AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 39 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through Kanto. Professor Westwood V from "The Evolution Solution" makes an appearance as well as Professor Oak. This chapter is slightly shorter, but don't worry, more chapters will come. As always, please feel free to read and review, and remember, feedback of any kind is always welcome.
TEASER: Tristan and his friends meet Professor Westwood V on Seafoam Island. They promised to share a presentation of Slowpoke and Shellder, bu will it be enough to please the crowd?
Chapter 39: THE SYMPOSIUM OF RESEARCH
(Music Cue: Route 1)
Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu are still on Seafoam Island, getting ready to depart to Cinnabar Island. But today, they have now planned to meet someone famous who lives there. Right now, they're speaking with Pokémon expert, Professor Oak, at Seafoam Island's Pokémon Center.
"It's nice to hear from you two," said Professor Oak on the video phone. "It's certainly been quite awhile. Where are you guys calling from?"
"We're calling from Seafoam Island, Professor," answered Tristan.
"We thought we'd take a break from all the training we've been doing for some fun in the sun," added Hillary.
"That sounds like fun," said Professor Oak. "I know someone who lives on Seafoam Island who I think you'd be delighted to meet."
"Who's that, Professor Oak?" asked Tristan.
"His name is Professor Westwood," answered Professor Oak.
"What's so special about Professor Westwood?" asked Hillary.
"Professor Westwood is the person who originally programmed the Pokédex," answered Professor Oak. "Professors are renowned for studying Pokémon and making new discoveries."
"That's awesome, Professor Oak," replied Tristan.
"Say, would you two mind doing me a favor for me?" asked Professor Oak.
"Sure, what's up?" wondered Hillary.
"I'd like you two to represent Professor Westwood at the Pokémon Symposium tonight," answered Professor Oak. "It's being held on Seafoam Island. He's supposed to give a lecture on Slowpoke and Shellder and how they benefit one another."
"We'll do that, Professor," replied Tristan.
"I can't thank you enough," said Professor Oak. "I've gotta go, but I hope to talk with you again real soon. Say hello to Professor Westwood for me!"
Pikachu waved goodbye, too as the video screen turned off.
(Music Cue: Pikachu Appears)
"Now who were we supposed to meet again?" asked Tristan.
"Don't you remember, Tristan?" replied Hillary. "We're going to meet Professor Westwood. We promised Professor Oak that we'd represent him at the Pokémon Symposium tonight."
"Oh, that's right," said Tristan. "How much further do we have to go?"
"Actually, we're here," answered Hillary as she pointed to a big building.
Sure enough, they had arrived at Professor Westwood's laboratory. They ran up to the door and rang the bell.
The door opened and out stepped a partially bald man with blue hair and a round nose. He wore a lab coat with a green collared shirt underneath. "Ah, who have we here?" he asked.
"You must be Professor Westwood," said Tristan.
"Actually, you can call me Westwood V," replied the professor. "Professor Westwood sounds much too formal."
"My name's Tristan," said Tristan. "And this is my friend, Pikachu."
Pikachu greeted Professor Westwood V.
"And my name's Hillary," said Hillary. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Professor Oak asked us to represent you at the Pokémon Symposium tonight."
"Fascinating," said Professor Westwood V. "It'd be an honor."
Professor Westwood V led Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu through his laboratory a few minutes later.
"A year ago, I was researching Slowpoke and why Shellder attaches to it. When Shellder clamps down on Slowpoke's tail, it becomes a Slowbro."
"Hey, Tristan, maybe Dexter has some information about Slowpoke," suggested Hillary.
"Let's see," replied Tristan as he pushed a few buttons on his Pokédex and found Slowpoke's entry.
"Slowpoke: The Dopey Pokémon," said Dexter. "No one can tell what a Slowpoke is thinking, if it ever does think. Its specialty is fishing with its tail."
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Dexter," scolded Tristan.
"One of my assistants wrote down that particular entry," explained Professor Westwood V. "And 'dopey' sounds like a very accurate description of Slowpoke's mental capacity. But I happen to have a Pokémon that will help clear the air."
In stepped a pink bipedal Pokémon with a tan striped belly and muzzle. It had a Shellder on its tail, but it was shaped like a spiral shell.
