Chapter 51 – Pokémon Goh
Vermillion city, Kanto region…two days later…
It was raining hard in Vermillion city, as the little black and white taxicab fought against the afternoon traffic. Pikachu, tired and weary after the trip back from the Galar region, curled up in Ash's lap and tried to doze off.
Unfortunately for him, the sounds of the rain pelting the exterior of the car, the incessant honking from the other drivers and the radio, which the cab driver had on slightly too loud, all conspired to rob the poor exhausted mouse of his nap.
He shifted several times as he tried to get comfortable against his trainer, folding his ears against his head and putting his paws on the top of his head. His fussing earned him a slight reward when Ash started to stroke him to comfort him.
An old song was blaring out on the radio. A hit by the Go-Rock Quads that had topped the charts for a day or two, and then quickly been forgotten. And not one that Ash particularly cared for.
"Is it much further," he asked the driver, trying not to sound too annoyed. While preferable to being out in the rain, the inside of the car was a little too warm and stuffy, and Ash had doubts as to whether the driver used deodorant.
"Not far. Not far," the driver replied back, not even bothering to conceal his discontentment. "Should be at end of street."
Ash sighed and flicked his head over his shoulder to check on the other passenger in the cab. Zacian, disguised as an Arcanine was stretched out on the back seat of the vehicle. Unlike Pikachu she had no problem sleeping, even with all the noise. Her steady breathing was causing the window to fog up.
Eventually, the taxi pulled off the main road and headed up a side street. A large, elegant stone building was situated at the end of the road. While hard to make out in the rain, it seemed to bare resemblance to a castle of grand mansion, with even a pointed green turret in the middle.
"Right, here you are," the driver declared as the vehicle pulled up before a short flight of steps leading up to the stone building. "Cerise Laboratory…" From the sound of his voice, he was as pleased to see the back of Ash, as Ash was to get out the cab.
A keenness that quickly faded as Ash and his Pokémon clambered out in the rain and cold. It was like having a bucket of cold water thrown over their heads…repeatedly. Within seconds of exiting the car, Ash was soaked, and Pikachu's fur was drenched.
"Okay no," the mouse mumbled, before climbing off Ash's shoulder and crawling underneath his shirt, where he hoped it would be warmer and dryer.
"Pikachu," Ash gasped as he felt the neck of his shirt stretch to make room for the large mouse. Pikachu's tail battered his chin and nose as he slipped under.
"He he. You've been a trained Pokémon for far too long Pikachu," chuckled Zacian. "It used to be much colder back in the Galar where I come from. I remember in winter it would rain for days on end, and when it wasn't raining it was snowing."
"Easy for you," came Pikachu's muffled fur. "You've got longer fur. Plus, wild Pokémon hide from the rain in caves."
"True…"
No sooner were the doors closed, than the taxi driver spun the car around and headed back up the drive. Fortunately, it was only a few steps to the front doors of the building.
"Ah, you must be Mr. Ketchum." A young woman dressed in a white set of overalls, and a white cap answered the door. "The President is waiting for you in the library. Please, follow me…"
The inside of the house was warm and inviting, embracing Ash and the two Pokémon like a hug as they stepped inside. Enough to cause Pikachu drop out of Ash's shirt and onto the floor, where he shook the water droplets from his fur. Zacian did the same.
Ash gazed at the pair of them enviously, wishing at that moment that he too was a Pokémon with fur that he could shake dry. He could however strip off his jacket leaving him just in his thin t-shirt, which had managed to stay mostly dry.
The young Aether employee gave them both a disapproving look, after noticing the flecks of water and mud sprayed all over the floor and walls. However, she said nothing as she led them to the library room.
The library wasn't particularly large – a rectangular room where the walls were, save for the door and a large window at the other end, covered in bookshelves ladened with large dusty volumes. The floor space was mostly taken up by reading desks and tables.
"Madame President, Master Ketchum is here," the employee announced as they entered the room.
Lusamine was sitting at a table beneath the window. Though Ash has only seen her once before, he recognised her as soon as he saw her. She was young looking, tall and slender with a flowing blond hair that fell beyond her waist and wearing a short white dress with gold trim.
"Ah. Sweet Ash. Please, have a seat." Lusamine rose from her chair and held out an arm gesturing for Ash to sit.
