This is sort of a continuation from my one-shot story; Maturity. You should probably read that one first; it's the prologue in a way. This will contain specialshipping, oldrivalshipping, mangaquestshipping, soulsilvershipping, and franticshipping. As usual, tell me mistakes and I'll fix them. Don't own it.
Professor Oak had never been more afraid. Not when he'd been kidnapped, not when the world was about to be destroyed. But the prospect of telling half of his pokedex holders that they were A, really not needed for the Kalos stone project and B, that he needed someone to pay off the damages to the lab had him sweating bullets. Combine A with B and you'll be getting close to the professor's source of discomfort.
When he first entered the room where the ten dexholders had gathered, he was pleasantly surprised to find that nothing expensive or irreplaceable had been broken yet. Of course, that didn't mean it wouldn't happen. By the way Ruby and Sapphire were going at it, something was going to get thrown soon.
The professor cleared his throat as he turned to address the children. 'It's going to be fine.' he thought to himself. 'They'll love to help you out. They'll…oh God, I hope I don't get lynched.'
"Ruby, Sapphire, could you please quiet down?" Professor Oak decided to start out by preventing Ruby from suffocating as Sapp's hands tightened around his throat.
"Yo Prof, what are we here for?" Gold asked as he continued to play what appeared to be poker with Emerald in the back.
"Well as you know, the Kalos stone project is my top concern at the moment, and I will be needing some of you to do some fieldwork. Unfortunately, some of you won't be helping." There was general confusion as this comment sunk in, though Blue sent a knowing smirk. Professor Oak took a deep breath before continuing. "Because of the…episode yesterday, most of the equipment in the scan lab has been broken. So, some of you are going to help me test the so called Mega Stones, and some…will help pay off the damages." The reaction to this last comment was mixed. Narrowed eyes, (Green and Silver) startled expressions (Mainly Yellow and Ruby), and loud whooping, though Professor Oak assumed that was because Gold had apparently gotten a straight flush. (He wasn't listening to a word said. Again.)
"I would never expect you to pay out of pocket, so I found some employers looking for help in Viridian City. Half of you will be working there for a couple of weeks." Here it was. There were a couple of splutters of protest and more shocked faces. It's not like he had a choice. The destruction yesterday was expensive, and scientific research was more of a long-term investment.
"Anyway," Professor Oak continued, sweat starting to bead on his brow. "That's that. Five of you will work with me, while the other five work jobs. Red, I'll need your battling expertise on this, so you're working with me. Crystal, you'll be a valuable asset, as usual." The professor closed his eyes. Here began the parts he was dreading. "Ruby, Sapphire,…well, I can't really keep the two of you together after yesterday, and since Mega evolutions supposedly happen in battle, and you're so against battling Ruby, I well…" Ruby was looking at him with a horrified fascination. Sapphire looked relieved.
"Professor," Ruby angrily replied. "She was the one who did most of the damage!"
"Yes, but I need…her."
"Uh, Gold and Silver," Gold head jerked up from his cards. Silver's eyes narrowed. "You two were responsible for a lot of the destruction, and I…really…can't have either of you…around for…this." Professor Oak finished lamely. Emerald was taking his revenge on Gold's appropriation of his money by laughing at his expression. Silver's eyes were now slits.
"Yellow, I really don't see how you could help in this regard, so…" Yellow nodded and looked down. At least someone was taking this well.
"And that brings us to…Green." Professor Oak's voice was so weak at the end; you practically couldn't hear it. Green looked vaguely surprised and annoyed, and opened his mouth to reply. "For reasons I'd rather not state, I can't have you participating in the experiment either." Professor Oak hurried on quickly. His grandson's eyes narrowed.
"Grandfather, Silver and I are are beyond capable battlers." Gold looked annoyed at being left out. "Wouldn't it be more efficient to…"
"I really can't have either of you near here, though for totally different reasons." Blue hid a smirk behind her hand. Professor Oak thought back to the encounter with the brunette in his office, and how she politely suggested that of the two of them, Green be the one to work, lest some love letters the professor had written in his foolish youth finally be delivered. Though the loss of his bright grandson and the gaining of a giggling trickster was crippling, it was better not to tempt fate.
"Well, I already have a job." Green pronounced angrily. "The gym should make more than enou…"
"Unfortunately because of your reputation Green, the gym doesn't get enough challengers to make the necessary amount. Luckily, someone has offered to look after the gym while your working." Professor Oak neglected to mention that that "volunteer" was also the reason Green was going to be working in the first place. Blue's smile grew bigger, if possible.
"Well, if that's everything, I guess I better be going. Crystal, you can find a list of job in my office. Give everyone one they like. Okay, I have to check on my aides, goodbye." And with that, the professor hurried from the room, eager to escape the glares of some of his young assistants.
As Professor Oak fled, Blue took Crystal aside. "Hey Crystal," Blue said with a wink. "Why don't you let me divvy up the jobs?"
"Blue, the professor told me to do it. You would probably give everyone a job they hated."
"Fine, you give them out. And I can let everybody know what the October fourteenth entry in your diary says." Crystal turned beet red and reluctantly gave in. Blue grinned once again to herself. This was going to be fun.
This is to set things up. If you review, tell me which jobs you think Green and the others should have.