Hard Enough

Next to me, Salvadore vibrated in place. I leaned against the entrance desk that had been installed to greet new trainers. I would eventually have a receptionist sit here, but that wasn’t needed until the circuit kicked off. The only work we had right now was the local trainers looking to get some training, or a battle, in with the gym to keep their pokemon up to snuff. Celia had been encouraging a number of them to do so, and thanks to her efforts I was to run a training session with Rocko tomorrow morning. Dennis was off on patrol duties in conjunction with the police and Celia was linking up with the Rangers for a wild patrol.

Salvadore checked his lab coat for the calculator that he’d stuffed into his top pocket. He also had a thick notepad that I’d noticed him scribbling into the entire day. He’d started working on it after I’d called and scheduled a time for the two top professors of Indigo to visit. Announcing that at breakfast had seen the younger members of the family staring at me in confusion while my older siblings perked up. Salvadore, however, had shown the most interest in the news.

For the last week, he’d popped up to observe me all over the place. Such as when I was training pokemon, feeding them, wrestling them or even just doing paperwork. He appeared and questions poured out of him. I’d eventually gotten him to relax after promising he could meet the Professors with me instead of going to school that day.

“Sal, if you’ve forgotten something you can just run and grab it from the house.” My suggestion was met with all of the imperious scorn a nine-year-old could muster.

I yawned and smacked my lips together making him scowl. “Brock! These are some of the best scientific minds in the world! I can’t show that I’m forgetful! What if they're looking for apprentices?!”

“Well, you’d be better off showing them your report card then.” This caused Salvadore to freeze before giving me a wide-eyed look.

“They won’t ask for that will they?”

“It’d be a useful indicator.”

“In pokemon studies only right?”

“Nah you need good writing, numeracy, and science scores I should imagine.” I scratched my chin before eying the now worried Salvadore. “Sal, would you say you’ve been serious with your studies prior to this?” He shook his head, not meeting my gaze. “Well, there you go. You’ve still got a number of years before your own journey.”

“I want an apprenticeship! Not a journey!” Salvadore said heatedly.

“And a journey would help open the door for that. For now, I think you should follow along, watch, and ask questions after giving them due thought.”

“What, why?” he said immediately. I chuckled as he proved my point.

“People get annoyed having to answer every question. It’s better to think on the issue for a bit and present your best questions to show that you’ve already thought deeply on the subject.” I considered that for a moment.

“You know in those science reports you have to do at school?” Cue the grumbling from Salvadore. “Well, you need to write a hypothesis. You can voice some questions with this. Then right or wrong you show you’ve got a good mindset for science .” I offered another shrug. “Who knows, you might think of a question they have yet to ask, eh?”

That got Salvadore to settle down. I chalked it up as a win as he seemed to seriously think on the issue instead of just reacting to whatever first comes to mind. It was rather interesting to learn that Sal wanted to go the research route. I’d have to adjust a few of his future presents to give him some more chances towards that.

The door hissed open a few minutes after that and Salvadore perked up as I stood.

“Professor! Hello? Professor Elm!?” yelled Salvadore in greeting.

In the doorway, a tall thin man steps back in surprise before patting himself down.

“Eh? Yes? That’s my name?” He said while tilting his head. He made a small ‘Aha!’ noise when he plucked a lanyard with his image and name printed on the front. He proffered it to use. “Yes! I’m Professor Elm!” He then flipped it around as if to double-check it. He blinked blearily and scratched at his receding hairline as he looked at us. “This is the… Pewter gym, yes?”

“Yes, it is.” I smiled and wondered if I asked him what month it was if he’d know. While he didn’t seem confident in his own name, I had no doubt this man was the esteemed Gold/Silver starting Professor. He had the exact match to his in-game sprite with his thin hair and thick glasses. He obviously knew enough to come here today. He’d even arrived at the right time which was impressive. It did surprise me that he hadn’t brought any aides but I shrugged it off.

“I’m Salvadore!” Shouted my brother, grasping and pumping one of Elm’s hands up and down. I coughed pointedly. “And this is my older brother! Brock!”

