Lance looked on the battlefield below, face propped onto his fist, with an expression that some would mistake as 'bored'.
It wasn't that he didn't want to be here. After all, watching the recently-crowned Silver Conference Champion going up against his Elite Four was much better than skimming through the stacks of paperwork he couldn't pass off to his personal assistant.
"Lapras, keep them cornered with Ice Beam!"
Lorelei was down to her fifth and final Pokémon. Lance had to admit that this new challenger was competent, and her Pokémon were well-trained.
"Absol, use Detect to get out of there!"
Yes, very well-trained, Lance thought as he watched the cornered absol charge and impossibly weave around the Ice Beam before the move could fully form a wall, then threw a Psycho Cut at the plesiosaurus for good measure. We do need to fill a slot on the Elite Four. I wish Walker would have waited to retire until after we found his replacement.
Lance's train of thought was interrupted as his communicator buzzed.
"Lance here."
"Lance, we heard back from the ranger union about that kid from Rota," said a gruff voice on the other end.
"Give me the short version and send the detailed report to my email," Lance said.
"The short of it is that the kid can use aura, just like your source in Rota said he could, though he seems inexperienced with it. Not sure what baseline the rangers are using since human aura users were supposedly extinct."
"Anything else?" Lance asked.
"The kid's in the service of Queen Ilene. He became a knight just the other day, so if your intention was to recruit him, forget it."
Lance grunted. "Anything else interesting?"
"As a matter of fact, there is. Another trainer he's traveling with has also shown signs of being able to use aura. Our ranger got confirmation about their capabilities because they used aura to subdue and rescue a pair of Shadow Pokémon."
Lance remained silent for a moment as the arm of his chair groaned within his grip. "Shadow Pokémon? In Kanto?!"
"I've already ordered ears to the ground for any other signs of Shadow Pokémon activity, and so far, this seems to be an isolated incident. The Knight is on an errand from Professor Samuel Oak to bring the Pokémon to him at Celadon University for purification."
"Good. It sounds like it's being handled. Have the ranger make sure the Knight gets to Celadon safely before their mission is considered finished. Include as much detail as you can about the Knight and the other aura user in your report," Lance said in dismissal.
"Yes sir," was the last word as the call ended.
Lance looked up just in time to see Lapras and Absol fall to the ground simultaneously, both having succumbed to the latter's Perish Song.
"Both Pokémon are unable to continue!" the referee declared. "With two Pokémon remaining, Karen is the victor and may now challenge Bruno of the Elite Four!"
Lance stood from his chair, straightened the lapel of his cape, and left his private booth. Karen was an excellent dark-type trainer, and he was sure he'd be facing her soon.
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July 1st, 1997
I should have started keeping a journal a long, long time ago. I bought this back in Rota because Jarvis said I'd want a place to write down some of my thoughts, but I kind of forgot about it until now. The last time I regularly kept a journal was during my two years as a missionary in Fresno, now that I think about it. I think I'll keep it stashed in the hidden compartment of my awesome bag of holding so no one but me gets their hands on it. I wonder if I can use aura in some way so only I can open it since I don't know any ciphers I could write in. I could call it an Aura Lock!
Anyway, the experience Ash and I had with Damian last week prompted me to start writing. I know nothing I've done up to this point would have had that much of an effect on the timeline where we'd be fighting against a hypnotized Damian and the Pokémon corrupted by whoever this "M" is.
I'll be honest. I was downright terrified during that entire ordeal. I think the aura the Shadow Pokémon were giving off may be partially responsible for that since after the aura-infused Pokéballs caught them, the suffocating dark aura they gave off became greatly muted. I think the aura Ash and I infused into the Pokéballs is acting as some sort of insulation. Thank goodness for that!
I feel that this encounter may also be my first clue as to why I'm here. There's an unknown third party which, if I had to put a word to what I felt from M, is pure evil.
Okay, that's two words. But still!
I'll need to think about this some more when I have a better clue than that M is likely a psychic-type Pokémon or is a human with what is likely a psychic-type Pokémon.
Wait, could M be Mewtwo? Arceus, I hope not. I'm nowhere near ready enough to take him on. Based on what little I know about Mewtwo before he had his change of heart, this doesn't seem to be his modus operandi. Plus, if he's been cloned already, he's likely still at a Rocket facility or in the Viridian City Gym.
