Pokemon Scientist

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed, marking Allen's age at two years old. Aunt Drasna and Uncle Haaland had already left to resume their duties long ago. 

"What's wrong, little baby?" Grandma Dracelia pinched the baby's disgruntled chubby cheeks. "Did I interrupt your sleep?"

"Nana," Allen called softly, yawning as he woke up from his slumber while Grandma Dracelia bathed him.

"Awwww, what a cute little boy you are," Grandma Dracelia cooed as she scrubbed Allen's body with Gloom soap. "Don't worry, you can go back to sleep after I bathe you."

She playfully tickled the baby's armpits. To her surprise, the baby actually giggled, which made her continue her teasing.

Bulla woke up due to Allen's giggling, but upon noticing that her trainer was lovingly tending to the baby, the Miltank merely closed her eyes again and settled back down to resume her beauty nap.

Allen had already started to babble, and his first words were "Nana" for Grandma Dracelia and "Pappy" for Grandpa Drayton.

He grew increasingly fond of these two elders, who loved him like their own son.

With their constant love, affection, and care, the more time he spent with them, the more he considered them part of his real family. And they definitely loved him very much. How could they not love baby Allen?

If someone bumped into his cradle or raised their voice while he was asleep, he wouldn't make a sound; he would just look around before going back to sleep.

He no longer peed or pooped carelessly, and when he needed to go, he would make sounds to let them know. He never ceased to amaze them. They couldn't even remember him crying for no reason.

Allen wanted to express his love for his Grandpa and Grandma, so he often played along with them. It wasn't much, but it meant the world to them, and he could see it in their eyes.

For example, he was put on the floor for the first time and allowed to roam free in the dining room under strict supervision.

To be honest, Allen already knew every room in the house like the back of his hand—there wasn't much to see in the first place. Yet, he had to pretend to be curious.

He had no clue how a child would explore such a bland environment, but watching too many Pokémon movies had sparked his imagination.

Seeing the expectation in their eyes, he started with the nearest thing: the fireplace.

The fire was not lit; the logs were cold and covered in ashes. When he got closer, Grandpa Drayton stopped him.

"This is the fireplace. Now it's safe, but fire is bad. Fire hurts. No touching it, never," he said with a firm but gentle tone.

Allen looked up at him, his big, curious eyes filled with confusion. He reached out, trying to touch the ashes. Grandpa Drayton swiftly grabbed his hand, blocking him.

"Fire is bad. No touching it. Never," Grandpa Drayton repeated, his expression now serious.

Allen stared intently into his grandpa's eyes, as if trying to grasp the weight of his words. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Bad?"

"Yes, very bad," Grandpa Drayton replied, nodding seriously.

As if thinking of something, Grandpa Drayton decided to demonstrate. He called out to one of his Pokémon, which shocked Allen because, despite living here, this was the first time he had ever seen this Pokémon.

"Magmag, come here."

When the Pokémon arrived, Allen's eyes lit up with excitement.

It was Slugma!

"Mag, Ember to the fireplace, please." Grandpa Drayton instructed.

"Slugma~," Slugma cried, opening its mouth and shooting a stream of red-orange flames at the fireplace, igniting it instantly. The flames danced and crackled, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

"See? Bad," Grandpa pointed to the now roaring fireplace, ensuring Allen was paying attention.

The little boy's eyes widened in awe as he watched the fire flicker and pop. At least, that's what Grandpa Drayton thought. But in reality, Allen's eyes had never once left Slugma—he was completely captivated by the Pokémon.

Slugma, known for its aloof nature, preferred solitude. Its introverted personality ran deep, making it naturally wary of attention. So when it noticed a pair of curious eyes fixed on it, the molten Pokémon grew shy, instinctively searching for a place to hide.

Unknowingly, Allen took a step forward, drawn to Slugma like a moth to a flame. But just as he was about to sneak closer, a firm hand caught him.

Without a word, Grandpa Drayton grabbed the boy with a practiced motion, pulling him back in front of him before he could get any closer.

Only then did Allen realize—it was pointless. Slugma was considered dangerous to begin with, so no matter how much he begged, his grandpa would never allow him to get too close.

