The most exciting thing about this world I had found myself in was of course the Pokemon.

But in the end they were still potentially very dangerous creatures. Kids of my current age wouldn’t really be allowed near many Pokemon until we were a bit older and smart enough to not irritate one too much.

Pulling on a Pikachu’s tail for instance would probably lead to some unpleasant outcomes. So I’d resigned myself to waiting to meet Pokemon for a few years.

In the meantime it was back to school, and oh how frustrating that was.

The children were… loud. Loud was definitely the word. There were other words that came to mind too, but “fucking annoying” wasn’t a kind thing to say about small children, even if you were one.

I tried to play the part of a normal child but it was damn hard. Today I had lost patience a bit earlier than usual. So I grabbed the book I had been eyeing and quietly headed towards the door and then out towards the playground. The teachers who were supposed to be looking after us didn’t notice my leaving. They had more annoying kids to worry about.

It was far more peaceful out here. The rain from the morning had stopped and the sun had started to peek out through the clouds. I toddled over to one of the swings, the benches were wooden and a bit too damp to sit on comfortably but I wiped the plastic swing down which was enough.

“Much better,” I said to myself as I sat down and opened the book. I probably had half an hour or so before they came looking for me or someone spotted me out of the window.

It wasn’t some great piece of literature, there wasn’t much of that available in a building meant for kids under ten, but this book was probably five or six years ahead of my current age range and quite frankly I’d take what I could get.

I’d only had a few minutes before I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye. The white stuck out against the greens and browns of the treeline over the wire mesh fence and as I focused my vision I quickly recognised what I was looking at.

Excitement burst up within me and I had to stop myself from reacting too quickly in case I startled it. Instead I took a slow, deep breath and figured out what to do.

Wild Pokemon tended to avoid the human settlements and particularly crowds of humans, for obvious reasons. Sure they might hang around here or there but they would keep their distance. But right now it was just me out here. I was far less scary than a crowd of excited little kids playing their games.

Carefully, eager not to startle the Pokemon I closed my book, stood up and walked slowly towards the fence. Then I sat down gently, cross legged on a dryish patch of ground and then I waited.

My patience was rewarded when after half a minute or so, I caught sight of it again.

A head of green hair and a red, rounded off horn coming from its forehead peeked out from behind a tree. The Pokemon had a head that was verging on being comically too large for it’s slight body, but it made it work.

I waited, not making any sounds and not looking directly at it and my patience was rewarded again when the Ralts carefully made it’s way out from the trees and towards me.

“Ralts?” The Pokemon said, looking at me curiously. Although I couldn’t understand what it was saying, I didn’t feel threatened in the slightest.

“Hello,” I said softly. “My name’s Harry. Would you like to be my friend?”

***

It felt a little bit like I was minding someone else’s child, but to my relief Kirlia was well behaved as we walked through town. She didn’t try to move off my shoulder, instead looking around in awe at everything she saw. Sometimes she pointed at things and I explained what they were to her.

Leah had been one of those Ralts that just… wandered off sometimes. I wasn’t sure of the specifics, but I knew people had to encounter Ralts or their evolutions in the wild somehow.

Maybe it was a right of passage to explore the world outside their home sometimes, or maybe it was like with myself as a little boy in this life. The adults only had so much attention to spread around and sometimes one or two of their charges slipped the net in a moment of inattention. Or maybe there was something more going on that I couldn’t tell.

But Kirlia was here with me and with permission from the matriarch Gardevoir back in the forests. I’d give her what she was looking for by escorting her around Petalburg.

I stopped to ask for some directions from a passerby, who directed us the right way to the Gym, fortunately we weren’t too far.

Kirlia was fairly interested by everything she was seeing but she seemed more interested in the people. It didn’t stop her shouting in surprise when a car zoomed past. I chuckled and explained what she was seeing. It wasn’t too much further before we were stood outside its doors.

The Petalburg Gym looked pretty traditional, with a similar style to the Lavaridge Gym. Although while Lavaridge had clearly kept to its traditions, Norman’s Gym showed signs that it was only respecting the old way of things. There were plenty of signs around that showed Norman’s Gym was becoming modernised, not the least of which was the ginormous dome of segmented glass that stuck out through the surrounding treeline. It reflected the sunlight around it, standing out as an impressive monument to human engineering.

“Here we are,” I said. “I might need to put you down once we’re inside but stay near me or Kira, okay? I don’t want anyone catching you who you wouldn’t want to go with.”

“Irllia,” Kirlia said, listening to my instructions and nodding seriously. I felt amusement creep into my expression and patted her head.

“Good girl,” I said as she preened.

I pushed open the doors and inside there was a desk with a green-haired Ace Trainer manning it. She looked up as I entered and I approached the desk with Kira and Kirlia alongside me. Brawly had had his Gym trainers man the desk in turns which is what I figured Norman was doing here too. Something else to think about once I got started.

