FireExorcist0: Now this is what I call quality writing, at least if something different am excited to see how things go, plus Sabrina is one of the characters with less development pray tell is Ash here? Cuz I will go nuts I hate his very existence tried to watch Pokémon but gave up and couldn't force myself to go beyond Episode 3 all the characters but Cynthia oozes stupidity in the anime... which is an insult to some of the characters that appeared in the game RIP Olivia I really loved you... reduced to the joke you Came to be in the anime...
Ash will appear later on. My version will be like many other writers. An overall smarter and better Ash Ketchum. As for Cynthia, she'll remain a queen in my books :D
"You're back in the Uni region after years of studying. Which leaves me with one question; will you become a Pokémon trainer now?" Fern asks.
Widening at the proclamation, Relon soon recovers from his stunned state to lower his eyes toward the ground.
"Is there an issue with the question?" Sabrina wonders at his silence.
"No... Not really. I just... never really thought of actually becoming one. I've always said I'd become one once I had more knowledge so it's always been a dream if anything. I didn't think I'd actually become one so soon after arriving." He chuckles rubbing the back of his head.
"Well?" Fern repeats. "What will it be?" She smiles.
"Masq, Masquerain!' The Pokémon roots from Fern's head.
"What else is there to say?" He smiles confidently. "I've learned more than enough. I want to be a pokémon trainer!"
"Good answer." Fern smiles with hands on her hip, Sabrina simply nodding in agreement. "Now then, what two Pokémon would you like? The common fire, water, and grass starters? Or non-starter Pokémon?"
"Now that you ask, I've honestly never really thought too much about which Pokémon i wanted specifically. More so which typings."
"You do not have a favorite Pokémon?"
"Not really. I've just been fascinated with all Pokémon in general."
"Alright then, which typings are your favorite?" Fern questions.
"Dark types easily." He responds quickly. "I've also been fond of normal and ghost types now that I think about it.
"Two types psychics are susceptible to." Sabrina notes to herself.
"It's funny that you mention those types considering your encounter with that eevee and absol."
"Huh, you make a good point. I hope they're doing alright."
"If Nurse Joy said they're fine, then I don't doubt it. I've known that woman for over 20 years after all." Fern says, pride in her tone.
"I guess you have a point. Still, I can't really think of which Pokémon I want with those two still at the pokémon center."
"You're still as caring as I remember." Fern chuckles to herself. "Alright, once those two are back in good health, then you can decide on your starters. How's that sound?"
"Sounds good to me." He happily nods.
"Great! In the meantime, I have some blood samples to inspect so while I do that, why don't you show our psychic friend here around. Some of the Pokémon have been eager for your return."
"Okay, you up for it Sabrina?"
"Yes."
"Alrighty then you two, toodles~."
Watching Masquerain and Fern depart, Relon and Sabrina turns to face what they'll be roaming. A large clearing accompanied by the coast along the edge with the trees becoming dense further back.
"Deep in the back, there's a waterfall a lot of Pokémon tend to relax around. A lot of others like to relax by the coast's beach as well. Oh, a there's also a cave. Auntie Fern had lanterns added to see though so nothing to worry about." At those words, he stops for a tint of red to appear on his cheeks which Sabrina takes note of.
"Is something wrong?" She arches an eyebrow.
"No, um, nothing major I mean. I-It's just..."
"Just spit it out." She sighs.
"Don't take this the wrong way but are you comfortable with walking around...?"
Blinking as she processes his question, Sabrina crosses her arms narrowing her eyes at the teen.
"In that outfit I mean!" He quickly adds waving his arms defensively.
Losing her glare, Sabrina closes her eyes to nod.
"This outfit is what I wear casually so to answer your question; yes. Though I had brought other outfits with me as I am technically on my vacation. Though I question when it will start..."
"Yeah... Sorry again..."
"I already mentioned this earlier. It is not your fault for I chose to help." She reminds for her demeanor to lighten. "Now, are you going to show me around or not?"
