121 Professor Ivy
When Hisoka and Suzie got into their rooms, the ship was just about to leave the port. They left their bags in the rooms and went to the dining room to have their lunch.
The journey to the Orange Islands would take about three days. Their first destination was Valencia Island, one of the smallest islands in the Orange Islands.
At first, they were supposed to head to Tangelo Island. Later, he recalled that Professor Ivy's Lab was located on Valencia Island.
After asking Suzie's opinion, they both decided to make Valencia Island their first stop.
Toot! Toot!
After sailing for three days, they finally arrived at Valencia Island.
As they got off the ship, Hisoka noticed that only a few people went down with them. There was only a small town on Valencia Island. Most people would go to the nearby Tangelo Island.
After some time, the ship began to leave the small port. Valencia Island was only a temporary stop. The ship would continue on to Valencia Island, its final destination.
"It's so hot!" Suzie covered her face from the searing heat of the sun.
Most of the people living in the Orange Islands had some tan on their skin due to the tropical climate. Suzie, who was used to Kanto's mild climate, was having a hard time getting accustomed to the heat in the Orange Archipelago.
"Let's head to the Pokemon Center first," Hisoka pointed to a building with the iconic Pokeball logo at the top.
"Good afternoon!"
Walking into the Pokemon Center, they both saw a Chansey sitting at the front desk leisurely reading a book.
"Hello, Chansey," Hisoka greeted with a smile.
"Chansey!"
Seeing Hisoka and Suzie, Chansey put down her book and stood up to welcome them.
"Welcome to the Pokemon Center."
Just then, Nurse Joy walked from the back with a smile on her face.
"How may I help you?" she said.
"Hello, Miss Joy. I'm a trainer from the Kanto region. Do you have a map of Orange Islands?" Hisoka asked.
"Yes. That'll be 5 dollars. You'll also get tourist booklets with it," she replied, handing them a map and a couple of leaflets.
"Is there anything else?" she continued.
"Can you show us the way to Professor Ivy's lab?" Hisoka asked.
Nurse Joy nodded and said, "Sure. Just continue along the main road and make a right turn. Then, head straight until you see a building. That's Professor Ivy's lab. It's about five minutes walk. You can't miss it."
"Thank you, Miss Joy."
Saying goodbye to Nurse Joy, they both left the Pokemon Center and headed toward Professor Ivy's lab.
A few minutes later, they finally saw a large building surrounded by dense forest.
"Hello? Is there anybody home?" Hisoka knocked on the door several times.
"Should we leave? I don't think anyone is at home right now," Suzie whispered.
They had been waiting for about a few minutes, yet there was no answer yet.
"I called Professor Ivy a few days ago. She should know we are coming today," Hisoka replied.
Suddenly, the door was opened, and three women with identical faces appeared in front of them.
"Excuse us, who are you looking for?" They both said at the same time.
"Are you triplets?" Suzie asked curiously.
"Yeah," The three women nodded.
"My name is Charity. I'm the oldest."
"My name is Hope. I'm the second oldest."
"My name is Faith. I'm the third oldest."
'Is there a fourth one?' Hisoka and Suzie thought, glancing at each other.
"No, you are the youngest," Charity, the one with double buns hairstyle, retorted.
"Hehe. I forgot," Faith said sheepishly.
'These triplets are really funny,' Hisoka chuckled silently.
"I'm sorry to bother you. I'm Hisoka, and this is my friend, Suzie. I'm looking for Professor Ivy," he asked.
"Oh! You must be Hisoka, right? Professor Ivy told us that you are coming today," Hope replied.
Hisoka nodded and said, "Is she home?"
Charity: "Yes. Professor Ivy is at the back."
Hope: "Taking care of the Pokemon."
Faith: "Follow us."
They finished their sentence one at a time and invited Hisoka and Suzie inside the lab. Led by the triplets, they soon came to a wide bay.
The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze as blue waves lapped on the beach.
All of a sudden, the calm sea surged into the sky along with a blue serpentine creature.
"Gyarados!" Suzie was startled at first but quickly recovered. As a top breeder, she had come into contact with a grumpy and ferocious Pokemon like Gyarados.
"It's Professor Ivy's Gyarados," said the triplets.
It appeared they knew already knew this Gyarados belonged to Professor Ivy. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so calm in front of this brutal Pokemon.
A woman in a blue swimsuit could be seen riding on its back. It was Professor Ivy.
"Thank you, Gyarados!" Professor Ivy rubbed the fins on its back.
Roar!
Gyarados groaned comfortably. It was a far cry from the usual Gyarados in everyone's mind.
Then, several Pokemon, such as Cloyster, Poliwhirl, and Seaking, also came out of the water around her.
Professor Ivy petted them one by one. She seemed to be in a very happy mood.
