There was never anything spectacular or interesting about Celestia before her mother died, and her father gave her a pokeball with a crystal necklace around it before he walked into his bedroom and shut the door, where the loud bang of a shot stung her ears. There was a change in her when she felt the touch of that ball though, a shift in her eyesight, quickness to her motions. She was 16 years old, orphaned to the grave.

Now there she stood, pushing her bangs out of her face and walking out of the Pokemon League. The long path felt hard on her booted feet, and her demeanor was not what you would expect from such a successful champion.

When she met the gates that let her abandon the league's shadow, the reporters gathered. She had not called them there, of course not, but their eyes pierced her limber body and their voices piped into a melted pot of noise.

She held up her hand, a gesture to ask for silence, and then met eyes with an individual reporter, nodding to give the green light to their journalistic questioning.

"Celestia Rush, you have just beaten the Kalos Pokemon League, your sixth league in a row. What do you intend do with your time now?"

She held in a grimace, and took a deep breath before starting, "I plan to train harder, and travel until there are more leaders to beat."

She locked eye contact with the next reporter.

"Celestia, you have often claimed yourself as 'nomadic'. Do you ever find yourself settling down, possibly starting your own gym or becoming a league member as so offered?"

She licked her lips, a bad habit she held. Placing a hand on the belt of her pokeballs she looked the reporter in their eyes once again. "No." was all she could say, the word like a heavy stone dropped on the concrete, it cracked down with a great noise to the aura of the questioning.

"One more,'" she thought to herself, and swallowed hard before nodding to one more questioning face.

"Ms. Rush, your team you have often commented as "loyal" and have not added to in a number of years. Do you see yourself welcoming other Pokemon into your life?"

Celestia gave a ghost of a smile and pointed to belt she had previously gripped, and tilted her head, adding a shrug. "They're all I need."

The reporter nodded, and the others looked at her quietly, hoping for another green light. She then looked at each one briefly, and said swiftly "I will be taking my leave now. Thank you for your interest, and have a good one."

The little cluster of questioners made a path, though they had curious looks on their faces. Celestia was known for brief interviews but this was the quickest yet.

Once she exited the little crowd that had formed she exhaled heavily, relief flooding into every blood canal, each root to her soul. It wasn't that she hated her titles, or that she didn't like that people cared, but she just didn't socialise enough to find anything like that encounter to be enjoyable.

She wished that they just didn't happen, for they never ended right. She'd seen the reports on her from the first couple interviews she had in her previous years, and they always ended on a note of disdain, like she just wasn't a satisfying person to be holding the title of Champion, at least to the public.

Thinking on this, she entered the nearest pokemon center, and feeling dazed and absent-minded she handed her pokemon to the nurse, a stereotypical Nurse Joy, as always.

The gentle chime of the healing process played melodically, a sound she always welcomed, knowing her dearest companions were healthy once more.

She could feel the Nurse trying to start a conversation with her but as the pokeballs were handed back she gave a small wave and began to walk out again, fingering one in particular that would able her escape from the area.

When she reached the door her thoughts were still somewhere else, but suddenly her arm was pulled at, dragging her body with it to the side of the exit, and the hand that previously reached for one pokeball flashed to another, pulling it out with lightning speed and widening it to it's standard size. As she was about to throw it with all her might she looked at the one who had pulled her, and felt confusion, but the offensive side of her did not seize.

The man was tall, past six feet, if anything, slim (maybe you could call it wiry?) and exuded warmth. His wind blown black hair seemed to defy gravity, his blue eyes curious and kind. He certainly did not seem like the kind to grab a woman into a dark corner.

As she opened her mouth to growl out a threat, he began to chuckle and looked at her with such joy she wondered if he was intoxicated. This caused her to stop and look at him in curiosity, though she did not withdraw her menacing hand that gripped the pokeball.

"You're just like they said, mademoiselle!" he laughed, his voice surprisingly deep and smooth, like the flow of a river, a slight accent giving it the ripples that water always brings.

Celestia's face hardened once more, as her thoughts went straight to the interviewers and their nasty behind-back comments.

"Well if I'm certain of anything, sir, it is that whoever they are, they do not know me to begin with." She hissed, looking at him with malice.

