Ellie had to eventually drown out her friend's frenzied, multiple apologies, offering a slight smirk as he pulled out the Pokeball that housed the sheep-like Pokemon and scolded Wooloo for nearly knocking her over. Sighing softly as Hop challenged her to yet another race and knowing that she couldn't risk trying to sprint with a fifteen pound living being cuddled up to her chest, she simply stomped behind her energetic neighbor.
"Come on, you Slowpoke! Lee should be home soon and I don't want you to miss meeting the Champion and show him our new Pokemon!" Hop shouted, trying to yank at Ellie's arm only for her to gently yank it back, motioning her head to her pal cradled in her arms.
"You know, you've been carrying that Eevee since we were kids. Wouldn't it be better to just put him in a Pokeball?" Hop asked, scratching the back of his head, not realizing why Ellie was glaring at him.
"My best friend shouldn't be forced to live in a Pokeball." She replied curtly, brushing past Hop.
"But...I thought I was your best friend?" The boy mumbled, causing the bespectacled girl to turn back to face him.
"Do you want me to stuff you in a Pokeball, then?" She asked with a smirk on her lips, knowing that would shut him up for the time being.
At long last, the two Postwick teens reached the town of Wedgehurst, Hop panting after practically sprinting the entire journey as Ellie simply walked past him like she'd only walked a block. "H-How?" The boy gasped, Ellie shrugging softly as Eevee beamed at Hop before Ellie made her way to the house of Professor Magnolia, being greeted by her granddaughter Sonia.
"Oh, good, you're here! Hey, where's your...friend…" Sonia trailed off, seeing Hop sprinting towards them.
"Found him." Ellie replied with a chuckle, watching as Eevee gently crawled out of her arms and draped himself over her shoulder.
"Well, hello there, lil' pal! You guys can call me Sonia. I'm Professor Magnolia's granddaughter" Sonia smiled, turning her attention back to Eevee and gently petting his head. "You already caught a Pokemon?" Sonia quickly asked Ellie with slight confusion.
"...Well, sort of? It's a long story…" Ellie remarked with a slight chuckle, rubbing the back of her neck. "Basically, Eevee and I have this...special bond, and that's why he's coming on my journey."
"Eevee and Ellie have been super close since even before I knew her! In fact, he almost used Bite on me the first time Ellie and I met! But thankfully, he likes me now...I think..." Hop mumbled, gazing at Eevee who simply just let out a content cry.
"Basically...long story short, I saved Eevee from a pack of punks when I was a kid. He's...actually still kind of a wild Pokemon? But...he's my best friend." Ellie smiled bright, nuzzling her nose into Eevee's fur, giggling softly as Eevee licked her cheek affectionately. However, before Sonia could respond, Professor Magnolia appeared in the doorway.
"You must be the newest trainers on the block! Come, come in!" The elder woman of the lab purred, Sonia moving aside so the duo could enter the lab.
"Whoa!" Hop called out in astonishment as they entered Professor Magnolia's lab, gazing at all of the Pokemon and technical equipment within the lab. "This is amazing, Professor!" He beamed. Ellie was beaming as well, gently setting Eevee onto an empty lab table.
"I'll be right back, okay?" She whispered, Eevee nodding in understanding as Ellie moved towards the conservation area full of Pokemon.
"Professor, do you mind if I play with them?" The short haired free spirit asked politely, the elder woman giggling and nodding her head.
"Go ahead, my child!" She smiled bright, both herself and Hop's eyes widening as Ellie vaulted over the wooden fence, tucking and rolling into a seated position on the grass. A happy smile on her face as a Growlithe immediately came trotting towards her.
"Hey, little buddy!" Ellie laughed as the Growlithe gingerly jumped at her, immediately finding herself making a new pal as she grabbed a toy Pokeball. Gently tossing it up in the air and grinning as the fire puppy Pokemon caught it between its teeth, squeaking the toy a few times before settling itself into Ellie's lap, allowing Ellie to rub its fuzzy belly as it barked happily.
"That's...that's amazin'…" Sonia marveled in awe, her jaw slightly hanging open. "Growlithe is never that friendly with anyone…even my gran'..." She mumbled, gazing over to Hop who was simply chuckling.
"That's Ellie for ya'...she thinks it's embarrassing to say out loud...but one time, her mom told me that Ellie wants to be best friends with every Pokemon in the world. I don't know how to describe it...but it's kind of like a superpower that Ellie has where any Pokemon she finds just seems to bond with her in an instant." Hop whispered, watching as Ellie laid on her back, a giggling mess while Growlithe licked her face as Hop's tone grew somber.
"Ya' know, Miss Sonia...I think all Ellie wants is to just be around Pokemon. I...caught her talking to her Eevee one time. She told Eevee that she wants to travel the world together and give every Pokemon she meets the love she thinks they deserve. Ever since the day she rescued Eevee..." He trailed off as he gazed back, looking at the normal type who had curled up on a lab table and begun dozing off.
"Ellie's never really liked people ever since the day she rescued Eevee from a group of older boys who were hurting him. I think she only tolerates me." Hop murmured sadly. "I think she'd be perfectly happy with having Pokemon as her only friends…"
Sonia's brow furrowed at Hop's revelation, stone-faced as she nodded her head.
"Well...it's a good thing she has you then, Hop." Sonia mumbled softly, stepping away as Ellie brushed the grass from her jeans, ruffling Growlithe's fur.
"I'll definitely come back to visit you, Growlithe." The teen grinned at the barking puppy Pokemon, letting out a grunt as she used the fence post to vault back over onto the tile floor, greeting her snoozing Eevee with a smile.
"Ready, pal?" Ellie would whisper softly in her Eevee's ear, watching him wake up before catching him as he leapt into her arms.
"Professor, I...I'm ready to begin my journey as a Pokemon trainer."