Well, that's something to come back to when I have more to go on.
I suppose I should record some recent events as well. Sandshrew evolved! However, the circumstances around that event have me kind of worried. Team Rocket (the TRio) apparently decided to follow me instead of Ash, thinking I'd be the easier target since I'm traveling alone.
In short, because Eevee was still recovering from her injury (and I wasn't paying any attention to what was above me), she got caught in one of their extend-o-arm thingies. I had to laugh for a moment after the initial shock because, while the TRio was occupied with reciting their motto, I just returned Eevee to her Pokéball. The expressions on the TRio's faces were priceless as if it hadn't occurred to them that, unlike Pikachu, Eevee is fine with being returned to her ball when the situation calls for it.
I had a double battle with them using Sandshrew and Jade against Koffing and Ekans, and I guess that was enough to trigger an evolution for Sandshrew. We sent them blasting off using one of Sandslash's new moves, Sand Tomb, followed by a Silver Wind and a pretty overpowered Dig attack. I think Sandshrew Sandslash is about powerful enough to start learning Sandstorm, which I know is a condition to activate whichever ability she has. I think sandslash normally have the ability Sand Veil? I really wish I had my phone back so I could confirm that.
Anyway, I haven't seen nor sensed the TRio since, so I'm hoping they decided to backtrack and go after Ash again. Still, I'm worried about how their following me might have affected Ash's meeting with the Squirtle Squad. Eh, he has a way with Pokémon, so I'm sure everything with Squirtle will work out.
Wait, if the TRio doesn't backtrack, will Ash also get to actually meet that giant dragonite? I'm so jealous now!
As far as the Shadow Pokémon are concerned, I'm afraid I haven't made much progress with them. They listen to me, but I've found that I have to be very specific with my instructions. I learned that the hard way after Growlithe tried to eat his bowl along with the Poké chow inside it. I really hope Professor Oak and his colleagues can help them.
We should make it to Celadon by tomorrow around noon, so at least we'll get them the help they need soon enough.
Eevee's demanding scritches and belly rubs, and I want to spend some more time bonding with Charmander, so I shouldn't keep them waiting.
- Ethan
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Ethan skimmed his first journal entry before nodding in satisfaction and using the pen as a bookmark to mark the page. As he started to close it, the pages flipped until it opened up to the middle where Ho-Oh's feather lay, as perfect as it was when he first picked it out of the air outside Viridian Forest.
The aura adept still wondered why Ho-Oh had given him one of their feathers in the first place. He didn't consider himself to be any kind of hero or someone special - other than the fact that he was an unwilling interdimensional traveler.
As Eevee began lightly nibbling his fingertips again, he was reminded that despite the circumstances of his arrival into this world, he wouldn't trade the experiences he's had for anything.
"Okay, okay! I guess I better give you what you want before you acquire a taste for human flesh," Ethan laughed as he extricated his fingers from Eevee's mouth before suddenly lifting her up with a hand under her belly and flipping her over onto his lap.
"Eev eevee!" Eevee squealed in laughter as she vainly tried to escape her trainer's dancing fingers.
"Who says humans can't use moves?! You're helpless in the face of my Tickle attack!" Ethan declared as his other hand joined the assault.
"Eeeeveeeev!! Eev vee vee veev eivui!" Eevee choked out between fits of helpless laughter, promising revenge.
This went on for another several seconds before Ethan finally stopped. Eevee continued to lay on her back, catching her breath for a moment before looking at her trainer with eyes full of mischief.
"Nuh-uh! You can get me back later, my dear Eevee. I'd like you to oversee Jade's and Sandslash's training tonight. I think it's time I start Charmander's training, so I'll be working with him," Ethan said. "Besides, a revenge prank is much better when you have a plan and execute it at the right time."
Eevee huffed and nodded before rolling off Ethan's lap and calling for Jade and Sandslash to follow her to a more open spot. Charmander stood up where he had been sitting next to the unlit fire pit of the campground that they seemed to have to themselves tonight, intent on following them to watch them train like he had since he joined the team.
"Hold up, Charmander," Ethan called as he got up on one knee and put his journal away in the hidden compartment of his bag. "How do you feel about starting your training with me tonight?"