This did not intimidate the man, if anything, it made him happier.

"Oh no, I did not mean that so harshly! I am sure that I have made the greatest of mistakes, and I am most sorry to have insulted you. Now, if I may have a moment of your time?"

His kindness made her almost dizzy with confusion, there was no fear in him, like she could see in the face of so many before him. Now that she looked hard enough at him, she scrutinized his features, his strong chin with a shadow of dark hair over it and his jaw, thin lips, but attractive in their own way, that were surrounded by gentle smile lines from his obvious joy with life. He looked maybe in his late 20s, and blindingly handsome. Not her kind of handsome, but of course, no one was. She had never held a lover.

She breathed through her nose in huff before speaking once more, "Please make it quick, I am in a stretch for time," she lied.

"Well, I'm sorry to bother you with this mademoiselle but I welcome you to put away your pokeball, I would never dare to challenge you, I know I am no match." And with this he laughed once more, a rumble of joy spilling out.

She eyed him and the pokeball back and forth quickly, before shrinking it back down and hooking it gently into place, sixth position.

He watched her do it, and smiled quietly at how delicately she handled it, sweet admiration growing into his lungs. This powered his next words,

"Would you give me the honour of going out to dinner with me?"

She looked up to him, practically whipping her head up in concern for his sanity. He looked at her, his eyes wide in waiting for her reply.

Biting her lip, Celestia felt a surge of feeling to say yes, but its life was short and unwanted. Clearing her throat from these mysteriously brief feelings, she pronounced she would not.

He laughed and brought his hand to his face, rubbing his beard bashfully, the other hand carrying his arm to his back to complete the portrayal of the emotion.

"I figured as much," he addressed "but I thought I ought to give it a try before going for the throat. See, mon amie, I am very interested in discussing your future with you. I know that sounds odd, but let me introduce myself," he continued, as her face changed to amused bewilderment.

"My name is Augustine Sycamore, or Professor Sycamore by more professional means. I've been studying since I was very young, and I'm aware you have done the same. I wish to bring you to Lumiose City, and get your input. You are a most treasured jewel in the land of Pokemon, and I wish for your shine to enlighten my studies."

"Holy shit" she thought to herself, that was the fanciest compliment she had ever heard, nevertheless received.

A quiet but million mile thought process jolted through her brain, and before she knew it she looked him right in his ocean eyes and asked,

"When?"

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"You cannot be serious," she hissed, looking at the outfit her beloved gogoat nudged at with his long horns, "I'm not out to impress, Carwyn! I just need to look presentable, which, I know, is a lot."

Carwyn rolled his big eyes and shook his head, ruffling his wooly mane. She walked over to him, and touched her head to his, forehead to forehead. He gave a small appreciative noise and she kissed his nose gently before returning back to the expansive amount of suitcases, all with different things about them. For a nomad, she had quite a lot of things.

She sat on the large king-sized bed that the fancy hotel had offered to her, free of charge in exchange for the publicity of having the 6 league champion stay there. Carwyn trot out of the room, realizing she would most likely not accept his help and disappeared out of her view.

Celestia sighed, rubbing her temples, hard and slow. Here she was, in Lumiose city, Kalos Region, and couldn't keep her brain organised. Outside of her personal space, she was cold and quick, but alone she wasn't in that unbearable realm, she was with her best friends, her pokemon. Her team was as follows, for future reference, of course.

Carwyn the Gogoat, lvl. 100

Dedailus the Aerodactyl lvl 100

Sai the Milotic lvl 100

Raikya the Houndoom lvl 100

Zander the Jolteon lvl 100

and Hendrix the Terrakion lvl 100

She had them for at least 4 years each, her longest staying companion was Zander, his years racking up to around nine now. Though she had known them all for different amounts of time, none meant more than another; they were all her most darling friends, all loved for different reasons.

As Carwyn barreled out she thought fondly of him, he was the smartest creature that accompanied her, but he wasn't one to act like he knew more than another. He was easy company to keep, calm and funny, but fierce in battle.

All her pokemon were, that's how she was known, a brute force with strategy to match the compulsive need to fight.

