Chapter Twelve

Once again they were standing in the waiting room of the veterinary hospital in Satisfaction Town. Kalin looked especially tense and worried, despiteknowing it was a simple procedure.

"Evan's going to be just fine," Radley soothed.

"I know," Kalin said.

Radley had to smile, touched at Kalin's concern.

Prinna was sitting on the floor, conversing with Evie and Isla. Evie looked worried too. Isla didn't really seem to understand what was going on and wanted to play with the colored balls on a maze of thick wires toy.

Radley had to chuckle as Isla sat there moving the balls around with her front paws. "I usually see those things in human doctors' offices," he said. "I kinda have the feeling the doc here never thought an actual animal would be playing with it!"

Kalin took out his phone and recorded a video of it. "Scotch will love this," he grunted.

"He sure will," Radley said. Isla was making a good distraction for Kalin's worry, at least for now.

The curious Pokemon continued to push the balls around for a while. She even laid on her back to bat at them from below. Radley had to laugh.

Kalin eventually stopped filming and looked to Prinna. "Does she understand anything or is everything a game to her?" he asked. Isla's obsession with play was starting to annoy him in light of how Evie, on the other hand, was showing definite concern. Evie was too worried to play, even though she loved it too. Despite being animals, Eevees were certainly capable of such serious emotions.

"Isla is very young," Prinna said. "But she loves playing as a distraction from some very sad memories. She treats everything nonchalantly because she can't make herself believe anything good will last."

"That's . . . really sad," Radley frowned. And it made him think all the more that she and Scotch were the perfect match. He was the same as far as often using play as a distraction from his past. And he was endlessly loving and loyal. Isla would find that she had the forever home she dreamed of, and hopefully it wouldn't take her too long to really believe in it.

"It is," Kalin agreed, frowning more. He wouldn't have guessed. Isla acted like she didn't have a care in the world. Pokemon really were like people in so many ways.

Prinna looked over at Evie. "I wonder why Evie didn't Dynamax, since she was hit by the weapon that was designed to emulate the Dynamax Cannon attack," she said.

". . . I thought she was supposed to Gigantamax," Kalin grunted.

"If she has the Gigantamax Factor, yes," Prinna said. "Without it, she still should have Dynamaxed."

"What's that?" Radley asked. "I'm not as familiar with these more recent concepts."

"Dynamax is a less scary version of getting big where the Pokemon keep their minds and their appearances don't really change," Prinna said. "They just look like a bigger version of their normal selves."

Evie pondered. "Vee . . ."

So did Prinna."Her will to only change for you must be very strong," she said to Radley. "She seems to be completely normal in every way. There's no reason why she shouldn't have evolved years ago when Team Rocket tried to force it. Yet her love for you overcame everything they did."

Evie went over and rubbed Radley's leg. He chuckled and petted her.

"That's really an honor," he said.

"It is," Prinna said. "Love is always taking Pokemon and people to new heights."

"So how is it that you can talk?" Radley asked. "I didn't think Espeons could use Telepathy."

"I asked my owner to experiment with me and see if he could find a way," Prinna said. "We didn't need Telepathy to communicate, but I really wanted to talk with him on his level. He didn't do anything hurtful; he never did any of the cruel things Team Rocket is generally known for. He proved force didn't have to be used at all, but they didn't care. They started looking for someone who fit their values to replace him."

"And they chose Portman," Radley said in disgust.

"It fits," Kalin intoned.

The door finally opened and Dr. Bridger emerged carrying Evan. "Here he is," he announced. "I got the implant out just fine."

"Vee?!" Evie demanded.

Kalin accepted the little Eevee and held him close. Evan snuggled, placing his paws on Kalin's shoulder.

"Eevee," he assured Evie.

Evie jumped and danced with joy. "Eevee-vee-vee!"

Isla looked up too. "Ee?"

"Yeah, he's fine and we're all going now," Radley told her. "We have the perfect home for you."

"Eevee!" Isla exclaimed.

Dr. Bridger smiled, tiredly. "And we'd best be off too. The police will be wanting us."

"They're waiting at our station," Radley agreed. "But we're going to put in good words for you and hopefully you won't go to prison if you agree to turn state's evidence against Team Rocket."

"Maybe we'll finally be able to bring them down thanks to you, Doctor!" Prinna said, hopping up on two legs in happiness.

"Oh, I doubt that, but maybe at least it will help topple their local operations," Dr. Bridger smiled, petting her. "Let's be off then."

It didn't take long to walk over to the police station. It mostly served as a jailhouse, with a small office out front. Scotch was relaxing a little too much in the chair at the desk.