Charmander's head whipped in Ethan's direction. His feelings shifted from shock to nervousness, to uncertainty, then assurance and excitement, his face reflecting each one in turn before he hurried over. "Charmander!"
"Awesome! I saw an area on our way here where we can train without the risk of setting anything on fire," Ethan said. "Come on!"
"Char!" Charmander cried as he easily followed along, which Ethan was very happy about. During the first few days after Charmander had joined him, the little guy's body just didn't have enough energy to keep up while they walked, which was understandable given that his muscles had started to atrophy from two weeks of disuse with no food while he waited on that rock, according to Nurse Joy's report.
If he were human, it would have taken weeks, if not months, to recover. Ethan was still amazed at how fast Pokémon could recover from pretty much anything non-lethal.
After a few minutes, the two made it to the center of a small rise devoid of any trees and plant life. A quick sweep of the area with Ethan's aura senses revealed that they were alone.
"All right, little guy. Since we haven't actually gotten you cleared by Nurse Joy yet, we can't do any heavy training, so we're going to use tonight's training to gauge where you stand. This'll include what moves you know and how much power you have." Ethan explained. "Though don't worry if there's not a lot of power yet. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day but rather one brick at a time."
Ethan considered what to say next before getting down on his knees and taking Charmander's claws in his hands. "Before we start, though, I want to talk about something and offer some promises and assurances to you."
Charmander tilted his head curiously and nodded, giving his full attention.
"This might be a bit of a painful subject for you, but I want to address this now. I hope it goes without saying, but I am nothing like Damian, and I hope to prove that to you in time. I won't leave you on some rock in the woods if you don't meet my expectations. I believe with the right training and dedication, you can be the strongest charmander, charmeleon, and eventually the strongest charizard in the world. So my first assurance and promise is that I will never abandon you if I can help it."
The little fire lizard's face was in a state of open-mouthed shock. He had a complex set of emotions swirling through him, among which stood out heartbreak and hope. Even as Ethan watched, the heartbreak shrank a little but was still there.
Charmander's eyes started glistening, and he tackled Ethan into a hug, nearly causing him to fall over. It was then he let the waterworks flow.
"Let it all out, Charmander. People may say men like us aren't supposed to cry, but I say let real men cry," Ethan smiled as he rubbed Charmander's back comfortingly. "Let all your stresses and uncertainties flow away."
They stayed in that position for several minutes, during which it felt like a load was lifted off Charmander's shoulders.
"Can you make a promise to me?" Ethan spoke up, allowing Charmander to back away a bit to look up at his trainer.
"After you evolve into a charizard, would you take me flying? I've never flown on the back of a Pokémon before, and I'm finding myself wondering what it's like."
Charmander choked out a laugh and eagerly nodded. "Char charmander!"
Ethan grinned before looking at the barren rise around them. "You know, most people will look at this place and see nothing of value here. But you and I will remember this place for a long time."
Charmander eyes shone with a spark behind them that Ethan had never seen before.
"I do have one more secret I'd like to share with you, but I'll tell you another day. I think we've put off training long enough," Ethan said with a grin as he stood up and placed Charmander back on his feet.
"All right, I could use my Pokédex to see what moves you have, but that's no fun. Show me what you've got!"
It was a very productive training session. Ethan didn't even mind that Eevee got the other girls in on her revenge prank, which ended up with him spending the night in a cocoon made up of Jade's string shot. It was very comfortable.
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Ethan grunted as he struggled to push himself up. "Ninety-seven!"
"Eevee vee!" Ethan heard, accompanied by three swift taps to the center of his back as he lowered himself back down.
"Ninety-eight!"
Two more taps as he prepared for the next push-up.
"Ninety-nine!"
Sweat dripped from his chin, mixing with the dew hanging from a blade of grass below. He felt one more tap. "Eev eev, Eeveev!"
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He breathed quickly and pushed himself up one more time, holding his position for a moment before dropping onto the blessedly cool grass. The weight on his back disappeared, and Eevee appeared in front of him and licked his nose. "One hundred."
Ethan caught his breath and then pushed himself into a sitting position. "Is it just me, or have you grown bigger since we first met?"
Eevee tilted her head, then looked at herself curiously as Ethan ran a hand through her fur, humming in thought.
