it just as much as we enjoy watching it. It’s a sport of sorts.”
She simply smiled.
“Can I battle like them?”
“Of course, Penny. That’s what you’re made for.”
* * *
Penny Polendina stood in front of the Patch Town lab. Not only was today her first birthday, but it would be the first day of her job.
“Just smile and be confident,” she whispered to herself, adjusting her oversized bow and taking a deep breath. A gentle buzz tickled her face, a Magnemite, attempting to calm her nerves. “Thanks!” She held the Pokemon close, hugging it as she entered.
And she immediately tripped.
The lab’s professor rushed forward, helping the girl back to her feet.
“I am so sorry!” She exclaimed. “I was studying some water types earlier. I guess I missed some spots. You must be Penny.”
“Yep! And you are?”
“It’s Professor Belladonna. But you can just call me Blake.”
<PROFESSOR VERIFIED: BLAKE BELLADONNA>
“Salutations, Blake! I’m Penny Polendina!”
“I know.”
“Oh.” She stared at her feet, shifting nervously. “I made a mistake.”
“Oh no, it’s alright.” Blake got to work, collecting paperwork for the girl. “I just need you to sign these and then you can get to work as my assistant.”
“Splendid!”
“Here, I can get a pen for you if I need to,” Blake said, handing the girl a small stack of assorted papers, red circles around where she needed to sign.
“No need, I brought my own!” Within seconds, a perfect signature was in every circle, each identical to the last.
“Then we’re all set. I’ll go get you a lab coat.”
“Woooooow!”
As the scientist left, Penny took a chance to gaze around the lab. It wasn’t nearly as advanced as her father’s, but it was more than enough for a small place like Patch Town.
“I don’t have many sizes of these,” Blake said, reentering the room. “Hopefully it fits.” She helped Penny into her new lab coat. It was slightly too big, but the peppy girl didn’t mind.
“So can I start studying Pokemon now?” Penny chimed, practically bouncing.
“Of course. Now, from what your father told me, you’re meant to analyze battles?”
“Yes! That is why I was made!”
“Right. Admittedly, I’m skeptical of how a battling AI would work, but if Weiss vouched for this project, then I’m willing to give it a shot. Follow me. I have a friend for you to see.”
“Another friend?” Penny followed, eyes darting all around the lab, taking in everything she saw, storing each and every tool in her memory banks.
Blake led her outside, where a small, makeshift arena was made. Waiting there was a Ranger clad in a flowing, red cape.
“Blaaaaake!” the Ranger exclaimed, tackling the scientist in a hug.
“Hey, Ruby.” Once they composed themselves, Blake began, “Penny, this is Ruby Rose. She’s the Gym Leader of this town.”
“Salutations, Ruby!” Penny cheered, inciting a chuckle from the Gym Leader.
“No need to be so formal,” Ruby replied. “We’re all friends here!”
“So you’re my friend?”
“I guess so!”
<EMOTION SYSTEMS OVERLOADING>
Penny stood motionless momentarily, her artificial brain quickly rebooting.
“Are you okay?” Ruby asked, Penny slowly coming back to life.
“Sensational! So what are we doing, friend Ruby?”
“Just ‘Ruby’ is fine.”
“So what are we doing, Ruby?”
“Well, Blake told me you’re a battling AI?”
“That is correct! My serial number is P3NN7P013N.”
“P 3 N n… I’ll stick with Penny.”
“Fine by me!”
“Well, Penny. I’m gonna show you a battle!” She brushed her cloak aside, revealing 8 Pokeballs along her belt.
“Really?”
“Yep! I was gonna have my girlfriend join me for this, but she’s busy right now, so Blake’s gonna battle me instead!”
“I am?” Blake said, surprised.
“Are you not ready? I was kinda hoping that you’d be prepared for this.”
“I don’t have any balls with me right now.”
“Oh. You shouldn’t do that.”
“I’m a scientist. I don’t get in battles that often.”
As the two friends bickered, Penny’s systems began firing. Thousands of thoughts flowed all at once, until finally, she had a realization. Her hand shot into the air, Ruby and Blake quickly turning her way.
“What if I battle?”
“You wanna battle?” Ruby asked, eyes going wide. “You have any Pokemon?”
“I have one Magnemite!” The Pokemon buzzed happily, ready for its first fight.