Elm’s gaze sharpened as he turned towards me. Then he lost his edge as he glanced to my side before approaching. I got the impression he was trying to look behind me over the desk like I was hiding something. I reached out and shook his hand, an inkling of an idea forming. “Pleasure to meet you, Professor, would you be interested in some tea and snacks…” He seemed to wilt a little, “Or would you like to jump straight into reviewing the pokemon we spoke about?”

He shot up like a magical beanstalk. “Oh yes! Yes indeed! I’d rather begin examining the prehistoric pokemon that you have! And so many of them! There’s so much potential there! So much to learn from the ancient methods used!” A notepad appeared in his hands. “Have you… ever observed the pokemon breeding by any chance?”

I grimaced and shook my head tightly. I wanted to say no. Then I recalled a particular instance of Don preening and… I shuddered.

I tried to shut that line of thought down, but Elm smelt blood. “You have!? Tell me! What behaviours did they display?”

Memories of spending a night in a tent being forced to listen to Don with his harem of Pellipers surged. The memories came up, I recalled the squawking, crooning beach full of pokemon mating that. Just. Had. Not. Stopped.

I’d been stuck on that beach for an entire night because Don refused to come back! I could still feel the cold of having to camp out along with all the noises, and the smells… Urgh! I grabbed for the dark energy within myself forcing it up and jolting my mind. When I spoke I did so with a cool detachment. “I think it would be better for you to handle that yourself.”

Elm blinked in surprise but held his position. Salvadore flinched back at my sharp tone. “Salvadore, please take Elm out back to meet the pokemon in question.”

That served to divert Salvadore as his interest overcame his discomfort. “Right! Right, this way Professor!” He grabbed the man and dragged him out the back. I remained where I was, waiting for the other Professor that had agreed to come. I exhaled and once again tried to push away the horrid memories.

“Ugh” I knocked on my head before reaching into a pocket. When I pulled my hand out I held a few varieties of stones. They weren’t anything impressive or special. Some were smooth, some were rough, and some were flaky to the touch. They were all types of rock though. I turned them over in my hand letting my mind document their properties as I soothed my nerves.

I didn’t like having memories like that drag themself up, but Don’s little sojourn on the beach was enough to leave scars. That little evening of enjoyment for him had bled into a rough day. I’d ended up almost as tired as him only to then be challenged to a pokemon battle I didn’t want to reject. So I went into a battle that to this day was one of the worst losses I’d ever had in my career. I barely remembered stumbling into the pokemon centre to rest my team. The Nurse Joy that had cared for me had scolded me when I’d woken up.

I continued to turn the rocks over and over in my hands, feeling the hypnotic rhythm lull me into a more relaxed state. No… that didn’t match up. I shouldn’t have gotten so agitated with just that. I rolled the rocks over. Perhaps I’d focussed too much on Dark Aura of late. Or perhaps I’d only focussed on the negative aspects of it? Or… honestly, a whole host of possibilities arose, such as being stressed out and annoyed.

People expected me to have the top Professors of the regions involved with the ancient pokemon I owned. I had been getting a few questions about it. Enough to make my more mulish side want to dig his heels in for the sheer hell of it. The phrase, cut my own nose off to spite my face came to mind. I was half tempted to reject them like I had Blaine's offer but… I could admit that some of the nostalgia bled through from my first life’s childhood.

This was Elm… and Oak. In this life, Oak had an even larger legend to him beyond merely being the top professor in Kanto. So, I did want to talk with him, pick his brain and see what he was like in person.

He’d be very interested in the pokemon I had no doubt.

When I’d first sought out Grampa Canyon I’d known the pokemon there would contain ancient types. They’d been none too pleased with my entering their territory. The difference had been that I’d been ready for them. The Kabutops and the Aerodactyl had even proven strong enough for me to begin training up for my potential future as Gym Leader of Pewter.

I’d rechristened them Shin and Don. That had been a big win for my younger self. I’d gained two powerful pokemon for my team and truly vindicated my knowledge.

I’d also been able to examine their current habitat. Allowing me to later replicate certain features such as mineral content in their water, and soil. Which pokemon were around which served as prey for them along with any vegetation that they might have eaten.

All important information to have to keep their diet healthy for them beyond simple pokechow. You couldn’t raise an elite-level pokemon on pokechow despite any claims the company liked to make.