"You've definitely grown, though a small bit of that is this extra fluff," Ethan said, his hand coming back with a small wad of fur. "Looks like you're starting to shed. I don't know if it's okay to trim your fur, but luckily, there's a Pokémon salon I have in mind where we can find out and get it done if we need to. It's been a mild summer so far, but it's going to get hotter over the next little while, and we don't want you to overheat."
Eevee ears perked up, and she swiftly nodded. She then looked up at the top of Ethan's head and tilted her own. "Eevee eev?"
Ethan moved his hand to his own head, pinched the end of a few hairs, and pulled down until the ends stopped at the tip of his nose. "Yeah, I guess it's time I get a haircut too."
Ethan shrugged and got to his feet. "Anyway, when we go to get that brace taken off today, I'll ask Nurse Joy to take your measurements again," he said.
Ethan walked over to the rock where he had left his shirt and slipped it back on. "I'd like to get to the city as fast as possible, so we'll have a quick breakfast. Mind getting the others for me while I get everything out?"
Eevee barked a confirmation and quickly walked away, the brace on her leg more of a hindrance than a support at this point.
But Nurse Joy said to keep it on until we get to Celadon, just in case, Ethan recalled. Eevee was annoyed that she was missing out on all the training and channeled that frustration into doubling her trainer's training. Ethan thought it was also some form of punishment for getting bodily involved in the fight with then-M's shadow eevee.
Ethan shook his head as he took out six bowls from his bag. He set four of them close together while setting the other two on his other side, then began prepping each Pokémon's dish.
Charmander's and the Shadow Pokémon's bowls got a little extra food, along with some vitamins and their medicine mixed in according to Nurse Joy's instructions. Ethan was amazed at how quickly they were recovering from their physical ailments. Charmander had enough energy that his playful personality had finally started to shine through, and he had put on enough weight that he was almost in the healthy range again.
Even the Shadow Pokémon gained a healthy amount of weight, and their patchy fur began growing in evenly, and their coats were regaining their vibrant color.
Ethan still wondered about Growlithe. Its form wasn't something he had seen before. I suppose it could be a regional variant from a future game or Gen 8 dlc I didn't get a chance to play. I'll have to see if my phone has anything on it whenever I get it back.
Having finished preparing everything, Ethan sat back and closed his eyes. Slowly, he took a deep breath and let it out through his nose. The morning was just cool enough that he appreciated the breeze blowing around him. He could sense Eevee a short distance away calling out to her fellow teammates, and he knew they would be back shortly.
In this moment of quiet, his thoughts turned to his family back on Earth. He had somewhat come to accept what had happened to him but wished he could send a message that he was okay if only to alleviate the grief he was sure his family was going through.
I suppose it wouldn't hurt to say a quick prayer. I've kind of been slacking on that a lot recently, Ethan thought.
Ethan thought of what to say as he bowed his head. "God, if you can hear me, please let my family know that I'm okay. And please keep me and my Pokémon safe as we journey. Help me know what I need to do to help my Pokémon and I be the best that we can be."
Ethan paused as he took a breath. "And if it is your will, please help me find a way home."
A sudden noise broke Ethan out of his prayer. A patch of rustling leaves shook and slowly rose as a face appeared underneath them.
"Oddish!" The Pokémon said as it dug itself out of the patch of dirt it presumably buried itself in the previous night. It shook itself off, then noticed the human staring at it.
"Um, good morning!" Ethan waved with a smile.
The oddish stared for a moment before scrambling away through the underbrush.
"Well, amen," Ethan whispered as he pulled out two Pokéballs and waited.
He didn't have to wait long. Eevee, Charmander, Jade, and Sandslash entered the small clearing they were camped in, each of them being short of breath. Looked like they decided to have a race.
"Alright, everyone, dig in! I'm sure you're hungry," Ethan said.
Everyone voiced their agreement, sat in front of their bowls, and started eating.
"Growlithe, Eevee, time to eat," he called as he released the two Shadow Pokémon.
The other four Pokémon tensed and kept a wary eye on them, ready to jump into action if they tried anything.
Ethan doubted that would be necessary. Like all the other times he brought them out of their Pokéballs, they just… didn't do anything unless they were directly told to do so. Their faces were perfectly neutral, and they showed no personality or signs of their individuality.
