"Careful, there's another one behind you!"
Three hours had passed and Sandgem town was finally in sight. Almost every step of the way Lucille had been plagued by bidoofs. The first time they'd been attacked by one she'd almost panicked, but she was beginning to get a handle on battling. By the end of the route the little Piplup was almost anticipating her orders before she made them and the journey was starting to become kind of fun.
Smiling, Lucille watched the small bird blow bubbles at its current foe. The first time it had started spitting foam she'd damn near had a heart attack, but she soon recognised the attack for what it was - Bubble, a weak water attack.
I guess this trainer thing isn't so bad...
As the battle ended, she knelt next to the little bird and touched the top of its head softly. There was a pretty ugly scratch on one of its flippers, but it stood still for her inspection, not making a fuss.
"Hey! Lucille! Wait a sec!"
Looking up she saw Ian jogging towards her. He was carrying a small package under one arm and puffed heavily as he came to a stop.
"Had to use a Super repel to get through quickly enough to catch you! Here, give this to Barry, it's from his mother. She said there's something in there for you as well."
He passed her the package and took a moment to breathe. She smiled up at him.
"Okay, sure."
"Great! I gotta head back. I found a bush some idiot trainer cut down and I need to plant a new one before any wild pokémon finds the gap. Take care and here - I'm sure it'll come in handy."
Lucille looked down at the small bottle in her hand. It had a spray cap and was filled with a pretty blue liquid. Pictures of dancing Chanseys circled the word 'POTION' on a bright green label. Spraying the liquid on the piplups injured flipper she watched in amazement as the scratch slowly faded from sight. With a delighted squeak the small bird flapped its wings rapidly, jumping up and down.
Potion, huh? They're pretty useful. I'll need to get more of them...
"Hey!"
Looking up, Lucille saw the same young man who'd lectured she and Barry the day before. He seemed to be in a much better mood, smiling absent-mindedly as he jogged towards her.
"Hi there, I'm Lucas, Professor Rowan's aide. I've been waiting for you to arrive. Your blond friend already came and left a while ago. I hope you don't mind, but I'll walk you to the lab."
With a soft 'click' and a flash of red light she returned the small bird to its ball and stood to meet him.
It was awkward walking with Lucas. Every now and then someone would call out or wave to them and Lucille was starting to feel a little self-conscious by the time they reached the lab. It was smaller than she thought it would be, the paint on the outside walls starting to chip and fade. Lucas shuffled his feet a little before pulling open the door.
"Well, it's not much, but it's home. Professor Rowan is waiting for you - don't worry, I don't think he's mad."
He ushered her in and let the door fall shut behind them before directing her forward.
"Well, I've a few things to check for the Professor so I'll leave you here. It's not hard to find your way, just ask someone if you get lost, okay?"
With that said, he left.
Lucille turned to look around, curious about the lab. Though the outside looked pretty rough, the inner areas - from what she could see - were quite clean and well-ordered. There was a cacophony of clicks and beeps coming from large machines that were set against the walls and white-coated men and women rushed back and forth between them. Bookcases formed separations between what could only be called casual offices and at the end of the large room there was a large table covered with papers, books and a battered suitcase that looked very familiar. Next to the table, reading a piece of paper, stood a tall man with white hair.
"Go on, he won't bite!"
A pretty brunette in a lab coat, who Lucille hadn't heard approach, gave her a slight nudge towards the white-haired man.
"He only looksscary. To be honest he's more of a psyduck than a golduck, if you know what I mean. Go on, he's been waiting for you."
With a last uncertain look back (and receiving an encouraging smile in response) Lucille walked towards the man. The closer she got the more intimidating he looked. His white hair stuck out in many directions, reminding her of an odd dog-like pokémon she'd once seen in a pokémentory. His gravely voice sounded like a low growl as he mumbled to himself and she wished she'd kept the piplup with her instead of returning it to its pokéball.
