Pokemon: The Wandering Guardian

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1 year later

Lan is currently in Professor Birch's laboratory finishing up my report on the computer.

[ Lan POV. ]

'When I first came to the Lab, Old Man Birch thought that I needed to go to school so he signed me up for these annoying online classes. Luckily I am a quick study and spent enough time trying to find that old man's school work.'

After submitting my assignment excitement gets the best of me and I yell "I am FREEEE !!!!!"

***CRASH***

I fell back out of the chair. Groaning "Now that I have finished no one can tell me that there is something I have to do. Hehe. Now I can sleep as long as I want!!"

Quickly looking around to make sure that no one overheard me. I smirk and begin to get up and walk out of the computer room.

As I walk I take out my notebook. It is a habit that I have picked up from that old coot. Grudgingly I have to admit this habit has helped me.

I flip through the journal while walking slowly through the lab. I reminisce over the past couple of months where I have had more interactions with various people than with the Pokemon although not by much. Many things have happened since I left the forest which I typically record in my journal. Flipping through the entries I realize that most of them pertain to a couple specific things

Drawing a line to distinguish the old part of the journal from the space that I am going to write in the future. I also summarize the previous journal entries as:

_________________________________________

1) Getting a blood test done. It seems that I have a body of a 10-year-old and I am pretty tall for my age.

2) I was adopted by Old Man Birch after we couldn't find my identity anywhere on the missing person lists.

3) The lab is outside a small town called Littleroot which is located in one of the major regions called Hoenn.

4) Many kids want to become various occupations in this world such as Pokemon trainers, breeders, researchers and much more. It was agreed by multiple leagues in different regions that children can not start their "Journey" or an occupational specific school until they are 13 years old. So before that, compulsory education is provided to people by their regional league government.

5) Despite their prestigious name, not all Professors are responsible. The lab currently is very understaffed and only has one assistant who keeps the lab up and running. PROFESSOR Birch would go into the field every day in the name of research instead of taking care of the daily needs of the Lab.

6) If I leave things up to the Old Man then I will have to do them eventually. Which ends with me taking care of most of the Lab necessities while balancing the diets of the Pokemon that live at the Lab.

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I stroll into the backyard where there are various Pokemon roaming and lying around. The facility congregates many species together that typically you wouldn't see together in the wild. The Lab facility has a couple of large lakes, vast plains and a large section of forest. This doesn't include the greenhouse where many of the grass pokemon live along with the herbs and medicinal plants.

Most of the Pokemon in the lab seem to congregate around me. This might be because I am the one tasked to feed them or they just see me the most often since I get delegated. Don't get me wrong I enjoy everything but it is too tiring and too much responsibility right now for me.

Lan: "Well everyone I don't have any food right now I will come by later."

The Pokemon seemed disappointed and begin to scatter except for a few who keep following me.

I keep on walking up a trail till I arrive at the middle of the forest till I see a lake with many kinds of Pokemon some native and other are nonnative but less of the former.

Finding my way to one of the largest trees in the area I gaze at the main lake while laying down with my back against the tree. Studying the moving clouds for a while I eventually close my eyes and try to take a nap.

…

Two hours later

I gradually open my eyes while looking down to see a familiar Mudkip resting on my l.a.p.

***CRUNCH***

***SHUFFLE ***

A young girl and boy come into view. I recognize them instantly as they frequently come by the lab.

They are the son and daughter of that Old Man's Best friend. If I recall that correctly his name is Norman or something.

" Hey, Lan! Lan!" yells May excitedly.

She was closely followed by Brendan who was looking intently at Mudkip with stars in his eyes.

May: "Lan we came by to see you! We couldn't find you in the lab and Uncle Birch said you might be back here."

Brendan: "No Uncle Birch didn't say anything about Lan. YOU just wanted to see Lan while Father and the Professor are giving out the starter Pokemon to the newly registered trainers"

May blushed and stuck out her tongue

Lan chuckles and while laughing says: "Thanks guys I appreciate it. I forgot that its that time of the year."

