Back home again
Before anyone knew it more than two weeks had passed on the island. Gary and Ash had a fun time learning what they could do and practicing it, till they could do it easily. Ash had learned how to perform a proper fireball while Gary had learned heatwave. It was not as powerful as when a Pokemon attacked but it was strong enough to distract or hurt humans. Blaine had been very fascinated by this and showed Gary and Ash how to make a report on what they learned, when and how. He also had a ball of a time helping Lance figure out his abilities by using Ash and Gary as a template.
Blaine hummed, 'Who knew the Dragon brat would end up being more powerful after his core was released? And to think, he was already powerful enough before. Someone really wanted him out of the picture.'
Ash and Gary had talked to Lance a lot, in the following days. Blaine while curious what they talked about did not bother them. From what he could gather, the two were happy to find someone like them. He had talked to Samuel two days ago and he wondered how things would turn out for them once they returned home. Now that the league has set it's sights on the two kids.
Flashback:
Blaine, "I'm afraid, the first two starters here have gotten too attached to the boys."
Samuel, "Well, that is quite a predicament, my friend. What do you suggest we do? Allow them to return home with the boys? What about the trainers they were supposed to go to?"
Blaine rolled his eyes, "You know very well, that trainers are not told what Pokemon, they will have as a starter. It's mostly just luck of draw or a quick minute decision."
Samuel laughed nervously, "That's true. I guess, I will be making a few adjustments here for new members. When I sent the two boys over to you, I honestly did not expect them to get their second Pokemons. That too the official Kanto and Alola starters. Oh boy! How to explain this to the league? I'm not sure they would agree to two kids who aren't trainers to have more than one Pokemon."
Blaine rubbed his chin, "Well, Sam you are always researching the bonds between Pokemon and humans, correct? Perhaps, you could use this as an opportunity to prove your little theory correct. You and I, both know that despite the very obvious results from before there are still many stubborn sceptics who are stuck in their old ways. And that's coming from an old man like me."
Samuel got a thoughtful look, "You know what Blaine, that might not be a bad idea. It could be an ongoing research. Hmmm..... I'll need to think about this properly however. Ash and Gary are different from other kids. I will have to get more volunteers to avoid suspicions."
Blaine watched amused as his friend went off rambling about ideas again, "Samuel, how about I leave you to it? I will be here, if you need anything."
Samuel, "Ah! Of course! Thank you for watching over my kids Blaine. I'll be there to pick them up a few days from now."
Flashback end!
Now the kids were packing their stuff up with the help of Cooper, Rex and Trix and none of them even realized how many bottles of items they had collected, till right at this moment. There were bottles of fur and scales that Pokemon would shed annually, bottles of plants that they had not known grew in the wild area of Cinnabar island, like that fire snapdragon for example, that fire types love to eat. Blaine would have to get a search and cultivate group prepared to grow them in one of the many fields. Then, there are the stones, twelve different stones ranging from clear crystals to lava gems to fire, sun and rock evolution stones, save for the mega evolution stone which they decided to send to Professor Sycamore, who was studying them specifically. Cooper had Trix and Rex help with listing the items they had collected.
Trix, "Oh Mew, kids! Just two weeks, almost half a month and you have quite a collection here."
Ash laughed embarrassed, "Yeah, we got a little carried away with it. I mean these stuff only grows here on the island."
Pikachu rubbed his head, -I didn't realize it, either.-
Rex ruffled his hair, "No worries kids, this is not so bad."
Trix grinned, "Yeah, we now know some of the plants that our Pokemon enjoy can be available to us locally. It will save our budget by quite a bit."
Gary, "Really?"
Eevee, -Told you, it was fine.-
Cooper laughed, "Yeah! Totally! Blaine may not say it but he's actually quite happy with your reports on the type of plants, stones and Pokemon found in certain areas on the island. We are mostly busy with the security, the trainers who come to challenge the gym and researching fire types so we aren't exactly free to catalogue the local fauna and flora, not properly at least. So having someone do it in detail, saves us quite a headache."
Gary blinked, "Ah... We didn't realize that. Next time we will work harder on the reports."
Ash nodded, "Yeah, we know that most of our report was probably childish to read. We saw Blaine trying not to laugh at it."
Trix couldn't help but giggle, "Wellllll.. Your handwritings do need a lot of work."
Rex snorted, "I don't know. I think it was cute."
Ash and Gary pouted making Cooper chuckle, "Don't worry with practice you will make better reports."
The five of them packed the last of the items up in boxes before sending them in a van to the ship to be loaded in. They spent the evening before packing their clothes up which left the items they collected to be packed in the morning. They spent the whole morning packing up and sending the bags and boxes to be loaded that it was almost noon. As they were about to leave both Gary and Ash were jumped by Charmander and Litten.
