Chapter-15
We were first led to the stall selling Backpacks, the stall manager upon seeing Steven leading the group quickly got up to greet him. After exchanging greetings and explaining the situation to the stall manager, the manager then turned to us and said-
"Thank you for lending us a hand my young friends, as a token of appreciation from our company please choose from any of the Bags in the top row."- He said while pointing to the area where all the best quality Bags were displayed. We hesitated only slightly and then got busy choosing from the various types and designs. Heart picked a standard design Backpack albeit one with a lot of colourful embroidery patterns that looked very pretty, Soul picked a single strap style Backpack with blue white and grey camo-print and I picked a khaki coloured rugged adventurer's styled Backpack. Though they all looked different from the outside they all had some things in common such as they could all be securely fastened to one's back, leaving our hands free and weren't like a satchel or dangling purse type which would hamper our movement and not to forget they were top of the line products with a 10 cubic meter space in each compartment and made of very sturdy and resilient material of the highest grade, they even had strong weather resistance and a weight reduction feature.
We were then led around the other stalls where we were gifted starter kits for Medicines, Camping sets and other assorted Items for beginners. After receiving all the basic requirements we decided to further explore and buy some of the other things that caught our eye, we'd already saved a lot thanks to Professor Oak's & Steven's gifts, and the discount on other merchandise promised to us ensured we could really go all out on this shopping spree, we each bought an amazing Multi Terrain Bike, a Super rod fishing set, a Poké gear with all card accessories for different features, even a Scuba diving set and a portable gen-set cycling machine with large batteries to produce electric power on the go- some of our equipment would need electricity to run after all. We also bought items we individually liked such as a Fashion design and Embroidery set for Heart, a high quality Camera kit with both still photography and video capturing features for Soul and an adventurer set with Dowsing machine, Flash lights and Climbing kit complete with ropes, harnesses and even two picks with inter-changeable blades for varied requirements for myself.
Seeing as we still had some time left over till we had to meet up with our families for lunch, Professor Birch invited us over to his remote lab setup here while Steven excused himself stating he had some important business he needed to attend to as well as reporting back to his higher ups on the successful recovery of the stolen goods.
"You all are really lucky to be able to meet and spend so much time with Steven; he's really busy what with him being the Champion and the young heir to the Devon Corporation. The only reason he even rushed over here on such short notice was to help me rescue these Pokémon and recover his company's priceless research files."- Professor Birch explains to us.
"It's ok Professor we understand."- I say.
"Yeah we really don't mind Professor."- Heart adds.
"We're already very grateful for all the time he's given us not to mention all these gifts."- Soul says.
Professor Birch then gives us a tour of his facilities here briefly going into his research on Pokémon population distribution and behaviour of Pokémon in the wild. Most of the research related words go over Heart's head as she is more involved in playing with Torchic, Soul is listening with mild interest just to be polite and I'm the only one really interested in Professor Birch's study. We stick around some more and play with the Pokémon as the Professor explains his plans to put on a performance showcasing the Hoenn region and its region starters over the next few days.
It is finally getting late and we should be getting back soon to meet up with our families for lunch but we really hate to leave our new Pokémon friends, although its only Heart and Torchic who are openly expressing their hesitation to part, Mudkip and Soul also have a weird expressions on and I even spot Treecko shoot a quick glance at me and fidget nervously. Seeing this Professor Birch laughs heartily and promises us that we'd be able to visit again later whenever we want and play together. Finally after a tear filled parting between Heart and Torchic we head for lunch, while also promising to come back and visit really soon.
Although the food served was great and our family members kept trying to cheer us up by asking about all the stuff we'd purchased in preparation for our journey we were still feeling a little down after parting with Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip. After some getting through the rest of lunch time in a daze I try to pull myself and the other two up as getting upset would lead us nowhere, I try to find a distraction by asking my Parents if there is anything we could do to help out during our stay here for the fair.
"As a matter of fact sport, there is something we need your help with."- Dad says to us after lunch leading the way towards the set of stalls designated to the caravan from Azalea Town.
Our attention is soon attracted by one particular stall that is sort of arranged to be a make-shift cafe. Standing in front of the sign reading 'Odd Shop & Cafe' is none other than our cafe's business partner Mrs. Mathews- "Well, what do you think? You three didn't expect the cafe you started would get a spot here did you? The Odd Shop & Cafe is now an official land mark of Azalea town, it's only fitting for it to get a spot in the stalls assigned to our town, now stop gawking and lend a hand here."- She says to us as we approach.
