Chen Yan got up early the next morning and took breakfast to the Pokémon Center to check on Glameow. Finding Glameow still asleep, he handed the breakfast to the Chansey still on duty.
After leaving the Pokémon Center, Chen Yan headed straight for Professor Rowan's lab.
"Good morning, Professor."
Chen Yan greeted Professor Rowan, who was already at work.
"Good morning, Chen Yan." Professor Rowan looked up and returned his greeting.
"It's barely past six, and you're here already?"
Professor Rowan checked the time in surprise. It was only 6:05 a.m.
"Better to come early. Maybe I can help you with something."
Professor Rowan laughed, then took out a white lab coat and handed it to him. "This is one of mine. Try it on. It should fit."
Staff working at a lab generally had to wear white coats. It wasn't just the regular staff; many professors wore them while working, too.
Professor Oak and Professor Birch, for instance.
Professor Rowan, of course, was an exception.
"Sure."
Chen Yan accepted the coat with a nod, walked to a corner to put it on, then returned to Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan looked at Chen Yan in the lab coat and nodded in satisfaction.
"Now you look like a proper Pokémon researcher."
At over six feet tall, Chen Yan didn't find the coat too large at all. In fact, it fit him quite well.
His gentle demeanor in particular, paired with the white coat, made him look even more the part.
"You're too kind. What should I do next?" Chen Yan smiled and asked Professor Rowan.
"Relax. It's very simple. Just stay with me, and I'll give you something to do when I need you."
"All right."
For the next while, Chen Yan stayed right beside Professor Rowan, carefully observing his work.
Professor Rowan first sorted all the Starter Pokémon's Poké Balls into three large boxes, then set a table in the middle of the lab with the boxes behind it.
Next, he checked the list again to make sure the number of Starter Pokémon matched the number of Trainers coming to collect them.
The whole preparation process was actually fairly simple.
At half past six, the first Trainer ran into the lab.
"Professor, can I get my Starter Pokémon now?"
The boy wore a baseball cap and gazed eagerly at Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan nodded kindly, then said:
"You're here so early? It isn't the appointed time yet."
"I couldn't sleep, so I got up really early. I can't wait to set off on a journey with my Pokémon!"
The boy clenched his fists and spoke excitedly.
Then he looked at Professor Rowan and asked:
"Does that mean I can't get one until it's time?"
Professor Rowan shook his head. "Of course not. Since you're here, you can collect your Starter Pokémon. Did you bring your postcard?"
"Of course I did. I even slept holding it last night."
The boy took the postcard out of his pocket and handed it to Professor Rowan. After looking it over, the professor said:
"So you're Zhen Xiu. All right, have you decided which Pokémon you'd like as your first partner?"
"Um... not yet. Could you tell me about them, Professor?"
"Of course. That's part of my job, too." Professor Rowan walked over to the table, where an assistant had already let out the Sinnoh Region's Starter Pokémon.
They were sitting on the table, eating the Pokémon food in front of them.
Professor Rowan brought Zhen Xiu to the table and began his introduction:
"This is Chimchar, a Fire-type with a fiercely burning spirit. This is Piplup, a Water-type skilled at controlling water. And finally, this is Turtwig, a Grass-type who excels at using plants in battle."
"Now, Zhen Xiu, please choose your first partner from these three Starter Pokémon of the Sinnoh Region."
Zhen Xiu blinked at the three Starter Pokémon looking back at him, then strode decisively up to Chimchar and pointed.
"I've decided! I want Chimchar!"
Professor Rowan nodded. "All right. From today onward, Chimchar is officially your traveling partner."
The assistant beside him brought over a metal tray holding a blue-purple device and six Poké Balls.
"Since you're about to set out on your journey, I need to give you these two things."
Professor Rowan pointed at the blue-purple device. "This is a Pokédex. It will teach you about all the Pokémon you encounter along the way."
Then he picked up a Poké Ball. "This is a Poké Ball, an item that makes it easy to carry Pokémon with you."
"Thank you, Professor Rowan."
Zhen Xiu happily accepted the Poké Balls and Pokédex, then went over to Chimchar, held out a Poké Ball, and said:
"Chimchar, let's go on a journey together."
Chimchar stared at Zhen Xiu, the flame on its tail burning even brighter.
"Chim!"
Chimchar pressed a hand against the Poké Ball, then turned into red light and went inside.
Zhen Xiu held the Poké Ball in both hands and shouted happily:
"Chimchar, let's go!"
With that, he dashed out of the lab and ran off into the distance.
He even forgot to say goodbye, his eyes filled with nothing but the excitement of receiving his first Pokémon.
Chen Yan stood to one side and watched the whole process. As he watched Zhen Xiu disappear into the distance, he couldn't help smiling.