That rang untrue with her now, getting up from the bed in the hotel suite. She stood on her bare feet against the wood flooring, letting out a compulsive sigh to be back on her limbs again. She stretched out her arms, yawning, and went on the same path out of the room that Carwyn had minutes before.
The hallway was short lived from her room, and opened up to a large room that held both the kitchen and living room, accompanied together. As she looked in Celestia could feel a smile bloom on her pale face, teeth flashing. Her pokemon were almost in a heap, like there wasn't anywhere else to go in the big room but on each other, though untrue. They were all crowded together, nudging and making their respective noises, happy to be out of the room and together. Traveling wasn't exactly exciting if they couldn't be out of their pokeball like when Dedailus just took her flying to locations (which Celestia rarely approved of unless needing a quick way out), but that was behind them now. Raikya was the first to notice Celestia enter the room, and pulled out of the group, barking out a greeting to her beloved trainer. Celestia grinned specially at Raikya before addressing the group.

"Alright guys, I figured now is a good time as any to discuss plans," she began and the group of rowdy friends grew quiet, scuffling of each other and getting seated into a circle, knowing the drill for such a powwow. Celestia sat down in the circle, and Zander hopped into her lap, knowing he was the only one small enough to do it. He was careful around her, keeping all electric currents out of his usually pinned up fur, letting it lay soft and fluffy. He was like a little yellow eevee sometimes, if so desired.

She let him sit on her lap, though she nudged at him when he tried to lay down, there was no falling asleep at powwow.

"Okay, I know what we're all thinking. What in god's name now?" she questioned, licking her lips quickly. Looking at each one of them, she could tell they just didn't know either, so she continued.

" I've had an offer. Well, a ghost of an offer more likes, and that's why we're here. The professor of this region has asked me to go to dinner with him tonight and talk about my studying with him. I need all of your opinions; I won't do anything we don't want. But, I must also mention, you're all also aware that we are no longer set to challenge anywhere else, so we're tapped pretty dry in competition right now. New regions will continue to come into light, I'm sure of that, but until then we need a plan. I know my opinion, but that is little in comparison to your own. So?" she finished, and scrunched up her face in waiting for some sort of hint they would agree or disagree to her proposed plan.

"Te-Terraki!" said a gentle roar of approval. She looked to Hendrix, a gentle smile on her lips that he was always so supportive to her. Nodding to him, she looked around at the others in question.

Then a nudge at her chin sent a small electric current through her blood, and Celestia looked down at Zander who looked her in the eyes.

"Two to Zero!" she announced, and began to target individuals. "What about you, Sai?"

Sai looked back at her trusted friend and blinked before releasing a gentle but firm "Milot!"

"Three to Zero!" was announced and the remaining pokemon looked to one another. One more vote and it was decided, and no one ever liked to bring out the tiebreaker.

Then a voice piqued up;

"Gogo-gogoat!" Carwyn trilled and looked happily at her, affirmation gleaming in his eyes.

Celestia stood up, clapping her hands in finality of the meeting. "Settled then!" she proclaimed, and Zander scrambled up onto one of her shoulders and rubbed his head against her cheek fondly.

All of the pokemon seemed to think this was amiable enough, and to see her happy was always their goal.

"Alrighty, who wants food?" she grinned, and trills of excitement were heard from all.

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Biting her lip, Celestia looked hard at the building. It was nestled in with everything else, and was labeled quite simply "Restaurant Le Wow" and she found it rather amusing it had to have "Le" in it. Very French.

She gripped her belt before entering the establishment, where a man with grey hair and a light suit welcomed her; a smile on his face she wasn't sure was genuine or just part of the job.

"How may we help you, mademoiselle?" he asked, gesturing to the restaurant as a whole, like it would just be as happy as could be to serve her. She nodded quietly, and looked at him without emotion in her tone. "I'm here to meet a man by 'Augustine Sycamore'."

'Ah," the elderly man exclaimed and snapped for a younger waiter to come over, "You must be Ms. Celestia Rush! It is an honour to have you dine here. Your date has not arrived yet but he has a table reserved, Garcon here shall take you to it and Monsieur Sycamore will be arriving soon!"