Breeding them would likely need a specialised team along with some people far smarter than me. For all that Don had probably already a few Wingull to his name as a parent, actually having a pokemon reproduce a specific species would involve… Well, I wasn’t entirely sure.

I chuckled to myself as I recalled an old comic regarding the daycare worker and an egg. There had been a rather funny line regarding how he had no idea how it got there. I resolved that I’d hire someone else to handle that side of things cause yeah, no.

I wanted nothing to do with the process other than the results.

The door did not open at that moment of dramatic realisation, sadly. Instead, I had to wait another ten minutes. This time when it opened Professor Oak did not enter alone.

He entered with an entourage of three research assistants who all had serious game faces on as they walked lockstep slightly behind the former Champion of Indigo. He swept into the gym with a determined expression.

His entire appearance was in contrast to Professor Elm.

Where Elm was befuddled, Oak was radiating an intent so sharp he could wield it like a scyther blade. His grey hair didn’t detract from his appearance or make him look old, but rather crowned him with wisdom and charisma.

Oak walked straight up to me, his hand reaching out as he spoke, “Brock! It’s fantastic to finally meet you face to face! I have been watching your progress rather closely, and have to say I am impressed! The calibre of young trainers that make it through to the Indigo league has had a significant increase in their capabilities since you took over as gym leader.”

“Oh.” I felt myself draw upwards slightly as I shook his hands. I looked down to realise that he had in fact used both hands to shake my own. I coughed and tried to push down the blush forming on my face while rubbing the back of my head. “Well, thank you for the compliment.”

“More an observation. I think the bonds that pokemon and humans develop are some of the most important aspects of our world, and your inclusion on the gym circuit has helped strengthen more bonds than you can directly witness.”

“It’s still nice to hear.”

“It is, I have no doubt.” Oak then chuckled, “I just have the fortune of being the one to point it out!” He then seemed to shrink a little, relaxing into himself. Not so much lessening but folding his presence in on himself. “My apologies! These are my assistants.”

He gestured to a young man that tickled my mind. “This is my senior assistant Cerise—” he indicated a young brown-haired man with his glasses and a rather amicable face. He shook my hand then stepped to the side for the next assistant. “—this is my assistant-aide Delphine,—” this time a dark-haired woman that only came up to chin offered a bow while holding a set of notes to her chest. “— and finally assistant-aide Stephen.”

Stephen was a light brown-haired man. Like the others, he wore a lab coat, but his top pocket bulged oddly. Stephen offered a bow only to jerk into a handshake after reconsidering it. I spotted the pokemon treats in his top pocket with the half bow.

“Gramps!” Shouted a voice from behind the group. Stephen and Delphine shifted to the side as another girl around my age stepped forward while giving me a megawatt smile. For half a second I wondered if she'd learnt a normal type move before I shook it off as her just being a rather cute girl.

“Hi there!” She chimed at me. I grinned at her enthusiasm. She was certainly a charming young girl… who was actually my age by the look of her.

“And my granddaughter, Daisy Oak,” Professor Oak supplied.

“Nice to meet you.” I made to nod my head only for her hand to swing forward in a clear invitation. I dropped lower, but don’t actually touch my lips to her hand. It still made her giggle to herself while Oak huffed, rolling his eyes as she coiled a finger with her long light brown hair. She batted her eyes and laughed as I straightened up.

That… had felt rather nice?

Oak coughed to break up the moment. “Daisy, I’m sure there will be plenty of time later to talk with Brock.” Daisy huffed and I pushed away my own disappointment to turn to the original Pokemon Professor.

“I guess, but I’ll hold you to that!” said Daisy, looking straight at me with a considering gaze while addressing Oak. I gave a nervous smile. I hadn’t agreed to anything, but it seemed she’d just locked me in for a future meeting regardless.

Oak offered a smile as if he was sorry, but I could see the amusement sparkling in his eyes. “My team and I have already arrived late so perhaps we can progress to meeting the pokemon in question? I’d hate to take any more of your time, Gym Leader.”

“Not a problem at all Professor Oak,” I said, turning and gesturing through the main doors that would let me lead them onto the free-range area. “Shall we?”

Daisy skipped up and grabbed my arm in her own, batting her eyes at me as she did so. “We shall!” she said, tugging me slightly.

