"Professor...?"
Luther hesitated, the Pokédex in his hands suddenly feeling like a hot potato. Before he could say more, Professor Rowan interrupted him.
"As a Trainer, your ability to make sound judgments in battle, develop reasonable strategies, and adapt to shifting circumstances is crucial. While emotional responses are natural, a good Trainer quickly regains composure and adjusts. Based on what I've seen, you now possess the qualifications to receive a Pokédex."
With that, Professor Rowan gestured to the researchers to clean up the battle arena and escort the spectators away. Luther's lingering hesitation went unnoticed as the professor led him toward the main research room, where the Pokédexes were stored.
"What are your other two Pokémon?" Rowan asked.
The Pokémon from the recent battle had already been taken by the researchers for recovery. Luther reached into his pocket, pulling out two Poké Balls and releasing Wooper and Drifloon.
Rowan's gaze lingered on Wooper as he asked. "If the situation demanded it, how would you use Wooper in battle?"
"I'd send Wooper out, have it use a single move, then immediately withdraw."
The professor nodded in approval.
When Luther first received Wooper, it was obvious the little one had only just hatched. It was inexperienced and fragile. Facing a more seasoned opponent would only lead to unnecessary pain, and Luther had no intention of putting Wooper through that.
Rowan lightly tapped his fingers on the table, his expression thoughtful. "Every research lab has its own criteria for determining whether a Trainer qualifies for a Pokédex. Considering your past experiences, I chose a battle evaluation for you. Congratulations on passing. You've earned this."
The Pokédex handed to Luther was a brilliant gemstone blue. He reached out eagerly to accept it, but the professor's grip lingered.
"To this day, only one Pokédex has ever been confiscated," Rowan said solemnly. "The individual's actions were inexcusable. Other Trainers, acting under the League's authority, even defeated him in the wild and brought him to justice."
Luther swallowed nervously. "What did he do that was so unforgivable?"
Rowan's eyes darkened. "You'll understand in time. For now, remember this: A Pokédex owner must never abuse their Pokémon. The League's regulations exist for a reason. Break them, and the consequences will be severe."
With those words, Rowan finally released the Pokédex. Luther clutched it tightly, its smooth surface cool against his palms. Unable to resist, he rubbed it gently, savoring the feeling.
He'd done it. He had a Pokédex!
Eagerly, Luther tossed Ralts and Marill's Poké Balls into the air. The two Pokémon appeared in a flash of light. He quickly scanned them with his new device.
"Ralts, the Psychic Pokémon. It uses the horn on its head to sense the emotions of people around it. It is often drawn to those with cheerful hearts."
Luther checked Ralts's stats. Its physical defense was undeniably weak, but its special attack and speed were outstanding.
"Ability: Trace."
He exhaled in relief. As long as it wasn't the frustrating Synchronize ability, he could work with it.
Next, he scanned Marill.
"Marill (Baby Form), the Aqua Mouse Pokémon. It uses its buoyant tail for balance and can move swiftly on both land and water."
Female. Ability: Thick Fat.
No wonder she could hold her own against Dragon Types. With her durability and power, she was a formidable little fighter. A true Dragon Slayer.
Luther froze mid-check, eyes flicking between the Pokédex display and the dazed Marill beside him. Then, he looked again at the hexagonal stat chart on the screen.
Perfect Individual Values… this is a battle prodigy in the making!
Professor Rowan leaned in, studying both the Pokédex and Marill (Baby Form) with keen interest.
"This little one looks like the Pokémon I gave to Shiran. Did he pass it on to you?"
Luther nodded sheepishly, choosing not to mention that Director Shiran had, well… bent the rules a little to let him end up with this "battle prodigy."
As Luther cradled Marill in his arms, absentmindedly rubbing Ralts's head, he chatted with Professor Rowan about the recent battle. Meanwhile, the researchers returned with the Pokémon that had been used in the match.
Among them, Luther quickly spotted his Jumpluff, though it was still looking a little worse for wear. Scratches and scuff marks covered its body, clear evidence of a fight. A quick glance confirmed that Clefairy was missing from the lineup.
Sachiko sighed, exasperation clear in her voice. "Jumpluff got into another fight with Roserade and Manectric on the way back. Clefairy tried to break it up and ended up taking hits from all three of them. It had to be taken in for treatment."
Luther and Professor Rowan both groaned, shaking their heads in unison.
Luther had already experienced just how much of a handful Jumpluff could be during their battle. It had refused to back down, even after taking a direct hit from Manectric's Fire Fang. And instead of resting properly afterward, it had chosen to pester Clefairy, its own teammate, until Clefairy was too annoyed to deal with it.
