Chương 137

"Alright, Goomy!" I roared and she woogled for a moment, building up the momentum and pounced. Tackling forward and smashing into her opponent!

"Bliss." The cute giggled didn't help as Blissey looked down upon the pokemon that was rocked back. And the smile of a Goddess fell, a single flipper rose up, then down.

"Vicky! Phone call!" The flipper stopped and Goomy was completely still for a moment facing it before she basically went completely flat, nearly all the tension in her little body gone.

"Bliss Blissey!" I was informed the battle was paused, not over. As Blissey was still ready to lay down the law. Yeah… Maybe not letting Blissey act as the challenge after this. I hurried away Elizabeth meeting me on the porch.

"It's from Professor Cerise."

"Oh? What does he want?" I mumbled, and hurried over.

"Hello this is Vicky."

"Ah Vicky, I'm sorry to say, but we do need you at the Lab, poor Ren and Chrysa are getting a bit swamped."

"What, with what?"

"Your study. Haha, I think your hope for easy data is going to be a little more trouble than you expected. Can you come?"

"Yeah I'll be on my way right now."

"Excellent. I'll explain more when you arrive." After saying goodbyes I hung up frowning. Too many calls? I hadn't really expected that. There were only so many Eevee owners in Kanto, and even fewer would follow the posters' information. I shook it off, heading outside. I wanted to keep training but… I sighed.

"Okay everyone! Something has come up so we are calling today's training early!"

"Tiiiiini!" The happy cry echoed out as Dratini flopped onto the grass and then… Well he kinda just rolled and rolled until he splashed into the stream… Was he dizzy? I bet he was dizzy, but it was also…

"Okay so… Maybe we went a little hard today, but I'm super proud of all of you!" I called out, and got a very tired few calls back. Even Brave was rather done. But… It had been a good training day.

"Dragonite I need a ride to Vermillion, Professor Cerises' Lab. You good for a fly?"

"Drag!"

"In that case, I'll take Milotic, and I think Dratini is hiding, so Mimikyu?" I got a happy nod as he jumped onto my shoulder. I also took Blue Heart, taking all three pokeballs, and I was about to fly away when Riolu called out.

"Rio! Riolu!"

"What, you want to come?"

"Rio." She agreed and I narrowed my eyes, she wanted something…

"Fine, come on." She leapt up before I could grab her pokeball and leapt onto Dragonites back… She was definitely up to something. I took her pokeball from the storage and leapt on Dragonites back myself. The flight to Vermilion was very quick as Dragonite knew exactly where it was, and as soon as we landed, we were greeted.

"Hello!" I blinked as Chloe Cerises' daughter called out.

"Oh hello." I greeted her, as I looked over the younger girl, her school uniform was playing with Yamper in the area where I normally landed.

"You're Victoria right?"

"Yeah, it's Chloe right? Professor Cerises' daughter?"

"That's me."

"Yamp Yamp!"

"Yamper, don't bark." Chloe demanded, as Yamper raced up to bark at Dragonite. Dragonite just sort of looked at Yamper, seemingly thinking of what to do about it but decided to just ignore the little puppy.

"Ah, your dad asked me to be here.'

"Oh he should be in the lab. I'll show you." I nodded, despite knowing, as I returned Dragonite and then… Riolu squared up with Yamper. The two dogs glaring at each other.

"Yamp!"

"Rio!" Ah, that's why Yamper was barking. The two continued to stare, and Chloe and I both stopped as the two pokemon squared up.

"Oh, Yamper doesn't really like strange pokemon."

"Yeah, Riolu! Stop picking fights." I called out and she looked up, she was going to argue but then her eyes narrowed and she scoffed, crossing her arms and walking past Yamper like he wasn't there… He didn't like that, but Chloe called for him, and I felt my own eyes narrow at Riolu. What was she up to? Eventually I just had to follow after Chloe, as Riolu walked beside me, her arms crossed behind her head and faux whistling coming from her. Definitely up to something.

Inside the Lab I noticed Ren was working on the phone system that he had shown me last time I was here to set up my little eevee study.

"Ah there you are!" He called out, looking relieved to see me.

"Finally! Now you can take over." He offered, leaning back and groaning a bit.

"Take over?" I asked, wondering what had happened to get him acting like this.

"Well if you want the study, you have to do the work." Professor Cerise, spoke as he walked over.

"Hi Chloe, bringing in Vicky?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." He ruffled her hair which she sent him a look for and he focused on me.

"Your call box has been filling up, lots of calls, which is fairly normal for something like what you did. Ren has been going through them for you, but I do need him for his normal tasks." Cerise implied, and I slumped.

"Sorry, for making so much extra work for you Ren. Thank you."

"Ah it's fine. I just can't keep doing it. So here is what I got so far." He waved two notepads at me.

"Two?"

"One for confirmed information, one for potential, but something is missing. Usually phone numbers. Kids always think when they call in, the other side knows their number. But also just lack of information we might need for the study. The other is the good calls. If the calls are bad I just delete them." He said with a shrug.

"Bad calls?"

"People complaining, or demanding more information. That sort of stuff. You put out a phone number to the public you know."