They still exuded that primal fear-inducing aura, which made the chatter of wild Pokémon in the immediate area cease. Ethan could only say he had mostly gotten used to it, though it was still a little unnerving.
"Growlithe, your food is in this bowl. Eat as much of the food in it as you can. Eevee, your food is in this bowl. Eat as much of the food in it as you can," Ethan instructed them, making sure he gave his instructions clearly, noting the bite marks on the side of the bowls from where they had tried to eat them earlier in the week.
The two Pokémon mechanically did as instructed. Ethan sighed as he set a bag of trail mix in his lap, eating with his left hand while petting Eevee with his right - the shadow eevee.
"You know what, little man? I'm going to call you Vee, after Red's eevee that could transform into their evolutions and back. Just like you," Ethan said. "If you want a different name after you're all better, or don't want one at all, let me know then."
Vee's eyes widened, head twitching in Ethan's direction before his face went to a blank neutral again, and he resumed eating.
Ethan blinked, then met eyes with Eevee. "I didn't imagine that, did I? Vee looked shocked for a second there?"
Eevee confirmed that with a nod before taking her empty bowl and placing it next to Ethan's satchel.
"That name means something to him. Why does it mean something to him?" Ethan wondered.
----------------------------------------
Wanting to get to Celadon City in a reasonable time, Ethan forewent the usual weighted harness training and returned everyone sans Eevee to their Pokéballs, reasoning that he would likely be having a few battles as he got closer to the largest metropolis in Kanto.
Within an hour, he was able to spot the aircraft warning lights atop the taller skyscrapers flashing red and white at set intervals, despite the fact he was still a few hours from reaching the edge of the city. Other travelers and trainers were becoming more frequent, as expected, though one look at Eevee's wrapped leg changed many trainers' minds about challenging Ethan to a battle.
He still took on quite a few, allowing Charmander, Sandslash, and Jade each to score a few wins and only one loss for Charmander. Ethan had to stifle a laugh when he praised Charmander's progress because the little fire lizard still didn't seem to know how to parse being praised after a loss. Or at all, really.
It wasn't long after their last battle that they reached checkpoint E-17 on the east side of the city. "Finally! Can't wait to get some hot food and a nice, cold shower," Ethan said as he entered the line waiting to get into the city.
"Eev?! Vui vee veevee eev veev eievui eev vee, Eeveev?!" Eevee asked.
Ethan scoffed, removed Eevee from his shoulder, and held her in his arms. "Just because I know the joys of a hot shower doesn't mean I can't like cold showers, too."
A tap on his shoulder stopped the conversation before it could go on, and Ethan looked over his shoulder to see who it was.
"What a coincidence seeing you here, Ethan," the person said.
"Kellyn? What are you doing here?" Ethan asked as he fully turned to face him. Then he noticed Kllyn's uniform. "I didn't know you were a ranger. Are you on an assignment?"
Kellyn looked up and ahead. "I, uh, actually just finished one. Can't say what it is, though. It's classified."
The ranger had a considering look, then looked back at Ethan. "What about you? I thought you were traveling in a group?"
"I'm running an errand for someone. Can't say what it is, though. It's classified," Ethan said with a smirk as he reached the front of the line and pulled out his Pokédex to hand to the checkpoint security guard.
"Ah, touché," Ranger Kellyn laughed. "Well, maybe I'll see you around. I'm thinking of sticking around for a day or two for some R and R before I head back to HQ."
"Sounds like fun! I have to get going, but it was nice talking to you. Say hi to Pachirisu for me. And thank you for your service and all that," Ethan said as he accepted his Pokédex back and proceeded through the checkpoint.
Kellyn stood open-mouthed before smiling. "You're welcome! See you later, maybe!"
Ethan waved goodbye, placed Eevee back on his shoulder, and then walked for a couple of minutes to a park he had spotted. He sat down on a bench, set Eevee next to him, and fished out his guidebook from the bag strapped to his leg. "Alright, Eevee, let's find a Pokémon Center and get that brace off."
"Eevee!" Eevee excitedly jumped around on the spot, enough so that a foot went over the edge, and she started to tumble over.
Ethan caught her before she could fall far. "Woah! Careful, Eevee. I guess the sooner we get that off, the better, huh?"
