Bab 81: C081 - Breakfast at Pete's

"This is moderately terrifying!" Iris shouted from behind Pete as Zebstrika jumped over a turned over log on top of the cliff to reach the other side of the river feeding Ilex Falls, the waterfall near his home.

Golurk wasn't in the Mushroom Caves where Pete had suspected him, but he finally started feeling him through their bond a good hundred meters out. Pete looked back and saw Rapidash follow his wife up the steep staircase the Golem tribe had built into the cliff wall at the start of the territory war at the very start.

Iris desperately clutched Rapidash's neck, and Pete was content with the punishment he dished out to her for trying to steal his food. He would have given her a crash course on how to make blocks, too, if only she had asked.

Five minutes later, Pete told Zebstrika to slow down. Golurk was near the water, all the way down the fifteen meter cliff.

'Hey buddy! I've been looking for you! Any reason you're so far from home and why I couldn't feel you through our bond for the longest time?'

After fully opening the bond between them with his psychic prowess, Pete asked the pokemon what was on its mind. Golurk's response was a picture of Suicune followed by what he was holding in his hand. A... mega stone?

Pete shook his head. Regular people wouldn't find even one in their entire lives. Why did he and his pokemon already find three? It's been a while since he found a stone, but this still was no real explanation. This time around, he simply chalked it up to the fact that Golurk couldn't really be put to sleep and was instead sent away to get Suicune's second gift. Or was it payment?

Admittedly, he led a rather active adventuring lifestyle and had quite a lot of pokemon roaming around bringing him gifts and everything. He had quite a few Water Stones that his two Milotic brought back occassionally. And, his Leaf Stone counter, for example, had long ago reached double digits. Yet, out of respect for Celebi, who was the likely reason, so many of those stones are found in Ilex Forest, Pete did not sell them. He could grant them as gifts later in life if he ever became a professor and sent out young trainers.

'So you're doing okay? Want me to call over Reuniclus or Farigiraf to come pick you up?'

At the question, Golurk sent back an exasperated feeling that made Pete laugh, 'Okay, okay. Have a nice walk back, buddy.'

Iris, who just relaxed on Rapidash's back after it had reached Pete and Zebstrika, immediately tensed up when Pete winked at her. Moments later, Rapidash and his wife Zebstrika started running back home at breakneck speeds.

This time around, Rapidash actually held his own. He was built more for stamina than speed compared to his wife, so the second high speed round gave him a slight edge. It wasn't enough to win the second lap, but since it was much closer, he wasn't too mad about it.

Pete left Iris at her bungalow and brought the two equestarian pokemon back to the stables. After a short moment of bonding with them, Pete walked to his house to start making breakfast.

A berry+fruit salad, fresh Moomoo Milk with vanilla, and a big basket of fresh croissants with Rinka Berry jam later, Pete brought a tray to serve his girlfriend breakfast in bed. Rinka Berries were something Pete had never heard before, so it might have been an anime exclusive or something else.

They looked a lot liked a smooth orange in the form of a pear, helped with throat pain and a hoarse voice, but most importantly they tasted like sweet citrus-y pears and only needed a spoon and minimal force to be turned into a smooth jam with no pulp.

Jasmine was still asleep and hugging his pillow close, so Pete set the tray on his dresser and moved to sit on the bedside.

He gently brushed her hair out of her face and softly said, "Wake up, sleepyhead. T minus thirteen days until the gym leader challenge. Can't slack off now."

"Ugh, nooo~"

"I brought breakfast~"

Jasmine slightly cracked one eye open to look at him and asked, "Is there coffee?"

"Nope~ but I'll tell you about who I met at the lake earlier if you at least sit up and eat a little."

"You drive a hard bargain, mister," Jasmine 'begrudgingly' said as she used all four limbs to sit up and lean against the headrest of the bed with a giant smile on her face.

Pete straightened out the blanket so it wouldn't get caught or tip over the breakfast and brought the tray over for his girlfriend.

"Okay, so. You know the three legendary 'beast' pokemon myths from Johto, right?"

Jasmine coughed into the mug of her vanilla milk drink she was drinking from. With a laugh, Pete dabbed away the bit of milk she spilled and continued to explain, disregarding the glare Jasmine sent his way.

"Anyway, it was all foggy this morning, and there was something in the back of my mind telling me to go outside to check it out..."

By the time Pete finished explaining and Jasmine finished pouting that she missed meeting yet another legendary pokemon after Celebi put her to sleep last time, the two were finished with breakfast.

Pete took the tray back to the kitchen, giving Jasmine time to do her morning rituals, and he found Valerie and Courtney sneaking out of the latters room.

