Chapter 2: In Which Things are Hypothesized
Andrea walked behind the shorter boy as he showed off the lab to her, rambling on about all kinds of stuff that made no sense to her, most of them involving those Pokemon things people kept talking about.
Green eyes taking in the surroundings, the brunet had a hard time believing it was a place of science. There were piles of papers and all kinds of other junk on every flat surface and quite a few slanted surfaces as well, since some of the piles seemed to have collapsed under their own weight. A few people in lab coats rushed here and there, adding or subtracting from various piles without seeming to have any problems finding things. Most of the rooms the boy, Lucas she thought his name was, had taken her into were in equal states of disarray, something that made Andrea briefly worry about fire hazards.
"…and out here is where we let the Pokemon out for exercise. Many trainers that have gotten their first Pokemon form the Professor send any extras they catch here for us to care for," Lucas was explaining as he led Andrea out of the building and into the area behind the lab. There was a lake off to one side, where Andrea saw something jump briefly out of the water, and a bit in the distance she saw a patch of trees. The area in front of her was covered mainly in grass that came up to her knees in some places. And the entire place seemed to be fenced in, something Andrea found rather surprising.
"Lets go see if we can find my sister. She should be around here somewhere seeing as she was supposed to be feeding the Pokemon." With that, Lucas started walking through the grass, heading in the direction of the trees. Andrea took off after him, wishing the stupid skirt allowed her to take longer strides as he began to move farther away.
She was considering asking him to slow down when a rustling in the grass caught her attention. Stopping, she turned in the direction of the noise and peered at the ground.
"Shit! What the hell kind of beaver is that?"
Lucas abruptly stopped when he heard the loud curse come from behind him. Turning around, he saw the girl Andrea staring at the ground with a slack jawed, bug eyed expression. Rushing over, he looked at the ground where the older girl was pointing, back to her, then at the ground again.
"That's a Bidoof," Lucas replied slowly, giving her a confused look. She seemed so shocked by such a common Pokemon. She just continued to stare at the little Pokemon, who came up and rubbed against Lucas's leg.
Crouching down, Lucas patted the Pokemon's head while Andrea got over her shock. It didn't take long.
"What's a Bidoof?" she asked, still staring at the brown Pokemon.
"A normal type Pokemon?" Lucas hazard, wondering what trick the older girl was playing on him. The entire time she had been acting as if she had no idea what Pokemon were.
"Is this one of those Poke-e-man things you people keep talking about then?" Lucas looked at her incredulously, unable to believe she had actually asked that question. As he continued to stare, Andrea cocked an eyebrow. "What?"
"Do you seriously not know what Pokemon are?"
"Yes, I seriously don't know what Pokemon are," Andrea replied with some heat. By this time the Bidoof had scampered away so Lucas finally stood up, still looking at Andrea in disbelief. The older girl just got more frustrated with him until he finally spoke.
"Pokemon are amazing creatures who form very close bonds of friendship with people," Lucas informed Andrea with some passion. "If you really don't know what Pokemon are I think it would be best if you talked to the Professor, since he is one of the leading experts on them. Come on." Abruptly he turned back to the lab and started for the door.
Grumbling, Andrea went after him, only to almost run into him a few steps later. "What?" she asked since he was staring at her again.
"When we saw that Bidoof you called it a beaver. What are those?"
"A beaver is…" Andrea began, only to trail off when an explanation eluded her. When that thing had jumped out at her, she had known what a beaver was. She still did in some fuzzy, unfocused way. She could not, however, explain to this boy what exactly a beaver was. "Don't worry about it," Andrea finally told him.
When Lucas did nothing but look at her with curiosity, Andrea pushed past him and started for the door by herself. Reaching the door, hand on the doorknob, Andrea was yanked forward as someone from the inside opened the door
"Oh, sorry about that," came the Professor's startled voice. Andrea just looked at him and past to see Dr. Maple standing behind him. "Anyway, I'm glad to see you. We," he indicated the doctor and himself, "were just coming to find you. We have some questions."
