Robert held up his hand to shield the gaze of the sun that was poking through the clouds. He stood on the edge of the boat, a cold wind rippling his lab coat, which he donned for the occasion. Nuvema Town's quiet harbor was just ahead. A starting town for a lot of up and coming trainers because Professor Juniper lives here and gives out starter Pokemon.

"Wonder if she's got any new jobs for me," he wondered aloud.

A long sipping sound interrupted his thoughts and he looked to see Alex drinking from a can as she leaned against the boat railing. She smirked. "Whoops, don't mind me."

Robert rolled his eyes. "You just gotta ruin my moments."

"It's a gift."

"You do know that's my line."

"Exactly."

A sound of an explosion sounded from the back of the ship and smoke trailed upwards into the sky.

Alex rolled her eyes. "I'd better tell them to stop, else they'll sink the boat at this rate."

"Hilbert and Zeno?" Robert guessed.

"Yep," Alex sighed. "Hilbert wanted to see just how strong Arcaneis really is."

"Give him my regards," Robert waved as she left.

He turned back to the view of Nuvema coming closer. He remembered coming here for the first time for the interview that got him a job as Professor Juniper's assistant.

"Feels like yesterday," He murmured. "I didn't even know if getting the job was the right thing for me to do at the time. Heck, I was just following my instincts. Even now..."

"Sorry we can't tag along," Hilda said cheerfully, shaking Alex's hand, then moving onto Zeno and N. "But we wanted to get to Castelia City as soon as possible after training on the island. There's a couple of neat battle facilities we wanted to revisit."

"If you have the time," Hilbert nodded to the four of them. "You should try on of them. They're good training."

"We might," Zeno nodded. "Hey, Hilbert. Don't be a stranger."

"'Course not," he tipped his hat. "You're one of the strongest trainers I've ever met. No way would I not pass up on a chance to battle you and your Pokemon. You've shown me that I still have much to do if I want to become the Champion one day."

"One day he'll give up on that notion," Hilda commented drily. "There's more to the world than becoming Champion."

"Then why do you continue to train like me!?"

"So I can prove that I'm stronger than you, duh."

Robert watched them leave, bickering like siblings do. He was heavily reminded when he first parted ways with them. They'd stuck with him even after his failure at the Championship, so he was the one who ended up leaving them behind when he got his job and when he was sent to Kalos to do Pokemon research.

"Which way?"

Robert blinked as Alex leaned in front of him, waving a hand in front of his face. "What was that?"

Alex rolled her eyes. "Which way to the Professor's lab? Or are we going to stroll around Nuvema until we find it."

Robert smirked. "That ain't a bad idea. However, as much as I would love to show you three around town, I do want to get this data to Juniper pronto. So, follow me gang!"

"Gang?" Zeno asked as he, Alex, and N followed Robert as he led them onto the sidewalk and down a straight road past cozy looking houses. "Since when did we call ourselves a gang?"

"Since now," Robert spun around, grinning. "Though I don't like the ring of it honestly, so never again!"

"I've never been to this town before," N said after a minute of walking, picking up Zorua into his arms. "This town feels really quaint. Almost as if the people and Pokemon live in harmony."

Robert nodded as he saw people casually walking along the street, various Pokemon either by their sides or roaming the gardens. A flock of Pidoves flew by overhead and settled in a small park where an elderly man was tossing seeds onto the grass. A group of schoolchildren were playing outside the local school while a couple strolled past the group hand-in-hand.

"It's a very small town compared to the rest of Unova," Robert said, feeling somehow nostalgic as he took in the scene before him. "I stayed here for quite a bit of time when I started working at the lab. The local people and Pokemon are super nice. And plenty of nature with the forested hills surrounding this place. Really, if I had to settle down somewhere, this might be it."

"Oldale doesn't even compare," Alex said, gazing around with a rather curious expression. "It's more open compared to here and not so many houses. But... yes, this place has a much better feel to it."

Robert saw Zeno take her hand out of the corner of his eye. Robert smiled. Alex had a troubling history with her family, much like Zeno. To him, that made them perfect for one another, since they both could relate to one another.