"I told you I'm okay with it. Why are you sneaking?" Pete asked as he walked behind them without making any noise.

"AH! Come on, Pete! Why are you doing your ninja routine again?"

As Courtney glared at him, Pete just shrugged the accusation away, "You're simply not paying enough attention. I won't apologize for not stomping around like a Donphan when walking in my own home. So? Why the sneaking?"

"I simply didn't want to wake anyone," Valerie offered with a relaxed, dreamy smile.

"And I don't know why, it felt right," Courtney non-explained as she straightened up and walked into the kitchen.

"The tray looks like you brought someone breakfast?"

Pete looked to Valerie with a smile and answered, "Yep, a little surprise for Jasmine."

"Wow, perfect husband material," she praised as she looked him up and down.

Pete just gained a silly grin and shrugged, "I try."

"Ohh, score! You and Alcremie made Croissants with Rinka Jam?" Courtney asked from the kitchen when they reached it.

"Yep, one of the Miltank did an egg plant run this morning, and Alcremie was up to put in a little effort. There's also fruit salad and some fresh milk in the fridge. Do you drink tea, Valerie? Some time ago, I started growing some herbs, and they make great tea when the leaves are properly dried first," Pete explained as he went into 'host mode'.

Courtney rolled her eyes a little because despite him saying he didn't run a hotel even after he finished those three extra guest 'houses', Pete always went all out when guests were over. At least his 'obsessive need' to be a good host was the polar opposite of destructive behavior.

"Sure, I'll try a herb tea. You pick which one. Because I'll trust your taste, and I'm not picky," Valerie answered in the same dreamy smile she had before.

"White herb tea it is. Haven't found a single person who didn't like it. Very mild, and if you need it sweetened, Combee honey pairs perfectly with it," Pete offered as Courtney quietly scoffed.

Eventually, a shy Iris and a brightly grinning Clair joined them at the breakfast table. The two dragon trainers sat down and began to talk about their adventure on the Dragon's Peak last night. Well, Clair mostly did as Iris barely looked up from her plate.

"So Iris' Hydreigon got his ass handed to him by my Flygon and tried courting her? And your Mega Altaria won a fight against three Dragonair with three separate Headbutts? Huh, sounds like Mega Altaria's ability changed to Pixilate. Meaning the normal type move turned into a stab fairy move. Congratulations, Lance definitely doesn't stand a chance the moment you teach Altaria Hyper Beam," Pete summarized when Clair finished her story.

Clair's eyes started to shine. She didn't even connect the dots yet! Pixilate was the perfect ability for her anti-dragon dragon!

"What I wanna know is why Iris looks like a Tangrowth spanked her butt. I get she lost, but that can't be it," Courtney interjected, and Valerie started giggling at the mental image. Iris looked like she wanted to retort but instead just started pouting. These last two days weren't hers.

"Ah, we went riding on Rapidash and Zebstrika for an outing earlier. I think riding Rapidash up a cliff and on the beach wasn't quite agreeable with her," Pete explained, leaving out the part where she was caught red-handed in his pokeblock supplies.

He didn't really care, so there was no need to embarrass the young girl any further. The girls all laughed a little at her expense, and Iris gained a deeper shade of pink on her tanned cheeks.

"Well then, Pete. Did anything cool happen this morning before the ride?" Clair asked after a few moments of silence. She narrowed her eyes at him, making Pete believe she knew that something did happen. Maybe she didn't think of a Suicune-level event. But something bordering it, maybe.

"Oh yeah, you might have seen the fog? Found a cool water pokemon down at the lake and got a gift," he explained as he held up his new water pendant. "We talked a little, and it left later."

"And who was it to make so much fog? A mega evolved pokemon? A giant Wailord? Or did you meet a mythical pokemon like Phione or Manaphy?"

Pete just grinned and didn't answer.

"Didn't know you read enough books to know about a mythical pokemon," Iris mumbled under her breath just loud enough for everyone on the table to hear her. Clair leveled a very dry stare in her direction but couldn't reply because someone made herself known first.

"Hey Peeeeetey," Whitney shouted as she, Jasmine, and a sleepy Sophie joined them in the kitchen. Sophie looked annoyed at the loud noises, Jasmine looked exasperated at the next set of actions from her pink-haired friend.

Instead of grabbing a chair of her own, Whitney made herself comfortable on Pete's lap and grabbed a croissant, "Wanna know what Pete thinks about your butt, Clair?"

Pete didn't even groan out in annoyance because Whitney had used the perfect distraction so that no one would ask about Suicune again at the breakfast table.