At once, Ash's heart begun to thump in his chest, and he felt an unease in the pit of his stomach. Had it been a good idea to accept her invitation in the first place. He exchanged a look with Pikachu before taking a breath then crossing the floor and taking up the chair opposite Lusamine.
Zacian sat down on the floor beside him, while Pikachu clambered up his leg and into his lap.
"It seems you've been busy since the last time we met!"
Ash frowned "Busy."
"You've met a new friend." Lusamine gestured to Zacian. "That's one impressive…Arcanine." The emphasis she placed on the word Arcanine made Ash feel a little uneasy. There was no way she could see through the disguise, right?
"Thanks, you're an impressive human," Zacian replied coolly, seemingly unbothered by Lusamine's comment.
Lusamine raised her eyebrows then frowned before her usual bright smile returned to her face. "Please, help yourself to afternoon tea. Your Pokémon too."
There was a small assortment of sandwiches, cakes, and a pot of tea on the table before them, along with two small plates, teacups, and saucers. Ash reached out, selected and sandwich and placed it on his plate. He didn't feel much like eating.
Pikachu on the other paw, pushed himself up and took the sandwich off Ash's place as soon as Ash had put it down, swallowing it in just too bites.
"Thank-you for accepting my invitation," said Lusamine. "And may I be the first to welcome you to the Cerise Laboratory."
"The Cerise Laboratory," Ash repeated.
"The Aether Foundation recently purchased it from the Cerise estate. It will be the new regional base of operations for the Aether Foundation in Kanto. It belonged to Asarhi Cerise, a wealthy Pokémon Researcher here in Vermillion City. He passed away a few years ago leaving the property to his son Professor Sakuragi Cerise. Sakuragi couldn't afford the estate taxes on it, so he sold it to us. He still runs the laboratory though. Lives in the city with his wife and daughter."
"I see," said Ash. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip, not because he really wanted to, but it gave him something to do without having to say anything else.
"You know young Ash, you're lucky to have made it out of the Crown Tundra alive," continued Lusamine. "I heard about what happened onboard that train with Team Rocket. Shadow the Darkrai was a powerful force of nature. I suspect it would have taken a member of the elite four to stop him. Tell me what happened? How did you get away?"
"Err, I'm not entirely sure," Ash replied. "The last time I saw Shadow, it was when it and my Charizard fell of the bridge."
"Pika pika," added Pikachu.
Ash briefly launched into the story of what had happened onboard the Shadowpiercer, starting with the attack at the gym and ending when he had seen Charizard fly back up onto the viaduct, Pikachu and Zacian on his back. Changing the story, a little bit to leave out the parts about Zacian.
Zacian and Pikachu remained quite throughout not saying anything. Zacian scratched herself behind the ear, while Pikachu desperately tried to climb onto the table to get at the sandwiches and cakes. Ash put an around his middle to keep him put.
"Charizard, Pikachu and Z…Arcanine told me they left him dying down there," concluded Ash. "So, I suppose he's dead."
Lusamine coxed her head and raised an eyebrow. "You saw the body."
"Err…No!"
"So how do you know he's dead?"
Ash shrugged. "Well, that's what Pikachu and the others told me."
"You don't usually survive being cut in half," Pikachu mumbled.
Zacian snorted but said nothing.
"Well, that verifies the drone footage my employees were able to retrieve from the train," said Lusamine. "What happened to Team Rocket? You mentioned that you were attacked?"
Ash nodded his head grimly. "There was another train. It came up from behind us and kind of, latched on. I don't know who was onboard it though! Probably a rival team. Who are the Galar villains?"
Lusamine shrugged. "I'm afraid I don't know. What happened to them?"
"Z…Err Arcanine went back onboard to get one of her friends away from Team Rocket. A Raichu, I think. They'd already gone by the time we caught up with Namba, Cassidy and Buffy."
Lusamine sat back in her seat and raised her teacup to her chin. "Well, that's one impressive tale young man," she commented before taking a sip. "You must be quite a strong trainer to have come through that on one piece. It's a credit to you, and more importantly to your Pokémon. And I congratulate you and your Pokémon for it."
"Ummm thanks," said Ash. He was still uneasy. Unsure how to react to Lusamine or to feel about the situation. He thought about taking another sandwich, just to save him having to say anything else, but he really had no appetite (a rare feeling for Ash).
"Ugh, enough with the flattery and the story telling already," barked Zacian suddenly. "Are you going to tell Ash why he's here."