Why did I suddenly feel I was in danger? I almost looked around for one of the Porygon I used for cyber security to leap out of the data cables while flashing a warning. That or Sabrina teleporting in.

No such event occurred however and instead, I walked through the gym, giving the group with me a quick tour of the gym.

Daisy stayed glued to my side the entire time, smiling up at me in a way that felt extremely odd. I should have been annoyed with having her just claim my hand like that, but I couldn’t seem to muster any such feelings. If anything I felt comfortable, like I was being swaddled in a warm blanket that I could lean into. My nostrils were filled with the smell of wildflowers and honey. I had to constantly force myself to divert my focus to other things even as my mind turned over the strange feelings Daisy Oak was causing me to experience.

If I didn’t know any better I’d have thought I was going through puberty all over again for a third time!

I swallowed, pulling up some rock-type energy to settle my nerves. Oak chose to throw me a bone, and give me something else to focus on other than his granddaughter. He nudged an aide and the woman stepped up to my other side, assessing her notes as she did so.

“You mentioned in your message to me that you had originally discovered the pokemon within the Grampa Canyon?” I relaxed a little as Oak’s aide, Delphine, began grilling me for information.

The taller woman had a more harsh appearance that was all business with her long pants and buttoned-up blouse. She held a clipboard with a pen poised and ready for my answer. The other aides looked interested, while Daisy looked mildly annoyed at my attention being drawn to the older woman.

I focussed on her. She was only trying to get some information confirmed so that she can probably scour the area sometime in the future. I was more than happy to gift her the information, having spent a good week spelunking during my Kanto journey. She fished around for some more data and seemed rather pleased when I continued to be open when I could while shrugging when I didn’t have an answer.

None of this information bothered me to give away. It was, after all, knowledge that was now four years old. I’d given the Grampa canyon multiple visits for the possibility that I’d be able to find a fossil or some other ancient pokemon. In the end, I’d only gotten the five ancient pokemon and nothing else. The scientists would likely get more out of investigating those areas in one trip than I would in multiple at this point.

When we entered the backyard we all paused. Before us, Elm was hurriedly rushing around Shin and my other Kabutops, comparing their lustre and other aspects while furiously scrawling on his notepad. Or — much to Salvadore’s delight— calling out observations to my younger brother. “And these flaps around his groin seem to protec—”

“AHEM!” Oak announced himself loudly. This caused Shin’s swipe of his scythe that had been to warn off Elm, to shave the point of the man’s hair as he whipped around.

“Oak! Oak… Oak? Oak! Hello there!” greeted the much younger professor as he ran through a gamut of reactions.

“Elm,” said Oak in a much more controlled fashion. “I see you’ve stolen a march on us.”

Elm chuckled and waved him off. “Oh no such thing, no such thing! I was merely so excited that I had to get here as soon as possible!”

“Without any of your assistants?” Oak pointed out. Elm shook his head before gesturing to Salvadore.

“Nonsense Bianca and Joshua are right…” He trailed off when he met the gaze of Salvadore. “Oh, you’re very young? I hadn’t realised you weren’t my assistant.”

I decided to give Sal a little boost. “Heh! Must have been doing well then! Nice work! Professor Oak, this is my little brother Salvadore, watch out or he’ll talk your ear off!”

“Brock!” Snapped Salvadore before turning to Oak, “Hello sir,” he whispered.

“Another budding researcher eh? If there’s anything the world needs it’s more people with questioning minds! Come! Show us what you know of these magnificent pokemon your brother trains!”

If Salvadore had wings he’d have fluttered away with how excited he became.

He opened his notepad and turned it to show some rather nice drawings of my Omanyte. “Omanyte is a prehistoric pokemon that is actually rather shy. He has the typing of water and rock. He seems to—” I grinned as Salvadore began to unleash a torrent of words at the researchers.

Rather than being surprised though, they took it in stride with notepads or recorders appearing to record their own notes. Stephen pulled out a red case that took me a moment to recognise as a pokedex that he used to snap a few pictures of my pokemon. He also held out a recorder towards Salvadore.

I listened for a few minutes and realised that there didn’t seem to be a stopping point coming any time soon. Salvadore really had put in some serious time researching my pokemon hadn’t he?