“I guess I can go easy on you. How does that sound, Blake?”
“It’s a Magnemite,” Blake began. “You exclusively use steel types.”
“Hey! That’s just for the gym. I have other Pokemon. They’re even babies!” Ruby gestured to her two extra Pokeballs.
“Alright. I guess that works.”
“So I get to battle?” Penny asked, almost overloading herself with joy again.
“Yep! Let’s do it!”
Penny, excitement overflowing, took a spot in the arena, her sole Pokeball in hand. Ruby cracked her knuckles, removing an Ultra Ball from her belt.
“Remember, I’m going easy on you. If you wanna face the gyms, expect me to go way harder.”
“Of course! Can we begin?”
Ruby answered her question immediately, throwing her ball out. Penny followed suit, her ball flying through the air in a perfect trajectory. Both balls opened, and the challengers appeared. Blake cringed as she saw Ruby’s Pokemon, trying not to comment on its, for lack of a better word, extreme ugliness.
Penny’s Magnemite faced its opponent, a tiny, diminutive creature that, supposedly, was a dragon. It let out a tiny shriek, taking a fighting stance as it stared down the magnet.
<POKEMON ID: FRIGIBAX>
“Why would the Steel specialist use an Ice type?” Penny asked.
“I’m just looking after it while my girlfriend’s away.”
“Why is your face red? Do you have a fever?”
“E-enough talk! Let’s battle! I’ll let you decide what to do first. You understand moves and typings, right?”
<FRIGIBAX: DRAGON/ICE>
<ABILITIES: THERMAL EXCHANGE, ICE BODY>
<WEAKNESSES: STEEL, FIGHTING, FAIRY, ROCK, DRAGON>
“Your Frigibax is weak to the Steel type.”
“Good.”
“And my Magnemite is Steel type.”
“Correct.”
<MOVES FOR MAGNEMITE: SUPERSONIC, THUNDER SHOCK, MAGNET BOMB, THUNDER WAVE>
“Magnemite! Use Magnet Bomb!”
The magnet charged, energy growing around it. This condensed into a small, metal ball, which then fired, launching at the tiny dragon and bursting. The dragon was knocked back but was able to get back onto its feet.
“Nice! A super-effective hit.”
The dragon ran forward, flexing its tiny tail as best as it could. It spun around, slapping the magnet with immense force. The magnet was durable, though, its metallic shell strong enough to make the hit merely glance off of it.
“And that was a not very effective hit.”
“In that case,” Penny started speaking. Her systems scanned the opposing Frigibax. It was at low health. Another Magnet Bomb would take it out easily. “Do it again, Magnemite!” This time, however, the bomb did not connect. The dragon was absorbed back into its ball, a tiny, pink bundle of rage appearing in its place, blocking the ball with an even tinier club. “What?”
“And that is called a prediction. Predictions are crucial to winning battles.”
“That- that does not compute.”
<ERROR>
<ERROR>
The girl froze.
Ruby could swear she saw a loading bar in Penny’s eyes.
“I don’t think her programming takes account for predictions,” Blake chimed in.
“What?”
“I think you broke her.”
“Oh no! Quick, how do I fix her?”
“I don’t know! Why did you even have a Tinkatink in the first place?”
“I WAS RAISING IT FOR NORA!”
“You also said you weren’t gonna use Steel types.”
“It’s technically not a Steel type.”
<REBOOTING SYSTEMS>
<SYSTEMS ONLINE>
“Wooooooooooooo-” Penny began, stuck saying the syllable.
“Great. I don’t think I can afford to repair her,” Blake muttered, approaching the robot.
“-ooooooooonderful!”
“Oh, she’s back.”
“So a prediction is switching to make a move ineffective?” She asked, turning to Ruby.
“Oh, um. Kinda?” the Gym Leader said, not confident in her answer. “You can predict a few different things.”
“Such as?”
“Well, I like using the move Swords Dance, but it can be a bit hard to use it, so I need to use it when my opponent is switching out or protecting.”
<LOADING BATTLE>
Penny’s eyes dilated, her systems searching her logs of stored battles. She found a match of Ruby’s, a Gym fight against a prospective challenger. Ruby’s signature Scizor was on the field, its opponent a Hydreigon. While an X-Scissor from the mantis could have taken it out, it sharpened its blades instead. Sure enough, the Hydra decided to roost, a play now deemed useless. 6 Bullet Punches were performed. 6 Pokemon fainted.