"Okay, Pappy," Allen said, reluctantly stepping back from the hearth.

He moved away and approached the table, drawn to the colorful tablecloth and the glimmering cutlery. He decided to climb up onto a chair to get a better view, but as he did, he lost his balance and nearly toppled over.

Grandma Dracelia, who had been watching anxiously from the side, rushed over just in time to catch him. "Oh my, be careful, dear!" she exclaimed, her heart racing.

Seeing their increasingly worried expressions, Allen beamed at them, giving them his widest, most innocent smile. "Nana!"

His grin had an infectious quality, and it made Grandma Dracelia squeal in delight, showering him with kisses. "You're such a brave little explorer!"

Quickly, they decided that adventure time was over.

After Allen finished bathing, Grandma Dracelia wrapped him in a clean cloth and sat him down on the carpet beside Bulla so he could drink her milk. The baby had long gotten used to his routine and immediately helped himself to Bulla's milk.

Over the next few days, Allen felt like he had regained his sense of purpose. Every time Grandpa Drayton left the house and Grandma Dracelia was busy in the kitchen, he would sneak out.

Hunting Slugma!

Fireplace, chimney, stove, water pipes, clay ovens, hot stone baths—Allen searched everywhere, determined to find Slugma. But to his growing frustration, the Pokémon never once appeared before him. 

Until one day, he got caught by his grandpa.

Originally, Grandpa Drayton wanted to reprimand him, but after seeing how all of Allen's efforts had been in vain, he couldn't help but relax. Instead of scolding him, he decided to tease the boy instead.

"Haha, it's just hiding. Magmag is shy like that," Grandpa Drayton chuckled.

"But be careful, dear," Grandma warned gently. "You can only look at Slugma from a distance. It's as hot as fire."

Allen pouted, disappointed. Still, as he observed the house around him, he couldn't help but admire its clever design.

Perched high atop Mount Coronet, Celestic Town was no stranger to the bitter cold. The icy wind howled through the mountains, and on the harshest nights, the chill seeped through even the thickest walls.

Electricity was unreliable, often cutting out during blizzards or heavy snowfall, leaving families in sudden darkness. But the people here had long adapted, finding ways to survive in their secluded mountain home.

And their solution?

Using Slugma to warm entire households.

That was fucking perfect.

Slugma—a Pokémon with a body temperature exceeding 1,800°F—might be considered dangerous elsewhere, but in Celestic Town, it was a lifeline.

Its molten body constantly churned with heat, its circulatory system made entirely of magma, which delivers vital nutrients and oxygen to their organs.

They also seem to be able to survive solely by absorbing minerals and nutrients from the magma that flows through their bodies. This magma can also transport nutrients obtained from organic sources to the rest of their bodies.

They were once thought to have had inorganic origins, perhaps related to rock-based Pokémon like Golem. Their thin skins, however, are distinctly organic in composition, and though they have developed to resist the extreme heat of their environments, their open circulatory systems greatly resemble that of other mollusks in general plan. 

Slugma never slept, never stopped moving. If it ever cooled, its body would harden and become brittle, risking it shattering apart.

Families kept Slugma in special enclosures within their homes, letting their radiant heat warm entire rooms. Some even used them for cooking, placing kettles and pots over heat-resistant stone slabs where Slugma rested—turning them into living stoves.

However, these Pokémon, at least wild-caught ones, are not at all recommended for beginning or even intermediate trainers; though very docile (they have virtually no enemies in the wild), they require extensive care prior to even being brought to human settlements.

Individuals that have already been treated are still very hot to the touch, and can still cause moderate burns. It goes without saying that they should not be kept in wooden homes or around flammable materials. 

This is why most Slugma used as a heat source for homes are placed in a specially designed chimney system with metal-lined channels. This setup allows Slugma to move freely while distributing heat efficiently throughout the residence, ensuring safety by preventing fire hazards.

For the people of Celestic Town, Slugma wasn't just a Pokémon. It was warmth in the cold, fire for their meals, and a symbol of survival in the unforgiving mountain winter.