[Pov switch]

“So how was the battle” Birch was the first one to speak when the group of teenages got out of earshot.

“He’s talented in the way of battling for someone who just started but he still has a long way to go.” Oak noted to the rest of them

“Yeah I noticed that once the battle started ramping up, He panicked, he has the tendencies to observe but he needs experience and time.” Norman added, and they all thought for a minute gathering their final thoughts while Oak continued

“You can’t forget that his Piplup is strong. Stronger than some of the most trainers that have Prinplup’s”

“To be fair. This is the work of Heath’s dilengence to get stronger by training for a while before he left to go pick you up Norman” Birch alluded. He recalled all of the time he would have to get May or Max to retrieve Heath. Sometimes he would have to go went it got dark and everyone was concerned.

“So he trains for a while and then he ended being able to kill an Alpha enraged Ursaring?” Oak questions.

“pssst. It was only enraged due to a Beedrill colony. It’s not like we haven’t seen a trainer do that before. Remember Volkner and Koja when they were in the challenges. Red said it was gold. Though at then end it might have been around gold level” Norman added. He wasn’t trying to take away from the boy’s accomplishments but they asked for his opinions and he wanted to be realistic.

“So what I’m gathering is that Heath is beginning to have an adequate amount achievements.” Oak held his hips as he looked at the other two.

“Pretty much” Birch and Norman said simultaneously. While they didn’t think it was the most impressive it was indeed something that an average trainer would amount too. The clearing remained quiet for a while Oak thought. The other two valued the thoughts that came from the legend and they didn’t want to interrupt him.

“From our short time together, I can tell you that he has a lot of potential concerning battle. Additionally, He cares about pokémon as much as we do, and he doesn’t seem like a bad guy.” Oak paused collecting his thoughts before he continued.

“If we take all into evaluation…I am interested in him being registered as foundation member. What do think Birch?”

“Great. I’ve been trying to convince myself he wasn’t that special. When he came it was easy, Brendan was always going to be last sign on for a while but after a while it became harder to ignore that he was different. “

“Sorry Norman” Birch added

“It’s alright, I would have that problem myself if I were in your shoes”

“So you can give me your spot and this way instead of him being harassed or worst killed, It seem like I was sponsoring him from the powers of the research guild”

“Can you give him a ceiling”

“and what would be his signon bonus?”

“Well unfortunately, I cannot stay long I have to go today, so I am planning on giving you all gifts, and one of those gifts were an egg of a dragon type pokémon for you, but I think we should give it to Heath. Now as regards of what I think he ceiling might be, let me tell you this as I don’t have a proper answer. Frankly, Idk. He feels different from all of the trainers I’ve come across. Almost like his spirit is built intrinsically different. My hypothesis is that Heath will become…”

[Back to regularly scheduled programming]

the time all of them came back it was a couple of hours later. Heath was being constantly pestered by May on what they could be talking about and halfway through the journey she wanted to go back to snoop, but both Vanessa and Heath thought it was best for the three of them to wait back at the lab. Once the journey wasn’t long as they were all wet and annoyed by the clinginess of the clothes, so they decided to go their own ways with Vanessa bidding them both apologizes for her actions and fangirling and goodbye for. With the two of them gone Heath decided to take a long needed shower to rid him body on the surface impurities and to think about the battle he just finished. Piplup decided it would be best to take it’s own shower in the back of the lab where the rest of the pokémon were being held.

‘The battle wasn’t terrible. We definitely had the win until the Tepig evolved. I wanted to attack it when it was vulnerable but it was a spar and that might hurt it’s evolution process. I would hate to be that guy that tarnishes another pokémon’s potential if we were on friendly terms.’

‘Piplup is definitely in need of some stronger water type moves that could provide it some further range. Even with the type advantage, Not veing about to move fast or far without the Bandana is going to be a problem. Im proud of my progress, but we should train as soon as everyone has recovered’ Heath thought. He remained in the shower for quite some time enjoying the heat beating down his back. Trying to clear his mind he focused on the droplets falling on his body, and after sometime it felt fuzzy.

“Heath were are you” May called out.

Heath immediately opened his eyes.

‘How quick is her showers what the hell.’ Heath got out of the shower and wiped himself dry with the towel.

“Well, Something seemed to happen.” Heath exited the bathroom and quickly got dress. He left his pokémon in the room and slowly walked down the stairs.

‘I wonder what she wants.’ Heath thought as he saw her looking in the fridge for something. He looked around and decided to sit, letting his body slip in the couch’s softness.

“You took my spot.” May whined, but Heath just ignored he by laying down on the couch looking at the tv that was off.

“You could’ve chosen to sit anywhere else besides the couch.” May pouted before sitting directly across from him. Heath switched his vision to her, He noticed that she did look like she took a shower, and she had grabbed a small carton of milk.

“So, not in the mood for words. Can you at least explain why you were so long in the shower?”

“What do you mean?”

“And he speaks” May mumbles to herself. She takes a sip from the carton before explaining.

“I left here, and by the time I got back it was around a hour but you still took another 2 hours before I had called you down. Is something wrong with you?” May asked she had changed her position looking to be comfortable but Heath just sighed.

‘I guess I was a little long but it felt like only 30 minutes went by. But if I was in there for three hours where are Birch, and them?’ Heath noted.

