The following excerpt is from Professor Laventon’s personal notebook. The exact date of origin is unclear, from 23 to 15 days before the following excerpt.
Research is slow.
I am eternally grateful to Kamado, Cyllene, and everyone else on the Galaxy Team. It is because of their support and funding that I am even able to keep pushing onward with this project. I could not ask them for anything more than they already give me, and they should not have to ask for anything less than the highest quality results.
And despite everyone’s best efforts, I keep running into roadblocks. Little things that only serve to distract or preoccupy me for a short while, but their sheer magnitude and quantity impede me like a stubborn Mudsdale.
Perhaps this project is too ambitious. I am no stranger to long, arduous, and grueling work. I am no stranger to late nights, skipped meals, and cramped hands. But even looking at the empty pages of the Pokedex make me sick to my stomach. A cup of tea works wonders in righting my spinning head, but it does not serve to quell the worry spinning in my mind.
(Reminder: Order more tea bags from the Gingko Guild. I am on pace to run out by next month)
The research partnership deal I struck with the twins is working wonders, though. Every day, they bring back two or three Pokemon for me to study. Today, they only brought back one Pokemon: a Drifloon that attached itself to Akari’s wrist while she was sleeping.
It is quite unusual to see a Drifloon out and about at this time of year. They typically prefer arid climates and autumn in Hisui is anything but that. They are also nocturnal, though occasionally daytime sightings are reported by the children of Jubilife. I am unsure of whether or not to give any credence to these reports. The same child that reported the most recent one also claimed to have found (and defeated) the Dusknoir that made its den under his bed.
These sightings certainly do not do Drifloon’s reputation any favors. Parents are already concerned about having their children stolen away from them. There is an old folktale of unknown origin about a child who grabs onto a Drifloon’s string and finds themself unable to let go. The Drifloon then leads the child away to the “spirit world” where the other ghosts feast upon its soul.
As a man of science, my answer always remains the same: Drifloon weigh a measly 1.2 kilograms, about as much as a bunch of nanab berries. It would be extremely difficult for it to even make a child stumble, let alone pull it away.
Perhaps studying this one will shed light on the origin of this folktale as well as help this Pokemon be better understood in the eyes of the public. Though idyllic, I believe that this Pokemon is misunderstood and does not deserve the reputation it has garnered.
I believe that the folktale's origin can be traced back to concerned parents wanting to instill a sense of trepidation toward Pokemon into their children, alongside superstitions about Ghost-types. After that, it simply (excuse the pun) ballooned far out of proportion, becoming a staple of Hisuian culture.
In between the above and below paragraphs are several drips of ink from the pen, presumably from Laventon hesitating while writing.
Considering this event has renewed my vigor for studying Pokemon and publishing my Pokedex. It is because of rampant rumors like these that innocent Pokemon like Drifblim have had their reputations ruined and are shunned away. And with the sheer amount of Pokemon in Hisui, I have no doubt that incorrect information regarding several of them has surfaced and spread, tarnishing their reputations in the public eye.
Now, looking at the Pokedex no longer fills me with nausea. The empty pages no longer represent my inadequacy. Instead, they represent my opportunity to make my mark on history. My chance to build a bridge between men and Pokemon forever.
I am a man of science. Research may be slow, but it will be worthwhile.
----------------------------------------
The following excerpt was written anywhere from 23 to 15 days after the previous one. It is unclear when exactly it was written as there are no implicit clues to its origin.
Today, Rei and Akari brought someone new to me. A boy called Alec, claiming to have lost all his memories. They said he fell from the rift above Mount Coronet and asked if I would let him assist with the Pokedex project.
Initially, I was skeptical. Obviously, he has no way to prove his memory loss (save for invasive and dangerous probing from a powerful Psychic-type, which we do not have). But the concept of a never-before-seen child simply appearing in the fieldlands is rather baffling.
I have no concern about him desiring to sabotage my research, for whatever reason. It is not the first time I have had to deal with others trying to impede my progress, and it would not be the strangest backstory a spy has given before. But if what they said about him is true, that he really did both catch and train his Rowlet and Shinx in two days, he must have some strong connection with Pokemon. I wonder what kind of place he comes from, if his skill is really part of his past life.
