Maen's Dark Power doesn't usually manifest in any obvious way. Its most noticeable effect is its strong attraction to Ghost- and Dark-type Pokémon, which seem to instinctively like him. Even Poison-type Pokémon are slightly drawn to him, though not as strongly.
At first, Maen was a little disappointed, thinking his ability was just some passive attraction—until something happened when he was younger.
During an intense emotional outburst, a surge of Dark Power erupted from Maen's body, shrouding the entire area in thick black mist. The Ghost- and Dark-type Pokémon around him instinctively absorbed the energy, and their strength increased dramatically. However, the boost came at a cost—their rationality began to slip, and they teetered on the edge of losing control.
If Maen hadn't remained mentally calm—thanks to the mature soul inside him—things could have turned disastrous. The affected Pokémon might have gone berserk and attacked people.
That incident changed everything.
From that day on, Agatha decided it was too dangerous for Maen to live in the city, and she moved him to a secluded ancient estate in the outskirts of Viridian City.
The Growth of Dark Power
After relocating, Maen dedicated himself to training his Dark Power, trying to understand it better. Over time, he discovered its unique characteristics:
It naturally attracts Ghost- and Dark-type Pokémon.
It has a slight effect on Poison-type Pokémon.
It has no impact on other Pokémon but also doesn't repel them.
As he grew, Maen noticed that his Dark Power also seemed to increase with him. When he was younger, his growth rate was fast. But by the time he reached fifteen, the rate had stabilized.
But the most important discovery?
His Dark Power could assist Pokémon in their growth.
This was a shocking revelation. Normally, some Ghost-type Pokémon—like Misdreavus—needed to absorb fear to grow stronger. Pokémon like Litwick supposedly fed on human souls to evolve.
However, simply by being near Maen, these Pokémon could absorb his Dark Power and grow much faster without needing to harm anyone.
If this secret ever got out, Maen was certain he'd become a target. Some organizations or individuals would definitely try to capture him for experiments or force him to use his ability for their benefit.
That's why, for the past sixteen years, only Agatha and his Pokémon knew the truth.
Even when the city's Trainers and Pokémon sensed the strange energy from his past outburst, Agatha had used her influence as an Elite Four member to cover it up.
The Test
Maen held out his right hand, palm facing upward. A dark, swirling sphere of energy began to form, floating effortlessly above his palm.
Seeing this, Agatha's expression softened with approval.
Satisfied, Maen clenched his fist, causing the Shadow Ball to shatter into a dark mist that dispersed into the air.
The moment the mist spread, Gengar—who had been hiding in Agatha's shadow—suddenly jumped out. With a delighted expression, he opened his mouth wide and sucked up all the remaining energy in one big gulp.
"Geengaaarr!"
A look of pure satisfaction crossed Gengar's face, much like a child enjoying a sweet treat.
Maen chuckled.
Agatha, too, couldn't help but laugh.
However, Gengar quickly blushed in embarrassment after realizing he had just made a fool of himself. With a swift motion, he hid back in Agatha's shadow, pretending nothing had happened.
For a moment, there was silence in the room.
Then, Agatha spoke again.
Agatha's Question
"Don't say anything," she said, already knowing what Maen was about to ask. "I only have one last question for you."
She leaned forward, her sharp eyes locking onto Maen.
"Tell me, Maen… what is your dream?"
At that moment, her tone was unusually serious. A powerful pressure radiated from her, the weight of an Elite Four's presence pressing down on Maen.
But instead of faltering, Maen's gaze became firm.
Without hesitation, he declared:
"To become the strongest Trainer!"
The instant those words left his mouth, Agatha's stern expression melted into a smile.
"Then go," she said.
She nodded approvingly, a look of satisfaction on her face.
For a moment, Agatha was reminded of her younger self—full of ambition, standing at the threshold of greatness.
She wanted to keep Maen by her side… but she knew she couldn't stop him from pursuing his own path.
A Dangerous Joke
Just as Maen was about to leave the room, he suddenly paused. A mischievous thought popped into his mind, and he turned back toward Agatha.
"By the way, Grandma Agatha," he said casually, "what if I had told you I wanted to be the best Pokémon researcher instead?"
A dead silence filled the room.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
From within Agatha's shadow, Gengar shuddered. Outside the estate, a flock of Murkrow—startled by the sudden chill—screeched and flew away in terror.
Maen gulped.
He had messed up.
He knew about Agatha's history with Professor Oak, but for some reason, he had decided to joke about it.
Many years ago, Agatha and Oak had been close friends—perhaps even something more. But their friendship had started falling apart due to differences in philosophy.
Agatha had always admired strong Trainers, believing that the path of a true Pokémon Master was to become the best battler.
Professor Oak, however, eventually chose research over battling.
The two had countless arguments, but it all came to a head ten years ago when Oak officially retired from competitive battling to become a full-time Pokémon researcher.
To Agatha, that choice felt like a betrayal.
Oak had once promised to always stand ahead of her, to always push her to be stronger. But the moment he gave up battling, that promise was broken.
Agatha never forgave him for it.
Even now, whenever his name appeared in newspapers, Maen had seen her grumble under her breath or coldly ignore the topic.
Immediate Regret
Maen did not wait for Agatha's response.
The moment he saw her expression turn to ice, he ran for his life.
Leaping off the sofa, he sprinted toward his bedroom at full speed.
Agatha watched him flee, and slowly, the coldness in her eyes faded.
After a moment of hesitation, she sighed deeply.
She remained seated for a while, then eventually picked up a pen and paper.
After a long pause, she began to write.
Though she would never admit it… she knew exactly who she wanted to send this letter to.
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