Birch Lab:

“How is my son handling the situation and will Absol make it?” came the question as Nigel Birch was orienting himself after the teleport.

“Absol is handled by nurse Joy and I think your son is just exhausted, he stayed back at the Pokemon Center. Now I must make a few calls.” says Birch as he tried to move to his desk.

“I already contacted the rangers and warned them of the Zangoose and Seviper Problem. Since I don’t know much about Absol, I thought I would let you handle that.” explains Frank as he walks with the Professor.

“Ah, yes thank you. One less call to make. On topic of the Absol you are not alone, they are very elusive Pokemon and are seldom seen. That’s why many people, that includes me, don’t know much about them. I will need to call an expert, could you handle the feeding of the Pokemon on the ranch?” Nigel asks while dialling a number on his PokeNav.

“No problem, I’m on my way.” said Frank, moments later Nigel hears the backdoor opening and closing.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ri-”Hello?” came the voice through the speaker.

“Hello, this is Professor Birch speaking. Sidney?”

“Yes, how can I help you Professor?”

“We have found a young, injured Absol. It’s currently in nurse Joy’s care at the Oldale Pokemon Center. As you know we are somewhat clueless on the Absol species when it comes to their live in the wild.”

“What? How the hell was an Absol close to Littleroot town? They don’t live anywhere near there. What was the cause of the injuries?” Sidney asks worried.

“It looks like it got into the middle of a turf war between a group of Zangoose and Seviper. The son of my assistant found it and stayed back at the Pokemon Center.”

“Ok, I’m off. I will need to see this Absol in person and let my Absol ask it some questions.”

“If you say so. The kid’s name is Iruni Inei and is about thirteen years old, keep me informed please?”

“Sure, sure. You know I won’t say stuff on where to find them, don’t bother to try.” came the amused reply.

Click. ‘tsk’ Nigel clicks his tongue. ‘Never talks about them. Still someday he will spill, let’s see how the Eevee is settling in. Oh and deny the two troublemakers future treats, can’t have them running of later.’ he muses as he walks outside.

At the Oldale Pokemon Center

I was roused from my slumber by nurse Joy. “How is Absol doing nurse Joy?” I ask immediately.

“She will pull through. Come I will guide you to her, but be aware that Absol can be skittish with humans. So give her space and leave the room and get me if she gets agitated, ok?” Nurse Joy explains and proceeds to guide me to Absol’s room.

“Of course.” I nod while following along.

“Here we are, I’m at the front desk if you need me.” Nurse Joy says after opening a door.

“Thank you I will.” Upon entering the room I see Absol lying on a bed. She has several bandages wrapped around her and looks like the is resting.

‘Well better get conformable.’ I think upon spotting a surprisingly comfy chair. It seems like I’m still tired and start nodding of.

“Sol?” said Absol in a tired voice sometime later.

“Hey there. How are you doing? Still feeling any pain?”

Absol shakes her head. “Absol. Ab. Absol?” the last part came while tilting her head.

I always thought it was kinda hard to understand what Brendan’s Pokemon and the Linoones want from me, Zigzagoon was easy scratches and food. But somehow I can at least take a good guess what Absol is meaning.

“You are asking why I’m here and where here is?”

“Absol.” she confirms while nodding her head. I can see that her posture is rigid and not at ease, I doubt she had many interactions with humans.

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“Well first up we are at the Pokemon Center in Oldale town. A Pokemon Center is a place of healing and care. Oldale town is a good distance away from where I found you, I would need two days to reach it on my own.” I explain while Absol just nods her head and look at me with an expression that reminds me of a raised Eyebrow. As if she was saying ‘Yeah, I won’t let you sweep the other part under the rug.’

“As to why I’m here, well you remember that I had to catch you to safely transport you?” I ask while displaying the shrunken Pokeball in my hand. “I wanted to be here when you wake up, so that you can see at least one face that isn’t completely new.” ‘And it’s expected of me as your trainer.’ I add silently in my head.

“Ab-” Absol aborts whatever she was trying to say to snap her head to the door with a weird expression.

“What’s wrong Absol?” I ask while also looking at the door.

“This must be it.” I heard a muffled voice saying. The door opened and a man that I only saw in 2d sprites in my old world or in a magazine in this one walks into the room. Wearing his iconic combo of black blazer and yellow slacks the Elite Four Sidney enters, followed by a massive Absol. It looks very strong and at about 1.5 meters shoulder height definitely taller than anything I have read about the average.

