23 Chapter 23 : Invitation

A/N Aht here. Here is the next chapter!

MC's childhood arc is coming to a close soon.

Long time skip incoming.

I was planning to block a couple chapters for Pokemon School. (Not planning on introducing any more characters during these couple of chs unless you guys want me to)

Would you guys like to see just the five year skip where mc returns from Alola and starts Pokemon School, or skip Pokemon School and do full a ten year skip? Let me know!

If full ten year skip, MC's journey will officially start in probably 2 chs or so.

Don't forget to drop those stones!

*

"Will you become one of my partners, just like Vulpix here, Mew?", I asked with a resolute tone.

Hearing this, shock appeared in the four's eyes, especially Gary's.

"You want Mew to become your partner!? Didn't mom explicitly say we can't catch any Pokemon?", Gary said, appearing worried.

"That's right! Moreover it's Mew! Mew looks willing, but its a legendary Pokemon...Is this even right to do to?", Green also asked with worry.

"Mew?", Mew replied, tilting its head at Gary and Green. I smiled back at the two. It was only natural to be worried about this, so I understood them.

"I understand your worries. Gary, mom only said we can't go into the tall grass. Mew wandered over here on its own, and it enjoys being here. And Green, that's a good question. I'm sure there are more Mew out there, just like how mom said there was more than one Articuno.", I replied to the two.

"More than one...Mew? To be honest, that thought never occurred to me before.", Green said in surprise.

Gary nodded his head and didn't say anything more.

I then looked back toward Mew, who I could see was still confused at what was going on.

Hmm, maybe Mew doesn't know what it meant to become partners? I don't know if this Mew had encountered humans before. If it hadn't before making its way here, it probably doesn't even know what a Pokeball even is. It's a good thing I've kept those other three.

"Do you not know what becoming one's partner means, Mew?", I asked Mew, who shifted its attention back to me.

"Mew?", Mew replied again.

"I did mention I would go on a journey, right? Basically you would travel with me, but if you wanted to do something, I wouldn't stop you.", I said to Mew.

Mew took a moment to ponder over what I just said before it happily responded to me.

"Mew!", Mew responded, as if it knew what I said.

Well then, let's move onto the next step. In my coat near by, I reached in and grabbed two balls. Vulpix's Love Ball and the Dive Ball. I then turned toward Vulpix and spoke out to her.

"Vulpix, can you show Mew how it's done?", I asked her.

"Vulpix!", Vulpix responded happily.

I then placed her ball down in front while Mew watched on curiously. Vulpix walked up to it, and tapped its front with her nose. A red beam of light recalled Vulpix, and she vanished.

"Mew!", Mew responded seeing the sight, swerving around. Without hesitating I put the dive ball in front of Mew. Mew copied Vulpix exactly, and the dive ball opened up. Mew did not resist as it let itself get captured into the dive ball.

The four watched on with anticipation seeing the capture start, as did I.

Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle. Ding!

After a successful click with three wiggles, the ball stopped moving.

I had successfully captured Mew!

I immediately went to go retrieve it as the four congratulated me. I then turned toward them and spoke out.

"What you guys saw here, stays here, okay? I don't want people knowing I caught Mew, maybe besides mom, dad and grandpa. I trust you four because I see you as my friends."

"Okay, big brother!", Gary nodded.

"You can count on me,", Green replied.

"You see us as friends even though we just met a couple days ago?", Lillie questioned.

"Friends...", Cynthia replied with a rare smile, acting as if she had just stepped on cloud nine.

"Of course I do. This will be our little promise."

"Okay!", Lillie responded happily.

Moreover, I still have that chat with your mother later, Lillie. I fear we may be more closely related than I originally had thought, especially since Lusamine herself had specifically asked me to watch over you...

But that talk would come soon enough, so I shook those thoughts away.

I decided to toss both of my balls out, letting Mew and Vulpix come out, and happily greeted us again.

I know we caused a rather loud disturbance during this whole debacle, which would likely cause those around us to check in on it, but I didn't need to worry about that. Mew instinctively hides its presence from anyone Mew deems it doesn't want want to see, and I asked early on for it to create a sound barrier shortly after Mew made its presence known.

So besides me, Gary, Green, Lillie, and Cynthia, no one even saw Mew appear here, let alone knowing that I actually caught it.

I will have to locate one of grandpa's Pokedex again to get a read on Mew, but at the same time I don't, as it would record Mew's information into the database. I'll first have to talk to grandpa about Mew's existence first before doing anything else.

And like that, I let Mew play around, wandering back into the surrounding forests. It knew where we were, and after catching it, I felt a bond form. As long as Mew is within distance I feel I could call out to it.

Vulpix stayed of course, and slept with us. The second night had finally passed.

Two days later.

Before I realized it, the Summer Camp had come to a close!

I grew rather close with all other eleven participants, besides Gary, Ash, and Green. Ash and Goh grew an inseparable bond in a mere two days.

Tracey, Michael, and Ethan also grew close. I was able to get to know them better as well, and it seemed they too were interested in starting their own journeys so if I ever visited their region, they would welcome me.

In the original, Tracey partnered up with Ash and Misty during the Orange Islands, but if I get there before Ash, I'll probably partner up with Tracey.

As for May, Dawn, and Gloria, they became quite inseparable and were reluctant to part ways. For me, they were quite adventurous, and wandered around the whole fields during our exploration day.