She nodded to him and looked to the aforementioned Garcon who led her past all the booths and tables, which surprised her. They went deeper into the restaurant where there were almost no people, and she kept a hand resting by her side, ready to spring if trouble occurred. Then the Garcon opened a door that was almost unnoticeable that led to the warm breeze of the summer night. A single table was presented to her, long candles in the middle of it illuminating the small space, which was actually placed in a garden. The Garcon pulled out a chair, which made a small petition against the cobblestone, but she was seated. He asked if he could bring her any wine or beverage at all, and she shook her head, dismissing him with a small smile and a wave of her hand.

It was beautiful there, she was seated in the middle of the most private place she had seen or heard of in any place of this nature. The walls around her were crawling with vines and the fire's light casted highlights and shadows against them that danced with it in the breeze.

Now as she thought, no wonder the man at the front had called the Professor her "date". This was much more romantic then she had thought would come of this. "Ah, the French," she mused to herself.

As promised the Garcon came back a few minutes later, the tall, handsome man from the pokemon center with him.
"Ah, Mademoiselle! You're early!" he proclaimed, and she stood up as a formality. He took her hands happily and kissed both her cheeks fast but sincerely before seating himself across from her. She watched him quietly, a little astounded to have someone actually touch her face whose home wasn't an acorn sized ball, and sat once more.

Before she could speak he ordered them two red wines, "of the finest quality" and the garcon disappeared into the invisible door.

"How are you, mon amie?" he began, his blue eyes resting on her face.

She tried to speak quickly, not sure she liked the attention on her. It was obvious it would not be fleeting with this man, she noted as well.

"I am fine, Professor. Curious, if anything."

He laughed and put up his hands, shaking them to dismiss her. "No, no, you mustn't call me professor unless we are in the lab! Here I am just, Augustine. And if you like, you may be just Celestia."

Quickly apologising and explaining that Celestia was fine, she ran a hand through her hair anxiously, it's thickness tangling in her fingers, though quickly releasing.

"No apologies necessary, Celestia," he said, his deep voice silky and tender. "But if you are curious, then here I am to hopefully tame it!"

She found herself emitting a small laugh, and she wasn't sure why. He was kind and airy, there wasn't anything pressuring about him, he was innocent in a way. Something about him made her feel comfortable, and as much as she struggled to not want that to be true, it was showing in her behaviour.

She rested her hands on the table, though she was holding Zander's pokeball in one. Once again, before she could speak, he exclaimed,

"One of your pokemon! I've heard of your infamous team, and I'm glad you have brought them tonight! Would you give me the dearest honour of meeting them?"

He eyed her small hands that held the pokeball, waiting eagerly for a response. How in the world could she turn him down? It was not often she let anyone meet her pokemon, it was just not in her nature, and she never wanted to open them to anything they would find uncomfortable, but she found herself nodding.

"This is Zander," she said, enlarging the ball in her hand. "He is my oldest friend."

Celestia stood before sending him out, and promptly tossed the ball up and away about a foot and it bounced to the floor, emitting a bright red light that gave form to Zander's electric body, and the ball flew back to her hand. Zander didn't take one look at Augustine before bounding over to her, jumping into her arms, and she laughed with delight.

The Professor stood quickly and walked over to her side of the table. Zander looked to him and back to the one that held him. "Danger?" was all that went through his head and she sensed it, answering by shaking her head.

"Jolteon!" he cried, looking at Augustine and Augustine chuckled.
"He sure is something, mademoiselle! I've made my way around quite a few eevees and their respective evolutions in my time of study, but none so fond of their trainer!" he told her, smiling in admiration. He then turned his eyes to the Jolteon and leaned down to meet him at eye level in Celestia's arms. "May I touch you, Zander?"

The little creature looked immediately to her for information on how to proceed, and she simply shrugged. It was his decision.

With great excitement Zander jumped on top of the Professor's head, squeaking happy exclamations. This surprised the man thoroughly, but he laughed so hard and honestly that Celestia knew it was not a problem.

He stood up straight as the pokemon sat on his head, and felt Zander paw at his thick black hair.

"I'm sorry, Augustine, he is not shy to many." She admitted, amused as The Professor reached up and picked the Jolteon off his head and held him out at arms length.

"I am certainly not sorry about his charisma! Are your other pokemon so full of life?" he asked, now holding Zander in his arms and petting his head lightly.

