Welcoming Caitlin

At Vermilion City's harbor, Gary stared blankly at the departing ferry.

Don't get the wrong idea. He hadn't been late, nor had he missed his boat.

Just ten minutes earlier, as Gary was about to board the ferry to Celadon City, he'd received a call from his grandfather, Professor Oak.

According to Professor Oak, the Unova Region had made a last-minute decision to send a member of its Elite Four to visit the Kanto Region.

"I hear it's a young girl. At my age, I wouldn't be much company for her. Aren't you quite good with girls, my dear grandson? Do me a favor and entertain her for me." That was how Professor Oak dumped the responsibility on him.

Every fiber of Gary's being resisted. Come on! The Unova Region, the Elite Four, and a young girl?

Unless something unexpected happened, it had to be Caitlin, that SSR-tier psychic.

Entertaining someone that powerful could cost him his life if he made one wrong move!

Since the Pokémon League's founding, only two SSR-tier psychics had emerged: Sabrina of Saffron City, and this formidable young lady.

Sabrina had inherited methods for training her psychic powers. If she got angry, the worst she'd do was turn you into a toy and play with you for a couple of days.

If Caitlin got angry, her surging psychic power could overturn an entire city in an instant!

"So, Grandpa, I'm adopted, right...?" Gary nearly burst into tears.

"Hey, my handsome, charming grandson. Have a little confidence in yourself. No young girl could bear to hurt a cute young thing like you." Professor Oak sounded remarkably carefree.

"Just tell me what I get out of it." Young Master Mao sighed. He felt as though his grandfather was treating him like a male escort...

"Well, my Dragonite has found love again in its old age. Would you happen to be interested in the offspring of a peak pseudo-Legendary?" Professor Oak took a confident sip of tea.

"I also want dragon scales, dragon fangs, dragon claws-the full set of training resources. Don't tell me you don't have them. Dragonite sheds those things every year!" Gary rattled it all off in one breath.

"No problem. Incidentally, Caitlin can already control her psychic powers. She's just only started gradually interacting with society in the last few years. So, go easy. So take care of her, my little tiger." Professor Oak raised an eyebrow.

"Grandpa..." Gary sounded utterly drained. He finally understood why Agatha had chased Professor Oak all over the place trying to kill him when they were young. Forgive Samuel Oak for the mistakes of his youth. He'd simply been wild, unrestrained, and in love with freedom...

"Hahaha, don't worry about it. It's just a local Unova joke." Professor Oak waved a hand serenely. "Caitlin's ship will dock before sunset. Be a good host. Don't embarrass our Kanto Region."

Looking at his disconnected phone, Gary tilted his face toward the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, tears of sorrow trickling from the corner of his mouth. The offspring of a peak pseudo-Legendary... slurp... what a sweet deal.

With a few hours left until sunset, Gary found a nearby bench, sat down, and started thinking.

Pop! The Poké Ball behind him opened on its own, and Psyduck sat beside Gary with a knowing look.

"Hey, buddy, I told you. If you come out on your own again, I'm letting Eevee practice Bite on your tail." Gary rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

"Quack, quack, quack! My dear Trainer, I've already discussed it with Miss Eevee. She has no interest in my sexy bottom or tail." Psyduck chuckled and patted Gary on the back. "So, why are you sitting here in a daze?"

Gary asked, "Hey, Psyduck, do you know how to entertain a fourteen-year-old girl with an exalted status and the power to kill me instantly?"

Psyduck's expression changed, and he looked at Gary admiringly. "My dear Trainer... your tastes are rather kinky..."

"Stop. You can call me Gary, Master Gary, or Young Master Mao. I have no idea why a duck born and raised in Kanto speaks with a Unovan British accent..." Gary couldn't help grumbling.

"Besides, I was just asking for advice. Cut the nonsense..."

Psyduck spread his hands. "All right. First, you need to change into something more handsome."