"Scotch . . ." Radley shook his head. "Come on! You know I've told you . . ."

Scotch jumped, immediately swinging his feet down from the desk onto the floor. "I'm sorry, Radley!" He stood. "So what happened?!"

"Everything's great," Radley smiled. "And we've got a surprise for you."

"Really?! I love surprises!" Scotch ran out from behind the desk. "What is it?!"

Isla looked up at him, suddenly shy now. She sat there, swishing her tail, not sure what to do.

"Eevee-vee!" Evie encouraged.

Finally Isla rose on two legs. "Eevee?"

Scotch started and looked down. "Another Eevee?!"

"Yeah," Radley grinned. "This is the one who Gigantamaxed."

"Oh! Isla!" Scotch dropped down to her eye level. "Hi, Isla! Wow, it's strange seeing you the same size as the other Eevees now."

"Eevee!" Isla replied.

"She wants a home," Radley said. "Instead of sending her back to Galar or wherever, why don't you and Biff give her one?"

Scotch stared at her and then at Radley with starry eyes. "Really?!"

Biff looked a bit wary. "She won't get big in our house, will she?"

"No, not at all," Prinna said.

"Then sure," Biff smiled. Scotch was already smitten. He couldn't say No.

In awe Scotch reached down and lifted the cute Pokemon up. "How about that, Isla?! You're coming home with us! You're going to be mine! Ours!" He hugged her close.

"Eevee!" Isla said in sheer happiness. She hugged Scotch in turn with a paw around his shoulder.

Dr. Bridger smiled too. "Well, at least something good came out of this dreadful experience. And now, officers, I'm ready to go." He looked to the Sector Security officers and a Jenny.

"We have a lot to tell you before you leave with him," Radley interjected.

"Then tell us," Jenny implored. "We want to know every angle of Team Rocket's schemes in this area."

It took quite some time to relate it all. Long before they were through, the police definitely decided that Dr. Bridger would be a valuable witness, and Prinna as well. They started making plans for the two to be protected as witnesses.

"I'm so glad!" Prinna exclaimed. "I didn't really think they'd make him go to jail when they knew the truth!"

Radley smiled. "You just keep the both of you safe, okay? It would be great if we could stay in touch, but I know that's unlikely unless someday you don't have to be protected anymore."

"Yes," Prinna agreed. "Well, I guess we'll see you at the trial, at least. You'll have to testify too."

"Yeah," Radley frowned. They had definitely spent a lot of time attending court cases for the people who had been trying to hurt them. They were tired of it, but of course it had to be done.

"Is this the first time a Pokemon will testify?!" Scotch wondered.

"No, there's been other times," Prinna said. "But it is rare, even in our regions."

"It's pretty cool!" Scotch said. "Do you think they'll want the Eevees to testify too? You could translate!"

"Vee . . ." Evie looked hesitant about the prospect.

"We'll see," Prinna said. "I guess first I'd have to be recognized as a Pokemon translator who's really telling what the other Pokemon are saying."

"No problem there!" Scotch said. "It wouldn't take long and everybody'd be convinced!"

"Well, if it gets to where they want the Eevees to testify, I'm certainly willing to help if it's allowed," Prinna said. "Meanwhile . . ." She looked to Evie. "Is there anything you would like to say to Radley that I could translate for you before we go?"

"Vee!" Evie happily nodded. "Eevee-vee."

"She says she would like to tell you some of what was happening while you were apart," Prinna said.

Radley smiled. He had definitely been wondering, but had thought there was no way to really know. "Okay. Let's do it." He sat down at the desk and Evie hopped up on it, facing him. As she started to speak, Prinna translated and Radley recorded it all with his phone.

"When the nice lady who bred me died, I was scared and alone. Everyone was being sold. I wanted to choose my own person! I sneaked out and started to look. I didn't know where I would find them. I walked a long time. Then I found this beautiful meadow and all these yummy grapes. There were other Pokemon there and we all ate. This lady came and was mad. She told her grandson to get us out. He was nice and he brought us berries to eat. I knew he was my person! His grandma was mean and wouldn't let him adopt me. But I stayed there in the meadow and he always came and played. I was so happy. I thought it would always be like that.

"Then these mean people came one night and took all of us! I screamed and clawed and bit the net, but I couldn't get out. We all got taken to Team Rocket. They only care about Eevees because we evolve, so they kept trying to make me evolve. I wouldn't do it! They grabbed me and put my paws on the stones, but nothing happened. Then some of them started pretending to be nice to try to make me care about them enough to evolve for them. But I could never care about them. They were just lying. They also brought me to Icy Rocks and Mossy Rocks and made me battle. I still wouldn't evolve! They never understood. I would only evolve for my Radley.

