Pokemon Scientist

Slugma never appeared, but the hunt for it never ceased. It only paused—just like today.

After he was full, Allen turned his attention to the toys in front of him. He had an oddly shaped wooden train modeled after a Falinks, a little wooden Mudsbray, and a set of colorful stacking rings.

Playing with these toys alone might have been dull, but with his little companion by his side, everything felt magical.

"Bun! Here!" Allen called, his voice bubbling with excitement.

Buneary perked up and hopped over, carefully placing the last ring on the stack with its tiny paws. As the final ring settled into place, it clapped its little hands together, hopping up and down with joy.

"Buneary! Buneary!" it chirped, its eyes shining with delight.

Allen burst into giggles, the sound of pure joy echoing through the room. Every time he played with Buneary, he couldn't help but squeal and laugh, his happiness infectious.

From across the room, Grandpa Drayton and Grandma Dracelia watched, their hearts swelling with love.

"Look at him," Grandpa Drayton said with a proud smile, his eyes twinkling. "All he has are some old toys, yet it looks like he holds the whole world in his little hands."

Grandma Dracelia sat by the window, her hands deftly knitting tiny clothes for Allen. Every now and then, she glanced at the clock on the wall, as if waiting for someone.

"Oh my, isn't Carolina supposed to be arriving with Cynthia by now?" she murmured.

Almost as if on cue, a soft chime rang from outside—tring, tring, tring.

Grandpa Drayton, who had been sitting nearby, stood up and brushed off his pants. His face lit up with excitement—he had been waiting a long time to finally meet his other granddaughter.

"That's Chingling's bell! Carolina is here. Let's go welcome them!"

They stepped outside, greeted by the sight of Professor Carolina walking up the path, cradling a little girl in her arms. Cynthia, just two years old like Allen, clung to her grandmother, wide-eyed as she curiously took in her surroundings.

"Oh! Carolina, finally you're here! And who is this cute little girl?!" Grandpa Drayton exclaimed, his voice booming with exaggerated enthusiasm as he waved his hands dramatically.

Cynthia, startled by the loud greeting, shrank into her grandmother's embrace.

"Oi, Drayton, don't go shouting like that, you're embarrassing Cynthia," Professor Carolina scolded, though her eyes and tone betrayed her amusement.

This only made Cynthia retreat even further into her grandmother's arms, her face turning a shade redder.

"Hahaha... Alright, alright," Grandpa Drayton burst into laughter as he stepped back, letting Professor Carolina and Cynthia enter the house.

Once inside, the first thing to make a run for it was Chingling, which immediately hovered toward Allen and Buneary.

Buneary jumped excitedly to catch it while Allen stared at Chingling in deep thought.

Professor Carolina's eyes were immediately drawn to Allen, who was sitting quietly.

"I must say, I can already see a handsome young man in the making," she remarked with a smile as she watched him.

His straight nose and sharp, expressive eyes gave his face a striking structure. Combined with his silver, flowing hair, this boy was destined to have a magnetic presence in the future. But right now, rather than handsome, he looked very cute as he pretended to be in deep thought.

"Hahaha, of course he will! Allen, say hello to Grandma Carolina!"

Hearing his Grandpa's voice, Allen looked over and realized there were guests. He hurriedly made his way toward Professor Carolina before greeting her politely.

"Hello! Nice to meet you."

'Oh crap, I forgot!'

"Is he really just two years old? Mine's two years old as well, but there's a huge difference; I want her to learn from him."

"Yeah, he's a smart boy," Grandma Dracelia chimed in, stroking Allen's head.

Both Grandpa Drayton and Grandma Dracelia didn't feel too out of place seeing the two-year-old Allen speak properly.

At first, they were taken aback, but soon they realized that Allen was simply different from his peers. He was exceptionally smart, to the point that other kids probably felt intimidated by him. Yet, this only made both elders proud. 

Most children start speaking around their first birthday, maybe uttering a few simple words. But Allen? He wasn't just saying words; he was stringing them together into full sentences. They cherished his intelligence

"He's a little prodigy," Grandpa Drayton would often say with a chuckle, while Grandma Dracelia would nod in agreement, her eyes twinkling with affection.

"Then, Cynthia, you need to learn from Allen. How is it, Cynthia, hmm?"