"Oh, Professor, we were just coming to see you too," came Lucas's voice from right behind Andrea's shoulder. Andrea resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Honestly, the boy seemed to become most exited when the old man was around, like a dog happy to see his master. A few seconds after making that analogy Andrea realized that, like with the beaver, she had no real, concrete idea of what a dog was when moments before she knew she had.
"So, what did you want to ask?" Andrea spoke up, pushing the worry about just what was happening inside her head away. Whatever was going on could be figured out later, she was sure.
"It was about Pokemon actually," Rowan replied, ignoring Andrea's straightforward behavior. "Dr. Maple tells me you don't really know what they are." It was a statement, not a question.
Of course, Lucas did not seem to understand that. "That's right Professor," he supplied. "We just ran into a Bidoof and Andrea had no idea what it was. She called it a beaver." This comment put Andrea under the intense gaze of both the adults.
"Really? Would you care to explain exactly what a beaver is Andrea?" Rowan asked.
"I can't," the teen replied. "I knew and now…" she paused, trying to come up with a way of articulating what had happened. "Now I don't," she finished lamely.
"Well this is interesting," Rowan commented, glancing over at Dr. Maple who just snorted. "Perhaps we could discuss this back in my office?" He moved out of the doorway and indicated for Andrea and Lucas to come inside.
Andrea came in and took off in the direction of Rowan's office.
"Andrea," came Maple's voice. Andrea turned and saw the woman pointing down the opposite hallway. "Professor Rowan's office is this way."
Giving no sign that she had just been walking in the wrong direction, Andrea turned and headed in the direction Maple had pointed, making sure to stay behind someone on the trip to the office. When they finally reached the office, the two adults took the only available seats, leaving the teens to stand. Lucas stood stiffly near the door while Andrea leaned against the wall, arms folded across her chest.
"So," Rowan began the moment the door was closed, "Let me see if I have things correct. You, Andrea, have no idea what Pokemon are, yet you know, knew, about other creatures, such as a beaver." When Andrea nodded, Rowan continued. "Do you know anything about the area where you were found?" This time a shake of the head. "Well, let me summarize it for you. You were found by Lake Verity, the suspected home of one of our regions Pokemon of legend. This particular Pokemon has a special connection with a few others, one of whom is associated with knowledge."
"Are you saying one of these Poke-e-man things took my memories or something?" Andrea said, a frown forming.
"That is what the Professor is trying to say, yes," Maple interjected. "I think his idea is a bit farfetched myself, and truly don't believe he should be worrying you with it."
"If that is the case, you are not going to like what I have to say next," Rowan informed the doctor. "From what I have just heard, I have come to another conclusion. Like the connection to the Pokemon of knowledge, the Pokemon of Lake Verity is connected to another Pokemon. The Pokemon of space that could, theoretically, travel to entirely different worlds."
"Professor, you aren't seriously-" Maple's disbelieving and angry voice said.
"Professor, if that is true the implications alone-" Lucas's was saying at the same time and at the same volume as Maple. His voice however was filled with excitement.
"Are you crazy old man?" Andrea burst out, giving the Professor a suspicious look. She understood what Rowan was implying and did not like the idea one bit.
"Now if everyone would just be quiet and listen, I'll explain," Rowan said patiently. Everyone quieted down and he continued. "Think about it, we found you suffering sever injuries next to a lake with known connections to the only beings on the planet not only capable of giving you the amnesia you're suffering from but to also bring you from somewhere without Pokemon and creatures unknown to us."
"Are you honestly suggesting I came from a different dimension or some such nonsense? I may not remember anything, but I'm pretty dam sure that that sort of thing does not happen."
"Professor if you keep suggesting these ridicules ideas, I am-" Maple began.
"Just think about it logically," Rowan interrupted. "Based on what we know, the scenario does make sense."
"I believe the Professor," Lucas interjected, earning himself a pleased smile from Rowan and glares from the two females.
"Andrea, think and see if you can't remember anything else," Rowan said, turning to her. "I am sure if you can, it will clear things up."
