"We are now approaching the Kanto Pier! Passengers, please prepare to exit the ship."

After defeating Team Rocket, it had been quiet for the rest of the cruise. Blanche examined her elbow in the mirror. Two weeks of rest had done it good. At least good enough to take the gauze off. "Off with this at last." She took the bandages and threw them into the trash. "How are you feeling Vaporeon?"

Vaporeon stretched her back. As good as the cruise was, it could feel awfully cramped and bothersome at times with so many people and Pokemon constantly moving around. Half the time she was just trying not to get stepped on. "Vapor."

"Good." Blanche finished packing up the luggage. "Once we get off this ship, we become Guardians. Let's get moving."

"You may now begin exiting the ship! We hope you have enjoyed the cruise, and look forward to seeing you again. Have a nice day everyone!"

Rolling her suitcase off the ship, Blanche looked around. Candela and Willow have to be around here somewhere.

"Hey Blanche, over here!" Candela waved to her.

"There you are, it's great to see you." Blanche greeted her. "So, where's Willow?"

"Professor Willow is getting his car. We're going straight to his research facility and moving in there today. I'm so excited!"

"So, how's your leg feeling? I know it's been getting better in the past few days."

Candela started running in place "Oh, it feels great! I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought!" The mark under Candela's eye had healed, as had her nose.

"Flare." Flareon started running around in circles, proving that she had suffered no lingering effects from the battle against Team Rocket.

"I'm glad that you're feeling better. I was worried for the first few days."

"Yep! I'm healthy and can't wait to get going!"

Walking up to a tourist site, Candela got out a map. "Apparently we're in... Fuchsia City! 'The spirit of renewal flows through this city like the wind!'"

BEEP! BEEP!

A grey Honda Civic rolled up. Willow let down the window. "Hey girls! Put your stuff in the trunk, and hop in."

"Where are we going?" Blanche asked as she buckled up Vaporeon and herself.

"We're going near Celadon City to my research facility. We get on Route 18 for a bit, then the long strip that is Route 17, then a turn on Route 16 and ride on in from there. It's gonna take a few hours, so just sit back and enjoy the view."

Getting on Route 18, the group saw an abundance of Flying-Type Pokemon. Flocks of Spearow, Fearow, and Duduo went about their business freely.

"Bird types generally run this place," Willow commented. "They eat grass, berries, and prey on Rattata. They can take out Raticate, but the un-evolved are much easier. We got a few bird breeders out here since they are so plentiful."

The land surrounding the highway started to thin out. Willow started to slow down as he made a turn and drove up to a turnpike. ROUTE 17 was on the gate.

"That'll be 350 Pokedollars." The tollkeeper said. "A gray Honda Civic, license plate 1996 RBY... got it. Have a safe drive on Route 17." After he finished typing on his computer, the tollkeeper pressed a button and the gate opened.

"Why does a highway have that much security?" Blanche asked.

"Kanto is making a crackdown on criminal activity going in and out of the region," Willow responded. "Route 17 makes it easy to get out to sea. And speaking of water, if you look to either side, you'll see plenty of it."

Poliwags and Shellders rested on the rocks as Tentacool and Goldeen swam in the water. Seels bathed in the calm waters.

Candela saw an exit on the highway. "Where's that lead to?"

"That goes into a rest stop," Willow said, driving right past it. "It's a place where bikers and motorcyclists can hang out. Speaking of which, there's a rough gang of bikers called the 8-Ball Gang that hangs around there. They'll leave you alone if you leave them alone, but they have been known to rough up outsiders. Try to stay away from them."

Getting to the other side of Route 17, Willow checked in with the toll keeper before turning and getting on Route 16.

"Here's the home stretch. Almost there."

"So, what are our work hours? Is this a 9-5 Monday-Friday thing or are we working around the clock?"

"Ummm... actually, I hadn't really thought about that," Willow admitted with a nervous laughter. "You're really the first two people I hired."

Candela and Blanche looked at each other. Is he serious? Candela mouthed to Blanche.

"Well, what does Agent Instinct do?" Blanche asked.

"Reed just comes and goes to the research center whenever he wants. Like I said, Reed can be moody. Not having restrictions is one of the reasons we get along. I'll grant the same lax office hours to the both of you two if you can be responsible."

"Alright then." Blanche said.

"Reed seems like quite the card," Candela observed. "What's the problem between you and him?"

"We had a falling out a few years back. My boy is a good kid but... It's a long story." Professor Willow said somberly.

Candela chose not to pry further, instead choosing to look at a road sign. "Well, we're not far out from Celadon City."

"The facility isn't in Celadon City, we're getting off this highway in a little bit before we hit the city."

Soon enough, Willow pulled off into a dirt road. "Here we are, Sliph Road."

Driving through the underbrush, they came into a clearing. "Hey, I think I see it!" Candela said. "Wow, that place is huge!"

"Woah..." Blanche was breathless.

