Lillie and I glanced at each other after hearing Director Clavell say that. It was quite unexpected to hear that we would be getting one of the remaining Pokemon that act as the starting Pokemon straight from the Paldea region. We glanced back at Serena, as the video feed also pointed in that direction again. Seeing Serena riding on top of a shiny Tauros in the distance, Professor Sycamore couldn't help but shake his head.
"Well it seems Serena is in good health at least. I can least relay that to her mother. To think she'd still be able to ride on top of a wild Pokemon like this. As expected of the daughter of the number one Pokemon Rider in Kalos.", Professor Sycamore said as he sighed.
"Please do. Serena had a lot of training as a Pokemon Rider before she became a trainer, so it's not like all that experience can suddenly vanish.", I responded, seeing Professor Sycamore respond like this. Still, seeing Serena having fun on her own for the moment, Lillie also shook her head a bit.
"And as you can see, Serena is a bit busy, so it is just us two for the moment.", Lillie also replied.
"That seems to be the case. Well, since it's just the two of you, how about I let you have both Pokemon after Liko here chooses her partner?", Director Clavell suddenly asked, which caused us to blink for a good moment.
"You'd do that?", I asked, not expecting that he'd give us both starter Pokemon.
"I don't see a problem with it. You would have to wait though. Are you ready, Liko?", Director Clavell asked the black haired girl. Anticipation appeared in her eyes after he asked that.
"Yes! I think I am ready.", Liko answered in confidence.
"Now that's a good answer.", Director Clavell responded with a smile, only to look back at Professor Oak again. "Care to do the honors, Professor Oak?", Director Clavell decided to ask.
"Of course.", Professor Oak said, acknowledging Director Clavell. We all saw Professor Oak go toward the entrance of the Office, only to pick up a tray. On this tray held three single Pokeballs. Yet as Professor Oak came closer toward the rest of the people in the room, Liko suddenly felt
an urge to reach out to her hand, to which she did. Seeing this action caused Professor Oak to blink at her. He didn't even set the tray down the table. Seeing Liko do this caused Professor Oak to chuckle.
"Hoho, you're an eager one, Liko. Sounds like you're more confident than your hesitation appears to be.", Professor Oak chuckled as a smile appeared on his face.
"I-I'm sorry. It just felt like I wanted to choose this one. I didn't mess up, did I?", Liko asked, feeling embarrassed realizing what she had just done.
"Nonsense. That is a good feeling to have, Liko. It seems your partner may have been closer than you realize.", Director Clavell said, also acknowledging Liko.
"Really?", Liko asked, wondering herself.
"Mmm. I can vouch for it. Not all Pokemon are meant for everyone, but knowing what you want to choose is something you shouldn't forget. I knew well with the Pokemon I wanted to start with, so hopefully your decision won't be the wrong one.", I also responded with a nod of my head.
Hearing that, Liko smiled at me only to look down at the Pokeball that was now in her two palms.
"Can I see who it is?", Liko asked, feeling anticipation after choosing one of the starter Pokemon.
"Why don't we save that for later? You'll have all the time to bond with your new partner. Don't forget you have a flight to catch in the morning, Lady Liko.", Director Clavell said, reminding Liko.
"Ahh!", Liko finally responded to his comment, only to have a worried look appear in her eyes. "I almost forgot that I have to pack tonight!", Liko exclaimed.
"Haha, I'm sure it'll turn out fine. But before you go, Liko, consider this a gift from me.", Professor Sycamore said, drawing all of our attention to the small box he pulled out.
"What's this?", Liko asked, only to take the small box Professor Sycamore had in his hands, only to look with interest in her eyes.
"Don't tell me, is that what I think it is...?", I turned serious, only to cause Lillie to blink at the small box.
"Hohoho, now this is something. You best hold onto that alright, Liko?", I don't think we have anything scheduled more for this meeting either. I'll make sure these two other Pokemon are sent your way, Itsuki. Don't forget to pick up Liko when she arrives in Kanto tomorrow night, okay?", Professor Oak said, looking back at me.
"Got it. We're currently in Fuchsia City as you can see, but we can take a small flight back to Viridian City. Our gym battle isn't scheduled for a couple more days out.", I said, nodding my head hearing Professor Oak say that.
Hearing that, Liko smiled at us.
"I'll be in your care then, senior!", Liko happily responded after hearing that. I couldn't help but blink at Liko when she addressed me like that. I also heard a giggle from Lillie.
Seeing as we had no other pressing matter to attend to after giving our end of the details, it seems Professor Oak may look into this matter a bit more. We received their acknowledgement that seeing a regional Pokemon in another land isn't out of the question though, as migrations
can happen. Just hearing that alone gave us confidence that we can catch a couple of Paldean Tauros to add to our times.
We waved goodbye to Liko as well, and ended the call. It was just Lillie and I again back in the wide and open Safari Zone.
