Chapter 9

It took me a whole hour trying to peel the professor off of me as I laid the scratched, dry blood stained ultra ball on the coffee table between us. Clair had been skeptical until I had proven that there was indeed an Aerodactyl in the pokeball through my pokédex examining it. It possessed an impressive 8 moves with an even more delightful ability of Rock Head.

Still didn't care for it. As long as it was out of my hands, and I can at least profit off of it. Now of course, I didn't just straight up give it over to the Dragon Tamer. My blunt presentation was to capture her full attention, and I certainly had it now with how laser focused her eyes were when trained solely on the ultra ball. Plain desire was writ in the once haughty blunette, and I ensured to make use out of it.

My terms for the trade were as followed: The first 4 eggs out of the first clutch sired by the pokémon would be given to me when the Blackthorns eventually get to taming and giving it a proper flock of Ditto to breed with it. Dittos were a godsend in the pokémon world as the modern-day miracle cure for providing stem cells for human and pokémon alike and same species breeding for pokémon.

Chanseys and Blisseys were already a powerhouse in this world's medical field, and Dittos proved to only signify how brokenly efficient this world's medical field was in comparison to my own. Plus, don't even get me started on the free Healthcare system provided for humans and pokémon alike.

Begrudgingly, Clair accepted these terms. Couldn't get all defensive about clan secrets getting leaked when the pokémon that's sired is still an unhatched egg. I also added that the three eggs had to be from the Aerodactyl species because I didn't want to take any chances to get screwed over.

Clair was pissed at the insinuation that they wouldn't uphold their end of the deal. Their hurt pride didn't concern me, I've known people to pull stupid crap over such sentiments out of pettiness. After all, the Dratini that barely weighed enough to discomfort my neck was proof of the extent of my good will toward them.

My request did manage to mollify the professor somewhat. Yeah, part of my agreement when having the professor as my sponsor was that he was given free liberty to study and examine any pokémon that caught. The depths to how extensively he could study them had to be run by me first. I gave him the go ahead to study the cursed Aerodactyl, which made things difficult. Even more so when I didn't bother to help mollify the creature myself for him to study.

I had made my case explicitly clear that I didn't want to associate with it until I had found a beneficial way to make use of it. The professor was a busy man, and so he couldn't put the time and energy to tame the wild beast beyond simply feeding it and giving it the barest of basic care whenever it started acting batshit wild as you'd expect of a prehistoric pokémon. It was supposed to be my job and since I didn't want to do it, the professor had to basically have one of his old pokémon restrain the flying-rock type until he got the results he needed for his research.

It still wasn't enough mind you, but I had to give the professor props. Despite not taming the beast, he somehow managed to eke out a miracle with his hired Breeder, Mrs. Mary, and get an egg from the concerningly feral pokémon. Yeah, it was one egg, but to do that with an untrained and untamed Aerodactyl was spectacularly astonishing.

That's why I decided to get an extra Aerodactyl egg for him and personally save the remaining three eggs for later use. Aerodactyl wasn't on my list of pokémon that I want to capture, and this wasn't because of the damned one that almost ripped me apart. I genuinely didn't think of capturing and training anyone from its species.

I sure as hell didn't want anything to do with the one that I caught, but any other Aerodactyl wouldn't interest me. The well had already been poisoned and my interest was next to zero. In the end, it's a win-win, the prehistoric pokémon gets to be in an environment that it will enjoy and thrive in rather than stay in it's ultra ball all day until it had to be fed, allowed to use the bathroom, and beaten to submission in order to return it. A small part of me was saddened to realize that I'll never get to hear the casual remarks of how Prof. Oak's Alakazam or Dragonite's brutally roughhoused the creature whenever it gets too ornery now.

Yet that bit of dark schadenfreude was the exact motivator for me to give it away and not even consider training it. Believe me, taking my anger, sadness, and fear out on it did sound tempting but it wasn't healthy especially against a pokémon that could no longer pose a threat to me, my pokémon, Ash, and mom.

Such thoughts were best directed at more suitable targets.

Hell, one of the best things I could scrounge out from even encountering the thing was the fact that it had pushed Asch to finally evolve into a Charizard.

…The irony was not lost on me, I assure you.

My hands were now washed of the prehistoric pokémon. I prayed that I would never have to encounter it again, but my chances of that happening were low if Clair was to be given permission to claim it from her elders to train while they made the arrangements to bolster its species' number. It was a little off putting to see her act so desiring over the pokémon, but I guess having one over Lance would do that.

Still, it didn't stop her from giving me this weird look and asking the obvious question, "Why? Why are you just giving this pokémon away? It's a stroke of a luck to have even chanced upon it, much less capture it and yet you didn't even bother to tap into the potential it held. So, what sort of game are you playing at, Luke Ketchum?"

It was a fair question to ask. "If you really want the answer to that, then you'll have to accept me adding another term to our trade." But I wasn't in a charitable mood to answer that while she held the ultra ball stained in my blood.

"Fine. Keep your secrets." With a flourish of her cape, Clair made to leave the room. "Professor Samuel Oak, I will be making use of your facilities to ascertain the Aerodactyl's health and the full extent of what we will have to work with when taming it. Afterward, I will contact the Grandmaster of the news for this trade before returning to settle things with you, Luke Ketchum."

