C084 - A quiet day on the farm

Pete was sitting next to his Heart Tree outside the next day after lunch. He was dressed rather nice if you disregarded that he wasn't wearing any shoes. On his lap was the newest Eevee egg from one of the two Sylveon. The mother Sylveon was lying, basking in the sun, and observing Pete and the egg with a lazy, yet critical eye.

The young assistant professor was multitasking currently: on one hand he was feeding the Eevee egg with ground type energy as best he could and on the other hand he remained seated perfectly still with a sunny expression etched in his face.

The reason for unique happenstance was a request from his two Smeargle. After smoking one too many herbs, both Smeargle became oddly competitive. They didn't want to battle it out, however, and instead wanted Pete to judge who could draw a better portrait of him.

Indulging the whims of his pokemon was his third favorite hobby in the world anyway, and he would love to see what the two Smeargle could do, so he gladly agreed. His house and the guest houses were already littered in beautiful framed paintings done by those two already, but so far, they only featured nature as well as the chosen muses of his two Smeargle.

One chose one of the Cinccino and featured her in plenty of the paintings. The other one chose Blaziken, the fully evolved Hoenn fire starter pokemon. Many of the latter's paintings featured quite a bit of red color and a skyline perpetually bathed in the 'flames' of a summer's sunset.

The egg on Pete's lap, however, was his newest idea on how he might be able to discover a previously unknown eeveelution. The Eevee line could evolve into any typing because of the unique adaptability inherent in the species, so Pete was testing whether or not introducing vast amounts of typing energy as early as possible could produce any changes.

The mother Sylveon gladly agreed to Pete's request since he promised that he would only do so in her presence. Pete judged as the mother she would have an unmatched insight into the health of her baby and could judge if what Pete did was harming the unborn pokemon inside the egg.

Jasmine, drenched in sweat, came up the hill from the lake. She just finished working out to show her pokemon that they weren't the only ones who trained relentlessly, a tip Pete gave her early on in their relationship that quickly paid off.

"Huh, I've never seen Smeargle draw a human before. What brought this on?"

Without looking, changing his posture, or even turning his head, Pete answered, "They wanted to battle. Who am I to say no?"

Jasmine oberserved the two canvases in quiet praise until she asked, "What will you do with the two paintings?"

"I was thinking the winner goes to you for you to hang up in your future gym. The other one depends on whether the losing Smeargle wants it on the farm or not. If it does, I'll find a place. If it doesn't, it goes to Vivian."

Jasmine furrowed her brows and asked, "Why would she want a painting of you? You aren't her Benny."

"Well, I never asked, but I'm pretty sure Viv thinks of me as a son or younger brother. At the very least family. That's what I think of her in any case."

"Hmm, well, you aren't entirely wrong, I suppose. Did you have any visits scheduled with her?"

"Funny you should ask. Indeed, I have. Reuniclus is scheduled to pick her up with Valentino and Benny at the end of the week," Pete answered and turned to her with a wink.

Both Smeargle quickly made their displeasure known, so he turned back and regained his previous posture and expression.

"Ugh, they're coming for the audition?"

"Why? Afraid of a little audience? It would only get worse unless you become a second Pryce and refuse to have your battles recorded or televised and fill your gym with so much cold winds that no spectator would feel comfortable even covered in a mountain of winter coats."

"No... I always wondered about Mahogany's gym. Why is the league okay with the grumpy old man being like that?"

'Hmm, he was such an unpleasant bastard because he thought his Piloswine abandoned him or something, right? And it was frozen into an icicle somewhere and had been lost to the world for years? It's crazy that his pokemon listen to his orders despite him being such a bitch,' Pete idly thought as he remembered his very uncomfortable first and only meeting with Pryce at a league conference he attended as Elm's assistant.

The man had openly called him a fool for being so nice to pokemon and that the true strength of a trainer is measured in training and tactical guidance instead of bonds and fun.

He was half correct that fun wasn't truly what made a good trainer. However, there were plenty of people who simply wanted to coexist with their pokemon and grow together with them. Pryce conveniently excluded 'those kinds of people' as idiots in his narrow world view.

"Pete? You've spaced out again," Jasmine softly called out with an exasperated sigh.

"Sorry. I guess it's his strength combined with the laws. They can't force him to televise his battle or be a nurturing presence to his challengers. And he would need to do something truly egregious to have him ousted from his position. Gym leaders are appointed for life after all as long as their pokemon remain strong enough," Pete calmly explained.

"Still, he is such a..."

"Mean, old bastard?"

"Yeah," Jasmine agreed with a frown.

"I'll bring home an extra Alolan Vulpix or two for Valerie. Since Alolan Ninetales is a fairy pokemon and an ice pokemon, she could just become his successor in the near future if we prepare her enough. What do you say?"

"Why would Pryce ever agree to abdicate his title? And why go to such lenghts for her?"

