"It's a pleasure to meet you Professor" I say shaking his hand as he fiddles with his glasses.
"Come in come in please" he says opening up for me to move into the lab
There is a short hallway, there is a wooden door off to the side which I assume leads to the Professors home. The hallway is cluttered with books and boxes all over the place.
"Apologises for the mess, we are only just moving everything back" He says with a laugh
The professor had most recently been conducing his research out of a state-of-the-art conservation zone on the ground of Mt Silver while his lab was redeveloped. The lab conversion had been funded by Daisy's conservation group as the Professor had been a prominent member in helping develop the company. We get to the end of the hallway and the professor swings open the door. The lab is huge, there long lines of bookcases around the outside, tables and computers are spread out throughout. There are two desks situated next to each other but are vacant, one is littered with mechanical bits and tool while the other is strewn with pencils and art supplies
"Chelsea and Mikel out then?" Ryan questions
"Oh yes, there up at the old lab loading things up" He responds
"Wow" I coo as I move further in
The lab opens out into a kind of conservatory, there is a large screen and computer system off to the side which also houses what I assume is the Professor desk as it is much neater and tidier than the other two. The window shows the vast grasslands the lab has, I had read somewhere it has nearly 40 acres of land with a variety of different biomes to house Pokemon. Rather than having a large glass dome like previous other labs the groundwork with a chip. When a Pokémon is caught, a small chip is attached to them, this chip registers them to their trainer. Using this a barrier similar to that used in major battles is station around the ground that the lab owns, if a Pokemon tries to enter or one tries to leave the barrier stops them.
"Looking very nice Elm, Daisy should be here in a while she's running a little late" Ryan says taking a seat
"That's not like her" The professor chuckles.
"Missed her train to Goldenrod apparently".
"I see well shall we start without her?" The professor answers looking to me
"Uh yeah sure" I say
"So has Ryan explained what I would like help with at all?"
I shake my head
"Only that you have a research task you need some assistance with"
"Ah well okay then, let me grab them" HE says before moving away to his desk, he picks up a small box and stands before me
"So Dustin, in all my years of research I have looked into lots of things however one of my main fascinations has been what we dub starter Pokemon. They say the first starter Pokemon were used because they grew so quickly and had goo temperament. As I am sure you aware Chikorita, Totodile and Cyndaquil are the three starter Pokemon of the Johto region yes?"
"Yeah, my cousin from Paldea started with a Totodile a few years back"
"Excellent, well the research I would like you to help me with involves these three Pokemon. I have found lately in my studies that while these Pokemon exceptionally fast there are a few conditions that effect this growth. One is if they are given to an experienced trainer, for example Ryan's Sprigattito was from just a standard batch of hatchlings however with his guidance it was able to grow and go toe to toe with one of Cynthia most well battled Pokemon."
"Sorry I am late!" Comes a shout
Daisy bursts through the door huffing and puffing
"Time do you call this?" Ryan questions looking to his smart watch before getting a gentle smack on the head
"I'm sorry Professor, Dustin" She says bowing slightly
"Not a problem I was just finishing up" The professor says before composing himself
"So Dustin what I would like you to do is take all three, Chikorita, Totodile and Cyndaquil. Raise them throughout your journey, I have three young trainers who have just set off with each one so I have a comparison for their progress. Each of the Pokemon are from different batches, one from an unremarkable litter, one from a balanced litter and the last from a litter of high potential. However, I would like to keep this secret for now" He says with a smile
"So wait, you want to give me three starter Pokemon not just one?"
"Yes! I see you had both a Venusaur and Blastoise you have raised from their base forms so I think you are a perfect candidate, plus Ryan has spoken very highly of your skill from someone so young that I think it's a perfect fit" He says popping open the small box he held for the whole conversation
It clicks open and reveals three Pokeballs, one with a leaf, one with a water droplet and one with a raging fire
"Oh wow, that's a lot of responsibility" I murmur
"You'll be fine kiddo" Ryan says jumping up
"Trust in yourself, you built a very strong team in Kanto" Elm adds
"Plus you'll have access to Ryan, the professor and I, 24/7. Aswell as all the conservations records and resources as part of your scholarship" Daisy continues
"Oh I thought my mentorship was over?" I question looking to Ryan
He smiles at me
"Officially it is however, I think you are destined for big things, so if you'll have me I would like to continue helping you as much as I can. I know there will come a point when you will want to break out on your own"
"Of course!" I bark out instinctively which they all bulk at slightly
I look down feeling a well of emotion again
"Both of you have done so much with me, not just on my journey but since everything happened. I just don't want to let you guys down, so yes Professor I'll help your research, I'll do my best to help in anyway I can"
"Excellent, I have also arranged for your Kanto team to be housed here, so if you ever want to swap them into your active roster just give me a call. As Daisy mentioned, I'm here at the end of the phone anytime you need me" The professor says
"Thank you"
"Your research account is still open too, remember when registering your Pokemon you can still add to your roster or send to us, just designate it on the app" Daisy adds
"The question is Dustin, are you going to take any of your old team with you or are you starting a new?" Ryan questions
I look down at the box with my three new Pokemon inside, I had thought long and hard about it, as much as my team journey had gotten cut short in Kanto I had decided.
