Washed Ashore: Pokemon Are Real
Teacher

"Please tell me you didn't promise the girls a Pokémon."

In the back of her mind, she couldn't imagine a man would be that careless, yet she also couldn't remember a world where parents would let their children wander around doing what amounted to being an adults job, at least from what she'd picked up from the ramblings from Heather and Amy.

"I did not." Professor Oak. "I told her that we would discuss it when all of you were found, but I was hoping you'd explain to her it is important to see if there is a way back to your world first if not a way to communicate. The girls getting a Pokémon – that's contingent on all of that. On one side, getting you back is important, but on the other, it isn't as if you can't stand around doing nothing."

"Well, that's reasonable."

"Well, we're still not convinced these Pokémon are real," one scientist piped up.

"Oh, and is there anywhere in our world where Asian people use English names or there are creatures that actually look like these Pokémon. I've got a son who's into this Pokémon fad, and that was definitely a Pokémon, that dog which was with the officer. The cartoons call her Officer Jenny, but implies all of them look alike."

"I don't understand this whole English thing, let alone Asian. That's not really a thing here."

"Um." Celicity wasn't sure how to respond to that, but she did know, "The girls are my responsibility."

"I know." Oak took a deep breath. "Really. I am not going to try and hinder that. Ultimately, it is your decision what should happen as time progresses. That said..." The man took a sip of his tea while the scientists looked at the rather big books. She couldn't help but feel they had a definite interest in what was going on, though they should know that they needed to get back. "You really don't come from a world where there are any Pokémon?"

"I didn't know about them until this trip."

"Oh. That seems to be the same for Natalie. How do the others..."

"It's all part of this game or cartoon show the girls like, though to be honest, I don't follow what the girls are trying to tell me beyond the fact they're all gaga for this show. That actually includes Felicity who pretended she didn't. I..." Celicity frowned, remembering how she stole Natalie's notebook.

"Could we possibly look at these books? To convince our selves? I mean, I'm sure that they're your research?"

"Sort of. My research papers, those of others. Go ahead. It would be interesting to know how the academia varies form our world and yours."

Celicity's mouth twisted slightly, wondering if the scientists were really focused on hopefully getting home. "They seem focused on this fantasy that turns out not to be so."

"Well, I find it curious, a world with no Pokémon. Our lives revolve around Pokémon." Oak took another drink of his tea. "What convinced you that they were real?"

"Well, Amy – she's the one carrying around what she called a Pikachu – she told me what we saw the night of the storm was a Gyrados. We also caught something the girls call Magikarp which are still on the boat."

"Ah. I can get them placed into Pokeball for the girls while they're here, although Magikarp aren't known for being very useful."

"One of the girls may have mentioned that or they may not have."

Oak let out a deep breath. "I'm going to be honest and say this is a completely new subject for me, yet I don't know how I would be able to help you return let alone communicate. It might involve one of the legendary Pokémon."

"Excuse... what?"

Oak took a deep breath. "It sounds like a Pokémon brought you to this world, so it sounds like a Pokémon will be needed to return you to where you came from."

"You mean the girls may have no choice but to become trainers? Professor Oak, we don't let our children have jobs at this young of an age."

"Well, becoming a trainer highly depends on where the trainer is from, but what also matters is if one of the sponsors is under the belief that the children are in fact ready. I'm not sure Chelsey is ready."

"But if you gave one..."

"Maybe. I follow you in that it would likely cause more problems if one or more of the girls got left out. I'd want to make sure the girls had some basic skills before heading out, so I guess that's what you – and I'll help as I need it – will focus on while we see if there isn't anything which might help you get back." Oak looked over at the scientists. "Are you convinced that you're in another world yet?"

"This is amazing."

"Amazing? You say that because you don't have a family, but is anyone going to believe Professor Oak when it comes to – well, finding a way for us to go back?"

"Effectively, you're saying that we're stuck here."

Celicity decided they – all nine of them – definitely needed to prepare for whether or not the girls would be stuck there. She felt like a failure as a teacher yet didn't know if the girls would listen to her regarding the course of action they decided to take. After all, Felicity didn't want to listen to her at all when they were on the boat. Even if they didn't get the opportunity to go home right away, there was always a chance of it in the future, so there would be the question of whether she handled things well. She took a deep breath, knowing she would need to talk to them in the morning.