Chapter Text
The campus of Jenis Royal Academy was unusually empty. There were little to no students or faculty present walking between classes or relaxing in the open. Rather, the majority of the student body was attempting to squeeze into the auditorium for a special guest lecture. Eventually, when it became evident that the building had reached it’s maximum capacity, the doors were closed, and the unlucky students who remained outside were forced to leave.
Inside the auditorium, fiddling with a consumer-model orbal microphone, was a middle aged man with small round glasses, his top emblazoned with a design reading ‘ZCF’. Once the mic was tuned to his satisfaction, he cleared his throat and began to speak.
“Why hello there, everyone! I am Professor Russel, and it is my absolute honor to give a guest lecture on Zeiss Central Factory’s latest and greatest invention - the Orbal Pocket Monster Capture and Containment Device!”
Professor Russel held a device high up in the air so that all of the attendees could see it clearly. It was a small sphere split between two halves, with a button in between them. The bottom was a pure metallic white, while the top was solid red and featured the very same ZCF logo that the Professor wore. Once the students had enough time to gawk at it, he lowered the device back down and let out a dramatic sigh.
“…Or at least, that’s what I wanted to call it, but the rest of the team thought ‘Pokéball’ was a catchier name. What a shame, eh?”
The comment drew a polite chuckle from the auditorium, which Professor Russel took a moment to revel in before continuing.
“Now, as we all know, the original devices used to capture these fantastical creatures - and from which we derive the ‘Pocket’, or ‘Poké’, half of their names - are artifacts. Historians speculate that these were once used to forcibly capture these creatures and override their wills. Quite heartless, really.”
“But no more! We have not simply recreated the ancient artifacts, no, we have made several improvements. Ethically, practically, and financially speaking, the Pokéball is a vast improvement!”
“As it stands, it is impossible to truly domesticate Pokémon. The only way for humans and Pokémon to bond with one another and work as a team is for the human to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to ensuring that the needs of a wild animal are met. This not only presents several concerns in terms of safety for the human, but is impractical for the Pokémon as well!”
“However, this Pokéball is fitted for all of the needs which a Pokémon may require. Using primarily Space and Mirage Quartz, the Pokéball creates a space which is bigger on the inside than on the outside! Within this space, a caught Pokémon has access to all that it requires to live a healthy life, but just as importantly, the space is also designed to desensitize them to humans. It will be a slow process, but through this, we may see the first ever properly and ethically domesticated Pokémon!”
“Furthermore, due to the light weight of the Pokéball, it will be more than feasible for one Pokémon owner - or Trainer, as I prefer to call them - to raise and carry as many as six Pokémon all at once! While Orbal Science may be my field of choice, I am absolutely ecstatic at the possibility of seeing rapid advancements within Pokémon study! 1184 is set to be one exciting year for the field!”
“This means that Pokémon wielders will become more common as well! Many have experimented with training Pokémon for live combat throughout history, but none have found true success through fighting with Pokémon alone. The legendary Pokémon trainers which history speaks of did not command Pokémon from the sidelines, but engaged in battle right alongside them! While fighters who work in tandem with Pokémon are rare, as they require both a closely bonded Pokémon and the skill to command them while also focusing on their own battle, those who have this capability are massively advantaged. Through the Pokéball, they will become far more commonplace, meaning stricter regulations to ensure the safety of the Pokémon who partake in combat.”
“Though, of course, this is not to say that Pokémon are only worth catching for this purpose! No, I believe they will make fine pets, companions, and even assistants in whatever endeavors, professional or personal, you might require them for! Take this charming fellow for instance.”
Professor Russel threw the Pokéball high into the air, eliciting a gasp from the students. The ball opened, releasing a blast of red light which landed on the table in front of the Professor. When the light faded, a small, spherical creature with mouselike features and a lighting shaped tail was left in its place.
“This here is Togedemaru! The little one just loved to consume the excess Orbal Energy from studies performed at the central factory, even became quite chummy with the researchers! Produces quite the electrical charge in a pinch as well. Regardless, we decided to offer it a permanent spot as a safe depository for Orbal Energy, as well as the first official ambassador of the Pokéball.”
“Ah, I had nearly forgotten! These Pokéballs are deliberately designed to be easily escaped from. It takes relatively little thrashing about for a Pokémon to free itself from the ball. You see, we wish to become closer to Pokémon as a species, not use them as mere tools! No, a caught Pokémon will only stay caught if it desires to. So make sure you treat them with care! If you’d like a bit of early advice, I’ve found that they’re much smarter than they appear. Many of them are even capable of understanding human speech, as bizarre as it may sound. So try simply speaking to them! You’ll find it does wonders to talk to them like friends instead of pets.”
“All this for an estimated market price of 400 Mira! Not a bad price for all of that, eh? You can thank the rigorous testing of the Zeiss Central Factory for the reasonable cost. You see, in truth, we have had fully functional models of the Pokéball for quite some time now - certain Royal Army figures and high-ranking Bracers already possess these older models, in fact - but chose to delay the public reveal until we could drive the price down.”
“For you see, the purpose of this invention is to create a world in which all people may be afforded the opportunity to bond with Pokémon! Only through this do we feel our respective species can coexist, and we can make a better, brighter, and more knowledgeable Zemuria for all. …Thank you.”
The students rose in a thunderous standing ovation. As Professor Russel indulged in the moment, many of the students began to pack their bags and leave, as if the sales pitch was the entirety of the lecture.
“Oh? Leaving so soon? I suppose you aren’t interested in the free samples I was planning to give out to such splendid and attentive students after all, then?”
The exiting students immediately tripped over themselves to scramble back into their seats without hesitation or shame.
“Lovely, lovely! Now then, I believe it is time we dive into the deeper workings of this device, shall we? Rest assured, it will be an entertaining and not-at-all confusing explanation! First, let’s take a closer look at the mechanisms used in the button which opens and closes the ball…”