Pokemon Scientist

"Hahaha! You little critter!" an elder laughed heartily as he grabbed Allen from Halland and raised him high in the air.

"You are definitely my grandson! Look at you with the Pokémon! It reminds me of how I interacted with Pokémon for the first time! Hahaha!"

The people around them were puzzled. What was this elder rambling on about?

The ceremony was still ongoing!

Yet, no one dared to interrupt him. Only the young children, busy whispering among themselves, couldn't contain their excitement.

"It seems Grandpa Drayton is at it again!" one child whispered to his friend.

"Does this mean we can escape Grandpa's clutches?" another replied.

"It was so awkward for him to join us when we played! I— I cannot breathe properly!" He then pretended to gasp for air, dramatically clutching his chest, making his friends crack up silently.

"Shhh! No matter what, that baby is our savior. With Grandpa Drayton distracted, we can play freely in the afternoon!" one of them declared, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's give a salute!"

Under the watchful eyes of the adults and elders nearby, the three to five children, determined to show their solidarity, stood in a line and saluted Allen dramatically, one hand over their brows as if they were in the military. Their faces were so serious that even the people watching them looked bewildered.

"Let's make a run for it before he notices!" one of the braver kids whispered, and just like that, they all dashed away.

As for Allen, he was feeling frustrated. 'W-what?! Why am I flying?! No, Goomy!'

In a moment of defiance, he smacked the old man in the face with his slimy little chubby fist, but Grandpa Drayton only laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! You are so small and yet so brave!" he exclaimed, nodding in appreciation. "Listen to me, little brat. I am your grandpa. Now say it: "Grandpaaaa."

"Aiyah~aiyah—ai!" Allen protested, shaking his head stubbornly. (No! Take this—Hydro Pump!)

With a mischievous grin, he unleashed a sprinkle of water that splashed across Grandpa Drayton's face.

The sound of his giggles echoed through the shrine as he looked up at the man with innocent eyes, who now wore a bewildered expression.

After a few moments of surprise, the old man's face broke into a wide smile, and he roared with laughter, joining Allen in his gleeful antics. 

Nearby, some aunts and grandmas exchanged knowing smiles. They sighed, amused yet resigned, as they stood up, preparing to clean up the playful mess. Despite this, the smiles on their lips were impossible to conceal.

So at the end of the ceremony, Cynthia chose a Poké Ball, which meant her future would be as the Champion.

As for Allen, he chose Goomy and refused to leave it, so they said he would be a great Pokémon watcher in the future.

After everything was done in the shrine, the sun hung low in the sky, bathing Celestic Town in a warm, velvety orange hue, signaling the approaching evening.

Shadows began to stretch across the cobblestone streets, as if the day itself were winding down, preparing for a quiet night ahead.

The laughter and chatter from the ceremony had faded, replaced by a serene hush. The townsfolk, now weary yet content, began to disperse. The glow of lanterns joined with modern lamps, flickering to life outside the quaint houses.

"Bad baby!" Drasna lightly pinched Allen's chubby cheeks. "That is your grandpa. Don't pee on him, okay?" she said.

After she saw that no one was looking, she leaned in and whispered, "Make sure to go where it's out of sight. Keep it private, okay?"

One of the advantages of being a baby was that ignorance was perfectly fine; when the time came, someone would teach him. Allen giggled at his aunt's antics, then his eyes grew heavy.

The ceremony earlier had already drained his stamina.

"Oh, little Allen, you want to sleep?" Drasna cooed gently. 

"Ai,"

With heavy eyes that fluttered like the wings of a tired Butterfree, Allen finally nestled under his crib, seeking comfort in the soft, worn blanket wrapped around him like a warm hug.

Drasna watched him with a fond smile, knowing that even the tiniest moments of peace were precious.

"Sweet dreams, little one," she whispered, tiptoeing away, leaving the room.

Celestic Town's weather is pleasantly mild today.

The town is built in tiers, with giant flattened steps forming a staircase down the mountain. It sits atop Mount Coronet, nestled in the heart of Sinnoh. As a historic and secluded settlement, it is surrounded by rugged mountain terrain, making access difficult from most directions.

To the north, west, and south, towering peaks of Mount Coronet dominate the landscape, their rocky slopes forming a natural barrier. To the east, the land gradually descends into lower elevations, providing the only viable route to Solaceon Town.