Perhaps his appearance is related to the space-time distortions plaguing Hisui since the rift opened. However, this hypothesis has some inconsistencies. Inside the distortions, only Pokemon appear. They are always in a manic state, attacking anything that moves and they always disappear along with the distortion itself, without fail. Alec is not compliant with any of these observations.
However, I require more data to turn this hypothesis into a theory. While I do not wish for more people to be stranded here, a larger sample size to observe would help quell my curiosity nicely.
The following note is written in the margin of the notebook, directly next to the previous paragraph.
Upon reading this again, I realize that this is a rather heartless thing to say. Perhaps I should refrain from voicing such wishes, lest people label me heartless.
----------------------------------------
The following excerpt is from Laventon’s Pokedex. It has been corroborated with his journal to determine it was written two days after the previous excerpt. The top-right corner of the page is slightly discolored and warped. Analysis confirmed this as caused by a Water-type move.
POKEDEX ENTRY #010 - BIDOOF
(Originally caught by Research Assistant Alec in the fieldlands)
Bidoof has a rather unsophisticated face, reflective of its unsophisticated intelligence level. No matter how many times I asked it to hold still for its measurements, it would not cooperate. I had to resort to bribery, offering it a fresh oran berry, although I suspect its cooperation was more thanks to being too preoccupied to move out of the way of my ruler.
Its most notable feature is its large twin teeth, each one measuring about three inches. This figure is estimated to one significant figure, as I am unwilling to risk my hands too close to its mouth for a more precise measurement. I do not doubt that their teeth could pierce clean through my bones.
I have heard several rumors of Bidoof gnawing on the wooden frames of houses, using them as a whetstone to hone their teeth. Many villagers have complained to me that the Bidoof are merely pests to be exterminated because they intentionally cause issues such as this.
However, I hypothesize this is due to another reason. Since I received this specimen, its teeth have appeared to grow at a very rapid rate - relatively speaking, that is. Perhaps Bidoof must constantly gnaw on things to keep its teeth at a convenient size, and Jubilife is the easiest supply for things like that? The wood used to construct houses is reinforced and processed to be significantly stronger than ordinary trees, after all.
Addendum:
Using the Bidoof mentioned above, alongside two more (both caught by Research Assistant Alec), I devised an experiment to test this hypothesis. I left them alone in empty rooms, save for a few specific objects. The first Bidoof was left with a wooden chair, the second was left with a smooth piece of steel, and the third was left with one of both aforementioned items.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The results were conclusive: All three mercilessly gnawed on their provided items for almost the entire time. However, the Bidoof with both items preferred the steel 98% of the time, with the remaining 2% being at the beginning of the experiment, before it got curious and tested the steel.
This experiment proves that Bidoof are not the pests that humanity makes them out to be. They are merely foraging for tough objects to gnaw on, and our things are getting caught in the crossfire. I propose that we provide the Bidoof with an adequate supply of steel for all their gnawing needs.
----------------------------------------
The author of the following letter is, for the most part, unknown. It was received by Laventon two days after the previous excerpt. For further reading on the presumed identity of the author, see the end of the excerpt.
Dear Professor Laventon,
Thank you for contacting me. It was very good to hear from you after so long. How are you doing?
I know with how long letters take to deliver that my asking this question is rather superfluous, as your mood will fluctuate a thousand times before I even receive this letter, but I enjoy the conversation nonetheless.
Anyways, down to business. I really like the proposal you mentioned in your previous letter. I agree that an exchange of Pokemon species would be especially beneficial for both of us.
That reminds me, how is your current project going? I remember that you have mentioned it on occasion throughout your past letters. If memory serves, you are compiling an anthology of all Pokemon species native to Hisui? A daunting task, if I do say so myself. This exchange is for that project, yes? If so, I would be more than happy to assist you. In fact, I have two key species here that you would simply love to study.
Consider the deal struck. I trust your judgment, so send whatever two Pokemon you believe would be the most beneficial to me.