"I already told you people that I can't remember anything else," Andrea began to protest.
"Just try," Rowan urged.
"Whatever," Andrea mumbled, closing her eyes. She thought back to the one thing she remembered that could possibly be called a memory. The laugh, mocking, taunting, enjoying the pain its owner was causing. But there was nothing before or after that laugh, except…Andrea closed her eyes tighter, trying to follow the impression that had just surfaced.
There was a light. No, it was two lights she realized, one large and one small, one blue and one yellow. They were…talking? She could almost remember what they were saying so she thought a bit harder. It was then that there was what she could only describe as a flash and a stabbing pain in her head, almost unbearable.
The next thing she knew she was being supported by a scared and pale Lucas, Dr. Maple and Professor Rowan hovering near her. She looked around her surroundings as the flashing lights that took up her vision cleared, clutching at her still throbbing head.
"Two lights," she gasped, receiving more startled looks from the room's other occupants. "Yellow and blue. Blue one said 'thought you created all knowledge' or something like that." Andrea winced at the stab of pain in her head. Gently, Maple led her to one of the chairs, pushing Andrea into it when the girl just stared at it blankly.
"What's the matter?" Maple asked in concern.
"Head. Hurts a lot," was Andrea's mumbled reply. With her head in her hands, she missed the worried look Maple and Rowan exchanged.
"Lucas, go grab some headache medicine please. You know where it is," Rowan requested. Lucas nodded and quickly rushed out of the room.
"I think this may just prove me right," Rowan said as Lucas left. "I am not completely sure about this blue light, but from what you said that yellow 'light' is probably Uxie, the Pokemon of knowledge."
"Professor, is this really the best time?" Maple reprimanded, shooting him and angry glance before turning back to the teen.
"I don't see why not," Rowan said with a shrug.
"I think Professor Rowan might be right," Andrea spoke up, wincing as the pain in her head flared briefly. "About all of it. In some weird way it does all make sense."
"I can tell no one is going to listen to me," Maple said with a heavy sigh. "Well, I have yet to be convinced but for now I suppose we'll just have to accept the Professor's theory."
It was then that Lucas rushed back into the room, glass of water in one hand, a bottle in the other. He handed them to the doctor while giving Andrea a concerned glance. Maple handed the glass to Andrea before taking a pill out of the bottle and handing that to the girl as well.
"Swallow this with the water. It should help your headache go away." Andrea did as she was instructed, popping the pill into her mouth to quickly follow it with the contents of the glass. When she was done, Rowan took the glass and placed it no his already cluttered desk.
"I think it would be best if you went back to Lucas's house and got some more rest," advised Maple, the doctor in her becoming evident.
Andrea shook her head, grimacing at the slight pain that action induced. "No, I want to hear about these Poke-e-man things. Especially these two that got me in this whole mess."
Maple was about to protest, to order the girl to go get the rest she needed, when Rowan placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. She looked over at him and he shook his head slightly.
"Well, I think I can oblige that request," Rowan told Andrea, turning from the doctor to her. "The Pokemon that I suspect brought you here is known as Palkia. It is said to be able to control space itself. Legend also tells us it conflicts with the Pokemon of time, Dialga." As he was explaining this, Rowan began to pace, hands behind his back. Lucas looked on with an intent look on his face, as if he were expected to recite the information from memory at a later time. Maple just frowned slightly, arms crossed over her chest, foot tapping to some unheard rhythm of impatience.
"Well, where can I find this Palkia Poke-e-man so he can send me back to wherever?" Andrea interrupted impatiently.
"Its pronounced Poke-a-mon," Rowan corrected her. "And for your question, I am sorry to tell you I do not know." Andrea opened her mouth, but Rowan continued talking. "It is said both Palkia and Dialga live in a dimension different from our own and can only be called under special conditions. What those are I have only the barest of knowledge on. Not enough to help you."
"Then what am I supposed to do? Go around some world I apparently don't belong to without any idea who I am?" There was the slightest edge of hysteria in Andrea's voice as she voiced her concerns.