The professor tiredly scratched his cheek as the blunette rudely stormed out of the room. "*Sigh!* The things I do to be a good host." To be fair, she's been a crummy guest, professor, so don't take it too bad. "I suppose your father and mother will have to wait, Daisy. I'll be sure to…return home to rest after…ensuring Clair and that magnificent specimen of an Aerodactyl's business is over."

"You're getting another Aerodactyl egg, professor." I rolled my eyes. "Make do with the one you got until the other four are brought over." I still have to think about what I should do with the other three. Hopefully by the time they come in, I'll have something worth trading them for.

"…I know." Then stop pouting professor, you're supposed to be the adult here.

"Just be sure not to forget and come back home to rest. Otherwise, I'll have mom come over and drag you back herself."

"Yes…yes… I'll contact you kids when things are done." We waved each other goodbye and went our separate ways. I honestly didn't envy the professor. Having to deal with that raging beast…and the Aerodactyl at the same time on one of his open fields.

…Okay that was a little mean to Clair, but still the professor seriously needs a break.

And I needed to get on with making that video call that I promised to make. The other recipient had managed to respond to my e-mail this morning and had set some time aside to speak with me. I couldn't just leave them high and dry after they must have put aside time from their busy schedule for me.

Luckily, the time that I set for the meeting was 45 minutes away from now. Plenty of time to make it back home and set up my computer for the chat.

A loud growling emanated from around my neck as I could visibly feel the vibrating stomach of my newly acquired Dratini draped across my shoulders. The poor thing froze when it noticed that I noticed it's hunger before trying to steel itself to look tough. It's flipping adorable the way that it tries to carry itself regally.

"Hey, bud. You hungry?" I asked as the Dratini jumped upon getting found out and vigorously shook their head. "Yeah, you're hungry. Don't worry, I'll get something to put in ya soon." Also, I needed a name for you.

I turned to Daisy, who unsurprisingly joined me on my walk to the lab's front entrance. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to have any extra leftover pokéfood for your Dratini before it evolved, would you? I'll pay you back for-."

"Don't." Daisy shook her head and slowly approached me. Her gaze softened at the small Dratini on my neck as she gently rubbed her fingers under their neck. Dratini at first leant into the touch but again steeled themselves to remain regal and steadfast. "I'll just nab some of the base dragon pokéfood from the breeders then swing around your place to give it to you. Then I'll message you the type of diet that I had my Dragonair on and leave it to you and see what clicks with this little guy."

It probably won't. Pokémon from the same species weren't similar on an individual level.

"Thanks, Daisy." I smiled.

She rolled her eyes. "Again, Luke don't. I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I didn't help a clearly malnourished Dratini. That you willingly traded a naturally living Aerodactyl for."

I sighed. "So, you disagree with my choice?"

"Heavens no." Daisy shook her head as she gave my new Dratini a nice rub to the head just to emphasize her point. "I just disagree with how swift you were to just hand Aerodactyl over despite the blatant disrespect slung at you."

I shrugged. "Meh, it doesn't really bother me."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Daisy groaned. "Well, it should. They came over hoping to make a trade with you as equals and decided to drop something less than what their seeking to gain at your feet."

I blinked at her then tilted my head. "And?"

She sharply breathed in and pointedly jabbed her finger at my chest. "And you not only accepted it without question, but also gave them something more valuable as an alternative."

"Pretty much."

"So why?"

"Would giving them the research data on Sylvie have been better?" I asked.

Daisy frowned and shook her head. "No, but you escalated and basically gave them a rare wild prehistoric pokémon that's still to this day is impossible to revive with the works of our current day's geniuses." Well, Mr. Blaine says that the creation of the resurrection machine was still underway despite the snail's paced engineering put forth in even creating a device meant to restore and clone a long dead pokémon species.

Not to mention the particular issue of reviving a sterile pokémon as a result of using the machine.

I crossed my arms. "I'm still getting 4 Aerodactyl eggs, so there's nothing I'm missing out from by making the deal."

"Yeah, but it still doesn't change the fact that you conceded way too easily after the Blackthorn Clan basically spat in your face when they offered the trade."

I raised a finger at her. "Ah, you mean when Clair made the trade in their stead."

Daisy looked oddly at me as some realization dawned on her. "Are you saying that she's-?"

"Who knows." After all, I have no clue what the Blackthorn Clan thinks of me as a whole besides wanting what I have. In the end, I just don't think I want to get too entrenched in their inner workings. "Either way, I'm more than satisfied with what I got."

Sighing in defeat, Daisy shook her head. "Fine, if that's how you really feel then I'll drop it. It's not like this is the first time you put way too much on a table for a pokémon."

"True, so true." I chuckled as I remembered that very same day where that peddler from Vermillion City was trying to sell and talk up the legendary exploits and skills of your run of the mill Magikarp. This was all in the Farmer's Market, I might add where there were loads of other Magikarp being sold for just under 25 pokédollars a piece.

And here this sleazy guy was selling a Magikarp for 400 pokédollars. Seeing the challenge, I paid 3,500 pokédollars for it and happily trained the Magikarp to be the best Sea Monster that he could be. Now I basically paid a third of my funds and back then and even in my old life I was a real stingy guy. So, losing that much money physically hurt me.