We soon become busy working at the stall with all our other school mates who came to attend the fair, but we make it a point to request for a break to go see Mudkip, Torchic and Treecko when it's time for their showcase performance. We cheer them on loudly from the audience and even visit them after the show and we even invite Professor Birch to come along to visit our cafe. It turns out we were not the only ones with this idea as Mom and Kurt had invited Professors Oak and Elm along with Mr. Pokémon, Steven, even Goldenrod city's Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny over that very evening. With all these VIPs gracing our small establishment everyone puts in extra effort, soon we have served them a table full of our finest delicacies.
"Mmm... so this is the famous pie that has my cousin in Azalea town crying over her ever increasing weight."- Officer Jenny says as she digs into a slice of our signature Syrup glazed Berry Pie with a scope of Ice cream.
"Mmm, absolutely delectable."- Professor Oak also gives his compliments. Soon everyone is complimenting us on the fine food and service except Professor Birch who is apparently too busy with his fourth helping of our pie.
"Haaa... so refreshing, I'm definitely coming back here again."- Professor Birch finally says after washing all the food down with a glass of iced berry juice. To mark this special event Soul takes a picture of everyone dining at our cafe with his new camera, we decide to frame it and put it up in the main cafe back home.
"I heard that it was your kids who started and run this cafe, I must say that is very impressive."- Nurse Joy enquires of Kurt and my parents.
"That's right..."- They proudly say and go into the story of the establishment of the Odd Shop & Cafe.
We're kept very busy the next few days especially after Professor Oak pours heaps of praises for our cafe in his radio show the crowd visiting our cafe increased by five times, we even got to meet and catch up with the friends we'd made back at camp- Mary, Clair and Damian who live in the city had came to visit us on hearing about our cafe on the radio. We still manage to make time to visit every single showcase performance by Torchic, Mudkip and Treecko right up to the last one. We definitely see more of them now though seeing as how Professor Birch has become a fan of our food and would grace our cafe at least once a day. The rest of our free time we spend exploring the fair and occasionally play the many games or make some more purchases like that time we bought a dozen Berry/Herb Pots each along with a few bags of Mulch (it was amazing how you could grow Berry Bushes and herbs in such small enclosures- they seem to be a bit like an Item Bag with a larger space inside and the plants grown in them don't disappear after the first harvest like in the game and stay alive as long as they are cared for properly), I even spent a long time in front of the stall of Fallarbor's famous glass workshop ogling at a case displaying a complete set of Crystal Flutes- black, white, blue, red and yellow- I had a major internal conflict on whether to buy it or not as they were quite expensive but in the end I resolved myself to buy them as I knew exactly how useful they were back in the game. The Glass Blower Mr. Reed even gave me a free booklet on basic flute songs and a few simple lessons on how to play the instruments afterward, here it's not just opening the bag and picking the use option like in the game, one actually has to play a proper sequence for the flutes to show their effects. Thankfully I did not neglect my flute practice after that time at Pokémon camp so it was no problem at all for me to get a hang of them. As we proceed in exploring the fair further I even spot that con artist of a Magikarp seller from the anime at one point, I steer Soul and Heart clear of him.
We decide to go visit Torchic, Mudkip and Treecko over at Professor Birch's place, all their showcase performances are officially over and with the Hoenn exhibition fair more than three quarters of the way finished there's not much time left for us to spend with them before they have to leave. As we get closer to the lab building I spot Treecko looking out the window and for once I rush up to be the first one to greet them today instead of Heart. Seeing me racing in their direction Treecko heads back inside and the lab door opens partially as I spot Treecko behind the door, I'm so very touched that Treecko would open the door and welcome me so warmly. I reach the door and push it open fully to give everyone inside a warm greeting-"Hey...*splosh*...*clang*..."- no sooner had I uttered the first word of greeting that I am doused with a bucket of cold water from overhead.
"Treecko...ko..ko..Tree...cko...ko..ko."- Treecko starts laughing at my condition and Heart and Soul also start laughing loudly behind me. It looks like Treecko learnt Payback, well figuratively speaking.
"Why you..."- I say in mock rage as I chase after Treecko who continuously swishes his tail in a mocking manner and casting an amused look with his sharp eyes at me.
"Hahaha... Alright now that's enough playing around you two."- Professor comes up to welcome us and Treecko jumps up onto his shoulders to seek refuge from me. He doesn't forget to stick his tongue out at me from his safe perch though which almost incited me to chase him some more.
