The group of Hisa, Taki, Takahiro, and Michiru stood outside a large buliding. It was located in west Mauville, just as Professor Miho said. The laboratory of Mayu Chiba, the woman who could help with Taki. The lab almost resembled a mansion of sorts. It was white and very tall, yet also wide, stretching far back and around. Around the back, fences could be seen, almost like that of a ranch. It was nothing like Miho's lab, or even Professor Birch's.
"Is..this it?" Takahiro questioned, staring at the large building before the group.
"Looks like it.." Hisa replied, also studying the lab. "I had no idea it would be so..fancy."
Michiru took her eyes off the huge building, instead looking over at some bushes nearby. Out from them walked a small Skitty. The Skitty was smaller than Mako-Skitty and Tama, and seemed to be quite young. The little cat looked around, seemingly nervous. Michiru's eyes lit up at her find, and she quickly darted over to the Pokemon.
"Come here, little Skitty! Skit skit skit!" she called.
The little Skitty shivered at her approach, and ran back into the bushes it had come from. Michiru frowned at this, and began digging through the brushes for the Pokemon.
"Skittyyy! Please come out! The Skitty Princess won't hurt you!"
"Michiru, you're freaking it out.. It looks like a baby.." Hisa commented.
Ignoring Hisa, Michiru continued digging for the cat Pokemon. When she finally caught it, the Skitty desperately struggled to get free from her grasp. It wiggled and squeaked, before finally slipping out of the girl's hands. The little Skitty then darted for the giant lab, scratching at the door and shivering with fear.
"Hey.." Michiru pouted, getting ready to go after the Pokemon again.
Before she could make it over there, the door to the lab opened. The little Skitty quickly ran inside, and the woman that had come for it glanced back, then back over to the group before her. The woman looked to be in her early twenties, and had short light brown colored hair that didn't quite reach to her shoulders, with amber eyes. She wore a long white lab coat over a white shirt, and black pants.
The girl gave a welcoming smile and waved over at the visitors. "Hello there!" she greeted. "I'm assuming you're the ones Miho sent?"
"Yeah, we are," Hisa replied.
"Come on in!" she said, opening up the door more and stepping to the side.
The four walked in, and the woman closed the door behind them. They looked around the room they had been led into. If possible, the building seemed even larger on the inside. Pure white tile lay under their feet, with not much else in the room. It seemed more of an entrance, as there were two different hallways before them. The woman who had let them in smiled again at the group.
"I'm so glad you all got here safely! I'm Professor Mayu's assistant, Nami. I'm very pleased to meet all of you!"
"I'm Hisa, and this is Taki. It's nice to meet you too, Nami," Hisa introduced, smiling at the friendly woman.
"Takahiro," the boy of the group said.
"And I'm Michiru, the Skitty Princess!" Michiru proclaimed.
"I see! So, this is Taki?" Nami asked, studying the Mudkip-girl.
"Kip! Hello, Nami!" Taki greeted cheerfully.
"How cute!" Nami chuckled. "Come on, I'll take you all to see the Professor."
With the introductions over, Nami led the group through one of the hallways. Different portraits and signs hung on the walls, and they passed by quite a few different doors along the way. The place really was immense.
Finally, Nami led them to a large room at the end of the hallway. It seemed to be the main lab, as many machines and devices lay scattered throughout it. There were also different desks, with lots of papers all around, and a computer. At the edge of the room was a door leading outside, and on the other side of the room was a large, winding staircase leading up. Straight back was yet another hallway.
In the middle of the large lab lay a large Arcanine. The big dog was sleeping, but upon hearing the footsteps of the intruders, it's ears perked up and the big Pokemon sat up with a yawn.
"Whoa! That's a big Arcanine.." Hisa exclaimed, taking a small step back.
"Hehe, don't worry, he won't hurt you!" Nami informed, smiling at the fire Pokemon. Arcanine wagged it's tail and walked over to her, letting her pet him.
"Kip.." Taki said, studying the dog-like Pokemon.
Arcanine blinked and sniffed the strange Mudkip-girl. Her scent intrigued him, and he barked at her once.
"Kip!" Taki called back.
"So it seems she can communicate with other Pokemon well.." Nami observed.
