Working at the lab turned out to be quite interesting. While I didn’t learn that much directly from the Professor, Joshua explained the Pokemon behaviour to me, so that I can feed them on my own. What Pokemon get what food type, because while they get only Pokemon kibble, that’s a thing it turned out, they all got a different one. For example while Poochyena and Mightyena get kibble for carnivores, which turned out to be made out of specially raised Pokemon, the Wurmple line get a plant based kibble that has insects mixed into them.
That started my own research into Pokemon food, because while I doubt the Professor would use a cheap food, its mass produced. And because of that can’t be tailored to the specific Pokemon. Also I distinctly remember a fiction where some old guy had gone a bit overboard with that kind of research and people thought he was drugging his Pokemon.
It turned out that while yes the food is mass produced its generally at least used as a base to add supplements based on your specific Pokemon. Which supplements are used for what Pokemon is not disclosed, which makes sense. No use in giving your opposition a leg up after all.
After a month I got a small salary, which was more like a bit of pocket money, but I don’t mind that. After all I’m just doing odd jobs, not like my dad who is researching actively.
While I was musing about the past three month I absently glanced over the gathered Pokemon that came for the feeding time. Everything seemed to be in order, until I spotted a small brown furred Pokemon that nervously eyed the Mightyena pack.
‘Huh, since when do we have an Eevee here?’ I thought to myself while I laid out the food.
“No need to be nervous little one. The Mightyena are here to guard the ranch, we don’t want wild Pokemon strolling in after all.” I said while smiling down at the Eevee.
“Eev.” came the short and still somewhat nervous answer.
“Don’t worry and don’t hesitate to get me if something is wrong ok? Now enjoy your food.” I said while walking back to the building where the food was kept. Glancing back I saw that the Eevee was eating its carnivore mix.
With the shed closed up I walked back into the lab and only saw Professor Birch bustling around. Since I wanted to address the Eevee straight away I walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
You see after reading through that ‘My Eevee didn’t evolve into Umbreon’ thread, I wrote back and asked what he thinks happened. The user explained that he wanted an Umbreon to shut down Ghost types that threaten his team of psychic Pokemon. He told me that the evolution came as a surprise to him and he calmed down and settled with the Pokemon.
But that situation brought a game mechanic back to the forefront of my mind. Eevee and its evolutions are mostly simply: Eevee plus Stone equals new Pokemon. Then came Umbreon and Espeon and since the developers where (rightly) proud of their day and night circle they made it so that Umbreon evolved only at night and Espeon only at day.
Now something like that is not how I think you can trigger an evolution in the ‘real’ world. What I think happened to the guy in the forum is something that is more like the Sylveon evolution from the games. There you need a fairy type move and high friendship.
Now the guy has a psychic team and his Eevee was repeatedly exposed to them. And that’s what I think triggered the evolution into Espeon.
“Ehm, Nigel? Since when do we have an Eevee with us?” I ask when he finally turned around.
“Oh that one? That’s Brendan’s. He sent it over last night because he already got his six Pokemon with him, why?” asked Professor Birch while still reading something from a clipboard.
“Did he say if he planned which Pokemon he wants Eevee to evolve into?” I ask seriously.
“No, not that I remember why?”
I sigh great onto explaining. “Well I have theory that depending on the Pokemon on types and Eevee is exposed to will influence if it evolves into Umbreon or Espeon.”
That got the attention of the Professor. “And why do you think that? I believe Professor Elm has already postulated that the evolution is triggered depending on the day and night circle?”
“Yes I read that, but there was an interesting forum thread in the dark type section. A user followed his guide to evolve his Eevee into Umbreon to protect his psychic team against Ghost Pokemon. The Eevee evolved into Espeon instead.” I explain while wringing my fingers behind my back. While I’m not a shy guy, contradicting a theory of an acknowledged Professor is still nerve wrecking.