Just now, Allen was hungry.

His tiny stomach filled up quickly and digested quickly, so he was hungry all the time. He thought it was best to move according to his instincts without holding back in his baby form.

"Uwaaaa!"

"My Dear, Are you very hungry?"

Bulla, the ever-gentle Miltank, trotted over with a soft "Miiill~" and positioned herself like always, ready for their little routine.

Suck suck-

Allen latched on, drinking happily. No matter how many times he tried other foods, Miltank's milk was still his favorite—rich, creamy, and way better than any baby food.

As he fed, his tiny hands rested against Bulla's warm body, but his focus soon drifted elsewhere. His chubby cheeks puffed slightly as his gaze locked onto something far more interesting—the television.

On the television screen that his grandpa and grandma were watching, a familiar sight unfolded—a Pokémon battle.

The battlefield crackled with intensity as Raichu stood poised, electricity surging around its small but powerful body. Across from it, Hippowdon let out a deep, rumbling snort, its massive frame unmoving, like an ancient guardian of the earth.

Bertha and Volkner.

From what the commentator said, and the keywords "League," Allen could deduce this was a Sinnoh League match, and there was also discussion mentioning that this was the semifinal, where Palmer was already waiting in the final.

Volkner's eyes gleamed. "Raichu, Charge!"

Raichu's body sparked, golden electricity dancing across its fur as it built up power. Its yellow cheeks flared with energy, sending a sharp crackle through the air.

Bertha, ever composed, remained still. "Hippowdon, hold your ground."

"Powww~" Hippowdon huffed, standing firm like a fortress.

Now with Raichu was fully charged, Volkner seized the moment. Speed was his greatest weapon.

"Raichu, Agility and Thunder Punch! Let's finish this quickly!"

Raichu's body blurred as it became a streak of light, dashing across the battlefield with Agility. Electricity surged into its tiny fist, now glowing with raw power, ready to deliver a devastating Thunder Punch.

Raichu was fast—too fast for Hippowdon to react. Yet, Bertha's expression remained unreadable. She wasn't panicking. She wasn't worried.

Allen watched with relish. Indeed, Bertha was still Bertha. From what he could remember, she wasn't a Trainer who relied purely on her Pokémon's strength. She was a master of patience, observation, and counterattacks.

Sure enough, just before Raichu's attack could land, her voice rang out.

"Hippowdon, Dig!"

With a thunderous stomp, Hippowdon burrowed into the ground in an instant, vanishing before Raichu's fist could connect.

CRACK!

Raichu's electrified punch struck nothing but dirt, sending a shockwave across the battlefield. Sparks flared, dust exploded—but no Hippowdon.

Volkner's confident smirk faltered slightly. Where was it?

Bertha's lips curled into a knowing smile. She had set the perfect trap.

"Now!"

The ground beneath Raichu erupted violently. With terrifying speed, Hippowdon emerged from below, its powerful jaws wide open—CRUNCH!

Like a crocodile ambushing its prey, Hippowdon clamped down on Raichu's arm.

"CHUUUU~!" Raichu cried out, its body twitching from the sheer force of the attack. The dark energy from Crunch surged through it, weakening it further.

Volkner's eyes widened. "Raichu, break free! Use Thunder Wave to paralyze it!"

Sparks crackled wildly from Raichu's cheeks as it desperately tried to send out a Thunder Wave. A thin stream of electricity began to snake toward Hippowdon—

But Bertha wasn't done.

"Hippowdon, Chokeslam!"

With raw, overwhelming strength, Hippowdon lifted Raichu into the air—

And then—

SLAM!

Hippowdon smashed Raichu into the ground with a bone-rattling impact. Dust and debris shot into the air as the battlefield shook from the sheer force.

Silence.

The referee glanced at the battlefield, where Raichu's eyes had already turned into spirals. Then he raised his hand.

"Raichu is unable to battle! Hippowdon wins!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Volkner sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man… I should've seen that coming."

He had always known Bertha was strong, but this level of tactical mastery was on another level.

Bertha chuckled warmly. "Observing your opponent is just as important as attacking them, Volkner. Your Raichu is strong, but it needs to learn patience."

Volkner smiled. "Yeah... looks like I still have a lot to learn."