"You too, guys!" she smiled softly.
Looking at the great relationship between Professor Ivy and the Pokemon, Suzie couldn't help but sigh.
"Professor Ivy is really amazing. Even a violent Gyarados become gentle in front of her," she said admiringly.
"Professor Ivy!" The triplets shouted, waving their hands toward her.
Professor Ivy heard the shout, turned around, and saw the triplets calling for her.
"Coming!" she replied loudly.
After that, she climbed on Gyrados's back and said, "Please take me back, Gyarados."
With a loud roar, Gyarados began to swim toward the coast. When they got closer, she stood up and leaped toward them.
Charity took a white coat out of nowhere and handed them to Professor Ivy after she landed.
"Thank you, Charity," Professor Ivy thanked her and put it on. She then noticed Hisoka and Suzie standing next to the other triplets.
"Hello, Hisoka! Welcome to my Pokemon lab," she said, putting her hands into her pockets.
"She's so cool!" Suzie said with stars in her eyes.
Generally, most researchers were in their sixties. A young and beautiful woman like Professor Ivy was out of the norm.
"Hello, Professor Ivy. It's nice to meet you again," Hisoka said, holding out his hand to her.
"Who's this?" Professor Ivy asked after shaking Hisoka's hand. She was looking at Suzie next to him.
"This is my friend, Suzie. She's a breeder from Celadon City," he introduced Suzie.
"Suzie? Where did I hear this before?" Professor Ivy murmured, tilting her head to one side.
"Aha! Are you that famous Suzie from Scissor Street?" she snapped her fingers.
"Yes. I'm Suzie," Suzie said politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Suzie," Professor Ivy smiled at her.
***
"I have read your report on Pokemon alternate coloration. It was an enlightening experience," Hisoka said.
Professor Ivy was showing them around her Pokemon lab. Nearly one-third of the island belonged to her alone. The outdoor environment served as an important extension of her lab.
"Thank you. So why did you come to Orange Islands?" Professor Ivy asked, curious.
"I'm going to take my hunter test in Kumquat Island. Suzie is going to participate in the breeder competition in Tangelo Island," he replied.
While talking among themselves, they arrived at a field with blooming red flowers.
"Are these red orchids?" Suzie asked after smelling one of them.
"Yep. These are red orchids," Professor Ivy nodded.
Red Orchid is one of the main materials to make a suitable Pokeblock for Grass-type Pokemon. Not only can it boost the growth of Grass-type Pokemon, but it also can improve their photosynthesis capabilities.
"Can I pick one?" she turned toward her.
She found that these red orchids were much better than the ones in Celadon City. She wanted to see whether she would be able to grow them back home.
"No problem," Professor Ivy replied. "However, you must get their approval first."
"They?" Suzie looked puzzled as she turned toward the triplets.
"It's not us." The four sisters shook their heads together.
Suddenly, a Vileplume stepped out of the bush. The most striking thing about this Vileplume was it had different colored petals than the ones in Kanto.
After that, another Vileplume came out, followed by another, until there were a total of twelve Vileplume in the field. All of them had different colored petals.
Professor Ivy came over and said, "These Vileplume have always been looking after this flower field.
"So I have to get their approval, right? I think I have an idea," Suzie nodded while opening her bag.
After rummaging through it for a while, she finally took out a box. Inside it contained some snacks for Pokemon that she made herself. She always used them as a treat whenever she had to deal with some bed-tempered Pokemon.
One of the Vileplume slowly got closer to her when she showed them the snacks. Its saliva was dripping from his mouth as it stared at the snacks in her hands.
"This is for you," Suzie said gently, putting some of the snacks in its hands.
Vileplume slowly ate them under Suzie's expectant gaze.
"Plume!" It smiled at her. She really enjoyed her snacks.
Seeing that, the other Vileplume crowded around her. All of them were looking at her eagerly.
"Don't worry. I still have many snacks left," she laughed softly.
***
Going forward along the path, they finally reached a pier where a boat was docked.
"Here we are," Professor Ivy said to them.
She then turned to Hisoka and handed something to him.
"This is the key. You know how to drive it, right?" she asked.
"Yes. Besides, I have Porygon to help me navigate," Hisoka replied as Porygon flew out of his watch under her surprised eyes.
"Well. There are not many dangerous marine Pokemon in Orange Islands, except for Gyrados. But they are pretty rare, so you should be fine then," she nodded.
After learning that Hisoka wanted to go Orange Islands, Professor Ivy decided to lend him her boat. Of course, it wasn't just for free.
In exchange for borrowing her boat, Hisoka would have to do some errands for her. Nonetheless, travelling on a boat would be much more secure than riding on Milotic. At least they had some kind of protection if some wild Pokemon decided to attack them.