Except that's the point.

When I capture and train pokémon, I never see my choices as the wrong picks when situations say otherwise. No, I make investments. Its sort of like purchasing an item with a set amount of money because you feel the price was well worth it. Purchasing Tempest from the Vendor was exactly that, I was getting my money's worth out of that purchase by heightening Tempest's value through making him the best.

Yeah, it's a super weird way to motivate myself, but it was crucial since at the time I lacked a water type pokémon amongst my team and since then Tempest has played an integral part in my latter half of Gym Circuit battles.

Dratini would be no different. The only contrast I could find was that the method of gaining Dratini meant me giving away a pokémon that I never wanted to interact with or do generally anything with. The only satisfaction that I could gain from Dratini was the fact that I could train the little guy up to be a beast that'll have the Blackthorn Clan regret ever offering up a weak Dratini to me.

Clair seems to be the perfect target to showcase how my methods could outclass the Blackthorn Clan's own draconic methods, but if I really wanted to make a poignant statement then there was always another who I could…

…Nah. That's for the future to decide, and right now I had more important things to do. Like finding the perfect nickname for this little guy.

Making it out the front door, I snatched a blade of leaf and would have began singing the song to call Epona over, but Daisy had something to ask.

"Wait, before we part ways, you looked like you wanted to ask me something before the meeting." Oh, right it almost slipped my mind.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to Xanadu Nursery one of these days." I offered. "I've been looking to see if I can purchase some materials there that can be useful later down the road, and I figure that having some company would be nice."

"Eh…? Oh! You're serious." Daisy looked disbelieving at first before really looking at me for any deception. When she couldn't find any disingenuity, she blinked and smiled. "Sure, I'd love to, Luke!"

"Hold on, what was all of that just now?" I narrowed my eyes.

"Nothing, I-I thought you were joking for a moment there considering how much of a lazy bum you've been lately. So, it surprised me to see you actually be somewhat active again." Don't look so relieved when saying that to my face. "So, when are we planning to go?"

You know I was willing to drop my earlier inclusion of those two but now…

"After I make sure this little guy gets situated." I patted Dratini's head for good measure. "Just be sure that Gary's ready for when Ash and I come around to pick you guys up."

"W-What?" Daisy sputtered.

"Yeah, I figured having those two along will be nice to have with us. After all it has been a while since Ash has visited the place, and I'm sure that Gary wouldn't mind seeing all of the Grass pokémon there."

I chuckled. "More's the merrier as they say."

"Of course, Luke…" Daisy's smile now had a bit more teeth to it as she forced out the words, "More is definitely the merrier, a wise saying indeed."

I smirked. "Sure is." I picked up the blade of grass to my lips and regarded my childhood friend. "So, I'll see you later or soon when you come over to drop off the poke-?" I was knocked off my feet as Daisy immediately threw out her Arcanine's pokéball, mounted it, and took off in an explosive blur of wind. "-food?"

I blinked as I laid on the ground and adjusted my eyes upwards to spot my new Dratini looking back and forth between me and the direction that Daisy and Valentine the Arcanine went in.

"Girls, am I right?" The slow nod they gave me did confirm their gender for me. Wait, no it really didn't. "Wait, so no offence, but does that mean that you're a girl or a boy since-." Dratini thwacked their tail against my face for that.

And that was how I learned that I was now officially raising a male Dratini.

Which made coming up with a nickname for them easy.

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"Remember to breathe, Fafnir." I typed away at my laptop as the frenzied chewing and snuffling of my new Dratini ate through their third bowl of pokéfood like a maniac. I had arrived home on Epona in just under 10 minutes with Dratini in tow and had taken in the pokéfood that Daisy brought over. She didn't want to stay over due to being miffed from earlier.

Which was silly since I'm officially 50/50 on either bringing our little brothers along to the Xanadu Nursery with us or not. I'll probably just leave which I'll choose depending on whether she states Gary was interested or not.

Right now, I was sitting on the old rickety picnic table at our backyard, it's pretty much spacious enough to hold a full party of my pokémon, but for now the only ones that I had on hand were Asch, Sparrow, Sylvie, Epona (well, her pokeball, my little racer is running about the outskirts of Pallet Town), and Fafnir.

By the way, I gave Dratini the name Fafnir.

The little guy didn't seem to care much for it though when the prospect of filling his belly proved to be of much greater importance. He snuffled, chewed, gulped, and slavered over the pokéfood as if it would be stolen from him if he led up just a little. The panicked glances to the sides and the way he seemed to freeze momentarily when he spotted Asch curiously loom over him from behind before rushing to finish his second bowl of pokéfood.

Then he disappeared in the blink of an eye for a moment before crashing into a nearby tree. Now I can see where the little thing had learned Extreme Speed, but the possible context behind that and his fearful reaction to Asch whenever he ate didn't sit well with me.

Thankfully, my starter was kind enough to bring the third bowl of pokéfood over to him after I poured it. Fafnir was extremely hesitant and even shakily bowed their head, expecting to get…hit. Yet, when Asch simply pushed the bowl over to the small dragon type, they changed their priority from cowering to slowly chewing their meal. They kept stealing glances at Asch from my side as they kept eating.