"So that's what a Slowbro looks like," said Hillary as Tristan scanned Slowbro in his Pokédex.
"Slowbro: The Hermit Crab Pokémon: The evolved form of Slowbro," identified Dexter. "Though it generally prefers to avoid conflict, it can use powerful Psychic attacks."
"I've researched Slowbro and Shellder extensively ever since I met Ash and his friends last year," explained Professor Westwood V. "Thanks to them and that battle against Team Rocket, I've learned that when Shellder clamps down on Slowbros's tail, it helps Slowbro balance when it stands on two feet.
"That's cool," remarked Hillary.
"Slowbro's front legs are free," continued Professor Westwood V, "so it can use attacks like Mega Punch if it wants to."
"That make a lot of sense, Westwood Five," replied Tristan. "And the reason why Shellder can travel on land with Slowbro is because it's clamped down on its tail, right?"
"That's right," answered Professor Westwood V. "It sounds like you're studying up on your Pokémon, young man. Quite exemplary."
"My dream is to become a Pokémon master," replied Tristan. "I already have six badges, and I'm hoping to go for my seventh one on Cinnabar Island. And once I get all eight, I can enter the Pokémon League."
"Impressive, young man," remarked Professor Westwood V.
Just then, he looked at his watch. The hands pointed to exactly three p.m.
"Oh, no!" yelped Professor Westwood V. "I promised I wouldn't lose track of time, and I only have two hours to get ready for my big meeting with the Pokémon Symposium to share my momentous discovery on Slowpoke!" He made a mad dash to five portraits hanging on the wall. "Please forgive me, Westwood the First, the Second, the Third, the Fourth, the Fifth!" He then stopped. "Oh, I forgot, that one's me."
"Westwood Five, are you okay?" whispered Hillary.
"Oh, I always tend to act up this way when I get all panicky and whenever I make a simple mistake," explained Professor Westwood V. "These first four portraits are pictures of my ancestors." He pointed to the pictures one by one. "The first one is Westwood the First, who is my great-great-grandfather. The second one is his son and my great-grandfather, Westwood the Second. The third is his son and my grandfather, Westwood the Third. The fourth is his son and my father, Westwood the Fourth. The fifth one is his son, me, Westwood the Fifth; although I have to say the mustache looks very different from what I'm wearing today."
Sure enough, Professor Westwood V had no mustache on him, and he looked exactly like the first four Westwoods in the pictures.
"Hopefully," he continued, "I hope to have a statue of me instead of the Westwood Family Portrait hanging on my wall. I'll be rich and famous! Ha ha ha!"
Tristan took Hillary aside and whispered to her, "Westwood Five sounds a little eccentric, doesn't he?"
"Well, he does have his way of sharing his excitement," replied Hillary.
Later that afternoon, Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Professor Westwood V left the laboratory and walked toward where the meeting was held.
Professor Westwood V was so nervous his hands began to shake. "I don't know if I can do this," he said. "What if they don't like my presentation? What if they boo me out?"
"You'll be great, Westwood Five," replied Tristan.
"I agree," added Hillary.
Pikachu agreed with the both of them.
"And I agree, too," said a voice.
Everyone turned around to see a familiar figure wearing a red collared shirt and a white lab coat standing right behind them. They all gasped in surprise. "It's Professor Oak!"
Sure enough, it was Professor Oak, and he nodded.
"What a pleasant surprise," said Hillary. "But what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come over to Seafoam Island and see my longtime colleague at his long-awaited presentation," answered Professor Oak. "This event was so well thought out that I couldn't miss it."
"It's great to see you, Professor Oak," said Tristan.
"Likewise," replied Professor Oak. He turned to Professor Westwood V. "Now, Westwood Five, don't forget that we're all here with you, and we'll do whatever we can do to help you out."
Professor Westwood V smiled. He now felt much more confident. "Thank you, everyone."
Night fell as everyone gathered around to listen to Professor Westwood V's presentation. There were a lot of spectators who were eager to learn about how Slowpoke and Shellder shared a mutually beneficial relationship.
Professor Oak came to the lectern with Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Professor Westwood V and began the meeting. "I'd like to thank you all for coming tonight to learn about Slowpoke and Shellder," he began. "Ever since I can remember, Professor Westwood V has been a dear friend to me. He is the professor who programmed the Pokédex with my assistance, of course. He is also the fifth generation of the Westwood clan. That's why most folks know him as Westwood Five. And now, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the famous Professor Westwood V."
