The last one was Snivy. Chen Yan led Professor Rowan to the tree where she sat, then looked up at her dangling her little feet and gently waving her large, leaf-shaped tail.
"Snivy."
Chen Yan called out to her.
Snivy lowered her head and looked at Chen Yan, a hint of confusion in her large, bright eyes.
"Sni?"
Chen Yan smiled at the unbearably cute Snivy, then said:
"Time to head back."
Snivy glanced at Professor Rowan beside Chen Yan and nodded, then jumped down from the tree. Just before she hit the ground, two vines extended from the collar-like structures beside her neck and wrapped around a branch, letting her land gently.
Looking at Snivy, Chen Yan couldn't help marveling. She certainly lived up to her species' reputation-adorable, yet with a touch of nobility and elegance.
Her body was mainly green, with cream-colored feet and a cream belly. Yellow markings surrounded her enormous, sparkling eyes like eyeshadow, and collar-like structures flanked her neck.
She walked straight over to Chen Yan and waited for him and Professor Rowan to make their next move.
Gengar and Weedle looked a little disappointed.
Why wasn't she fighting?
Chen Yan was a little surprised, too.
Why did this Snivy seem... a little too agreeable?
Curious, Chen Yan opened Snivy's Pokédex entry.
[Snivy] [Type: Grass] [Gender: Female] [Ability: Contrary] [Known moves: Tackle, Leer, Vine Whip, Bind, Growth, Magical Leaf, Bullet Seed, Leech Seed, Leaf Blade] [Mood: Indifferent] [Status: Indifferent] [Affinity: 7 (Met once)] [Description: A passing Trainer gave her to an elderly grandmother while she was still an egg. Afterward, she lived with the grandmother by the sea. Before the grandmother passed away, she entrusted her to Professor Juniper. Living at Professor Juniper's laboratory, she always kept the grandmother's teachings in mind and willingly cooperated with the researchers in their work. Yet whenever the night grew quiet, her thoughts would drift back to the bay where she was born, with its boats, waves, beach, cacti, and that old captain missing so many teeth... Gentle and sensitive by nature.]
So that was it...
Chen Yan put away the Pokédex and glanced at Snivy. Noticing his gaze, she turned her head and looked at him curiously.
What were you looking at?
"You're very pretty, Snivy."
Catching Snivy's soft, adorable expression, Chen Yan quickly pressed the camera's shutter.
Snivy extended a vine from beside her neck, gently rested it against her chest, and gave Chen Yan a small bow.
"Sni~"
Thank you for the compliment~
Her voice was gentle, with a touch of elegance.
Click-
The camera shutter sounded again.
Snivy followed Chen Yan and Professor Rowan, watching curiously as Gengar tossed Weedle out and pulled it back. Was playing like that really fun?
But judging by the smiles on Gengar's and Weedle's faces, it did seem quite fun.
Walking beside Professor Rowan, Chen Yan put away the drone, tucked it back into his backpack, and went to hand the bag to Gengar.
A vine reached over, took the backpack, and extended toward Gengar.
Chen Yan looked at Snivy and found her gazing at him with her big eyes.
"Thank you."
"Sni~"
You're welcome~
"What a polite Snivy."
Chen Yan couldn't help remarking on it.
If only that Tepig and Oshawott were this obedient.
"Snivy... she's certainly the easiest to look after among the starter Pokémon sent over from Unova. Whether she's helping with research or other work, she does an excellent job."
Professor Rowan continued, "Back at the laboratory, after finishing a day's research work, she'd simply stay up in a tree. Quiet as could be, and incredibly well-behaved."
"I don't know why she ran off with Tepig and Oshawott this time. She doesn't seem like the sort of Pokémon to be so mischievous."
Chen Yan glanced sideways at Snivy and found her watching Gengar and Weedle. Then he said softly:
"Maybe she's homesick..."
Snivy turned her head and stared at Chen Yan's back.
"Homesick?"
"Yes. Most gentle-natured Pokémon are especially attached to the places where they were born. If I'm not mistaken, this Snivy was probably born by the sea."
"Oh? How did you know? When Professor Juniper sent her over, she specifically told me that Snivy wasn't a Pokémon raised by the laboratory in the strict sense. She's free to leave whenever she wants, and if she wants to go, we should let her."
"But Professor Juniper was the one who told me she'd been born by the sea. How did you know?"
Chen Yan coughed twice and said:
"I guessed. She was looking toward Twinleaf Town, and Twinleaf Town is by the sea."
"Looking toward Twinleaf Town doesn't necessarily mean she's looking at the sea, does it?"
"She was sitting very high up. Usually, when you sit that high, you're trying to get a clear view of something. Twinleaf Town doesn't have any mountains, so that most likely leaves the sea."
Chen Yan privately admired his own quick thinking.
"Now I remember. Yesterday, when I was speaking to Cynthia, I mentioned that Twinleaf Town was by the sea. Snivy was there at the time. So she ran out because she heard that?"
Professor Rowan spoke with dawning realization.
Cynthia? Champion Cynthia? The Sinnoh Region's Champion?
Oh, right. She was Professor Rowan's student, wasn't she?
The image of that powerful woman in a black coat, with long golden hair, commanding a Garchomp, appeared in Chen Yan's mind.
He wondered whether he would meet her during his future travels.
"Since you ran out, why didn't you go a little farther? You'd have been free if you'd headed toward Twinleaf Town."
Professor Rowan looked at Snivy as he spoke.
"You know you can leave whenever you want."
Snivy shook her head, but her gaze remained fixed on Chen Yan.
"Oh, you..." Professor Rowan shook his head and said nothing more.
Chen Yan watched Gengar swing a thin bamboo stick in one hand and Weedle in the other, thinking that only a big fatty like Gengar could swing a little fatty like Weedle around.
Watching the repeated head-shaking, Snivy was deeply curious.
How did he know I was born by the sea?
He guessed?
I was up high because I wanted to see the sea...
He's so clever...
Just as clever as Grandma...
When they reached the entrance to Professor Rowan's laboratory, Chen Yan began saying his goodbyes.
"Chen Yan, tomorrow's the day the starter Pokémon are handed out. Would you have time to serve as my assistant?"
Professor Rowan felt that Chen Yan had a deep understanding of Pokémon, along with strong powers of observation and reasoning. Tomorrow was the day Sandgem Town's first-time Trainers would receive their starter Pokémon, so it was a perfect chance to have him come and help.
"Handing out starter Pokémon? An assistant? Me? Huh?"
Chen Yan was a little taken aback, then hurriedly said:
"But I'm not a member of the laboratory staff."
"You'd just be my assistant for the day. Besides, handing out starter Pokémon is very interesting. Don't you like taking pictures? Even if you don't want to be my assistant, you can come and watch," Professor Rowan said with a smile.
Hearing that, Chen Yan agreed without the slightest hesitation. "All right, Professor. I'll be here on time tomorrow."
He was genuinely curious about what receiving a starter Pokémon was like in real life. Since Professor Rowan had invited him, he might as well come take a look tomorrow.
"You'll need to be here by seven tomorrow morning. Can you get up in time?"
"Yes, Professor!"
Chen Yan saluted.
Seeing this, Gengar hurried to copy him.
"Gengar!"
Weedle followed along, rearing straight up.
"Weee-"
Professor Rowan smiled. "See you tomorrow, Assistant Chen Yan."
"See you tomorrow, Professor."
Chen Yan looked at Snivy and said softly, "See you tomorrow, Snivy."
"Sni~"
Before you continue