A smile from Starter did alleviate the dragon type's anxiety enough for them to steadily build up to frenzied way that it ate.

And that is how things currently caught to the way they are now.

Asch tilted his head at the starved noodle of a dragon then regarded me with a raised scaly brow.

"I have no clue, pal, but I assure that I'm going to answers soon." I scratched one of Fafnir's three-pronged ear fins. The dragon type was still too busy relishing the meal to notice. "Seriously, bud, what have you been through?"

Hopefully I can get some answers from Mrs. Petaline. She was an inhabitant of Blackthorn City and must have some crumb of knowledge regarding the dragon types there.

Starting the video chat on my computer, I adjusted my camera and way of seating to best present myself. The other line was on and instead of another face looking at me, I was met with the blank anonymous image that indicates the other person's camera was off. It would have been worrying had I not been aware of who was on the other end and the fact that their name and title were under their own screen.

"Question #1: How many kinds of Fire-type Pokémon are there in the current pokédex logged in for the Kanto region?" A familiar gruff voice exclaimed through my computer's speakers.

Ah, so we're doing this then. Well, this'll be fun. "Is this counting evolutions as their own individual pokémon or a single fire type pokémon and their evolutionary line altogether?"

"How many species of Fire-type Pokémon are there in the current pokédex logged in for the Kanto region?" Okay so that either meant either answer is correct or both of them.

But just to play it safe. "Currently there are 13 fire type pokémon officially logged in the pokédex if each and all of their evolutionary stages are accounted for. However, if the single pokémon's evolutionary line counts as one then it's a grand total of 7."

"Correct!"

I chuckled as I felt Asch pat me on the back. "Hehehe, thanks pal."

"Next question! Question #2: Which ability allows a pokémon to suffer no damage from status effects such as status ailments like burn, weather damage, and entry hazards?"

"Magic Guard." My smile momentarily dropped while Asch lightly growled as his mood slightly fell with my own. It was hard not to forget that her Kadabra and ace Alakazam possessed the same damned ability during that farce of a Gym battle.

"Correct! Final Question: Which move is the only non-fire tupe move able to burn a fire type pokémon?"

"Tri Attack." I had taught Sparrow that move to deepen out his move pool.

"And ding! Ding! Ding! Congratulations, young man! You've answered all questions correctly and your prize-!" The other camera on the line flickered on to reveal the grinning mustached face of Cinnibar Island's very own gym leader, Blaine White. "A conversation with an old fossil that should have long since burnt ages ago. Gahahahahahaha!"

I laughed with him and wiped a tear out of my eye. "Thanks for the pop-quiz, sir."

"Bah! You're one of the strange few who enjoy doing 'em, lad. Feh, none of the other brats your age never seems to understand the importance of keeping their recent pokémon know-how up to date." Which was true since Mr. Blaine's Gym difficulty lay in his Quiz Challenge just as much as his battles. If you couldn't even answer 3 out 5 of his Advanced questions right, then he outright refuses to accept your challenge.

Before heading to Viridian City for my last gym badge, I had to practically tutor Joey over night when his first crack at challenging the Gym resulted in him getting kicked out for getting 1 out 5 of the questions correct.

Still, the questions were fun for an old pokémon geek like me to answer.

"And what have I said about calling me "sir"? Refer to me as Blaine, got it? You've at least earned that much."

"Heh, okay, Mr. Blaine." He didn't seem to like me adding that "Mr." part to it, but conceded, nonetheless.

"So, if you don't mind me being a nosy little pikachu, what brought on this last-minute call, lad? You finally change your mind about taking up my offer?" With an overexaggerated rub to his chin, Blaine grinned.

"No." I was blunt and forthright with my answer, and Mr. Blaine always appreciated such straightforwardness from others. Through the old man's raucous laughter at getting rejected, I continued. "I appreciate the opportunity, but I prefer my current accommodations with Prof. Oak more than the arrangements that you may give me if I became a gym trainer for you."

"Hah! Can't say that I've tried! Although it's a damn shame that I couldn't snatch a bright kid away from that old little Oak tree while I could. The look on his face would have been priceless! Gahahaha!" Mr. Blaine, old college rival and former Elite Four member to Prof. Samuel Oak during the professor's tenure as Indigo League Champion, guffawed.

"Looks like I won't be enjoying the idea of retirement anytime soon!"

"Oh, come off it, Mr. Blaine. You're still plenty spry enough to jump off your gym's roof and climb active volcanoes." Seriously, the stuff that humans are capable of doing in this world despite even old age slowing you down was absurd.

"Bah! You only say that because you're young. Old folks like me, we grow and see just what's worth placing most of our remaining time and energy into. Unlike a certain old crone, I don't mind relinquishing power off to the next generation when my time in sun has come to an end." Blaine grimaced at the mention of someone else, who was no doubt, Agatha.

"Particularly you, lad. You seemed like quite the perfect candidate as my successor. The care and work that you've placed in that Charizard and Rapidash of yours was practically my last hope for this last gym circuit. I could just see kindling flame within you begin to roar, and while in your first gym circuit at that too. I would have been a fool not to see you as my first ticket to pass on my duty and fully retire into my scientific exploits."