“Incredible!” Penny cheered, startling the other two. “I think I understand.” Penny returned to the battle, patting her Magnemite. “I can beat you now!”
“Heh! We’ll see.”
The two battlers returned to their positions.
Penny began to think. Her Magnemite couldn’t hit a Tinkatink for super-effective damage. However, she could paralyze it. Even if Ruby predicted that, she’d still end up with a paralyzed Pokemon.
“Magnemite! Thunder Wave-”
She was interrupted by a bright glow coming from Ruby’s hand.
“TINKATINK! TERASTALIZE!”
* * *
Penny lay on the ground, finally coming to. Beside her, Blake scolded Ruby, who shifted nervously in her seat.
“Sorry. Got too excited,” she muttered. “And a bit competitive.”
“RUBY! You saw how much damage simply switching out did! Why would you think Terastalizing would be any better?”
“I don’t know!”
Penny slowly got up, turning to the pair.
“Is the battle over?” She asked. Her Magnemite, noticing her awakening, cuddled beside her, placing itself into her arms.
“I’m so sorry!” Ruby screamed. “I didn’t think that would- what did it do? Fry your circuits?”
“I’m afraid my AI only analyzes the current state of the battle,” Penny began explaining. “I don’t seem to handle external influences well.”
“Well, that’s what we’re here for, right? To improve your AI?”
“Yes! That and to study Pokemon. I want to learn all there is to them!”
“That sounds great, Penny.” After a slight pause, Ruby shot up. “OH! IDEA!”
“Yes?”
“How about I be your coach? Blake can show you how to study Pokemon while I teach you how to battle with them.”
“That sounds splendid!”
“I see one issue,” Blake interjected. “We need to get you a team.”
“A full team? But Magnemite already loves me so much!” The magnet buzzed in excitement, releasing a small, ticklish shock.
“Well, you can’t battle with only one Pokemon.”
<GATHERING TRAINER RECORD: BLAKE BELLADONNA>
<KNOWN TEAM: MARSHADOW>
“But you seem to have used only one Pokemon when you were a trainer.”
“That’s different. Marshadow’s mythical.”
“Oh. So it would be fine if I had one mythical?”
“That-” Blake paused. “You need more practice before that.”
“I suppose I can speak to my father about getting more Pokemon, then. Magnemite’s the only one I’m allowed to have right now.”
“Great. My shift’s actually about to end soon. Be here tomorrow morning.”
“Absolutely!”
* * *
Penny shut the door behind her, turning to the smiling scientist in front of her.
“How was your first day, Penny?” her father asked, sitting on top of a Revavroom-powered wheelchair. “Did you get to see any more Pokemon?”
“It was amazing!” She exclaimed, running up and hugging her dad. “I even got to battle!”
“What?” He seemed shocked. “You weren’t supposed to do that yet. Your AI is still learning.”
“It wasn’t that bad. I only crashed three times!”
“THREE?”
“But I think I learned a lot. Magnemite did too!” Her partner spun around, acting out the battle.
“Then that’s good,” Pietro chuckled. “Well, let’s get you hooked up.” He brought her over to a small monitor, a series of wires hanging off from its complex machinery. “I need to analyze what you saw.”
“Okay!” She sat beside him as he attached the wires to her head. On the monitor, recordings of her day played along with all the readings and notes her brain had made.
“You battled a Gym Leader?”
“Yes! I had a chance at winning too!”
“That’s great, sweetie.”
“By the way. Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Can I get more-” She was interrupted by a loud alarm. Pietro sighed, pulling out a Rotom phone.
“Sorry, I have a meeting to go to.”
“Aw.”
“You know the protocol, though. Just finish up without me.” His wheelchair powered up, sending him out of the room and to whoever his boss was.
Frankly, Penny never questioned her father’s work. He loved her and that was all that mattered. Soon, the monitor flashed green. The recorded footage was soon placed in a folder, sent to Arceus knows who. She rewatched the video, sped up, checking for any corruption or missing parts. It was the same as she had done every day since she gained some form of sentience. With Magnemite’s help, the wires were all back in their places and Penny was free to do as she wanted.