Celestia laughed, putting her hand behind her head and rubbing it bashfully, "No, not exactly. They're all great in their own respects, but none is as outgoing as Zander. I'd let you meet them all, but I'm afraid only Zander and Raikya would fit! Would you like to meet her as well?"

Augustine looked at her tenderly, still petting Zander. He could feel her love for her pokemon when she spoke of them, her tone changed into something happy, something you didn't particularly hear from her anywhere else. He could tell she would be a good fit for research, if she would allow it.

"Well, I wouldn't like to leave everyone out! After dinner I would like you to come see the lab, maybe there we could let them all befriend me?" he replied, looking at the small space knowing that from what he knew of the team, it wasn't time to let any run wild but the little Jolteon. Celestia nodded, understanding perfectly. She looked to Zander and nodded her head to his pokeball in her hand. He hopped down from his perch in Augustine's arms and stood still as she called him back inside his home, flashing the red light to return him.
Right as this happened the door from the restaurant opened, the young garcon carrying a platter with two large wine glasses and a wine bottle in a bucket of ice, wrapped in cloth. When he noticed the table empty he looked to the two, standing closely to each other.

"O-oh! So sorry to interrupt, I can return?" he stuttered, looking away quickly. Celestia thought this strange before she realised how close she was to the professor, she could literally smell his cologne (which is worth mentioning, was very attractive and musky). She gasped quietly and she moved away, right next to her seat. Augustine didn't even notice her actions, for he was laughing lightly, waving the Garcon in.
"No, no! We must have gotten a little distracted, please come monsieur!" and the waiter did so. As he walked over to the table and set out the glasses and poured the wine, Augustine walked over to Celestia, grinning. He gestured for her to sit, and when she did he pushed her seat in for her. Had he not noticed the closeness? She wondered, feeling a little wary with herself.

As he finished pouring the wine and describing it's origin the Garcon eyed her in wondering, and she gave him a hard and emotionless look back, even making eye contact. She would not be played as having some sort of odd damsel in distress side to her.

Augustine took his seat and thanked the waiter for the wine.

"What will you be having, Madame?" the young Garcon asked, still looking at her a bit funny. This came as a shock to her, she didn't even remember they were having dinner in the first place.

"I..uh." she started, a blank look on her face. Augustine grinned and spoke before she could sound even more like a fool.

"We'll not be in need of anything but the wine, I'm afraid I have chosen a much too formal place for my meeting with Ms. Celestia." He laughed, and the Garcon's eyes widened, and he looked back at Celestia with questioning bursting in his facial expression. She stayed like stone.

Yet in her mind she agonised over his wording, and the definite wrong-taking of it that the young man in front of her was doing.

He exited through the door and Augustine smiled at Celestia warmly.
"Call me eager, that is quite alright, but I'd really like to meet your pokemon now. How do you feel about a quick stop for food and then a visit to the lab?"

She watched him quietly before nodding,

"That's quite alright. I'm never too comfortable without my companions out, anyway."

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UPDATE:

Turning around Augustine smiled widely, holding up two wrapped up items in his hands. She looked at them in confusion, and he walked over and handed her one, which felt warm and steamed in her hand.

"That, mademoiselle, is the finest food this city has to offer, do not be fooled!" he exclaimed, and to show he meant it, he pulled the wrapping off the object that was remaining in his left hand, and revealed a sandwich filled with as many vegetables as Celestia could think to name. They emitted quiet trails of vapour from them, and were promptly destroyed in a bite by white teeth.

She laughed softly, watching the man before her find such exaltation in eating a sandwich he bought from a cart. He was always happy, she had noted to herself. He was happy to meet her, happy to walk with her, even happy to trip on his own shoelace and fall face flat on the concrete twenty minutes earlier. She had never met anyone like him, someone so okay that life wasn't going to do as planned sometimes.

"Go on, try it!" he exclaimed, his mouth still half full with the food. She looked down at the sandwich attentively and pulled away some of the paper so that she could get a small bite without exposing the entire thing.

She chewed for a moment, and her eyes lit up. She looked over to him, to find him chuckling at her, half his sandwich already gone, and he winked,

"What did I say, hm?" Augustine mocked, taking another large bite.