“Hi I’m Harry Hemming. Norman should be expecting me,” I told her.

“Oh yeah Norman said to watch out for you,” the woman said, glancing from my face to the Kirlia on my shoulder and then she spotted Kira, who immediately caught her curiosity.

“He’s just in a battle right now but he should be finishing soon,” she gestured behind me where I saw there was a TV with a battle underway. “He’ll probably come out here once it’s all over.”

On the screen I recognised Norman immediately. He was standing with arms crossed opposite an older looking woman in a long dress. She had a Magneton out which was looking worse for wear.

Norman had a Tauros out and the Pokemon braced itself, leaning down and catching the Electric attack the Magneton sent its way. I could only guess that the Tauros was grounding itself somehow, which was a difficult trick only certain species of Pokemon could manage.

“What level of badge is it?” I asked.

“Fifth tier,” the woman told me. “That lady’s on the local Council. She comes around once every few months and challenges Norman to a match. She’s done better this time, but she’s down two Pokemon of her four now and Norman’s only lost one of his five.”

On the screen the Tauros charged, lightning wreathing its form in what I assumed was a Wild Charge attack. It’d probably used the electricity from the Magneton’s own attack to charge himself up, making the attack less tiring for it. It was a smart move.

The Magneton it seemed was on its last legs and the attack knocked it out. There wasn’t any audio but I saw as the woman said something to Norman while withdrawing her Pokemon. He replied, nodding as he did so and the woman chuckled good naturedly.

Her next Pokemon was a Granbull and I instinctively stepped forward with interest to see how this would go. Granbull and their lower evolution Snubbull were Fairy type, although until recently they had been thought to be just a Normal type.

“That’s probably her weakest Pokemon,” the Gym trainer informed me. “Y’know, a pet rather than a battler.”

I shrugged and looked back, not surprised. Snubbul and its evolution tended to look a bit threatening, but appearances could be deceiving, especially with Fairy types and in my opinion they weren’t actually very strong Pokemon. In fact they were actually quite timid.

Having a Snubbul or a Granbull was usually the domain of the richer classes and in my opinion, it was a bit like having an expensive dog breed back in my previous life.

There was a referee standing off to the side of the arena and at her signal the battle started again.

The Granbull charged forward at its trainer’s order. Its mouth was open with the dark purple energy of a Dark type attack, meaning it was either going to try using Bite or Crunch.

The Tauros then used what I assumed was Thunderbolt, shooting out electricity from its horns that struck the Granbull on the way. The Granbull powered through and managed to use Bite against the other Pokemon, but it took a great deal of damage in the process.

I grimaced while watching. The woman was trying, but she wasn’t really using any strategies to leverage her Pokemon’s strengths, relying on the Granbull to muscle through the Tauros’ attacks to counter them. Maybe the Granbull could take the hits, but I couldn’t see it lasting long like this.

To be fair, Granbull weren’t particularly impressive specimens of Pokemon in terms of moves. They didn’t have a breadth of non-attacking moves which left them limited to having to brute force things.

The Granbull managed to land a few blows but the Tauros was quick and physically capable in its own right. The Granbull went down, beaten by another Thunderbolt from the Tauros that had clearly been trained for Electric type moves. I was sure that Norman probably had a variety of Tauros, each with their own particular skillsets.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

That was the biggest strength of Normal type Pokemon. Only Fighting type moves were Super Effective against them, leaving many Pokemon out of luck, but Normal types could learn a breadth of moves of different types and this often gave them a counter to their opponent’s typing.

“He won’t be long now,” the Gym Trainer said. “Anyway, what Pokemon is that?” She asked, pointing at Kira.

“He’s a Sylveon,” I told her. “An evolution of Eevee.”

“Oh really?” The trainer replied quickly. She pulled out a Pokeball and from out of it appeared the Pokemon in question.

“Vee!” Her Eevee said excitedly, greeting the evolved Pokemon.

“Sylv!” Kira said, going to stand in front of the Eevee, although he still kept a bit of ribbon wrapped around my wrist. He wasn’t going to let me get away that easily…

The Eevee looked at the evolved form, sniffing at the air. Then the Eevee barked happily and began to jump up and around. Kira began playing with the Eevee, holding up one of his ribbons which the Eevee batted at playfully.

Kirlia giggled, watching the two Pokemon playing.

“I’ve never seen an Eevee evolution like that before,” said the Gym Trainer. “I’m Alexia, by the way.”

“Sorry,” I said, realising I hadn’t been polite and asked for her name. “Nice to meet you, Alexia.”

“It’s a pleasure,” she said, brushing aside my apology. “But what type is it, what’d you say it called?”

“Kira is a Sylveon,” I told her. “He’s the Fairy type evolution.”

