Later he had a meal with Steven and Joseph Stone where he had a magikarp fillet with a side of salty fries and The Pokémon were provided large hunks of assorted tauros meat and nuggets of high-grade steel.
"Over time humans have noticed there is two real types of Pokémon the more common type you will encounter is the weaker variant within a species, they were dubbed the Dumb a long time ago they are otherwise known as the Betate." Joseph explained. "They are most common in species such as milktank, magikarp and rattata whereas in species like metagross they tend to die very quickly because of how much weaker they are compared to their stronger variant. We call those the Alphate or the Battlers. The magikarp we are eating now are the Dumb and if you walked along a beach and saw one flopping in the sand it is probably a Dumb as well."
Stlix felt better with this, whilst he had to eat some to live, he felt bad when a more intelligent and playful Pokémon was affectionate in the wild. This cleared it up for him how despite the powerful moves all Pokémon were capable of they were eaten so often.
After the meal he went back to his room and climbed into the bed but after an hour of tossing and turning climbed back out of it. He pulled the blankets off and walked into the pit where Buddy and Floaty lay and rested against the tough steel of Buddy's armour. The massive serpent cracked open one eye before falling back into a slumber.
The next morning after waking and washing Stlix had a large breakfast of fatty food and a 'Oran and Leppa berry smoothie' he moved off to find Steven. Floaty who conversed with the older males metagross lead them out the back of the manor into a large rectangular stone pit speckled with boulders and a floor dusty with sand.
"This is the first dig ever done on family-owned grounds." Steven said proudly. "The Stone family has some heritage and when we first started to live here this is where we looked for underground treasures. The ancestor who started it found a tiny cranidos fossil, now it is used for training."
Family was a strange thought. It hadn't sunk in to Stlix that he had family apart from Buddy or could be close to anyone else really. Floaty was the exception even if they could play less when he became a metang.
"Now me and you are going back indoors." Stevens's voice shook him from his thoughts. "Whilst metagross here puts your two Pokémon through their paces and see how they stack up we are going to teach you to be the best trainer you can be. Starting with theory." They walked back to the manor a few small explosions sounding off behind them.
Back in the house and seated in a comfy overstuffed chair Steven started to talk.
"The first part is boring whilst I explained part of it with Cynthia, I will explain to a greater extent how the league works and Pokémon classifications." He sipped his tea for a moment before continuing. "A newbie trainer will often start out with something like a wurmple here in Hoenn, a weak but fast-growing Pokémon that doesn't become something massively dangerous naturally. Some trainers will take a test that allows them a regional starter. Here in Hoenn that is a treecko, mudkip or torchic. They all grow into far stronger Pokémon naturally but a trainer who completes the test successfully is deemed capable of controlling one with check ins with the professor who gave it to them." This last statement prompted a question from Stlix.
"Regional professor?"
"The lead Pokémon scientist in a region I was going to say that later on in the explanation, but I guess curiosity shouldn't be discouraged." Steven smiled at his inquisitiveness before speaking again. "A third way is a family member will give them a Pokémon caught by themselves or purchased. This method means far more regular check ups by a league associate. A Nurse Joy usually to make sure the Pokémon is healthy and happy. The more powerful species require tests to be taken. Due to the league requiring any rookie trainer to receive a Pokémon before they start out you will likely receive one the third way. I know father already has ideas." He chuckled.
The lesson went on for a couple of hours and they covered Pokémon classed in tiers based on how much destruction they could naturally cause and their temperament. How the Pokémon league had a champion 'in charge' but because they could change due to challenging trainers, they had large amount of people to keep the government working. The surprise on Stlix's face when he found out Steven was the current Hoenn champion made the man laugh.
Later on three Pokémon arrived back into the house with Floaty looking massively tired and Buddy looking slightly battered. After conversing with his metagross Steven turned to him with surprise written upon his face.
"I didn't expect this. Metagross here tells me whilst Floaty is still definitely still newly evolved he outstrips others of his species by a small margin. However, Buddy the steelix is on the cusp of a Elite Four level Pokémon."
"So, he is strong then?" Stlix asked.
"Yes, far more than near any other starting trainer has had a Pokémon. He will only get stronger whilst you stay here for a few years as well."
The net few days were filled with large amounts of information for Stlix to learn while his two Pokémon from the champion level Pokémon until Steven had to get back to his own responsibilities.
"Team Rocket has started making larger moves in every region and I need to start taking out the bases we find." Steven said. "You will be staying here with Dad, but I expect you to keep up your education and Buddy and Floaty." After a quick hug they said goodbye and Steven flashed out of existence with a pule of metagrosses psychic power.
The next few days were lonelier without Steven around and Joseph busy with the company, but he persevered and got into a routine of training and learning. Whilst he knew how to talk due to Buddy's own knowledge, he had no idea of how to read so Joseph with his busy schedule had hired a tutor for him. Once he was more comfortable in his surroundings he explored to a fuller extent and visiting the local Pokémon that lived on the Stone's estate. A multitude of rock and steel type Pokémon lived in the carefully crafted environment. The aron line, cufant line, geodude line (including the Alolan variant), magnemite line, and many more. Relicanth swam in the streams and pools and roggenrola played amongst boulders. The most prominent of all was the metagross hives each sequestered in a private cave system. And like that three years passed by.
