The Pokemon Professor

by AlexioftheNorthWood

Harry gets the opportunity to leave the pain of the Wizarding World and takes it. As the adopted son of the rather famous Dr. Samuel Oak, Harry leaps towards his own dreams and becomes the youngest Pokemon Professor ever. Harry isn't stopping there, he goes on his own journey, finds adventure, love and knowledge. But careful, it might be better, but even the Pokeworld isn't perfect

1. Chapter 1

Harry shoved his face into the pillow and screamed, not afraid anyone would hear him. He'd put a silencing spell up around his bed after his and Ron's fight. Ron was jealous of Harry. Jealous that Harry was probably going to die. Harry screamed again, the release feeling good. He already knew that despite Gryffindor's excitement that he was the fourth member of the Triwizard Tournament the rest of the school would not be so happy. It would be his second year all over again. Harry shifted sharply then almost screamed again, this time not in anger. He'd forgotten for a moment that his back was still healing. He may have been in school for two months but Vernon's belt had cut quite deep and at least two of the wounds on his back were still open under the scabs, new skin struggling to grow over the wounds to heal it.

It was a good thing that the Hogwarts uniforms required black robes, else he would not have been quite so easily able to hide when the scabs occasionally reopened and bled into the fabric on his back. He'd more than once had to go under the warm shower water still clothed in Dudley's shirt in order to remove the fabric from his back without ripping the scabs that had stuck to the cloth. Anger gone, Harry began to sob, unable to hold back the trainwreck of other emotions that had been walled behind the fury he'd just released. As his sobs subsided and he fell silent, though warm tears still rolled down his face he began to wonder if dying would be so bad? He could escape this horrendous life, and be with his parents. He snivelled and wondered if they would still love him despite his clear weakness.

"They would," a voice said in his head. Harry twisted and sat up quickly, breath hissing as he definitely reopened the wounds on his back. His wrist twitched a little as he put pressure on it, but he ignored it as he had been doing since it had been broken back in July.

"Who's there? Why are you in my head?" Harry whispered despite the silencing charm. Perhaps he was going nuts, maybe he had truly lost it.

"You aren't crazy, and i'm right here," the voice said as suddenly a creamy slightly pink creature appeared on his pillow.

"Bloody hell, I'm seeing things," Harry said a little louder than he'd been speaking before.

"You aren't, I'm real," the creature giggled.

"You seemed sad, I didn't like it."

"I have good reason," Harry responded. The little creature seemed to concentrate on Harry, the glow that surrounded it seemed shadowed for a second as Harry felt a slightly warm pressure in his head. It only lasted a second before he was able to blink and shake it away.

"I'm sorry," the little creature said. "Maybe I can help?" Harry snorted.

"I don't know what you are but I doubt it, there is nowhere in the world I could go to escape this," Harry sighed. The creature brightened and Harry got the feeling it was smiling.

"Do you want to stay in this world?" It questioned. Harry's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"I could bring you elsewhere," the creature said. "To my world. But, I don't think I could bring you back. I'm not supposed to be here. But maybe you'll be able to go back if you want to, you called me here somehow after all," the creature said.

"You could bring me to a different world?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I could," the creature said and Harry could see in its glowing aura there was something else it was hesitating to say.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"There is power in you," the creature said. "It's connected to something here, I wouldn't be able to bring it with you, at least not all of it. Some of it is connected to you fully, but some is connected to a ball of light in you, I wouldn't be able to bring it if I brought you over."

"My magic," Harry whispered, internally debating. His magic made him different, but it also was the reason that so much had gone wrong in his life. Besides, it sounded like not all of his magic would be gone, just the parts that allowed him to do spells. He'd be like a squib, able to do runes and potions but not transfiguration or charms. Harry bit his lip, he was seriously debating going with the little creature. "Can I take anything with me?" Harry asked, thinking of Hedwig and his photo album. The creature's glow darkened slightly.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I could carry anything but you, especially if it has any of the same power you have," the creature said. Harry thought about it for a minute, the pictures in the album were definitely magical and Hedgwig was a post owl and had some magic in her that allowed her to find anyone. Harry swallowed as he debated his choices. He could stay here and compete, and probably die, he could stay and not compete and become a squib, probably have to return to the Dursley's and be looked down upon even more, or he could go with the little creature, become a squib but maybe have a better life. It was an easy choice.

"Can I write a quick note?" Harry asked.

"Of course," the creature said. Harry quickly checked to see if anyone in the room was up, peeking behind his closed curtains. Seeing that everyone was asleep and hearing Ron's snores now that his head was outside of the two way silencing charm, he crept out fully and opened his chest at the end of his bed. Pulling out a spare bit of parchment and a quill he wrote a note that he was leaving. He left the map and his broom to Ron as the boy was his friend despite his jealousy and asked that someone give his father's cloak to Remus and his dog Snuffles along with his photo album. He asked that Hedwig be given to Hermione and asked that everything in his Gringotts account be given to the Weasely's. Biting his lip Harry pulled out last year's Weasley sweater before closing the trunk and leaving the note with his wand on top of his trunk. Climbing back into the bed with the sweater and closing the curtains so that the silencing charm was fully in place Harry turned to the creature.

"Is there any power on this?" Harry asked uncertain if Mrs. Weasley used magic in her knitting.

"No," the creature answered. Harry smiled and pulled it on, hissing at the stretch of his wounds. They had definitely opened earlier because the fabric of his shirt pulled and stuck to the once again dry scabs. Harry took a deep breath.

"Okay," Harry said, a few tears, leaking out of his eyes. He wiped them away, he wasn't sure if they were happy or sad tears because of his conflicting feelings about what he was about to do. Perhaps they were a bit of both. "Okay, I'm ready," Harry said. "Let's go." The creature glowed bright, and with a sudden shout of,

"Mew!" the creature glowed and the world spun. Harry felt a sudden pressure in his chest making it hard to breath, with a sharp twinge of pain and a pop the pressure disappeared but so did all of Harry's energy and he passed out.

"What did you do?" a voice hissed. It was far deeper and with an edge of cruelty to it in comparison to the little creature's. Harry blinked his eyes open confused. His back felt on fire, likely because he was laying full on it, rather than on his side or his belly as he normally did. With a groan he turned gently to his side, fighting off the tears from his pain.

"Brother, please," the sweet voice of the creature was much more soothing than the other. "Look into my mind brother, see what I saw." Harry watched as a creature with the same general coloration as the little pink creature, only with a little more purple and a much larger and humanoid shape glared at the pink creature. Suddenly the glare softened.

"I see," the bigger creature said. "But what of the leech?"

"That's why I brought him here," the little creature said. "I thought maybe you could remove it for me?"

"You have the power to remove it yourself, why do you ask me?" the bigger creature asked.

"I wish to give him a little of his childhood back, perhaps half of his lifespan?" the little creature said. "He would be seven and a little bit, but if i do that I would need to recharge to pull the leech off or I could pull the leech off but then he'd have been in this world too long for me to change his physical body." The bigger creature looked critically at Harry.

"I see," the big creature said. "Yes I can already see his physical form restabilizing, you realize that should you change his body and I pull the leech neither of us will have the power to heal him?"

"Yes," the little creature answered, aura spiking. "We can leave him close to where he could get help."

"We should begin now, lest we lose more time," the big creature said. Harry tried not to whimper as the bigger creature moved towards him and knelt at his head. The little creature popped and appeared floating just over the length of Harry's body.

"We'll not hurt you any more than you already have been," /i the bigger creature said when Harry was unable to withhold the flinch as the creature's three fingered hand touched Harry's scar. i "You and I have more in common than you know. A warning child, do not tell anyone you come from another world. Though I have learned through my little sister that there are a few good humans in this world, I am pragmatic, and have experienced enough to know that there are terrible ones as well. Should they know of your origins then they would seek to know more, and I would wish their experiments on no one. I will give you some of my knowledge of this world so you do not seem too strange, and I will erect a mind wall that no psychic can get through, lest you be found out that way. Trust little one, me and my sister know what we are doing." Harry blinked up at the creature and suddenly a cool liquid seemed to invade his brain, soothing even in it's invasion, he closed his eyes and slept.

Harry woke on the edge of a copse of trees. He was on his stomach on the sparse grass so his back no longer seemed as pained as it had been the first time he woke. He closed his eyes as the light hit and groaned, feeling slightly sick at the information dump in his brain. He was in a world filled with pokemon, and somehow he knew the name and general looks of each one. It was a lot of knowledge, especially considering the two pokemon who helped him were Mew and Mewtwo, a legendary and a genetically modified clone of a legendary. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees and proceeded to vomit, doing his best to avoid his hands. When he was finished he spit trying to rid himself of the taste and wiped his mouth with his arm. The breeze was cool and fresh smelling briny and clean felt good against his slightly feverish skin. Harry knew that the events and constant reopening of his wounds had likely given him an infection and wondered if the passive magic, that was all he had left, would allow him to overcome the infection or if it had been his active magic that had helped him do so in the past. Harry looked towards where the breeze was coming from. There was clearly a cliff forming the coastline of the land Kanto he was now on. He wasn't entirely sure where in Kanto he was but as he stood and looked out over the sea he could see a rather large looking island with a mountain, or rather a volcano according to the map in his head courtesy of Mewtwo.