"I wonder," he thought, watching a Tranquil scatter the Pidoves to get to the seeds. "Will I ever find someone right for me... Nah," he smiled. "Don't need to worry about that for quite a while. For now, focus on achieving your dream, whatever it may be."

The street soon curved to the right as a large building came into view, a small radio tower set up next to it. Puffy white clouds and forested hills painted the background as Robert saw various scientists in the upper windows of the Pokemon Research Lab. A greenhouse was situated off to the right of the radio tower, a couple people entering it as the four of them walked to the main doors. They automatically opened and they stepped inside.

"I'm baaaaaaaa-!" Robert announced, only to be slammed by something big and blue and back outside. Several cries of alarm came from who knows where as Robert felt several people trying to tug the huge Pokemon off of him.

"No, it's okay, I'm fine!" Robert yelled, laughing as he felt a big tongue slop up his front as the Water type hugged him. "It's good to see you girl!"

"Swaaaaaaa!" Swampert cried, nuzzling his chest.

A shadow loomed over him from behind and Robert looked to see a brown haired woman in a lab coat looking down on him, failing to suppress a smile. "It was a bad idea to tell her you were coming back today. She's been going crazy around the lab. All of the delicate work had to be put off for the day."

"Sorry 'bout that," Robert laughed as he began pushing Swampert off of him. "Alright girl, time to get off. There's a good girl." Now that he was standing up, he gave Swampert a hug around her head. "It's really good to be back."

"My my," N said with wide eyes, a smile forming on his lips. "Your Swampert... She really loves you."

"I can tell," Robert laughed as Swampert's tongue licked up the side of his face.

"Excuse my manners," the woman in the lab coat held out her hand to Robert's friends. "I am Professor Juniper. You must be Zeno and Alex, am I right? Robert's talked about you two a great deal. And you are?" She turned to N, shaking his hand.

"N," he said simply, now looking around the lab with cautious eyes. To Robert, it looked as if N didn't approve of this place.

Professor Juniper looked at Zeno, a glint in her eye. "I hear you have quite a rare Pokemon with you, Zeno. I don't suppose you mind allowing me to examine it?"

"Not at all," Zeno said. "To be frank, even with Robert's explanation of things, I still don't entirely know what he is or how it happened."

"I-," Robert started to say, only to get forced into another hug with Swampert. "I have a lot of data and evidence to support my theories. First-" he managed to free himself, wiping himself down. "Where are my other Pokemon?"

"They're out in the back," Juniper laughed as Swampert loomed behind Robert, another hug incoming. "Come on, I'll lead the way for your friends. I have a feeling you'll be otherwise preoccupied."

"Huh- AUGH!"

"And there goes Robert once again," Alex said as she looked back to see him struggling after them, trying to pry off his Swampert.

"She's a very shy Pokemon around others most of the time," Professor Juniper explained as they walked through the lab. "She was rescued from a group of poachers as a Mudkip. Robert was the one who helped free her and ever since then she's been very clingy to him."

"Wait for meeeee!" Robert came running down the hall with Swampert close behind him. He sped past them and went straight for the lab's back door. He burst through and back into the sun. He stared at the large field nestled between trees, fences closing off certain areas. Not many trainers left their Pokemon with Juniper considering her remote location, so as of now only his Pokemon were kept here along with the ones who were either recovering from bad injuries or Pokemon who were currently being researched. No Pokemon-cruelty of course.

"Mara mara!" A voice cried out and something green and spiky slammed into Robert from a clump of bushes. Maractus looked up at him, yellow eyes wide with delight.

"Maractus!" Robert picked her up and swung himself around. He hugged her, ignoring the spikiness of her body. "It's been too long. Where's everyone else?"

His question was soon answered as he heard a loud rumbling noise coming closer. He dropped Maractus as he saw a hoard of Pokemon, his Pokemon, rushing towards him. He grinned, holding out his arms wide. "Come to papa-OOF!"