She just gave him a small smile, and went back to eating. They didn't say much but somehow communicated to one another to keep walking down the North Boulevard while they ate. He even slipped his arm around hers, guiding her towards the lab, and as much as she hated being touched, it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

She continued to nibble on her food as he had finished his in record time, walking happily under the street lights with her. The night had died down, the darkness filling up the city with a calming undertone. The large Lumiose tower lit more of the area than anything as they walked and she paid attention to it more than the man at her side.

He noticed this, half way through a sentence, and looked at her face that was turned to the tower.

She had beautiful features, he decided quietly. Eyes bigger than he had ever seen, hazel in colour and strong cheekbones, a gentle face line that let her skin breathe but look smooth, and lips that protruded to almost always look in a pout. She looked over to him to see him analyzing her, and her features turned to portray traces of panic, that would be invisible to anyone that was not looking as hard as Augustine Sycamore was. He smiled at her gently, and she looked down, back to her food.

The continued to keep her eyes low, and he didn't bother her with any words, he didn't think many were needed for right now. They arrived at the front of the large elegant building that was the lab and she tossed the remains of her sandwich into a rubbish can nearby, finished with eating.

Augustine let go of her arm and looked at the building in awe, and she was confused for a moment until realizing it was indeed his castle of science.

The lab was large, and not what she had expected at all. It was made of stone and looked like one of the ancient universities she had seen in the older parts of regions. It seemed almost out of place completely in the city, but here it was, overwhelming and looming.

He stared for a moment longer, and she said nothing to snap him out of it.

"Celestia, this place has been my home for a very long time, since the moment I stepped in. I had to fight a lot of people to keep it to it's original outwardly looks and it has been worth it," he turned and smiled to her, "I hope you will find the same comfort in it."

She nodded solemnly, unsure how to react to such an offer, and he gestured his hands in invitation for her to walk up the steps to the stone doors. After doing so she waited for him to reach the top as well, and unlock the marble doors.

These doors were then pushed open by a gentle nudge on his part to reveal a lobby, an empty receptionist desk and chairs all about as if people just came to hang around, which Celestia didn't doubt happened.

She looked to Augustine and he looked back at her, one of his calm smiles placed serenely on his face, and she couldn't help but smile back.

Spark.

It was quiet, small, but definitely there. They both felt it, chiming up into their throats with a slight burn. It caused silence, as they both processed it. He, within his mind, laughed with it, but inside Her, she felt it mock all her previous years and thoughts that alone was the only way. Neither of them acknowledged it aloud, they both doubted the other felt it, but it drifted and hung in the air like a mist.

The silence stayed for a moment before he pierced it with the pin of his gentle voice,

"Would you like to see my work space? I mean, this is the lab and all, but if you were to work with me we would share the area that is currently what I'd like to show you." He proposed, and she looked at him and nodded.

Without warning he stepped behind her, softly grabbing both her shoulders with his steady hands, and practically wheeled her towards the elevator that was placed in the middle of the back wall. Even after stepping in and pressing the "3F" button on the controls he kept his hands on her shoulders, and she tried to stay relaxed, though she hadn't a clue how to take him so close behind her, holding her in place with his tender grasp. Once again, she could smell his cologne, intoxicating her mindset.

"Fuck." Her mind repeated over and over.

A little ring over the speakers of elevator announced their arrival to the supposed "3F" and the heavy metal doors opened up to the area.

Augustine led her out once more with the nudge of his hands on her shoulders, and once they were in the middle of the floor he leaned down, putting his head next to hers from behind, his mouth by her ear.

"Isn't it just wonderful?" he mused, looking around with a sigh, melting in the love he held for his work.

She tried very hard to observe the area he admired so much, but her concentration was much too far away from that, focusing on the heat she felt emanate from his cheek that was right next to hers, his body not even a foot away from the back of hers, the scent of his hair ruffling up into her own.

Before she could completely panic, he let her go and walked out into the middle of the room, his arms out as if to gesture to the entire room

"Honestly, it's a paradise to me," he said, then looked to her, and grinned. "Ah yes, well, enough of my drabble! I can feel myself bothering your young soul." He chuckled, and she tilted her head at the mention of "young soul". He was aware that she was a 24 year old woman, right?