Given that the island, Cinnabar, was almost directly south and little to the east, Pallet Town and civilization was to his north, past the trees. He wasn't sure exactly how far, he didn't have a map scale and Mewtwo and Mew teleported everywhere and weren't likely to be the best judges of distance, but nonetheless he began walking into the trees carefully watching where he stepped so that he didn't piss off the residents of the forest while he was so clearly unable to defend himself. He wasn't sure what he'd do once he got to Pallet Town, but his body was only seven, if what Mew had said she was going to do was correct. He certainly felt smaller, the clothes he wore looking and feeling even more oversized. At least one person would take pity on the clearly homeless child right? Hopefully.

He was ten minutes into his walk when he heard a growl, scuffle and a sharp yelp. Harry ducked and hid behind the nearest tree only peeking out slightly. He saw a tiger striped, but wolf bodied pokemon, an Arcanine surrounded by several smaller similarly colored pokemon, clearly Growlithes and one cowering gold and cream colored Growlithe that was clearly much smaller than the others.

"Runt," Harry could clearly hear the Arcanine hiss. The voice was female and the little gold Growlithe curled in on itself more."Come little ones, we leave," the female voice said and the other Growlithes hurried to follow as she turned and slowly loped through the trees heading west. The little gold one lay curled up, whimpering on the forest floor where it had been thrown in the scuffle. Harry crept forward slowly. The Growlithe's head came up and the pokemon growled at Harry.

"I bite, flee," the pokemon said underneath the growl.

"It's okay," Harry said softly seeing the blood on the little Growlithe's side where the claws of the Arcanine had obviously cut through the fur. "I won't hurt you, promise. There is a town near here, they can help. I'm going there too," Harry continued staying low and getting on his hands and knees. "Maybe you can let me take you there so they can heal you?" Harry asked, still soft. Growlithe growled again.

"I bite!" Harry stopped and shifted his body to sit legs crossed.

"I'll sit here and let you decide," Harry said quietly. The Growlithe seemed surprised and stayed where it was glaring at Harry, trying to intimidate the human boy. It couldn't do so for long before the poor creature began to shiver as pain overcame fear and aggression. Slowly the little creature nosed forward towards where Harry sat limping, it's back leg almost useless with the injury that curved down it's flank and leg.

"It's okay," Harry whispered soothingly. The little creature whimpered and before it could make it all the way to Harry its front paw gave out, and it gave a pained cry as it's body hit the ground. Harry gasped lightly.

"Can I come to you?" Harry asked the creature for permission. It whimpered out a small

"Yes," as it shook its head. Harry made sure to move slowly and stay low as he crawled to the creature. Getting close Harry could see not only the injury, clearly made by a large claw swipe as well as just how underfed the poor pokemon was, it's ribs showing clear through it's cream gold and bloody fur.

"I'm going to pick you up now," Harry whispered. "I'll try to be gentle." The little creature just whimpered. Harry removed his Weasley jumper, hissing in pain at the stretch and heat of his own wounds. Carefully Harry used the clothing to wrap Growlithe and pick it up. It fit easily in his arms, and despite the fact that due to Mewtwo's knowledge dump the average Growlithe pup was at least twenty pounds only a week after birth, the pup couldn't have been more than ten. The oddly colored pokemon truly had been the runt of his little litter but that was no reason for him to die.

Taking care not to jostle the whimpering pup that had put it's trust in Harry, the dark haired blue eyed boy made his way as quickly as he could towards the direction he believed Pallet town to be in. It was another fifteen minute walk before he cleared the trees. Pallet Town was directly ahead and a little to the east.

"Almost there," Harry whispered as he adjusted his route. It took another five minutes for Harry to reach the first house. The town wasn't very big, more of a village than a town with only three streets of houses, a large building with a glass ceiling, and a street that looked like it was filled with shops and stores getting ready to close as the sun began to descend. Harry was unsure where to go. Mewtwo's knowledge of the locations of Kanto was limited to where they were physically located, not what was within the location themselves. A kind looking woman passed by Harry carrying a basket of what looked to be groceries.

"Excuse me," Harry called to her. The woman looked up in surprise and saw Harry. "I have a hurt pokemon, can you tell me where to go?"

"The Poke Lab is closer than the Poke Center, that's on the other side of town, if it's really hurt, go to the big building," the woman said.

"Thank-you," Harry said before hurrying off, not noticing that the woman was watching him go. She pulled out a phone and shot off a quick email to her father in law letting him know that a young boy she'd never seen in town before was bringing in an injured pokemon.

Harry used his body to push open the door to the lab building before calling out when he saw everyone inside working and no one even glancing in his direction.

"Excuse me? Can someone help? I found a pokemon and he's hurt really bad," Harry said. Everyone looked up at him and two people in lab coats hurried to take the wrapped pokemon from Harry, doing their best not to jostle it all that much as they unwrapped it to look at it's wounds. "It's mom called it a runt and swiped it," Harry said, wringing his hands a little. "I saw when I was behind a tree. She left it behind."

"A baby pokemon?" one of the lab techs said.

"It certainly looks like it," said another.

"Different coloring too, do you think it's color will change as it grows?" a different one asked.

"Not a clue, we've never seen a baby pokemon before, this is unprecedented, the information we can learn," said the first.

Two more hurried to shave away the fur around the wounds, while another used water to wash as much of the wound as it could. Gently they patted the wound dry before spraying it with some kind of liquid that caused the poor Growlithe to yelp and the wound to fizzle white, like hydrogen peroxide always did when Harry cleansed his wounds in the past. Harry wrung his hands as the potion was gently wiped away and one of the lab techs began stitching the wound up. A grey haired man suddenly exited from what looked to be a closed off portion of the lab.

"What do we have?" The man asked with obvious authority.

"A young Growlithe, a baby Growlithe," one of the techs answered.

"A baby?" the man asked incredulously, pushing through to see. "Amazing, perhaps by studying the growth we can figure out how pokemon are born. It would be a breakthrough of research. I was told a young man brought the pokemon in?" one of the lab tech's pointed to Harry who was standing only a few feet away still wringing his hands.

"Is he going to be okay?" Harry asked. "I promised him he'd be okay."

"He's in good hands," the man said as he looked Harry up and down. Harry didn't really notice, caught up in watching as the lab techs wrapped bandages around the stitched wounds and put a cone round the pup's head.

"May I ask your name?" the man who seemed to be in charge.

"Uh, It's Harry," Harry answered, switching more fully to the man.

"Alright Harry," the man crouched down showing that despite his apparent age he was still rather mobile. "Now I can see that the baby Growlithe isn't the only one that's injured." The man nodded towards Harry's wrist which was clearly purple. Harry hadn't even noticed. He'd probably refractured it without realizing, given that it hadn't been fully healed before his trip here. Harry couldn't help it when he let the oversized sleeves of Dudley's shirt fall over his wrist and put his arms behind his back where they couldn't be seen. He didn't even give an excuse like he'd learned to when Ron or Hermione asked about an injury. It was like he'd reverted to his, well his seven year old self. Perhaps Mew had changed more than just his physical body but perhaps a bit of his mentality as well?

"It's alright, you aren't in trouble,I just need to look at that wrist. It looked like it might have been broken and probably hurt a lot, please Harry?" the man asked. Harry looked down at his feet before looking back at the man and nodding. The man smiled softly. "Alright Harry. You see where they're bringing the Growlithe?" Harry looked over at the lab tech who was putting the Growlithe gently into some kind of machine which seemed to be scanning him for any internal injuries. Harry nodded. "Well we have one for bigger pokemon, it's big enough for humans too. I'll be able to see exactly what's going on with that wrist, will you let me see?" Harry swallowed heavily as he looked at the scanned image of the Growlithe. It looked quite comprehensive. If Harry allowed himself to be scanned it would show everything. Taking a deep breath Harry nodded. Perhaps it would be best if he allowed it to happen, if he quit trying to hide. He was in a new place now, it wasn't like they could actually send him back. Gently the man led him towards a large machine that looked like the giant version of what the little Growlithe had been put in. Harry flinched when the man set his hand on his back trying to steady him as he climbed up. Harry didn't notice that one of the lab techs had at the man's look left the room dialing into his phone. Nor did he know that when his wounds had reopened and blood had seeped through the fabric, showing starkly on the grey and very visible when anyone looked at his back.

Harry sat gently in the machine as the man soothed him and began starting up the machine. Harry did his best not to move as the machine scanned him, and couldn't bring himself to look at the image of his body and it's injuries that was being put on the screen. One of the lab techs gasped and the man gestured for him to leave, doing his best to keep a neutral face. Harry's lip was trembling when the machine was done.

"Alright Harry," the man said. "Now I can see there are a lot of things we're going to have to fix. It's going to be alright."

"Okay sir," Harry said quietly.

"You can call me Samuel, Harry," Samuel said. "I'm Samuel Oak, I'm the Professor here. Now I'm alright at human first aid but do you see over there?" Samuel pointed at one of the female aids. One with pretty brown hair pulled up into a tight ponytail and waved. "That's Dr. Amanda Burns, she's our medical doctor, she's going to be the one to help you, but if you want I can stay with you the entire time?" Harry nodded.

"Alright then Harry," Amanda said coming close, "If you wanna hop down from there we'll go to one of the private rooms and start by getting you out of that shirt okay." Harry nodded again and got off the scanner.

Three and a half hours later, after his back was cleaned, along with the open wound on his forehead, where his scar had reopened, likely when Mewtwo had removed whatever leech Mew had asked him too, as he'd touched him there, his wrist had been readjusted and then tightly wrapped and Professor Oak helped sponge bath him since his back and wrist couldn't get wet. Dr. Amanda had helped Professor Oak in cleaning Harry's hair, with the creative use of a tub generally used for bathing pokemon. Harry was now asleep under a warm blanket atop a gurney, his back bandaged and healing foot elevated, after being pumped full of antibiotics and pain medication.

