Riot was gently settled on the ground by Casper, who had promptly started standing over him and Ruby after they entered the lab door. Before them were both Vulpix and Ninetales with a rubik's cube set in front of box of them. "Alright you mutts, that thing in front of you is a cube. Use your eyes and see that the cube is of a miss-match of colors. Make each side a single color. If you do it right you'll get a treat tonight," a voice said over the intercom. "Looks like your colleagues are treating our new guests well," Casper said. Riot shook his head; that really wasn't how you should treat any animal, even if the animal couldn't understand what was being said.
"So Vulpix, did your mother ever tell you how to use telekinesis?" Ninetales asked. He knew his adopted son could use Ice Type moves, some very basic Fairy Type moves like Baby Doll Eyes, but not for certain if Vulpix could use telekinesis at all. "I… she taught me a very basic understanding of how it worked. I… think I can only push things around though," Vulpix's eyes started glowing blue. In an instance, the rubiks cube was pushed a couple feet back. Ninetales turned his head towards a window in the wall; he was going to ignore their demands.
Ninetales focused back on the Vulpix and gave him a little smile. "I can teach you a bit more of what I personally know. By no means will I be able to teach you how to outperform an Alakazam though," he offered. Vulpix stopped himself from laughing. "You think I'd expect that? Next to nothing compares to one of those things!" Vulpix shook himself into a bit more of "serious" mood. "But yes, I'd like to learn at least basic telekinesis. Then when Daniel comes to visit, I can do magic tricks for him when he comes!" The little fox jumped up and down. That made the older fox grin, at the end of the day, Vulpix loved Daniel.
It was funny how a little fox, that nearly got hit by his owner's car, suddenly felt the need to perform for his trainer. Quite frankly, it was adorable. "Okay, I would like you to summon your energy around the cube again. This time try to hold it still," Ninetales instructed. Riot started to feel the need to take notes; he was watching a Pokemon be a parent. Vulpix nodded, but accidentally tossed the cube further away from him. To Ninetales' surprise, the Vulpix didn't feel defeated and kept on trying to get ahold of the rubik's cube. It shouldn't really have been a shock, Vulpix did come off as a lot more confident than Ninetales was, despite his fear for people that aren't Daniel or Daniel's roommate, or initial fears when stolen from his trainer might have one believe.
"Vulpix, try summoning your energy on specific points. So on one side, summon some energy, on another summon some energy, and then slowly stretch those sources over the cube. It will make encompassing it easier given your lack of experience and power," Ninetales said. "And do not feel bad about that, you know that we Ninetales don't being a lot in the way of raw psychic prowess many trainers would believe us to have," he added. "Okay," Vulpix said. The little fox's eyes glowed again, little dots of psychic energy appeared on one side of the cube. It was easy to tell that there was some energy spouting out of the otherside. Despite how slowly it happened, the cube was eventually enveloped in a psychic aura.
"Good work!" Ninetales laid down and nuzzled Vulpix's cheek. Suddenly the fox's concentration broke and he was panting. "Did that take a bit of effort?" Ninetales asked jokingly. "How do you do it instantly?" Vulpix asked. The rubiks cube suddenly lifted into the air, Ninetales's eyes were glowing along with the cube. "Your powers will get stronger overtime. Heck, they might get stronger just from you evolving…" Ninetales could only imagine how pretty Vulpix would become if he evolved; Alolan Ninetales were genuinely some of the prettiest Pokemon in the world. "But just practice surrounding the cube with your energy until you cannot… however," the fox looked at the window.
"Those humans called us mutts," Ninetales looked the cube over, analyzing it. It had taken everything the fox had to not burn the rubiks cube. "That was nice to watch," Casper announced. Ninetales finally realized that there were three other Pokemon in the lab door with him, he saw Casper and Ruby, but hadn't seen the new Vulpix before. "Before you ask, this new one is Riot. I cursed him because he wanted me to, and now I have to babysit," she glared at the little Vulpix. "Hey! I only tried to grab your muzzle with my paws!" Riot rolled his eyes. "How long have you been standing there?" Ninetales asked, having chucked the cube at the walk. It exploded into a million pieces upon impact. "Quite a bit, we watched you teach your kit," Riot said.