She wondered this to herself but snapped out of it quickly, replying quite simply, "Well, we all have our passions."

Augustine nodded in agreement with her, and began to explain himself in a bit of a more serious tone, (though not so serious he was not being himself)

"I'm glad you understand, mon amie! Now, I guess I ought to get to the boring things, the clock is being rather brutal with time! See, Celestia, I am very impressed with you," he began, sitting himself down in a nearby swivel chair and inviting her to one right by him. She sat, crossing her legs and looked back to him to continue.

"Your fighting spirit is an amazing gift, but I think people have fully focused on that too much!"

Her face brightened but she let him go on,

"You hold something about you, something I don't quite understand, but I think it is much more powerful than any of your other talents and gifts. Ah, your love for pokemon maybe, your 'incendie de la passion" to be romantic about it. I want you to help me on my quest to make a better world for humans and pokemon, to let us all live together in happiness and peace. I can't tell you that you won't get bored with me, or find this the most interesting thing in this whole world, but I truly would be in honour if you would give it a chance."

He then took her hands in his and looked at her with patience and excitement in his eyes. She stared at his hands cupping her for a moment then looked up to him, trying hard to get the right words out, she knew she couldn't get all fluttered and just say yes, it wasn't just her decision. He sensed this as she looked down in thought, and he smiled in understanding.

"Ah, I see I'm not exactly asking the right person for all this, am I?" he laughed quietly, and moved his head down to catch her eyes, still looking low.

"Y-yes, you are correct in that. This isn't quite my decision, there is so much more to consider." She stated, trying to sound hard and unwavering, though her stuttering obviously did not portray that.

"I understand, mademoiselle. If I may be so bold, I would like to ask those others that would be effected by this, if that is alright?"

She looked at him in questioning, realising that he truly did want to ask all her companions opinions as well. Celestia licked her lips and pulled off each of the little pokeballs on her belt, enlarging one after the other and tossing them out onto the tiling of the lab floor.

One by one her friends came out with flashes of red light, each emitting their own respective noises in happiness to be out. Before they became too excited they absorbed their surroundings, and found themselves in company of the Professor, which caused them to all look at their trainer in questioning. The only one that did not feel at least a small tick of panic was Zander, who hopped into Augustine's lap and verified to the other pokemon he was no threat.

Though the danger was neutralised to most of them, they still looked to Celestia for guidance.

She began,

"Well guys, I ought to be frank with you, as usual. This is Profes- I mean, Augustine Sycamore, he is the one I talked with you about earlier, the one with the job offer. I know you all accepted the idea of me going to find out details on it, but now it is crush time. This is your decision, not mine. I know that you all know the cons of staying here, but you are all also aware of the great amount of pros. Augustine would like to talk with you to greater inform your decisions. I will respect whatever you all choose." She spoke to all of the, and then looked to the Professor to say what he felt needed. He cleared his throat, and gave a sideways grin to Celestia before addressing the skeptical creatures before him.

"Ah, yes, mes chers amis, I gather you're all aware of the situation by what dear Celestia said, and I would like to reiterate the fact that your opinions are all very valuable. I don't have a plan, mind you all, but I do have a goal. I believe the biggest flaw in this world is the lack of understanding we all have with each other, human to pokemon, and vice versa. Your beloved trainer here has done something amazing, which is what you all hold, a dearest love for her. I do not know how I will do it, but I hope to understand how this has occurred, how she has touched your hearts so deeply and you have done the same to her. I think you all hold the key, the key to unlock the malice and prejudice we all hold for one another. But this is all worthless to say if you do not want to participate, and I will fully understand if you do not want to. It will be boring, I assure you of this. It will not be like training in the outdoors and quite frankly, kicking asses halfway around the block," at this he laughed for a moment before continuing, "I leave this to you. If you have any questions, I would please ask you to communicate them with your dear friend here, for I will most likely not understand near as well as she."

With this, Augustine leaned back into his chair and pet Zander quietly, letting the pokemon before him ponder his words. Minutes passed, all of them looking at each other and exchanging grunts and head gestures. At one point, Hendrix and Carwyn got rather heated, and Sai swiveled over, emitting her calming aura that eased away the tension.