Professor Oak and Dr. Amanda had both attempted multiple times to get more information out of Harry, about his last name, his family, or even where he was from. Harry simply clamped up, going mute in refusal to answer. Both of them took it as the boy not wanting to give any information that may have him being sent back to his abusers, rather than Harry not wanting to talk about it or have to remember lies. Two officers were talking with the Professor and doctor now, giving what information they had.

"How long do you think his recovery will be?" asked one of the officers who was making notes on a pad.

"Physically," Amanda said. "As long as the wounds on his back don't get anymore infected, then two maybe three days, before he can start moving around, three weeks before his back is completely healed, another week for his wrist. Mentally, well that's a whole other story."

"I'll alert the orphanage in Saffron and they can get in contact to organize his transport," said the other officer.

"You think an orphanage is the best place for him?" asked Professor Oak.

"No, but there is little choice," said the officer.

"What if I took him in?" the Professor asked. "I've gone through the fostering program. I took it in an effort to understand how to take care of abandoned, orphaned or abused pokemon, but I've gone through the program. I could give him one on one care, and being in a small town would likely be better than a big city." The officers looked at one another.

"We don't have the authority to say you can," one of the officers said, "But I do have a sister who works in child services," he continued, taking out his business card and reaching for his partner's pen. Writing the number down he passed it to the pokemon Professor. "Call her, they'll have the correct paperwork and authority to get everything started. In the meantime, he tells you anything else about the person or people who did this to him, you let us know."

"Of course, thank you officers," Samuel said.

Less than a week later, League Pokemon Professor Dr. Samuel Oak Ph.D was the foster father of one Harry Oak, the boy having agreed to use the man's last name as he wouldn't give up his own. One of the guest rooms in the Professor's small house was converted into Harry's room and the boy had happily picked out the paint color, a soft lavender and the bed, a circular bed with an overhang top meant to look like a purple luxury pokeball closed three quarters of the way. Harry spent much of his time at the lab with Professor Oak, either reading the few textbooks that had been published about pokemon, helping the aides feed the pokemon being studied, or napping on Professor Oak's couch, the little Growlithe, whom Harry had nicknamed Goldfyre or Fyre for short, curling up beside him or in his lap, or following him around like a lost puppy.

Goldfyre, as long as Harry was there allowed himself to be poked and prodded as the professors ran tests trying to understand both how baby pokemon came into the world, as well as the strange colors pokemon occasionally popped up with, known as Shiny coloring, that before Harry telling them, that the mother and the six other baby Growlithes were all orange black and white rather than the gold and cream that Goldfyre sported, believed was a genetic trait. While it still could be a recessive gene, it was unlikely that in seven other Growlithes sharing genes there wasn't another Shiny. This gave more likelihood to a random genetic mutation that popped up without a pattern. Without understanding exactly how baby pokemon came into the world, however there was little more research that could be done. Especially without any other baby pokemon. It was apparently exceedingly rare for a baby pokemon to be seen as the parents seemed to hide them until they were adolescents. The most often seen baby pokemon were bug pokemon, and it was illegal to professionally capture baby pokemon, or a known mother pokemon. Only League registered Ranger's, Breeders, or Scientists were given legal right to raise or foster orphaned baby pokemon, unless there were extenuating circumstances, or if a League registered Ranger, Breeder, or Scientist, arranged for a trainer to foster the orphaned baby. It happened so rarely and was highly regulated so that there was little to no chance of a black market on baby pokemon.

Harry didn't talk about his past and resisted answering all questions about it, but more than once, Samuel Oak had crawled into Harry's bed to hold him as he either cried, missing home or tried to go back to sleep after a nightmare. Eventually Harry was able to convince Professor Oak to let Goldfyre come home with them to stay with Harry. Even though Goldfyre couldn't yet be professionally caught for another seven months and Harry was still just under two and a half years away from being allowed to legally own a pokemon, it was all but a forgone conclusion that Goldfyre was Harry's. Harry had gotten a bit more used to being a member of the Oak family, although he didn't get along with young Gary Oak who was two and a half and quite spoilt. Harry knew it was irrational to be jealous of a baby but seeing just how much Gary's parent's doted on the baby he just couldn't help it. Harry wouldn't give up having Samuel Oak as a father for anything though. Harry had taken to calling Samuel, Pa about seven months ago, two months after the man had officially become his foster father.

"Harry can you double check that the new Alakazam has settled in when you do the feeding? Be careful though. He's newly retired from the league and although his documents mark him as non-aggressive around pokemon and humans in non-battle situations, I still don't want you to get hurt." Oak said.

"Course Pa," Harry answered, lifting another bag of pokefood into the wheelbarrow. Harry had not realized that not everyone could understand pokemon, and had inadvertently revealed the ability to the Professor. The professor had warned Harry to keep the ability quiet and to pretend he simply had an affinity for pokemon if anyone asked. Professor Oak even told Harry to keep the ability quiet from the League who, while highly regulated, often forgot that people were people in light of the big picture of pokemon and may exploit him without realizing the harm they'd do to him. Still, the ability allowed Harry to more easily check on the pokemon in the lab's care.

"Dinner!" Harry called as he entered the biodome that took up over half of the lab building. Harry cut open the bags of pokefood with a ceramic knife before pouring it into one of the seven troughs, repeating the process with a new bag until all of the troughs were filled. Pokemon of all types headed to the troughs to get their fill. He put the empty bags back into the wheelbarrow, bringing it to the entrance before returning to the troughs. Harry waited to see if the Alakazam would turn up for feeding before calling to Goldfyre.

"Come on bud, you can eat when we get home, we have Alakazam to find," Harry called. Goldfyre yipped and hopped down from where he'd been getting food to follow in Harry's footsteps. Harry found the large bearded pokemon meditating underneath, ironically, a large oak tree.

"Mr. Alakazam?" Harry called softly as to not startle the older pokemon.

"Yes child?" Alakazam asked. Harry had learned that psychic pokemon could audibly speak human languages using their minds unlike other pokemon.

"It's dinner time, didn't you hear me call?" Harry asked.

"I heard you child," Alakazam said, his voice even and centering. "I am simply taking time to ruminate on my retirement, at the moment."

"You have a very big vocabulary," Harry commented sitting down in the shade of the oak tree. Most of the pokemon in the lab knew a few words that they would say, but they certainly couldn't hold conversation, despite their near constant human interaction. "Would you mind if I joined you in the quiet?" He asked as Goldfyre climbed in and settled in his lap.

"I have experienced many years with my trainer, and both my mother and father had immense vocabularies," Alakazam responded. "I do not disapprove of you joining me in contemplating in solitude, or rather tranquility since I am no longer alone in the silence." Harry and Alakazam sat in silence for a few minutes, Harry fidgeting slightly. Harry felt the Alakazam smiling more than he saw anything on the pokemon's face.

"Speak child, what is ricocheting in that young mind of yours?" the pokemon asked.

"You said that your mom and dad had big vocabularies but what does that have to do with you having a big one? Did they teach you?" Harry asked. The pokemon seemed to contemplate something for a moment before speaking.

"Yes and no," the pokemon answered. "All psychic pokemon have memory gained from their parents, it is why it is so easy for us to speak to you humans, and why we are among the most intelligent of pokekind. Unlike humans and other pokemon we do not have to learn everything when we are born, we are born with portions of knowledge that our parents learned."

"If all psychic pokemon have memories from their parents, do you remember everything about the world's history?" Harry asked. Alakazam leaned back against the tree.

"Not exactly," the pokemon said. "It's never been clear even to us psychic types, despite everything, just what decides the memories we inherit. Language tends to be the most common, but among my family's line it is even more apparent. Unlike some psychic pokemon who inherit small amounts of language, my line inherits fully established dialects and languages, pokemon and human."

"There are different pokemon languages?" Harry asked.

"Dialects, yes," the pokemon answered. "Most pokemon stick to our common shared dialect, though many types have what you would refer to as accents, but amongst the legendary pokemon there is a language only they know fully, though some pokemon, mostly psychics, know a few words here and there."

"I've read all of Pa's textbooks, nothing in them even mentions pokemon memories being passed down amongst psychic types, or anything about pokemon languages and dialects.

"Perhaps that's because no one has ever asked," Alakazam answered, standing. Harry stood with him, gently setting Goldfyre on the ground.

"Would you let my Pa record what you know?" Harry asked.

"If he asks the questions, I will give him the answer's," Alakazam answered.

"Thanks Alakazam, bye," Harry said as he and Goldfyre jogged off towards the entrance of the biodome where it connected to the rest of the lab while Alakazam headed towards the troughs.

Harry's curious questions turned into a discovery of epic proportions that started a domino effect. Professor Oak refused to take all the credit for the discovery, and Harry's name went on the research paper on the subject, drawing the various League's attention, and sent the Kanto League into a debate. At the end of the debate, Harry was offered a position as an independent League registered pokemon researcher, with a small wage, and bonuses for any discoveries. After talking with his Pa and discussing the responsibilities that would come, Harry decided to take on the job.

As a registered League researcher Harry gained quite a few perks. He was able to own pokemon two and a half years early as an official trainer, should he wish to register for the League Challenge, and he no longer had a carry limit for the amount of pokemon he could have with him at any given time. He did however have to keep a careful record of everything he researched, and taking his age into account, he needed to log at least eight hours of research time a week. His wage was minimal, only a hundred pokedollars a week, with bonuses for his discoveries. He was also able to access grant funds should he need them, after he went through the proper channels of course. To begin with Harry helped with his Pa's research, logging things for him and other menial duties while learning the ins and outs of professional pokemon research. Harry and Goldfyre, who after his Pa's gift of a single pokeball and a pokedex, were now officially pokemon and trainers, also participated as part of his Pa's studies. Specifically his Pa's research into pokemon and human relationships.