"Cynthia...?" Professor Carolina called out once again. Why wasn't the little girl answering?

'Creamy blonde hair, gray eyes, and her bangs...' Allen thought to himself as he scrutinized Cynthia curiously.

There was no mistaking it—this was none other than the future Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia.

Probably embarrassed by everyone's gazes, especially Allen's, who was staring at her so blatantly, Cynthia instinctively buried her face deeper into her grandmother's shoulder.

This was the first time Allen had met Cynthia since their Choosing Ceremony, as Professor Carolina had been busy with her own project at the Eterna Historical Museum in Eterna City.

"Oh my, what happened to the usual tomboyish Cynthia?" Grandma Dracelia teased, noticing how her cheeks flushed a rosy pink.

Both Grandpa Drayton and Professor Carolina roared with laughter, but Cynthia continued to hide her face and occasionally stole glances at Allen.

Every time their eyes met, she would turn away quickly, hoping her grandmother's shoulder would protect her from his gaze. 

One year had passed since the historic meeting between baby Allen and baby Cynthia, and now they were both three years old.

During this time, Allen had learned a great deal—whether from books, keen observations, or the lively gossip and conversations around town.

He had also been given permission by his Grandma and Grandpa to explore, provided he stayed close to the house. As he left the room, Allen held onto Miltank with his right hand and Buneary with his left, the trio trotting happily together.

The soft jingle of Buneary's ears flopped with each movement, accompanied by Miltank's gentle mooing as they made their way to the front door.

Just then, they were discovered by Grandma Dracelia, who sat comfortably in her favorite armchair.

"Oh?" She sipped his tea, glancing over the rim of his cup. "Where are the three of you going?"

"Outside!" Allen exclaimed.

"Milll~," the cow chimed in.

"Buneary~!" the cute rabbit added.

"Then make sure not to stray too far from the house, okay?"

"Okay, Nana!"

"Mill!"

"Buneary~!"

Grandma Dracelia chuckled softly at the sight of the trio as they rushed through the front door.

"Ah, that child reminds me of my younger days," She muttered to himself, a nostalgic grin spreading across her face. "Just three years old and already seeking adventure."

This newfound freedom allowed Allen to observe Celestic Town in much greater detail.

Most of the townspeople were involved in farming, and, to his surprise, many of them were elderly. But with the help of their Pokémon, who took care of the heavy lifting, these spry elders managed their farms with ease.

Although the town was isolated and sparsely populated, the land was abundant and fertile. However, for those unfamiliar with the terrain, farming could be a difficult and demanding task. The farming practices here were unique, adapted to the rugged, mountainous landscape.

The townsfolk cultivated crops on terraced fields, designed to prevent soil erosion while maximizing the limited space. These terraces made it possible to grow a wide variety of vegetables and berries, even on the steep slopes surrounding the town.

It was the same for Allen and his current family—they were also a farming family. Beside their house lay a field where they cultivated potatoes, wheat, and other crops.

For nine months of the year, they worked as farmhands, tending to the land with dedication.

After autumn ended, most of the village men would head into the nearby forest—not to hunt Pokémon or anything like that, but to gather berries and honey from Combee, making the most of the mountain's natural resources.

They worked together, sharing knowledge on crop rotation and sustainable practices, ensuring their close-knit community remained resilient and self-sufficient year after year.

Right now, it is mid-October, marking the end of the Harvest Festival in town, during which the men prepare to welcome the winter.

The harvest of crops is over, leaving only potatoes; however, the potato harvest seems to be running a bit late this year. From the looks of it, people are hastily preparing to head to the Route 211 wild area to forage for berries and honey.

In the Sinnoh region, there are four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

However, since Celestic Town is nestled high on the slopes of Mount Coronet, the environment is often chilly, making it feel like winter for most of the year—especially in December, when the cold reaches its peak. It snows a lot during these months.

With winter's heavy snow making farming impossible, people turn to foraging instead. Only Route 211 remains safe for travel between Celestic Town and Eterna City, as any area outside this boundary is extremely dangerous due to wild Pokémon and unpredictable weather.

Conditions can be foggy, and out of nowhere, snowstorms or even landslides may occur in the worst cases. Due to the remote nature of the area, if someone gets into trouble, help may be far away.