"O-Oh, um, yeah! The closest location is most likely the beach so we can start there." And with that, the two are off.
For some time, they remain in silence simply enjoying the sight of the visible pokémon around them. Musdale, mudbray, and tauros trotting and galloping throughout the open plains. Bird pokémon from pidgeotto to staravia to braviary soaring high above.
"Hey Sabrina, I've been meaning to ask." Relon speaks breaking the silence.
"Hm? Ask what?"
"You came here with Espeon, right? How come you didn't bring Alakazam or your other pokémon?"
"Alakazam was my first pokémon and has only battled ever since. Taking a a vacation would feel odd to it. It has enough relaxation when we are not battling trainers. As for my other pokémon, I only have so many. I've only ever focused on psychic types and the Kanto is very few which is why when I went to the other regions as a gym representative regarding events like Unova's Pokémon World Tournaments, I took the chance to catch a few. Though even now, I simply don't have many. I tend to have an abundance of challengers throughout the week let alone everyday so I can't afford to leave my father with so few. There won't be enough to take on all of the challengers."
"Wow, I never thought of that. I guess there's more to being a gym leader than I thought." Relon says in thought. "Hey, maybe you'll catch some pokémon here. Maybe even one that isn't a psychic type."
"I doubt it. I prefer to stand by my type registration. Unlike others whom choose to add a type that isn't their specialty to throw off challengers." She crosses her arms once more in slight irritation at the mention.
"Really? If I remember correctly, didn't you used to use a venomoth-" Unable to finish, Relon feels a dense feeling of anger beside him. "Nevermind. Must have been my imagination, haha..." He sighs. "So no other types appeal to you?"
"I never said that. I have psychic types are have dual typings after all."
"Okay... Then what is your second favorite and most disliked typing?"
"I've never thought of a typing in particular that I like..." She says going into thought.
"As for dislike?"
"Dark types easily." She states without a moment of hesitation.
Jerking his head, a twinge of pain hits his chest.
"I... can see why. They counter psychic types after all." He laughs off the fact in the woman disliking his preferred typing.
"It's not that." She speaks for him to snap from his own thoughts refocusing on the gym leader, her demeanor showing her to be in thought. "There's more to it." She looks away as if pained by the mention.
"Sabrina...?"
"Forget it. It's nothing." She dismisses.
"Oh, uh, okay."
I guess the mention of dark types is a sore subject. Best to not bring it up anymore with her. I'll have to ask about her second favorite typing later as well.
Hearing the sound of running water, he quickly grabs the gym leader's attention.
"Hey, you hear that? It's just beyond the shrubbery!" He points quickly hurrying through followed by Sabrina at a more casual pace.
Both stopping side-by-side to awe at the large pond being pummeled by the decent-sized waterfall. Water, bug, normal, and grass types situated everywhere. Lotads, sawsbuck, mudkip, butterfree, even a milotic jumping out of the water; many enjoying the peace and tranquility.
"I missed this." Relon murmurs with a small smile.
"I can understand why. It has a calming atmosphere."
"Yeah. Out of all of the places, I played around here the most. Jumping over the waterfall with panpours, and totodile day in day out. Ah man, I miss those days." He chuckles.
"Nothing's stopping you."
"I know. But it would be rude to just leave a guest. That and I still owe you a tour." He remarks gesturing to leave which they both do.
"Where to next?"
"If we follow the waterfall upstream, we'll come to a divergence. Take the other route, and we'll end up at..." He halts moving some branches aside, he and Sabrina shielding their eyes from the sunlight as the sound of crunching sound rings from beneath their feet. "The beach." He finishes.
A bountiful amount of the famous corsola inside and outside of their noticeable reefs. The pokémon accompanied by sandygast and palossand, shellos and gastrodon, lapras, exeggutor and plenty others.
"Ah, that warm sun hits the spot." Relon stretches.
"It's noticeably... hotter."
"That's probably because of the exeggutor using Sunny Day. I'd always sit under their shade whenever I finished a nice swim."