"Flattering, but no cigar." I shook my head. "While tempting, I'd much rather remain a Generalist trainer than go into a specialty." I preferred being a Jack-of-all kind of trainer. Having different types of pokémon was a challenge to train and care for if you were an unsponsored trainer going on their own with no stabling rights.

Which is why I worked hard to have Prof. Oak backing me up since he can actually provide advice due to once being a Generalist trainer/champion himself, and because he's actively working with his own lab staff and breeders with the care and raising of my own pokémon when they're transferred back to him.

Blaine shook his head and deeply grunted. "A true pity, and here you showed such an unbelievable aptitude for fire-types, but it is what it is. Hopefully that old Oak tree can find a way to help you hone that inner aptitude of yours before it goes to waste untouched."

"Huh?" I didn't miss the way that Mr. Blaine's eyes gleamed behind his sunglasses.

"It's nothing. Hopefully, Oak will elaborate when it's time like with that granddaughter of his." Blaine huffed with a knowing smirk.

"Okay, I don't follow. What do you mean, Mr. Blaine?" I pressed, hoping for an answer.

"If you truly wish to know, I have an open slot for a trainer down at the gym in Cinnabar for active training this coming summer." Blaine knowingly coughed into his hand.

"Yeah, no, I'm good, sir." Besides, I'm probably going to get wrangled into helping Prof. Oak with his upcoming Summer Camp this year. Newly sponsored trainers for the past Gym Circuit at least had that in their agreement when being sponsored by the professor. Thankfully, its required that you attend it once and you're given free reign to do it again as many times as you want.

"Worth a try, I'm sure that Magmar would have loved to order that Charizard of yours around after losing to it." Blaine shrugged.

Asch challengingly growled at the computer to which Mr. Blaine playfully grinned back.

"I mean, he could try." I tauntingly smirked at the bald man.

"Again, truly a damn shame for both Magmar and I…" Then immediately the passionate grin that the old man wore fell to deep, heartfelt frown. "But my offer and jokes aside, Luke." I nodded. "Do not hesitate to ask for my help should you need it. You've already gone above and beyond to help rectify the mistakes that old men like us shouldn't have let burden youngsters like you in the first place."

Ah, he was talking about that whole fiasco.

"I didn't really do anything special." I solemnly answered. After all, it's basically a trainer's prerogative to do battle and it's basically my sole objective to ensure my family's safety. The two directives simply mixed and I was in the wrong place at the right time. There's no need to make things grander than they need to be.

After all, I only reassured the safety of me and my own. Everyone else, including the region was secondary to that.

"Though I'd love to remiss that and say you're underselling yourself, I see little reason to sway your mind when the deed you've done has more than rectified the glaring issues that were at hand." Blaine nodded.

If he says so…

I looked at my empty right hand. No scars, burns or anything marred the skin of my flesh. The only thing that had given it any form of weight was the promise made with it along with the alien-like sensation of synth-like skin firmly grasping upon it.

The promise.

I looked to Asch, who met my determined gaze with one more fiery that it felt like he'd burst into a pyre of unrestrained passion on the spot. We nodded at each other as the self-same thought since that faithful, bloody day at the Viridian Gym.

Again, we would emerge victorious.

And this time there would be no interruptions. No machinery to hold back our opponent. No shady nonsense pulled in the background by a just as equally shady bastard. And NO existential angst drawing their attention away from the fight.

We were going to grab victory from a clear-cut battle and prove to both us and them that we had earned it.

"Thanks, sir…" Sighing and hoping to shift the focus of the subject off from me, I gave my gratitude.

"Ahem!" Blaine loudly coughed.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "Thank you, Mr. Blaine."

"Hmph, you're welcome, lad. I'm sure that fool Fuji would say the same if he were still…*SIGH!* Who am I kidding…? He probably wouldn't have cared…" The old man bitterly spat out.

Mentioning that guy always seemed to be a sore topic with Mr. Blaine. Not that I could blame him after he told me of his former friend's downward spiral of a life when I had confronted him about what I had learned (and from my meta-knowledge) after my "Gym Battle" at Viridian City.

"So…" I clicked my tongue. "Any change in the forecasts between Cinnabar Island and the Orange Archipelago as of lately?"

"None whatsoever. I've been keeping an eye out like you suggested lad, but the best I can give you is a couple of reports of a couple of listing ships with whole crews having gotten their memories erased and their charters wiped clean when investigations from Cinnabar Island and Hamlin Island ports." Blaine explained.

Weird, but it is a telling sign that things might not completely be going the way of the first Movie, or it could simply just be that things are in their early phase before it could truly begin to escalate.

"No, it's fine. That's clearly more than enough. Thanks again, Mr. Blaine." I guess we can put that heavy conversation to rest now. Especially since the urge to get back to serious training was starting to well up in me again. But no, we needed this well-earned pause of relaxation after pushing ourselves too far in the last circuit.

Asch snorting in my face and rubbed his snout to my side, which indicated that he felt just as restless as me.

"I know, pal. After a bit more rest, we'll get straight back into the groove of things in no time." I promised and like always, my Starter acquiesced with my decision with no trouble. After all, if he really had wanted me to unpause our break, then I would surely do so in a heart beat since this break was a decision made by the two of us.