Cross-referenced with shipping logs courtesy of the Gingko Historical Foundation, Laventon responded by sending a Shinx and a Pikachu, two notable Electric-types of Hisui. The letter’s author is believed to be Professor Rosaceae of the Galar region, where Laventon hails from as well. The two professors were former colleagues at the University of Hammerlocke. The Rosaceae family has placed a large emphasis on clean energy, even to the present day. (See Chairman Rose and the Macro Cosmos corporation on pg. 564). The two Pokemon traded to Laventon were Oshawott and Cyndaquil, which are believed to have been obtained from Galar’s colonial expeditions, as the Johtan and Unovan colonies had both been established recently.
----------------------------------------
The following entry is dated four days after the previous excerpt. The document has a faint coffee stain, though all the writing is luckily still legible.
I am a man of science. But science cannot explain what I have just seen. Akari really was not pulling my leg when she said Alec had a knack for training Pokemon. The lad somehow managed to catch eight Pokemon in one day.
The word ‘eight’ is underlined three times in thick black strokes.
When I asked him how on earth he managed such a feat, he merely shrugged and said his apricorn, berry, and tumblestone harvest was lacking that day. Still, I can imagine neither Rei nor Akari managing such a remarkable feat, plus other materials to boot. At the pace he is growing, I would not be surprised if he met the criteria to earn his first star with the Survey Corps within the week.
He said that he has yet to test the limits of his Pokemon in a proper battle, though he said that I would be the first to know once it happened. By the King’s Armory, I do not know what I did to deserve such a curious assistant. He did say that his Pokemon have been doing well in battles against wild Pokemon, though we both agreed that a battle against another Pokemon wielder such as himself would be significantly harder.
He does not seem to grasp that he is exceeding my expectations in almost every way. He says that it’s simply “having quiet footsteps and a good throwing arm” that makes him this way, but I believe there is something different about him. I suspect that it is something with how he commands his Pokemon in battle, though I have yet to find any objective evidence of this. Perhaps Alec’s eventual battle will shed light on this.
He asked me about Alpha Pokemon today and disclosed that he has developed a bit of a phobia of them. He said that simply seeing one is enough to make him briefly freeze up. I still think that he is positively bonkers for even being willing to go within 100 meters of the things. As much as I would love to study one, I would also love to keep my soul within my body. I hope one day I get the opportunity to examine one, although I fear this may be a pipe dream.
Pokemon like that certainly are unlike anything I saw back in my homeland. Perhaps it is something about the land here, that encourages an emphasis on territorial behaviour. The climate, the lack of natural resources, the otherwise harsh conditions, where only the strongest can survive. Perhaps Alec’s phobia should not be classified as such, because a fear of those primal forces is anything but irrational.
In other news, I recently had the opportunity to share my findings on Drifloon. Alongside the one that Rei and Akari brought, I have also had the opportunity to examine two more brought by Alec. Now that my sample size was large enough to establish a distinct pattern, I was confident in coming forward.
Of course, I did not expect the townspeople to abandon their superstitions fully as soon as I shared my results. No caring parent would be able to put aside their worry for their child’s safety and risk losing them, no matter how confident I was in my conclusions. I would have been shocked if the Drifloon paranoia ended overnight.
Surprisingly, no one outright opposed me. I anticipated a debate with at least one overbearing parent, appalled at the mere notion of me enabling their child to come to harm. However, everyone seemed to keep a “better safe than sorry” mindset, which is a step in the right direction nonetheless.
I will have to wait and see how this conflict resolves itself.
----------------------------------------
The following entry is dated seven days after the previous excerpt. The document has a faint coffee stain, though all the writing is luckily still legible.
Before me lies a pile of Pokeballs, bigger than any that I ever anticipated to see in one place at the same time. By the King’s Armory, I need to ask Alec to slow down, for I cannot study the Pokemon at the rate that he keeps bringing them in.
The most intriguing part is that his catches are not entirely comprised of common Pokemon like Bidoof or Buizel. Today, he brought back a Dustox and a Mime Jr., two species that likely took a good deal of time to hunt and catch.
I look forward to studying the Mime Jr., and I deeply anticipate studying a Mr. Mime. The evolution line has always fascinated me, with their bizarre mannerisms and extreme commitment to their profession. While I am not necessarily qualified to undertake a detailed study on just how Mr. Mime creates its imaginary objects, I believe that bringing exposure to it will work wonders.