"That leaves the caves, correct?"
"Yeah, let's get going." He departs along the shore with Sabrina in tow.
Thank goodness. Sabrina mentally sighs in relief.
"The main entrance is on the other side of the enclosure but there are tons of entrances. Such as that." Looking up, Sabrina takes sight of Relon pointing to a cave just off the shore next to the corsola's reef.
"Underground tunnels?"
"Yup. All throughout the area. 100% naturally made by the pokémon themselves." Both head for it.
"And you memorized the layout?"
"Yup." Relon stops taking a folded piece of paper from a rack embedded along the cave wall. "And even if I've forgotten, we have maps." He holds up with a grin.
"What are we waiting for? Lead the way."
"Right this way, Sabrina."
With every step, the sunlight dims as both take sight of lanterns alit. Completely within the tunnel, Sabrina notes of the many entrances around her.
"It's seems quite easy to get lost."
"... Huh? Oh, yeah." Relon responds half-heartedly.
Raising an eyebrow, Sabrina does not push the conversation instead falling into a silence. As they walk, both take sight of the occasional pokémon such as ghastly, phantump, clefairy, geodude, roggenrola, and several others. Eyeing Relon from behind, she also notes of no comment from his past. After what seems like forever, Sabrina takes sight of a faint blue light up ahead, her eyes adjust once more as they widen at the sight before her.
A large cavern, most likely the epicenter of the underground tunnels, with a lake in the center of the room along with a large glowing rock. The edges of land filled with dense trees.
"Wow..." So many species of pokémon scattered throughout. "I've never seen something so... ephemeral..."
"Yeah. I missed coming down here." Relon murmurs.
"Something else seems to be bothering you."
"Huh?"
"You've become somewhat quiet since entering the tunnels. Merely speculation is all."
"Oh. It's nothing. Just thinking on more memories. Nothing of value worth sharing though." He dismissed with a wry chuckle.
"I believe you're wrong." Her comment gaining the teen's attention. "Every memory, however little is an experience that helped shape us into who we are. Whether good or bad."
"... Heh, I suppose you're right when you put it like that. Wise words from Saffron's Sabrina." He chuckles softly. "Being back down here, I'm reminded of the times Dad would take me."
So that's it...
"You mentioned him disappearing after your mother became ill, correct?"
"Yeah. I just wish he had said goodbye or at least left a note." Relon crouches down to take a seat against a tree eyeing the pokémon.
Walking over to another tree next to him, Sabrina does the same.
"The rock is apparently made from a special material not of this world holding the DNA of odd species not on Earth. It became Auntie Fern's DNA obsession and the cause for placing her lab right here in Corral-reef City. Mom knew a better deal than Dad did and would sometimes help her sister out while Dad took me down here to gaze at it."
"It reminds me of the large moon stone within Mt. Moon. An abundance of pokémon gathering around it though none can evolve as it is not an evolutionary stone."
"Right." He nods. "He said he'd love to know where it came from and what it truly is. That rock has the DNA of specific pokémon. It has the power to change a pokémon's regional form. Because of that, Auntie nicknamed it the Form Rock. Pretty tacky, huh?" He chuckles.
"Yes, but I believe it is very... her." Sabrina agrees after a pause. "The Form Rock. With such an incredible ability too."
"Yeah, here comes an example now." He points for Sabrina to look in the direction of a creature walking/trotting their way.
It has white fur; long, purple-and-blue, cloudy mane and tail veering to the side, dark-purple hooves; purple eyes with light-blue irises; and a purple-and-white horn on top of its forehead.
"Is that... a ponyta?"
"Yup. A Galarian Ponyta. Some of the ponyta and rapidash came down here and after being exposed to the energy the rock gave off, they changed. It's bizarre when you see it happen."
"Equally bizarre is seeing an eevee capable of transforming into its evolutions." Sabrina notes.
"You... make a fair point." Relon responds motioning with a wave of his hand for the ponyta to approach directing itself towards Sabrina.