Gary: (￢_￢)... What a pain...

Aboard the Saint Jeanne, which had departed from the Unova Region, things were unusually quiet that day.

That was because the entire ship had been chartered.

Caitlin, who had swept through the Unova League and risen to become one of Unova's Elite Four at just fourteen, sat quietly in her luxurious cabin.

On a huge round bed, the girl swung her bare feet as she played on a handheld game console.

"Ugh, this level is way too hard!" Caitlin stared resentfully at the words "You lose" on her console's box-pushing puzzle game.

"I hope something interesting is waiting for me in the Kanto Region." Accepting the hot cocoa from Gothitelle, Caitlin took a couple of small sips.

"Lady Gothitelle! I told you I wanted double milk in my coffee!" Caitlin said, putting on a grown-up air.

Gothitelle bowed gracefully and turned to add more milk.

To seem more mature, her young mistress had deliberately switched from hot milk to hot cocoa and called it chocolate-flavored coffee.

Gothitelle could only smile helplessly at such things. It was rather cute, wasn't it?

It was precisely because Gothitelle and the other Pokémon kept her company that Caitlin hadn't become a psychic criminal with a twisted personality.

Instead, this little girl had become Unova's darling, a Psychic-type Elite Four member beloved by everyone.

After finishing her milk-enriched hot cocoa in one go, Caitlin covered her mouth and gave a little yawn. "Aaah... I'm a bit sleepy. Wake me when we get there."

After giving Gothitelle her instructions, Caitlin flopped onto her velvet pillow, and soon her breathing became slow and even.

Gothitelle clapped her hands, and a round, plump Musharna floated in. Musharna would constantly monitor Caitlin's dreams, eating the nightmares and leaving the good dreams behind.

Vermilion Harbor was brightly lit that evening, and Officer Jenny had brought a group of police officers to clear the entire harbor.

Lt. Surge personally led his underlings out to clear the streets. Any wild Meowth or Rattata that was a little too slow getting out of the streets and alleys was treated to a Thunder Shock...

Wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with a stand collar, light gray casual trousers, and white high-top sneakers, Gary waited at the harbor for Caitlin's arrival with Eevee in his arms and Psyduck beside him.

Psyduck had originally wanted Gary to wear formal attire and slick back his hair...

Psyduck: (´▽｀)ノ♪ "You know, I'm a professional when it comes to being a duck... or a gigolo."

Gary had then given him a good kicking. I'm not actually here to be a damn male escort...

Whoosh! A gust of wind swept past, and a cute, chubby Dragonite descended from the sky.

After the imposing Dragonite landed steadily, the man on its back flicked his red cape and jumped down.

"The Elite Four's Doduo!" Gary blurted out.

Lance frowned. "You're Professor Oak's grandson?"

Gary nodded. "Ahem. Mr. Lance of the Elite Four, right?"

Lance's mouth twitched as he screamed inwardly, Screw the Elite Four! I've had more than enough of this damned Kanto Elite Four job!

And those bastards who call me a Flying-type Elite Four member behind my back!

Just you wait. Once Johto finishes the paperwork for its merger with the Kanto Region, I'll take the throne in Johto, and then I'll be the Champion of the Kanto Region.

Get it? Kanto and Johto. I'll reach the top of two regions at once. That's what you call brains!

Ignoring Lance's rich inner drama, Gary ventured, "Since you're here, Mr. Lance, does that mean I can leave?"

Lance folded his arms and answered with complete confidence, "No. My time is limited, so I'm only here to make an appearance. Later, Caitlin and I will have a one-on-one friendly match at Indigo Plateau.

"But until then, I'm afraid I'll still have to trouble you to look after Caitlin."

Gary said, "All right, different question. About the expenses for entertaining her..."

With a commanding sweep of his cape, Lance produced a credit card bearing a black dragon design. "Use my card!"

Gary raised his eyebrows. "Then I'll gladly take you up on that."