A glance at his notepad showed that despite having a book nearly filled with writings, his work wasn’t just prolific, but also densely packed. I could see drawings of various parts of each of the five prehistoric pokemon that he turned around and gestured to seriously while talking through his points. I pursed my lips. Salvadore had a lot of content to still work through. The sun was also rising and I could do the math.

“Perhaps we should retire inside the gym?”

Elm shook his head. “Oh no, that would not let us observe them in their natural environment.”

Salvadore was quick to perk up and page to another section of his notes. “Actually, much like where Brock found them, his pokemon prefer the section of the caves where he has a water lagoon set up!”

Oak and Elm shared a glance before turning to me. “Would you feel comfortable with us moving there instead?”

I nodded slowly before clicking my tongue. “I’ll need to get you some tables and chairs with some lights. They like the dark…” None of the assistants seemed at all bothered by that. Even Daisy appeared interested.

I nodded and whistled to some Geodudes and Graveler that had been sunning themselves nearby. “Right, here’s what we need!” I laid out some orders and within ten minutes we’d all relocated into the cave system I had for my pokemon.

I’d had to grab Elm when we’d walked past Sanchez’s electrical cave. The man had been about to walk right into the cave despite the multiple warning signs to avoid doing any such thing.

When we reached the grotto, the researchers all got themselves situated before continuing from where they had left off.

Don claimed a spot high up on a ledge overlooking the caves that even had an outlet that led up to the top of the small plateau. The others wandered in and out of the water with only Shin’s head being visible as he lingered in deeper water.

Salvadore eventually ended his impromptu lecture on my pokemon before realising how he’d just been word vomiting for the past hour. Before he could withdraw into himself stronger than a Shellder, Delphine and Cerise talked over each other with questions.

“You mentioned their feeding habits changing between the evolved forms?” “You spoke of their preference for watery cave systems, how did you determine this?” Both gave each other a little glare, before eagerly turning back to Salvadore.

“Oh, I read through my brother’s notes on them. I also laid out pictures of foods and environments for them! They pointed out their preferred options. Sort of like a yes-no quiz to narrow things down.”

“Very well reasoned young man. Too often people forget that while pokemon don’t speak our language, they can easily overcome that impairment with us taking steps to provide more communication methods to them.” Oak praised from where he was sitting at a table with his own stack of notes laid out while he coaxed my Omastar onto a rock before his chair.

“Yes! Yes! Truly good work!” Exclaimed Elm as he flipped my Kabuto onto its back to tickle its stomach.

“Professor Elm!” “ELM YOU NINNY!” Shouted a pair of voices as Yolanda led another pair of researchers who I could only assume were Joshua and Bianca. The echoes of their angry roars reverberated throughout the grotto. All my pokemon twitched and stirred Kabuto, Omantye, and Shin all jumped into the water.

A few pokemon deeper within the caves rumbled and the earth shifted slightly underfoot, making everyone turn and glare at the newcomers.

If there was one thing every trainer worth their salt learned on their journey, it was to not make loud noises within a cave system. Yolanda edged away from the suddenly contrite pair. They softly put their hands together and whispered a ‘sorry’ that carried to us.

I inspected them with a highly unimpressed stare. Joshua appeared to be a muscled man with a bald head that shone like a well-polished eightball. Next to him, Bianca was a rather curvaceous-looking woman with a satchel slung over one shoulder that hung low as she held her bow. Her blonde hair was plaited in what was locally known as a Hoenn braid. In my past life it was a french braid.

Don soared over to them and glared down at the pair of them.

I stood up and snapped my fingers. “Don, over here.” He glanced in my direction, then gave the pair another baleful look. He puffed at them and made his way over slowly to show that he wanted to come, not that he was coming because he’d been ordered in any manner. I stroked his head with an exasperated smile.

Daisy slowly approached us and trilled something softly that made Don inspect her. When he accepted her touch someone could have brushed me with a feather to knock over. Daisy Oak crooned a low hum from deep in her throat that got a response from Don as he nuzzled into her.

“How did you do that?” I said hoarsely. I thought I knew most of his quirks but to see Don so easily tamed. It was humbling.