He didn't seem to notice her approach and she took a chance to look around a bit more, craning her neck to get a better view of what one of the researchers were doing with a small red machine.
"No... no, that doesn't work! Maybe if we used the new algorithm combined with a recording...? What do you think, Miss Lucille?"
With a slight jump, Lucille turned toward the Professor who was regarding her silently, obviously waiting on her reply.
"Um, oh! Uh, what was the question again?"
Giving a sigh and a small shake of his head he placed the papers he'd been reading on the table. He frowned lightly before sighing again and turned back to face her. He watched her silently for a moment, a puzzled expression crossing his weathered face.
"You know, I can't quite remember. Odd... Well, where is it?"
For a moment she wondered just what he wanted before remembering her reason for being there. She took the small ball from her pocket then reluctantly offered it to him. He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms.
"Yes, a pokéball. Remarkable things, really. Did you know that each and every one has a certain compound inside it which is injected into a pokémon, rendering the special repelling plants used in towns non-effective? And that each time you rest at a Pokécenter that compound is restored, so as to keep this in effect? This is the reason that using Pokécenters is the preferred method of healing, as opposed to potions and other home-made remedies. Really, it's quite fascinating how something as innocuous as the discovery of a small plant can change the nature of raising pokémon! Ah, but of course you'd already know all this, seeing as it was your very own father who made the discovery."
Nidding politely, Lucille wondered if perhaps the Professor wasn't a little... eccentric. He certainly seemed to like the sound of his own voice but she was here to hand back the small pokémon she'd borrowed, not listen to a lecture on the scientific properties of pokéballs, or a debate on potions versus Pokécenters - even if it was interesting.
"Um, about the... piplup?"
At the mention of the pokémon the Professor's eyes suddenly brightened and a wide grin spread across his face.
"Ah, is that the one you chose? Perfect! Wonderful! Well, call it out, I want to take a look!"
Lucille pressed the small button and with a slight 'click' and a flash of light, the small bird stood between she and the Professor. Its large eyes lit up when it saw her and it did an clumsy little dance, hopping and flapping its small flippers.
The Professor picked it up once it had calmed down and, placing it carefully on the table, gave it a thorough inspection. The small bird seemed quite happy to let him do as he pleased, allowing him check under its flippers, inside the beak and the bottom of its feet. It gave a small 'Peep!' when he poked its side gently and leaned into his hand when he patted it on its head.
"Well, she looks to be in good condition. I'm quite amazed, actually, at how responsive she is. What a brave little girl - and so affectionate too! Well, I see no reason to take her from you - she seems to be quite happy and healthy. Now all she needs is a name. I'll leave that up to you, though. Congratulations, you've just become the owner of a piplup!"
Shocked, Lucille stared at the man for a moment before focussing on the small bird who seemed to be nudging the suitcase towards the edge of the table. She hadn't really thought that she'd be allowed to keep the small piplup but she had hoped, just a little, that she could. And now, it seemed, the small bird was hers. Hers to name, to take care of and battle with and perhaps, maybe, journey across Sinnoh, collecting badges...
It sounded like a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of fun. Suddenly she couldn't wait to get started!
*THUMP*
The little pokémon had managed to push the suitcase off the table and spill its contents across the floor. A single pokéball rolled away until it hit the edge of a bookcase. Picking it up, the Professor frowned and sighed. He walked back to the table and, still caressing the small pokéball, looked at Lucille sadly.
"It's a pity, but this poor little one has yet to find a home. They were rescued, you see, from an illegal breeding facility. There are some out there who consider pokémon as nothing more than tools to be used - whether for battle or criminal activities, who can say? They breed specific types to boost their powers, but those that fail to meet their expectations are usually destroyed, deemed to be 'inferior'. These three were considered inferior and... well, if it weren't for a good man they would not be with us today."
Lucille watched as he absently stroked the ball. The little piplup reached up and touched his elbow gently. He patted its head and placed the ball in his pocket.