“Ehm. Can I help you? You must have gotten the wrong room?” I ask confused, I couldn’t fathom why the hell an Elite Four member would be here in Oldale.

“Na, I’m in the right room kid. You are the one who caught the Absol over there right? Well since I’m one of the few who have more than a passing knowledge I came here to see why it was so close to Littleroot.” Sidney explains, his Absol meanwhile walks (or stalks) over to the bed and begins to ask the other Absol questions.

“Ok. That makes sense, kinda? I also was wondering what an Absol was doing there, I mean they usually live far away from humans and in mountainous regions to boot. The bordering forest is neither. If she wouldn’t be wounded I would have taken it as a warning of the turf war, but she seems a bit young to me.”

“Someone did his homework he? Yes that Absol is a bit young, it can’t be more than six months old. I will tell you now, if her parents are still alive you WILL release her is that clear?” he asks sternly.

“May I ask why? I mean apart from the fact that she should be with her parents. Aren’t Absol elusive and don’t want like to come towards humans? I think I also read somewhere that they don’t like to fight if I think about it…” I question, trailing off at the end because Sidney does not look happy.

“No, that’s just wrong. While yes they are elusive, they can and will fight. Especially for their young ones. You probably read reports about an Absol abandoning its trainer right?” He asks with a sigh.

I nod. “Yes, I like Absol as a species and dark types in general. I read everything I could get my hands on, which isn’t much to be honest. Books seldom mention them specificity and dark types in general don’t get detailed. Well apart from ‘be cautious with them’. PokeNet forum didn’t reveal anything substantial either, but I did find those stories you mentioned.”

Sidney drags over another chair and sits in front of me. “The Absol abandoning its trainer? That one usually happens when the trainer simply doesn’t understand them. Absol is a predator that will not like being domesticated. So I assume that particular one wasn’t allowed to hunt, which goes against their base nature. The same is true for most dark types, but the more powerful they are the more they need to express themselves.” he explains.

“But that should be enough for now, you aren’t a trainer after all. Let’s see how my Absol is doing.” he said, effectively closing the subject. He spends a few minutes speaking with his Absol in low tones while I can only think about what he said and looking at the young Absol in her bed.

‘Yeah, definitely not sunshine and rainbows.’ I think while suppressing a snort. It is easy to forget how nature will always find a way if you only interact with Pokemon that are used to humans. ‘Sadly Sidney didn’t explain more about dark types and Absol in particular. First hand experience from a renowned specialist would have been nice.’

Sidney seemed to finish up his discussion with his Absol and stands up from his kneeling position with a sigh. “The parents aren’t alive any more. The young one was left to wander around it seems.” he concludes.

“And what will be happening now?” I ask somewhat hopeful. I mean come on, Absol is an awesome Pokemon. It would be cool to get one as my first one.

“That’s the question. They take a long while to mature and can’t really defend themselves in the meantime. So we can’t just let her out into the wild. I will probably ask around and see if any breeder or ranch can care for her.” he explains to me.

“What if I care for her?”

“Huh? You? Do you even know the first things that come with caring for young Pokemon?” he asks bewildered. “You do realise that she is a dark type right? The warnings in those books of yours exist for a reason after all.”

“Yeah I know, but if I learn to care about her I will also be able to avoid making a mistake right?” I counter.

“Kids…” I hear him grumble under his breath while dragging his hand down his face. ‘Is that Absol sniggering?!’ I’m wondering.

“Look I will have a talk with nurse Joy and with the Professor. Then we will see what we will do next ok?” he sighs.

“That works, can I stay with her?” I ask.

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Just don’t jostle her or irritate her please.” he says while moving out of the room. His Absol is right behind him.

‘So that happened. But what does he means with Absol taking a long time to mature? I’ve read that Poochyena are considered juvenile after two months and can start battling.’ I wonder after he left the room.

“So Absol, you heard the man. Please stay here and you will be right as rain in no time.”

“Absol….” came a resigned sigh from the feline.

‘Yeah better not broach the whole “Will you be my partner” thing right now. She probably can’t think exactly straight. I will need to get my hands on real information regarding dark types though. Hopefully the Professor can help me out there, maybe he will agree if I offer to document Absol’s development?’ I muse while settling in to keep Absol at least some company.