Professor Birch offers me a towel to dry off before sitting on the chair. We talk with him briefly and continue playing with the three Pokémon later, when it's finally time to leave it's the usually calm and cold Soul who speaks up-"I'm really going to miss you.*sigh*" as he rubs the fin on Mudkip's head before getting up to leave. Looking at this Professor Birch has a deeply pondering look in his eyes for a while.
"Wait up a bit you three. Come inside, I want to discuss something important with you."- He invites us in once more. As we sit on the couch in expectation, Professor Birch still has a deep look as if he is pondering over something important, finally he speaks-"Would the three of you like to help me raise these Pokémon?"
"WHAT?"- The three of us simultaneously jump up in surprise.
"Well, what I'm asking is if you'd be interested in having these Pokémon as your first partners? You'll be starting off on your own journey soon and I see you still don't have any Pokémon partner yet so...Besides I can tell that you've grown attached to them and they seem to be very fond of you as well. So, what do you say? Do you agree?"- Professor Birch asks again.
I pinch myself to check if I am dreaming, then when I feel the pain and confirm that I'm awake I proceed to rub my ears to confirm I didn't mishear anything. Heart and Soul react much faster than me as they dive at Torchic and Mudkip respectively and hug them tight while yelling-"Of course we agree." The two Pokémon are startled at first but soon reciprocate the hug and start to cuddle them in return. I snap back and look at Treecko as he stares at me intently from his perch upon the Professor's shoulders and ask-"Hey Treecko.. would would you like to be my partner and go on a journey with me?" I nervously wait for his response, I know that all three of them understand what's going on and are very much aware of what we are talking about. Treecko stares at me for a few more moments making me feel extremely tensed before jumping onto my shoulders and playfully biting my ear.
"Hahaha. That settles it then, congratulations you three on getting your first Pokémon and I wish you the very best of luck on your journeys."- Professor Birch declares in a loud excited voice.
"Professor where are Mudkip's and the other's Poke ball?"- Soul enquires eagerly.
"Well, seeing as they were still too young and we were coming here as part of the envoy I haven't really caught them. You see I was waiting for us to get back to my lab in Little Root town before catching them in Poke balls for new trainers."- Professor Birch says awkwardly while scratching his cheeks.
"Whaaat? So we have to catch them ourselves? No matter, do any of you two have any Poke balls?"- Heart is way too excited about getting Torchic as her first partner Pokémon.
"I don't have any regular Poke balls but hang on."- I say as I open my bag and pull out many of the Poke balls I'd made and stocked up over time. All of them are my custom Fusion Poke balls. "Pick whichever one you like."- I offer as I pick a fusion between a Friend ball and a Luxury ball. They are my favourite so far as the scent from the Green Apricorn has a soothing aroma that calms the Pokémon making it friendlier and the Luxury ball as stated in the game has features that make it very comfortable for the Pokémon residing within.
Looking at the pile of special Poke balls heaped in front of them, everyone is stunned briefly before quickly coming to and Heart and Soul quickly select the same type of Poke ball as me. We then hold them in front of our soon to be partners and wait for them, they look at the Poke ball for a while before looking up into our eyes and then at the Poke ball again before coming forward and tapping them. The Poke balls open and pull in the Pokémon, they shake for a while in our hands before they release clear 'ting' sound and settle down. We do a brief dance of celebration as we obtain the Pokémon partners we always dreamed about, scratch that they were even better than the ones in our wildest dreams. We release them from their Poke balls and they also join in on the celebrations.
"Well, are you going to give them a nickname?"- Professor Birch asks us, to which we furiously nod our heads. Heart names Torchic as Scarlett, Soul decides to name Mudkip as Finn and after some deliberation I decide to call Treecko Lexus. Now our Pokedex can fully record their data-
Treecko: A Grass type Pokémon
Ability: Overgrow
Gender: Male Height: 1'9''-0.5m Weight: 11.3lbs- 5.1kg
Moves Known: Pound, Leer & Absorb.
Mudkip: A Water type Pokémon
Ability: Torrent
Gender: Male Height: 1'04''-0.4m Weight: 17.1lbs- 7.7kg
Moves Known: Tackle, Growl & Water Gun.
Torchic: A Fire type Pokémon
Ability: Blaze
Gender: Female Height: 1'9''-0.5m Weight: 5.9lbs- 2.6kg
Moves Known: Scratch, Growl & Ember.
We excitedly thank Professor Birch and then hastily excuse ourselves to return to our families and tell them the amazing news.