"I don't know what you can do about getting back to where you come from. Perhaps you can come to enjoy living here. As for your memories, that problem may be solvable. Connected to the two Pokemon I just told you are three more, Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie. These three are said to be able to control the great power of Palkia and Dialga should those two ever go ramped in our world. Each is supposed to reside in one of the three major lakes of this region. Uxie is said to be the Pokemon of knowledge, capable of both giving it and taking it away."
"So all I have to do is go to this lake, find this Uxie thing and get it to give back my memories? Where's the lake?" The fear of moments before had left Andrea, to be replaced by the slight inklings of hope.
"It won't be that simple. For one thing, no one has ever truly encountered these Pokemon. Only glimpse of them have ever been caught. Secondly, the lake Uxie is supposed to live in is Lake Acuity. That lake is particularly hard to reach, located at one of the farthest points north in the entire region."
"But I can still get there right?"
"It would be very difficult," Maple interjected, before Rowan could answer. Everyone may be going along with Rowan's ideas, but she had no intention of letting him get the girls hopes up when odds where so against her. "What with the wild Pokemon and other natural barriers you have to face to get there. The only people who go out to the lake are some of the stronger trainers and some locals. The area is very isolated because of the practically perpetual blizzard the place suffers from."
"But if you were a trainer, you could get there if your Pokemon were strong enough." Everyone looked over at Lucas, who blushed a bit at the attention. "Plus," he continued, "I heard that the League Champion, Cynthia, knows a lot about legendaries. I bet if you met her she could tell you something about Palkia."
"What's a League Champion?" Andrea asked, finding herself, as she had many times already that day, completely out of her depth.
"What just about every trainer aspires to be," Rowan answered with a small smile. "You see Andrea, here trainers are people who work with their Pokemon to make them stronger. The Pokemon battle each other and we, like the other regions, have a league that trainers can compete in. They must gain eight badges and then defeat Sinnoh's top four trainers, the best of the best. The person who can do this is given the title of Champion if they can beat the old Champion as well. Cynthia has been the champion for many years now."
"This Cynthia must be one hell of a trainer then," Andrea said with a low whistle.
"She is," Rowan confirmed with a nod. "She also won't part with her knowledge of the Legendary Pokemon all that easily, that's why I didn't bring her up. Even if we explained things to her I doubt she would tell us anything."
"Unless you can beat her in battle," Maple added, receiving surprised glances from everyone. After a questioning look from Rowan, she elaborated. "I knew her when I was a trainer and we've stayed in touch a bit. She hasn't really changed. She respected those who can hold their own in a Pokemon battle. And if you have her respect, she'll talk to you."
"I didn't know you were friends with Cynthia," Rowan said with a shocked expression.
"More like acquaintances," Maple replied with a shrug.
"So all I have to do is beat this League thing and get Cynthia to tell me what she knows and I might have a chance of getting back to where I belong? Would I still be able to go to this lake too?" Andrea asked.
"Actually, Lake Acuity is right near Snowpoint, which is the home to one of the gyms. If you participated in the League you would actually have to go by the place." Lucas blushed as everyone looked over at him again.
"So what do I have to do to become one of these trainers?" Andrea asked, already making plans.
"It is rather simple. You need to register at a Pokemon Center, but there's one in this town so that's not a problem. Then all you need is a starter Pokemon and you can go. Of course, you'll need to get some traveling supplies together, but the local stores should have everything you could need," Rowan informed the girl happily. "You will be starting much later than most since it is normal to start one's journey as a trainer at ten, but I'm sure you would do fine."
Maple sighed when she looked over at the girl. "I suppose you're going to do it. Go off and become a trainer just to try and prove the Professor's crazy idea true." She rubbed the bridge of her noise and let out another sigh. "Well, I guess I can help. Nothing wrong with you becoming a trainer. Rather good profession if you have enough talent for it. I'll take care of registering you since you'll need some home information and such. I'll have you use mine. I'll get traveling supplies together for you too."
