The next few days, Leon and the rest of his group wound up being chaperones and councilors. They advise the younger campers and, at times, patrol the hallways at night to make sure no one feeling naughty sneaks out. Leon even got around to getting Gigan's attitude issues under control and giving the results to the professor for any research out there.
Leon is still surprised he got a couple of hundred bucks from just that.
As for the first event, they are now gathering all the pokeballs to hand out to the students and campers. And, as of right now, they are having everyone meet on the grounds where the researchers and professor stand around a large box full of pokeballs. Leon and his group stand nearby, taking notes and writing down the names of the campers that will be matched with the pokeball ID so they can keep track of what and who.
Leon smirks as he remembers this from the anime as Ash gets a Raichu who is very shy and Leon is unsure if it is at introverted levels but it is the opposite of Ash in a lot of ways so Ash would struggle with it. Leon then turned his eyes to the one Ash argued with earlier. Angie got a monferno with a bad attitude and a tendency to pick fights. Leon is half sure that if the pokemon is human, it would have a pompadour and be squatting a lot. Though the image of a monferno like that makes Crystal do a spit take and start rolling on the ground laughing.
Leon snarks again as the other girls giggle at the image Crystal sent them that draws an annoyed expression from one of the researchers. But they can't complain much as the campers try to get used to their new partners and get to know them. Leon did ask one time before this how did all these pokemon get into their hands and it's a striking line of fact. Most of these came from criminals that were arrested and had all their pokemon confiscated or from their stash of loot, pokemon from trainers that couldn't take care of them due to medical issues or age, or even just abandoned and left behind. And a quick look at the list makes Leon wonder if any would be real troublemakers and they have to intervene.
These campers only have till tomorrow to train the chosen pokemon, have them participate in a battle, and then be judged based on how their relationship is and fared compared to everyone else. And considering the initial attempts from these campers, it won't be easy. But if Leon remembers what he can, Dawn should win. And Ash and Angie did a good job on their own, helping their chosen pokemon. Brock is a no-brainer considering his history and training profession.
Leon also didn't have to do too much but watch that day. The only time he had to intervene is break up two fights before they got started. One is between Ash and Angie which involves having Crystal lifting them by the scruff of their clothes and separating them. Leon did wonder now who is the mom now, but a glance from Zoey made him shut up that line of thought immediately.
The battle the next day showed the Red team battling the best but points were deducted from the squabbling the other day and the members having an unscheduled nap with their pokemon. Gigan, seeing the battling, wanted to get in on it. But they dissuaded him by comparing these to battles his two charges had to train. He also seems very receptive to the idea of acting as the guardian of the campers like how he did with his charges. Leon is starting to see signs of him being more of an overprotective guardian than a brawler like Blade is.
Giving everyone a chance to rest for the day also gave the researchers quite a surprise the next morning. Somehow, at some point in the night, Gigan was able to sneak out and sit in front of the camper's buildings and stand guard. They found him sleeping in front of them the next morning, a pretty hefty stick leaned against his shoulder that he probably would use as a bludgeon if he had a chance. Though, how he would have used it, Leon isn't sure of it as he has scythe-like arms with no appendages to hold it. But noting the fact Leon can tame an alpha this fast to the point of being a guard for young kids is a notable feat. So the professor jokes Leon won the first round to him only. Though, as for the other campers, they are very interested in the large pokemon being a guard for them as they walk on by and go to the little area in front of the main building to get their next assignment.
"This…might be a bad idea…" Leon comments, remembering what Pikachu told them about Ash. And how she can rope others into her sense of direction.
Crystal smiles, leaning her head over with a smile. 'But ain't it fun?' she asks, giggling mischievously.
Leon gives a light tap to the psychic's head, making her whine in exaggeration. This next assignment is to study a water pokemon in the nearby lake. They are only allowed to go around the lake before the forest but not beyond. And it must be a water type. Leon and his group were given a list of water pokemon that they found during their time here so it is quite a comprehensive list of them. From the numerous to the rare ones. They are all there.
Leon looks up from his list and spots Gigan sitting between them all at the edge of the lake. He has his eyes on all the campers there, making sure nothing happens to them or they can slip on by. He can't stop the water pokemon from being afraid of him, but that means one less area near him for the campers to search and get one to study and make a report on.
Leon turns back to Lana who they had to restrain a bit as she had attempted to sneak into the lake already. "Lana," Leon says, reminding her not to sneak off, making her chuckle nervously.
Crystal even joins in and gives a very disappointing wave of her arm at her. 'Bad girl,' she scolds, pointing at the tied girl. 'This is for the campers. Wait till we are on the road again.'
'Remind her that none can be caught as well,' Leon reminds with a smirk as everyone starts to split up with those who were taking a paddle boat out into the lake changing into swimsuits. Brock is the first to emerge in dark green swimming trunks with a stripe on the side. Dawn and Angie soon emerge in a yellow and orange two-piece and a green and red sporty two-piece swimsuit respectively. Ash, for her sake, comes out in a navy blue one-piece with a light blue stripe. Leon, seeing her like this, settles it for Leon as she has noticeable developing breasts like Dawn and Zoey. Leon also notices that when she walks away, her ass is also showing signs of maturity already and is a bit larger than the other girls. Luckily, Leon did recover enough from the revelation not to stare at them as they leave so Zoey wouldn't get mad at him.
That doesn't mean one certain pokemon did not escape his notice.
'Ash and Leon, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!' Crystal sings playfully as she dances around him.
'What? Are you jealous?' Leon teases, smirking at Crystal.
Crystal grins up at him. 'Wait till I tell Zoey about your eyes on other girls.'