He was thrown off his feet, hugged, licked, and hugged some more by something slimy.

"Hey there Muk," Robert patted the Alolan Muk on the head. "Good seeing you!"

He managed to free himself and step back, grinning proudly at his Pokemon. His Alolan 'mons stood to the right. Muk grinned gloopy-like, Hariyama slapped his palms together, Stoutland barked eagerly, Bewear tried to go for a hug, which Robert evaded, and Tyranitar roared his delight.

"Krokorok," the Ground type folded his arms as he seemed to grin at Robert. Beside him Maractus swayed in the wind, grinning happily. Heatmor sniffed Robert curiously while Scolipede towered over him, nuzzling his head with her own. Carracosta, previously a revived fossil whom Robert took in his care, wrapped his flippers around Robert in a hug.

The doors to the lab behind him burst open and his Pokemon scattered as Swampert slammed into Robert, nuzzling his chest affectionately.

"Seems you're getting reacquainted just fine," Professor Juniper held back a laugh as she and the others came outside.

"Define 'fine'."

"Anyway," Zeno rolled his eyes. "Here is my Pokemon."

"Wait!" Robert yelped, finally pushing Swampert off of him. He rifled through his backpack, pulling out his device. "I got all the data. You can look it over and check it."

"Knowing you," Professor Juniper patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure it was done near perfectly."

Zeno opened the pokeball and Arcaneis was released. He shook himself, looking around the field and at Robert's Pokemon.

Professor Juniper sucked in a breath. "He's magnificent! How on earth did you even manage to get him to evolve!?"

"Well," Zeno rubbed the back of his head.

"It's complicated," Robert said. "Honestly, my theory is that it's a dead evolution of sorts, one that Arcanines can no longer achieve normally. It's why I believe he fits the class of "Legendary". Arcaneis, a Fire/Electric type."

"I can certainly tell," Professor Juniper said as she ran her hand through Arcaneis fur, jumping slightly at the tingle of electricity.

"Just wait until you see him run," Robert said, grinning widely. "His Lightning Speed ability not only boosts his power, but also his speed. He's one heck of a force to reckon with. And you haven't even seen his new move, Burning Tempest..." He turned to Swampert. "Hey girl, wanna do me a favor?"

She perked up immediately. "Would you have a quick bout with Arcaneis?" Robert asked, pointing to Zeno's Pokemon.

Swampert pounded the earth with both of her large hands, shaking her body in excitement. She narrowed her eyes at Arcaneis and he in turn crouched, eyes blazing with excitement as well.

"Everyone MOVE!" Robert shouted and they all scattered, leaving a wide area for both Pokemon to fight. Only Robert and Zeno stayed, both standing behind their Pokemon.

"Alright then, let's take the first move!" Robert proclaimed. "Swampert, Earthquake!"

Swampert roared and slammed both of her fists on the ground. The earth rumbled and swayed dangerously as the ground began to break up.

"Extreme Speed!" Zeno yelled. "Get behind her!"

Arcaneis sped off, faltering only at the start of his run as the earth heaved up violently beneath him, but he continued running and slid behind Swampert, nearly crashing onto his side from the Earthquake. He lunged forwards, flames lining his maw.

"Rock Smash him!" Robert ordered and Swampert whirled around, swinging an orange glowing fist. It smacked Arcaneis in the jaw with an audible thump and he crashed and rolled along the ground.

"Roll into Flame Wheel!" Zeno commanded.

Arcaneis used his own momentum and spun into a blazing wheel of fire that at first spun on its side before up righting itself and blasting into Swampert.

"Let's cool him down!" Robert yelled as he grinned. Already he could feel that rush that only came with battling. "Muddy Water!"

Swampert roared, dark, muddy water erupting from the soil and it cascaded towards Arcaneis. The Fire/Electric type spun away, electricity crackling along the flickering flames. He sped up, circling around the water and went straight for Swampert.

"To the left!" Zeno yelled just before Swampert let loose a Hydro Pump. The Water/Ground type swung her head around, trying to catch Arcaneis in its blast, but he was too fast for her, spinning around to her side and slamming into her.