"I'm glad to see we finally have your support," Rowan said with a smile to the younger woman. Maple just rolled her eyes, causing Rowan's grin to widen.
"Thanks," Andrea replied, shocked by the kindness the woman was showing. She did not know her, yet she was willing to put out a lot of effort for Andrea's sake.
"Well, that just leaves one thing then," Rowan said with a clap of his hands. "If you're feeling better, I believe its time we get you your first Pokemon my dear."
"Wait. I want to make it clear that she is not to start traveling until I think she is well enough," Maple firmly told the Professor.
"Of course, of course," Rowan replied with a wave of his hand. When he looked over at her, Andrea stood up and Rowan smiled. "Good. Follow me." Enjoying himself, Rowan led the way out of the office and into another section of the lab.
They ended up in a room Lucas had not shown to Andrea on their tour. She knew because, unlike all the others, this one was clean. No papers or other pieces of scientific equipment cluttered the room's surfaces. Over on one wall was a rack filled with little read and white balls. In the center of the room were some comfortable looking chairs, placed in a circle and facing inward. In the center of the circle was a little stand with three more of the little red and white balls resting on it.
"This is where people have been coming for years to pick one of the three main starter Pokemon of our region," Rowan explained proudly. "Here, come have a seat and you can meet the ones I have right now. You can pick the one you like the best."
As the little group entered the room, heading for the chairs, a growling came from one of the corners. Lucas and Rowan gave the corner concerned looks while Maple and Andrea gave it curious ones.
Crouching in the corner, like some threatened cat, was a little, brown, dog-like creature. The tail, tipped with tan, lashed furiously, puffed up in anger like the rest of the Pokemon's fur. Sharp teeth flashed as it brought it lips back in a snarl, long ears, the right with a large notch, were held back, close to the creature's skull. Dull eyes glared at the staring humans as if their owner was not truly seeing them but simply acting out of instinct.
"Professor, what's wrong with that Eevee?" Maple asked, giving the angry Pokemon a worried look.
Rowan sighed before replying, "Bebe from Hearthome sent her over. She said she found it suffering from some pretty bad injuries in the grass to the east of the city, near Death's door she said. The local Pokemon Center was able to heal the injuries but…" The Professor trailed off.
Lucas took up the rest of the explanation, "Eevee reacts like this if people get to close. Normally the poor thing just lies around, staring into space. Won't eat and since she won't let anyone near, we have to use hypnosis to put it asleep and feed her intravenously then."
"What happened to the poor thing? Do you know?" Maple was looking over at the Eevee pity in her eyes. The normal Pokemon had clamed down a little, the earlier growl now down to a low rumble from deep within its chest. The Pokemon's fur had stopped puffing out and the creature now looked its normal size.
"No. The injuries indicated another Pokemon was what attacked it though." Rowan sighed as he stared at the little bundle of brown fur.
"Why would a Pokemon attack another that viciously?" Maple wondered out loud.
"We have no idea."
Andrea gave the Pokemon a curious look, noticing how some of the fur on its back did not lay quite flat, as if there was something was laying underneath it. Scars, Andrea guessed, from being attacked. Those Pokemon things could be dangerous she supposed, but, from what she gathered, they were supposed to listen to whatever their trainers said…
Andrea's snort attracted the attention of the other humans in the room. "I just got here and I figured out what the puffball's problem is," she said scornfully. When all she got was blank looks she elaborated, "It probably had a trainer before and it didn't listen so the ass decided to teach the little thing who was boss."
She looked at it sympathetically, somehow knowing what it must have felt like. Trying your best, not having it be good enough, getting nothing but anger and pain in return. Following this line of thought, Andrea felt her headache coming back...
Yelling. A loud, angry voice coming from above her. A warm, salty liquid flowed from her eyes, down her cheeks, leaving little trains in the dirt that covered them. She had tried she explained. She had done her best. More yelling, and hand coming down, gripping her small arm tightly. Then pain, pain as the whippy little stick hit her repeatedly…
"…told us the wounds obviously came from another Pokemon," Rowan was saying as Andrea got back in touch with reality. After that little, and rather unpleasant, flashback her headache was back with a vengeance. It was probably because of the pain in her head and the fact that she was trying to come to terms with what she had just remembered that she snapped at the old man.
