Hey, what's up. I haven't done this in a while...
I'm in full study mode to be an Accountant. It's tough stuff. Takes most my time. Therefore, these uploads will remain few and far between for now.
Sorry about that. Now to address some of the people who reviewed the last chapter...
Rosco Peeko Trane: Thanks! I'm having fun writing this too. Hopefully, I can turn this story into something great. Hopefully...
NoStrikes: I feel lucky already! Good luck to you too, whatever you're doing.
Greendragon: I haven't read the Pokémon manga myself, but that form-switching Eevee sounds pretty cool. I do get that most evolutions in the Pokémon world don't combine. But in this what-if scenario, they do. Your imagination can go wild here. That's what fanfiction is all about, isn't it?
And with all that said, I ask that you please leave a review. I'd like to know your thoughts on this story.
Well, that was easy. thought Ross while heading back to Petalburg, happy and a bit bewildered by his recent experience in the forest.
Seriously, I went there fully expecting to not catch a Ralts before sundown, and I end up finding one in ten minutes! Give me back all that time I took to prepare!
Despite his thoughts, the excitement he felt was almost palpable. His steps subconsciously quickened on his way towards the Pokémon Center. There was still one thing he had to confirm.
His little "chat" would come after that.
The doors of the Pokémon Center opened, and Ross made a beeline to the nearest PC.
Under ordinary circumstances, freshly caught Pokémon were to be brought to Nurse Joy for immediate medical care, to heal any wounds they may have been sustained in the wild, and to make sure they didn't have any nasty diseases lying around.
Ross had forewent this procedure however, as doing so would register the Ralts to him, unless he told Nurse Joy to specifically not do that, which is suspicious, to say the least.
And explaining that no, he was not some kind of poacher to her would take about as long as the amount of time he needed for his work anyway.
Ross logged into his account and proceeded to insert Ralts's Pokéball onto one the empty slots provided. He was very interested in analysing his first catch.
And it's a...female. Not what I was looking for, but still...I have some ideas on how to make this work.
The Ralts's gender was a small setback for his research, since Galade would no longer be an option, but this was still well within his expectations.
What was NOT in his expectations was her moveset.
Lets just say that it was...colorful.
Charm, Taunt, Attract and... Dazzling Gleam!? What the heck?
Very Colorful.
Not only did she NOT know how use growl, a move that even the youngest of her kind were famliar with in some form, she knew Dazzling Gleam, a Fairy type move that was far too powerful and complicated for a wild Ralts to know.
Why she knew both Charm AND Attract of all things was also a mystery to him.
Like charm I can get, but attract too!? Where'd she even learn all this from?
And if she has those, why doesn't she have captivate?
Overall, Ross was felt somewhat conflicted at the results. The Ralts wasn't his preferred gender, nor was she normal (otherwise her moves wouldn't have been so weird). Perhaps he could use his last line of defence to save him from the incoming headache?
Ross called Roxanne's number on the PC for a video call.
Her face almost immediately popped on the screen not a moment later. She was wearing her signature grey and pink outfit, which Ross didn't doubt she had more than a hundred of.
That was quick. I barely called for half-a-second. "Hey there, Rocks. How've you been?"
She smiled. "Just busy, Ross. What a fortuitous coincidence! I was just about to call you myself."
I can see that, with how quickly you picked up. And fortuitous, seriously?
"Oh...and why is that?"
She paused for a moment, before shaking her head. "Well...since you called first, how about you tell me your reason and then I'll tell you mine?"
Fine by me! This'll take like...two seconds, maybe?
"So I have this Ralts and-"
"No."
Nailed it.
"But Rock-Tails! You must be aware that I, a poor and destitute Researcher of little renown, do not have the means to properly care for a Pokémon. Surely, I must turn to the only one that can give me hope! And that hope is you, my dear friend. Will'st thou not help in mine time of need!?"
Ross gasped dramatically. Placing a hand on his chest, he gave Roxanne the best puppy-dog eyes a seriously sleep-deprived scientist could muster.
It looked like a poor imitation of a dead fish.
So needless to say, it didn't work.
Roxanne was not bothered by his behavior. She had already played this song and dance countless of times, to the point of becoming impossible to rile up.
Which is why she replied without missing a beat. "I'm sorry Ross, but I cannot help you at the moment. My responsibilities as a Teacher and Gym Leader do not give me enough time to properly train a Pokemon from scratch, especially if it isn't Rock type," She explained, her smile turning apologetic.
Ross slumped forward in displeasure. "I see."
"However, this is… actually quite convenient."
"Huh?" Ross blinked slowly, before frowning in confusion. "How exactly?"
Roxanne did not elaborate. Instead, she asked him, "Ross, how would like to go on a Pokémon journey?"
The question made Ross even more confused. "Huh? Where did that even come from? And why are you asking me that now, of all times!?"
Truthfully, he had already been planning to go on a journey in the case that Roxanne refused. Not only would it further his understanding of pokémon in general, but it would let him explore the world, analyse its intricacies, and perhaps even discover something that no one else had. The possibilities were endless.
Plus, the money he would get from doing the gym challenge certainly helped.
Why else did Professor Oak become a Trainer before becoming a professor? Money, of course! Pokédexes were expensive to make.
The only reason why Ross hadn't begun his journey earlier had already been resolved a few scant minutes earlier.
He didn't have a starter Pokémon.
Except now he did, so he was ready to begin his ADVENTURE!
He hadn't told any of this to Roxanne though, which was the reason for his confusion. She hadn't encouraged him to try going on a journey at all after graduation, so why was she asking now of all times?
"Well, recently one the school's graduates said that she wanted to become a Pokémon trainer. And she is a bit… shall I say, sheltered? I would be grateful if you could accompany her on her journey." She finally explained.
Ohh, so that's what this is about.
"How bad is the situation exactly, if the first person you can think to help her of is a random scientist who doesn't know squat about being a Pokémon trainer?"
Roxy grimaced. "Pretty bad, evidently."
Ross made a show of pondering her predicament for a moment. "Say that I accept your proposal. What do I get in return?"
And Roxy certainly didn't disappoint him when she said the magic word.
"Money."
It makes the world go round.
"I accept!" declared the scoundrel without even hearing the amount offered.
Ehh… it's not like I have to hear how much she's paying me. Roxy's fair! I trust her.
"Great! Then let's meet outside my gym tomorrow. I'll introduce her to you. See you later!"
And with that, Roxanne cut the connection, ending the call.
-Chapter End-