“Provided that thread is real than it would lean towards you theory, yes. But even if it’s real, with such a small sample size we can’t say that it is right.” he answered after a bit of thought.
“I only brought it up because we have the Mightyena pack always out in the back and no Psychic Pokemon around. I just wanted to make sure Brendan knows that it is a possibility.” I said somewhat defeated.
“No need to look so down, yes Brendan should be informed of the possibility. I meant my answer in the scientific sense.” he chuckled and dialled a number on his phone or PokeNav, this still needs getting used to. Seeing that the Professor called Brendan I take my leave to go on with my day.
Later that day at diner my dad told me that Brendan was indeed planing to evolve his Eevee into Jolteon. So the exposure to the Dark types should be no Problem.
The next day I received a surprise. After feeding the Pokemon I went on like normal and asked if anyone had something that needs to be doing.
Stolen story; please report.
“Ah yes, Joshua is out on Route 102 because there where sightings of a Mightyena pack. The rangers should be able to handle it, but he wanted to look into the reason why they are there in the first place. So I need you to handle the round through the town forest, take the Poochyena and the Zigzagoon with you.” came the prompt reply from the Professor.
“Alright, then I’m off.” and walked out after grabbing the usual backpack for the rounds. That was something that surprised me after starting at the lab, we have to patrol the forest border near the town to make sure there are no strange things going on. Like invasive Pokemon for example. This is usually done by gym trainers or trainers staying at the Pokemon Center if there is no gym. Since we have neither it falls onto us to do those rounds, which are more a walk through the forest instead of a high pressure patrol. The deep ones are done by the rangers, they are the professionals after all.
“Poochyena! Zigzagoon! Come here! We need to patrol the forest!” I shout as I stand on the porch. Two exited yips answered, those two always come with me when I did the rounds with dad and Joshua.
“Remember, no running of because something smells funny or is interesting. Alert me if something is unusual but do not run of on your own.” I remind them, which is needed for those two. They are easily distracted after all.
“Pooch.””Goon.” came the somewhat serious answer.
‘I guess that’s the best I can get’. I think somewhat amused. “Well come on, we need to be done or we will be late to feeding time.” with that I moved to the gate at the site of the ranch fence.
The patrol starts normal, the usual Pokemon are running around. Zigzagoon, Wurmples on some trees, Taillow flying through the air and a Seedot here and there. The usual stuff for this area. Three hours in we where nearing the end of our patrol when we heard a loud sound.
“What was that? Let’s go and make sure nothing is wrong.” I state and correct my path towards the loud sound. I should have paid better attention to the two troublemakers, then I would have seen how nervous they were.
After 15 minutes of walking we heard the sound again, accompanied with a loud hissing sound. Breaking into a clearing we saw the origin of the sounds, something that should NOT be this close to Littleroot town. Several something's to be precise.
“Run!” I whisper to my two partners only to see that they long bolted. Not that I can fault them, nobody wants to be in a turf war between Zangoose and Seviper. Especially when there are several on each side.
I’m running panicked through the woods, just away from that clearing. If I stayed the chances of either getting mauled or bitten would be quite high after all. Not looking where I’m running I trip over a loose root and face plant into the dirt. ‘Ugh of course I trip over something, just my luck’ I grouse while getting up only to freeze to what I’m seeing.
A wounded Absol, which couldn’t be an adult because they usually are bigger, is lying near a tree and bleeding. I slowly stand up and approach warily, wounded Pokemon are not the most rational I have learned from enough scratches.
“Hey there.” I say softly while approaching. The Absol just stares at me and jerks its head to signal me to move on.
“Yeah no, I won’t be leaving you here to bleed out. I got stuff that can at least stabilise you until we can get you proper care.” I snort and start digging through the backpack searching for the potion.
“Absol! Sol!” came the cry, probably wanting me to leave because of the turf war. Speaking of which is coming closer.