"Well, some people can be real bastards. Whoever it was probably just had a different Pokemon attack this one. Not hard if you got the things living in fear of you, I'm sure." Scowling, Andrea took in the shocked faces looking back at her. The adults seem to be shocked by both the idea she had suggested and the anger with which she had suggested it. Lucas seemed to be shocked about the language she had just used.
"It makes sense. You said it didn't want people near. I would be the same if someone I had trusted beat me then left me to die." They might just have for all I know, Andrea added to herself, part of her mind still stuck on what she had just remembered.
"Well, if what you are saying is right, I don't see how we are going to help her." Rowan seemed to sag a bit as he came to the realization that what Andrea had just said was probably true. "We've been doing our best before now to get Eevee to trust us. If she still doesn't trust people…"
"Maybe it's because you don't understand how its feeling," Andrea suggested. She did though, she realized, a bit at least. She looked at the Pokemon again, its dull eyes staring straight ahead, as if looking back on the horror that was its past.
The Eevee's growls returned to their earlier intensity as Andrea neared, although it did not make the effort to puff itself back up. The others were telling her to get away from the Pokemon, but Andrea had toned them out, the world now consisting of a little patch that included only herself and the Pokemon. For some reason, she felt like she could help the little thing. Not only that, she wanted to.
Kneeling down, she extended her left hand to the creature, whose growling became increasingly more menacing as the hand approached.
Suddenly, just as she was about to touch the little Pokemon's head, it bit onto the side of her hand, digging sharp teeth into her flesh. There was a gasp from behind her but Andrea just stared back calmly at the Eevee, not flinching when it dug its teeth in deeper, not trying to pull her hand out or stop it from biting her.
Andrea stared into the Eevee's eyes, ignoring the pain from the bite. The Eevee stared back, eyes still with that dull sheen of emotional pain, not truly seeing the girl she was biting. As Andrea continued to not react however, that changed. There was a brief flicker in the depths of the Pokemon's eyes and then the dull, detached look was gone, replaced first by anger, then fear as the Pokemon realized just exactly what it was doing, and finally confusion as Andrea continued to do nothing. Almost experimentally, the Pokemon bit down even harder on Andrea's hand.
"You going to let go yet?" Andrea asked in a bored voice as if there wasn't blood beginning to drip form her hand. Slowly, Eevee released her teeth, licking the blood from her lips before backing away slightly. When the Pokemon sat down to stare at Andrea, the teen brought her other hand forward, as slowly as the first.
This time her hand was able to make contact with the Pokemon's head. It flinched at the contact until Andrea stared to gently rub it behind the injured ear. "I see you're starting to show a bit of sense," Andrea said softly, rubbing behind the other ear now. "No need to be scared of me, I won't hurt you or anything. I know how you feel. Hurt, betrayed, you hate them, whoever they are. But for some reason you feel bad about that hate, don't you? And you just don't want to go though that again."
The Eevee looked up into Andrea's face, not believing this human could understand her feelings. Whatever she saw there convinced her otherwise however because she let out a soft little, "Eee," as if confirming Andrea's statement.
Shifting her weight off the balls of her feet, Andrea sat down and pulled the Pokemon onto her lap. Gently, she stroked the injured back, feeling the scars that the fur unsuccessfully hid. Her fingers were met with the feeling of long, thick lines of scar tissue, cross crossed with smaller lines that did not disturb the brown fur.
"It may be asking a lot, but how about you give me a shot hey?" Andrea finally said. "I'm new to this whole Pokemon thing but, hey, I can relate right?" She continued stroking the Pokemon.
There was a pause, as if Eevee was considering the question, and then she turned to the hand she had bitten and, apologetically, licked at the wound.
"I'll take that as a yes shall I?"