"Yeah. Right." I mumbled looking at the notepads.

"So I just listen to the calls here?"

"Yep, oh grab a new headset from that drawer, this one is all sweaty, and then you can take over."

"Ah, Vicky." Professor Cherise added.

"While I'm happy to assist with your study, including hosting the calls on our system, I would prefer you keep the amount we are hosting low. It's currently about two hundred recorded calls." He offered, and I couldn't help but whistle a bit at the number.

"That's a lot."

"Eh. I've seen worse. We helped the police with tracking down a Sharpedo that was sticking way too close to the beaches once. We had what, a thousand calls?"

"Yes. A day." Cerise said with a far away voice. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

"Yikes."

"Yeah, that was less helpful than you'd think when we had people calling in so much. Live and learn." Ren shrugged.

"Right… Live and learn." I sighed. Looking at the station that Ren offered me. I glanced at Riolu, she instantly realized what I was thinking, and started spinning in the chair she had claimed whistling innocently. Yep, no way I could get her to help.

"Alright. I'll get some work done then." I decided. Nothing I hadn't done before, in a previous life anyways. I plugged in the headset and fairly quickly figured out how to play the recorded calls and clicked the first one.

"Umm… Weavy evolved, she's purple now… Can she go back? She was fluffier before. Thanks." I blinked at the call. That was the entirety of it. I deleted it, that's probably what Ren meant by bad calls. Next one.

"Hey so uh, this is supposed to be how you can evolve an Eevee right? This fairy evolution sounds cool. My Eevee doesn't know Baby Doll Eyes, or Charm. If you can get me like a TM I'll try it." I blinked. There was potential there but… Deleted. No phone number, so it's not like I could contact them. Besides, Eevee could learn those moves naturally, you don't need a TM! If they even existed… Next call.

"This is Annie… I've got an Eevee, and Kira wants to evolve. Umm, Kira is my Eevee's name… She wants to evolve, but I can't afford a Stone, so we've been trying to figure it out. Leafeon is beautiful, and new, but I can't go to Alola either… So Umbreon or Espeon right? Or the Fairy one… Are you sure Fairy Type Exists? I've heard that people say it doesn't… Anyways… Sorry, Umm I guess I just… Want more information? The post said I could do that… And the money for confirmed information… I'd like that too, if I can…

Thanks… Oh umm. 555-3342." I blinked okay… Fair enough. Put that into the good call pile. Annie, Not sure which Evolution. Wants the reward money. Moving on. —-- The loud crash in the middle of the call had me jolt, and I looked around to see…

"Riolu…"

"Rio! Rio!" She argued pointing. She had been knocked out of the spinny chair she'd been sitting in, being… Oddly good. She definitely wanted something. But she was pointing at Yamper who was growling at her…

"Okay." I agreed. She was being good, so I wasn't going to punish her. Yamper and her had probably got into it until she fell. I put the headset down and stretched groaning. Now I knew what Ren felt like.

"Okay I'm taking a break for now." I called out to Ren, and he threw me a thumbs up.

"Come on Riolu, let's go get some exercise. I need some sunlight.'

"Lulu!" She instantly hopped to her feet and raced for the entrance looking at me excited. Up. To. Something. Yamper trailed us as we walked, seemingly stalking us to make sure we weren't causing trouble and we headed out of the lab onto the grounds. Riolu was looking towards the street though…

"Okay, you've been a good girl… Weirdly, and you obviously want something. What is it?"

"Rio! Riolu lu!" She cheered and pointed and I followed after her. She led us onto the street out of the lab and then down the sidewalk, her nose twitching in the air as she tried to track something. I gave it a while but, she seemingly wasn't finding it.

"Okay Riolu, what are you hunting down? Can you tell me?"

"Rio!" She stopped and hesitated sort of fumbling for a second before she faked holding something in one hand and scooping it with a spoon in the other.

"Food?"

"Rio! Riolu." She went on sticking a fake spoon into her mouth and crying out in happiness…

"Something sweet?"

"Rio!" She agreed, jumping up and down. I still had no idea what she actually wanted though. Something sweet you could scoop out and…

"Ice cream?"

"Rioooooo!" She shouted, arms raised into the sky.

"Who gave you ice cream!?" I demanded, realizing the problem here. I hadn't given Riolu ice cream yet! Riolu started fake whistling.

"You are such a brat… Fine, we can get ice cream." I agreed with a sigh and Riolu cheered, dancing around happily. I turned away from where she was leading me. Seriously we needed to work on her tracking ability some more, and headed into the part of Vermillion they'd have a few shops including an ice cream parlor.

"Rioooo!" She shouted charging ahead when the smell hit her, and I had to jog to keep up. The place was small, and to my surprise there was already a bunch of school kids inside. Huh. I guess this was a local hang out? In fact, I looked over and recognized Chloe with a bunch of other girls. Either way Riolu and I went to the shop counter, and she was wiggling trying to see over the edge.

"Come on." I told her, bending down and she looked at me. We both stared at each other, for a long moment before she huffed and walked over to climb on my back.

"Rio."

