The Alolan Vulpix looks around the room with a nervous expression.
She sees a pokémon floating above eyeing her with stars practically shining in his eyes, and hides inside the table.
Kamish floats down from the air and tries to approach her under the table, but Vulpix runs away from underneath the table and dashes straight to the living room.
"Ohh. Looks like you scared her," Lazarus says to Kamish, who becomes sad. "You need to be gentle, she doesn't know you yet. That's why she ran."
Lazarus walks towards his living room, and Kamish follows behind, "First, you should introduce yourself, let her know you mean no harm. Give her some time, and then she'll talk to you."
Kamish nods and decides to properly introduce himself to his soon-to-be big sister, but first, he goes back into the kitchen and grabs a purple berry with his mouth from the fruit basket.
Lazarus smiles at this before he navigates to Vulpix's profile menu on his wristcomm and clicks on DNA analysis, and reads through the report.
Subject: Unnamed
Gender: Female
Type: Ice
Evolutionary Stage: First
Total Evolutionary Stages: Two
Biological Age: Twelve Hours
Chronological Age: Approximately Two Weeks
Parentage: Subject is born to two Alolan Nintetales. One of them is suspected to be a Calamity class pokemon.
While Lazarus reads through the report, Kamish flies into the living room and looks around, trying to find the Vulpix.
He soon finds her hiding behind the couch.
This time, he doesn't approach her directly. Instead, he puts the berry down a few steps from her.
Kamish makes cherry noises at Vulpix, pointing at the berry with his tail before floating away from Vulpix.
Vulpix eyes the berry with wariness.
A minute later, Vulpix, unable to hold back anymore, walks up to the berry and sniffs it.
She munches on the berry, and her eyes light up at the spicy yet sweet taste of the berry.
She looks at Kamish after finishing the berry. Kamish nods in satisfaction before flying back to the kitchen and bringing her another berry.
—
Lazarus looks at the two pokemon, pleasantly surprised at how fast these two became friends and smiles.
Kamish points at Lazarus with his tail, and nudges Aurora to go towards him.
Lazarus also opens his palms and beckons her to come to him, and she does.
Lazarus bends down to look at the Vulpix, "Hi, little one, my name is Lazarus, and I am happy to welcome you to our little family."
He picks her up in his arms, examining her.
"You're the most beautiful pokémon I have ever seen," Lazarus says as he holds the Vulpix, caressing her silky white fur.
Kamish also floats up to Vulpix and nods, agreeing with Lazarus, though he has only seen two pokémon before her, and both of them were holograms.
Lazarus smiles at this and says, "This is your little brother, his name is Kamish. Soon, the three of us will see the world together. But before all that, we need to pick a name for you."
He thinks for a couple of seconds, trying to come up with a name that accurately captures her beauty, "How about Aurora? After the northern lights."
Lazarus looks down at the Vulpix he is holding in his arms and asks, "What do you think? I think it's a cute name.
It refers to the most beautiful display of light in the world. We might even get to see it one day."
Vulpix yips in response, more than happy being compared to beautiful things.
"Do you like it?" Lazarus asks.
Vulpix nods.
"Alright," Lazarus puts her down, then he pulls out his pokédex and registers Vulpix as Aurora.
"There is something I want to talk to both of you about," Lazarus says to both his pokémon.
Lazarus spends an hour talking about his dream of becoming a pokémon master and helping people.
He talks about how some people train pokémon to be able to fight against other pokémon or humans to protect the things they care about.
His pokémon don't really understand everything about this pokémon trainer business, but they understand enough to know what Lazarus requires of them.
"So, tell me. Would you like to help me in my journey?" Lazarus asks his two pokémon.
Both pokémon nod.
Lazarus sighs, "I am not sure what I am doing asking you to decide this without you actually understanding the gravity of my ask."
To make sure they understand the risks, Lazarus tells them about what happened to his last pokémon, how they were killed by a pokémon a hundred times more powerful than them.
Kamish feels that Lazarus is sad about something, so he floats up to him and hugs his neck with his body, trying to console his trainer in his own way.
"And I am sorry, I took you away from your mother. I know you are happy with me here, but maybe you would have been happier being with her."
Kamish looks at him for a second before making squealing noises as if trying to say, I don't care, and aren't you my mom now?
Lazarus even shows them the video of Tobias's Zephyr fighting against Sunfyre.
"I can't promise that our journey will be devoid of risk. In fact, it will be just the opposite, we will have to fight off powerful pokémon and there is a chance we might even die. But I promise, I will will love you with all my heart, and if it comes down to it, I will give my life for you.
And I want you guys to remember that if you ever feel like I am not doing a good job leading you and you don't want to do the things I am making you do, then you are free to refuse me. I even insist that you do. If my own pokémon are not happy, then what is the point in me trying to help everyone else?"
Even though the video of Zephyr devouring the soul of the Salamence spooked them a little, both Kamish and Aurora are touched and moved by what Lazarus said.
They decide to follow Lazarus. The dream of their trainer has now become their dream as well.
And so, Lazarus takes his first step towards becoming one of the greatest pokémon trainers that will ever live.
And the choice these two small pokémon have made today will go on to change the world forever.
—
Lazarus logs into his workstation and checks the email sent to him by the league.
Congratulations, Mr. Lazarus Hawke.
We are pleased to inform you that your application for a trainer's license has been approved, and you have successfully been registered in the pokémon league's database as a pokémon trainer.
Let us start by saying how much we appreciate your decision to work for the benefit of all of humanity.
Pokémon Trainers are not merely participants in recreational pokémon taming. They are the paragons of discipline, harmony, and human-pokémon cooperation.
They are the protectors of humanity, the vanguard against any and all threats, whether they be wild pokémon or bad faith actors trying to undo the centuries of progress we have made.
Your enrollment signifies not only a personal milestone but a meaningful contribution to the greater mission of coexistence and regional stability.
Additionally, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some crucial information.
As part of your onboarding process, your license will allow you access to trainer-exclusive infrastructure, which includes but is not limited to Battle Arena's, communication networks, strategy forums, training guides, and access to various marketplaces.
You are also granted access to all pokémon gyms in Sinnoh, all of them dedicated to making our trainers and their pokémon the best they can be.
We are also pleased to inform you that now you are authorized to carry up to six pokémon.
And finally, we would like to invite you to your nearest Battle Arena to complete your basic training.
We thank you for your decision to take on this responsibility with the seriousness and spirit it deserves.
We wish you safety, clarity, and determination as you take your first steps forward as a pokémon trainer.
Our best regards.
The Pokémon League of Sinnoh
Lazarus skims through the letter and wastes no time looking through the new options available to him courtesy of his new status as a pokémon trainer.
He navigates his wristcomm and clicks on his profile section.
Name: Lazarus Hawke
Trainer ID: KJ4HKJ776584HJG
Age: 18
Registered Pokémon: 2/6
Dreepy: Kamish
Type: Dragon, Ghost
Alolan Ninetales: Aurora
Type: Ice
He then registers an account on the Battle Arena website with his new trainer's ID.
After that, he spends a few hours reading a book titled, Evolution In Isolation: An Intimate Portrait of The Alolan Ninetales By Professor Samson Oak which delves into the divergent evolution of the Vulpix line from their Kantonian counterpart.
The first half of the book discusses how isolation in Alola's snowy peaks lead to the Vulpix line's type change.
The second half of the book analyzes the hunting and pup rearing behavior of a Ninetales pack.
And the final two chapters of the book talk about the folklore surrounding Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales and how those folklores differ from their fiery counterparts.