And likewise, our group of five became quite close. Lillie and Cynthia said their goodbyes to Mew in secret as well. Mew would come and go during these two days.

On the third day, it played out like how it did in Pokemon 2019, Goh and Chloe separated themselves from our group of thirteen, only to encounter Mew fighting a Nidoking. They were amazed by the battle and wondered who Mew was. Despite our group learning from Oak's lecture about Mew, Goh wasn't able to make any correlation of that to the Pokemon he saw, but either way this would serve as inspiration for him later on.

On the fourth day, Serena, who did not want to leave our group of five after being pulled away by the three other girls, so our group became six. We were able to chat away like no tomorrow.

But as if fate played its game, Serena still ended up getting lost and almost got fed up with the event no matter how much she tried to find us. Ash ended up searching for Goh so he had no clue Serena got lost, and the moment we noticed Serena was no longer in our group, I personally took action.

It didn't take long for me to find Serena knee deep in some shrubbery, tangled up just like a Tangela. Several scratch marks appeared on her body and she was on the verge of crying.

As I arrived at that moment Serena leapt into my arms and burst out into tears. A Poliwag did end up spoiling that moment for her even more, but I was able to use Vulpix to chase it away. This accident happened on the last day, but I was able to patch up her scratches.

Like Ash, I too secretly carry around a handkerchief. Being born a Japanese my past life, having one of those is natural. I used it to wipe away Serena's tears. Thankfully there wasn't too much blood to wipe away either.

She also exerted a lot of energy during that time, so I offered her piggyback ride back to the group, of which she instantly fell sleep on.

When we regrouped with the others, they rejoiced knowing Serena was safe. Ash, Goh and Chloe returned not too long after.

After Professor Oak came to know of the events that transpired on the final day, he decided to wrap up Summer Camp.

That morning he already did his seminar with the Professors that came. It was really a blast getting to each one of them along the way.

As we all headed back, Serena did not get off my back. Little did I know that as she slept, she let out small peaceful snores with a smile on her face, tightly holding onto the handkerchief I had given her.

I knew she had my handkerchief at this time, but I decided to become ignorant of the matter, acting as if I had forgotten about it. (A/N : if you want to see this scene play out just watch Ash and Serena childhood camp scene)

As for Mew, it was having fun in the forests.

Like this, day four ended, everyone rested up to get ready for their flights or trips back home tomorrow, and in case of Professor Carolina, all she had to do was call out her Salamence. She did thank me in person for having Cynthia meet with children her age, and becoming friends in the process.

One by one, they all left, saying their goodbyes. Among the group Serena was saddened, but we made promises we would see each other again, as I did with the others. Based on this, she waved her hand held high and left Pallet Town with Professor Sycamore.

By now it was well into the next day, and only the Kanto folk remained, as did Lusamine and her daughter, Lillie.

Professor Oak reserved the lab for this meeting of ours, and it actually ended rather quickly just as it got started.

All I was told was that my parents did work for the Aether Foundation, and they were active researchers up until around five years ago. They were actually distant relatives to Lusamine herself. So does that make Lillie a cousin of mine?

This shocked Lillie too of course. She stated she had an older brother named Gladion who didn't come over to Kanto, but now she learned she had a new relative. Moreover, it was me, who we had become friends over the four days. She couldn't help but become happy over this.

Lusamine also did a formal apology to me, which shocked me even more, as did Professor Oak. A president of a well known corporation across the world actually bowed at me.

It's not like we had any hard feelings before this, so I accepted her apology with a warm heart, of which she was thankful.

Turns out she actually held my parents in high regard, as she stated they were among the best researchers the Aether Foundation has ever had. No wonder I could easily learn everything Professor Oak taught me. That's another mystery solved.

Which brings us to our present point.

Even though Lusamine herself said my parents passed away in an unfortunate accident, if I wanted to learn anything more of the matter, I would need to travel to the Aether Foundation.

Yep, you guessed it, President Lusamine personally gave me an invitation to join her Aether Foundation, as a temporary member of course.

If I went, not only would I learn the full details of my parents' death, they would help me further my research studies, should I decide to continue them.

President Lusamine didn't need an official answer right away, and shortly left with Lillie who said goodbye soon after giving me that invitation.

Joining the Aether Foundation...huh?

I was thinking of travelling abroad to Alola before starting Pokemon School, but I didn't think she would personally give me an invitation to join one of, if not, the leading corporation in all of Alola.

Deep down, I knew my answer, but Lusamine said I didn't need to give it until the end of our current year. That was actually one of my conditions, as I wanted to be here in Kanto to celebrate Gary's, Ash's, and Green's first big 5.

After all that excitement died down, the day after Summer Camp ended with me full in thought.

I crashed on my bed, letting Vulpix sleep next to me.

Mew also popped in and decided to sleep next to me too.

It was a very long but eventful four days of Professor Oak's Summer Camp!

By the way, as Lusamine and Lillie left earlier in the day, she did introduce us to their butler. He was named Hobbes. Such a nice fellow, but not to be underestimated. Reminds me of Sebas.

Letting that thought flee, my mind went blank and entered dream land.

Little did I know time started to speed up again before my very eyes...

*

By the way, the Aether Foundation isn't actually an evil organization in the anime, I am basing it off the anime version. They cooperate with Ash and gang to take down all the intruding ultra beasts and such.