In the past three years Stlix had gotten his own trainer licence and two heavy balls to capture Buddy and Floaty within and Stlix currently sat within his own room with a Devon Corporation building, specifically the Kanto branch. Going into the joint dining room for the suite there he was met by the faces of his cousin and uncle. Both seemed happy and sad at the same time for today was the day when made his own way out into the world and had his own journey.
"Are you sure?" Steven asked quickly. "I know you want to stay further away from Hoenn so you are not immediately cast in the spotlight, but we could somewhere else, Galar for example Devon corporation has a presence in Galar recently." Stlix should his head at that a wry smile playing at his lips.
"No, I decided on Kanto I just feel that I might be needed here in the future and even if Team Rocket have increased activities, I have Buddy and Floaty with me. They also can't find me if I really want to hide." Joseph Stone let out a sigh at his unsurprising answer but changed topic.
"I am sorry that tyrunt isn't ready yet because of the sheer amount of extra DNA we got from the complete fossil we have had trouble adapting her immune system so currently she is a quarantined environment. Once she is ready though you can take the test and officially train her and show the world the best the ancient world had to offer." Stlix let out a smile. Despite being unable to meet her in person he had seen the fierce little dragon where she had been born and the scientists were gaining a wealth of information studying the most complete fossil Pokémon alive today.
"Its fine, I don't have a problem with whatever Pokémon I receive so long as there is a connection and even then, I have Buddy and Floaty." He patted the two heavy balls upon his waste and felt them both shake slightly in reply. "Plus, I have a couple of heavy balls in my pack to catch any unsurprisingly heavy Pokémon that wishes to accompany me."
After breakfast was finished, he said his final goodbyes to both Steven and Joseph before leaving via Pidgeot which flapped its massive wings launching them in the direction of a small town called Pallet the home of the legendary Oak.
Less than two hours later he dismounted from the giant bird and disengaged its saddle. It flew off the way it came, and he walked up towards a sprawling complex within a valley outside Pallet town. Professor Oaks laboratory. He pushed open the front doors and walked towards the welcome desk.
"Hello, may I ask your business today?" The receptionist asked with a happy tone.
"I am here to start my journey today."
"Ah one of the new trainers, if you can write your trainer ID here then walk down the corridor on the left and then taking the seventh door on the right professor Oak will be waiting for you." He quickly wrote his memorized ID down, thanked the receptionist and then strode down towards the door pointed out.
Walking into the clean white room he noticed two girls, one with blonde hair in a carefully crafted hairdo with an arrogant smirk upon her face and one with bright redd hair that seemed roughly hacked off just below the shoulder with a neutral expression. There was also another person a boy with spiky brown hair and a bored expression as he stared at the table which held four ordinary pokeballs and one heavy ball.
Soon after he arrived a grey-haired man strode in from the other side of the room, noticing the four trainers he let out a small frown before schooling his expression.
"Welcome trainers to the start of the rest of your life, Antoinette Prisca please step forward." The blonde girl stepped forward and stopped in front of the table. "All trainers here today under my sponsorship I offer three Pokémon, Squirtle the water type who evolves into blastoise who would become your own defensive bastion. Bulbasaur the grass type who becomes venusaur the best mix of defence and offense you will ever want. And finally, Charmander the fire type who will turn into charizard for when you need overwhelming firepower. Antoinette, choose." The blonde girl quickly pointed at the pokeball depicting a grass type sticker upon its top. Professor handed into her solemnly and asked her to wait patiently.
The professor then called up the flame haired girl called Rebecca who quickly chose the charmander and then the boy who turned out to be Gary Oak his grandson. He chose Squirtle with a smile upon his face.
"Now Stlix I will ask you to wait before I give you this heavy ball as I need to talk to you if I am going to release this Pokémon into your care. If you, please let me hand out ID's I will be with you shortly." The professor then proceeded to hand out three cards featuring the respective trainers face and three red rectangular devices that featured a camera like protrusion. He then ushered them from the room and turned to Stlix.
"Now then I wanted to move out back and see your two Pokémon." Stlix agreed and they moved out into a large dirt square where he promptly released steelix and metagross. Professor walked to the large behemoth without an ounce of hesitation had ran his hand across the bemused steelix's jaw. He then compared the length of the four metagross legs against each other before nodding.
"I will then." He muttered to himself and turned back to Stlix. "Walk with me." He ordered as Stlix recalled his two Pokémon and hurried after. "I wouldn't normally do this but one you're a special case, two your own Pokémon are in good health and three I have a good gut feeling. My own alakazam has also monitored you and stated you are a good person from what she can get, and she mentioned your curious affinities. So, I am going to give you a special Pokémon of a higher potential than I usually give out. However, despite you sending any Pokémon you catch beyond the team of six to your family's estate I want to see this Pokémon semi regularly for check-ups. Do you agree?"
"Yes." Stlix affirmed. "May I meet my new partner." Oak smiled at that and upon reaching the room handed him the heavy ball. He pressed the button on the front, and it opened with a flash of light revealed a squat green figure with a large head spike and a red belly.
"A larvitar." Stlix breathe out in amazement.