Daisy smiled at me. “I’m able to make all sorts of pokemon relax, Gramps loves it when I settle down the stirred up pokemon at the ranch for him. I’ve always just kind of known what to do?” She said with a shrug.

“Huh,” I said. My attention was drawn from watching the young woman as Elm yelped as his aides reached him and began tearing into him for abandoning them.

“You said we should be at your lab at ten!” said ‘Bianca’ in a carrying whisper.

“Yes!? Ten, Kanto time?” Elm said nervously.

This only made ‘Joshua’ growl at him harder. “We live in Johto! Why would we use Kanto time unless you said so!?” Bianca kicked him in the shin causing him to hop about erratically.

I settled in to watch the slapstick scene. Oak hadn’t even bothered to stop documenting Shelly, I hadn’t seen how he’d managed that. Almost all of the other pokemon in the grotto had ducked under the water.

He didn't look up but still addressed me, “Brock, have you any thoughts on loaning out your pokemon? I understand that you have a rather strong Lapras doing wonderful things for the reservation near Fuschia? Would you be intereste—” Elm broke off his chastisement to cut off Oak.

“Now hold on a second there Oak! Don’t you try and poach pokemon! Your research is on the relationships between man and pokemon. Not breeding like my own!”

Oak put down his measuring tape. “I merely meant that my own laboratory is the best equipped—”

“Mine is more specialised!”

“Mine has a wider arrangement of pokemon for interactions to be documented. You need to establish potential breeding partners.”

“Most of your pokemon are from the trainers you sponsor! Brock would be locked into negotiations with each of them any time his pokemon bred for the egg!”

They went back and forth for a while, Elm stepping forward and gesturing erratically with each point he made. Eventually, Elm had moved forward enough that he was leaning over Oak, with the older man not at all bothered by Elm’s antics. Instead, he continued to write his observations down as Shelly waved her tentacles about.

Cerise, Oak’s head assistant, decided to be the voice of reason by placing his hands in the middle and dividing them. Or rather settling Elm back a bit. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, perhaps you should see if Brock even wants to loan out his pokemon? Two of the ancient pokemon serve as part of his best six pokemon after all. I doubt he’d be willing to lose them for long.” Elm and Oak looked up at that, their eyes questing the grotto for where I was sitting.

“He’s correct. I’m looking to establish a breeding programme here.” I decided to offer another option for them. “Perhaps you could suggest a specialist for me?”

“Bianca here is well versed in my studies and looking to further document breeding groups!” Elm was quick to offer.

Oak looked at his own assistants before clicking his tongue. “Hmmm Stephen?” He said after weighing up his assistants. I felt like he was giving an ‘off the hip’ answer right now.

Stephen coughed into his fist. “I wouldn’t mind remaining around Pewter, but I think I’d prefer to continue my own research on the side. I’m close to having something to present after all Professor!” Oak frowned at him and he raised his hands and waved them back and forth. “But I’d love to work on that as well! Honoured even!”

I got the impression this was like having a doctoral candidate not volunteering for a project after their boss had already done so. I could remember a very tense moment in my past life when I was at University as a student. I’d dropped in to talk to a tutor, who did the academic work on top of their own research, only to have to sit in the office while the head of the department stormed in, laid into them and then departed like a thundercloud. The experience had been enlightening. I had left that meeting with a quiet ‘I’ll ask this question another time’. Stephen now looked at me imploringly. He’d realised he’d overstepped and it would be up to me.

Honestly? The idea of having two Professor aides around… didn’t strike me as too bad an idea. If I could talk shop with them enough and ‘spitball’ certain theories I had, I’d have witnesses —highly credible ones at that— as to how I came up with my rare pokemon if I wanted to continue really making the most of my knowledge.

I decided to throw Stephen a bone. “That actually sounds like a great idea. I think having a researcher like Stephen around would be great to get new insight into our pokemon!” I smiled at him and Stephen exhaled in relief.

Oak smiled. “Wonderful! So Stephen will operate out of Pewter gym for a while!”

“As will Bianca!” Said Elm hurriedly, his gaze frantically whipping from me to her.

I looked at her and she smiled as she put a large blue glove on. She snapped it onto her wrist and for a second her smile gleamed. “Breeding is my speciality!”

