CHAPTER III

"I AM PROFESSOR CYPRESS". The man who stands before us is young. He wears a coat overtop a blue dress shirt, with a black tie. His jeans are dark blue. He doesn't seem very tall or intimidating, but I know from his articles and interviews that his intellect is world renowned. Cypress is the Pokémon professor specializing in human and Pokémon relationships. His research is focused mainly on the effect of human companionship on Pokémon. Similar to Professor Oak of Kanto, Cypress studies how humans and Pokémon affect each other as well as how other Pokémon affect each other. He has worked with professor Rowan in terms of friendship evolution, and professor Juniper to analyse the link between Pokémon and human history.

"Today, you will be given two Pokémon to start your journey. Or, as in Simon's case, a Pokémon to continue his journey." He smiles knowingly as Pix comes around the corner. Cypress pulls out a pokeball, and throws it to Simon.

"Gee, thanks!" Simon quickly taps it gently on Pix's head, and the star-shape Pokémon squeals in delight before being absorbed by the red light. The pokeball beeps, and Simon lets Pix out again, and holds her.

"Now, the reason you both are here is to collect your previously requested to begin your Pokémon journey. The convention dictates that you both shall accept a Pokedex, and if you don't, I cannot give you your starters. Now, will you agree to help complete the encyclopedia of everything Pokémon?"

We both answer yes immediately and confidently to this question. Cypress doesn't seem the least bit surprised; he must deal with kids like us every day. He tosses us two Pokedexes, and gracefully turns around and goes through double doors. An assistant follows behind us.

"Michael, Simon, this is my assistant, Samantha" He doesn't even turn around, he just keeps walking through the large lobby. Samantha doesn't seem to mind. The lobby is designed like a chalet: a large set of windows shaped up to the ceiling, and then wooden and white walls. There are a dozen doors around the room, no doubt leading to the laboratories and the habitats.

"I'm here to teach you how to use the Pokedex after you get your Pokémon. I will also give you your starter packs," Says Samantha. She is young, about our age, maybe a year older, with long black hair, and dressed in the lab coat with a skirt and dress shirt. I can't help but think she's very pretty. She seems very well organized, and the tablet in her hands is full of notes.

We go through a set of doors marked "Introductory classrooms". Cypress doesn't slow down, and keeps walking past small classrooms on both sides of the hallways. Considering it is just Simon and I today, I guess that we are heading to the smallest classroom at the end of the hallway, closest to the vault.

We enter the classroom, and, to my surprise, two pokeballs are already there. I can't help shaking in excitement at the thought of my future Pokémon in one of those. They are both the standard pokeball, and there is no way to tell which Pokémon is in which. Simon hasn't told me his requested Pokémon, and I haven't told him mine either, so we are both going to be surprised when we open them. Behind the pokeballs are two backpacks, probably containing beginner items for us to use.

"In these pokeballs are your Pokémon. They were raised right here in the lab, and are very friendly. Simon, uh, I respect your Pokémon choice, however, I took the liberty of teaching him a move to help the training, considering his, ah, move set."

"Thanks professor! I knew that when I chose him, but I was still at a loss. Thanks so much!"

"Now, I have other duties to handle, so excuse me as I depart. Samantha will handle everything." He turns around and leaves the room. Samantha smiles nervously, clearly caught off guard by the Professor's announcement. She hesitates awhile before continuing.

"So, would you like to receive your Pokémon first or be taught how to use the Pokedex and items?" She laughs, already knowing our answers. She goes over to the pokeballs, picks them up and gives them to us.

"These are your starter Pokémon. You need to develop a close bond with them to really see their potential. Starters are usually the trainer's favourite Pokémon (whether or not you admit it). To help bond with your Pokémon, try to walk around with them out of their pokeball. Now, how will you open their balls for the first time? Together, or one by one?"

"Michael, you first! I already have one Pokémon, so the honours all yours."

I enlarge my pokeball, and then press the button, and say, "Eevee, come on out!" The Eevee I saw in the fields earlier has soon appeared from the red light. I kneel down and let her sniff me. I tentatively stroke her fur, and soon we are cuddling on the floor. I realize that Simon hasn't met his Pokémon yet, and I quickly pick Eevee up, and I keep petting her. Simon lets Pix out to meet the new Pokémon.