“Hold still, this will sting. After that I will carry you out of here.” I said and start to spray to potion onto the visible wounds I’m seeing.
“AB!” exclaimed the Absol, clearly feeling the sting. Sadly I wasn't the only one who heard the cry. A Zangoose whipped its head around somewhat fifty meters behind Absol. I just stared while my heart was hammering.’Not good!’
I slowly gather the Absol in my arms, stand up and start walking away from the Zangoose. Thankfully a Seviper crashed through the shrubbery and attacked the Zangoose.
‘That’s my cue!’ I thought and started running towards the town.
Running through a forest with an Absol in your arms is no easy feat. My arms started burning quickly because I’m not used to carry something in this position. The Pokemon weights about ten kilogram, but its awkward to hold onto. Running quickly became power walking.
Thankfully we had sliding doors at the lab so I didn’t need to try and open a door without my hands.
“Nigel! Dad! I need help, I got a wounded Pokemon!” I shout after the doors close behind me. Both of them burst into the room shortly after I shouted.
“An Absol? Where the hell did you find an Absol? A young one at that?” asks Birch while looking over Absol. I explained what happened in the woods.
“By the way are those two troublemakers back?”
“Yeah, they came back a few minutes ago.” answered my dad while observing me closely.
“We need to get this Absol to a Pokemon Center. It’s poisoned and probably has more injuries than I’m seeing. Wait here I will be back.” said Birch and rushes into the lab.
“Iruni, sit down you are trembling.” said my dad and guides me to one of the chairs at the coffee table.
“Yeah, I think the situation is finally settling in.” I answer somewhat shaken. Birch came back into the entrance room and held a Pokeball towards me.
“Here Iruni, please catch her. This way we can transport Absol without risk of worsening the injuries.”
“Alright.” Looking down to the trembling Absol I ask “I need to capture you for now ok? I can set you free after your injuries are healed.” ‘Since when did the trembling start?’ I think absently.
“Absol. Ab” came the weak reply while shaking it’s head. “Come on, we can’t treat you here and if we transport you we risk worsening you condition.” I plead.
“Sol.” sighed the Absol with what sounds like resignation.
“Thank you.” I say and tap the Pokeball on it’s head. The ball instantly clicks, signifying its capture and confirming that it’s not in a great condition.
“Now what? How do we get Absol to the Pokemon Center, I guess in Oldale right?” I ask the two adults.
“Oh that’s easy, by teleport of course.” says Birch and snaps a Pokeball open.
“Medi?” said the blinking Medicham.
“Could you please teleport me and Iruni to the Oldale Pokemon Center? We have an emergency on our hands.”
“Medi. Medicham” said Medicham while pointing towards me and Birch.
“I guess you can only take two?” asks my dad. “Cham.” nods Medicham. “Yeah no Problem I will hold the fort.” says my dad.
“Alright of we go, Medicham Teleport.” commands Birch.
I suddenly go from sitting at the chair in the lab to sitting in a chair in what could only be the Pokemon Center. Birch was already explaining what happened to the nurse. Which by the way was indeed looking like the anime one.
“Ok, Iruni right?” I nod to her. “Follow me, please.”
“I will head back and contact the rangers, Zangoose and Seviper should not be that close to Littleroot, neither should Absol. Just follow Nurse Joys orders.” says Birch and gets teleported away before I can answer. So I shrug and follow the nurse to a bench in a hallway at which end was what only could be the emergency bay.
“Absol Pokeball please. And I’m sorry but you can’t come in while we work.” She said with a smile.
“I figured that. Can I visit her after you transfer her to a normal room?” I ask while handing over her Pokeball.
“Sure, I doubt we will be needing that long.” she said and rushed into the emergency unit.
‘Somehow I think she isn’t sure herself that Absol can make it. I hope she is successful, Absol was at the wrong place at the wrong time from the looks of it.’ I think while collapsing onto the waiting bench. I was promptly asleep.