"Research log of Assistant Alexa Larch regarding verification of prior research into items found to induce physical changes in pokemon, specifically those causing changes to the type of a pokemon without producing the effects of an evolution," the young assistant stated into the microphone of the recorder as her team of Pokemon shuffled around the lab. Her father had made her promise to help out for the few months between Leagues after her early knockout the previous year.
Collecting a mostly round rock, half the size of her head with a good sized hole drilled into the top, she continued, "Item 1, a Clearwater Geode. Selected for initial test due to the ease of use. Specific example was recovered from," she shuffled some papers aside with the hand holding the rock next to where it had sat, "the sea floor near Sootopolis in the wake of the Aqua/Magma incident."
Alexa's Charizard took the opportunity to shuffle up to sniff the rock. Seeming interested in what it was he rumbled questioningly at her. "According to reports geodes like this can be used to create a drink that causes a pokemon to develop the Water type," she said to both the recorder and her Fire type in explanation.
At this he let out a curious huff, and Alexa couldn't help but chuckle at the pokemon. "Alright, someone has to try it anyway," she told him setting down the microphone. Getting out a water bottle from a nearby fridge she filled the rock, the water taking on a blue glow within revealing the center as being hollow coated with clear crystals. Finding a glass she poured the still glowing liquid out and set down the rock. The fire type followed her motions, but did not move to drink the liquid yet. Instead he stood with his eyes looking at her for permission.
"Just a second," she told him picking the mike back up, "Initial test is on a volunteer Charizard using bottled water poured into the geode and then into an empty glass." Then she indicated it was alright to try with a nod.
Charizard carefully lifted the glass and drank the glowing water quickly. As he set the glass down his body began to change. First was a change to his coloration, with his belly altering to a light blue and teal stripes appearing along his back. Next was the major change as his wings altered dramatically, the thin membranes bulging out and the overall structure moving inward to become a large pair of mobile fins. His fingers lengthened slightly and a thin webbing formed between them, with similar changes occurring with the claws of his feet. Finally the end of his tail expanded outward into a fin, with the tailflame changing to a green fire that spread to cling more tightly over the entire new fin.
Alexa did her best to describe the process as it happened. The speed and extent of the change surprised her, and she felt somewhat worried about the awkward movements of her friend as he inspected the changes to his form.
Her Kingler made a chittering sound that was her form of laughing at the sight and moved closer to inspect her teammate. The altered Charizard seemed to take offense to the minor joke at his change, and with a thoughtful look flashing across his face it took a breath in preparation. With obviously more motion than necessary he spat at the crab, a short blast of boiling water emerging and splashing the tile floor next to the natural Water type.
"Volunteer is able to produce water type attack immediately after change," she said for the recording in a bit of a daze. Her two pokemon both looking more interested in the success than continuing their minor disagreement. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked, receiving a happy growl from the temporary Water type.
Although some of that obvious joy was lost as he made a failed attempt to flap his new fins as he would use his wings to hop. However, his quick recovery to simply walk to the nearest window seemed to distract him from the loss of his Flying type. He motioned outside, to where the town pond was situated, and proceeded to move his new tailfin in an exaggerated fashion.
"You just wanted to try swimming, didn't you?" she asked with a chuckle before turning off the recording. "Alright, I guess we can take a bit of a break for some practical experiments."
Alexa watched as her Kingler and currently Fire/Water type Charizard practically raced to the small pond at the edge of town. She shared a look of amusement with her Grass type, a Bellossom, who had decided to join in the trip outside. Walking calmly towards the pond she watched as the former Flying type made a clumsy dive into the water. Bellossom looked over the spectacle and found a spot some distance away to sit and sun herself. The Grass type settled in to watch her teammate experiment with his altered form.
"It really isn't like evolving is it?" she asked the partly submerged Charizard. His response was to shake his head strongly, and then turn to look over his tail. The fin at the end was still covered closely with a green flame that seemed to burn just fine under the water. As the fire type toyed with splashing the fiery appendage in and out Alexa opened the notebook she had brought and began to write down observations on the change.
