ROWAN'S LAB, 12:23

"Do you two have any preferences in what kind of Pokemon you're looking for?"

Barry, of course, replied instantly and animatedly. "Oh, well, what kind of Pokemon are there? I think it'd be really cool to start out with a dragon! Though I understand if dragons are rare enough that you'd want to keep them at the lab. Honestly, there are so many cool Pokemon! I have no idea what I want to start with, but basically, as long as it's cool I'm fine with it! And maybe even if it's not! Any Pokemon can be a great partner with the right training!" Barry pumped his fist in the air, and Claus had to hide a smile when he recalled what he'd said just earlier that day about Fletchling and Poochyena.

"...Okay," said Dawn, even though Barry had hardly answered the question at all. "Um…"

Claus didn't really have any strong preferences either. He figured that whatever Pokemon he started with, the rest of his team could help him balance its strengths and weaknesses in the future. But deciding to have some mercy on poor Dawn, Claus spoke up, making a decision on the spot. "Well, I do have an idea, if you don't mind? My mother cares for grass type Pokemon, so I think it might be fitting if I started with one myself."

Dawn nodded, clearly relieved. "Yes, that's fine! Follow me, please…" She began walking, and the two of them followed.

Dawn pushed open a fence, and the two of them stepped inside after her. The area was predictably covered with grass, with a couple of shrubs and small trees. Of course, there were plenty of Pokemon there, as well. Not just grass types, but many bug and flying types as well. Claus, in a quick inspection, spied a wide variety of Pokemon, some of which were familiar, and others that he'd never seen before in real life. A Ferroseed slept with most of its spikes withdrawn, looking for all the world like an egg made of steel, as a Treecko poked at it curiously. A Lotad drifted through a small pond, only the pad poking above the water. Two Rookidee chased each other in circles, chirping merrily.

"Like I said, we have many of our grass types here, along with some others," Dawn continued, the timidness in her voice fading slowly as she spoke. "You can see the flying and bug types, of course, and the pond there has some aquatic species as well."

The Pokemon had noticed the newcomers by now, and several of the more curious ones approached them, some cautiously and some brazenly. A Hoppip landed on Dawn's head, and she smiled as she reached up to pet it.

"Some of these Pokemon are more friendly than others," Dawn said. "But since you'll be choosing a young Pokemon, it's likely that most of them will warm up to you fairly quickly."

Barry seemed to have made up his mind, finally. "Well, Claus, if you're going to choose a grass Pokemon, I'll go take a look at some fire Pokemon!"

Claus slapped his forehead with his palm, but Barry continued. "Don't think I'm not going to take this opportunity to one-up my rival! We both know you're a battling whiz. I'll need every advantage I can get!"

Dawn giggled at Barry's excitability. "Well, if you're looking for fire types, then they're out this way." Her eyes went back to Claus. "I assume you'll be fine by yourself for a moment?"

Claus nodded. "If any of us needs a chaperone, it's definitely Barry."

"Hey!"

"All right, then," Dawn said. "The fire types are generally over here, unless you were looking for…"

Claus turned his gaze back to the Pokemon that were in front of him as the two of them walked away. Many of the Pokemon had gone back to their own business after determining that Claus was of no interest, but some were still watching him curiously. Among them were a Cacnea, a Sewaddle, and…

Claus smiled wistfully when he saw a Turtwig staring at him. He thought of his father's Torterra, which had also been his grandfather's. His mother told Claus that he had played with her when he was extremely young, and that she had passed away before Claus was old enough to remember. The oak tree from her back still grew proud and tall next to Claus's house.

The decision was an easy one. Torterra were powerful in battle, too, mighty and sturdy; he'd seen so for himself when he watched Eterna City's Gardenia in her later-badge battles.

Claus walked closer to the Turtwig, kneeling down when he was close enough but maintaining a distance of a few feet, just to be safe. You could never know how a Pokemon unfamiliar with you would react to your approach.

But it seemed that he had little to worry about in this case, as the Turtwig ambled straight up to him, sniffing at him as it approached. Claus raised his hand to pet the top of its head, careful to keep his hand away from its jaw. The little turtle made a noise that Claus thought might have sounded happy, sitting down and closing its eyes.

There was a chuckle behind Claus that he recognized. "I see you have been quick to make a friend."

Claus turned his head and saw Professor Rowan watching him and the Turtwig. "Yes, Turtwig was quick to warm up to me," he agreed. "Is… um… Turtwig, ah..." Belatedly, he fumbled for his Pokedex.

"He's very friendly," Rowan said, correctly guessing the question Claus was going to ask and confirming the Pokemon's gender. "You couldn't have picked a better partner to start your adventure with, I think. He's been rather calm and no trouble at all for as long as he's been with us. So long as you care for him, he will care for you."

Claus smiled. "That's good to hear. My mother has some experience caring for grass Pokemon, so I have a head start in that regard."

Rowan nodded. "That puts me at ease. The Turtwig family requires more specialized care than most typical starters, and it is heartening that you have prior experience." His lip twitched. "I am especially fond of this little fellow myself, as his seedling will grow into a rowan tree."

Claus grinned. "That makes me want to name him after you, sir."

Rowan laughed heartily, the sound booming through the area and startling a few of the Pokemon nearby.

When he stopped, he looked down at Claus, his eyes sparkling. "That isn't what I expected to hear. I won't provide you with my first name, but my middle name, also my father's, is Pello, if you and Turtwig are amenable."