Lusamine shot her a dirty look and then said to Ash, "The reason I asked you here Ash is because I want to offer you a job here at the Aether Foundation!"
Of everything Ash had been expecting to happen when he had first been invited to the laboratory, that had not been among them. He stared at Lusamine blankly. "A-A job. Doing what?"
"The Aether Foundation exists to help Pokémon. This involves caring for sick and injured Pokémon, providing homes for lost or stolen Pokémon, protecting weaker Pokémon from others of their kind or humans. To do this a large part of work includes researching about Pokémon, as well as lobbying government and public advocacy. At this time, I have an opening to take on a junior research fellow and I'd like it to be you."
"Err…I don't know if I'm qualified for much," Ash mumbled, unsure how else to respond.
"I think you might be uniquely qualified," said Lusamine in a matter-of-fact way. "From what I've seen you are extreme adept at handling Pokémon. You make an effort to understand them and to gain their trust. You're also a strong trainer with a team of very powerful Pokémon. The Aether Foundation gets enough applicants with degrees in Pokémon biology, medicine, and psychology, but no experience dealing with them or any ability to connect to them. You possess skills that the Aether Foundation desperately needs."
Ash opened his mouth to say something, but Lusamine held up a hand to silence him.
Before he could speak, she added, "You don't have to give me a response today. Please take time to think it over and discuss it with your partner." She gestured to Pikachu, still fighting to get free of Ash's lap. "Of course, if you did agree to come work for us, we'd be prepared to offer you a significant salary, accommodation and some other perks as well."
Ash raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah!"
"As you may have heard, the Aether Foundation is sponsoring Alola's first ever Pokémon League Competition. And I'd be happy to register you as a participant. I'd also enter you into the Pokémon World Coronation series, which would give you an opportunity to battle against some of the world's greatest trainers. A true chance to test your skills."
This, more than the offer of a salary or a job, perked Ash's interest. "The Pokémon world coronation series. What's that?"
"An inter-regional competition separates from the league and Galar Gym Challenge. Trainers participating are assign a number of points based on their respective skill level. Winning battles wins you point, losing them costs them. Win enough battle points and you'll be able to battle the champion."
Ash's mouth went a little dry and felt an odd sensation in his stomach. Lusamine's proposal no longer seemed ridiculous. Now he was tempted. "I won't have to work with Gary Oak will I."
"No, you'll be assisting one of our new research fellows, Goh. He's about your age. Very knowledgeable about Pokémon, though inexperienced as a trainer."
"Pikachuuuuu!" Pikachu had finally snapped. In his desperation to get free of his trainer's grip, his discharged. Ash experienced the familiar painful feeling of the electric shock, before being sent to the floor with a hard THUD.
"Oh my," Lusamine exclaimed.
"Ahhhh I'm okay." Ash reached out, grabbed the top of the table, and pulled himself back up. The first thing he saw was Pikachu sitting on the table greedily shoving sandwiches into his maw.
Zacian covered her muzzle with his paws to stifle her giggling…
[Pokémon]
Meanwhile…
Beep…Beep…. Beep….
Goh groaned as the screech of the alarm clock woke him from his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes, bringing up his left up from under the sheets to wipe the sleep from them. This was not the way he had wanted to start the day.
The room was still dark, which was surprising given the time on the clock, when he eventually turned his head to see, was 3:30 in the afternoon. He silently cursed. It was nearly time for his shift at the lab. Time to get up.
For a moment he wondered why it was still dark. Then as his brain slowly started to wake up, he noticed the hammering of the rain on the roof and the clap of thunder. He wondered how he had ever managed to sleep through it.
Goh was a boy of about fifteen years old, olive skinned dark haired and skinny. Adults often, to his chagrin, mistook him for way younger than he was. Now, his journey to become a Pokémon researcher had just begun, with a new job and a new special partner by his side.
Speaking of which…. Goh lifted the blanket and looked down into the sheets. There he was, nestled against Goh's bare chest, fast asleep and without a care in the world, Sobble. Sobble was blue lizard like Pokémon, with a large head, thin limbs, short tail, and a yellow fin protruding from the top of his head.
And his eyes! Large, bright, and blue. It was those eyes that had drawn Goh to the Pokémon in the first place. From the moment the two saw each other they had both known it was meant to be…
Goh let Sobble be for a moment as he gathered his senses, allowing the water lizard a moment of peace. The alarm continued to blare in the background.