What this generally boiled down to was watching championship battles, gazing in awe at the power that a trainer and their partners could possess. A screen flashed on, Penny browsing its files until she found a battle she liked. Her choice today was at the Pokemon World Tournament in Unova, where champions Cynthia and Pyrrha battled in the semi-finals. Each play was calculated, with both champions effortlessly playing around each other. Now, she knew to look for predictions. It would seem that the challenge of predictions started far earlier than during the battle, with Pyrrha’s Metagross able to set up on Cynthia’s Garchomp after avoiding an Earthquake with an Air Balloon. This was her favorite battle that she had seen, an exquisitely played bout where the first faint was on turn 84 out of 237.
As Penny and Magnemite watched in awe, the door behind them opened.
“Welcome back, fath-” Penny said, turning around. Only it wasn’t her father. It was an icy-haired Gym Leader, tired and panicked. “Weiss!” Out of everyone she had met in the labs, Weiss was the only other person besides her father who treated her like an actual person. In fact, Weiss was the one who suggested that she meet Blake.
“Sorry, Penny,” she panted, quickly checking outside the door. “I don’t have time to talk.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I need somewhere to hide for a bit.”
“Hide? From who?” As footsteps approached, Weiss got behind a table, quieting her breaths.
“Please, Penny. Cover for me.”
Two people entered, clad in the white uniforms of the Atlas Foundation. Behind them, two Porygon-Zs floated, already charging their Hyper Beams.
“Excuse me. Have you seen Weiss Schnee?” One of them asked, voice stern and serious. “She is in possession of classified intel.”
“Classified? Why would somebody take that?”
“That’s none of your business. We just need to know her whereabouts.”
“Well-”
She paused. Her programming told her to always report what she knew, but for some reason, she couldn’t. Inside her mind, something changed.
“I haven’t seen anyone,” she said, nervous and confused. “It has just been Magnemite and me this whole time- ACHOO!”
The grunt sighed, apologizing, “Sorry for taking your time.” As he left, he was heard muttering, “Did the robot sneeze? Can they do that?”
Penny fell back, sitting on the floor as Magnemite closed the door.
“What just happened?”
Weiss emerged from her hiding spot, releasing a deep, long breath.
“Thank you, Penny. I assume you met with Blake today?”
“I did. She’s super nice. I also met a Gym Leader named Ruby.”
“Y-You met Ruby already?” her pale face was stained with a red flush.
“Are you okay? Do you have a fever?”
“N-no. Back to business. Penny, I need you to do a favor for me.”
“What kind?” Weiss grabbed Penny’s arm, and with a swift motion, a Master Ball was placed in her hand.
“I need you to bring this to Blake. It is of utmost importance.”
“Wha- Friend Weiss, what is this?”
“Please, Penny. Do this for me.” More footsteps and clamoring were heard outside. “I need to go.” She stood up, removing one of her balls. Her Froslass soon appeared, ready for battle.
“Wait! What’s happening?”
But it was too late. Weiss burst out of the room and was gone in seconds.
What was that?
Penny stared at the ball in her hand. What could be so important that Weiss was wanted by the guards?
<SCANNING POKEBALL>
<OWNER ID: REDACTED>
“Redacted?” She muttered. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
And she dropped the ball on the ground, opening with a brilliant glow.
The Pokemon that was released was unlike any she’d seen. Its body was comprised of many dirty gears, with a pair of closed eyes under its bunny-like ears. It sat, slumped over, almost lifeless.
<POKEMON ID: MAGEARNA>
“Magearna? But that’s supposed to be in Alola, isn’t it?”
As the door’s handle began turning, Penny quickly recalled the machine. Her father entered, just as panicked as Weiss.
“Penny!” he clamored, “Do you know what happened outside?”
“I- I don’t. I’ve been here, watching this battle, the whole time. Achoo!”
“Sneezing? I’m gonna have to get that checked out. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“Yes. Father, what is it that you’re working on?”
“What?” Pietro paused, surprised at the sudden interest. “I think it’s a bit late to talk about that. Maybe another time.”
“Then can I get more Pokemon? Teams need 6, right?”
“Yes, they do. Hmmm. I’ll talk with the Chairman about it tomorrow.”
“Thank you, father!”
“I’m going to sleep. You know what to do.”
As he left the room, Penny let out a sigh of relief. She stared at the Master Ball in her hands. What did it mean?
“Well, Magnemite,” she whispered. “I think we have a new friend.”