Don growled in a way that I really didn’t want to read into.

I coughed. “Well, I’d love to have her. I’ll have my lawyer create some contracts for the gym and the two labs to collaborate on.” I looked to Stephen who was quietly testing water samples. “What was your area of interest?”

He looked up from the machine he’d brought with him. “Oh me? I’m looking into the differences in pokemon interactions with wild and tamed pokemon. It’s a rather wide field all told, as there are many different aspects to account for!”

“I’ll have to set up some housing options for you,” Oak said, nodding and letting the matter rest. His head turned back to his work only to find Shelly having moved on. I spotted her in Yolanda’s arms, who was petting her.

“Actually, I still have some rooms available.” I offered to each professor, “I try to keep some rooms free in case the local pokecenter gets filled up during the circuit.” I waggled my hand. “Mind you it’s not family-sized. They’re single bed, bath and kitchenettes with only a single cupboard for personal effects.”

“Perfect! I’ll be in and out on the routes between Viridian forest and Mt. Moon, so having something small would suit my needs,” Stephen chimed in. He then coughed. “Along with being right here to document all the pokemon interactions in the gym of course!” He gave Oak a glance, but the man wasn’t listening to him anymore.

I gave Stephen a nod and made a mental note to see if I could have a talk with him and Bianca separately later. Bianca sounded like she was happy to set up shop here. Stephen sounded like he was going to roam further afield. If he learned about the Clefairys’ ritual what would he, or Oak, do with the information?

Bianca seemed rather pleased. “I’d be happy to claim a bunk in your gym Brock. That would help with the breeding programme!” She bounced in excitement and my eyes dipped to follow the rather pleasant effect of her movement before I tore my eyes away.

Before we knew it I looked down at my watch only to find that it’s one o’clock.

“Ah! I think now is a good time to stop for lunch,” I said aloud.

Elm waves a hand. “You go right ahead! I’m more than willing to push through!” I eyed the thin man. That… made a lot of sense.

Oak walked up to him and said something rather pointedly into Elm's ear. The man stiffened. “I would never sneak around! Anyway, I have more than enough to keep me busy here with just one of these marvellous pokemon!”

Oak put his hand to his face. “Why do I bother sometimes?” He redirected himself to me. “Brock, would you prefer to have us out of here while you can’t supervise us with your pokemon?”

I gave him a so-so gesture. “More than I think I should be here in case something does happen.”

Oak nodded slowly turning towards Don, who Daisy was no longer pampering. He was instead being approached by Elm. He snapped his jaw loudly and Elm retreated.

“You know Oak, I think you’re right! It might be best to let the pokemon settle for a while before we come back in say… thirty minutes?” Don growled lowly. “An hour?!” Elm corrected.

“That sounds like a good idea,” I said tossing some treats to Don before handing Shin, Shelly, Omantye and Kabuto each a treat of their own.

“What are you feeding them?” Cerise asked.

“Meat strips,” I said, amused that even this was being noted down for their research. I dusted off my hands and stood after that. “Alright! Let’s get some lunch!” I said. Thankfully I had thought ahead enough to order food for all of us and any possible allergies we might have had.

I was very amused to enter my kitchen to find a groaning Munchlax propped up in the corner while Cindy and Suzie played nurse to him.

They nodded and gave me a serious look. “His prog… prongosis!” Said Cindy trying to work out the word she wanted.

“Prognosis?” I said.

“Prognosis!” she said happily before then garbling it, “His ‘progneesus’ is not good! He needs ice cream!” In the background, Munchlax groaned. I patted her on the head.

“Nice try. No ice cream for lunch. Instead of more food I think your patient needs a quiet bed and a nap.” Munchlax agreed with this and so he was carted away.

“Dawwww! They’re adorable!” said Daisy Oak.

Professor Oak chuckled, glancing at the remains of the platter of food. “So it looks like we will be orderin—” I opened the fridge and pulled out the second platter I’d ordered and hidden in the vegetable drawer. Oak blinked at that before throwing back his head and laughing.

I chuckled myself and got rid of the mess the kids had left to cater for the professors and their team. I found myself rather looking forward to getting to sit down with them and asking more questions.

Especially to Samuel Oak. The former first champion of the Indigo League.