Everyone clapped as Professor Oak handed the microphone over to Professor Westwood V.
"Thank you all for coming," said Professor Westwood to the audience. "I may be just a little nervous right now, and sometimes I may seem that way in general."
Everyone chuckled at the funny remark.
"But tonight," he continued, "I will be helped thanks to these two bright young kids you see standing right beside me. Please be sure to give them a warm welcome."
Everyone clapped as Tristan and Hillary looked at them.
"Now," said Professor Westwood V, "I'd like to present some information about Slowpoke." He turned to Tristan. "Young man, if you please, turn to Slowpoke in your Pokédex."
Tristan did as told and pushed a few buttons on his Pokédex. In no time at all, Slowpoke's picture appeared and he showed it for everyone in the crowd to see.
"This is a Slowpoke," explained Professor Westwood V. "It is known as the Dopey Pokémon, but I didn't write that particular entry; one of my assistants may have written down that particular entry. Be that as it may, 'dopey' sounds like an accurate description of Slowpoke's capacity. It may be slow, hence the name Slowpoke, however, it does have the ability to fish remarkably well using its tail."
Everyone oohed. They had no idea that Slowpoke was good at fishing.
"Now, young man, look up Shellder's entry for me," said Professor Westwood V to Tristan.
Tristan pushed some more buttons on his Pokédex. The picture changed to a picture of a Shellder. He turned the Pokédex so everyone could see it.
"This is what a normal Shellder looks like," continued Professor Westwood V. "Like most Water Pokémon, it can use a variety of attacks, and it can evolve."
Everyone awed in wonder.
"Now, I'd like to present a slideshow," continued Professor Westwood V as he turned to Hillary. "Young lady, would you mind doing the honors for me?"
"It'll be my pleasure, Westwood Five," answered Hillary as she pushed a button on a remote.
A video screen came down, and a projection of Slowpoke and Shellder appeared.
"This is a Slowpoke and Shellder," explained Professor Westwood V. "These two share a most interesting relationship, as you're about to see. When Shellder clamps onto Slowpoke's tail, Slowpoke will evolve into a Slowbro. Observe."
Sure enough, on the video screen, Shellder clamped down on Slowpoke's tail, and then both of them glowed in a bright white light. When the animation finished, Slowpoke had evolved into Slowbro and Shellder transformed into a spiral shell.
"As you can see, Slowbro has the ability to walk on two feet instead of four," explained Professor Westwood V. "It can use attacks using its front legs. Not only that, because Shellder is clamped tight onto Slowbro's tail, it may now travel on land with Slowbro."
Everyone was astounded.
"And that, my friends, is the story of how Slowpoke and Shellder have a mutually beneficial relationship," finished Professor Westwood V.
Everyone in the crowd clapped as Tristan and his friends looked on.
"Well done, Westwood Five," said Professor Oak. "That presentation will make it into the history books for sure."
"Well, Oak," replied Professor Westwood V, "I couldn't have done it without the help of these kids."
Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu all smiled.
"And as a result, I have a reward to give you," added Professor Oak. "I plan to recommend a statue of you to the Pokémon symposium."
Everyone clapped as tears of happiness formed in Professor Westwood V's eyes. "Thank you very much, Professor Oak," he said. "This is truly an honor."
Tristan and Hillary cheered for Professor Westwood V's greatest achievement to date.
The next morning, Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu were about to leave Seafoam Island on Lapras's back.
"As I remember," said Professor Westwood V, you kids are heading to Cinnabar Island."
"That's right," replied Hillary. "Tristan's going to try and earn his seventh Gym Badge."
"I wish you the best of luck in your next Gym battle," said Professor Oak.
"Thanks a lot," replied Tristan.
Soon, Lapras started swimming away from Seafoam Island as the kids and Pikachu waved goodbye to Professor Oak and Professor Westwood V.
Having helped Westwood Five with his latest presentation of Slowpoke and Shellder, Tristan and his friends now embark for Cinnabar Island and Tristan's seventh Gym Battle.
TO BE CONTINUED...