Beep…Beep…. Beep….
"Alright already." He reached out with his right arm and hit the snooze button. The sound stopped. His thoughts then turned to the coming shift and what he would have to do today. He would be working in the park this evening, taking care of the night shift.
There was injured Sneasel coming into today from the Galar region. He remembered the professor had told him that. He briefly wondered whether it would be in the park or the hospital wing, and whether he would get to see it.
He glanced back at the clock. 3:36pm. He really needed to get up. Goh stroked the top of Sobble's head and played with his fin, trying to coax him to wake up. Sobble opened a bleary eye and yawned, smacking open his wide mouth cutely. He rubbed this eyes with his small paws.
"Sob."
"Hey Sobble. Time to wake up."
"Sobble." Sobble gave an annoyed grunt, which reflected how Goh himself was feeling.
The sight made Goh grin and he stroked the top of Sobble's head. "I know baby, I know."
"Sob." Sobble pushed himself up Goh's chest with his paws to give him a kiss good of morning…well afternoon. Goh gently picked him up and set him aside, before clambering out bed himself.
Sobble watched animatedly as Goh started to get dressed, pulling on his vest, tracksuit, and thick grey jumper. He never bothered with the uniform, and nobody had ever reprimanded him or even asked about it.
Finally, there was a quick trip to the bathroom to wash his face and comb his hair before pulling on his shoes and socks. He was ready to go. He picked up his bag, which was lying on a desk near the bed, and stashed his Pokéballs. Now there was just one more thing.
"C'mon Sobble." He held out an arm, allowing Sobble to leap from the bed and climb onto his shoulder.
While not staying at the lab, Goh lived with his parents in a Vermilion City apartment building. But his parents were at work, so he encountered nobody as he made his way of his room, across the living and kitchen area, into the hall and down the elevator, before steeping out in the rain.
"Sobble!" Sobble let out a happy cry as the cold air touched his body and he felt the raindrops on his skin, the water activating his camouflage mechanism causing him to disappear from view.
The rain made him feel hydrated and alive – the opposite of how it made go feel as he groaned a beleaguered groan of "oh great" and tried to pull his collar as far up the back of his neck as he could while running for the bus stop.
Fortunately, he didn't have long to wait for the bus…though there was a short walk when he got off the bus to the laboratory. The laboratory was quite when he arrived just after five o'clock, most of the day shift people having already left (not that the lab maintained a large staff anyway).
A few researchers and employees greeted him as he made his way, first to the storeroom to load up the trolly with a fresh tub of Pokéchow, and then into the park…
[Pokémon]
Back with Ash and Pikachu…
"Pikachu, what in the distortion world was that about," Ash muttered to his partner.
The electric mouse had resumed his place on Ash's shoulder and was busily licking the crumbs, sugar and butter off his paws and muzzle. He had managed to get through nearly all of the sandwiches and quite a fair bit of the cake until Ash had managed to stop him.
"What, I'm hungry," snapped Pikachu, a little defensively, giving his trainer a scowl. "You've never been pregnant before, you wouldn't understand. I'm eating for two remember."
"You looked like you were eating for a whole litter of Pikachu," Ash replied, raising a hand to give Pikachu a gentle poke in the ribs.
"Oh, look who's talking."
Zacian snorted and shook her head, though smiled all the same.
They had left the library and the afternoon tea behind them. Lusamine had led them through the old house, and to a double set of doors at the very back of the house.
"And now Ash, I'd like to welcome you to the Cerise Park!"
Lusamine threw open the doors to reveal what appeared to be a large greenhouse of sorts. Ash and Pikachu's first thoughts as they stepped through the threshold and onto a white walkway overlooking a replica of a forest clearing, was of the conservation area in Aether Paradise.
The walkway overlooked a large grassy area, filled with trees and rocks, beyond which was an artificial lake. The temperature inside was pleasantly cool and damp. The only way to tell that they weren't actually in Viridian Forest was the glass dome above them, and the stormy sky visible above.
"Wow…"
"Pika!"
"It's an artificial environment," said Lusamine. "About five acre's large. It's designed so as to be habitable to any type of Pokémon. The temperature and humidity are kept stable so as to ensure that the Pokémon who reside here are comfortable. There's a sprinkler system in the ceiling to replicate rain. The Pokémon we keep here are well cared for and protected."