“The real question is where are the old farts”

“What do you mean?” May asked. She looked around before her eyes slowly widened in recognition.

“Yeah, you’re right for once where are my Dad and Grandpa Oak?” May

‘What? For on-’

Heath’s thoughts were interrupted by the clicking of the door. The both of them looked and saw the two men entering the lab both wearing lab coats followed but a taller man wearing casual clothes

“Speaking of the devil.” May smiled.

“You guys sure didn’t take long”

The all laughed with each other like there were good old friends. The continued walking in where both of the professor hung up their coats, and the moved next to Heath. Heath quickly sat up from his laying down on the couch, feelings a different atmosphere taking place.

“Were deciding on a couple of things and along the way, we decided to let Norman see his house before he leaves to go to petalburgh.”

“Yeah, I wanted to leave a note to my wife and kid before they arrive in the next month. Speaking of which I hope you will take care of them like you took care of me Heath”

‘What happened to Norman. Are they drunk or something? That might be the case but they don’t seem to off’ Heath tried to figure out what was going on, but he made no attempt to make that obvious.

“So as we’ve said we decided a couple of things.” Birch said as made his way next to his daughter sitting on the chair’s arm.

“But I failed, I lost the tes-”

“Let us finish, and you then you can make your comments” Birch interrupted, and nodded to Oak to speak on his behalf.

“So Heath. Yes, the deal was that we would consider you as a foundation acolyte if you won a battle with me, which you clearly did not thought you were close at one point.”

“Good job kid, many wouldn’t have the opportunity having that achievement.” Norman smiled.

“When you guys were sent back here, we decided to talk about it anyway, and I would like you to take a foundation spot”

“What?” heath was at a lost of words. He was stunned at the revelation that he had proved his worthiness to obtain a spot. He felt his throat before useless as he realized that May was hugging him.

‘Can’t breath’ Heath thought as his vision slowly faded to black but before he passed out he tapped, and Birch was the one to pry off May who was smiling.

“Heath isn’t that great you get to be under Grandpa Oak, maybe you’ll get to meet Uncle Blue and Red” May beamed a smile, but Heath knew that was never the deal.

“I wouldn’t be under Professor Oak, I’d be under Professor Birch” Heath corrected

“Oh Right.”

Heath smiled, that his friend was happy for him, and he looked at Oak who seemed to satified with the correction.

“Yes, he will be under your Dad but that doesn’t mean I can’t give him a sign on bonus.” Oak went into somewhere disappearing before reappearing into the main room. He held an egg and in pockets seemed to the clacking of pokéballs.

“Here, I know I should give it to you when it’s official, but it will be done by tomorrow. This egg, is from the dragon’s den in Kanto. I got it as a present from Claire and I was going to give it too Birch to study. I think it will prove valuable in your hands.” Oak smiled. Heath took the egg which was in a incubator, and observed it. The egg looked scaly, but it was pretty light.

‘Pokémon Egg’

?????

Time to hatch: ~55 days

‘I figured. At least I have some idea’ Heath thought as he looked at Oak in appreciation.

“Thank Professor.”

“hmhmm” Birch coughed slightly, Heath turned and continued the smile.

“Thank you as well, Professor Birch.”

“As far as you’re future under me. We’ll talk about it another time. For now I guess we’ll call it a night, for you and allow Oak to give his final gift” Birch smiled at the crowd. Everyone was confused besides Oak which Heath quickly noticed.

“Here.” Oak handed May a pokéball, which caused her to start to tear up.

“May. I know I promised to be here for your birthday last year, but I was busy in Galar making amends and trying to improve our situation. I would like to announce you that your father has decided to make you a foundation acolyte as well” Oak seemed to enjoy her surprised reaction.

She pressed the pokéball to release the pokémon inside and it revealed to be an eevee

‘Is that related to Blue’s?’ Heath wondered, was soon taken away from his thoughts.

“What a cutie!” May squealed. The eevee was squished but it didn’t seem to dislike it

“Eevee” Eevee turned it’s head.

“I’m your new trainer Eevee, Let’s get along!” May explained softly. The eevee seemed to be overjoyed by gaining a new trainer.

”Now May, you won’t be able to sign up for another year.”

“That’s okay. Thank you, Thank you” The young girl hugged the brown creature once more.

“I have a few other gifts but unfortunately none for you two, but you guys seem to be satified with what you have” Oak observed the both of them nodding, and then continued.

“What are you going to do now? Will you be going off. On a journey or will you be staying for awhile” Norman asked

“Uhh We’ll well probably stay for about a month. I want to train my pokémon more after they are fully healed, plus I want to save a little more money.” Heath replied shrugging his shoulders.

“Sounds good, do me a favor and help brandon will yeah. Im sure he could use the time acclimating, but if anything just give me a call. I’ll be expecting you a challenger eventually.”

All of the talked for a little while as the sun went down. Oak gave Birch the other pokémon in his pocket which Heath learned it would be a Muchlax for Max. It soon time for Oak and Norman to go. May was a little upset that she couldn’t spend time with her relative but she was hopeful when Oak promised to visit before May left on her journey. They all went outside as Oak released a Salamence. That spooked Heath. Norman and Oak got on the pokémon, and they left with their goodbyes.