"Eeeevee," was the little Pokemon's reply.
Andrea looked up when a large shadow fell over her and the Pokemon in her lap. Looking up, she saw Rowan, staring down at her with a smile large enough to make the Cheshire Cat jealous. Standing next to him, a first aid kit in hand, was a frowning Dr. Maple.
Without a word, the doctor knelt next to the girl and grabbed the bitten hand. Wiping off the blood from the puncture wounds, Maple began to grumble to herself. "This is going to scar for sure. Can you be any more stupid? Honestly."
She was still complaining when she brought out a disinfectant and sprayed it on the hand. "Shit," exclaimed Andrea when the stinging spray touched. She tried to jerk her hand away but Maple had a firm grasp on her wrist so she was unable to get away from the doctor and her bottle of disinfectant.
"This is your own fault," the doctor told her unsympathetically, vindictively giving the injury another spray of the disinfectant before beginning to bandage the hand. "If you don't want to deal with the consequences, don't do stupid things."
Finally the hand was bandaged and Andrea flexed her fingers experimentally, frowning when the bandage restricted their movement.
"Don't even think of taking that off until I tell you," Maple ordered the teen.
"Hey, I wasn't thinking of-" Andrea began to protest.
"I work with young children all the time. I can tell when they want to do something like that."
"I'm not a little kid. I'm fuckin' seventeen."
"Then maybe you should act like it a bit more."
"Now, now ladies, enough of that," Rowan interrupted the fight. "Everything has turned out for the best. Nothing truly bad has happened to Andrea here and," here he paused, beaming, "it looks like you've finally gotten Eevee to open up."
Everyone glanced down at Eevee, still sitting on Andrea's lap. When Andrea had started to fight with Maple, the little Pokemon had sat up stiffly, bristling. Now however, she was settling herself down comfortable, quite happy with her newfound position. The anger on Andrea's face disappeared and her demeanor seemed to soften as she looked down at the little Pokemon.
"I feel having you meet the normal batch of starters would be quite useless now," Rowan commented. "I sent Lucas off to go find Eevee's pokeball, so he should be back soon."
"Hey, does she have a name? You just keep calling her Eevee. I thought that was her, like, species or something."
"It is common to simply call it a Pokemon by the name of its species, although some trainers do choose to nickname their Pokemon," Rowan informed her. "I know Dr. Maple nicknamed her Pokemon when she was younger."
"Professor, if you would, stop bringing my time as a trainer," Maple said as she stood up after putting the supplies back into the first aid kit. "What?" she asked Andrea when she looked down to see the brunet looking at her curiously.
"Just trying to imagine you do the whole trainer gig, that's all," Andrea replied around a yawn, leaning her back on the wall behind her. The day's events had finally hit her and they were hitting hard. Her back had started to ache and the second headache had only receded slightly, leaving her with a dull throb right behind the eyes, and the recently bitten hand stung. Only the whole she felt rather drained and really wanted nothing more than to sleep.
"You might as well stop. My Pokemon and I haven't battled for years." The doctor moved aside part of her lab coat, reveling six small red and white balls attached to her belt. Andrea glanced at them sleepily before the doctor dropped the coat back into place.
"Well, I think I may name this little girl here," Andrea told the adults, rubbing the Eevee behind an ear. "So," she addressed the Eevee after thinking for a short time. "What do you think of Eve?"
"Vee," came the sleepy reply.
"I'll take that as a yes," Andrea said after another yawn. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the wall.
"I don't want you sleeping there, it won't be good for you," came the doctor's voice. Andrea opened one eye and looked up at her.
She closed it again before speaking, "I'm just closing my eyes. Doesn't mean I plan on going to sleep or anything."
"Fine," came the doctor's voice, farther away this time. "The Professor and I are going to see what is taking Lucas so long. When I get back I'm taking you back to his house so you can get some proper rest."
"Whatever," Andrea said as she heard the door closing. A minute later her breathing and that of her newly named Pokemon had slowed and the occasional snore could be heard from the two of them.