SunMoon6798: Thanks for the heads up!
GijinkaVerse Writer: Thanks for the tips! Pokémon grammar has always been an odd thing for me. Honestly, I could care less about geography lol. Fanfic is fanfic for a reason. Let there be volcanoes in the frozen tundra, haha.
Farla: All I ever do is try, haha. And Eevee won't be as busted as it seems Just gotta let the story play out before assuming the worst.
Thanks for the advice and reviews. Much appreciated :). Also shoutout to those that faved and followed the story. You all rock!
"Ab...sol..." Both turn around as does their Pokémon to see the white creature slowly get to its feet.
Changing back to Eevee, the small fox hurries to Absol's side.
"Absol, you're okay!" Relon smiles with relief.
"Eev, Eevee!" The Pokémon shouts happily.
"Absol, Ab." It replies to Eevee before looking directly at Relon, said boy tilting his head.
"Um, is something wrong?"
Not answering, Absol redirects its attention to the defeated grunts bearing its fangs.
"Gah, get this thing off of me!"
"I can't reach its pokéball! Pangoro, move you fat lug!" Its owner groans.
"Absol!" The Pokémon barks to take a step only to falter for Relon to catch it.
"Hey, you're still hurt!" He says for Absol to push him off barking at him. "H-Hey!"
"Eev eevee eev!" The small fox says running in front of the larger Pokémon seeming to plead with it.
"Absol...!"
"Eev!" Eevee snaps, the two settling into a staredown for Absol to look away.
"Absol." It mutters, Eevee smiling happily for a siren to enter hearing distance.
All looking in the direction of the city, they see a police car along with Officer Jenny on her arcanine.
"Damn, it's the Fuzz!"
"What's going on here?" Officer Jenny questions as other officers along with a woman step out of the vehicle for Relon to widen.
"Auntie?!"
"Well, well, I was hoping I'd reach the lab before you, but it seems you've gotten yourself into quite the situation, my dear nephew." The woman in a lab coat winks.
Around 5'8, she has red eyes wearing oval glasses, long black hair tied into a ponytail ending at her waist, a yellow shirt under her aforementioned lab coat, a white skirt, and yellow heels.
"You know, considering how dangerous the situation just was, you could be a little more worried." He sighs.
"Why, you and your surprise girlfriend seem to have it under control." She teases.
"Huh?" He arches an eyebrow looking back to Sabrina who holds a blank expression with crossed arms, her espeon at her side. "Oh, no, I don't know her. She just helped me out when all the trouble started."
"That is correct." Sabrina finally speaks with a nod.
"So, what exactly happened?" Officer Jenny questions.
Pokémon Center
After explaining what happened, Jenny and her men took away the grunts dropping off Relon and company at the center. Giving the two stray Pokémon and Espeon to Nurse Joy, the three settling down in the lounge at a table. Relon and Professor Fern on one side and Sabrina adjacent from them.
"I never did thank you for earlier. Thank you for saving me, Sabrina." Relon bows for Sabrina to be the one to arch an eyebrow.
"I never told you my name so how did you know who I was?"
"Oh, I figured it out when I saw how you fought with your epseon. I've been studying Pokémon and trainers for as long as I can remember. Not many famous trainers can communicate telepathically with theirs and your appearance matched what I saw in the Kanto Gym Leader Guide I read about."
"Seems you do know a lot."
"Considering all he's done since he was a child was study everything about trainers and Pokémon, he better." Professor Fern chuckles drinking a cup of ordered coffee.
"I see. Was that really your first Pokémon battle? It seemed as though you were used to it."
"Yeah. Ever since I was a kid, I always acted out being in a battle whenever I watched television or played with my toys. Looking back, it's kind of embarrassing to think about." Relon chuckles rubbing the back if his head.
"I wish I was there to see it. Your first Pokémon battle. Oh, how my sister will love to hear about it! Speaking of which, she's been dying to see you."
"Yeah..." Relon gives a rather low breath. "After I had finished my business with you, I planned to pay her a visit."
"Considering you've been gone for over a year, I bet seeing you will make her health get better."
"I can only hope."