"Liko called you a senior, hehe.", Lillie suddenly retorted with a giggle after hearing all of that.
"Oh can it, Liko's just going to be our under-classmate. Still, Indigo Academy is quite prestigious. Liko must be a pretty smart student to earn a full scholarship there.", I said in amazement.
"Yeah. You and I went to school back in Alola, so we couldn't attend an academy like the Indigo Academy. Isn't that where Ash, Gary, and Green went too?", Lillie wondered.
"Huh, now that you mention it, maybe Liko will come across those three. It's a shame their term is pretty much over since they'll be starting their journeys in June. At the vey least, Liko might be able to meet the three for a short while.", I also wondered.
Yet that thought only lasted for a moment as we suddenly heard Serena's voice call out to us.
"That took you two a while.", Serena said, only for us to be approached by not one, but in fact, the whole herd of Tauros. Shock appeared in our eyes seeing Serena calmly riding the sole pale green shiny Tauros.
"What on earth happened with you, Serena?", I said, blinking at the large herd together with Serena.
"Turns out this guy was the boss of the Tauros herd here in the Safari Zone. But now that Tauros is coming along with us, they'll have to fight it out to see who becomes the next boss. Tauros did say that you two can catch a couple of those black Tauros too. Did you two ever find out what they were with your call with Professor Oak?", Serena asked with interest in her eyes.
"We sure did. Turns out they are indeed a regional Pokemon. These Tauros came from the Paldea region to be specific.", Lillie said, explaining the origin of the black Tauros further resting in the trees.
"The Paldea region, huh? Isn't that where Professor Oak said he would be going to?", Serena asked.
"He did. About that actually...", I began to say, only to take these next couple of moments to explain what just happened to Serena. It seems she didn't hear the conversation Lillie and I had with them, so it took a couple moments to explain the current situation to her. We saw Serena's eyes turn wide in shock seeing what had happened.
"Ehhhh!? Are you saying you have a new junior now? And we are going to fly back to Viridian city to pick her up?", Serena asked with shock in her eyes.
"That's about it, yeah. I wish we could spend more time in the Safari Zone, but I'm going to go make a quick reservation for the three of us, that is if you want to come.", I answered.
"I don't mind it. Liko seems like a nice girl. I'd love to meet her in person.", Lillie said with a smile.
"Her name's Liko, huh? I wouldn't mind meeting her either. I didn't think she would become an exchange student at the school those three are going to. But I think there is a more pressing matter to attend to.", Serena suddenly said.
"Oh? What would that be?", I decided to ask her. Hearing that, we only saw Serena stick her tongue out at us as an annoyed look appeared in her eyes.
"It's the fact that you two are going to get those two starting Pokemon from the Paldea region and you left me out!", Serena retorted in discontent.
"Hehe, you just seemed ever so occupied with riding that Tauros earlier. We didn't want to bother you.", Lillie retorted back with a giggle.
"Hmph. How about I go catch that Feebas instead of you, Itsuki? I know you were eyeing it earlier.", Serena said, still sticking her tongue out.
"You wouldn't dare.", I said, squinting my eyes a bit.
"Oh I sure can.", Serena retorted back at me. Hearing that caused me to chuckle.
"Haha, if you're going to play it like that, how about I do your ass again in the plane's bathroom on the way to Viridian city?", I decided to ask. Yet the moment I said that, I saw Serena suddenly freeze up. It didn't take long for her cheeks to turn a deep red. Lillie also became dazed when she heard me ask that.
"...You wouldn't do that, would you, Itsuki?", Serena asked after pausing for a moment. I didn't expect to see Serena react like this.
"Oh? Does that sort of play interest you?", I asked with interest.
"I-I'm not sure. It sounds extremely embarrassing.", Serena answered, still feeling flushed.
"Well you can rest your thoughts on it for now. I need to make this reservation sooner than later, so let's go catch the Pokemon we were trying to catch here in the Safari Zone.", I said, concluding this thought.
"Okay!", Serena responded happily. Seeing that, I nodded my head. The two of us started to walk again toward the Paldean Tauros, but we soon saw Lillie in a dazed manner.
"You coming, Lillie?", I said, reaching out to her. It seems my words finally snapped Lillie out of it, only to have her cheeks become a bit red.
"Yes.", Lillie simply responded, only to start walking along with us. Yet unbeknownst to Serena and I, Lillie took this moment to reach her hand down the backside of her one piece blouse, or more specifically to where her butt was, and started to rub it a bit without letting Serena and Itsuki know.
'...'I'm not ready to receive Itsuki yet, am I?', Lillie thought to herself as the three of them continued toward where the trees were. She quickly snapped out of that thought though, as anticipation appeared in her eyes once she saw the few Paldean Tauros in front of her.
Serena, Lillie and I were about to go on a catching spree here in the Safari Zone. Seeing Lillie back to normal, how would we not look forward to the new Pokemon that's going to join our parties soon?
*
Power stones please?
Power stones please?