"New strategy!" Robert narrowed his eyes. "Mud Shot the whole area!"

Swampert flipped herself upright, sliding her whole arm through the mud as she did so, flinging clumps of it in all directions. Several hit Arcaneis with extreme force, knocking him back a couple steps and clinging to his fur. A couple of sparks run through his fur only to fizzle out.

"Let's take this chance!" Robert shouted with glee. "Rock Slide!"

Swampert's fists glowed as she slammed them to the earth, several large boulders shooting out of the ground and rolling across the slick mud.

"Dodge!" Zeno yelled and Arcaneis began to run, slipping on the mud a little. He almost made it, only for a large boulder to slam into his back end and send him crashing through more mud.

"This is it!" Robert pumped his fist. "EARTHQUAKE!"

"Burn Up!" Zeno roared.

Arcaneis opened his maw, flames curling around his entire body before he blasted the ground in front of him with an extreme blast of fire and he disappeared within the following explosion. The ground cracked and shook, waves of earth rolling where Arcaneis was hidden by the smoke.

"Did we get him?" Robert asked hopefully as the quake died down.

Eyes flashed from the thinning smoke and Zeno grinned. "Nope! Come on then, Extreme Speed!" Arcaneis disappeared and reappeared as he slammed into Swampert from the front and sped away before Swampert could land a Rock Smash.

"But how!?" Robert exclaimed, trying to track Arcaneis as he spun wide circles around Swampert, electricity trailing behind him. "The mud-" He gasped, then laughed aloud. "Typical Zeno. You burned the mud away!" He gripped a fist tightly. "Wash him away with Surf!"

Swampert rose atop a column of water as it gushed outwards in all directions, slamming into Arcaneis and sending him tumbling along the ground.

"Now use Earthquake!"

"Extreme Speed!"

Arcaneis slid his paw back underneath him and pushed off the ground at a run, sprinting towards his opponent as the ground surged towards him.

"Now leap and spin into Fire Wheel!" Zeno ordered and Arcaneis leaped into the air, spinning himself into a flaming wheel of fire. His eyes widened as several large boulders erupted from the ground. "Leap off of them with Extreme Speed!"

Arcaneis spun out of his wheel, planting his feet on the first boulder, springing towards the ground to evade the rest, only for a glowing fist to crash into his stomach as he leapt off the rock. Arcaneis' eyes widened as he was flung into the air by the punch. Swampert surged upwards atop a column of water, reaching Arcaneis' height, and slammed him with another devastating Hammer Arm to the face. Arcaneis crashed to the ground, laying there, trying in vain to get back on his feet.

"Oh wow," Alex clapped, eyes wide. "Robert actually won."

Robert looked at her, pretending to be offended. "And you thought otherwise."

Alex nodded. "Even with a type advantage, you did classify Arcaneis as a Legendary Pokemon."

"Even Legendary Pokemon are still Pokemon," Zeno said as he knelt by Arcaneis. "You okay, buddy?"

Arcaneis huffed, averting his gaze. Zeno sighed and ruffled his Pokémon's head. "Don't get too prideful now that you've become stronger. Battles are going to turn out like this more often if you do."

"Here, bring them inside," Juniper said as Robert handed her his device, all the data on Arcaneis on there. "We'll let them rest for a bit. Oh wow," she exclaimed. "Robert, this is great! Zeno, I'll ask again, you don't mind if we run any tests on Arcaneis?"

Zeno looked at his partner Pokemon, who huffed and looked at Zeno. Robert couldn't see Arcaneis' eyes, but Zeno, who could, seemed to understand. "He doesn't mind. Oh come on, buddy. You really don't want to be prideful you know."

Arcaneis huffed again and managed to lift himself onto his feet, shaking his fur, trying to look regal as he lumbered towards the lab doors. However, his limping kinda ruined the image.