Ash looked around. At first, he couldn't spot any Pokémon. Then as he looked closer, he spotted a small duck like creature, probably a farfetched wandering by the reeds around the lake, and a squirrel like creature nestled in a branch in one of the tall trees.
"There's about eighty residents here at the moment. Most are quite shy of humans, so you probably won't see too many. Follow me…"
[Pokémon]
As Goh and Sobble wheeled the trolley across the grass, the Pokémon started coming out of their hidey holes one by one; Caterpie, Paras, Butterfree, Cubone, Rattata Nidoran, Oddish, Ekans, Sentret, Stantler, Trapinch, Fletchling. He knew them all pretty well.
Goh filled each Pokémon's bowl with a scoop full of the chow in the container and placed it on the ground for the Pokémon to eat, before moving onto the next. He would collect the empty dishes on his way back. Sobble sat silently on his shoulder watching.
It was a pretty uneventful evening, until he came to the edge of the lake. Here he found two people in white lab coats, beside a wooden crate.
"Afternoon Goh. Sobble." The one who greeted him was a middle-aged woman with long flowing purple hair.
Her companion was a younger man, bespectacled, blond haired and with an expression that made him seem like he was half asleep…or stoned. He acknowledged Goh by raising a hand and mumbling, "Hi Goh."
"Hi Chrysa. Hi Ren. What have you got here?"
"Rescue Sneasel," said the woman, Chrysa. "Just came in from the Galar Region."
Goh raised an eyebrow curiously. "Oh, so this is the Sneasel." He crouched down to take a better look.
"Sob." Sobble moved further up the side of his head, as if trying to keep away from the Pokémon in the cage.
"So totally cool." Inside the bipedal weasel like creature slumped against the side. Goh frowned, "He looks kind of sad." Sneasel was staring down at his claws, unmoving and without making a sound. It's claws lay in its lap. "Is it sick."
Ordinarily, the Pokémon brought in like this were either fighting to get out of the cage or pawing at the sides nervously. Goh had not seen a Pokémon just, sitting there, before. Uninterested in its surroundings it thoughts seemingly miles away.
"We don't think so," said Chrysa. "It's probably just tired from the journey."
"We were thinking release it and monitor it. See if it perks up after eating, you know," Ren added.
Goh leaned in a little closer and waved. "Hi Sneasel. I'm Goh. And this is Sobble."
"Sob." Sobble buried his face in Goh's hair.
"Alright, out you get." Chrysa slid open the door of the cage. The Sneasel continued to sit there, still staring at its claws.
Chrysa frowned. "Oh Okay."
"Here. Maybe it's hungry." Goh filled a bowl full of food and set it down on the grass.
Still, Sneasel did not move.
"You don't want to eat?" Goh coxed his head curiously, giving the Pokémon a concerned look. "Guys, maybe you should take it to the sick bay."
"Meh, I think it's just stubborn," said Ren.
Chrysa shook her head. "It could be trauma."
"Trauma?" Goh questioned with a frown. "How so?"
"Well, I don't know the full story. It's above my pay grade. But I've heard rumours that this Pokémon has a bit of a history. It was rejected by its pack, kidnapped by Team Rocket, was rescued and taken to Aether Paradise, stolen a second time, rescued and brought back to Aether Paradise a second time, then stolen for a third time and involved in some incident in Galar."
Goh let out a low whistle. "Wow. Poor thing!"
"I heard it was in an abusive relationship with a Darkrai," added Ren making Chrysa roll her eyes.
"Don't be silly Ren. That's just innuendo. What would a legendary want with a runt Sneasel like this?"
"That seems unlikely," said Goh.
"I heard what I heard," Ren replied, sounding a little offended. "That's why Team Rocket too it. They were trying to bait Darkrai."
"Ren, that's a conspiracy theory," Chrysa snapped. "Who on earth told you that."
Ren scratched his head and squinted. "Not sure. Might have been Gladion."
"Really reliable then…"
Ren opened his mouth to respond but didn't get the opportunity to say anything. For that was the moment that Lusamine approached them, escorting Ash, Pikachu and Zacian.