Harry celebrated his eighth birthday with his Pa and his Pa's family and was gifted with his own computer in his Pa's lab, where he could log his notes, rather than using a notebook and then uploading them via his Pa's. Harry was ecstatic, swiftly pushing himself to learn the ins and outs of the piece of Devon Company equipment. With the help of Alakazam, so that Harry didn't have to reveal his ability to the League, Harry questioned the other pokemon about any genetic memories, as they named the phenomenon. With this Harry was credited with another discovery. Inherited abilities, though it had been documented in form before, that some pokemon seemed to have abilities that others of their kind didn't. It was believed that their formative years were the cause, and since so little was known about baby pokemon it was an accepted explanation, until Harry discovered otherwise of course. By the age of ten Harry had become credited in several of Professor Oak's papers as well as a few of the laboratory aide's research papers as well, and had written out a project of his own he wanted to research. Now all he had to do was present it to his Pa and then the League, who would either approve and provide the funding or send him back to the drawing board.

"Pa?" Harry called as he walked into the pokemon lab, the file folder of his proposal under his arm. The folder was just the physical copy of his proposal, the electronic file was in the harddrive of his computer tower, ready to be sent to the League should his Pa say it was ready.

"Over here Harry," his father called from behind the one othe partitions separating the lab aide cubicles.

"Hey Pa," Harry said as he approached. Professor Oak was leaning over one of his aides looking at the information on the other man's screen.

"One moment Harry," Oak said before turning his attention to the aide. "Log this in an official capacity and send me an email link." With a pat on the aide's shoulder the professor turned to his son. "What do you need, bud?'' Oak asked.

"I finished it," Harry said, taking a deep breath, "Can you look it over?"

"Of course, let's go to my office son," Oak said. Harry nodded and followed as his father led the way. Harry sat in the chair in front of his father's desk setting the binder on the desktop. Goldfyre, too large to sit in his trainer's lap, curled up at Harry's feet.

"Before I take a look, tell me what it is you finally decided on for your project, you were awfully secretive," Oak said, folding his hands together. Harry gave a nod, swallowed and gathered his thoughts before taking a deep breath.

"Alright," Harry began. "I've been making a note of what research on pokemon has been done and noticed that despite a wide range of topics that have been looked into or are being looked into and I noticed a glaring hole; anatomy and physiology. The scanner that you used on me and Goldfyre when we first met is the extent of anatomy research into pokemon, and it really only reveals wounds that affect the outside of the body, open wounds, and x-rays to reveal broken bones. And what little physiology knowledge that we have is patchy and usually found by accident or as a result of another research angle rather than a true want to know."

"And how have you worked around the legalities?" his father asked. "Experimentation on pokemon is illegal, that includes non-essential surgery."

"Experimentation and non-essential surgery is illegal on live pokemon," Harry answered. "I propose, a temporary lab be set up in Lavender Town, trainers be encouraged to donate their pokemon's deceased bodies to science before burial, and exploratory autopsies be performed and recorded. Not only could this lead to discoveries on the whys and hows of pokemon, but it could also help in understanding how to heal pokemon." Oak sat back in his chair for a minute, thoughtful, before picking up the binder and beginning a read through of the official proposal and grant request. Harry did his best not to fidget for the next half hour it took for his father to read through. Oak set the binder down, closing it and was silent for a minute, causing Harry to press his sweaty palms onto his knees nervously.

"I'm so very proud of you," Oak said suddenly and Harry's heart soared. He didn't even notice his father rounding the table until he was in the man's arms clutching tightly into the hug. "Truly I am," Oak said into his hair, before letting Harry go and sitting on the couch rather than the intimidating chair behind the desk this time. "I do have a few questions."

"Okay," Harry said, nodding, preparing himself to answer them.

"You asked for an aide for this project but specified for the aide not to come from this lab, can I ask why?" Oak asked. "Would it not be better to work with someone who's known you for a few years?"

"In a sense yes, but in this case no," Harry answered with a sigh, drawing his legs up in the chair to sit cross legged. "This is supposed to be my project which means I'll be solely in charge of whomever they send as my aide. Everyone here has known me since I was even younger than I am now, and I'm still only a child, even if ten is the age most go off on their pokemon adventures. If I got an aide that had been based here it may be grating for them to follow my orders, especially if they still see me as a child. An aid from another lab though? The rest of the scientific community, though they know my age have only seen me via my contributions and would be less likely to question or balk under my authority." Oak was nodding in understanding.

"I understand," his father said. Taking a deep breath the man sighed. "You've grown up so much, and now you're about to lead your first research project, I feel like crying and shouting in happiness and sadness at the same time. I have no doubt that the League will grant you the funding for this project. You've detailed exactly how much you'll need and have done everything you can to prove just how beneficial your findings can be, and have ensured that the funds you do need are minimal as well. I am very proud." Harry swallowed.

"Thanks Dad," Harry whispered through the lump in his throat. His father's eyes widened, though Harry had called him Pa, he'd never called him Dad before. Professor Oak rose to his feet and in the same movement pulled Harry off of his chair and into a bear hug that Harry returned as hard as he could, pushing his head into his father's chest trying not to cry.

"I have something to ask you Harry," Oak said, finally letting go of Harry. Harry wiped at his eyes, rubbing away the tears that hadn't quite fallen. His father pulled something off of the desk, a thin folder. Oak knelt down so he was on level with Harry and opened the folder. "I already signed, but this is your choice, don't feel any pressure, if you want, nothing will change. But I love you and I'd really like to make it official." Harry looked at the papers and the tears he'd just wiped away sprung to his eyes again. Though he couldn't speak, Harry simply nodded yes, clutching at his father and the papers that his father had signed to officially adopt him with equal measure. Not much more was done that day other than a celebratory dinner at Harry's now official older brother's home with the rest of the Oak family. A proper welcome to officially becoming a member of the family.

Less than a week later there was another cause for celebration, and was punctuated by Harry's sudden shout that surprised everyone in the office section of the labs.

"Yes! Yes!" Harry shouted, running out of his little cubicle. "Dad! Dad! I got it! They approved it all!" Professor Oak exited his office, which had been open and met Harry halfway as he raced down the carpeted room. The man swung the celebrating boy up into his arms and danced a happy dance. Though Harry was intelligent and employed by the league he was still a child and it was apparent in moments like these, especially in how young he seemed to keep Professor Oak.

"I told you they would," his father said, setting Harry back down. "When do they expect you to leave?"

"I have two weeks," Harry said. "They approved my equipment requests and are going to have it all set up the day before my scheduled arrival. My request for an aide was also approved. A student completing his doctorate, and apparently on the list of possible candidates to take over the Johto Pokemon Lab, one Mervin Elm. I think I read one of his papers. He's researching pokemon breeding and birthing. I'd guess that understanding the anatomy and physiology would be a good help to his research."

"Yes, I suppose it would. With Professor Maple retiring this year, Johto will need a new professor, in charge of the lab," his father said, scratching his chin. "You'll need to bring your external hard drive, and we'll have to pack your bags. That reminds me, wait here." Harry waited as his father rushed into his office before returning with a box, and handed it to Harry. "I purchased it when you showed me your project application. I wanted to be able to stay in contact with you. My number is already programmed in, that's why the box isn't sealed anymore."

"Thank-you Dad," Harry said, giving the man a quick hug before digging the Silph phone out of the box and taking in the design. It was a flip phone with an easy to navigate menu. Two weeks later found Harry hugging his father, promising to call regularly. His father was lending him one of his own pokemon, a Pidgeot that knew how to fly, in order to quickly get to Lavender Town; it would also provide Harry an easy way to visit home should he wish too.

Unwrapping his arms from his father, Harry picked up his bag and pulled Goldfyre's pokeball from his waist.

"Alright boy, you'll have to be in your ball for the trip," Harry said, holding the ball out about waist height. Goldfyre nodded and leapt up on back legs to push his nose against the button on the front of the pokeball. A moment later he was inside the ball which Harry put in the side pocket of his duffle before swinging it onto his shoulder. Harry took a deep breath and realized the pokemon he was borrowing from his father.

"Hey Otto," Harry said, petting the bird pokemon's head. "I need to go to Lavender Town, if you'd be willing to take me?" Harry asked. The bird bobbed his head and answered with a

"We fly!" Harry smiled and climbed onto the pokemon's back, careful not to hurt his wings as he settled into the custom made saddle.

"Bye Dad!" Harry shouted as Otto lifted into the air.

"Call me when you get there," Professor Oak shouted back, and then Harry was too high in the air to hear anything else. Harry yipped in joy as Otto banked, turning to fly east and slightly to the north. He had missed the feeling of flying, and had only flown a few times before, completing deliveries on occasion for the lab, but generally it was too Celadon City or occasionally Fuchsia City, both of them only half a day trip there and back on Otto's back, where as it would be over half a day to Lavender Town. Thankfully Harry had packed himself a lunch. He was just passing over what was likely Vermillion City when Harry pulled his sandwich out of the front pouch of his duffel. He'd left Pallet Town shortly after ten am, so it was probably shortly after one o'clock, he was just over halfway there.