Footsteps were then heard from the stairway. The group turned their attention to the steps as a woman walked down. The Arcanine went over to her, and she pat him on the head once she made her way down. The woman was about the same height as Nami, and looked to be the same age. She had long black hair that was tied up in a ponytail, and green eyes. She wore small, oval-shaped glasses which rested on the bridge of her nose. She too was dressed in a white lab coat over a white shirt, but wore a white skirt instead of pants, that reached to just above her knees. The woman looked over to the group, a somewhat blank expression on her face. She was silent, and held a blank, somewhat dull air about her. Her eyes too were this way, yet something in them was very sharp.
"Ah, Professor Mayu! There you are! Our guests are here.." Nami greeted, gesturing to the group beside her.
Professor Mayu gave no repsonse, she instead walked over to the visitors, studying each before resting her gaze on Taki.
"This is Hisa, Takahiro, Michiru, and Taki," Nami introduced, smiling.
The woman gave a small nod, her eyes still focused on the Mudkip-girl. "You are Taki.." she said quietly. She extended a hand forward to brush over the girl's cheek, also running her fingers through some strands of her hair.
Taki blinked at the woman's touch. "Kip?"
Professor Mayu reached into her pocket and took out a syringe. Without a word, she quickly grabbed the Mudkip-girl's arm and stuck the needle in. Taki squeaked with pain and tried to get away, but the woman held her there. She released her after a moment, placing the now blood-filled syringe back into her pocket.
"Y-You just did something like that without even asking..?" Hisa asked, bewildered.
Mayu nodded, turning around and walking over to one of the tables in the room. She took the syringe back out and placed it with some other things. Nami laughed lightly, and looked over to the group.
"Sorry, Professor Mayu has quite a..different way of doing things," she explained.
"I can see that.." Hisa replied.
"She's not very talkative, but she's very interested in Taki. Please don't be offended, it's just the way she is. She's a very brilliant scientist.."
"It's okay.. Right, Taki?" Hisa assured.
"Kip," Taki nodded.
"Isn't this place kind of..empty, for a lab?" Takahiro asked. "I figured there'd be a lot more people like you around."
"Oh, yes, it's just the two of us, mainly. There are some cooks and cleaning ladies and the like, but as for the lab, it's just Professor Mayu and I. Professor Mayu doesn't like working with many people, if she can help it," Nami explained.
"Do you both live here?" Michiru asked.
"Yep!" Nami answered.
"Doesn't that get kind of lonely?" Hisa questioned.
"Not at all!" Nami replied. "I love Professor Mayu. There isn't anything I'd rather be doing with my life. Staying here and helping her with her work is perfect for me."
"I see.. So, you two are like.." Takahiro started.
"Eh?" Nami asked.
"..Takahiro.." Hisa warned.
"Um, nothing, nothing!"
Nami blinked. "Professor Mayu is my best friend. We've been friends since middle school.. She's different, and kept to herself a lot, so she didn't have any friends.. I didn't have many either. Something about us just clicked..and we've been together ever since." she reminisced, smiling over to Mayu. "I'm the only one she really talks to.. And, well, I wouldn't trade my job for anything! Being able to work with the greatest professor in all of Hoenn is such an honor!"
"Ehh, she's the greatest in all of Hoenn!?" Hisa exclaimed. "Even better than Professor Birch?"
"Well, Professor Birch is more famous.. Professor Mayu is quieter about her research, and likes to remain in Mauville, dealing with things around here. But she's amazingly brilliant! It's why Miho sent you to us. If anyone can help you with Taki, it'll be Professor Mayu!" Nami confidently informed.
"Nami, you're talking too much again," Mayu snapped, her voice low and somewhat dull.
"Ehehe, sorry Professor Mayu! I just can't stress enough how great you are in what you do," Nami replied, apologetically.
Finishing what she had been doing with the drawn blood from Taki, Professor Mayu walked back over to the group. "Come outside with me," she instructed, turning towards the door which led to the outside. Mayu's voice was cold and low, almost monotone.
The group and Nami followed the professor outside. What they walked into was no ordinary backyard, that was for sure. The back of the lab was vast, stretching out over hills. Pokemon were all over, running about; some confined to ranch-like stables. Many different kinds populated the lab's "backyard". They even had multiple ponds where water Pokemon played and lived.
Hisa and the others looked around in awe at their new surroundings. It was like nothing they'd seen before. So many different kinds of Pokemon living happily, right in Mayu's backyard! This place really was no ordinary lab.