Eevee sheepishly nodded as Ethan flipped through the guidebook to figure out where they needed to go.
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"You arrived a little sooner than I anticipated, Ethan. Unfortunately, the machine isn't quite ready yet," Professor Oak said apologetically.
"When will it be ready, Professor? I don't mean to sound like I'm in a hurry, but I was hoping to get Vee and Growlithe back to normal asap," Ethan said into the telephone while tapping the fingers of his other hand on the table.
"Vee?" the professor questioned, seeming intrigued.
"Oh, right. I gave the little guy a name," Ethan explained.
"Interesting choice of name. Well, I anticipate that it will be another two, perhaps three days before we'll be ready. The machine is mostly set up, but we have to be thorough with its calibrations to ensure that everything goes right," the professor explained. "If you'd like to tour the campus in the meantime, I'd be more than happy to make arrangements for that."
Ethan mulled the offer over. "I'd like that, but maybe tomorrow. I was thinking of exploring Celadon as well as looking into a few places to see if they correlate with… what I've heard about."
Professor Oak raised a brow before a look of understanding crossed his face. "This has to do with what you called your 'meta' knowledge, correct? Any place in particular?"
"The department store. I'd like to see what they have and maybe splurge a little on some supplies," Ethan trailed off for a moment. "Hey, is HopHopHop Town and Scissor Street part of the Celadon Metropolis?"
"Why, yes, they are! HopHopHop Town is a suburb on the southwestern side of the city. Breeder's Lane, or Scissor Street as you called it, is actually where Daisy has an internship and isn't far from the University."
A crash of metal sounded from the professor's end of the call. "Hey, be careful with that! I'm sorry, Ethan, but I have to get back to supervising these interns. If we don't hear from each other again, then come to the University in three days. We should be ready for you no later than that."
"Alright, Professor, sounds good. I'll see you then," Ethan said. The professor returned the goodbye and ended the call.
Ethan sat back in the worn, squeaky plastic chair and sighed. One other location came to mind after Professor Oak's question, and he hoped he was wrong about whatever was under it.
He picked up his guidebook from the kiosk table and flipped through it until he came across an advertisement.
"Celadon City Game Corner. Win fabulous prizes, including rare items, Pokémon, and much, much more," Ethan read, noting it also had a coupon for 100 free coins on your first visit.
He tossed the idea of investigating whether there was a Team Rocket base under the Game Corner before a thought came to mind. The nugget bridge was busted as a Team Rocket operation. Maybe this one already was, too, Ethan thought to himself. It looked like a trip to the library was in order to see if there was anything on the subject.
The Pokémon Center intercom came alive with its signature five-note jingle. "Ethan Dust, your Pokémon are ready for you."
Ethan stood from his seat and groaned as he rubbed his lower back. The chair was more uncomfortable than he thought. As he made his way to the front desk, a gathering of trainers and a few Pokémon watching a news broadcast on the television caught his attention.
"It's official, folks! Pokémon Contests are coming to the Kanto and Johto regions! The announcement was made earlier this morning by the Pokémon Activities Committee Chairman, Raoul Contesta. For those of you who missed the live broadcast, here it is again!"
The picture shifted to a video of a man with graying hair and a distinctive red suit walking up to a pulpit in front of a large crowd with cameras flashing every step.
Mr. Contesta waited for the applause to die down with a smile before he began speaking. "First off, I'd like to thank the Indigo Pokémon League for the use of their building, as this is going to be a very momentous occasion. My name is Raoul Contesta, Chairman of the Pokémon Activities Committee. For those of you who may not know, we are responsible for organizing and coordinating the increasingly popular Pokémon Contests commonly seen in the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.
"Pokémon Contests are competitions that showcase the style, grace, and skill of Pokémon through visually impressive performances and battles. From what I've seen, much of our television audience are viewers that tune in from the Kanto and Johto regions, and for that, I thank you.
"After much discussion and a unanimous agreement from the Pokémon Activities Committee and the blessing of the Indigo Government, it is my pleasure to announce that we are bringing Pokémon Contests to the regions of Kanto and Johto!"
Applause and cheering sounded through the television before Mr. Contesta began taking questions. The trainers gathered around the television talked amongst themselves, some excitedly and some still confused about what contests even were.