Harry's legs were beginning to feel sore when he felt Otto begin to descend. In the distance he could see a tower surrounded by purplish clouds. Otto circled the town twice before gracefully landing. Gingerly, Harry slid off the bird's back. They both took a moment to take in their surroundings. Harry offered the bird a little bit of pokefood he had packed along with some water before removing the saddle and using its built in nano-technology feature to shrink it before putting Otto back in his pokeball, and packing it into the same pocket that held Goldfyre's so that the bird could rest. The saddle went into his own pocket so that Harry could pull it out and clean it later. Harry pulled Goldfyre's ball out and released the loyal pokemon. Fyre immediately pushed against Harry's leg, prompting Harry to pet him.

"Alright off we go, towards the tower," Harry said. "My lab is supposed to be set up on the east side of it, between the cliffside and the tower itself." Goldfyre trotted loyally beside Harry as the boy made his way through the town that was quite a bit larger than Pallet Town. Finding his way was easy as the Pokemon Tower was one of two towers in the town. The other was on the southern side and was the Kanto Radio Tower, it's KRT logo clear on it's side. The walk across the town took a little under ten minutes at a moderate speed. Just as he'd been told the lab tent was set up in between the camp, the red and white pokeball with the three blue atoms in orbit symbolized pokemon scientists around it. Harry stopped and pulled out his phone. A quick push of the buttons and Harry held the phone up to his ear as he stared at the tent.

"Professor Oak speaking," his father answered the phone professionally, probably not even having looked at the caller ID before he'd answered.

"Dad," Harry said quietly. "I'm in Lavender. I'm outside the tent, I'm nervous."

"Of course you are son," Oak said. "I was nervous about my first official project too. You can do it."

"Thank-you Dad," Harry said, breathing in deeply.

"You're welcome, how was the flight?" Oak asked.

"Long, but uneventful," Harry answered. "And you, what did you do today?"

"Paperwork mostly, after all, my most efficient paperwork gopher is no longer here," Oak said with a chuckle.

"I feel no pity," Harry joked back.

"Well you'd best get in there. Call me tomorrow?" Oak asked.

"Of course Dad, love you," Harry said.

"Love you too son," Oak responded. "Have a good night."

"Bye Dad," Harry said.

"Bye son," Oak responded before they both hung up. Harry steeled himself and headed to the tent. Entering easily, Harry took in the set up. It was arranged mostly as he'd designed. The large scanner he'd requested didn't seem to be here, but as the request had been approved it was likely on it's way, being delivered by land pokemon rather than by air. The personal areas of the tent were separated by solid white curtain partitions, and Harry made his way to the open one and set his bag down. Goldfyre leapt up onto the bed and made himself comfortable as Harry began to unpack.

"Oh hello!" a voice behind Harry said. Harry turned to see a man, likely in his late teens, perhaps early twenties. He was stick thin and wore khaki pants and an open dress shirt, a graphic t-shirt underneath. He was carrying several containers of what smelled like food, specifically chinese food, or rather Johtoen food. Harry quickly realized that this was likely Mervin Elm.

"Hello, Harry Oak, Mervin Elm I presume?" Harry said, exiting his personal area.

"Yes," Mervin answered, setting the take out containers onto one of the metal tables, and extending his hand to shake. Harry shook it. "Pleasure to meet you," Elm said.

"Likewise," Harry answered.

"Do you like Johtoen food?" Elm asked. "I wanted to see what my favorite dishes taste like here. I have plenty enough if you'd like to share."

"I'd like that," Harry said. "I'd just like to feed Goldfyre first, that's him over there, and after dinner I'd like to do a proper walk through of the lab."

"Of course," Elm said. "I did a walkthrough when I arrived this morning to familiarize myself, the only thing we seem to be missing is the large scanner, I was told by the League builders that it was scheduled to arrive early tomorrow morning, and will be installed by someone certified to do so." Harry nodded and pointed to Goldfyre who had started softly snoring where he'd fallen asleep on Harry's bed.

"That's Goldfyre, he's friendly, he prefers to be outside of his pokeball, so he'll probably be around, he knows to stay out of our way though," Harry said. "Can you show me where they stored the pokefood? I requested that they provide a month's worth of pokefood and grocery supplies so that we could take the time to set up rather than shopping for food, groceries will be delivered every two weeks so if you have requests let me know."

"Smart, well there's a little kitchenette and pantry round the back of where they set up our spaces, might be in there, didn't go through the cupboards, mostly just checked out the lab equipment," Elm answered.

"Thanks," Harry said. Both of them headed towards the kitchenette, Harry to find the pokefood, and Mervin to find some utensils. After Goldfyre and the two researchers were well fed, Harry began his walkthrough carrying a clipboard and a supply list he'd made for the project, while Elm began setting up his computer, connecting his own external harddrive to the League provided tower and monitor, as well as a small Silph Cam, for video calls.

The front of the tent where one entered was an open professional space with two metal tables for general examinations, along with a metal desk with organizers, and two standing metal drawer cabinets. Opening up each drawer, Harry began checking off items as he took stock, making sure that the supplies he had requested were all here. From the front he made his way past the clear divider curtains to take a look at the computer cubicles for both Harry and Mervin. Mervin was talking to what seemed to be his family, a young and rather pretty woman, and a two year old boy.

"Harry, would you like to meet my wife and son?" Mervin asked, as Harry finished checking off the last things on the clipboard pertaining to their computer areas.

"I would be delighted," Harry answered.

"Melony, Curtis, this is my co-worker and leader of this research station, Harry Oak," Mervin said, introducing Harry to his family. "Harry, my wife Melony and son Curtis, he's four."

"Hello," Harry said politely with a wave.

"My aren't you young," Melony said. "Suppose you're like my husband then, driven by science and discovery."

"I guess we'll find out, I look forward to working with him though," Harry said. "Forgive me but I have to get back to my walkthrough, I want to finish it tonight so we can get started tomorrow."

"Of course, don't let us keep you," Melony politely said. "Just remember to take care of yourself as well. I know you scientists type all too well, pushing yourselves to the limit for your discoveries. Eating, sleeping and hygiene are necessary, remember that, you too, husband." Harry chuckled.

"It is all too easy to get caught up in the excitement but I'm sure we'll both be fine," Harry said before giving a final wave to the woman and continuing on his way.

The back of the lab tent after passing the kitchenette and sectioned off personal areas including a fully functional bathroom with a shower, was large and open with pristine equipment ready to use. Despite their clear immaculate features, Harry inspected each and everyone to ensure it was in perfect working order, before checking the one piece of equipment single handedly took up more space than the private area combined ; the walk in morgue, but rather than sealed freezer drawers, in morgues meant for humans, this one had a rack meant to hold pokeballs, as well two worktables, and an autopsy table, all pristine and ready to use. Finally Harry checked the last piece of equipment, the incinerator. It would be used to cremate the donated pokemon bodies after research was complete, before the ashes would be placed in the Pokemon Tower to be respectfully laid to rest. Completing the checklist but for the final scanner Harry made his way back to the computer cubicles after grabbing his own external harddrive that he had brought from home.

Booting up the computer, Harry began to make a log for the day's events, describing the walkthrough and checklist, marking it with the date, and title of log one before saving it to his own harddrive and uploading it to the designated research folder the League had made for the project. With a yawn Harry decided to take an early night to be well rested for the morning.

The alarm on Harry's watch, along with an annoyed Goldfyre's grumbling, woke Harry up at an early five-thirty in the morning. Harry hit the button on his watch to turn off the alarm and rolled out of bed. Goldfyre rumbled and rolled into the warm spot Harry left behind before swiftly falling back into dreamland. Harry gathered clothing for the day along with his toiletry bag. He was carefully silent as he took a morning shower, refreshing and fully waking him. Elm was still asleep when Harry exited the shower, but Harry had let him know before going to bed the night before, that he was expecting to open the lab at seven, so the man would likely be up soon enough. Harry debated going out to get breakfast, before sighing and going into the pantry to make something. Their food budget was generous, especially considering the League would be delivering groceries bi-monthly, but eating out would quickly eat into it, not to mention just how unhealthy it could get, eating out too often.

Going through the fridge and pantry, Harry realized that the League certainly hadn't skimped. In addition to the food that originated from regular animals there were also ingredients that originated from pokemon, it was both the more expensive and exotic option, and even with Samuel Oak as Harry's father, they rarely got a few of these ingredients more than once a month despite the man being well off. There was a carton of MooMoo milk, an import from Sinnoh, Sweet Syrup, a very sweet syrup harvested from the excretions of a Gloom and refined several times leaving behind a golden syrup that smelled absolutely nothing like the original product and a highly regulated noxious purple liquid that was often distilled and mixed with fermented pecha berry to make an alcohol called Sweet Dreams, due to the fact that drinking to much could send a full grown man into a coma. Gloom nectar harvesting was a highly regulated process and black market operations were shut down swiftly causing one ounce of the final products, both Sweet Syrup and Sweet Dreams to be worth almost fifty pokedollars.

Harry decided to be a bit indulgent. Using the MooMoo milk when he made southern breakfast pancakes, known as Kalosian Biscuits, in this world, before cutting up some figy berry and pinap berry and reducing them with a bit of Sweet Syrup, to cut the spicy taste. Harry had plated up and poured himself a glass of sitrus berry juice when Elm blearily made his way into the kitchen, clearly following his nose. He was in plaid pants, and an over-large band shirt clearly displaying the logo for the girl band Cleffa Fairies. He was wearing wire rimmed glasses with circular lenses, much like the glasses Harry used to wear. Now Harry had black frames with rectangular lenses, and his father had promised that they'd look into corrective surgery when Harry was older and had finished growing. Since the man hadn't been wearing the glasses earlier he probably had contact lenses.