I remember having much the same expression when I first caught Gengar, didn't I?
Excitement, disbelief, exhilaration...
And the first time I caught Weedle through a battle...
Pokémon... they really are adorable...
Plenty of people complained about the Pokémon anime and games in my previous life, but if they actually had the chance to catch Pokémon themselves, who wouldn't be itching to catch a whole bunch...?
At that thought, Chen Yan looked over at Gengar and noticed Gengar seemed to be chewing something, so he asked:
"What are you eating?"
Hearing Chen Yan's question, Gengar curled its tongue and stuck it out. Half a deep-purple orb rested on it.
"Is that... the Toxic Orb? You're eating it? That thing is poisonous! You actually dared to eat it?"
Chen Yan was startled. He was just about to make Gengar spit it out when Gengar gave him a puzzled look.
Poisoned? Me?
Chen Yan caught on. "Oh, I forgot. You can't be poisoned... but can you really eat that thing?"
Gengar nodded.
"Gengar..."
Cool, tingly, and nice and chewy. Not bad...
"All right, then. But why is there only half? Where's the other half?"
Gengar looked at Weedle. Chen Yan followed its gaze and saw Weedle's cheeks puffed out with a round bulge.
"Weedle?"
Want some, too?
Weedle looked curiously at Chen Yan.
Chen Yan fell silent. Chen Yan shook his head. Chen Yan was baffled.
"How did you two... split it in half?"
Gengar picked Weedle up, pointed at the horn on its head, then made back-and-forth cutting motions in the air.
Chen Yan: ...
"So... you used Weedle's horn to cut it in half?"
Gengar and Weedle nodded.
"I was wondering why I heard squeaking in the middle of the night. I thought the place was haunted... so it was you two sawing through the Toxic Orb..."
Chen Yan watched Gengar and Weedle chewing on the Toxic Orb like bubblegum, their faces full of enjoyment, and let out his first sigh of the day.
"You two brothers... honestly... kindred spirits in a stinking swamp, twin terrors of the wilderness!"
With that, Chen Yan went over to Professor Rowan and asked whether he could take photos during the rest of the proceedings.
"Of course. Receiving a Starter Pokémon is a very meaningful occasion. Remember to pick out a few of your best shots and have them printed for me afterward. I can put them up in the lab."
Chen Yan nodded at Professor Rowan's words. "Don't worry, Professor. I'm a pretty decent photographer."
Professor Rowan nodded, then asked, "Did something happen with Gengar and Weedle just now? You didn't look too pleased."
Chen Yan shook his head, sighed again, and said:
"They've been chewing the Toxic Orb I gave them like candy."
"The Toxic Orb? That's not something just any Pokémon can eat." Professor Rowan looked surprised, then continued:
"But as Poison-type Pokémon, they can absorb the toxins in a Toxic Orb to strengthen their own poison and increase the power of their Poison-type moves. Digesting it directly in their stomachs makes the process faster."
"Still, Pokémon rarely do that. The toxins in a Toxic Orb are quite potent, after all. But judging by Gengar and Weedle, it doesn't seem to be affecting them adversely, so there's no need to worry."
"Huh? They can do that? They can absorb the toxins inside to make themselves stronger?"
Chen Yan asked in surprise.
"Of course. You have to understand that many items contain extremely rich stores of energy. A Miracle Seed, for example, contains a tremendous amount of Grass-type energy. Grass-type Pokémon can absorb that energy to improve their potential, though very few Pokémon choose to absorb the power inside."
"Why?"
"First, these items are expensive, and ordinary Trainers can rarely afford them. Second, the improvement from absorbing them is generally smaller than the boost from holding them. Think of a Pokémon's body as a reservoir of a fixed size. Absorbing the energy only expands its capacity little by little, an extremely lengthy process. Holding the item, on the other hand, temporarily gives that reservoir greater capacity."
"The first option is better in the long run, but as you know, it takes longer. And very few Trainers can be so... well... extravagant."
"So that's how it works..." Chen Yan had learned something new.
I thought these items were just like in the games, only useful for holding. Who knew they could improve a Pokémon's potential, too? That's good, then. Let them eat if they want.
"You don't seem upset about the cost. As far as I know, Toxic Orbs aren't cheap."
"What good would that do? I bought it for them in the first place. They can do whatever they want with it, as long as they're happy."
"Perhaps that's why they like you so much," Professor Rowan said with a smile.
Meanwhile.
With the Toxic Orb in its mouth, Weedle looked curiously at Gengar.
Weedle: Boss, what are they talking about?
Gengar: No idea. Probably praising us.
Weedle: Yay!
Before you continue