Michiru gasped as the little Skitty from before ran past her. It looked over to her and the others, and shrunk down with fear, running into some nearby bushes. Michiru frowned, and looked over to Mayu and Nami.
"Um, Professor Mayu..what's with that little Skitty? I saw it earlier and wanted to catch it, but it ran away.." she asked.
"She doesn't like people." Mayu replied.
"That one's a baby.. We found her a couple of months ago. She'd been born recently and abandoned by her trainer, it looked like.. She was terrified of us, but we had to take her in. She's still not exactly comfortable with us, but moreso than with others. We don't know what happened before we found her, but she's incredibly jumpy and scared. She runs and hides whenever a human comes near.. It's sad, really," Nami explained, looking sadly over at the little Skitty, who was cautiously peeking out from the bushes.
"T-That's awful..!" Michiru exclaimed. "I, Michiru Seirimiya, Princess of the Skitties, will not tolerate anything like that once my Skitty Kingdom is complete! That poor little thing, I want her to be in the kingdom! She can work beside Mako-Skitty and Tama-Skitty, and of course me! We'll teach her not to fear all humans!" she declared, running over to the bushes. The little Skitty squeaked and ran off before Michiru could extend her hand over to pet her.
"Wait! Baby Skittyyyy!"
"... Good luck catching her," Mayu said.
"Eheheh.. She's..sure enthusiastic about Skitty.." Nami commented.
"Yeah, that's one way to put it," Hisa said with a sigh.
"She'll be chasing that thing all day," Takahiro sighed.
"So.. Professor Mayu, are all these Pokemon here yours?" Hisa asked.
"Basically," Mayu replied.
"Professor Mayu gets a lot of Pokemon for research purposes. She also adopts abandoned ones, or ones she finds that are injured or sick. So, they stay here unless she decides to free them. It also serves as research to how they all interact together," Nami explained. "We've done our best to make this place a happy place for all the Pokemon to live."
"Wow.. It's really amazing!" Hisa replied, looking around still.
Taki looked over to one of the few ponds in the area. It wasn't overly large, but not tiny either. About five Mudkips and a Marshtomp could be seen sitting and swimming around it. They all poked her curiosity, and she absent mindedly walked over to the pond. Once she made it to the water's edge, she smiled down at her fellow Pokemon. The Mudkips blinked and looked up at the strange girl before them.
"Kip!" they called to her.
"Kip!" she called back. She then began removing her dress, tossing it to the side and hopping into the pond.
"Kip kip, Mudkip!" the little ones called, swimming around the newcomer.
"Kip kip!" Taki chirped back.
"T-Taki! What are you doing!?" Hisa shouted, running over to the pond, interupting the little tour Nami had been giving.
"Kip.. Taki wanted to swim.." Taki replied, looking down.
"Taki.. We don't strip and jump into people's ponds!" Hisa scolded, embarrassed.
"Let her be," Mayu cut in. She walked over to the two, looking down at Taki. "I was expecting her to do that. Let her swim with them. They're basically like her own kind."
"Ah.. Okay, if you say so.." Hisa replied.
"Kip!" Taki chirped joyfully, swimming underwater with the other Mudkips. The Marshtomp jumped in now too, also going underwater.
"So, she obviously enjoys water," Mayu stated, looking to Hisa.
"Yeah.. She tries to jump in almost anytime we get by some," she replied.
Mayu nodded in reply. Suddenly, a little Plusle and Minun ran out to the group. The two electric mice cheerfully ran up to Hisa.
"Plu!"
"Min!"
"Awww, a Plusle and Minun! How adorable!" Hisa said, patting the two friendly Pokemon.
"Ah, those two!" Nami said. "Those two love people. They're like brother and sister, we've had them here for a while. Plusle is the male, and Minun is the female."
"They're so sweet!" Hisa replied as the two nuzzled and jumped around her.
The little Minun looked over to Takahiro, and hopped onto him. He gave the blue and yellow colored mouse an irritated look, and tried to pry her off.
"Min!"
"Hey, get off!"
"Minun!" she called, hopping onto his shoulder.
"No, hey!" Takahiro yelled, grabbing Minun and throwing her off him.
"Minun Minun!" she called, hopping onto him again.
"Goddamnit, get this stupid thing off!"
Hisa laughed. "It likes you, Takahiro!"
"I don't like it!" he snapped back.
