Metagross

'It's a foggy start in Mossdeep this morning, the 11th of June at 6:55 AM. Visibility is down to thirty feet, but it should clear up quarter after 10. The high tide will peak at noon and there is a sixty percent chance of showers this evening, twenty percent chance that it will be severe. Those planning on using Fly to go west should beware of the stormy line between the current low pressure zone and the upcoming high pressure zone.'

There was a pause.

'And if you don't get up shortly, I will proceed to count the hairs on your head by chewing on them.'

"All right, I'm getting up." Steven opened his eyes and saw blue steel. "That is, once you stop hovering over me."

'Ah phooey,' the Metagross said telepathically, drifting back over to the floor with his magnetic field. 'I thought I had you today.'

"It's been a while since I conked my head on you first thing in the morning. But don't think I've gotten soft because you haven't been doing that every day."

'Good.' He walked off, but still used the magnetic field to prevent the floor from cracking under his over one-ton weight.

Steven went through his usual morning routine: a quick shave, then getting dressed, checking his schedule, fetching the newspapers. Before he started on breakfast, he opened a newspaper and set it on the floor for Metagross to read. He was four Beldums that had fused into one personality, which made him extremely smart. If Steven didn't find things to occupy that quadruple mind, Metagross would find his own puzzles to solve, usually in the form of pranks against him or other people. Fortunately, none of his other Pokemon were that demanding.

He did still have to go over every couple of minutes to turn the page for him. His magnetic field didn't affect the newspaper. Once breakfast was done, Metagross was done with the normal paper and ready for the Wall Street Journal.

"So Devon and Silph are releasing competing products at the beginning of next quarter," Steven commented on a story he was reading.

'Stick with them both,' Metagross advised. 'I think Silph should come ahead this time, but there's a possibility of it going the other way.'

"I hope Dad doesn't hear that you favor Silph."

'It's the older company, but its researchers are more innovated. Everything Devon does is an update or a rework of another product.'

"I know, but I should stay loyal to my family."

'You're keeping that stock; I would call that loyal enough.'

Steven smiled. "You would." He used to argue that his fortunes came from his family. But then he started buying and selling stocks according to Metagross' advice. Now that he was comfortably self-sufficient, he was inclined to agree on this point as well.

The Pokemon scanned over the stock listings. 'It looks to be a good time to buy into Shuckle Berry Farms. Their stock is low for the time being, but it should return shortly.'

"Okay, I'll look into that when trading opens."

'Do you want some of this newspaper?'

"No, that's fine."

Metagross crouched down to pick the part of the newspaper and eat it. 'You sure? The ink they're using now is tasty and it's good for digestion.'

"I don't think it's good for mine."

'I suppose I wouldn't know about that.' He paused and munched on another page. 'May I have a book on your anatomy?'

Steven picked up his newspaper to hide his blushing. "Um, I think not." Whenever Metagross learned a new subject, he had all sorts of questions which he asked even if Steven couldn't know. He could only image the sorts of things he'd be asked if the subject was human biology.

'Why not?' He might have a talent for telepathy, but had none for mind reading.

"You already scare off any girls I try to date. If you start talking about biology around them, I might get a reputation for being creepy." Some people couldn't tell the difference between telepathy and speech.

'I suppose. Then again, if your girlfriend can't handle me, she doesn't deserve to be going out with you.'

Steven shook his head. "And since when have you been a human relationship expert?"

'Ever since I started reading 'Dear Abby' instead of just eating it.'

"Oh, I see." He thought about that for a moment. "Are you going to start critiquing my manners?"

'Maybe. Maybe not.'

He got up to put his dishes in the dishwasher, then patted Metagross on the head as he went by. "Sometimes you're my best friend and sometimes I wonder why I put up with you."

The Pokemon laughed, sounding like some rocks clacking together. 'I do my best to keep you in line.'

"I'm sure." He went to his computer to check on things before heading out west. "Oh, did I tell you that the Professor has sent his kid out on a journey? And the new Gym Leader's kid, as I hear it. What was his name?"

'Norman.'

"Right, him. Those two ought to start with an advantage. I wonder if either of them will make it to challenge us."

'Technically, they have the same chance as everyone else. From my calculations of comparing how many Trainers are registered with Hoenn Pokemon League and with how many Champions have been named in the past ten years, that would be a 0.1545 percent chance of one particular Trainer becoming Champion. Unless they get a stellar Pokemon like me, perhaps.'

This time Steven laughed. "Right, no humble Pokemon could get into the Hall of Fame," he teased.

'I only relate the truth,' Metagross retorted, but his Trainer knew him well enough to know that it was a joke too.

…

Ruby entry: Metagross has four brains in total. Combined, the four brains can breeze through difficult calculations faster than a supercomputer. This Pokemon can float in the air by tucking in its four legs.

This one was fun to write. Actually, all of them are…