"I'm going to start a new, I think its best as I work my way back into it" I says sternly
He smiles and nods
"Good choice young man, well now I have a surprise for you" He says waving me to follow
I do as Elm and Daisy follow behind me, he pushes the door at the back of the lab open into the outside. Outside in a group are a mix of different Pokemon, A Nidoking, Ampharos, Swampert, Torterra, Oshawott, Sylveon, Lycanroc, Cinderace and Meowscarada.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting gang!" Ryan shouts out as we walk up
They all turn and call out while the Sylveon sprints up and jumps to Ryans shoulder immediately cooing and rubbing into his nape and face
"Good to see you too buddy!" He says as he strokes the fairy type returning it to the ground
"So Dustin these are what I call my leaders, they are the heads of each of my regions team"
They all call happily to me.
"So cool" I murmur
"So these guys will help with integration"
"Integration?" I question
"Yep, so you see Elm isn't like Professor Oak, he doesn't keep lots of different trainers Pokémon on his grounds, he only has two trainers here, mine and Daisy's"
"All your Pokemon are here?"
"Well most, there are a few that roam but you'll meet them some other time, these guys here will be the ones who will help your guys settle in"
"Okay" I grab the balls from my belt and throw them up
All seven of my Pokemon appear, I explain to them that they are going to be staying here at Elms lab, they call out before beginning to mingle with Ryan group of Pokemon
"Don't worry about there condition, they will get a lot of training battles with my Pokemon" Ryan says putting his hand on my shoulder
I say goodbye to them and they take off into the ground of Elms lab leaving Venusaur behind who I stroke on the head
"Keep an eye on them okay, any issues let the Professor know okay?" I say as Venusaur starts to move off
She calls back with a big smile before stomping her way after the rest of the group
"Well then, shall we meet the new recruits" Ryan says nodding towards the box of balls
I had forgotten in the action that I had acquired three new Pokemon, I take the balls out and throw it up. The three Johto Starter Pokemon appear, Chikorita and Totodile both stretch and yawn while Cyndaquil lands and stares up at me expectedly
"Hi, I'm Dustin nice too meet you" I say crouching down to all of them
Chikorita sniffs at me before settling down and napping, Totodile immediately turns and chases off to Elm demanding food, while Cyndaquil just continue to stare at me blankly
Wow tough crowd I think to myself
"Try this Cyndaquil" I say pulling from my pocket and pulling out a Tamato berry, it sniffs at it and chomps at it before taking the whole berry, I hold my hand out and it pushes it nose into it
"Okay you three, listen up please" Elm says
The three immediately react and turn to face the Professor
"Dustin is a skilled trainer and I think he will be excellent for your development. So please do your best to work with Dustin"
They all call out happily
"Right, how about some food? Dustin you spend sometime with your new Pokemon and we will make some food for everyone" Daisy says grabbing Ryans hand
"Sure"
I spend the next hour or so with the three of them, Chikorita warms quickest after some berries as bribes, it quickly ends up lying in my lap and napping, Totodile is a little more difficult, it shoot me in the face with a few water guns but after playing some chase and tag with it our relationship gets better, they are very different personalties. Chikorita is very chill spending most of it time either napping or sunbathing similar to Venusaur. Totodile is similar to Jolteon and Squirtle when it was in its base form so they both seem like they will be manageable. The only concern is Cyndaquil, it is almost vacant and emotionless currently. It just kind of stares off into the distance, only reacting to food or to prompts from Totodile or Chikorita. We spend time with Ryan, Elm and Daisy eating. They reminisce about their times as researchers at the lab, it interesting to hear about. Daisy is a lot more knowledgable than she lets on, for Ryan its kind of necessary for his position but Daisy knowledge is on par and probably in terms of care and rearing Pokemon beyond that of Ryan.
"So Dustin, what's the plan?" Ryans asks me as he take in another scoop of curry
"Uh well, the guide I looked up said to head towards Cherrygrove as the first gym on the junior path is there, do I register for the Junior Championship there?"
"Thats all sorted, Uncle Charles arranged all that, actually that reminds me can I borrow your phone" Daisy says holding her hand out
I pass it to her, she takes it and hold hers against it
"There we go, your dex app has been updated now, you have the Johto Pokemon data now"
"Oh thank you" I say taking it back
"Head to Cherrygrove, the gym there is a fairy type on but get some training in with the starter three and you'll be fine" Ryan adds
"Will do"