"Ah so dear Blady arrived in one piece, I see. Wonderful,"
"Oh. Good afternoon, Miss Lusamine," Goh said, shyly and little too quickly. He sprung to attention, standing up straight with his hands behind his back. Sobble slid down from his head back onto his shoulder.
The other two were less attentive. Chrysa stood up a little straighter, nodded and said, "madame president," while Ren just raised his head and mumbled, "Oh hello."
Lusamine's lips twitched into a half-smile half-smirk. "There's no need to look so nervous all the time Goh."
"I'm not nervous," Goh replied, again a little too quickly. "Uh Miss Lusamine."
Lusamine clapped her hands together and turned her attention to the crate. "So come on then. Let's get Blade out of there."
"Uhh that's the thing," Ren mumbled scratching his head. "He doesn't want to leave."
Lusamine raised an eyebrow. "Oh really! What's the matter"?
"We don't know," said Chrysa. "He's just been sitting there staring at his feet since the crate was unloaded at the airport. I think he might be depressed."
"Ahh. Not surprising when you consider what he's been through." She knelt down so that she was level with Blade. "Hello there…"
Ash and Pikachu hung back, each glancing at each other.
"How in the distortion world did he get here," Pikachu hissed to his partner.
Ash shrugged. "I guess the Aether Foundation must have picked him up after we let him go."
"Well let's not let him see us. And not a word to Ashachu."
Zacian growled softly glaring at Blade. "Little shit of a dark type. If it weren't for these humans Blade, I'd tear your throat out. There's no Shadow to protect you now."
Ash shifted a little uncomfortably, trying to keep out of view of the Sneasel in the box. However, then he spotted the little blue water lizard clinging to Goh's shoulder and he couldn't help himself.
"Hey wow…What's that Pokémon," he said a little too loudly walking up towards Goh.
"Huh." Goh turned around and, upon finding Ash, standing somewhat in his personal space, in recoil. "Hey."
Ash crouched a little, bringing his face very close to Sobble's, while Pikachu stretched out from his shoulder to see. "Hi their little guy!"
"Sob." Sobble looked into Ash's face its eyes widening in shock. Then it burst into tears. "SOBBLE."
"Ah I'm sorry." Ash jumped backwards in an alarm, feeling a twinge of guilt along with surprise. "Is it something I said."
Goh glared at him. "What in the distortion world do you think you're doing. Invading Sobble's space like that…It's okay Sobble." He took the lizard off his shoulder and hugged it against his chest. "Don't cry."
But Sobble just continued to bawl it's eyes our, a practical waterfall of tears, soaking Goh's jumper. It was then that Ash felt a pressure in his eyes. They felt heavy and quickly started to sting and fill up with moisture. He raised his hand to wipe them and felt a tear on his skin.
He glanced at Pikachu and then at Zacian and was surprised to see that both Pokémon were weeping. And then he noticed that each of the other three humans, Lusamine, Chrysa and Ren, appeared to be sobbing too. Lusamine took a handkerchief out of…well she must have had a pocket somewhere on that dress, but Ash couldn't see where…to dab at her eyes.
"Goh dear. I think you may be best to put sweet Sobble back in his Pokéball."
"It's okay, he'll be okay," Goh said hurriedly. He hugged Sobble a little closer to his chest and stroked the top of his head. "He's not going to hurt you sobby, it's okay. It's okay." He blushed before wandering off, still murmuring words of comfort to Sobble. Tears streamed down his face.
"what was that Pokémon." Ash blinked the tears that had built up in his eyes and took out his Pokédex.
Sobble, the Water Lizard Pokémon. A Water type. When Sobble touches watery substances, its body takes on the colour of its surroundings. Because it's timid, it produces large amounts of sweat and tears that cause it to become invisible. It is said that when Sobble cries, its tears have the same effect as chopping one hundred onions
Lusamine shook her head and tutted. "Oh dear. He really needs to do something about it if he wants to be a trainer."
"So that's Goh," Ash muttered to Pikachu. "Hmmm."
"Well, I had been hoping for a warmer introduction," said Lusamine. "But that Ash was Goh, our new research fellow. If you do choose to join us, I'll be partnering the two together. He's a good research fellow. Very knowledgeable about Pokémon. Cerise wants to get him to do more fieldwork, but he'll only be able to do it if he's partnered with a stronger trainer."
She sighed and turned back to the other two. "Alright, time to get Blade out the box. Stand back everybody…" She took out Pokéball and threw it into the air….