"Smells good," the man said, eyes barely open behind glasses.

"I didn't make coffee but there is sitrus juice," Harry said. "Samuel Oak refused to allow Harry to drink coffee, not wanting Harry to get addicted to the somewhat unhealthy boost of caffeine to wake up, that the drink provided. Instead sitrus juice provided a healthy boost of waking fuel, much like orange juice. Elm mumbled what Harry assumed was a thanks and the man plated up. Cleaning up when he had finished his meal Harry left Elm at the kitchen table, and filled a large trencher full of pokefood for Goldfyre and Otto to share, bringing it to his room when he grabbed Otto's pokeball and woke Goldfyre. Harry didn't actually have to feed Otto, given that pokeballs put pokemon into a stasis but Harry didn't like to leave pokemon in the ball too long, even if it had been proven that doing so did no lasting damage to a pokemon. Harry set up the trencher at the front of the lab tent that formed a sort of receiving area before letting Otto out and giving him a gentle pat on his head. Harry undid the inner ties of the tent entrance and pulled it back to let people know that the lab was now open. It was a little early, only six-thirty but it was likely that not many people would come through for a few more hours.

Harry was right, at about seven thirty the large scanner arrived carried by two well built Electabuzz, and with it a man who introduced himself as Lt. Surge. The large man, with a severe crew cut, was quick to install the scanner and make sure the electronic connections were done correctly before leaving with a quick goodbye, seemingly not one for idle conversation, his pokemon following close behind. No one entered the tent until after lunch, but that didn't mean that Mervin or Harry had been idle. The older man seemed to be working on the organization of his thesis paper, or at least the research that he'd gathered for it so far. As for Harry he spent his morning working on a project that had little to do with pokemon. He was building his own computer, only he was attempting to make it portable, so that he didn't have to constantly connect and disconnect his external harddrive to new computers every time he went somewhere new for research. He knew from his old world that it was in fact possible, the results being called laptops, but he didn't know exactly how it had been done.

Harry found this world strange, in some areas it was well advanced beyond what even his world had been, in others not so much, like the nanotechnology of pokeballs, beside the contrasting slow dial up computer systems, beside cell phones. It truly was odd. Harry had spent his free time between helping his Dad in the lab studying and taking apart a Pokedex, and an old computer tower and modem, and Harry was convinced he could create a prototype to sell to either Silph Co. or Devon Company, whichever would purchase it. Most of the small wage he'd been getting since he was seven and a half had gone into funding this invention. Harry was using his small soldering iron to connect a few more pieces, as he worked at one of the metal tables in the front, to keep an eye on the entrance while Elm worked further in the lab in his cubicle where had no line of sight to the entrance, when a young woman, with vibrant purple hair entered the lab cradling a great ball in her hands.

"Hello," Harry greeted the woman politely. Her eyes widened as she took in Harry's age, despite the fact that he was wearing a white lab coat, she dismissed him as a scientist.

"Hi," she said softly, "I was told that this was a lab?"

"It is," Harry confirmed.

"Can I talk to one of the scientists?" she asked.

"My name is Harry Oak," Harry said kindly, not holding her dismissal against her, he was only ten after all. "I'm the head scientist of this lab."

"Oh," she exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't mean any offense."

"I know," Harry said as he moved away from the table he'd been working at to the desk. "What can I help you with?" He asked.

"The League channel on tv mentioned donating our pokemon's bodies to science here before their burial?" she asked rather than giving him an answer.

"Yes, we are asking for the public to donate their pokemon's bodies, but the remains will be cremated rather than buried before being laid to rest," Harry answered. "Are you looking to donate today?" The woman nodded, and Harry gestured for her to sit in the chair in front of the desk that Harry now sat behind.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Harry said with a soft smile. "I'm going to need to ask you to fill out a few forms for the donation, and then answer as many of my questions as you can, will that be alright?" Harry asked. The woman swallowed and nodded.

"Yeah, I can do that," she said.

"Alright," Harry said, passing her a pen and pulling out the forms that had been provided by the League to record and legalize the ownership transfer of the pokemon bodies. "This is the form. Please print your name on the last line before putting your signature beside it." She took the pen and began to fill in the form with her name, and trainer number, as well as her pokemon's registration ID, before signing over ownership of her pokemon to the lab. When she was finished Harry asked for the pokeball containing the body, as well as her trainer ID and looked over the form before pulling out a folder and labeling it with the pokemon's registered number and name, Subject One. Checking the form once more Harry stood up and moved over to the side of the tent where a machine that looked remarkably like a printer sat on a shelf. Harry punched in a code before putting the form through the machine. When it came out a texturized League seal sat in the box that asked for the recipient's signature, and Harry signed his name beneath it before using a different function of the machine to print a copy of her Trainer ID. He then turned and returned to the desk.

"Alright," Harry said, putting the form, and photocopy into the folder and pulling out a notepad. "It's okay if you don't know the answer's to my questions, but I'd like to try and get as much information as I can. Let me know if you need to stop at any point."

"Okay," she said.

"Now you wrote that your pokemon was a Sandshrew. Is that correct?" Harry asked, noting down when the woman replied yes. "May I ask if you gave him a nickname? We can ensure his urn is labelled with it should you wish."

"Mitchy," the woman answered. Harry noted it down.

"Sandshrew is the pre-evolutionary form of the pokemon Sandslash. Did he ever display any indication that he was of a strength to evolve? If so, how was it decided that he would not evolve?" Harry asked.

"He never showed anything that I can remember that showed he was close to evolution. I know I'm a registered trainer but I was mostly casual, I only had a few professional battles with Mitchy," she answered. Harry nodded and noted her words down.

"This question is a bit more sensitive," Harry said. "What can you tell me about the manner of his death?"

"Um, he just didn't wake up one morning, I brought him to the Pokecenter but he was already gone and there was nothing that the Joy's could do," she answered. Harry noted it down.

"Do you happen to remember the name of the Joy you talked to?" Harry asked. All the nurses in the pokeworld took on the title of Joy, just as all the city police force members had the title of Jenny. It was a nod to the twins Joy and Jenny who were the first in history to be recorded as opening a pokemon hospital, as well as serving as what would eventually be called a policewoman.

"I don't, I live here in Lavender though, so he serves at this Pokecenter if that helps," she said. Harry nodded.

"Can you describe any abilities you saw Mitchy display?" Harry asked.

"Um, once he followed me onto the house roof when I was up there with a.. Uh friend," she blushed before continuing. "He fell off and curled up into a ball before he hit the ground, um Mitchy I mean. I brought him to the Pokecenter in case he was hurt but they said he was fine." Harry noted it down.

"Can you tell me all the League titled moves he knew and if you had any original moves or techniques he knew, a name and description of the technique," Harry asked. Despite describing herself as a casual trainer, the woman had been rather creative in her training of Mitchy and it took half an hour to record everything. Harry continued to ask many questions including feeding habits, sleeping habits, and exercise.

"Alright," Harry said when they were finally finished. "Since you were registered as a trainer and have a pokedex, you will receive a message when Mitchy's ashes are ready to be collected. We will use his pokeball as his urn but you are welcome to transfer them to another container after pick-up. You will be required to show your ID and come in person." She nodded and wiped her eyes rubbing the unfallen tears away.

"Well that's everything, do you have any questions?" Harry asked.

"No," she said standing. Harry rose as well and held his hand to shake. "Thank-you for your contribution and once again my apologies for your loss." She took his hand and shook it gently before leaving. Harry watched her go and then filed the notes he'd written into the file. He'd have to type up a copy later, to put in the file, as well as upload the notes, but for now this would do. He put the file and the great ball containing Mitchy into a sealable plastic bag, with a hanging hook before calling for Mervin.

"Hey Harry, you called," the man called, peeking out from behind the partition. "Oh we got one?" the man asked rhetorically.

"Yeah," Harry answered. "And I realized I forgot something, startlingly stupid." The older man looked confused.

"What?" Elm asked. "I didn't see anything in the project proposal that you forgot, in fact you were extremely meticulous."

"I know," Harry said with a sigh, "But I realized that if one of us is always playing receptionist then one of us will always be missing the autopsy." The other man frowned before brightening slightly.

"We have a miscellaneous fund right?" the man said.

"Yeah," Harry said, not following.

"We could hire someone to work as a receptionist for the four week days we're open to the public and pay them via that fund. I'm sure there is a retiree that wouldn't mind the work, or even an prospective university student looking to make some extra cash over the summer," the older man suggested. Harry lit up.

"That's a great idea," Harry said. "I'll email the League to let them know, can you put up the ad on the conversation boards?" Harry asked.

"Of course," the man said smiling at Harry's sudden display of youthful exuberance even if Harry was oblivious of it.

"Sure," Elm said. "If you'd like I'll take that to the morgue, so you can stay here in case anyone else comes in, you have a Silph phone right? You could send the email there."

"Yeah," Harry said, "That works. Oh can you pull out something for dinner tonight?" Harry asked. "I noticed we have a slow cooker, so we can use that tomorrow but I need something for tonight." Elm seemed surprised at Harry's sudden switch from childish happiness to seriousness. He'd get used to it. Harry was technically a sixteen year old in a ten year old's body, but at the same time was only ten years old. Interdemensional travel and physiological manipulation was a delicate thing, even for legendary, godlike pokemon and it was no shock that Harry was a little odd.