Dedailus was the first to announce any words meant for human ears, looking at Celestia meaningfully before quipping out a few "aero-aerodactyl!"

She looked at him tenderly, feeling his concern through the tone of his cries. Augustine looked at her in slight confusion, waiting for her to communicate something to him, but she was completely in her own element now, he was in the back of her mind.

Celestia pulled herself out of the swivel chair and walked specifically over to Dedailus, running her hand along his sleek head she assured him of something that the Professor could not hear.

She went around, petting and cooing to each pokemon, even talking to some in strict tones before softening. The last she arrived to was her largest pokemon, Hendrix lumbering at least half a foot taller than her. He leaned down to listen to her whispering, and gave grunts of approval, and disapproval to different phrases.

Though Celestia knew she would never completely understand what her pokemon were saying, she had grown senses to understand their different tones and cries. She had learned which questions she could ask to get replies that made sense to her, and how to phrase things to make the questions clear enough to answer, Yes and No questions were always her go to, they were easiest.

She finally nuzzled Hendrix's head against her own and made her way back to the swivel seat by Augustine, who was looking at her in awe and disbelieve, having watched the 15 minutes period at which she had fully understood creatures that didn't speak her own language.

She turned to speak with him to find his facial expression still in a state of wonder, and confusion fled into her own features. Before she became too frightful Augustine bgan to laugh, and laugh harder than he could handle. He fell out of his seat, springing Zander onto the table by him and the Professor continued to laugh for another good minute or so. Celestia sat in complete panic, looking to her pokemon to give her an explanation to the event happening before her eyes, and they looked at her with the same questioning.

After the fit of laughter passed, he sat up, tears of joy welled up in his eyes that he wiped away, still chuckling quietly. She stayed in panic, unable to voice her misunderstanding of what was happening. Then, the Professor whisked himself out of his chair, grabbing the trainer's hand and pulling her along with him. He looked at her with such joy she still had yet to understand, and using the hand he still held he spun her around.

"You are brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Magnifique! Parfait! Ma cherie, you have astounded me beyond what I had hoped!" he cried out, joy laced in each word he pronounced.

"I-I didn't do anything..." she started, her bewilderment showing. He stopped her, hard and fast, with what she had absolutely least expected.

He grabbed her face with both hands, one palm to each cheek, and his lips pressed hard against hers, softer than petals but with a force of a tackle. Her eyes widened so big they almost hurt when this happened, such a shock running through her spine that she thought Zander had zapped her.

As quick as it happened, it stopped, and felt the removal of the Professors lips leave hers cold and confused. He was not phased, his joy still bursting in his features. He looked at her, and grinned even bigger than before, if possible.

Celestia's whole face was red, blushing a storm so fierce she thought she would feint. Augustine found this so endearing he pulled her into a tight embrace, his excitement still powering his actions with loud adrenaline.

His whole body pressed up against hers, and she once again was in such shock she didn't move, letting his long arms grab her against his warm body. He continued to hug her as he spoke,

"Ah, ma cherie, you have no idea how happy you have made me!" he whispered, sincerity melting through his words like butter. After a moment of holding her he let her go, only to put his hands on her shoulders and hold her out at arm's length.

"Celestia, please do tell me what you and your pokemon have agreed upon. Even if you have agreed to leave me, you have gifted me with such hope I cannot say I would be disappointed. Pray, tell me what you have decided?" he said, looking at her with such intensity she thought she might burst into flames.

"W-w-we…yes. Yes." She nodded, looking at him, now wondering if he was now the one at risk to experience spontaneous human combustion.

"Mes chers amis," he addressed to them all, looking to all her companions (who mind you, were just as puzzled with his act of manic excitement as their trainer) "you truly have gifted me with the greatest light! I cannot explain it, and I know how fanatical I must seem at this time, but you will all understand once I become stable enough to speak my passion! For now all I can say is that it will be such a pleasure to share living place with you all, and your most darling Celestia as well!"

They all looked over to Celestia curiously, and she voiced their confusion, "Living space?" she inquired.

"Ah, did I not mention? For this all to, hopefully, work I have arranged for you all to be tenants with me!" he explained, grinning as much as ever.

"Oh, oh my god," Celestia said to herself in her mind, "I will be living with a man."

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