“From the new typing!?” Alexia asked. “Oh yeah, the Jigglypuff. Norman’s been having trouble with these new ones we got in. That’s why you’re here isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I replied, lying by omission by not divulging my real reason for being here. “Apparently they aren’t settling very well, are you guys having many problems?”

“It’s mostly the singing,” Alexia said. “They’re going around and putting all the other Pokemon to sleep all the time.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked, not finding Jigglypuff going around and singing particularly surprising. Where did you get them from?” I asked with curiosity.

“Some asshole figured because there were only a few kinds of Pokemon out there that it’d be okay if he tried building some sort of holiday lodge out north of Rustboro without permission,” Alexia told me. “It got stopped, obviously, but not before he damaged a big chunk of the local habitat. After the Jennies got done with him Norman took the Jigglypuff in, seeing as there was nowhere else they could really go and he is the Normal type expert.”

“I get you,” I said, letting Kirlia down to go and play with the Eevee. “So they were completely wild until recently?”

“Yup,” Alexia replied. “Norman’s worried but I think it’s just these Jigglypuff are struggling to adapt to their new location. I mean we try to make it as natural as possible for them but it’s still an enclosure and a new area with new Pokemon. I have my own Wigglytuff but they don’t like her either.”

Kirlia began to dance around the ribbons, joined in by the Eevee jumping up to bat at them with its paws.

“Adorable,” Alexia said as she beheld the sight of the Pokemon playing and I couldn’t help but agree.

“Well maybe I’ll see something you guys haven’t that will help with these Jigglypuff,” I said sincerely, but I had no idea what might be wrong based on what I’d heard. Hopefully the problem would be more obvious once I got to see what was actually going on.

Some doors opened automatically admitting both Norman and the woman from the Petalburg Council. Upon seeing the Pokemon out in the lobby area both of them stopped.

“Oh my it’s that Pokemon!” The woman asked, enthralled immediately by Kira.

“What do you mean?” Norman asked.

“Tha- Oh I suppose you probably wouldn’t know. I’m in the local Pokemon Fanclub and one of our members brought in a photo online of a Pokemon that looks just like that. Everyone’s been looking up and down the country for it, I can’t believe I found it first.”

“This is my Sylveon, Kira,” I told the new arrivals as I quickly tried to come to terms with the fact there were apparently people out there looking for me and my Pokemon. “He’s the Fairy type evolution of Eevee.”

“He looks wonderful,” the woman said. “Is he for trade?”

“No,” I replied immediately, trying to withhold my tone to something more polite. But I wasn’t entirely sure I’d managed it based on the woman’s reaction to my words.

“Harry?” Norman asked politely, cutting in and coming to offer me his hand to shake.

“Norman, hello,” I said.

“Harry’s a Fairy type expert, here to help me with some Pokemon I took in recently,” Norman told the woman.

“I see,” she replied. “Well it’s nice to meet you, young man,” she said, offering me her hand.

“My name is Franceen Marlberry. I… apologise but seeing such a wonderful specimen of a Pokemon had me forgetting my manners.”

Her gaze still drifted back to my Sylveon eve as we shook hands. I couldn’t exactly blame her for wanting a Pokemon as adorable and friendly as mine, but the immediate offer of trade had still rubbed me the wrong way.

“It’s fine,” I replied. I could tell my tone still wasn’t exactly good, but I couldn’t bring myself to change it.

“I really should go and get things sorted now I have Harry here with me,” Norman said. “It’s been nice to see you today, Franceen. I expect I’ll see you in a month or so?”

“Absolutely,” the woman replied more cheerfully. “We’ll give you a run for your money next time Norman, just you wait!”

“I’ll expect an email from your secretary,” Norman replied as outside a fancy looking car rolled up. He gestured and politely guided the Council member towards the exit.

He opened the car door for her and smiled charmingly as Franceen entered and then he shut it for her. The Gym Leader waved her off as the car drove away before coming back inside.

“Phew!” He said, sharing a look with Alexia and they chuckled together at some private joke. “It’s always hands on deck when Franceen comes around,” Norman explained to me.

“I’m sorry I snapped there,” I said to them contritely, forcing myself to calm down. “Is she a big deal around Petalburg?”

“She’s a Council member and has been for just under three decades at this point,” Norman told me, which made me wince.

“Plus she’s a good five to ten percent of the Gym’s income!” Alexia interrupted.

“We’re technically a tax writeoff for her,” Norman admitted, glancing to his Gym Trainer. “Battle income and losses are tax exempt or deductible respectively, so it’s basically free for her to come and battle me or one of my trainers regularly like this. But don’t worry, I imagine she’s more embarrassed that she said what she did than anything else.”

I nodded, feeling relieved that I hadn’t made things too difficult through my behaviour but I’d clearly not made a great first impression.