I was starting to wonder why I hadn't heard of any contests being around, Ethan mused as he picked up his feet again. I want to go see one when they start up.
Ethan presented his identification to the person manning the front desk. With a nod, they placed a tray with four Pokéballs on the counter. "Thank you for waiting, Ethan. According to Nurse Joy, your Pokémon are in great shape. Your Charmander's at its target weight range now and can be taken off the light training only order given to you previously. Also, here are the measurements you requested for your Eevee."
"Awesome! Thanks, John. Give Nurse Joy my thanks, too," Ethan said. He placed three of the Pokéballs on the strap of his bag, tucked away the report in a side pocket, and held the green-topped ball in his hand.
"Oh! One more thing," John said. "A message came in for you while your Pokémon were being healed. Jarvis from Rota wants you to call him when you can."
Ethan raised a brow. "Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know."
John smiled and nodded before calling for another trainer who had been waiting.
Ethan released Eevee from her ball as he made his way back to the private video phone booth he had been using before. Eevee shook her head and jumped up to her customary spot on his shoulder, where she greeted him with an excited "Eevee!" and then began sniffing his hair.
"Hello to you too, Eevee! Yes, I showered. You're probably smelling the Pecha shampoo I used," Ethan said with a laugh as he smooshed her face against his.
Eevee responded by licking his fingers.
"I've got one more phone call I need to make, then we'll get some lunch and see if we can find Daisy. Professor Oak told me she works at a place near where she goes to school," Ethan said. "Remember Daisy?"
Eevee's face scrunched up in thought - well, as much as it could with her face being smooshed - before she gasped and nodded vigorously.
"Ha! I knew you would. Anyway, phone call, then lunch!" Ethan said as he took a seat once again in the plastic chair. He entered his trainer ID and password into the video phone before dialing a number he had memorized.
After about a minute, the ringing stopped, and the words [Voice Only] appeared on the screen. "Ah, Sir Ethan! I'm glad you could call. How are you?" Jarvis' voice asked.
"I'm doing pretty well! We made it to Celadon City this morning," Ethan answered. Eevee hopped down to his lap, placed her front paws on the screen, and cried, "Eevee vee!"
"Well, greetings to you too, Madam Eevee! And you say you're in Celadon City now? That's rather convenient!" Jarvis said.
"Why's that? Are you coming for a visit?" Ethan joked.
Jarvis laughed along. "Oh, I'm afraid not. My duties keep me here at Cameran. No, the reason it's convenient is that Celadon houses an opportunity for you."
"What opportunity?" Ethan asked, confused.
"The opportunity is this. Celadon City is the location of the Kanto Police Academy. We'd like you to enroll in their three-day boot camp to help give you a better understanding of how you can fulfill your duties as a knight."
"Oh," Ethan said, surprised. "Am I expected to be there at a certain time?"
"I'll notify them to be on the lookout for you, though it's up to you when to enroll."
"Okay. Okay, um, I've got a lot on my plate, so it may have to wait until the next time I drop by Celadon. I need to get back with Ash and the others as soon as I'm done here, but I'll see if I can at least drop by the academy and talk to someone," Ethan said.
"Ah, Ash is the one you were referring to in relation to Sir Aaron's Lucario, yes? Very well, that may be for the best."
Eevee's stomach growled loudly.
"Thanks, Jarvis. I've got to feed my Pokémon, but it was nice talking to you again!" Ethan said.
"Likewise. Stay safe!" Jarvis said as he hung up the call.
Ethan placed the phone back in its receiver, then leaned back and sighed.
"Eeveev?" Eevee asked.
"I'm just surprised that it never crossed my mind that there'd be some training for all this Knight stuff. I think I'd like to go a little while without surprises," Ethan said.
"Hey, it's you!" a bratty-sounding voice shouted.
"Me and my big mouth," Ethan groaned in exasperation and turned around in his chair to see a kid in shorts, a yellow shirt with a Rattata print, and a blue cap he was wearing backward.
The kid was also pointing a finger and looking right at Ethan with a challenging stare.
"It's time for my revenge! I challenge you to a battle!" the kid yelled.
Ethan and Eevee looked at each other, then back to the kid.
"Sorry, do I know you?"