Pikachu, -Hey what are you guys doing?-
Charmander, -I don't want Ash to go.-
Eevee, -Um..... Won't you two have your own trainers soon?-
Litten, -We like Ash and Gary better... Well he likes Ash, I like Gary.-
Ash blushed a bit when he heard what the Pokemon said and Gary also turned a little pink. He may have just started actively using his abilities two weeks ago but he was understanding what the Pokemon he became close to said. And even he could see and admit the two starters had bonded to them the past few weeks. He looked at Ash who was still blushing cutely.
Trix, "Looks like our babies have chosen their partners."
Rex, "But will the league allow it though. Non trainers are not allowed more than one remember?"
Cooper, "Let's go talk to Blaine. It's obvious the two will not except any other trainer."
Ash pat Charmander on his head, "We will figure things out buddy."
Charmander, -Yay!-
Gary scratched Litten as he purred, "You really want to come with me huh? Let's go talk to Blaine. He's the one in charge here."
Litten, -Good, I would have sneaked out otherwise.-
Cooper lead the way to the lab, 'We totally saw this coming.'
Trix tried to hold her squeal back while Rex just shook his head. They walked to see Blaine who was waiting for them. It looks like even he saw this coming from a mile wide. Blaine gave a smirk when he saw the two starter sticking close to the kids. No one was separating them without a fight it seems. It was quiet a relief when Samuel called him with the news the league allowed it provided they got regular updates on them. The fact that the two kids helped Lance was a fact known by the higher ups in charge and helped in making them agree.
Blaine, "I thought you kids might come here and with those two."
Ash rubbed his head, "We were simply planning to say goodbye, but Charmander and Litten decided they wanted us."
Blaine looked at them in amusement, "Is that so? Well it is not uncommon for Pokemon to choose the human they want to be with. If they see that a human is worthy of their companionship and power they will follow the human till the end."
Cooper, "So we let them go, boss?"
Blaine, "They have made up their minds. And they are not going to accept anyone else easily."
Trix, "Boss is right. I'll get the register and do the registration."
Rex grinned, "Guess, they are yours."
Ash and Gary grinned ,they had gotten their second official Pokemon, Ash hugged Charmander and Gary pat Litten. The other fire types had gathered around to say their farewell and best wishes. They dragged them to celebrate. This was the scene Professor Oak walked into.
Samuel, "Well, looks like they are getting along quite well."
Blaine gave a snort, "They have been getting along well from the start. You are late."
Samuel, "Got held back by a meeting, honestly it's like talking to a wall sometimes."
Blaine, "Should I dare ask what happened?"
Samuel frowned, "Two escaped. Also, Lance seems to have become more dangerous than before. I can't explain it."
Blaine's face drew a blank, "I see. You will have to send me the details later."
Samuel, "Of course."
The two walked over to the field where the kids were playing one last time with the fire types. Samuel observed the Litten and the Charmander that apparently followed his grandson and Ash around. They were quiet adorable and looked a little clingy from what he was seeing.
Gary waved, "Grandpa! Over here!"
Ash perked up as well, "Professor Oak, we have so many things to tell you."
The Professor laughed, "You can tell me on the way kids. Say goodbye to your friends now. We have to go."
The fire types gave a sad look that had the adults taken aback. Gary and Ash just awwed before turning to say goodbye to the others and promising to visit again soon. Charmander and Litten said farewell to their buddies before bounding up after Ash and Gary to register as their Pokemon.
Professor Oak, "Alright then, Ash, Gary. After you talking it out a few weeks ago, the league had decided to consider making you official trainees."
Ash looked confused, "What does that mean?"
Gary looked confused as well, "Yeah Gramps! We have just registered ourselves in Pokeschool. How can we already be trainees? Our term doesn't even start till next month."
Professor Oak rubbed his neck, "Well, Lance has also spoke on your behalf when I went to talk to them about the two of you having a second Pokemon to care about. The league was impressed but also curious now about you two."
Gary smiled then frowned, "That's nice of them but why us?"
Ash nodded, "Yeah Professor, special abilities or not. We are not even ten years yet."
Professor Oak hummed, "Perhaps because all things considered you have shown good judgement and ability to work with others."
Ash looked at the Professor like he grew another head, "I believed you more when you said they were curious."
Gary nodded, "Yeah gramps, we gave Cooper here more heart attacks then what is considered healthy."
The Professor laughed embarrassed, "I know, but the league doesn't know the details. That would be a little inappropriate considering you are minors."
Blaine laughed, "Point is you are being allowed more than one Pokemon provided you are responsible for them and take care of them. The league will also be keeping an eye on you as you are both a person of interest."
After that Ash and Gary, said goodbye to Cinnabar Island and returned back home, the two of them spent the time telling Professor Oak about their adventures on Cinnabar mountain especially meeting Moltres and Entei. The Professor had a worried look but hid it quickly and smiled at the two excited kids. The Professor knew Moltress' interest in them was one of the reasons why the league allowed them the 'privilege', as they liked to call it, of becoming trainers early. He all of a sudden wished, they had not, he knew his kids better than anyone else and they did not care about privilege like most would. He mostly feared his kids might be taken advantage of.