"Well, I'm sure I'll find this one a good home eventually. I may even keep it for myself if I can't. It's a bit too young to be released into the wild - the three of them are newly hatched, you see. They have each had basic battle training, as you no doubt noticed, though sadly this young one seems to be too traumatised to talk. Your friend's turtwig had no problem in that regard... though it was quite easily startled. Hm... yes. All you can do is give her some time and I'm sure she'll soon be talking your ear off. Anyway, no doubt you've things to do. Here's a trainers guide and... hm, yes! I think I can trust you with this!"
He strode to a desk and started rustling through the drawers as Lucille pocketed the small handbook. She hadn't really given much thought to the idea that pokémon could talk. Sure, some types could, and her mother had often spoken about her starmie and goldeen enough that she knew telepathic communication was possible, but that she might be able to hold conversations with her own pokémon? She'd never really thought about it and wondered just how common it was. Maybe the trainers' guide in her pocket could tell her? She'd definitely study it later.
"Ah, here we are! I knew I had one around here somewhere! Now, this is an... experimental one so try not to break it! It's still being... ah, refined, shall we say, but it's the best I've got at the moment. I gave the last one to your friend, but then that model is being phased out, what with the new Nuzlocke laws coming in. Thankfully the new guides arrived last night or I'd have to give you a lecture on the rules. Now, by taking this device you are entering a contract to abide by the Nuzlocke laws, so be sure to read that guide thoroughly before you begin your adventure."
So saying, he handed her a small green device, the official POKéLEAGUE logo on the front.
"This... is my greatest invention yet! A cumulative effort between three different pokémon professors and with information on every pokémon recorded. Now listen closely, I'll only say this once! Behold - the new and improved Poke-"
"-dex! It automatically records information about every pokémon it scans, as well as doubling for a translation device for pokémon that can't talk. Aaaand it keeps track of how many pokémon you're carrying, how many you have caught, whether you need to restore them at a Pokécenter - whether for healing or topping up that repel-nullifier - and plays music that can entice pokémon to you! It can also automatically alert authorities if you catch more than one pokémon in a designated area!"
Bianca watched her daughter as she dried the dishes. Lucille was sitting on the floor, rolling a small rubber ball back and forth to the small piplup. It had been a long time since she'd seen her so excited and though a small part of her worried about the dangers and pain ahead for her daughter in the gym challenge, she was also happy to see Lucille taking up the same path she, herself had taken many years before.
"Mum, are you listening? Tomorrow I'm going to head back to Sandgem town and stock up on potions and pokéballs. Then I've got to catch up to Barry. I wonder if he'll be waiting for me in the next town over... was it Jubilife city? I need to get a map, too. Oooh, I can't wait to catch some pokémon! But only one for each route... I hope I get good ones!"
Putting the last plate away, Bianca frowned. She had been a large fan of water-type pokémon, and though there were trainers who focussed exclusively on certain types, the new laws made it harder to be so choosy. She wanted Lucille to accept each of the pokémon she'd catch as unique beings, capable of many types of strengths, no matter their grouping.
She filled a bowl with ice-cream, grabbed two spoons and went to sit next to Lucille. It would be the last time for a long while that she'd be able to talk like this with her daughter - imparting her motherly wisdom to the raven-haired teen. Maybe it was time to talk to Lucille about some of the harsher parts of the journey she was about to embark on.
"Lucille, I once had a rapidash, did you know? His name was Johy and... I loved him very much."
Lucille looked up in surprise. It was not a secret that Bianca had trained other pokémon but she'd never told Lucille about the sole fire-type whose death during an idiotic 'better-than-you' battle had broken her heart and almost destroyed her then-budding friendship with Cynthia.
Yes, Bianca decided She needs to know about the heartache a journey like this can bring.
"It all began on my sixteenth birthday. On my way to the closest pokémon research laboratory I ran into this snobby blonde-haired girl..."