Littleroot Research Lab

Littleroot Town was a quiet, peaceful little town. It was filled with low single-story homes, with the tallest buildings only reaching two floors. It was completely different from a metropolis like Slateport City, and there were not many people in town either. The environment was wonderful, with lush greenery everywhere around it. From afar, they could even see vast fields.

The car stopped in front of Littleroot Research Lab. Several people in research uniforms stood at the entrance to welcome them, ranging widely in age. The oldest looked to be in his forties, while the youngest was probably only in his teens.

"Dad."

The moment Professor Birch got out of the car, a little girl of seven or eight rushed toward him. Professor Birch caught her in his arms. After being apart for so long, he had missed his daughter too.

"Oh, right, let me introduce you. Zeno, this is my daughter, Sapphire." Professor Birch then looked at his daughter. "Sapphire, this big brother is Zeno."

"Hello, Big Brother Zeno," Sapphire called sweetly.

"Hello!"

Seeing his daughter so lively, Professor Birch was a little surprised. Ever since the Salamence Incident two years ago, her personality had changed greatly. She used to be quiet and loved dressing up, but now she had become even more mischievous than a boy. It had been a long time since Professor Birch had seen his daughter look this adorable.

"All right, get back to work!" Professor Birch dismissed the people gathered around them and led Sapphire and Zeno toward the research lab.

Professor Birch's research lab was huge, but very few people worked there.

"Zeno, I've already spoken with them. Go have a good look around outside later. The Pokémon here are all very friendly. As long as you don't provoke them, you won't be in any danger."

"Okay, thank you, Professor!"

"Dad, let me show him around. I know the way, I'm really familiar with this place." Sapphire raised her hand eagerly.

"All right, take him around and show him the place. I'll come find you later."

Professor Birch's ecological park was enormous. According to Sapphire, all the mountains behind Littleroot Town belonged to it, and even some areas by the coast had been included within Littleroot Research Lab. Zeno estimated that its total area was far larger than Lilycove City.

There were many Pokémon in the ecological park, leaving Zeno dazzled. By a pond, he even spotted several Mudkip.

"Do you like Mudkip?" Sapphire asked curiously when she saw him staring at the pond.

"Yeah, I do!"

"Those Mudkip are being raised for new Trainers in the League. Someone will come collect them next month."

"I know. Let's keep going."

Although Zeno wanted them badly, he knew that they basically already belonged to someone and had been reserved long ago.

Sapphire continued showing Zeno around. Along the way, she constantly greeted the nearby Pokémon, clearly familiar with all of them. The two stopped beside a huge rocky mountain, which was home to many Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon, as well as quite a few Steel-types.

Zeno saw an Onix lying in the valley, leisurely dozing while a group of Geodude played beside it. It did not get angry. A Lairon was digging holes nearby with two Aron, and whenever it dug up ore, it handed it to the two Aron.

Suddenly, a blue Pokémon slowly floated over. Its body was long, with a huge claw at its rear. Its head was round and covered by a crown-like structure, with a large red eye in the center.

"Beldum! There are Beldum here too?"

"Devon Corporation sent them over. One of their projects needed my dad's research, so they sent a few Beldum as thanks."

Sapphire did not think much of it. Though Beldum were rare, she had seen them often enough that they no longer surprised her.

The two circled the rocky mountain before continuing onward. Soon, they reached a small river, where two researchers were crouched nearby, examining a Psyduck. Zeno and Sapphire were both curious and hurried over to watch.

"What's wrong with this Psyduck?"

"Oh, it's Sapphire. We were recording the local ecology just now when this Psyduck kept quacking nonstop. We checked it over, but it doesn't seem to have any injuries," one researcher answered.

"But it doesn't look well. It's obviously uncomfortable!"

"There's nothing we can do. We're not professional Pokémon doctors, so we can't tell what's wrong with it either." The researcher was helpless too.

"Don't worry. I've already contacted Professor Birch. He'll be here soon." Seeing how anxious the two children were, the other researcher quickly reassured them.

Zeno walked up to the Psyduck and gently asked, "Psyduck, can you tell me what happened just now?"

"Quack, quack... quack!"

"You can understand what it's saying?" Sapphire asked doubtfully when she heard him question it.

"Yeah. It said it fought an Oddish over some Berries just now. That Oddish was too strong, and it couldn't beat it."

Sapphire: "..."

The two researchers: "..."

"After the fight, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

"Quack! Quack, quack!" Psyduck clutched its head in both hands, nodding as it quacked.

"How is it? What did it say?" Sapphire asked curiously, while the two researchers stared blankly at Zeno.

"It said its whole body feels numb and uncomfortable."

"It inhaled Oddish's Stun Spore."

Professor Birch hurried over. He had originally intended to examine Psyduck himself, but upon hearing Zeno's words, he immediately identified the cause.

"Sapphire, go pick a Cheri Berry nearby. You two can get back to work first. I'll look after this Psyduck."

"I'm going right now!"

Sapphire was extremely excited when her father told her to pick a Cheri Berry. Her mother had not let her climb trees lately, and she was getting rusty.

The two researchers left as well, leaving only Zeno, Professor Birch, and a dazed Psyduck by the river.

"I heard your conversation just now. Zeno, you can communicate with this Psyduck?"

"Yeah. Not just it, but my Carvanha too. Uncle Kam's Pokémon can also communicate with me."

"So you can talk to all Pokémon?" Professor Birch grew a little excited.

"No, no, I think it's only Water-type Pokémon." Zeno hurriedly explained, not daring to exaggerate.

"Hahaha, that makes no difference. You can have those Water-type Pokémon act as translators!"

"That works too?"

Zeno was stunned. He had never imagined such a possibility.

Professor Birch quietly watched Zeno, recalling their previous conversations. A thought took root in his heart and grew ever firmer.