Pokemon Loud Version - Kanto Ch. 4 - Meeting Professor Oak 2

"It's...er, nice to meet you, Professor." said Lynn Sr. with uncertainty - while the older man seemed pleasant enough, he still wasn't sure on whether he could trust him or not.

And by the look on his wife's face as she halfheartedly waved with a weak smile on her face, she was thinking the same thing.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet both of you as well - your daughter spoke quite highly of you during our conversations with each other." said Professor Oak with a friendly wave before turning his attention back to Lisa. "So why did you call me? Did you want to have another discussion about Pokemon biology?"

'Pokemon? What in the world are those?' pondered Rita to herself as the two continued to speak with each other. From what she could guess based on what she had heard, they sounded like some sort of creature...could they be the 'local wildlife' Lisa was referring to earlier?

"Not exactly - I'm calling for a different reason. You mentioned that you were looking for new Trainers to assist you with your research, correct?"

"That's right, but I don't think I can help you with the League's age restriction - even someone like me has to follow the rules." said Oak as he crossed his arms with a stern look on his face.

"But what if I had someone who was the right age to send in my stead? Could you make an exception then?"

Tapping his chin thoughtfully, Oak replies "I...suppose I could. By the sound of things, I'm guessing it must be one of your older siblings?"

"My brother Lincoln, actually. I think he'd make a great Pokemon Trainer."

Before Oak could give a response, Lynn Sr. shouts "Can someone tell me on what's going on here? First it's these Pokerman things, then this training nonsense and now a league of some kind!? What in the world are you two talking about!?"

Giving Lisa a questioning look, Professor Oak asks "...You didn't inform your parents about this information beforehand?", causing the four year-old to shrug nonchalantly.

"Like yourself, I've been busy with my own research. I simply didn't have the time to explain things to them."

"Then I suppose I should fill them in." replied Oak before turning back to Rita and Lynn Sr. "You two may want to take a seat - this may take a while."

Gesturing towards a pair of nearby chairs, Lisa says "I would advise doing as he asks, seeing as this has to do with why I want to send Lincoln to assist him with his studies."

Realizing that they wouldn't get any answers otherwise, the two comply and take a seat in the aforementioned chairs.

Once both were seated, Oak clears his throat and says "Now then, where to begin...first of all, my name is Professor Samuel Oak, but most people call me the 'Pokemon Professor' due to my intensive studies on the creatures known as Pocket Monsters, or Pokemon for short."

"But what is a Pokemon, Professor? I've never seen one before."

"Ah yes...I should show you what one looks like, shouldn't I? Hold on a moment." replied Oak before rummaging through his pockets, apparently looking for something. After a few seconds, he takes out a red and white-colored ball and presses the button on it, causing it to double in size before opening up, releasing a white light that started to take the form of a small mouse-like creature.

When the procedure had finished, there was a Rattata sitting in Professor Oak's lap, looking around the room curiously.

As the two Loud parents stared at the creature in awe, Oak continues his explanation. "This creature in my lap is a Rattata - one of the many species of Pokemon this world has to offer."

'So that's a Pokemon? It certainly doesn't look like any creature I've seen before.' thought Rita as she stared at the Rattata curiously. "So Professor, what are Trainers?"

"Trainers are people that capture and train Pokemon, helping them grow stronger through battle and forging a strong bond between each other." replied Oak as he scratched a spot behind the Rattata's ear, eliciting a happy squeak from it.

With a look of concern, Lynn Sr. asks "Is this capturing and battling stuff legal? I don't want my son to be breaking any laws."

"I wouldn't worry about that, Mr. Loud - as long as your son follows the official rules and regulations, there shouldn't be any problems. There's even an official League where the strongest Trainers compete against each other in order to claim the regional championships."

"So this 'league' you and Lisa were talking about is kind of like an organization for Pokemon battling?" asked Rita, getting a nod in response. "Do you have any connections to it as well?"

"I do - alongside my research, I am also required to provide assistance, advice and certain services to official Trainers should they ever ask for it. This also includes providing transportation to Kanto as well."

"Wait...does that mean you'll be willing to come and pick up our son Lincoln, completely free of charge?"

Nodding, Oak replies "Of course. All you just need to do is let me know when and where to collect him."

"Are you sure? Wouldn't that get in the way of your research?" asked Rita, inwardly hoping that would end up being the case - despite the fact she had agreed to the idea of sending Lincoln away, she was starting to have second thoughts. After all, he was going to be literally thousands of miles away and she would have no idea on how to contact him or when he would be coming back home.

It also didn't help that she felt immense guilt over how she had treated him over the past week.

"It's no trouble at all. I've done this plenty of times with new Trainers from different regions, so I'm certain a short flight to the States won't be too much of a bother."

"Well, that sits just fine with me - not only will Junior and Lincoln be separated from each other until things calm down, but this Trainer business sounds like something our son would enjoy doing. What do you think, honey?"

With a look of reluctance, Rita replies "I'm not so sure if I want to go through with this, Lynn...can't we just try to work things out between Lincoln and Junior?"

"Unfortunately, I don't think something like that is possible considering how things went earlier - you saw for yourself how Junior had tried to attack Lincoln earlier today...what if she ends up trying again and succeeding next time?"

'...He's right. As much as I don't want to admit it, I'd only be placing Lincoln in harm's way by keeping him here.' thought Rita as she mulled over her husband's answer - though she wanted desperately to keep Lincoln at home, doing so would only lead to further friction between him and Lynn.

That and at least her son would finally have a roof over his head at night.