But I could read between the lines. This was sort of political on Norman’s part. Schmoozing with the local Council. Not something I was looking forward to but I understood the need for it.

“Dealing with people like Franceen is something every Gym Leader needs to know about,” Norman said sagely, like he was reading my thoughts. Alexia didn’t seem to catch it, but I knew he was meaning that as advice as well as an off-hand comment. Then he changed the subject.

“So that’s your Sylveon huh? Moore commented on it. I didn’t think they were ever going to discover another Eeveelution.”

“Yes, Kira’s very important to me,” I said honestly, which made my Pokemon turn to face me with stars in his eyes. A moment later I was stepping back to stop myself being bowled over by the Pokemon, who licked my face affectionately.

“Get off, you!” I grumbled good naturedly as I pushed him down and then wiped my face. It seemed the damage was done and the other two trainers in the room were barely withholding their amusement.

“And… aren’t you supposed to have a Gardevoir?” Norman asked, confused as his attention turned to the Kirlia. I nodded.

“Kirlia is from the same enclave my Gardevoir is from,” I told them. “She asked me to take her with me today and I agreed. Is it okay if she comes with me through the Gym?”

Alexia seemed surprised at the revelation that the Kirlia was wild but Norman had already recovered from the surprise and his expression turned to one that was more serious.

“She’s from one of the local enclaves?” I nodded.

“Alright then,” Norman stated carefully. “But I can’t accept any responsibility if she gets hurt or anything while she’s here. You understand that, right?”

“Absolutely, we won’t hold you or anyone else responsible if something happens will we Kirlia?” I asked and received a nod of agreement. “Wonderful, thank you,” I said gratefully.

“Err, is there something I don’t know about?” Alexia asked, clearly confused about the seriousness of what we were saying.

“The Ralts through to Gardevoir population and their communities aren’t something we try to advertise. They’re a very… private bunch of Pokemon that don’t cause any trouble for well meaning folk and we try to leave them alone,” Norman told her.

“What, even the Gym trainers?” Alexia asked, slightly put out, seeing as she was apparently one of those trainers.

“It’s something we tell people after they’ve been here a few months and we’ve had a chance to get to know you properly,” Norman revealed.

While Alexia came to terms with the fact she hadn’t been told any of this yet, Norman’s eyes met mine and we nodded in understanding. He’d only been a Gym Leader for a few years but I’d have been very surprised if he hadn’t been made aware of the enclave, or maybe enclaves, as the local Gym Leader. Even if he didn’t necessarily know where it was, it was important for him to be aware of their existence.

I could attest to the fact that Gardevoir were a wonderful, strong Pokemon to have on your team and on top of that they were fiercely protective of those they cared about which was always a good trait to have in a Pokemon.

It was fine, that is, up until someone posed a threat to those people or Pokemon.

Advertising the enclave’s location would only attract poachers and trainers who wouldn’t necessarily have the right degree of respect for those Pokemon. Keeping the information mostly secret probably helped avoid a rush of people causing trouble that otherwise might have been avoided.

“Come on. Let me show you the Pokemon habitat,” Norman said, moving on from the subject. He gestured for us to head towards the doorway leading further into the building. “Alexia, there’s no more appointments today, can you close up please, and then you come with us if you like.”

Still slightly perturbed, Alexia nodded and quickly headed back to the desk while Norman led me out of the room.

“Franceen took a liking to your Sylveon and my advice to her after our battle before was for her to get another Pokemon. So I’ll probably have her asking me questions about how to evolve an Eevee into one now. You wouldn’t mind divulging your secrets would you?” Norman asked.

“It was sort of luck on my part,” I admitted. Kira had fallen into our laps and evolving him hadn’t been something I’d planned for. I thought I knew how it had happened though.

“You need lots of Fairy type energy,” I told him. “All my Pokemon are Fairy types which I think helped, but learning Fairy type moves and using them a lot should make it possible too if the Eevee is determined to evolve themselves into a Sylveon. Otherwise it’ll be a bit random, like the Umbreon and Espeon evolutions.”

Which had been documented to work during either day or night periods according to the respective type, but there wasn’t any obvious stimulus. “Friendship” was a strange thing to be able to measure and nobody had figured that that was the trigger for those particular evolutions.

Norman seemed very interested in my explanation.

“Eevee learn Baby-Doll Eyes naturally, but it isn’t a move most people bother with much, and by the time they’re strong enough to learn Charm they should be strong enough they’d have evolved already,” the Gym Leader said with realisation. “No wonder nobody figured it out before... The Pokemon researchers will want to see that in action, I imagine.”

I shrugged.

“Well I won’t mind helping out in a study or two.” I would want to be rewarded for that help in some way though. “So while we were waiting, Alexia told me a bit about your Jigglypuff problem. Can you describe it for me too?”

“Okay,” Norman began. “So, here’s what’s happening.”