"Abra, let's go!" An Abra pops out of the pokeball. Simon kneels down and begins to play with him. The Abra is soon murmuring contently. Pix comes up to him to play, but Abra doesn't notice until pix touches him. "Bra!" Abra teleports a few meters back. That gives everyone quite a fright. Pix approaches Abra again, this time more carefully. Abra lets her climb into his lap, and soon they are both getting along. I remember that I have the last muffin in my backpack, and I give it to my Eevee. She gladly gobbles it up.

"Now that everyone is settled in, let's begin instruction. Please take a seat." Samantha puts her tablet down, and sets up the projector. A Pokedex is enlarged on the screen.

"Please take out your Pokedex. You will see that it is a flip design, and that the long side has the hinge. Inside, you will find the screen as well as a QWERTY keyboard. Next to the keyboard, there are RECORD, ON and OFF buttons. You will also find your 'Seen' and 'Recorded' count, in the form of 00/00. Take a few seconds to fiddle, then we'll move on to your starter packs."

I take a break from stroking Eevee, and turn on the Pokedex. I press record, and scan her. EEVEE, THE EVOLUTION POKEMON. BECAUSE ITS GENETIC MAKEUP IS IRREGULAR, IT QUICKLY CHANGES FORM DUE TO A VARIETY OF CAUSES. I see my counter changes to 03/01. That means I've seen Abra and Cleffa, and caught Eevee. I look at her stats and her moves. It shows Eevee's height and weight, and that she knows Swift, Tackle and Sand-Attack. I look over at Simon, and he's done the same. I continue playing with Eevee, all the while thinking of a nickname for her. I notice that as I pet her, she makes a drawn-out Kiii-maaa sound, which is highly unusual for a Pokémon.

"Now that you are both acquainted with the Pokedex, we will begin on your starter packs. Take one each, please." We each take one of the small, clear briefcases, and sit down again. I open up the clasps, and wait for Samantha to continue.

"In these boxes, you will find a bag of berries, three vacuum-sealed blankets, two super potions, three revives and a variety of other useful items that you have requested or been assigned. Take a couple of minutes to examine them carefully. I will be waiting in the lobby for the next step." Samantha exits the room. The first thing I do is open the Berry bag. Mom has warned me on multiple occasions to never underestimate a berry. Inside, I find three of each status-healing berry: Cherri, Chesto, Rawst, Pecha and Aspear. In addition, I find five Sitrus berries. I find the pack of blankets, and they come in a variety of colours. They also included a small little pump to reseal the packs. The super potions and revives are easy to find. I find two TMs in a special case: Return and Bulk Up. I know from my studies that Return inflicts damage based on the user's bond with its trainer, and that Bulk Up makes the user stronger. Both of these are extremely useful for a beginner like me. Near the case is a laminated coupon, apparently valid for two purchases at the mall in Chroma City. My mom and Clarisse are always talking about finally taking a boat there and how it's the biggest mall in the region, and one of the biggest in the world. The last two objects included are a field guide to the Pokémon of Takita and a strange little bell. I try ringing it, and the most pure noise imaginable chimes. Simon looks up, dazzled by the beauty, and stares at the bell.

"You got one too? I heard that Soothe Bells make Pokémon friendlier!" I tie it around Eevee's neck. She picks at it with her small little teeth, then begins to pace the room, eventually stopping by the door and scratching it. Abra teleports to the door too, still carrying Pix. Simon and I clearly get the message: it's time to leave the lab and head home. We both pack up our briefcases, and put them in our backpacks. Before we go, I also scan Abra and Pix:

"Abra, the Psi Pokémon. Even while asleep, it maintains a telepathic radar. It teleports when it is threatened." Abra is a psychic type, and the pre-evolved form of Kadabra.

"Cleffa, the Star Shape Pokémon. On nights with many shooting stars, Cleffa can be seen dancing in a ring. They dance until daybreak, when they quench their thirst with the morning dew." Cleffa are Normal type Pokémon, and evolve into Clefairy. My "Seen" count increases from 1 to 3

We return to the lobby, our Pokémon running about behind us. Eevee is trotting around, sniffing everything and taking everything in. She is really quite curious about the world around her. I can't wait to start exploring Takita with her. Abra is teleporting again, and Pix can't get enough of guessing where he'll turn up next. We finally make our way outside, and near our bikes is Samantha. She looks up from her tablet and flashes us a smile before leading us in the opposite direction from which we arrived. I see a set of lines drawn in the yard. Simon and I look at each other with excitement.