"I can't believe you!" Professor Cerise scolded. "Do you realize I had to walk out of a meeting to come and pick you up!"
"Dad I." Parker began.
"No, I'm not done talking. You got suspended for cutting class, what were you even thinking? Don't answer that." Professor Cerise said.
"Dad, it's just." Parker tried to explain.
"Parker, you are ten years old, you can't be doing this anymore. Your education is important." Professor Cerise stressed.
"Dad if you'd just." Parker tried to say.
"Just go to your room, I'll decide your punishment later." Professor Cerise said.
"You're not being fair!" Parker yelled storming off.
"Troubles with Parker?" Ash asked.
"Ash, don't tell me you're cutting class too?" Professor Cerise sighed.
"Came home for lunch, needed to pick something up." Ash said.
"How did I manage to keep you three in check and fail with my son?" Professor Cerise said.
"I don't think you failed, and I don't think he's trying to be bad. Seems like he believes in what he did." Ash said. "I'd love to stay and help, but I have to get back to class."
Later after school
"Hey Parker." Ash said, walking from the lab to the Cerise's house. While the two buildings were connected, the general lab staff mostly stayed out of the house.
"My dad tell you to come talk to me." Parker sulked.
"No, I chose to come here. Do you want to talk about what happened today?" Ash said.
"Are you going to scold me." Parker said, slightly annoyed.
"That depends on what you did when you left school. So let's start there." Ash said.
"My dad says I can't be a researcher until I have a Pokémon, but whenever I ask if I can go and get one he points out I don't need one." Parker said.
"You want to be a field researcher, like us?" Ash said surprised. "I didn't know."
"Even Chloe doesn't know, but it won't happen unless I get a Pokémon all my own." Parker sighed.
"That's why you cut class, to catch a Pokémon?" Ash said.
"Is that so wrong?" Parker asked.
"Can't scold you for something your dad technically caught me doing today, but let's not get into that." Ash said. "A first Pokémon is special though. Eevee chose Chloe, and Cinderace chased Goh around Galar and saved us in order to join him."
"What about Serena and Delphox?" Parker asked.
"I think she just picked that up from Professor Sycamore." Ash admitted. "Do you know how I got Pikachu?"
"You picked him from Professor Oaks lab?" Parker said.
"Hard to pick a starter when there are none left. I woke up late on the day I was supposed to start my journey. Not just a little late either, by the time I made it to Professor Oaks, all the starters had been taken. So he gave me a Pokémon he'd been working on, but still had its problems." Ash said. "And since then, Pikachu and I have been best buds."
"So what's the point you're making?" Parker asked.
"Don't make your first Pokémon linked to a bad event, you'll regret that. I'll talk to your dad about you becoming a researcher though." Ash said.
In Professor Cerise's office
"My answer is no Ash, he doesn't have a Pokémon." Professor Cerise said.
"Goh didn't have any when he started." Ash pointed out.
"Goh had you, I don't want to push Parker into your group, it would only make things awkward." Professor Cerise said.
"Then make a new group, you have to realize we won't be around for much longer." Ash said.
"The budget and rooms though." Professor Cerise began to argue.
"The budget is plenty big enough from mine and Serena's books plus Chloe's papers. As for the rooms, have the team be local. Kids from Parker's school can sign up to join." Ash said calmly. "Have them start with local research, get them into it, let us handle the bigger issues."
"You really think enough kids would want to?" Professor Cerise asked.
"I had no interest in researching before starting here. I think you'd be surprised." Ash said. "There is one other problem though."
"What's that?" Professor Cerise asked.
"Parker wants his own Pokémon." Ash said plainly.
"No way, out of the question. He's too young." Professor Cerise argued.
"He's ten! By all accounts he can go on a journey if he wants to, and if you don't try and support him he will." Ash snapped.
"Then what would you recommend for getting him one." Professor Cerise said.
"The way I see it, we have three options. One, we go to Professor Oak and get him a normal starter. Two, we go to a Pokémon Center and see if there are any left behind Pokémon that would be good for him. Three, you let him catch one on his own." Ash said.
"The second one is an actual thing?" Professor Cerise asked, a bit surprised.
"It's sad, but usually with new trainers who didn't know what they were getting into." Ash said.
"Maybe I'll take him at a later date, but for now he is still in trouble for cutting class." Professor Cerise said.
A little bit later
"Okay, you have all put in your votes?" Professor Cerise asked the four teens.
A variety of yes's came from the group as they waited on baited breath.
"So your spring break research trip will be, The Isle of Armor." Professor Cerise said holding up a piece of scrap paper.
"Yes!" All four exclaimed at once.
"What do you mean yes, I put it in to research the dual towers linked to an ancient legendary Pokémon known for guarding the island." Chloe said.
"No, the island has all sorts of different biomes, the amount of Pokémon there is insane." Goh said.
"I heard I can get a Dynamax Band there, and learn more about the process. I'm tired of being the only one who can't help in bigger battles." Serena said.
"Guys, the dojo of Mustard is there. This guy probably trained Leon, clearly the best thing there." Ash pointed out.
"Well then, it seems there are no objections to this, but I will meet with you each individually to discuss your plans before you leave." Professor Cerise said calmly. "Until then, dismissed."
The Adventures of the Mysterious Pokémon
"The orange one was able to strike from in the air, if I wish to impress this human, I must do the same." The Pokemon said, looking at a rock. Several lines were already cut into the rock, all intersecting at the same point.
"Hah!" The Pokemon said, jumping and spinning.
The newest cut was hitting the same point in the center.
"Again, until I can cut through perfectly precise." The Pokemon said, readying themselves again.