After quashing any remaining reluctant thoughts, she finally says "...I suppose I'm on board with this as well. Just promise me that you'll look after our son and keep him safe, Professor. That's all I ask."

"You have my word, Mrs. Loud. Now then, when should I come and pick him up?"

"Will tomorrow afternoon at the Detroit Airport work out for you?" asked Lynn Sr., getting another nod in response.

"Of course. Now is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?"

Shaking her head, Lisa answers "That's all we wanted to talk with you about, Professor. You can go ahead and hang up now."

"Very well, I'll see you and your son there. Goodbye."

With a single beep, the screen cuts off, signalling that the call had ended.

-=O=-

Giving her daughter a stern look, Rita asks "Well Lisa, you got what you wanted - we'll be sending your brother away to this Kanto place tomorrow. I hope you're satisfied now."

"Elated, actually - I'll be benefiting from this immensely should Lincoln find success as a Trainer."

The two adults give her a confused look, prompting her to explain further. "I didn't just come up with this suggestion just to help Professor Oak - I made it because I would like to study Pokemon for myself."

"And you want to use your brother for that? Why?" asked Lynn Sr., perplexed.

"Because I'm too young to be a Trainer myself and Lincoln's the right age to pass the League's age requirement. That and it sounded a lot better than sending him to stay with Aunt Ruth."

"Hey, your aunt isn't that bad!" blurted out Rita, only to get deadpan looks from the other two in response. "...Right?"

"Honey, even I can't stand being around that woman most of the time. What does that tell you?"

"I have to agree. Besides, I won't be the only one benefiting from this either - not only would Lincoln get to explore Kanto and see what it has to offer, but this would be a good opportunity for him to come into his own and find something he's good at." replied Lisa before a smirk appeared on her face. "Not to mention it would quell any rumors of him being bad luck if he were to return home with the Kanto regional championship, correct?"

The two adults mull over the idea in their heads, thinking that it did sound pretty good when they really thought about it. Despite this, it didn't change the fact that Rita was still somewhat unhappy with the decision.

"Is there any way Lincoln can possibly contact us in case he needs something? Because I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of having him all alone out there."

Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Lisa answers "Considering the fact my VideoPhone can connect to Professor Oak's lab, I'm also fairly certain it could connect to any VideoPhone within the Kanto region. I'll make sure to remind Professor Oak to give Lincoln my number so he can call here if he needs to."

Hearing this didn't completely make the older woman feel better, but it had helped a little bit. "That's good to know. So is there anything else you want to bring up with us? Because your father and I need to get some sleep so we can be ready for tomorrow."

"There is, actually - you'll need to let Lincoln know what's going to happen tomorrow. Also - the money you got from selling Lincoln's belongings...how much did you get and do you still have it?"

"Well...we got around $300 for everything and yes, I still have it. Why are you aski...hey!" exclaimed Lynn Sr. as he takes out his wallet, only for Lisa to snatch it away from him. "What in the world are you doing!?"

Taking out three one-hundred dollar bills, Lisa replies "This money was obtained by selling off Lincoln's property. So by all rights, it should go to him."

"But...but I was going to use that for our trip to the beach tomorrow..."

"And Lincoln will need it more when he gets to Kanto - the life of a Pokemon Trainer isn't cheap and he'll need all the money he can get. If you want to go to the beach so badly, use your own funds to handle the expenses."

After a few seconds, Lynn Sr. lets out a sigh before nodding in agreement. "Very well - if you really feel that Lincoln will need it that much, he can keep it. As for your other concern, we'll tell him first thing tomorrow morning."

"Glad to see you agree. Now that we've got this meeting with Professor Oak out of the way, please see yourself out if you wouldn't mind. I wish to finish reading my book before I head off to bed."

The two nod before exiting the room, leaving Lisa alone by herself. As she sat back down at her desk to continue reading her book, she remained unaware of the presence that lurked within the nearby vent...

-=O=-

"Well it's almost bedtime and they still haven't let me back inside, so I guess it's another night of sleeping on the lawn...great." muttered Lincoln in irritation as he laid down on the front lawn, trying to find a spot that felt comfortable on the wet grass.

Which wasn't an easy task considering that wet grass tended to be cold at night.

With a sigh, he gives up and just decides to lay down on his back where he was, facing the night sky. As he stared at the stars twinkling brightly above him, his thoughts turned to the events that had transpired earlier.

He had to admit that it was foolish to provoke Lynn like that, especially with how angry she seemed to be at the time. Had it not been for the timely intervention of his siblings, she most likely would have succeeded in smashing his skull like an egg with her bat.

'Hopefully she'll be much calmer by tomorrow and I can try and clear things up with her. Maybe if I'm lucky, we can put this mess all behind us and move on from this bad luck stuff.'

Nodding tiredly in approval at the idea, Lincoln continued to gaze at the stars, his half-lidded eyes gradually starting to close as seconds pass by. After several minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.

As he slumbered, he had a most unusual dream - one unlike any he's ever had before.

In it, he was standing inside of a large stadium with a large golden trophy in his hands, surrounded by thousands of applauding fans in the stands, which included most of his closest friends and family. As he took in the adulation of the crowd, six creatures appeared in flashes of white light right beside him.

A squat yellow rodent with a lightning bolt-shaped tail.

An orange colored winged dragon with a flame burning brightly at the tip of its tail.

A spiky purple creature with red eyes and a malevolent grin.

A massive blue-colored beast that resembled a sea serpent.

A red-eyed black-colored quadruped creature with glowing yellow markings on its body.

A large golden brown-colored bird with a long spear-like beak.

And in the far distance, a large white-colored equine creature with a golden cross-like ring around it's body was watching him with interest.