"Min!"
"Awww, they seem to really like the two of you a lot!" Nami giggled.
"Wonderful," Takahiro replied, sarcastically.
After a bit more of showing them around the ranch, Plusle and Minun following along, Professor Mayu walked over to a stable which held a few Tauros. One came to greet her, and she pat it on the head, afterwards letting it out from the fenced area. It stood by her obediently as she turned to Hisa.
"Hisa. Call Taki over here. And Nami, get her a towel," she instructed.
The two girls nodded and quickly did as they were asked. Hisa called Taki out from the Mudkip pond, and Nami fetched a towel to dry her with. Once she was dried and had her dress back on, Hisa led her over to Mayu and the others. Hisa noticed a slight change in Mayu's expression, like she had something planned.
"Taki, go stand over there," the professor ordered, pointing to an open space in the ranch.
"Kip? Alright.." Taki complied, though confused.
"Um, Professor Mayu, what are you doing?" Hisa asked, curious.
"Testing her battle skills," she replied curtly.
"Huh?"
"Tauros, go," Mayu called, and the large Pokemon walked forward, facing the Mudkip-girl.
"W-Wha? You're fighting her with a Tauros!?" Hisa asked, nervously.
"Yes," Mayu replied, her eyes focused on her Pokemon and Taki.
"Isn't that a bit.. It could like trample her!" she objected.
"I'm hoping that won't happen,"
"Hoping!?" Hisa exclaimed.
"Now, now, Hisa.. Professor Mayu would never purposely injure Taki! I'm sure she's got control of the situation!" Nami reassured.
"Tauros, Horn Attack!" Mayu called.
The bull-like Pokemon charged forward, aiming for the Mudkip-girl before it. Taki blinked, and scrambled to get out of the way of the attack.
"Another!"
Tauros obediently re-charged the girl with it's Horn Attack. Taki, again, managed to dodge. She stared at her opponent, awaiting it's next move.
"She has good speed," Mayu noted. "Zen Headbutt!"
Charging forward again, Taki attempted to dodge. Tauros managed to graze her side with it's attack. Taki winced and fell back, quickly trying to get back on her feet. She rose, glaring at her opponent. Opening her mouth wide, she shot out a powerful Water Gun, knocking the larger creature back.
"Oh wow! That really was a Water Gun!" Nami marveled.
"Tauros, Scary Face," Mayu called.
Her Pokemon shook off the water, and glared forward; it's eyes glowing a red color. Taki blinked and then froze at the attack.
"Take Down!" the professor ordered.
With Taki frozen to where she stood for the moment, Tauros quickly rammed into her with the Take Down, causing her to yelp with pain and hit the ground, hard.
"Taki!" Hisa shrieked. "P-Please, Professor Mayu, she's getting hurt!"
"She's fine. Look, she's getting up," Mayu refused, her eyes focused on the battle before her.
Hisa looked on nervously as Taki slowly got back up. She didn't seem to be bleeding, which was good, but Hisa was still worried. Even if she was part Pokemon, she was also part human. Was Mayu testing her body? If that was the case, Hisa was scared that maybe Taki's body wasn't the same as a Pokemon's. If her body mostly resembled a human's, maybe her body could only take as much as a human's..
Mayu had called for another Zen Headbutt from Tauros, and it was charging Taki again. Taki stood firm, bracing herself for the attack. She swiftly hopped above Tauros, startling it. She caught herself on it's back, and propelled herself forward, landing on the ground again. Turning around, she quickly fired another Water Gun at the bull-like Pokemon, knocking it back once more.
"That was impressive," Mayu commented. Though her eyes were on her Pokemon and the battle itself, she was closely studying Taki and her movements.
The professor ordered a Horn Attack this time, and Tauros was yet again charging the Mudkip-girl. Taki dodged, and opened her mouth wide again. She shot a final blast of water out at her opponent, this time knocking the large Pokemon onto it's back. Mayu realized her Pokemon had had about enough, and she took out a bottle of Hyper Potion. She sprayed it on Tauros, and pat him thankfully. Once it's energy was restored, the Pokemon got up and went back to it's stables.
Hisa sighed with relief as the battle ended. Somehow, Taki had managed to win. She didn't look too hurt, either. However, Hisa's nervousness quickly returned as she saw Mayu take out a pokeball.