Perhaps this will shed light on the complete lack of Mr. Rime here in Hisui. Back in Galar, Mime Jr. took on a different form upon evolution, followed up by yet another evolution into Mr. Rime. Strangely, both key aspects of the species are absent here. There is still a possibility that it is possible but the means of evolution have been lost or forgotten.
Alec also brought back a Ponyta, another species that does not align with my memory. Back in Galar, Ponyta sports a pastel blue and pink mane instead of one of flame. I have too many theories of what could have caused this to enumerate on paper here. Perhaps it is simply diet or environmental conditions that forced the Hisuian one to burst into flame. Perhaps the latent Fairy-type energy in the Glimwood Tangle did not take kindly to its open flame. I will have to wait and see what I can see.
In other news, I sent Alec off to consult Cyllene on getting his first star with the Survey Corps. Honestly, he’d earned it several days ago. I just felt that he wasn’t ready for it yet.
The purpose of the star system is to protect Corps members from getting themselves into situations with strong Pokemon that they cannot get out of. That rule was one of the first in place, though it should have been enforced far sooner. Despite the fact that Alec has two relatively strong Pokemon at his side and a good head on his shoulders, I still find myself fearing for his safety as I do for all the people who leave the village.
If I had my way, I’d employ Rei, Akari, and Alec all at my lab, and they wouldn’t have to live outside the village at all. They wouldn’t have to risk their lives catching Pokemon and gathering resources just to earn enough money to buy food.
----------------------------------------
The following entry is dated ten days after the previous excerpt. The handwriting is notably messier than the other documents previously listed.
Today was a busy day. By the King’s Armory, I don’t think I’ve worked that hard since university. For a good cause, but difficult nonetheless. My hand shakes and my eyes droop with exhaustion.
Today started off like any other. The lab was getting rather messy, so I dedicated my morning to tidying up. A clean workspace is the key to success. I admit that I allow my workspace to become cluttered, but my research is just too important. I fear that if I stop to keep things tidy, my spring of inspiration may dry up.
I was only momentarily disrupted when Alec came asking for information about the Pokemon species Kleavor. He said that he was on an urgent mission from Kamado, so I dared not ask any questions. As a professor, it is my job to provide information.
Kleavor is one of the many, many species that I have next to no information on. A mere four sentences, with two being mostly speculation. In all fairness, the Pokemon with actual entries with substantive data are the outliers. Most, nearly all, simply have cursory notes instead of detailed breakdowns. I may need to consider hiring an artist to handle the sketching, as producing a detailed one myself is both time-consuming and variable. My results fluctuate, turning out anywhere from okay-ish to downright abysmal.
I felt bad that I could not be of greater help to Alec’s mission. That only serves to push me to finish this project quicker. Though, having to eventually examine a Kleavor is not a pleasant milestone to look forward to. Perhaps I should save those for last. Garchomp, Electivire, Gyrados, Dusknoir, you get the picture.
After Alec left, I heard a rumor from Colza that the Pearl clan’s Noble Kleavor was on a rampage, for some unknown reason. Upon hearing this, I became dizzy and had to sit down. Even now, writing this by candlelight in the comfort of my lab, I still feel angry at Kamado for sending Alec. He didn’t say anything to Jubilife as a whole, either. He just expected us to not notice the obvious correlation of…
The remainder of the paragraph is illegible, nothing but sharp pen strokes and blotched ink. The most prominent theory for the final sentence is the following:
Hopefully my recipe for balms proves successful. If it doesn’t, Kamado will have yet another innocent life on his hands.
----------------------------------------
The following entry is dated a singular day after the previous excerpt.
They worked. By the King’s Armory, by Sinnoh, by Victini, by whichever blasted god you pray to, or whichever deity you swear by, they worked. He’s safe.
Don’t have long to write. Alec is in the hospital and I must go see him. If I can gather my wits later in the day, I’ll continue this entry.
Notably, the entry ends here. The next one is dated several days in the future. See pg. 192 for more information on Professor Laventon.