Sabrina having fallen off into silence finally decides to ask the obvious question.
"Forgive me but is it right to assume your mother is ill?" Both looking as if they've forgotten about the girl.
"That's right." Relon answers with a saddened expression. "Mom and dad were great trainers traveling all of the region's when I was a kid. Then mom became sick and dad disappeared leaving us with Auntie Fern. Having heard from him since."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Sabrina gives a curt bow with sincerity.
"It's no problem!" Relon quickly dismisses attempting to ease the girl. "Honestly, I was worried as for why dad left so I focused on studying everything I can."
"You mentioned earlier that was your first Pokémon battle. It seems your schooling has done you well." Sabrina notes giving a smile alongside her compliment
"Oh, I never went to school." His words causing the gym leader to move her head aback at the claim.
"You're self-taught?"
"Yes, he is, and I couldn't be any prouder!" Professor Fern adds hugging the boy tightly.
"H-Hey! You're embarrassing me, Auntie!" He whines, a blush appearing for her to eventually let go.
"Once Relon became 10, he asked his mother and I if he could go across the regions to learn all he can. I was all for it but my sister not so much. She didn't want to see her little boy go off into the big world alone." Fern chuckles at the memory.
"So, what was the compromise?"
"I stay with a touring group whenever I went somewhere. That was I could get from city to city safely and not have to worry about wild Pokémon."
"Though considering you're the Pokémon professor's nephew, I'm surprised you didn't go with getting a starter if your own."
"Oh..." He grows quiet averting his eyes from the girl across to the table beneath him. "Honestly, I didn't know squat about battling, typings, or anything so I felt bad for whatever Pokémon that ended up as my partner would have to go through a lot because I lacked the knowledge to truly help it grow." He reveals with a small shrug, Sabrina's eyes widening more than before as she is left speechless.
This boy..."You care quite a lot for Pokémon, don't you?" Sabrina surmises.
"Yes, that's right." He looks back nodding gently. "Honestly, I've always dreamed of competing in my first tag battle as the Uni region is my native region so battling alongside a gym leader definitely was an amazing first experience. Thank you again, Sabrina." Now Relon is the one to give the curt bow, Sabrina feeling her cheeks heat up averts her gaze.
Chuckling at the two, Fern's attention goes into the direction Absol and Eevee were escorted through.
"An eevee that can transform into its evolutions, huh?" He mutters gaining both teens' attention. "This is something only heard of in fictional stories. But could its genetic makeup be an alternate from a normal eevee? And what of the absol? Is it special in any way?"
"Well, you're the expert in this so maybe a blood sample can shed light on Eevee's mystery." Relon says. "As for Absol, your guess is as good as mine.
"Then there's the grunts we dealt with." Sabrina notes. "Who were they? Certainly not Team Rocket or any other organization I'm aware of."
"Recently, we've been getting strange reports of an increase in criminal activity from burglary to kidnappings. Both of Pokémon and people." Both teens widen at the revelation.
"Could those two be escapees? With how those thugs had fighting type Pokémon that had an advantage over a dark type like Absol and a normal type like Eevee, it seems to fit the story." Relon surmises, his hand to his chin.
"All we can do is wait for Absol and Eevee to recover before we can ask them any questions. All we can do now is wait."
"Hey, that reminds me, Sabrina." Relon speaks up gaining the girl's attention. "What are you doing here in the Uni region?" His question making the girl's expression become perturbed in the form of crossing her arms.
"I'm actually here on vacation although, as for when this vacation begins remains to be seen." She sighs.
"Wait, then that means...!" Relon says in realization shooting to his feet.
"Don't think of it as being ruined because of your selflessness. Your actions didn't cause something as trivial as ruining my vacation. You did the right thing as few others would have so do not blame yourself. I chose to help, and I have no regrets." She smiles with a sense of finality to her statement.
"Well... if you say so." He sits back down.
Just then, a dinging sound signals through the Pokémon Center gaining their attention. Looking down the hallway, they see Nurse Joy approach.
"Absol and Eevee will be just fine. Some rest and they'll be good as new. Stop by tomorrow morning and all of your business can be taken care of then."