As for Professor Rowan, he knew Jumpluff's antics all too well. Its behavior had made it somewhat of an outcast among the Grass-type Pokémon at the research lab. Instead of sticking with its fellow Grass-types, Jumpluff had taken to hanging around the Ghost- and Steel-type Pokémon instead, a rare sight indeed.
"Professor, what's the deal with this Jumpluff?"
Luther was still in disbelief at its sheer tenacity. It had endured a barrage of super-effective attacks and still kept going, an absolute menace in battle.
Rowan adjusted his glasses. "When you arrived at the lab, did you see a Vileplume?"
Luther nodded. He hadn't just seen it, he had considered trying to recruit one of the Oddish under its command, only to be completely dismissed by the Vileplume herself.
"That Vileplume is the leader of the Pokémon in the lab, more of a mediator, really. Professor Oak has his Bulbasaur, and here, we have Vileplume. But before she took over, the one in charge was your Jumpluff."
Luther's eyes widened in surprise.
"Jumpluff lost its position after being defeated by Vileplume in a battle," Rowan continued. "After that, it started changing, drifting away from its old self. It used to be gentle, always working to keep the peace, but after losing its status, it became reckless. Maybe it despises its own weakness?"
"Before you arrived, it was constantly challenging Steel-type Pokémon for training. Surprisingly, they didn't reject it. In fact, they took its training seriously, proof of just how much respect it commands."
Luther couldn't help but grin. This Jumpluff was chaotic, stubborn, and downright troublesome, but also oddly charming. He had to find a way to make it part of his team.
Rubbing his hands together, he turned to Rowan with a hopeful look. "Professor, as a rookie Trainer, shouldn't I be getting something besides just a Pokédex?"
Professor Rowan blinked, then let out a small chuckle. "Ah, right! You're supposed to receive a starter Pokémon. But Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig have already been taken, and the next batch of starters isn't fully trained yet."
"I don't want those," Luther said, eyes fixed on Jumpluff. "Can I take Jumpluff with me instead?"
Rowan hesitated, considering the request. Then, he gave Luther a pointed look. "Are you prepared to deal directly with the Pokémon League?"
Luther blinked.
Wait… what?
How did this conversation about Jumpluff suddenly turn into a discussion about the Pokémon League?
"I'm just a rookie Trainer!"
Luther swallowed hard, dreading what was coming next. Was Professor Rowan really about to recommend him for something this big?
"The research lab isn't just for studying Pokémon; it's also responsible for scouting promising Trainers," Rowan explained. "Your strategic thinking in battle has already surpassed what we'd expect from a beginner. If you get the chance to meet some of the Pokémon League's elite early on, you might gain invaluable experience and inspiration. Of course, that would come with responsibilities, you might be assigned tasks and lose the freedom to travel at your own pace."
Rowan's offer was clearly in his best interest, but Luther had only been in this world for a few days. The idea of becoming a Pokémon League recruit so soon felt overwhelming.
He wasn't against joining the League, after all, it was a powerful organization that played a crucial role in maintaining order across the Pokémon world. But he had envisioned easing into this adventure, not diving straight into League duties.
He had yet to truly experience what this world had to offer. He hadn't soared through the skies on the back of a Pokémon, felt the cool ocean spray while wading through the waves, or trekked deep into uncharted forests in search of rare Pokémon.
There was so much left to see, so much to discover.
Luther shook his head, politely turning down Rowan's offer.
"My goal is simple: to travel, grow stronger, and chase the dream of becoming Champion, just like Ash once did. I want to experience this world with my Pokémon, not be tied down by responsibilities so soon. Maybe the Blind Pick system shows I have talent, but, Professor, don't you want to see what kind of Pokémon I can raise on my own?"
Rowan paused for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
"That's exactly what Cynthia said when she turned down my offer. Almost word for word. She believed the Blind Pick was more about luck and strategy than true Pokémon raising. She said it took the heart out of training and made it uninteresting."
Luther blinked. That was a high compliment. Cynthia was a legend, her achievements, her battle prowess, her status as Champion, he admired her greatly.
Curious, he asked, "So, how did Cynthia beat you back then, Professor? What was she like when she first started out?"
Rowan smirked. "Luck."
"Luck?"
"That's right. It was pure luck. The Pokémon I got in the match were all unevolved, with weak base stats, and my strategies just couldn't carry me through. Meanwhile, Cynthia's team? Six fully evolved powerhouses. She steamrolled me. Of course, her battle instincts were incredible even back then, so I couldn't even be upset about losing. In fact, she's never lost a single official battle since her debut. Can you imagine the pressure on her opponents?"
Luther shuddered. 'Oh, he could imagine it all too well. The mere thought of Cynthia's Togekiss with Serene Grace ability was enough to give him a headache, he had struggled against it even in a game.
Can a Trainer rely on luck alone?
And what happens when someone is both strong… and unbelievably lucky?
(End of Chapter)