The Kanto Pokemon Research Center was a massive site placed near the edge of a woodland's tree line, having a field of grass in the front and a forest behind it. Pokemon sprawled about in peace. It appeared to be made up of the main house for living, then broke off into numerous other facilities.

"Welcome to your new home! Here is the main living area, your rooms are upstairs. The observatory, laboratory, battle stages. and other facilities are down the surrounding corridors. But before you go off and explore, The fridge is right here and I know you two must be hun- What's this?" There was a note on the front of the fridge. Investigating into a Team Rocket base around Pewter City. Should be back in a day or two. Took the jackass with me.

Willow crumpled the note up. "Damnit Reed, you were supposed to be here."

"If he's out on a mission, can we go with him?" Candela asked.

"He's in Pewter City. By the time you get there it's going to be dark. No, I'd rather just get you settled in today. Here, let me get you two into the security system."

Walking into the computer room, Willow turned on the security system. "Create a password. It'll allow you to get in and out of the facilities anytime you like. Reed liked to keep it simple, so he went with 'Thunder Yellow.' I went with 'Aqua Blue.'"

"Alright. I'll go with... 'Fire Red!'" Candela entered her password.

"In that case, I'll take... 'Leaf Green.'"

"And I think that's it for now. You can now go unpack and get situated. You can head out first thing tomorrow."


"So, this is our first night in our new home." Blanche moved her bishop across the board.

"I guess it is." Candela pushed her pawn forward. "Thought it would be more exciting than this, no offense. Just with the whole impromptu battle on the ship, I expect to be dodging sniper fire right about now, I suppose."

"Oh, it's fine. Checkmate, by the way."

Candela looked down at the board and realized jus how one sided the entire affair had been. Several pieces looked untouched. She had barely been able to get 3 of Blanche's pawns. "Welp, I guess I suck at chess." She knocked her King over.

"Oh, it only takes some practice. Anyone could be good for it. Right, Vaporeon?"

"Vapor." Vaporeon started setting up the board again.

"Wait, you taught your Pokémon chess?" Candela said incredulously.

"Honestly wasn't too hard to do so. It takes about the same time it takes to teach a human. I could probably teach and train you to have an ELO of 1400 in a few months or so."

Candela laughed it off. "Tell ya what: if we survive this business with Team Rocket, sure, I'll give it a try." Candela got up and walked out of the room into the hallway. "I'm gonna grab a snack, want anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

Going downstairs, Candela went into the kitchen and looked for food. "Let's see here...crackers...chips...marshmallows! That'll do."

Retrieving the bag of marshmallows, Candela looked in and saw that Blanche and Vaporeon were in an intense match. Every few seconds Blanche would put her hand out before pulling it right back in, unsure of her next move. Vaporeon sat still, stoically waiting for Blanche to make her move.

Blanche should have taught Vaporeon poker because that Pokemon is completely unreadable. Candela thought. Deciding to not interrupt this highly competitive mental struggle, Candela tiptoed back out.

"Well, they have their games, and we have ours. Don't we, Flareon?" She said as the Pokemon sneaked beside her.

Candela started throwing up marshmallows in the air. Flareon jumped up and scarfed 'em all down in midair. "Flare!" She said as she munched on gooey marshmallow.

"Good girl." As Candela took a few marshmallows for herself, a small blast of Ember whizzed past her ear.

"Flare!" Flareon got into a fighting stance. She was not going to let Candela hog them all.

"Oh, so you want to bite the hand that literally feeds you, huh? Well you can sleep outside in the hall tonight while I'm in bed with my marshmallows." Candela dashed up the stairs.

"FLARE!" Flareon chased after up the stairs, Flareon blasted her back with a tiny shot of Ember. Candela fell down. "OW! That hurt, you little-"

Flareon bounded up, snatched the bag in her teeth, and kept running. Flareon was in the clear! All she had to do was get inside and lock the door, and the marshmallows would be all hers! Getting the door, she reached up and...couldn't get a grip on the round doorknob!

"Gotchya!" Candela tackled Flareon, wrestled the bag out of Flareon's mouth, and jumped into the room.

Click! The lock sealed Flareon outside.

"FLARE!" Flareon pounded on the door.

"It's time you learn you place Flareon!" Candela shouted from the other side of the door.

"FLARE!"

"You wanna come in? Beg for it."

"FLARE!"

"Well in that case, I'll just be lying in bed with my marshmallows. You can sleep outside tonight."

"FLARE! FLARE FLARE!"

"Say please. And a little nicer this time."

"Flare?"

"There we go. See, being polite once in your life wasn't too bad now was it. And as a reward, I'm gonna let you have the rest of the bag. Hold on, give me a sec."

Flareon snickered as she heated her body up. As soon as Candela opened the door, Flareon was gonna blast her with Ember nonstop!

"Here's the bag!" Candela slipped the bag underneath the door.

"Flare? FLARE!" The bag was completely empty!

"I could feel your heat through the door! Nice try! You can sleep outside tonight and we'll see how humble you are in the morning.

"FLARE! FLAAAAAARE!"

"Goodnight Flareon. See you in the morning!"