"Phew, that's a relief. Thanks Nurse Joy." Relon thanks.
"No need to thank me. I'm just doing my job." She smiles.
"Would we be able to at least see them before we leave?"
"Of course. Right this way."
Leading them through the hall, they stop at a window seeing both Pokémon on their respective beds resting. Chanseys and audinos jotting down information on their conditions.
"They certainly look better than before." Relon notes resting a hand on the glass.
"Well that's a relief. Nurse Joy, would you happen to have a sample of their blood?" At the professor's words, the nurse reveal two test tubes with the Pokémons' names labeled on each.
"I knew you would ask." She smiles.
"Joy, you know me so well." Fern smiles taking them. "Thanks again."
"Anytime. I hope you find something useful. If you need me, you know where to find me." Nurse Joy bows before leaving.
Heading outside, Fern eyes the two test tubes with delight.
"Alright." She announces turning to the two. "I know Relon will be coming with me, but what would you like to do, Ms. Gym Leader?" Relon looking to said girl with a curious look.
"Hmm... Considering I'm already involved, it's only natural that I come with you. If there are no problems that is." She redirects towards Fern.
"Fine with me. Relon?"
"I have no complains. It would be kinda sad to part now anyways." He smiles.
"Alright, next stop, my lab!" The woman cheers walking off with the two close behind.
"Hey, Sabrina?" He calls to the girl next to him.
"Yes?"
"Could you describe what it's like being a gym leader?" His question causing the psychic teen to arch a brow in slight confusion.
"Where did this come from?"
"During my travels, I couldn't battle so I studied a bunch. Whenever I got the chance, I'd interview gym leaders about their profession."
"So, you're curious as for my own perspective." He nods. "Honestly, there isn't much to it. I The league saw my talent and offered me a position around the time I started out as a trainer. That's all."
"Wait, then... That means you never got to experience traveling..." Relon says saddened at the realization.
"True, but it doesn't sound as bad as you may think." She speaks gaining his attention.
"What do you mean?"
"Although I became a gym leader early on, I was still able to experience some travel here and there during my short vacations or when I had to travel to other regions sponsored under the Kanto league. Being a gym leader allowed me to gain insight on the perspectives both traveling trainers as well as a trainer like myself that remained idle in one location."
"Whoa..."
"If that was too much-"
"N-No! Not at all! Honestly, that's amazing, Sabrina! I haven't heard something like that from any of the gym leaders before! I completely understand!" He cheerfulness causing the girl to raise an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"Take me for example. I've always been a spectator when it came to Pokémon battles. But today, I was in one. Just watching a battle is exhilarating but being in one, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, my mind moving at 100 miles a second trying to think of what to do. I never would have experienced something like that had I not battled myself." He smiles looking ahead.
"Hm... Seems you do get the gist." She notes looking ahead as well.
Hiding a smile having listened to their not so private conversation, Fern can only inwardly chuckle at the two's antics.
Before long, the trio reached the end of the long and familiar road. Around the bend lies a three-story building resembling a hangar. Behind it, a large grassy terrain surrounded by the forest. Ponds and other different terrains scattered about. One thing they all have in common: each houses dozens of Pokémon.
Rushing to the backside of the lab, Relon awes at the familiar scenery.
"Whoa, it feels like forever since I've seen this place!"
"Some regional labs tend to house large acres of land or very little if even any." Sabrina comments glancing around. "I see you're part of the former."
"Well, what can I say? Being a leading professor studying Pokémon biology, it is a must to have a lot of land so I can study as many Pokémon as I can." Fern cheers.
"Hey, now that I think about it..." Relon says gaining the two's attention, his landing on Sabrina. "Did you only bring Espeon since you're on vacation?"
"Yes. My other Pokémon aren't exactly meant for traveling as they are battling. Espeon is the only one that is capable of both. That and she's been working hard at the gym recently. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Honestly, if I was a trainer, I'd probably just take one Pokémon with me whenever I went on a vacation. A small one like Espeon would be perfect too."
"You don't say...?" Both look to a nonchalant smiling Fern, said woman reaching into her pocket and pulling out a pokéball with a blue top and black ridges before tossing the net ball into the space between the three.