"This really is excellent work, Robert," Professor Juniper said, not taking her eyes off the screen. Robert had uploaded all of the data he'd taken on Arcaneis and everything else during his time in Kalos. The Professor had already run some tests on Arcaneis and now he and Swampert were resting outback. Zeno, Alex, and N were out there as well, leaving just him and the Professor to talk technical stuff. "Mega Evolution, Bond Phenomenon, Legendary Pokemon, and Chaos Energy. I think I might have to promote you."

"Aw shucks," Robert rubbed the back of his head. "Being your assistant is good enough for me honestly. I'd feel bad for anything more."

"Then how about vacation time?"

"Well..." Robert was about to say Kalos was like a vacation, until he realized that with Team Flare, Chaos, and whatnot, it wasn't. Then again... "If you consider my Kalos adventure part of me doing my job, then the trip from there to here was more like a vacation."

"Hm," Juniper rested her head in her hand. "You're not making this easy for me Robert. Fine then," she brightened. "You'll get a pay raise and your next job."

"That sounds interesting," Robert nodded. "What is it?"

"Well," Juniper turned back to the data on the screen. "This is some fine work you've done. I'd like you to go around Unova for me and see what you can discover."

"But why Unova?" Robert asked, confused. "You've went around and done a lot of research here yourself. Why do you need me to do the same thing?"

Juniper smiled. "Looking at you and your friends' track record, I'd say its a safe bet you three might discover things that even I haven't learned yet. Plus, it is about time someone got to updating the field data on Unova's wild Pokemon. And," She looked fondly at Robert. "Why should you holed up in the lab or somewhere else while your friends go adventuring? No, I think you should continue travelling with them. You might get some good data while doing so."

"You make... a really good point," Robert laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess it's back to making a round trip of the Unova region. Although," he rubbed his chin. "I kinda like the idea of playing the tour guide for them."

"Then you should all get going while the day is still young," Professor Juniper walked over to a table where a couple of pieces of tech lay. "You should all easily make it to Accumula Town before dark. Also, take these." She handed Robert the devices. Mixed in with three square metal boxes that were bigger than a pokeball were three Xtransceivers. "One for each of you. The Xtrans at least. There's only three Portable Transfer Boxes unfortunately."

"Portable Transfer Boxes," Robert squinted at one. "You don't say. What do they do?"

Juniper took one and pressed a button. It popped open, revealing a pocket inside where a pokeball could be placed within. "These are of my own design. Portable Transfer Boxes or PTB. While Pokemon aren't stored in them, it allows for a simple transfer between PTBs of a Pokemon into an empty pokeball if its placed inside. It'll be for trainers who have a lot of Pokemon with some that are staying with me or some other Professor. These are a the working prototypes that I've kept. I've already sent the finished versions to all the Professors I know in other regions."

"That's actually pretty handy," Robert shook his head in disbelief. "Are you sure you should be giving this to us for free."

Juniper dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. "They're intended to be cheap for most trainers anyway, so it won't be a real loss if I give three away."

"So she said," Robert said later as he, Zeno, Alex, and N were walking through Nuvema Town towards Route 1. "I asked if Kukui was on the register and he is. So even if we're nowhere near a Pokemon Center, you can ask for a Pokemon that's in his care."

Zeno grinned as he looked at the PTB Robert gave him. "Well then, looks like I can have the whole team present."

"This will make for some interesting battles," Alex realized. "If Pokemon of ours that haven't teamed up yet get to team up."

Robert nodded and looked to his belt, where he had added more pokeballs. He left most of his Pokemon with Professor Juniper, but he brought some of them along with him. "Swampert's going to be so happy once she's let out," he thought, smiling to himself. "I'm also really glad that Juniper gave me this opportunity to be with my friends for a while longer." Aloud, "Alright then, we're back on the road! Next stop, Accumula Town!"

"About that," Zeno smirked at him. "Arcaneis is itching for a rematch with Swampert. What do you say about having a battle once we get there? A full battle this time. I want to test the strength of the person who took on Unova's Champion."

Robert slammed his fists together, ignoring the sudden pain he felt from doing so. "You're on!"