This is it, folks. I will eventually be writing scenes from the missing in-between years that didn't fit the main plot in TimeSkip Adventures. But otherwise, the main adventures of Jewel and Evan are over.
Evan fumbles stacks of paperwork and three by five inch cardstock into his briefcase. Taking one last survey of the room, he snatches both his Pokéballs and a little flashdrive before swiftly exiting.
The note on the bed lies unassuming.
The softest, most hideous carpets I have ever felt. A+
Exiting the hotel, the blonde starts to make his way across town.
He may have been invited here for the Kalos Region Annual Fossil Symposium, but the building he heads towards is not the Fossil Lab. In past years, the major research center, with its large interior and proximity to the hotel made it the obvious choice to host. This year, however, requires something a bit different.
Climbing a steep set of cliff-side stairs leaves Evan panting, prompting him to lean against a sign mentioning rhythmic amber dust. The freshly-groomed man waits a bit, not inclined to sweat before the big day, then continues past the Lab and PokéMart.
A silver and blue building reminiscent of the ocean is his destination. Entering, blue eyes adjust to sudden darkness, and the Trainer has to blink dots out of impaired vision.
In the middle of the room stands a giant circular tank of water, where pink corals snooze amongst orange-blue fish with nasty chompers. Other displays lining the wall hold fish more like Jewel, mixed in with angry blue shrimp and peeping purple shells.
Ignoring them all, he heads to a set of stairs on the left.
A few steps down, Evan's gaze magnetizes to a large golden statue barricaded by red ribbons on the lower floor. The man's eyes start to water as he rubs a thumb fondly across one of the miniaturized Pokéballs in his pocket.
A pungent metallic smell hits his nose as he draws closer and takes stock of the room. This early, it isn't that full.
Reviewing notes and papers over the next hour is tedious, but necessary. Letting things go awry after so much hard work is not an option.
A scientist walks out on stage, for once in the standard attire befitting his title. The man is not quite as thin as he once was, and his chestnut curls hold a touch of silver. But his approach to the podium does not go unnoticed, and everyone quiets without a word.
Squinty, chocolate eyes and a warm, fatherly smile address the crowd, "It is my pleasure to introduce Professor Evan Karp and his paper, Twenty Thousand Years Under the Sea."
The crowd chuckles in good humor at their newly appointed colleague's choice of last name and thesis title. He'd fit right in with the trees and the rocks. They were all jokes anyway.
"Evan, my boy. Would you please come up here?"
The new professor stands at the signal, striding confidently to the dais. His life-long mentor holds out a hand in congratulations. Strong emotions overwhelm Evan as he stretches out a palm.
Rather than simply clasp hands as would be cordial, the blonde uses the offered limb to pull the other man toward him.
Balance disturbed, Professor Granite stumbles forward into his mentee's strong embrace. The hug conveys a depth of gratitude a mere handshake cannot touch.
Professor Karp's hand reaches into his pocket for the second time since entering the Aquarium, taking strength from the feel of two marble sized objects.
Looking up with new determination, he begins, "Thank you, everyone. So much. But, really, Pokémon are the reason we're here. They are the reason we strive to learn more. Do more. They inspire us to great heights and stimulate our curiosity! Nothing can show you the Hidden Power within like a Pokémon can." At this, Evan's hand stiffens inside his pocket, tugging one of the Pokéballs from the fabric and releasing it high in the air.
The room brightens briefly as a figure materializes amidst glowing dark blue orbs. Rather than fall, it floats in the air, a pink shimmer just barely visible around it as fire opal scales flash and glisten in the light.
The cyprinidae holds herself high and flutters her three white dorsal fins, blushing. Matching barbels twitch in anticipation, even as she tenses from the effort of combining two moves.
"They say Magikarp used to be capable of great things. That they were ageless and could jump mountains. They were worthy counterparts to the dragon they become. Let me bring you on a journey with Jewel as our guide...But first, let's set this day off with the unveiling of Ambrette's newest treasure." The lapis orbs that hang haunting in the air wink out. Then, the pink glow fades around the determined carp, dropping her.
A CRACK explodes out with the strength of a whip, causing audience members to flinch as Jewel uses her impact with the floor to launch herself in an excessively savage Bounce. The aquatic shoots through several layers of scarlet fabric hanging in front of the statue and straight into its metallic side. A long, low gong resounds through the air from the hollow brass as little strips of cloth flutter to the floor and an obviously fresh dent nestles betwixt newly sculpted scales.
Released from official ribbon-cutting duties, the ancient Magikarp turns around to face her partner, proud and eager to continue the gift of second life.
Chapter Notes:
-The Fossil Lab is conveniently located in this town as well as the hotel and aquarium.
-There are Corsola, Magikarp, Clauncher and Shellder in the tank.
-Evan takes on the name as a nod to Mayor Karp, and the themed naming convention in Pokémon.
-Scientists actually do love easter eggs, so I assume the professors know their names are ridiculous and did it on purpose. Like, a bug in the system comes from literal moths getting stuck in ye old computers, causing a failure. Another is how Hexadecimal (the 16 digit code notation in computer science that contains letters as well as numbers) coding almost always starts with CAFEBABE, because that can be spelled with that system. It does nothing. Just sits there. And let's not forget the naming of many new species. The Blue-Footed Boobie for instance.
-Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea reference, even though Jewel was fossilized long before that.
-Hidden Power is a move Jewel uses in the scene. It is taught by TM, and is based on the IV stats. Jewel's is Dragon, ironically, creating the dark blue color of the orbs.
-The other two moves used are Telekinesis for the floating and Bounce for the lunge. Originally I wasn't going to explain how she learned Telekinesis, but then Flash, Flash, hundred yard dash came into being. Why she can, however, is related to the thesis paper about Mew. Jewel hasn't deviated far enough from the Psychic's genetics yet to have lost the ability to learn it. I'm not saying it was typical for her kind to learn, just that they could have learned it with special help like a ™.
-The Golden Magikarp statue already exists in-game. This story just provides side-lore for the reason it was created.
-Fittingly, in front of the golden karp statue is also where you obtain the old rod for the Kalos region.