"I'm sorry Ian, I really don't have any more Chimchars. If you came sooner, you might've gotten it, but that lass from the Valet household had chosen it before you." Professor Suriel explained with an apologetic face.
"It couldn't be helped then. It's really my fault for being so late after all… I'll take this Piplup then, Professor Suriel." I grabbed only the remaining red and white Poké Ball from the Poké Pod.
As my fingers caressed my first ever Pokéball, a smile appeared on my face. I wanted a Chimchar due to its battle powers, but I didn't mind having a Piplup too. Either way, I will cherish this first Pokémon.
My thumb slowly inched towards the Pokéball button and pressed it. While pressing the button, I also chanted: "Piplup, come out."
"Piplup!!" A red flash of sparkling light came out of the Pokéball and landed on the Poké Pod. After the red light condensed, a Piplup appeared in front of me and spoke loudly with a proud voice.
"Hiya, Piplup! I am Ian Phillip. From today onwards, you will be my partner, alright?" I gently handed it my hand, asking for a handshake.
Piplup stared at my hand for a second before shaking it. I wanted to let go after shaking its wing, but Piplup didn't want to let go and clapped my hand with both of its wings. It then stared at me.
I also stared at it.
And then it continued to stare back and puffed its chest.
"Piplup! Piplup! Pip!!!"
Its sudden outburst caught me by surprise. It was my first time communicating with a Pokemon, so I wasn't sure what it wanted to convey.
"It probably wants you to give it a name." Professor Suriel patted my shoulder and suggested. She had seen this type of behavior in Pokemons before.
"A name, huh? Do you perhaps want a name, Piplup?" I asked the blue bird who still had its two wings clapped on my hand.
"Piplup!" It nodded its head vigorously and puffed its chest out, waiting for me to give it a name.
I was almost stumped after the proud Piplup asked for a name. My naming sense wasn't good. Nonetheless, a great thought came to me in an instant.
"I got it, Piplup. From now on, you'll be called Mavis." I said excitedly. This name didn't have any significant meaning, but it's easy to pronounce, and I quite like the tone of it when it comes out of my mouth.
"Pip! Pip! Piplup!" Mavis happily chirped and nodded its head to the amazing name.
"That's a great name, Ian!" Professor Suriel also laughed after seeing Mavis's action of shaking my hand again.
« Reputation Points +1 »
A holographic text suddenly appeared in my vision after Professor Suriel showed her favorable impression.
"..." This is obviously odd. It also appeared that both the Professor and Mavis can't see the holographic text.
I went quiet and quickly checked out the anomaly. When I focused my attention on the points, a holographic panel popped up out of nowhere and filled my vision.
I glanced over it and found out that there were quite a lot of things listed. All in all, it seemed that I could edit the stats of my Pokemons if I traded in some reputation points. Furthermore, the reputation points can also be used to change the Pokemon's abilities, or they can be traded for physical items. The items ranged from Pokeballs to Mega Stones.
Also… I can even learn some Pokemon moves for myself. Isn't this too amazing? I gasped when I saw the things that I can trade for.
As long as I can get more reputation points, I can use it for numerous things. Is this a perk that comes with reincarnation? I silently asked in my mind. Of course, nobody answered me.
"Piplup?"
"Ian?"
Both Mavis and the Professor called out.
"Ah, sorry. I was spacing out there." I blinked and with a thought, all of the holographic panels disappeared. I saw this and was relieved that the holographic panels didn't remain in my vision.
"Anyways, Ian. Here is my present for you." Professor Suriel grabbed something from the desk behind her and handed it to me.
"Is this what I think it is?" I held the red block of electronic and opened it up.
"It's precisely what you think it is. This is a Pokedex. It is an electronic device created and designed to catalog and provide information regarding the various species of Pokémon. It also works as your ID to identify yourself when you join various leagues and events." Professor Suriel explained.
"That's awesome. I've never really seen one before." I opened it up to Mavis, and the Pokedex explained the details of Piplup. I was tempted to also point it at Professor Suriel, but I held back since that'd be way too weird.
"That's not all, Ian. The government subsidy for new trainers will also be sent into the Pokedex account, so make sure that you do not lose or damage it. A small fee will be required and be taken out of your account if something does happen to the Pokedex."
"I hear you, Professor. I will definitely try not to damage this." I closed it and placed it in my pocket. I felt that things were getting more and more exciting. I even felt the anticipation of starting my pokemon journey.
"That said, If you ever find some exotic Pokemon in your journey, please do catch it and send it back to me. I'd love to research it and add it into the Pokedex."
"Got it." I acknowledged her and turned to Mavis.
"Mavis, are you ready to start our journey?" I asked.
"Piplup!" It yelled excitedly and pressed its' Pokeball's button… A red beam came out of the Pokeball and enveloped it. Mavis then disappeared and entered the Pokeball.
I was speechless. I guess it wasn't like Ash's Pikachu who didn't like the Pokeball.
__
In the front gate of Professor Suriel's laboratory.
"Oh, Ian. I can't believe you're this old already." My mother gave me a big hug after giving me my traveling supplies. The supplies consisted of a small tent, a blanket, a day's worth of food, and a sleeping bag. Why the supplies? Well, I'm expected to go on a journey since I've become a certified Pokemon trainer.
I wasn't sure why the allowed age to go out as a Pokemon trainer is so low, but I didn't ask. Asking might make my mother suspicious about my existence.
"Mom, must I go? Couldn't I stay with you for a while longer? Maybe for like six years?" I brought up this question with a joking tone.
From what I've experienced so far, my mother will definitely refuse. But a part of me wished that she would say yes.
"Nonsense! You're already 10 years old! If you don't grow up now, when will you grow up?" Mom flicked my head and scolded me.
After being flicked, I cursed inwardly. In my previous world, you wouldn't even let me out of the house when I was 10, okay!!
"Alright then mom, I'll go out and be the number one Pokemon trainer before returning, alright?"
"That's the spirit, Ian!" Mother encouraged me and walked me to the exit of the village.
I spoke to my mother about anything and everything that came to my mind as we strolled to the village exit.
The walk was long, but I felt that the time was short. I still had a ton of topics that I wanted to talk to my mother about, but when my thoughts came back to me, my mother was already gone. The time I spent with her went by that fast. One moment, she was next to me, but she was gone the next.
I sighed, but I still turned away from Orlan village's exit. My mother probably wouldn't go anywhere soon. I'll go back to her once I've made something of myself in this world.
I can make the chapters longer, but I honestly just want to make the pace faster.