"I'll pull out some chicken and vegetables. Stir-fry is quick and easy," Elm said, taking the sealed bag. Harry nodded and retired to the table where he'd been building his laptop prototype. Using his phone Harry sent off a quick email carefully wording it properly, to the League detailing the decision to hire a receptionist.

Two more people came in, donating their pokemon's bodies, one a young trainer, Harry's age, who lost his Rattata when the pokemon had defended him from an entire herd of Nindoran and Nindorina. The boy had come in with both of his parents, and Harry had promised to treat Sneak, the Rattata, with respect, and Goldfyre even came over from where he'd been lazing below Otto's chosen perch and put his head on the boy's lap to comfort him. The other was an older fellow laying to rest his faithful Persian. At six o'clock Harry closed the entrance of the tent and tied the straps. Picking up the empty food trough, Harry whistled to wake Otto and let him and Goldfyre know it was time for dinner. Mervin was cooking up a stir-fry when Harry entered the kitchen, and after feeding Fyre and Otto, Harry gathered the necessary utensils.

Three days later, Harry and Mervin had a receptionist, and were about to perform their first pokemon autopsy. Everything was set up for them to begin. Harry and Mervin were dressed in protective gear, safety goggles, plastic overalls, gloves and all. Harry looked over to the older man, who nodded, before he flicked the button to turn on the video and audio recording divorce.

"It is," Harry began pushing up his overalls to check his watch before fixing the sleeve again, "0h ten after oh nine hundred, on June sixth of the year thirty-seven twelve, Mervin Elm and Harry Oak to preside over the exploratory autopsy and dissection of pokemon number zero six eight thirteen twenty, aka Mitchy, here on referred to as Subject One, or Subject."

"Subject One,a male Sandshrew was underweight for his species at time of death, weighing only nineteen pounds and seven ounces, in comparison to the average weight of twenty-five pounds eight ounces. Subject appeared not to have any injury contributing to cause of death, and the external scan revealed nothing," Oak continued, as Harry used the showerhead and hose to gently spray down the pokemon's body. Finishing the washing, Harry began to make observations.

"Subject has the normal colorations and markings of his species, but his block scales appear to have a matte coloration rather than the glossy sheen marking a healthy and well-fed Sandshrew," Harry said as he began to inspect the claws. "Subject's claws seem thin but still within his species average."

"Subject One was observed to visually have the traditional tough skin of its species. To test the toughness and resilience of the skin scales, three scales will be removed from three different locations, specifically, tail, back, and head," Mervin continued as Harry used an extremely sharp scalpel to cut out three scales from each of the aforementioned locations, setting them in groups of three on separate trays according from the location where they were harvested.

"Scale's removed," Harry said, passing the last tray to Mervin who turned to put it on the empty exam table, and set the scalpel down. "We'll begin with an impact test, it should be noted that the room's temperature is at three degree's celsius," Harry continued, picking up a small metal hammer and rounding the autopsy table to reach the work table.

The autopsy continued on, Mervin and Harry finding that the Sandshrew, had been somewhat malnourished at the time of his death, with an extremely low potassium level, likely leading to the cause of death, which seemed to be heart failure, though the poor pokemon's organs and muscles showed that it had not been a short walk to death, but that the malnourishment had gone on for at least a year. The malnourishment was odd because according to his trainer the pokemon was on a free feed system. Yet the ground mouse pokemon was malnourished nonetheless. They put it off as a quirk or genetic defect in the pokemon's ability to absorb potassium from his food, simply noting it and moving on.

Each of the pokemon's organs were weighed before being carefully dissected, findings being uploaded for all League scientists to see. Harry made sure that all of the pokemon's body matter was placed inside a sealable container once they were finished with it so they could ensure that they kept their promise and cremated the entire body of the pokemon when they were completely finished.

After the Sandshrew, was Sneak the Rattata, then the Persian, and then another sandshrew which seemed to also be somewhat malnourished, though not nearly as much as Mitchy had been. They were averaging one exploratory autopsy and dissection a day, documenting it all and uploading it for other scientists to use as the stepping stones for their own research. Then came a string of pokemon, who, though it was not the cause of their deaths, certainly didn't help, were malnourished. None of them had much in common, not typing, not physical attributes, Harry just couldn't find the connection between a two year old Pikachu, a seven year old Poliwag, a four year old Cubone, or the five year old Dratini, beyond that all of them were pre-evolutionary stage of other pokemon, and that they had all died, seemingly peacefully and well before the average age of their species lifespans. Harry and Mervin carefully recorded the nutrients that each seemed to be missing via blood tests and other tests on each organ.

Mervin Elm was focusing more on the reproductive systems of the pokemon, but he too was concerned about the malnourishment of certain pokemon. The older man discovered that all pokemon, at least so far seemed to have the same reproductive process, and theorized that pokemon could, at least in theory, cross breed, something pokemon Breeders had always been unsure of because a pokemon's habit of hiding during the entire breeding process. He also found that like many regular reptilian creatures, female pokemon had oviducts, leading the man to believe that pokemon went through the process of oviposition, or egg laying. It was a major discovery, and the man was speeding through his thesis paper, and was clearly flying towards his Ph.D. Harry however was stumped on the mystery of malnourished pokemon.

He'd flown home to spend his eleventh birthday with his family, and Harry couldn't help but think that for all that discovering he had magic was amazing, he preferred this eleventh birthday more than his first one. It was while he was home in Pallet Town, watching Goldfyre sneak a piece of cheese from the platter on the counter after they'd had cake, that he had a realization. With a gasp he was on his feet, the eyes of the entire Oak family on him, even the rather arrogant Gary, who's quietly mocking Harry about not being a real Oak, Harry had been ignoring.

"What is it Harry?" his father asked.

"I think I figured it out," Harry said excitedly, pulling out his cellphone and dialing Mervin Elm's number.

"Happy Birthday!" Mervin answered brightly.

"Hello, thank-you, can you get the files I put aside? All the ones pertaining to the malnourishment mystery?" Harry asked quickly. Elm seemed to sense Harry's animated urgency, and seemed to drop whatever he was doing to do as Harry asked.

"Go 'em," Mervin said.

"Alright, look in the notes I made, the feeding habits section and put them side by side," Harry said.

"We did that already," Mervin said though Harry could hear him still following Harry's order. "Some of them were on a self feed system, others on a meticulously measured and timed system, and some a mix, there was no connection."

"The connection is not the when, or how they eat but the what," Harry said excitedly.

"They all eat pokefood, just like every other captured pokemon," Elm said, not seeing the connection Harry made.

"Yes, but they only eat pokefood, all of them for at least a year," Harry said. "Even those on a free feed system. If you look at the pokemon that weren't malnourished, they had supplemented diets, either berries, that they liked or I remember one man saying that his pokemon absolutely loved toast, and Goldfyre is a good fan of cheese, so they had human food as well. Pokefood was made to give what was believed to be the perfect amount of nutrients, but it was based on regular animals. You'll notice, none of the pokemon who were malnourished were normal type, and their systems were the closest to regular animal systems. Pokemon of different types require more of certain nutrients in order to be properly nourished! It hasn't been realized yet because most people let their pokemon eat berries or have treats, and many don't by pokefood at all. It is a rather new concept, only seven or eight years old, there are plenty of people who still use regular food plans for their pokemon, despite the higher expense," Harry could hear the man flipping through papers double checking Harry's theory.

"Ho-Oh be damned," Elm said, "You're right! Harry this has to be published immediately. It needs to be known, before any more pokemon suffer." Harry looked to his father who simply nodded looking proudly at Harry. Harry could see that the man was also worried about the thought of pokemon dying due to a global miscalculation.

"I'm on my way, can you email the League? They can get started on how this is going to be released to the public. It'll be late when I arrive but, like you said this needs to be published immediately," Harry said. His legs were still sore from the flight from Lavender to Pallet he'd taken this morning but he was committed to righting this wrong that had been done to capture pokemon.

"Alright," Elm said and Harry could already hear the clacking of computer keys as the man speed typed. "Have a safe flight, see you when you get here."

"Will do," Harry said before hanging up, neither of them bothering to say goodbye. He wondered if this was part of the reason that Breeders had such difficulty actually breeding pokemon. He knew that some regular animal breeding patterns waned when there wasn't enough food to go around. Perhaps subconsciously, pokemon refrained from breeding as well when their nutrient need wasn't being fully met. The low breeding rates were also the most likely reason, that despite Elm's theory about egg birth, no pokemon egg had ever been found, and the reason that captured and domesticated pokemon were so secretive about their young. Realizing something Harry turned to his father.

"Otto can't make another trip to Lavender Town so soon," Harry said.

"No but Pyro could make the trip," his father said.

"Pyro doesn't listen to me," Harry said, thinking of his father's very proud Charzard.

"He listens to me," his father said. "It's almost seven pm and it's a six hour flight, you aren't going alone, give me half an hour to pack an overnight bag and we'll be off. Harry nodded. Goldfyre was returned to his pokeball for the flight, as was Otto, who would be returning with Harry as well. While the nineteen year old Pidgeot was still Harry's father, the bird liked Harry, likely because of the exercise Harry was able to give the bird by flying back and forth between Lavender Town and home. Harry's father had less time to spend with his personal pokemon due to running the premier pokemon lab in Kanto.

It was well and truly dark when they arrived in Lavender, streetlights providing enough light to land. Harry had fallen asleep, head and body pillowed back into his father's body, the man's arms around him to hold the reins as they flew.