Now if only Macaque was so easily swayed to agree with us. Man, I really have to figure out what that guy's been up to recently…

"Now Mr. Blaine, I actually wanted to call you for two other things before we got sidetracked." I coughed.

"Fire away, lad." I had to visibly hold in the urge to groan at that pun. That shit-eating grin of his was not helping either.

"I was just wondering if you'd tried that thing with your Magmar." I winced as the professor's gaze through those sunglasses of his seemed to bore into me.

"You mean having my Magmar continually submerge himself in the depths of one of our island's live volcanoes for days on end?" His mustache twitched.

"Y-Yes?" I awkwardly smiled.

"No." Sheesh, that was way too blunt than I was expecting. "Because lad while I would love the prospect of potentially evolving my old friend and asset during my days in the war and the studying the effects of how it could come to be, I am the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island first before my occupation as a researcher."

He pulled down his shades and seriously regarded me with a look. "Having my Magmar continually interact with, gather, and sustain the magma energies of an already volatile volcano that's still to this day is a danger to our island's population and eco-system for days on end would be peak foolishness."

I scratched my cheek as memories of Cinnabar Island's fate from the Gold/Silver/HeartGold/SoulSilver games came to mind. "Yeah, I guess that would make sense."

"It should, and though it pains me to deny myself such an opportunity, I can't endanger the lives of those in my jurisdiction just to prove your hypothesis right." Which is completely understandable.

"No, I get it, Mr. Blaine." I rubbed my chin. "But…if you were to find another Volcano that's not on an island populated by pokémon and human alike…"

"Then I'll gladly test it out. Until then, I can't test it out and deal with the collateral like you with that Electivire of yours." Mr. Blaine huffed in good nature.

"O-Oh, so you've gotten around to proof-reading my Research Journal about that." I scratched the back of my head. So, when I had managed to get Thor to evolve, Prof. Oak was super excited to hear the lengths that I went through to "discover" the new extra stage in evolution for my Electabuzz. He was even more ecstatic when I offered to make a Research paper about it. My past knowledge as a Health Science major did smoothen the process a bit, but I relied on the professor to teach me how different things were over here in comparison to my old life. The process went as smoothly as I had hoped with my past life's experience with crafting qualitative and quantitative research.

So, when the professor had finally seen the lengths that I had gone through to ensure that Thor could evolve, I was given the loudest scolding I've ever heard from the man. To this day, I absolutely agree that I sort of deserved it though. I mean, having Tempest and Thor use Rain Dance for seven days straight while continually building up Thunder before having all of the lightning strike at Thor while being so up close to witness it all sounded stupid as hell on paper. No manner of scientific terms or jargon could ever hope to hide that bit of idiotic context. Still, I had calculated that the amount of electricity pumped into Electivire was enough to power a whole city the size of Saffron City.

And to remind you, Saffron City is the Kanto region's largest city and was stated to be based off Tokyo. So, yeah, that was a lot of electricity that my pokémon now had to play with.

Prof. Oak had recommended that he hand the research paper to a couple of his peers to peer-review, and Mr. Blaine was one of them.

"My boy… You've given me the benefit of the doubt that you aren't like those other reckless brats that don't give a second's thought before pulling nonsensical shit that could get them killed. All I ask is that you ere on the side of caution next time. It won't do for your well-earned discoveries to follow you to the grave before anyone could bear witness to it."

That's fair. "Yes, sir."

"Good." Huh, it was that serious that he didn't even correct my use of "sir" this time. "Now it's a good thing that this research report of yours has yet to be released to the public. I hate to even think of what that bombastic fool Surge would do with this information."

"I mean, I don't think Surge would be THAT bad if he knew." I had to give the loud Vermillion Gym leader the benefit of the doubt.

"Son…" Huh, I didn't think it was possible a 60 year old man like Mr. Blaine to age even further with all the wrinkles showing up on his face. "If you'd only know the things that man did to earn the rank he did, then you would not be saying any of that."

I watched the old man pinch the bridge of his nose as if a migraine had hit him. Well, technically the thought of Surge did, but…you get my point.

"I'll take your word for it, Mr. Blaine." I nervously chuckled.

"Please do." He groaned.

From there, I had asked him about the reason why I called him: the progress of the Exeggcute and Exeggutor project that I supplied to him out of curiosity after the Viridian Gym incident. He seemed interested in seeing whether my hypothesis regarding the strong sunlight of Cinnabar would have on them in comparison to a specially made greenhouse that he made which produced intense UV rays.

He had said that Cinnabar's UV index was about 6 during the winter and 10 during the summer. The greenhouse garden made for the other sample group was placed under the UV rays set to the UV index of 12. Right now, we're seeing if the UV rays will influence the growth of the stunted trunks of the Exeggutor species.

So far, there's been some growth with the pokémon, but not by much. However, the pre-evolution of Exeggcute have been growing far more aggressive as of late when under the harsh UV rays. This was hopefully a telling sign that Dragon-typing nature within the pokémon was starting to awaken like their Alolan cousins.