"Sure." I agreed as I hefted her up and now she was sticking her head over my shoulder able to see the ice cream. Ooh, they all looked tasty, but if I had to pick one..

"That one."

"Riolu!" We both said at the same time, and I blinked.

"Haha! We got a real in tune trainer with her Pokemon don't we? Two Caramel Polywhirl swirls coming right up!" I looked at Riolu. She looked at me. We both instantly agreed to never mention this ever again. Who cares that we had the same taste in ice cream. Coincidence. I paid, and despite Riolu's tail wagging and her paws wiggling up and down she stayed on my back as I paid and carried both cones to a booth.

"Rio! Rio!"

"Hold on. Sit first, and grab a napkin, otherwise you're going to get all sticky." I told her as I got her off my back and we both settled into a booth. I took a moment to breathe in the smell of the ice cream before taking my first lick right in time with Riolu.

"Oooh that's nice."

"Riooooo!" This… Was a nice break. I still needed to do more work stuff, but then I also needed more training. Ugh. I didn't have time to go all in on both things.

"Oh it's Vicky right?"

"Hmm, oh hello again Chloe, and friends."

"See! I told you! That's Victoria Ferrous! The Conference winner! She has a flying Gyarados!" One of the other girls called out, and suddenly despite Chloe looking a little uncomfortable the group of girls all switched booths to join me.

"Can I get your autograph!?"

"Can I see your Arcanine? I've always wanted to see one!"

"Can you tell me how to get as strong as you? I really want to do well on my journey."

"Ah, well-""Girls!" Chloe said, cutting through it stomping on the floor a bit.

"Don't be rude! Sorry." She apologized to me, and I just laughed it off.

"It's fine, just kinda awkward yeah? Umm. I guess? But I don't think it's really something you'll want, it's just a signature. Arcanine is at home sorry. We've been training all morning. The only thing you need to do to get strong is love your pokemon lots, and don't be lazy about training them. Battling is only half of what you need to do. Find out a weakness and find a way to train to improve. It's fun."

"Thank you!" The girl that asked about getting strong replied, and the other pouted. But then a notebook and a pen was thrown in my face. Okay sure.

"Are you going to fight the Elite Four?" The question was thrown out as I sighed my name on the notebook.

"Ah, yeah, training for that. I went to Alola on vacation, but I'm back now and getting back into training."

"Is your cute pokemon here going to fight?"

"Riolu? Probably not. Maybe. It depends on how our training goes."

"Rio! Riolu!"

"Lance has pokemon strong enough to beat Arcanine. You can't even hit her."

"Rio." She huffed lying to herself as if she could. She had only hit Arcanine once in training and it was purely Arcanine tanking the hit for intimidation.

"Aww. I'm sure you'll do well!" One of the girls offered Riolu who nodded trying to look strong. With a glob of ice cream on her muzzle. I sighed. She would need a bath when we got home.

"Oh look!" One of the girls cried out and all of them cooed as out the window an Eevee walked by following after a lady.

"Aww, I want an Eevee."

"Me too!" Only Choe and I were silent as the other girls gushed over them. I looked at her.

"Not interested in an Eevee?"

"Oh! No, I mean yes? I am, but… I'm just not really planning on capturing pokemon. I think they're great of course."

"Chloe is too busy with school to want to be a trainer. She's going to be a professor!"

"I'm not." She mumbled quietly as all the girls nodded as if it was already decided. I just shrugged.

"Maybe, or maybe not. She still has all the time in the world to decide what she wants to do." I offered, and got a big smile from the girl at my words.

"Well either way, an Eevee is too expensive for me. I'll never be able to buy one, and finding one is impossible." One girl said with a sigh, and I just shrugged.

"Just find a friend, and train hard and win some battles."

"Eh. My parents don't want me to go on a Journey, I'm actually ten this year." She offered, and I blinked.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll be working at my families shop when I grow up, so they don't want me running off." She shrugged.

"Doesn't mean I don't want a cute Eevee you know?"

"Yeah I just need to find a summer job. Maybe if I work for a few years I can buy one?" I blinked. Summer jobs. Work. Kids could do small work for money. Money can be exchanged for goods and services.

"How would you like to earn some money?" I asked instantly as the thought came. All four girls including Chloe looked at me in surprise.

"What?"

"Well, it's like this." —-- Professor Cerise"Well this is certainly different." Chrysa whispered to Ren as all three of them looked on into the lab room. Four school girls were all working quickly. Including his Daughter Chloe. The fact they'd already been paid for this afternoon's work wasn't very wise, but they were taking it seriously. And at this rate the recorded calls would be gone through in maybe another hour.

"Maybe we should do something like this." Ren whispered.

"You know, offer a summer job to some of the school children. Vermillion City School has a good relationship with you right Professor?"

"It does… It might be something worth looking into, it would have to be fairly easy work though. They are just school kids."

"I bet you can find some that'll do a lot more. What about Chloe's friend? Goh? He's a smart cookie."

"A bit abrasive though, but he'd be a good intern."

"I'll talk to the Principal about it… It's certainly faster."

"Yeah."