For the next three months things moved swiftly. Harry was suddenly in charge of a global project instead of just a temporary League Lab. Luckily his father and Mervin Elm were quick to lend a hand to keep him from being overwhelmed. Their temporary lab was expanded, six more tents erected in Lavender Town which suddenly became a bustling hub of activity. With the help of Dr. Clifton Birch, the premier pokemon professor of the Hoenn region and head of a lab in Littleroot Town, Harry researched what exactly each type of pokemon needed which nutrient. The man was well versed in pokemon habitat and his knowledge helped them in figuring out what nutrients certain pokemon were likely to seek out in the wild. A throwaway comment by the man, concerning a Hoenn practice of creating solidified food out of berry mixtures, known as pokeblocks, launched Harry along with Gregory Silph, and Charles Stone into creating type specific pokefoods, that would truly provide the necessary ingredients for each pokemon.

Despite Silph Co. and Devon Company being direct competitors, they worked together to have a product made and ready for mass distribution in just under four months of the research starting. A contract with the Galar based conglomerate and the product was on the shelves of pokemarts worldwide less than a month later. For his discovery and due to his contribution to the creation of new specialized pokefoods, Harry was awarded a bonus of two hundred thousand pokedollars by the League, and an educational sponsorship should Harry decide he wished to pursue university. The Presidents of Silph Co. and Devon also decided that since the project was based on Harry's findings, despite the research technically belonging to the League, that two percent of the profits from the product belonged to Harry. Fifteen percent of the profits were bound for the League, but two percent was no joke. In the first month of production alone, Harry netted almost half a million pokedollars, and the profits didn't look to be slowing.

Money wasn't the only thing that Harry got. Due to the amount of people who worked on the project, and the amount of lab tents opened in Lavender, Harry got to foster personal relationships with many other scientists, both pokemon professors and various company professors, along with League and various company personnel. It was these connections and a bit of a lucky chance that launched Harry's laptop idea.

Harry yawned as he blearily padded out of the kitchen area of his lab. It was one pm on a Sunday, but he'd been pulling late nights as they finished up their research. Three of the lab tents had already come down as people began returning home with the completion of the research project. Harry would be leaving in a week or two as well. A permanent lab was already in the works to be built in Lavender, workers from Macros Cosmos Construction building a structure on a cleared lot on the southern end of town. Mervin Elm, now a professor in his own right, after the acceptance of his thesis paper, and his successful defense of it, was offered the position of lead, but the man had turned it down in favor of returning to his home region rather than moving his family to Kanto. Instead Professor Quentin Werty would be heading the lab, continuing using much of the same processes that Harry had developed to dissect dead pokemon donated to the lab. Due to the sheer number of pokemon bodies being donated, a mausoleum was in the planning stages, to be built next to the tower. While many people have already buried their pokemon in the pokemon tower already. People had been going to various pokemon labs and donating their dead pokemon. Monthly transport was already being looked at to deliver these donations to the Lavender Lab since a nano PC transfer only worked with living pokemon. The creator of the program was already looking for a way around this, without opening the system up to illegal blackmarkets on Pokemon parts.

Harry was drinking a glass of citrus berry juice and was still in his pyjama pants and shirt when he entered the front work area of the lab tent, intent on putting a little work into his laptop prototype. Three people were leaning over the table that held his machine and were examining it. It took a moment for Harry to realize who they were.

"Mr. Silph, Mr. Stone, Steven," Harry greeted as he approached the table. All three of them looked up at him. There was a clear relation between Mr. Stone and his son Steven shared their blue eyes and one could tell that Mr. Stone's salt and pepper grey hair had once been as dark black as Steven's.

"Young, Harry!" greeted Mr. Silph excitedly. "Please tell me you're the young genius behind this absolutely brilliant piece of technology."

"I am attempting to build a fully portable computer, yes," Harry answered. "My only issue is making it cordlessly able to connect to the pokenet. Perhaps you could help me with that, I was hoping to create something like the cellular network you use for the Silph phones, perhaps with your help the laptop, what I'm calling it, could piggyback on the network?" Harry asked, perking up at the idea.

"That sounds like an intriguing idea," Mr. Shiph said rubbing his chin.

"Used the general idea of the pokedex to create a few programs that aren't available on a regular computer, and have been working on a global index for pokemon, expanding on the regional indexes already available. I also created this," Harry paused to point at a little lens attached to the top workings of the prototype. "It functions as a video camera, allowing the laptop to be used as a recording device. This would allow people like myself to directly record video onto the computer rather than having to connect a recording device up and download the video onto the computer, making it more efficient. I haven't figured out how to fit a pokedex scanner into the screen of the device but it's still a prototype." All three men were quiet, Mr. Stone and his son seemingly having a silent conversation, Mr. Silph looked up and joined it when he finished inspecting the recording device Harry had worked into the frame.

"Do you have a blueprint design?" Steven asked after a moment. Harry looked up at the older man. Steven was almost thirteen years older than Harry at twenty-four.

"Yeah," Harry said. Digging through the pile of paperwork for his notebook. "Here," Harry said, passing it to the man after finding it. Harry watched nervously as the three men perused the design that Harry created, Mr. Silph lifting the prototype to inspect it in comparison to the blueprints. The men looked at each other again, and then Mr. Stone spoke.

"Young man," Mr. Stone began. "Would you be willing to sell this design to Devon and Silph?"

"Um, I guess," Harry said. "I'd definitely want a decent price, and maybe as a courtesy one of the finished products when you make it?" Harry asked, "I'd like to talk to my Dad before I officially decide anything though."

"Of course, is Samuel here or has he returned to Pallet?" Mr. Silph asked.

"He doesn't leave till tomorrow," Harry answered. "He should be in one of the other lab tents, I can call him and ask him to come here if he can."

"Do that," Mr. Stone said. "This design could launch a whole new line of technological innovations." Harry nodded and pulled out his Silph phone to dial before lifting it to his ear. Mr. Stone had not been wrong. Harry's design not only allowed for portable computers, but with a refinement by both Silph and Devon, computers and computer-like technology became extremely commonplace. In just under two years touch screens became a thing and there were various versions based on Harry's design everywhere. In fact Harry had even managed to complete dual degrees in pokemon biology and engineering completely online on his on his own O.S.D Laptop, or Oak, Silph, Devon Laptop, from Pallet town and at the age of fifteen published his thesis on the anatomy of pokemon types and their evolutionary markers. A month and a half after that Harry was the youngest holder of a doctorate in pokemon studies. He was also a multi-millionaire though much of the money he donated to breeder farms, which had also boomed. Professor Elm's theories had been proven and captured pokemon, while still exceedingly protective of their young, egg form or newly hatched, had become more likely to reproduce even in captivity. Safari Zones had even begun breeding programs to help stop the extinction of certain pokemon.

The Oak family was exceedingly proud of their fifteen year old member. Though there was one member who was clearly jealous of Harry's accomplishments. One, Gary Oak, seemed to dislike the love and pride his family gave Harry despite the fact that his parents clearly doted on him. The now ten year old, who was preparing to begin his pokemon journey as a registered trainer, took every opportunity to snidely remind Harry that he was adopted, and not a blood member of the Oak family. Harry no longer let the boy's words hurt him. He knew that despite the lack of blood relation his father loved him even if his nephew didn't seem to.

Harry had changed over the eight years that he'd been in this world. He still had his deep black hair, no longer worn short and windswept, but long and often up in a high man bun. It's length weighed it down keeping it from getting too wild, and was silky soft. He'd gotten his eyes fixed a year ago, finally being old enough to undergo the surgery, though he still on occasion used reading glasses to help with eye strain when working on his computer. Harry though he'd certainly grown and filled out, was rather short for his age, chin still only barely topping his father's shoulder, at five four. His build fit well with his body, deceptively muscular, with a slight lankiness that gave him a pretty coltish and lithe build. His face had filled out from the starved sharp angles they'd once been, softening but still defined with high cheekbones and bottom heavy petal pink lips. His skin was several tones darker than his father's milk white but was youthfully smooth, with little to no blemish.

It was four days after Harry's graduation, only two before the official opening of trainer registration for the year when Harry told his father about his decision on what to do next.

"The League is opening up a new lab in Pasio," Harry said while he and his father ate breakfast together. His father looked up from his tablet where he was reading his paper. Harry swallowed another bite of his cereal. "They offered me the lead position." Harry continued.

"That's a distance away," his father said. Harry nodded as he swallowed another spoonful.

"A seven day boat trip," Harry agreed.

"Are you going to take it? It's a wonderful opportunity," his father asked. "You certainly would be good at the job." Harry could hear the sadness in the man's voice and knew without his father saying it, the man would be sad to see Harry go so far away.

"Turned it down last night," Harry answered. His father looked at him in surprise. "I decided that I don't want to be bound to any single lab," Harry said. "And I want to go on a pokemon journey. I know most professors do the journey first so I'm doing it a little backwards, but I've always been a little odd. Besides, think of all the things I could discover on a journey. I'd take Goldfyre of course, I'd have to leave Otto behind, he's not really mine despite how faithful he's been," His father was smiling widely.

"That sounds amazing son," Oak said. "Do you plan on leaving on registration day?"

"Actually, I've been thinking about it for a while, got the gear I needed last time I was in Saffron instead of paying for delivery. I was going to get a head start on the new trainers and leave tomorrow morning," Harry answered. His father nodded.

"Come to the lab after breakfast, I have something for you," his father said. "You already have a pokemon so you don't need a starter but I was planning on sending one of the eggs the Dragonite at the lab laid a few days ago, to Professor Elm via the PC transport. She laid three, but seemed to abandon the smallest of them. You could take it with you instead if you'd like?" Harry nodded.

"Yeah, I'd love that Dad," Harry said smiling widely.