I thanked Mr. Blaine yet again and decided to ask him out of curiosity if he currently had any Cyndaquil on hand. Thankfully for me he did, as he owns a Typhlosion that had just laid a recent clutch of eggs. I didn't venture forward beyond that query since I had to weigh whether I should use the remaining Aerodactyl eggs that I'll get to trade for one.

So, I kept my dealing with Clair and the Blackthorn Clan on the hush-hush for now.

Plus, I have to make sure and consider if Ash would even want one as Starter before going through with it.

We then said our goodbyes over the video call, and I was left with just Asch and Fafnir, who were currently groaning in pain on the bench table with soccer ball sized bloated stomach.

"So…you enjoyed yourself, Faffy?" I smirked.

Fafnir crooned in unbelievable pain.

I laughed as Asch snorted at the comical display of the newest member of our team. "Yeah, I pretty much figure, bud. C'mon, let's lay you down to rest before I head out again." I carried the lethargic pokémon inside and made him a temporary bed with some leftover sheets, blankets and one of my pillows. He's stay with me until he's in a stable and healthy condition and is able to grow comfortable around bigger pokémon like Asch.

I don't think I'll be comfortable leaving him at the Sanctuary the way he is now. Asch was the better choice with this sort of thing as he was the one responsible for naturally integrating new pokémon into our growing team so seamlessly.

"I'll be leaving him in your care, pal." I saluted my starter, who flexed his blazing tail over his shoulder to salute me back. Leaving the house, I waved goodbye to my resting starter and the conked out Dratini as I took a stroll over to Pallet Town's one and only Pokémon Center.

I chose not to call Epona so she could enjoy her run without another interruption breaking her stride. The walk took approximately 15 minutes, so it wasn't too bad despite how hot the afternoon sun was.

Out of all the buildings in Pallet, the center was the only one that didn't look as rural or as old as the others. This was in part to them having to follow the regulations given to them by the Pokémon League so that their medical equipment, security, and the building's integrity were up to date with the others.

Now I'm not going to get into the specifics of what the pokémon center is and what they necessarily do. It's already self-explanatory, I'm just here to check on the health of that Mother Ursaring and baby Teddiursa pair that I caught the other day.

Entering through the sliding doors, I made a beeline for the receptionist desk. There were a few people in the lobby but most of them seemed to be your usual crowd of youngsters or the stray adult or two who hailed from Pallet Town. Seems to be a slow day today, which is good as it's less stress for the staff.

Not that the available at the front desk seemed to be particularly busy right now.

"Hi, Garnet." I waved to my old classmate.

"Ah, Luke. What brings you here?" I was greeted with the familiar face of a Nurse Joy except this one wasn't as mature nor brightly smiling as the others that manned their respective Pokémon Centers. This one was exactly my age and despite the heavy resemblance that she had to the Nurse Joy of this area, her expression was quite subdued, and she was dressed in all black.

She was the only daughter to the Nurse Joy of Pallet Town, the very same Nurse Joy that was there to help my mother give birth to me and Ash.

"Oh, I'm just here to check on the status of two pokémon I had recently caught." I smiled. "How are you and Chansey doing?"

"Adequately well. Thanks for asking." Short and to the point as always, classic Garnet. She was already tapping on the keyboard, searching the logs to confirm my request. "There we go. Daisy did call mom and dad to inform us of the mass captures of Gravelers that you made the other day. Just to inform you, we've already concluded their treatment, struck them off your record as part of your retinue of captured pokémon with the League, and had transferred them over to Ranger Gabe and Rachel to return them to their habitat."

I nodded. "Thanks for the update." Not that I had any reason to worry. Mr. Gabe and Rachel were always competent and took their jobs of protecting the local habitats seriously.

"Also, I have to inform you that we are not liable to repay or replace any pokéballs that were used for the mass capturing. As an independent trainer who voluntarily supported the local Rangers with their duty, you have to take any grievances of repayment with them." Garnet tiredly droned on by force of habit.

"No, I'm good. I probably have too many pokéballs at home to spare." There were approximately 50 pokéballs left with 5 ultra balls and 15 great balls. "But sheesh do you really get that many trainers who ask for-?"

"If it's not that then it's something else that they can't bother to realize is beyond what our already accommodating services can provide." Garnet groaned and returned to typing on the up-to-date computer. "Honestly, we're a hospital that provides human and pokémon care, not a price free pokémart."

Right, must be a touchy subject. Better to just move on, "So about the one Ursaring and Teddiursa that I requested to be left as my personal captures?"

"Pulling it up right now and…" With one click, she hummed to herself and nodded. "Come back in two days to receive the Teddiursa. We'll contact you when the worst of the poor thing's damage has been healed."

I winced. "It's that bad?" And she didn't even mention the mother Ursaring, so her condition was bound to be worse than the Teddiursa's.

"Yeah, it is." Garnet rolled her eyes and drawled out. "Mom wrote here that the poor guy experienced severe second-degree burns, a bruised rib, head trauma, and a broken bone. Damage at such a young age would have been disastrously fatal and had you not urgently transferred him back the way that you did, we wouldn't have been able to save him in time."

I sighed in relief. "Thank goodness." Nature really was cruel especially for the weak and unassuming pokémon that were either preyed on or innocently brought into the skirmishes of others. "But what about the Ursaring? Is she-?"