She threw it, releasing a Rapidash. The fiery horse faced forward, ready to fight.
"Another battle..?" Hisa questioned.
"Yes. This time she should have the advantage. Last time, it was neutral," Mayu explained.
"I see.." Hisa replied, focusing her gaze on Taki.
"Rapidash, Fire Blast!" Mayu ordered.
"F-Fire Blast!?" both Hisa and Takahiro exclaimed, looking at the professor like she was crazy.
"Just watch," she replied.
Taki began to scurry out of the way as the enormous blast of flames neared her, but instead she stopped and faced it. Opening her mouth wider than before, she let out her Water Gun, hitting the Fire Blast head on. It shot right through, turning most of the fire to ash.
"Rapidash, Stomp!"
The fire horse charged the girl, raising a hoove and slamming it down at her. Taki managed to barely dodge, and shot a close range Water Gun at her opponent. It hit, and Rapidash was thrown back.
"Rapidash, Fire Spin!" Mayu ordered next.
Rapidash let out another blast of fire, this time engulfing Taki in it. The Mudkip-girl nervously looked around her, and tried to think, as she was now surrounded by fierce flames. The fire seemed to be closing in on her, and she could feel it lick at her skin now and then.
"P-Professor Mayu..!" Hisa cried.
But the woman paid no attention to her. Her focus remained on Taki, trapped inside the powerful Fire Spin.
Taki could think of only one thing to do. She opened her mouth wide and shot a Water Gun forward. It pierced the flames, creating an opening. But, before Taki could get out, the flames swarmed together again, blocking her path. She frowned, trying to think of another idea.
Her fins perked up as she thought of her next plan. Taki opened her mouth up and again shot out a Water Gun. But this time, she spun in a circle, continuing to fire the water attack as she did so. To her relief, that worked! She quickly hopped back before any flames could spring up again, and she glared forward at her fiery opponent.
Mayu gave a slight smirk to this. "Rapidash, try another Stomp!" she called.
The horse dashed forward, but was not able to execute the attack, as Taki met it with another Water Gun. Rapidash flew back, hitting the ground as Tauros had. Mayu returned it back into the pokeball then.
Before Hisa could become relieved yet again, Mayu reached for another pokeball. She threw it, releasing a Tropius.
"Another one!?" Hisa yelled.
"This is the last one. This time she has a disadvantage," Mayu replied. "Also, I want you to instruct her on this one."
"Me? Okay.." Hisa agreed. She still wasn't that good of a trainer, she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of someone like Professor Mayu. But refusing wouldn't be good, either. So, she'd do her best to help Taki.
"Okay, Taki, um.. Try a Water Gun!" she called.
Taki quickly obeyed, spraying the water attack forward. It hit Tropius, but the large grass Pokemon didn't seem too fased by it. It merely shook off the water and faced forward, awaiting a command from it's trainer.
"Tropius, Magical Leaf," Mayu ordered.
The Pokemon obeyed, shooting out different colored leaves from it's back at it's opponent. Hisa told Taki to dodge, but because there were so many of the leaves, Taki could only do so with a few.
"Stomp."
Tropius flew forward, hitting Taki hard with it's leg. Taki hit the ground, and struggled to pull herself back up.
"Taki! Try another Water Gun!" Hisa ordered.
Taki nodded, and shot another Water Gun at Tropius. It hit, but again, Tropius seemed unharmed.
"Gust!" Mayu called.
Tropius flapped it's leaf wings, forming a powerful gust of wind and hitting Taki with it. The girl squeaked as she was carried off the ground, and thrown back down.
Hisa bit her lip. Taki really did have a disadvantage in this. She racked her brain, trying to think of attacks Mudkip had.
"Tropius, go at her with another Stomp," Mayu ordered.
"Taki, quick! Mud-slap!" Hisa called.
Taki nodded, and formed some mud in her right hand. She swiftly shot it up at Tropius. This aggravated the large Pokemon, and caused it to move back from her a bit. However, Tropius was far from defeated. Mayu called for another Magical Leaf, and Taki was caught up in the swarm of leaves yet again.
"T-Taki.. Water Gun!"
Taki opened her mouth, but before she could shoot out her attack, Tropius hit her with another Magical Leaf. Taki struggled to pull herself up, and Hisa looked on nervously as ever.