Kingler took this opportunity to send a Water Gun at Charizard. The small blast of water washed over his head making the Fire type turn surprised but not really hurt by the weak attack. A clicking challenge was made by the crab, and she quickly motioned to two rocks at the edges of the pond. "You want to try a race?" Alexa asked the pure Water type, getting a nod from both of the currently aquatic pokemon.
With a chuckle Bellossom contributed by growing a pair of flowered vines and warping them around the start and end rocks. Kingler quickly scuttled to the first one, and then sent a series of impatient clicks towards Charizard. The reptile took his time swimming through the water to the starting spot, obviously trying out how to move with his new features. This brief trial period had Kingler make an upset face, and Alexa could only laugh realizing the crab had wanted him to still be completely unfamiliar with how to accomplish the task.
Once the Fire type made it to the rock Alexa whistled to get their attention and raised her hand into the air. "Ready? Three. Two. One. Go!" she shouted out as she dropped her hand sending the two pokemon surging forward. Kingler easily crossed the small distance sending a spray of water into the air and skidding out onto the ground next to the target rock. Charizard moved less easily, although still at great speed.
Unfortunately he wasn't quite capable of keeping a straight line and ended up well off course. Stopping just before the edge of the pond some distance from the goal he reoriented and set off again. Still missing he slowed down considerably on the third try, now working more towards learning how to steer with his large fins than trying to complete the race.
Kingler seeing this chittered out in victory, and she followed it up with another challenging click. Charizard considered the idea as he finally drifted to the location of the finish rock. "Bellossom, can you judge for them now?" Alexa asked writing in the notebook about the movements of her Fire type. Seeing the two pokemon turn to her the Grass type nodded and with a shout raised her own arm.
The two pokemon traveled back and forth over the pond, occasionally changing rules on their own and experimenting with the capabilities of the transformed pokemon. Charizard's movement improved over the runs until he was easily keeping up with the born Water type. Kingler's speed even seemed to improve a bit over the course of the attempts, although it became clear that adding turns to the race only made it harder on the crab as Charizard's fins were far more easily able to make even very sharp corners.
Checking the time Alexa saw that it had been almost 50 minutes since the transformation. "Alright Charizard, you should come out now." At his questioning growl she continued, "It only lasts about an hour, and I don't think you want to be out there when you change back." With a grumble the pokemon emerged from the pond and moved to the grassy area nearby.
After a moment of just standing in the field the new Water type began to try out his attacks. Alexa took notes as he spat out a good sized Scald attack towards the ground nearby. The range seemed fairly good and the steaming water hit with some force. A Flamethrower attempt was much shorter range than normally, but the green flames that resulted seemed a bit hotter. Wing Attack seemed much less powerful, but was still available as an option despite the loss of the Flying type. This series of attacks continued for a while, with Kingler joining in to try and teach Bubble to the reptile.
Soon however Charizard stopped and let out a confused growl. His body then began to change again, returning to its original form. The extension and webbing of his fingers and toes were the first to recede back to their previous form. Then his large fins thinned and extended back outward into wings once again. Finally as his coloration returned to normal the fin on his tail collapsed inward into just a thin tailtip and the flame bloomed outward into a large red fire.
Seeing that he was back to normal Charizard let out a dissapointed growl. He flexed his fingers and wings, and then with a slightly sad expression looked at the flame on his tail. "You really liked being a Water type didn't you?" Alexa asked him as she finished writing down the transformation.
Charizard gave her a slow nod, before perking up and looking towards the lab. He then made a chuffing sound and pointed to it with a claw. "Wait, do you want to try again already?" she asked surprised, and then with a bit of thought continued, "Let me guess, you want us to keep the Geode for ourselves?" He nodded eagerly, and even flapped his wings a bit. "Alright, I guess you can try again, but I'll have to ask dad about keeping it."
Despite how that wasn't a guarantee that he would get the stone Charizard let out a happy burst of flame and took off flying towards the lab.