'Alright, but I will also tell her about the eighth ice cream bars you snuck in under her nose today as well,' Leon says with a smirk right back, knowing that Zeoy is regulating Crystal's sweets while they are at the academy.
Crystal stops and glares at him. 'Don't you even think about it, mister,' she warns, pointing threateningly at him.
'I won't if you won't,' Leon promises.
'…you're despicable,' Crystal sputters, blowing a raspberry at him.
'I will get you and your brother a bag of suckers later if you are good,' Leon promises.
Crystal groans, rolling her eyes. 'Fine…rangled fangled lovesick boy,' she grumbles under her breath.
The sun is setting on the third day of the academy and Leon is walking about the lake, looking for any garbage that had been forgotten. Riding on his head is Rumble with Mirage walking beside him.
Mirage chirps as she runs ahead, picking up a left-behind wrapper in her mouth and showing it to her master. Leon chuckles as he takes the little piece of trash and tosses it in the little bag he has. He was expecting worse, but it seems these campers know how to take care of an area. And how. Considering his experience with others littering. In his little side bag, Crystal snuggles up and sleeps the time away. She wanted to stay with him, in case of an issue where her translation or powers are needed for an emergency. Though, that doesn't mean she is fully asleep as he can hear Mirage happily enjoying the petting.
'Oh…more master…right there,' she moans, enjoying his pets behind her ears.
'Um…is that all, master?' Rumble asks, peeking over his head at the land ahead of them as they walk near the forest and lake.
Leon nods, still petting Mirage as he lets her enjoy the pets. "Yep. Just a little into the forest and then we head back. The others should be grabbing some food for us when we do," he explains, pushing Mirage along as they continue walking.
'Someone is at the pier,' Rumble says, pointing an antenna towards the wooden dock at the lake.
Leon stops as he turns and looks at the blurry figures in the distance. He frowns as he shakes his head and walks over. The event is over for everyone to study the lake pokemon and now they have to focus on writing up the report back at their bunks or mess hall. Who could be still out there…of course.
"Ash! Angie! Brock! Dawn!" he calls, scaring them all as they try to sneak away while dripping wet. "Where were you two? The event to study pokemon was over like two hours ago." He does know where they went, but figures he might as well act the part. He can even feel the smirk rising on Crystal's face as she still is resting in his bag and not getting up.
"Uhh…well…" Dawn tries to explain before seeing Leon sigh.
"Back to your bunks. I got to report this to the professor. Just write up whatever you have," he relents as he walks away. "And please don't track water everywhere," he adds, glancing at them for a few seconds.
"So do you know him?" Angie asks as they head off as instructed.
Dawn smiles as they watch him leave in the distance. "Yeah. He's a friend we tend to meet on the road. Started almost the same time as I did on my journey."
"Yet, he seems a bit older. Did he get a late start?" Angie asks as she remembers helping out with the daycare for pokemon has been keeping her from being able to go on a journey of her own.
"A bit. My parents sent me to a prep school for a few years," Leon informs while walking with them. Though he feels like that didn't come from him.
Dawn smiles a little. "And you are still smarter in how you handle things. We saw some battles you did, remember?"
Leon groans. "Don't remind me. Zoey still hates that fact about me."
Angie blinks. "What…fact?"
Brock chuckles. "He is known as the field breaker. Because he destroys the fields he battles on a lot to use against his opponents."
"I try not to do that anymore…yet. Still working on ideas," Leon mutters, running through the list of ideas for his pokemon and combo or different moves in his head.
"Though he is cute, right Ash?" Dawn teases.
"What?" Ash retorts, blushing bright red. "No. He…well…he is nice. But…cute…uh…" she stutters, unable to control her blush from covering more of her chest now and not just her head.
Dawn laughs at her embarrassed friend as Leon wonders if this changed anything about the Ash he knew as Ash isn't the type to get embarrassed by this stuff.
Leon clears his throat before frowning as he looks back at them. "You guys did get a pokemon to report on, right?"
"Yeah, we found a very rare one for the area, but you will have to wait til tomorrow for our report," Angie says with a smirk.
"Maybe that will save you a lot of docked points from the professor," Leon states as a matter of fact.
"Please don't tell them," Ash begs.
Leon looks at her and also sees Pikachu giving him puppy dog eyes. "Fine, but just don't let me catch you all out so late again," Leon says, sounding a bit defeated.
'Sappy,' Crystal thinks to him.
'Shut up,' Leon sighs, tired right now.
'Master…why are you nice to them? They broke the rules,' Mirage asks innocently, keeping in step with him.
'I am giving them some slack. I have given them a warning. Besides, if they went away from the lake, which I believe they did, then they will still be punished,' Leon explains before picking up the extra fluffy eevee and holding her.
Rumble peeks over his head now. 'Will you do this again?' he asks, also innocently like Mirage as Leon snuggles into the fluffy pokemon.
'No, not for them at least,' Leon informs as Gigan lands near them from his perch on top of the bunk buildings. "Bringing back the last few Gigan," Leon assures the alpha.
'I was wondering why we were four short,' Gigan says, mostly to himself as he looks at the four heading inside to get cleaned up and changed for the rest of the night.
"You going to eat before going back on guard duty?" Leon asks.
Gigan nods. 'I have heard another flavor of food came in. I wanted to try it,' he wonders, looking up at the thought of what this flavor could taste like.
"Well, from now on, you will get to experience a lot of that," Leon says.
'Now he has to go see his wife before she gets mad and comes looking for us,' Crystal says smirking.
Leon sticks his tongue out down at her for that. Crystal just sticks one back at him. "Let's get going," he sighs, still carrying and snuggling the little eevee in his arms. "Come on, Gigan. Let's get you something to eat," he calls out, letting the happy alpha follow behind him to the mess hall.