Doing so with slight caution, Sabrina caresses its jaw, mane, and then neck earning a neigh of appreciation in delight.
"You know ponyta is a psychic type." At his words, Sabrina gives her guide a quizzical look.
"Your point?"
"Nothing in particular. I just figured you would like to maybe catch it seeing as how it now likes you. It would be quite the souvenir to bring back to Kanto."
"... I think not." She dismisses with her causal stoic demeanor.
"Why not?" At his question, the ponyta nuzzles Sabrina whom does her best to resist before the she sighs with the smallest of smiles. "Seems to be like it really likes you."
Eyeing Relon who in-turn gives a knowing look of his own, Sabrina eyes the curious creature.
"I'll... think about it." She mutters, the ponyta neighing before galloping away.
Not without giving one glance to the two once more before joining its companions.
"Seems that ponyta is excited on the idea. Is there a rule regarding using regional forms in Kanto?"
"No. This is... different."
"How so?"
"Look."
Doing so, he takes sight of the ponyta rejoining a group of other ponyta and rapidash before trotting behind the stone, most likely into the thicket.
"You don't want to take it away from its friends and family."
"Most trainers catch the first pokémon they take interest in. Never bothering to take mind of its own personal life. Most pokémon have no problem separating from their own life to join their trainer's but every now and then, some pokémon simply aren't ready to leave..."
"That sounds like you have experience."
"Not personally. I've simply encountered it during my time as a gym leader. Being one for as long as I have, you begin to note the minor details."
"Like my mood change..." He mutters. "Though, I guess it was pretty obvious with how sudden my energetic mood shifted, huh?"
"Quite."
"Heeeey!" He calls with a deadpanned expression, Sabrina resting her arms under her chest returning her with stoic demeanor.
"What? I am simply agreeing."
"Ugh, nevermind. We should get going. Traveling down here took forever and the way back up shouldn't be as long, but by the time we do it should be sunset."
"Very well. Lead the way."
In agreement, the two glance once more at the Form Rock before departing. Within just under an hour, they reemerge upon the surface and true to Relon's words, they are greeted with the orange sky and the blazing sun setting over the horizon.
"Welp, that concludes the tour. What did you think?"
"Quite diverse much like Professor Oak's own and the other regions' professors from what I've read and heard. Although, I believe none have something as odd as that rock underneath their land."
"Well, everyone is unique in their own way whether it be them personally or what they contain. Take the champions and gym leaders; you all are renowned either for you typing or your ace pokémon if not both."
"You truly are an intellectual one." Sabrina notes closing her eyes as she face the sun.
"You're just now realizing that?"
"No." She shakes her head. "I'm just now taking into account how often your comparisons relate to your studies."
"O-Oh, sorry..."
"It is not bad in the slightest." She opens them gazing at the corral-reef, the corsola slowly heading inside one after another most likely to prep for sleep. "Use that knowledge to become a great trainer not only for your sake but your pokémon as well." She declares facing him.
Taken aback by the declaration, Relon can only stand still before his nerves return as a grin forms.
"You got it!" He nods in agreement.
Before either can continue, they hear a whirling sound high above. Looking up, they note of the flying pokémon disperse from the air as a large black aircraft zooms overhead before disappearing into the distance.
"What... was that?"
"Not anything I've seen." Both turn to see Professor Fern returning, Masquerain flying at her side. "Considering I've worked plenty of times with Officer Jenny, I'm confident that wasn't one of her planes. And moving at that pace, it can't be any normal civilian. There are flight speed rules around open cities such as this one for the safety of flying pokémon."
"What are you saying, Auntie?" Relon asks for Sabrina to narrow her eyes in realization.
"That aircraft most likely has their reinforcements." Sabrina declares for Relon to widen as Fern nods taking out a device before tapping it a few times, a dial beginning to ring.
"Then that means...!"
"Yes, Officer Jenny? It's Fern. Eevee, Absol, and most likely every person and pokémon at the pokémon center may be in danger."