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Bab 82: C082 - Talking about the near future

"I'll come back with Drampa later tomorrow. Take care until then and, please, stop talking about my ass," Clair said at the port of Goldenrod.

As she walked away with a deep swing of her hips, Clair made an arm movement that swept her cloak to the side and she turned around with a wink. Whitney and Pete just grinned at her, the 'argument' that followed with Whitney's comment was embarrassing to most but those two just took it in stride. Jasmine simply rolled her eyes.

With enough space, Clair released her Dragonite and Mega Altaria from her balls and told Iris to get up on Dragonite. They would get 'home' with a quick flight.

The whole group of girls including Pete were taken back to the city a few hours after breakfast by Reuniclus and Espeon using Teleport.

Iris and Clair were going to Blackthorn City before Iris goes back to her caretaker Drayden in Unova. Whitney, Sophie, Courtney, and Valerie were going shopping and Jasmine and Pete were going on a date in Olivine City.

A bistro opened up near the beach west of the city center and they made a huge splash in the Johto Restaurant scene with their flavorful cider creations. The owner of the bistro attributed the success to Pete and offered him free food for life. This would be his first time visiting.

"Are you sure you want to refuse your parents good will for the house? I know you could sleep in the gym... uh somewhere, probably? And you know I'd love for you to come home to the farm in the nights. But if you ever need the space, an extra house could do some good," Pete spoke as the two lovers walked around in Olivine hand in hand.

They started out their date with a visit to Johto's tallest lighthouse and a long look over the ocean from the top. After that they strolled through the city, purposefully not going to the gym north of the city center. As the owner of 12 gym badges from Johto she had won in the past weeks between tournaments and partner of one of the most popular assistant professors in the world her upcoming audition was a mere formality, but Jasmine still thought it would be bad luck going to the gym mere twelve days before it was official.

"I mean, Sophie already has that apartment she only slept in once. For emergencies I can always use that. And don't forget you're not the only one with powerful psychic pokemon. My Claydol is no slouch. He can get me home anytime, even if it's four jumps instead of the two your Reuniclus needs," Jasmine argued.

"Eh, if you say so. You don't see me complaining that I get to have you in my bed at night," Pete countered with a shrug.

The two passed the street that would lead into the city center and end at the gym. Every so often there were flags and colorful banners hung from wires between the houses showing off the many 'partner' cities that had ships coming and going to from the port. On this street, Pete coincidentally found a banner for his first trip destination Slateport City in Hoenn and his next destination: Hau'oli City on Melemele Island in Alola.

The reason he chose Hau'oli first wasn't simply because it was convenient to reach and had a giant shopping district. It wasn't even Professor Kukui who lived closeby with his newlywed wife. Most importantly was the Alolan royal starter breeder for the water pokemon.

Technically Popplio was Pete's least favorite Alolan starter, but it was also one of the most easily accessible fairy pokemon he did not yet raise on his farm. Though only its last evolution stage Primarina was a water/fairy pokemon, he still wanted at least one for completion's sake.

Since he did not yet have any ice pokemon on his farm an Alolan Vulpix was technically on list as well and he could even be convinced to catch a Mimikyu bringing his ghost pokemon counter on the farm to two, should he find one.

Other than that he would also keep his eye out on a Morelull or Shiinotic, a line of grass/fairy pokemon that could help his Shroomish in raising the mushrooms in his cave system and Betty Joy, the Nurse Joy he had met in Violet City had promised him a Cutiefly when he visits.

"You're on a date with me, why are you spacing out?"

Pete snapped out of his thoughts and looked to his girlfriend, "You know I'm due for a visit in Alola in six weeks, right? Professor Kukui invited me for the grand opening... reopening? of the Alola league? And Aether Foundation President Lusamine wanted me for... well she didn't say. In any case, I'm due another three to five fairy pokemon for my fairy papers. Sorry for spacing out, though."

"Mhm. Did I tell you that you and your trips really have sucky timing? Last time I couldn't come and this time I'll likely be busy with my gym... How about I tank the audition and follow you to Alola? Maybe become the first champion after the ominous reopening?"

Pete firmed his grip on her hand for a short moment and simply sighed, "Come on. I know it's bad timing but you wanted this for far too long."

"Yeah, just saying," Jasmine sighed back.

"I'm definitely evolving a Pikachu over there and doing my best to find an Alolan Vulpix. Anything you want? An Alolan Dugtrio? A Mudsdale?"

"Ugh, no. Like I said to you many times before. Nobody other than you is crazy enough to raise hundreds of pokemon. And since you finally managed to manufacture these 'Protectors' for my two Rhyperior, I'm still training those two and Excadrill to meet the standards of my other pokemon," Jasmine denied instantly.