"Taki.. Try a--"
"That's enough," Hisa was cut off by Mayu. The woman called her Pokemon back into it's pokeball, and she walked over to the wounded Mudkip-girl.
Pulling out another Hyper Potion from her pocket, Mayu sprayed it on the girl. Taki shut her eyes and whimpered lightly, but soon her wounds began disappearing. She stood up, and looked up at Professor Mayu.
"It seems potions and the like work on her. However, not as good as on normal Pokemon. But, I think she'll be okay in a little while," Mayu informed, more to herself than the others around her.
"Kip.." Taki said, going over and hugging Hisa.
Hisa smiled and pet the Mudkip-girl on the head. "You did good, Taki," she praised.
"Kip! Taki did good!" she beamed, hugging Hisa tighter.
Mayu and Nami led the group back into the lab, with the Plusle and Minun following along. Mayu walked straight over to her computer, pressing some keys and clicking a few times. She then began typing, not saying a word.
"I'll go get some tea for everyone!" Nami announced, disappearing into the hall.
"Are you feeling okay, Taki?" Hisa asked, petting the Plusle which had taken a liking to her.
"Taki will be fine. Hisa doesn't have to worry," she replied.
"Alright.." Hisa looked down at the little electric Pokemon. "You're so cute!"
"Can you take this one too?" Takahiro grumbled. The Minun had made it's way up onto his shoulder again. He threw it off once more, but it still smiled up at him.
"Min!"
"Leave me alone.."
"You're so popular with cute Pokemon, Takahiro," Hisa giggled.
Nami then returned, with a defeated looking Michiru at her side. She sat the tray she was holding down and began pouring the tea into cups, and then passed them out to her guests and Mayu, who remained glued to her computer.
Michiru sighed heavily, taking a sip of her tea. "I couldn't catch the Skitty! Not even Mako or Tama could get it to come to me.."
"You should just leave it alone, it doesn't like people.." Hisa said.
"But I need to help it! It's my duty as the Skitty Princess!" Michiru wailed.
"I'm sorry, Michiru.. That little one is just so scared of people. It's admirable you've tried so hard to befriend it.. But I'm not sure if anyone can get to it," Nami sympathized.
Hisa looked over at Mayu as Michiru continued to pout. The professor was still wrapped up in her computer, and Hisa couldn't quite tell what she was up to.
"Um.. Professor Mayu, what are you doing? Have you found anything out about Taki?" she asked.
Professor Mayu shook her head. "It will take me some time to research her, but I'm trying to locate some information on the internet," she replied, her eyes still glued to the screen. "I remember hearing a rumor about a man who wished to create a hybrid.. Combining a human being and a Pokemon into one. I am unsure of this man's name or if he even exists.. But if he does, he could very well be the one who created Taki."
"Really? Do you know anything else about him?" Hisa questioned intently.
"I'm afraid not. But I do believe he may exist, somewhere... Taki was made by someone, that I am positive of. The question is, who managed to do such a thing, and for what purpose. There could also be more beings like her out there.. And who knows what they could be capable of. Taki is stronger than the average human. She has attributes of a Mudkip. If someone was able to make a creature like her with a stronger Pokemon, and make use of their power.. That would not be good at all," Mayu explained.
"You think there's others like Taki out there? But different types?" Takahiro asked.
"I can't say for sure. But if Taki was created, then there is a possibility."
"Don't worry! Professor Mayu will find something out. If there's any information on the person who made Taki out there, she'll find it!" Nami declared.
"But it will take some time," Mayu said, standing up. "I will research her, but until I get some answers, I need you all to do me a favor."
"What is it?" Hisa asked.
"Keep traveling. Take her along with you as you have been, and go on your Pokemon journies normally. There is nothing more I can do at this moment, so there is no reason to stick around here," Mayu answered.
"Ah.. Okay then.. We can do that!" Hisa nodded.
"I will keep in contact with you. I believe going along with you will help her grow, and may provide help in my research of her," Mayu added.
"Kip.. Taki gets to stay with Hisa?"
"Yep, you do," Hisa replied, patting the Mudkip-girl on the head.
"Kip!" Taki chirped, hugging her.
The group stayed the night at the laboratory. This allowed Professor Mayu to do some tests on Taki, and for them to rest and play with the lab's Pokemon. Hisa still couldn't believe what a large place it was. Though she was a bit strange, Professor Mayu was a pretty amazing person. To be so unknown, yet to have such a large place filled with so many different kinds of Pokemon, and to have accomplished quite a bit. Hisa was confident that she could help out with Taki.