"She'll require more extensive care. The estimated time of recovery after a single day is still undecided. Her injuries are concerningly more severe due to all the damage and strain placed on her especially after the effects of her Guts ability fell through." Yeah, I can kind of see how all of that adrenaline running out after tanking multiple Stone Edges and Self-Destructs to the face could be a severe detriment to her life.

"Don't worry." She reassured me. "She'll live, but don't expect as quick of a recovery as say…" Garnet tapped her finger against her chin before shrugging. "A week or two."

Wow, that's long. Still, if it meant a proper time for the Ursaring to rest then I'm all for it.

"But besides that, I'm curious Luke. How are you going to handle those two when they recover?" She most definitely meant the mother Ursaring more than the baby Teddiursa.

I folded my arms behind my head. "I don't really have a clear cut plan yet, but if it's possible I'd like to talk things out and see how things go."

"…Th-That's…" Garnet looked skeptical before sighing and shaking her head. "That sounds the least likelier plan to work, but to each their own…"

Getting the Ursaring to even collaborate with me was going to be an uphill battle. In the wild when you capture a pokémon there may be multiple variables that won't allow you to have to go down the traditional method, but out there the usual might makes right terminology sort of holds. By proving your strength by defeating the pokémon in battle, they may begrudgingly choose to acquiesce to your demands and allow themselves to be captured.

Whether this is out of self-preservation, a desire for a more comforting life with a trainer, to be trained and gain more, the desire to evolve, or even out of a sense of duty. For most pokémon out there, strength does the talking.

I didn't really prove the strength of myself nor my pokémon when we arrived to help the Ursaring and her babe. We only put her to sleep after she was worn down by those Gravelers, so it's going to be difficult to truly earn her respect at first. Not until…

"Eh, it's not a solid plan A, but if things come down to it, I'm sure I can persuade her with plan B."

Garnet looked away from the computer to smirk at me. "Let me guess the "B" stands for Battle, right?"

I blinked in surprise and laughed. "Huh, I didn't really think of that. Can I have permission to say that I thought of that for the future?"

"Sure because I really don't care." Garnet snidely remarked.

"Sweet! Thanks, Garnet." I laughed.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, I decided to leave her alone and go back home. She was never really all that talkative when we were in school. I mean, neither was I but my circumstances were weirder than her general quietness to explain. I did wish her good luck with her future plans for the next Gym Circuit in Johto. The coordinator at the Pokémon League who's in touch with her wants her to expand her experience before they could consider giving her an internship at their Inspection Agency.

I mean, I figure that her making it to last years Top 64 last was a good enough mark on her experience list, but I guess it never hurts to have more added to your professional background.

On my way home, I considered the time of day and wondered when to expect Clair to stomp right up the grounds of our home and demand that challenge of hers. She must have already been done "introducing" herself to Aerodactyl.

Yet instead of her, I came back home to spot my little brother who had finally woken up and was still in his pajamas playing with the languid, noodly form of my new Dratini. Asch was on his feet watching the two with a bit of a frown on his face.

"Hey, bro! I didn't know you got a new pokémon! That's so cool, and it's a Dratini too! What are you going to name him!?" I took notice of how green Fafnir was getting as Ash kept moving him around in his arms just to get a good grip on him. "Ooh! Can I name him!? I have the perfect name too, how about…Barny? You like the name, don't you little guy?"

I could hear the poor little guy's restrained gagging from here as Ash turned him around to directly be face to face with him.

"What about you, Asch? That sounds like a good name don't y-? Hey, Asch, why are you backing away, and…hey, why's this little guy looking green and shaking? Oh, is it about to shed it's skin? How awes-!"

And with his mouth wide open, Ash was given quite the "hello" from Fafnir all over his face and pajamas. So, while I was stuck at home having to bathe my crying brother in the bathtub, clean his hair, his clothes, and re-feed Fafnir after he regurgitated all of the pokéfood he inhaled, I was given a message from Prof. Oak that Clair had apparently left after gauging how feral Aerodactyl was and making the call back to the clan about the news of our trade.

Thankfully the trade had gone through, but it had also had the head of the clan urge Clair to return immediately. Prof. Oak did state that Clair had told him to relay a message over to me. I had asked if the message was 20 words or less, and he responded negatively. So, I told him not to tell me and to enjoy his rest at home with the other Oaks.

Now with the knowledge that I won't have to worry about another immediate home visit from Clair, I can now freely plan out a day following Sunday tomorrow to gather all of my pokémon and introduce Dratini to them and vice-versa. Hopefully, they would be on their best behavior but just to be safe, I advised Asch to keep Dratini close to him.

The little guy was warming up to my Starter and having a security blanket in the form of the large reptile-like dragon pokémon seemed like a safe enough comfort zone for him.

But that'll all come after I help out with mom's café. She needed the extra help now since that waitress that Clair handily crushed the other day was still taking time off to recover her pokémon. Also, I was going to need to work off the hours I owed her if I want to get even closer to earning back my free time to enjoy a day long nap.

Who knows, I'm even feeling a little generous that I'll even accept the first challenge of the day that orders something from the menu. Hopefully, the battle will be fun enough to work out some of the welling up desire to train with Asch after that phone call with Mr. Blaine.

Yup, everything's going to be smooth sailing from here.