"Professor, I would like to apply for an independent research project" said Alex.
Alex was in the office of the Professor, wanting to apply to research his next project.
Professor Oak looked at Alex and said, "You have proved you have a sharp mind. So I don't mind you taking another project. So, what is the project you are going to research?"
"Eevee's evolutions Professor. Other than Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon, it is known that there are evolutions of Umbreon and Espeon. There is also Glaceon and Leafeon. But the method of evolution for the latter four are unknown. I have identified some patterns and believe I can find the reasons for evolutions and prove them" said Alex.
"Are they wild guesses? Like the King's Rock?" asked the Professor.
"Uh, targeted guessing would be a more appropriate thing to call it" argued Alex.
"Tell me the patterns you have observed and your guesses" said the Professor.
"Firstly, Umbreon and Espeon are Dark and Psychic types respectively. From multiple evolutions that we're recorded in detail online, Umbreon evolved at night, while Espeon did so during the day. So I believe that is one of the conditions to evolve. Secondly, Eevee learns a Dark type move Bite and Psychic type move Agility. I think a combination of both the factors is necessary" said Alex.
"As for Leafeon and Glaceon, their evolved forms are always found in specific places. Hence, I think that there is a specific environment that is needed for their evolution present in those areas" concluded Alex.
"What do you need for this project?" asked the
"30 Eevee and a Psychic type Pokemon that can teach it the required moves and perform some hypnosis. Maybe some fieldwork at the later stage" said Alex.
In this world, Pokemon could learn moves in 4 ways.
One, they could automatically learn the moves after reaching a certain stage as an inheritance of their species.
Two, the moves can be taught to the Pokemon. This can be done by people who know how to train Pokemon to use some moves, called Move Tutors, other Pokemon teaching them how to use that move, and perceiving moves due to some unique environment.
Three, Psychic type Pokemon could read the minds of other Pokemon and understand how. above is used. They could replicate the memory, and introduce it to a different Pokemon for them to learn this move. This memory replication was only possible for certain moves however.
Four, by the same principle, Psychic type Pokemon could store the replicated memory inside a device called the Technical Machines, or TMs for short. This device could perform the introduction of the memory to a Pokemon. TMs come in the form of a special fortified disk that could be attached to a Pokeball for the Pokemon inside to learn the move. The memory could only be inserted into one Pokemon, after which the TMs would be spent. Better quality TMs could be reused, provided a Psychic type Pokemon inserts a replicated move into it. Inferior quality TMs would directly break after one use.
Even though the Oak Corall was not in the TM manufacturing business, Alex knew for a fact that there were several Pokemon here capable of replication of moves.
Professor Oak nodded, and said, "I will have 30 Eevee in the ranch and assign a Psychic type Pokemon to you three days later. You can then start your research. Remember to take notes and record every step you take."
"Yes, thank you Professor" said Alex, and then left.
"Wonder how Charmander and Magnemite are doing" thought Alex.
Magnemite was still stuck at the level 30 bottleneck. Hence, he had it stay next to an Elactabuzz in the ranch, and requested it to teach Magnemite Thunderbolt.
As for Charmander, it had crossed its bottleneck and was now level 21, and he had left it next to a group of Charmander and Charmeleon hoping it could also learn some moves and battling experience. While Shiny Pokemon are often excluded from their groups, Pokemon under trainers are much less likely to do something like that, so Charmander fit right in.
Lapras had grown close to its adult height, almost out of the baby stage. It was at level 9 and had learnt Sing. He had left it at the lake in the ranch, to mingle with the Water Pokemon there and the other two Lapras.
Having nothing else to do, he went to brush favorability with Beldum.
There were 30 Eevee for him to experiment on and try to evolve in front of him. All those cute brown Pokemon looked at him with their adorable faces.
"I wonder which Psychic type Pokemon the Professor will assign to me?" wondered Alex.
Soon after, he saw a flash go off behind him.
He turned around, to see the fox like face he was so familiar with.
"Alakazam" said Alex.
Bonus chapter for 2.4 k