The Turtwig, who had been listening to the exchange silently, made its presence known here by gently headbutting Claus's leg and chirping in approval.

"Pello it is," Claus agreed.

There was a moment of quiet before Rowan spoke up once more.

"Dawn has expressed a desire to go on her gym challenge as well," he began, and Claus looked up, interested. "She is of the right age to do it, of course, and I have encouraged her to participate. However, she has only recently moved to Sinnoh, and has few friends here and little knowledge of the region. Could I implore you and Barry to look after her? I do not mean to imply, of course, that she is anything less than capable of looking after herself. I only think that she might be grateful for the companionship."

Claus shrugged. "She seems nice enough. As long as she's fine with us, I don't think that would be a problem, sir. After all, one of the best parts of the gym challenge is meeting new friends, humans and Pokemon alike."

Rowan seemed like he was about to reply, but a shout from another area in the lab interrupted him. Claus jumped to his feet. He would know that voice anywhere. It was quickly joined by other voices, raising the alarm.

"Fire!"

SANDGEM CENTER, 12:45

"...And then he looked at me like, 'I don't like you!' And she screeched at me, and I really-"

"Young man," said the Center's nurse, interrupting Barry with a severe tone, "it is very hard for me to bandage your arms if you keep waving them around like a wet Litten."

Barry calmed down, relatively, as Dawn giggled at his sheepish expression and the nurse's comparison. She continued the story from where Barry had left off.

"Well, the Chimchar hadn't really done anything violent, other than, um. Looking at Barry."

Claus rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that sounds about right. What did he do afterwards, yell at the poor thing?"

"Claus! I'm not that dumb!"

"...That's about right," Dawn said carefully, and Claus laughed over Barry's protests. Dawn continued, "He tried to tell him that he liked his fighting attitude, but he was probably spooked at his, um, volume. So he tried to attack him-"

"Which is where I got these scratches," Barry interjected.

"Yes," agreed Dawn. "And Barry shook him off, and she shot an Ember at him. But he's not used to using fire type moves yet, and he exhausted himself with the attack by putting too much power into it. And, well, you can imagine the rest."

Claus nodded. When he had arrived at the scene with Rowan, they had greeted by the sight of a lab assistant's Wingull circling a rather large shrub, dousing it with Water Guns as dying smoke rose slowly from blackened leaves. Rowan had chuckled at the sight of Barry literally jumping with happiness with a shiny red Pokeball in his hand.

"It looks like your friend has chosen a partner to match his disposition," the Professor had said.

"Where's the Chimchar now?" asked Claus, curious to see his friend's starter Pokemon.

As if on cue, one of the Center's nurses returned with a Pokeball.

"Is that Roy?" Barry asked excitedly, and the nurse frowned.

"Er, I assume you're asking about your Chimchar," he said, and Barry nodded. "Here you go. He's all healed up now. Don't worry about what happened, it's normal for young fire types."

Barry thanked the nurse, pushing the button on the Pokeball. There was a flash of light, and after it was gone, a Chimchar stood on the floor of the Center. Roy stared warily at Dawn and Claus before she caught sight of Barry. He hissed, his tail-like flame flaring brighter.

"Hey, there!" said Barry cheerfully, now fully bandaged, as he stepped forward and kneeled down to pet Roy.

Dawn looked a little nervous.

"I wouldn't be too worried," Claus said quietly to her. "Barry has an unnatural way with Pokemon. They all seem to love him. And if the worst happens, he's hardy as a Shuckle. I've never seen any injury faze him for longer than a day."

Dawn nodded, clearly not really comforted, but Claus had seriously meant what he said. Plus, Barry was a little erratic, but he wasn't stupid. Rowan had given them advice, before the three of them had left for the Center, about how to approach a Pokemon that was unfamiliar with them. Even as Claus watched, Barry shrugged off his garish orange and white jacket, leaving him in a plain green shirt. He held his hands in front of him, showing Roy his empty palms, not making any sudden or jerky movements. As he talked, he reached into his pocket slowly and retrieved a yellow Pokebean, offering it to Roy.

The Chimchar had been watching cautiously and slightly suspiciously at first, but as soon as the bean came out, his whole demeanor changed.

Dawn relaxed next to Claus as Barry used Roy's obvious hunger against her. Claus honestly didn't doubt Barry for a second in matters like this ever since a few years ago, when he'd watched the guy single handedly talk down a wild Zangoose from attacking a classmate. It had been really impressive, and even more so when the idiot confessed afterwards that he had no idea what he was doing. It must have been a natural talent for him to get along with Pokemon so well, as was evidenced by Roy, now sitting quietly as Barry rubbed his forehead.

"Claus!"

"Huh?" Claus shook his head. "Sorry, I zoned out. What happened?"

"I was asking about your own Pokemon," said Barry, rolling his eyes. "But you were off daydreaming in la-la land. What were you smiling about?"

"Nothing," said Claus firmly, ignoring Dawn's growing grin. What the hell was she smiling about?

NOTES

Barry: "Lol fletchling and poochyena are lame"
Also Barry: "Any Pokemon can be strong with effort!"

I love Torterra ok, and also the Hallers having an oak tree from Claus's dad's Torterra is a great thing and I'm proud of it

Claus: We'll be good influences on Dawn or w/e
Barry: [is burning down the lab]

Barry's placating of the Zangoose is that one story he always tells and nobody ever believes, except it's actually true. lol

s-shipping?