"The other Pokemon were still my friends. We all planned to break out of Team Rocket, and one night we really got out! We all ran and I had to get back to the villa. My Radley was there! I just wanted to get home to him. That was the only thing I thought about in Team Rocket. It was what kept me going all those awful years. But it had been so many years and he was gone. His family never talked about him, so I couldn't find out where to go to find him. I started looking. Everyone else came with me at first, but they all started wanting to move on after a while. They thought it was hopeless to keep looking. But I wouldn't give up! There was no other person for me, only Radley. I would find him no matter what!

"I went back near where the nice lady had lived and looked at her old house. No one lived there anymore. I didn't know where any of the other Eevees lived. I thought maybe one of them would have a big house with a computer and I could look for Radley there, but I couldn't find them, so I had to keep going by myself.

"It was cold and scary and there was never Radley. I kept going, but I was so tired. I didn't see when I stepped in the trap. It hurt so much! A Treeko helped me get out, but it was still hurting. I wanted Radley. I came out of the woods and down a mountain and a nice man picked me up. I was so hurt I couldn't see who he was. I thought he was Radley. When I woke up at the doctor's, I thought it must have been a wonderful dream. But then he took me out and Radley was there! I finally found my Radley! He still loves me and I will never go away from him again!"

Evie finished and jumped off the desk into Radley's arms. He held her close, deeply moved to the point of finding it hard to speak.

"You went through so much," he said softly. "I never forgot you and never stopped wanting to be with you too. My plush Eevee . . . I got that because I missed you so much." And he still loved that too. It had been his friend through many difficult times. He would never put it away again, and Evie respected it and knew it really represented her.

"Eevee-vee," Evie said softly, cuddling Radley.

"I always knew you loved me and that's why it was worth everything to come home to you," Prinna translated.

She smiled. "Do either of you want to say something to your people too?" she asked Evan and Isla.

Evan looked up at Kalin. "Eevee-ee-vee-vee."

"I never had a person because they only seemed to want me to evolve. But you really love me and you risked your life for me when we just met! And you still care even after you found out I was a spy. I want to be with you for always."

"And you will be," Kalin promised.

Isla wagged her tail. "Eevee!" she exclaimed.

"Let's play!" Prinna translated.

"That's great with me!" Scotch said.

"Isla isn't ready to tell you her life yet," Prinna said. "But if she is when we see each other again, I'll be happy to help."

"Sure!" Scotch said. "That's okay. You just go at your own pace until you're ready." He grinned at Isla. "Radley taught me that."

Radley smiled back. He was happy to see some of his lessons had sunk in.

"Alright, Prinna," Dr. Bridger said. "We're ready to go now."

Prinna nodded and stepped back. "I hope we'll meet again soon! Thank you so much for everything. That you were willing to help me and the Doctor means so much."

"Of course. You deserve your happy ending too," Radley said. "You weren't in Team Rocket by choice, and Dr. Bridger tried to find ways to use his time there for good."

Kalin nodded. "He's not really Team Rocket material."

"No, I'm not, and I'm thankful I'll have a chance to prove it," Dr. Bridger said. "Thank you, all of you. You're wonderful people. If the Pokemon do start coming back to this area more, I'm sure it's because they've heard about people like you."

"That's a nice thought," Radley smiled.

They went to the doorway and watched as the police left with Dr. Bridger and Prinna. The Eevees called final Goodbyes and waved.

"That was cool!" Scotch said. "Can we go to the City tomorrow so I can get a collar and nametag for Isla?!"

Radley smiled a bit. He was exhausted and really wanted to relax, but he didn't like to deny Scotch or Isla that important step.

"Tomorrow or the next day," he agreed. "And don't forget to use a Pokeball too."

"We're going right home to do that!" Scotch vowed.

"Eevee!" Isla said, raising a paw in the air.

Kalin looked at all the fluffy animals. "If we keep collecting Eevees, this town might end up known for them," he remarked.

"Yeah! They could be the mascot!" Scotch gushed.

Radley chuckled. "Right now I'd rather not advertise it, just in case there's more Team Rocket goons around. But in the future, if things seem peaceful, sure." He smiled.

"Eevee-vee," Evie sleepily warbled in satisfaction.

"For now let's get home," Radley continued. "We were just about to do that when Portman crashed everything."

"Oh yeah." Scotch frowned. "It's the middle of the night now!"

Kalin headed for his motorcycle to strap Evan into the basket. "We should really have tomorrow to recover from all this," he said. "We can go to the City the day after."

"That's cool," Scotch said.

Isla chirped in agreement.