"Di, I think it's time I started another round of Pokédexes."
He's got a knack for saying things like that offhandedly, as if he's commenting on Lillipup migrations instead of the chance to hand-deliver the world its next victims.
"I've already got a few candidates in mind," he continues, stirring the dregs of his tea with the end of a spoon. "Have you heard Grace Faure and her daughter are moving to Vaniville?"
"Augustine…" It's not a good idea. In the days of Trainer Red, Pokédex holders were hugely successful. They built up fame and skill with ease as they traversed their respective regions with their pokémon, landing themselves championship positions and elite research opportunities left and right.
But when Unova Champion Hilda's murder was revealed, the vied-for title of Pokédex holder became a dangerous game. Those who were known became targets for kidnapping and violence, and professors stopped releasing their versions. No one had attempted it for years.
"I promise I can make this work, Di," he insists, and takes my hands earnestly. "They'll be heroes, and we can protect their names. They'll be like you."
But I can't change his mind, so I hope I can trust him.
A/N: Written for Route 1 of the Indigo League Challenge on the Pokémon Fanfiction Challenges Forum. GO JOIN IT.
i ship sycamore/diantha almost as much as i ship sycamore/myself sobs
Word count: 200
-Ebaz