Materializing from the light hovers a light blue Pokémon with two pairs of rhombus-shaped wings on each side of its body.
"Masquerain! It's been a while! It's me, Relon!" Relon happily greets pointing at himself, the bug and flying type taking a moment to examine the male teen before cooing happily flying around him to nuzzle his cheek.
"She's certainly missed you." Fern notes placing her hands in her pocket looking at the psychic seeing her stoic look at the two. "You're not bothered or scared of bugs since you you're a psychic, are you Sabrina?" She teases.
Looking to the professor, Sabrina can only shake her head at the woman's bad joke.
"No. Not in the slightest." She answers, her eyes cutting to the pouting professor before back to Relon.
"Hmpf. You're no fun." Fern boos looking to Relon as the Pokémon lays atop his hair nodding at the questions Relon asks it. "He's in his own world again." Her words gaining the psychic's attention once again. "As a child, he'd always roam around when Masquerain was still a surskit. We'd call dozens of time regardless of how far he was, but he would be so focused on the Pokémon that he basically blocked out all other noise. Although it amused me, sissy wasn't as amused. Another reason why his mother didn't want him going out into the world."
"Even so, we're only a few feet from one another." Sabrina states.
"I know. Try calling him." Fern gestures with a hand as if shooing at the gym leader.
Taken aback by this, she looks oddly at Relon talk to Masquerain. Clearing her throat rather loud, she looks to see Relon unfazed.
"See? Hey, Relon." Fern calls at a normal level though no reaction comes. "Relon." She calls slightly louder to get no response still. "Oi, Earth to Reloooooon." Still nothing.
"I can understand why his mother worried so much." Sabrina blinks in slight awe.
"Seriously, it seems he's still a child at heart." Fern says taking a step to halt gaining an idea to turn to the teen once more. "Hey, how would you like to snap him out of it?" Her question causing the girl to tilt her head slightly.
"Why me?"
"Well, usually I or his mother would have to physically snap him out of this 'trance' of his but since you're hear, why not change things up a bit if you get my drift." She grins to the stoic girl for Sabrina's eyes to droop.
"To think one of the world renown professors would try to use me." Sabrina flatly states.
"Oh, don't be like that~. Just for fun. Who knows, Relon may like it." Fern says elbowing the girl.
"What are you implying?"
"Oh, nothing~. So, will you do it or not?"
Giving a look to the boy lost in his own world as Masquerain continues to speak as if the two are able to understand the other, she sighs.
"Just this once."
Taking a breath to steady herself, Sabrina' gaze focuses on Relon as her hand emanates a green glow. A similar glow enveiling Relon as he's slowly lifted. The loss of contact with the ground quickly snapping him out of his trance as his face becomes slight panic seeing what's happening.
"W-Whoa!" He stumbles out looking to the two females in front of him, Masquerain flying next to him cooing as if nothing is the matter.
"Back with us, I see."
"Y-Yeah, Sorry about that." He apologizes, Sabrina lowering her hand to which he descends to the ground. "That was actually pretty fun."
"Thank Sabrina. She came up with the idea." Fern says cracking a smile for the teen to widen.
"Excuse me?!" Sabrina nearly shouts flabbergasted by the complete lie.
"Auntie..." Relon sighs. "It's obvious you talk her into it."
"Oh, boo. Where did my favorite not-know-it-all go to?"
"Across the world and back in six years." He says crossing his arms at the woman's antics.
"Both of you are something indeed." Sabrina shakes her head.
"I'm nowhere near as... playful as my aunt." Relon defends.
"But you are inattentive~." Fern hums for Relon to snap a glare as the woman averts her eyes whistling.
"I can tell." Sabrina makes out a chuckle for the first time.
"Seems like that wall you've put up is finally cracking." Fern states for the girl to halt her happy emotions eyeing the woman. "About time."
"What are you implying?" Sabrina questions almost demandingly, Relon feeling a slight tension rise.
"We'll get to that in a second. Now, Relon." Fern calls for the boy to focus on her.
"Yeah...?"
"You're back in the Uni region after years of studying. Which leaves me with one question; will you become a Pokémon trainer now?"