They had reached the bistro 'Alola's Touch' at the beach and Pete was doing the gentleman's gesture of pulling out the chair for Jasmine as the owner greeted them enthusiastically.

Paolo was the owner's name and he had a classic Alolan outfit on making sure everyone knew he was from Alola if his deeply tanned skin and air-surfing Alolan Raichu wasn't indication enough already. Everything in this bistro screamed cocktail bar in a resort more than it did restaurant in Johto. It was a pleasant change of scenery and Pete marvelled at the beautiful decor.

"Finally I get to meet the infamous Recipe Professor!"

"Wow, do people really call me that?" Pete asked while scratching his ear a little embarrassed.

Paolo patted his shoulder with a big smile and answered grandly, "I coined it! I'm still hoping it catches on!"

Jasmine grinned at the interaction as the two continued to go back and forth and Pete ordered whatever the chef recommended. First, they were served an electrifying cider made with the help of Paolo's Alolan Raichu they both enjoyed immensely and then they were both served burgers with sweet and sour sauce and grilled tempeh, a soybased patty of sorts, served on rice and grilled vegetables.

"There's plenty of bug and poison pokemon all around the farms, though none of them are truly raised by you. For flying you have pretty much only the Hoppip line and those three lovable Farfetch'd. You have very few fighting and electric pokemon. And then you only have one ghost pokemon in Golurk and two dark pokemon with Zoroark, and that one-armed Shiftry hiding near the forest line, really. Ice you have none of your own and only Courtney has her Mamoswine and the two Swinub it raises. For dragon, to be fair, you're getting two more species added soon. That's nine out of eighteen typings you rarely consider," Jasmine said as they were enjoying yet another refreshing cider after they were done eating. The two were sitting a little secluded with bare feet in the sand as they enjoyed the late evening sun.

"What are you asking?"

Jasmine shot him a loving smile and asked, "Pete, you wrote papers redefining everything. And as an assistant professor, no less. From evolutions and moves, breeding and egg groups, typings, even regional variants! Yet you 'missed out' on almost half the typings there are when we just consider the farm and your papers so far. I'm a little worried about what you're still going to burden yourself with if the rest of the professors named you a fully-fledged professor in the near future."

Pete took a while to ponder over his reply before he answered, "Well, I'll be honest with you; I'm not a big fan of most of the typings. Bug pokemon can be useful and powerful, but unless we're talking Combee honey, I'd rather leave it to expert bug catchers like Bugsy. For flying type, you know I always wanted a Tropius to live on the farm, but the inherent typing makes it so they don't really like staying in one spot. They want to be free roaming the skies," Pete argued.

Jasmine pondered over it and took his argument at face value staying quiet.

"Electric got another addition with a Jolteon recently, and the Mareep are technically 'protected by the farm'. I just haven't found anything interesting to write a paper about yet. Fighting I thought I had quite a few pokemon already. The sports the two Conkeldurr and I came up with are a huge hit, too. And ice is simply not very agreeable with the farm's climate, right? Then when I consider ghost and dark, I'll revisit the bug argument. I deeply hope we have experts out there who would dedicate themselves to those typings, like I did with fairy. And for poison, you know my sensitive nose. I don't want to be rude, but most poison pokemon smell really bad," Pete finished the explanation with a laugh.

"So I can rest easy knowing that you're not increasing your and Courtney's workload in the near future?"

"Oh, yeah, kinda dodged the question by mansplaning to you, didn't I?"

Jasmine giggled, "You come up with the weirdest words."

"Eh, you got the meaning, no? Anyway, yeah, I'll tone it down. Even if they decide to promote me so early. Think of it as me sprinting to the finish line for all the low-hanging fruit of research. I had all these ideas, and I desperately needed them out of my head."

"So my little genius needed to clear his head of years of research progress he had stuck in his head growing up?"

This time, Pete giggled a little, "Yeah, sure."

"Are you still going to open a school north of the lake if you are promoted?" Jasmine asked after a few moments of silence.

"You have reservations?"

"No, not really. If you do it like you planned, maglev train to Goldenrod City and all, then I'm very sure you'll succeed. Our little peace of paradise will not be our own anymore, though."

"True... I could always place the school in Goldenrod or even Olivine, right? I could even find an island off the coast near our home," Pete mused.

Jasmine narrowed her eyes, "No island resort, Pete. You just told me you're not going to up your workload again."

"Oh come on, Jas! Having the school on an island would be so cool! Imagine I find one shaped like a brain! Brain Island! The ads for the school write themselves!"

"You're impossible sometimes..."

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