Lan smiles and gets up and walks over to the two and rubs the head of May. She smiles and puts her head down trying to hide her blush. Lan chuckles and says "okay let us go back I want to see what kind of kids are becoming trainers this season".

Brendon "You're also a kid"

Lan smiles and they head back to the lab with Mudkip trailing behind everyone seemingly groggy from just waking up.

...

Back in the Birch's Lab

Professor Birch and Norman were standing in front of a small group of kids around 13 years old.

Birch: "Now that y'all have decided to become trainers and travel and additionally listened to Old Norman's speech, we can finally give you your first Pokemon"

Norman: "Today we have gathered our Hoenn regional starters for all of you to begin your journey with"

All of the kids looked at him with anticipation in their eyes.

Norman talked while releasing the pokemon one by one "We have Torchic a fire type, Treeko a grass type and last but not least Mudkip which is a water type"

The Mudkip that was let out looked around the room was bigger and a little chubby. It ultimately rested its sight on the smaller Mudkip trailing behind the group of kids watching from the side. It raised its chin in a way indicating that it was superior. The smaller Mudkip seemed to have a fire ignited in its eyes.

Meanwhile, Birch was talking "Okay now we will award the first choice to the one who arrived first"

An athletic boy wearing all trendy red sporting attire that stepped out and approached the Torchic asking:

"Torchic would you like to come with me on an adventure where we can beat our limits?"

Torchic looked the boy up and down and let a very loud

"Tor - chick!"

while jumping up and down all around the new trainer. The trainer returned Torchic to its Pokeball and sliding the box that Professor Birch was holding out to him into his backpack. It contained 5 empty poke balls, a map, and a trainers registration booklet. The booklet held the registration and a place for gym badges. The trainer left after enthusiastically thanking the Professor and Gymleader Norman.

The next kid chose Treeko without a second of hesitation. He collected his box also and left as quickly as he made his decision.

The two remaining trainers consisted of a slightly older kid who seemed tall having a big belly. His clothes gave off a luxurious shine which everyone could tell that everything was made with expensive materials. The second was a small and meek girl with blue hair that seemed to be dwarfed by the former's presence.

When the large boy was going to step out the large Mudkip already walked up to him and smirked the smaller Mudkip hiding in the crowd. The boy was ecstatic and ran over to grab the poke ball of the Mudkip and the trainer registration while walking away saying:

" I don't need this quality of items. I only want the best of the best" leaving the starter package in Professor Birch's hands. He seemed to be conversing with the Mudkip on the way out saying how he was going to buy it the best food.

The little girl slowly got up and asked with tears forming in her eyes:

"Is there another Pokemon for me to partner with?"

Norman looked at Birch and asked by his eyes; while Birch kind of sighed and said:

"The amount of starters have started to decline in the region due to the Breeders supply. If you want to wait another couple of months till the end of the breeding season or I can go catch something off of Route One if you want. But this depends on you."

Everyone in the Lab eyes showed with a sense of pity except for a pair which shone.

All of a sudden there was a brief moment of eye contact between two parties. One had excitement while one had an unknown feeling rise up inside.

Then after a brief moment, the small Mudkip pushed through the crowd and under the astonished gazes of everyone present walked up to the little girl and rubbed against her legs.

Birch looked at Lan and questioned, "You okay with this?"

While Lan replied "Well, she never was my Pokemon, to begin with, and I never caught her. She has a sense of adventure so it's her choice so I am happy with her" Saying this but deep down feeling a sense of loss.

The little girl looked at me with clear eyes and was about to cry but suddenly Mudkip hit her with a water gun thoroughly soaking her.

Everyone laughed at Mudkip who seemed to be enjoying itself. The little girl picked up a poke ball from her box that she got from Norman and Birch and Mudkip disappeared with red light.

The frail girl said softly "I will take care of her and we will be the best of partners"

Everyone watched the last of another set of trainers on their journeys.

May " I can't wait till I can go on my journey also"

Everyone else just smiled.

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