The human turned vulpix had a simple thought; were Ninetales naturally good at parenting? It was possible that raw instinct aided Pokemon in raising their young. He'd have to get more and more pokemon through his lab if he wanted to confirm this. "Hey mutt, you were supposed to solve that rubiks cube. Was it too hard to figure out how to even turn it?" The same voice came over the intercoms. Ninetales growled, took the remains of the rubiks cube with his telekinesis, and started putting it back together. "I swear, if it were not for the risk of me being killed, you would be dead," he said under his breath. Once the rubiks cube was one piece again, it was set ablaze by Ninetales.
The fox tapped it with his paws a couple times, but surprisingly didn't catch fire. "Is your fur fireproof?" Riot asked stupidly. "Yes, most fire types are fireproof. Just don't try and swallow fire however, your innards are very flammable," Casper said. She watched as the angry Ninetales stomped on the puzzle and chucked its remains at the window, which cracked the bulletproof glass. "Do not hurt those humans, I know how you're feeling, but if you do, you will be dead before you can see your trainer again," Casper warned. She noted how Ruby hid from the angry fox, and how Vulpix just acted like it was a normal occurrence. "I'm aware, that's why that window is still in one piece," he said.
"Those humans spent all night insulting our intelligence, calling us mutts, whatever they could find to insult us. Then make us do stupid puzzles even an infant could solve," Vulpix gestured towards a box with 4 holes and 4 prisims that matched the holes on it. "Honestly, I'm already fed up with it, and Ninetales is on his last nerve. Especially given how…" Vulpix cleared his throat. "Anyways, if that Vulpix sittin' in front of you is Riot, can I ask if there's any news on me and Ninetales being able to leave?"
"Oh yes! We called your trainer, first name Daniel, last name Walter right?" Riot asked for confirmation. Ninetales tilted his head. "Last… name?" He asked. Vulpix seemed equally confused, as they both were used to only having one name. Maybe they'd have nicknames as well, but usually it was still one name. "I believe that is him. What did he ask?" Ninetales asked. "He's sneaking a bag of treats in for you when he shows up. He… also asked if you guys hate him," Riot said. "What kind of idiot is he then? He should know better by now. "You were taken from him by a police officer right?"
Ninetales and Vulpix nodded. How could they forget about how their lives got ruined, by an old guy who wanted to weaponize a Ninetales' ability to cast curses. Daniel didn't fight to keep them in his grasp, excluding the initial holding on tight, but stopped once the only things he could grip onto were their tails. That's what Ninetales felt a little mad at, he let go as soon as his Pokemon's tails came into mind, but Ninetales felt a little thankful. At the end of the day, Daniel made sure not to hurt his Pokemon by inadvertently pulling their tails. Even if Daniel knew it or not. "Well, he was just asking because… he let it happen. We told Daniel about how you weren't mad though," Riot said.
"And as soon as I am human again, which seems be this coming Sunday, I'll call him personally and arrange a visit. Then hopefully in a month or two, we can get you back in your trainer's home," Riot said. Ninetales immediately snatched Riot up with his tails, making for makeshift hands, and held him close. "Thank you for this!" Vulpix joined in on sharing his own gratitude with the scientist. "Hey now, I'm just doing the right thing. Your trainer wants to see you, you want to see your trainer. I wanna make sure you can at least see him before we release you back to him," Riot said.
"Riot, they're just happy," Casper said. The shiny had said it like she was watching two overgrown kits play with her "kit". It was kind of endearing just how thankful they were for Riot's efforts. "And I'll also run this rubiks cube experiment again, this time you'll be paid the respect, that a marvelous pair of foxes like yourselves, deserve," Riot said. "I do not care for the reasons for all this experimentation, and I will comply with you," Ninetales gestured towards the window. "But I will not listen to them," he added. "Don't worry, you don't have to," Riot said as he tried to get out of the fox's graspe. "Can you let go of my human-vulpix please? I would prefer to have a human by the end of the week," Casper said.
With that, Riot was freed after a couple of licks. "So how about we all get to know eachother a little better? I know you two haven't exactly gotten along," Riot suggested. "That was because of my initial fear," Ninetales said. The fox actually bowed and it was adorable to Riot. "I would like to apologize for my rudeness by the way," Ninetales said. "Shut it, just sit down and let's talk."