Morning soon came again, and the group prepared to leave Professor Mayu and Mauville. As Nami was seeing them out the door, the Plusle and Minun from the day before came hopping down the hall. The two stopped before the group, Plusle hopping onto Hisa and Minun on Takahiro.
"Awww, you wanted to say bye?" Hisa said, petting the electric mouse.
"Plu!"
"No, off! Damnit.." Takahiro growled as the Minun nuzzled him.
Nami chuckled. "Ah, those two really like you!"
"Take them with you,"called Professor Mayu.
"Huh?" Hisa and Takahiro asked in unison.
Professor Mayu walked into view, carrying the little Skitty. "Plusle and Minun, you can have them. They like you, and I've gotten what I need out of them. They'll be much happier traveling with you," she explained.
"Really? Thank you so much, Professor Mayu!" Hisa exclaimed joyfully. "You don't mind, do you, Plusle?"
"Plu!"
With that, Hisa took out a pokeball and let her new Pokemon inside. Takahiro, on the other hand, didn't look as happy about his new catch.
"You can take this thing. Really," he groaned, prying the Minun off his shoulder.
"Afraid not. She likes you so much, and Hisa is taking Plusle. He's like her brother, it would be cruel to separate them like that," Professor Mayu replied, her tone slightly mocking.
"Min!" the Minun called out cheerfully.
Takahiro sighed. "Just get in the damn ball.." he said, taking out a pokeball of his own. It was too early in the morning for this.
"I guess this is goodbye, little Skitty.. I promise I'll cleanse this world of evil with my Skitty army!" Michiru declared sadly to the nervous Skitty in Professor Mayu's arms.
"You really want to train Skitty, huh?" Mayu asked.
"Yes! It's my destiny!" Michiru replied.
"Heh. Then take her," the professor offered, holding the young Pokemon out to Michiru.
"Eh? I can take her..?" Michiru asked.
"Yes. I think your energy will be good for her, and getting out will be as well. She'll never get over her fear being cooped up here," Mayu explained.
"Oh, Professor Mayu, you're so smart and generous!" Nami beamed.
Michiru gratefully took the Skitty into her arms. The cat Pokemon began to shake, wanting to get free of the girl's grasp. Michiru hugged it to her, but not too tightly.
"You can trust me, Skitty! I promise I won't hurt you!" she assured, petting her new Pokemon.
The little Skitty untensed slightly, though it's expression remained nervous and unsure.
"And I know what your new name is going to be!" Michiru announced. "From this moment on, you are Nia-Skitty!"
"Skit.." Nia-Skitty said, not really sure what to do.
"Okay, I'm going to put you in your new pokeball now.. But I promise I'll let you out later, and you can meet Mako-Skitty and Tama-Skitty!" Michiru explained, pulling out a pokeball and letting her new Pokemon inside. She then grinned widely, hugging the pokeball to her chest. "I got a new Skitty! Yes! The Skitty Kingdom to one step closer to being completed!" she cheered.
"Here we go.." Hisa murmured.
"Make sure you don't lose her," Mayu warned, gesturing to Taki.
"I won't!" Hisa assured.
"Be careful, all of you, and good luck!" Nami smiled.
"Goodbye Professor Mayu and Nami!" Taki waved.
"Bye!" the other three called as the group began walking off from the lab.
Finally, they'd met their destination. Now that it was over with, it seemed to have given more questions than answers. Hopefully, Nami was right and Professor Mayu could get those questions answered. Until then, they'd just have to wait and continue with their lives.
With no set place to go anymore, Hisa wondered where the group should head to next.
"Hey, Takahiro.. Where do you think we should go now? We made it to Mauville, so.." she asked.
"Uh.. We should probably head up to Fallarbor Town.. Then to Lavaridge Town. There will probably be some good fire Pokemon, and Lavaridge has a hot spring. I know I'm looking forward to seeing you girls half naked again~" Takahiro mused.
Hisa and Michiru each smacked the perverted boy in the head.
"But a hot spring does sound nice.." Michiru said.
"It does.. So.. To Lavaridge?" Hisa said.
"Okay!" Michiru agreed.
"Kip!" Taki chirped.
"Yay," Takahiro groaned, rubbing his sore head.
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