"Well, it might have started as stress relief and fun, but I think Courtney and her might actually become an official couple soon and I consider Courtney family. Same as you, your family, and Vivian and her family. Valerie always talks about how she can't decide between her three dreams of becoming a pokemon, becoming a gym leader, and becoming a fashion icon. Mahogany Town isn't exactly known as the center of the world of fashion, but that could change with a hip young gym leader. She certainly wears enough kimono-styled robes and dresses to fit right into that old town," Pete answered with a carefree smile he quickly lost when one of the Smeargle harrumped with a mean look toward his trainer and benefactor.

"Wow, you're... right? How come you put so much thought into that?"

"What do you mean? We barely know her, I agree, but Valerie is a great friend. And a great person with plenty of love to share with the world. Otherwise, all those fairy pokemon wouldn't flock to her like they do," Pete offered.

"Ugh, you're too thorough in your thinking. All I thought about was how guilty I felt I would likely become Olivine's gym leader when she hails from a neighboring town and wanted that position herself," Jasmine weakly admitted.

"Don't feel guilty about fulfilling your ambition. You're depriving them of theirs because you are more dedicated to your dream," Pete reproached sternly.

"You mean more lucky because I have you as my boyfriend and rich parents," Jasmine retorted quickly.

"Luck is a part of strength. Your starting point with rich parents was higher, but a resourceful person could still train his pokemon to adequate strength eventually and become a gym leader later in life than you. Had you become a spoiled brat because of your upbringing, nobody would cry foul. And, the fact that I play a factor in your strength doesn't have to be counted as unfair to others, in my opinion. You're simply blessed to have found and claimed me first," Pete countered with mock pride.

"Ugh, idiot," Jasmine mumbled with a sweet smile.

"Your idiot," Pete countered with a wink before saying, "if you ever feel guilty still, just give back. Not your role as gym leader, but as a role model and guidance to young trainers. Even from less fortunate backgrounds if you so choose. To even the field, I mean."

An hour later that Jasmine used to wash up and help the two Cinccino with chores around the house, the painting competition was finished.

Pete regarded both square canvases that were almost as tall and wide as he was with a critical eye. One painting made him look more regal with the sky drenched in the fires of a sunset and a red feathery cloak draped over his form. Clearly, this was painted by the Smeargle with the Blaziken muse.

The other painting had quite a few cute pokemon crittering around his feet and the tree to the side, though mostly the smaller fairy pokemon like Ralts, Whimsicott, and Dedenne. And above all, a Cinccino lounging on his lap in place of the Eevee egg.

These paintings put Pete in quite a predicament because he simply couldn't decide. If he had the choice, he would have declared it a tie. But since both Smeargle looked at him demanding an answer that was not 'tie', he took his sweet time looking at every detail of these masterpieces and pondering on the reasoning he would have to deliver.

Pete eventually arrived at an answer that would hopefully satisfy even the loser and spoke, "Hmm, both paintings are truly gorgeous. There is a reason I took so much time deciding. Just looking at them, they are overall equal in technique, emotion, and beauty. However, the topic of this battle was me. Since that is the case, the red painting wins. It clearly has me as the focus and, therefore, more accurately captures the essence of the competition. I won't disagree that you, too, captured my essence by painting me with my beloved pokemon, Smeargle, but while your painting is truly breathtaking, it lacks a focus this competition should have demanded."

Reluctantly, the losing Smeargle accepted Pete's judgment and endured the taunting of the winning Smeargle. The loser also agreed to giving the painting to Vivian on her next visit, which was great for Pete. He secretly hoped that was the case because the jovial mood and plenty of cute pokemon in the painting was better suited for Vivian and Benny compared to the more regal likeness.

After the conclusion of this battle, Pete took the Eevee egg with him and was shadowed by the mother Sylveon for the rest of the day. Even when he was relaxing, Sylveon was hot on his heels. He was joined in the bath by Arcanine to the surprise of nobody and the female Milotic he had helped a long time ago.

Among his water pokemon, the mother of one of the Dragonair on Dragon's Peak was the one his bond was closest to. Spurred by the dragon's pride of her one-time lover and son, this Milotic had gained an unmatched thirst for strength below its calm, relaxing demeanor.

Clutching the Eevee egg to his chest while filling it with ground type energy, Pete spoke to the Milotic, "Hey girl. How have you been?"

Milotic looked up, lifting her head from the warm stone she laid it down on and regarded him with a fond look. Through their bond, Pete felt contentment and tranquility.

Spending some time with the pokemon, Pete pondered about possible mega evolutions for his Milotic. Is it even possible? Are there more than one, same with Charizard and Mewtwo? What typing would it get?

'Hmm, the water/dragon typing would be the obvious one. Yet, for its inherent kind nature, I would think water/fairy is quite possible as well. Her species is sometimes referred to as mythical lake guardians, spirits that bring good fortune. Is water/ghost a possibility?'