Vali and Sabrina set up a schedule for the fire-type master-in-training's time in Saffron. In the morning after breakfast, she would come to Sabrina's gym where they would spend an hour working on her mental barriers. Elrond would spend that time learning underneath Espeon since the psychic-type eeveelution had been in his place once before only without the added typing. After meditation was done, they would have a mock battle to help the younger trainer get a grasp on commanding a psychic-type. She would then leave the gym to explore Saffron with Steven usually eating lunch in one of the restaurants that catered to pokemon trainers. At five, they would return to the pokemon center to train their pokemon with Metagross and Claydol using their psychic-type abilities to help prepare for their coming battle against the Saffron city gym. After dinner at six, they would spend some time relaxing with her meditating for an hour before going to bed.
The schedule shifted depending on the day and Sabrina's schedule given that she was a teacher at the psychic school. Saffron city was more of a business filled city than anything else, but it did boast a moderate amount of interesting activities. One of the more interesting places to visit was the Silph Tower mostly because it was one of the tallest buildings in Kanto and boasted quite the view that many from around the world came to see. It was also where Vali and Steven ended up meeting Bill again.
Vali held Vulpix in her arms looking around the small store set up on the first floor of the tower, "I actually thought that they'd have a larger selection of stuff, but then again, it isn't like this is the Celadon department store."
"True, but it does have some more hard to get items," Steven gestured towards the rather large selection of pokeballs currently on display not to mention the one filled with evolutionary items.
Vali gave a small hum as she moved towards the evolutionary stone display case. She found a fire-stone and pointed it out to Vulpix, "Hey, Vulpix. That's a fire-stone, you'll evolve using one when you're ready."
Vulpix looked at the stone with awe and squirmed a bit to press a paw against the glass of the display case. Even through the display case, he could probably feel the fire-stone and a big part of him probably craved to touch it. It was no secret that pokemon who utilized evolutionary items in order to evolve had what some scientists called an 'evo-itch' that basically forced them to search out the item that would grant them the ability to evolve. The Vulpix and Growlithe-line weren't well-known for displaying those signs despite being known to travel for years in search of a fire-stone. It was an instinct that every pokemon capable of evolution carried within them to evolve in order to gain strength once they've reached the limit of what they can do. Some might be able to squash the urge which was made easier on them by obtaining an everstone despite the discomfort that it brought them. So despite his young age, Vulpix was likely feeling some small form of the itch.
Moving away from the display case, Vali wasn't surprised when Vulpix turned his head towards her and let out a low whine. She adjusted her hold on him and rubbed behind his ears, "One day, Vulpix. You're still a bit too young to evolve and have quite a bit to learn."
"Do my ears deceive me or is Valkyrie Potter in Saffron City?" Vali was surprised to hear Bill's voice.
"Bill?" Vali turned and found Bill walking past one of the nearby shelving units, "It's been awhile,"
"That it has," Bill's eyes landed on Vulpix and widened, "Is that a Vulpix?"
"Yes, he's about a week and a month old," Vali confirmed as Vulpix shifted to peer at the new human, "I got his egg during my time in Vermilion,"
"He's adorable," Bill walked closer as he looked up at Vali, "May I?"
"Vulpix?" Vali called to her little one and he looked up at her, "Bill would like to hold you for a little. Would you mind?"
Vulpix eyed Bill for a moment before barking and wagging his tail. Vali handed over Vulpix and Bill immediately began examining the little fox closely, "He's a bit heavier than I was expecting, but everything else points to him being healthy. The color of his eyes and the brightness of the red in his fur definitely points to a good pedigree. He's a bit warmer than I was expecting though."
"He managed to get off an Ember two weeks ago," Vali offered earning a raised eyebrow, "I'm going to talk with Nurse Joy about seeing when it'd be okay to start his training,"
"Considering the fact he would have been under a month old, he's definitely going to be a powerhouse when he's older," Bill handed Vulpix back, "Where is Balto?"
"Fully evolved same with Smaug, Celina, and Elrond my Pikachu turned Alolan Raichu," Vali offered the information earning a surprised look, "It surprised everyone back when I finally evolved him, but apparently he's from Alola only to get abandoned by his former trainer,"
Bill let out a disgusted sound, "Honestly, some people are the worst," Bill looked over her shoulder and smiled, "Hello, Steven. How are you?"
"I'm fine," Steven smiled politely as he walked up behind her, "And you?"
"Much better than the last time we saw each other," Bill held out his hand and the two heirs to diffrent corporations shook hands, "What brings you two to Saffron?"
"Gym battles mostly," Vali answered as Vulpix shifted to lay his head on her shoulder with a soft yawn, "Right now, we're taking a break," She returned Vulpix so he could nap and put his pokeball back on her necklace, "What about you?"
Bill flushed a bit, "A mandatory check in. When I don't check in over the phone, Dad has someone come drag me out of the lab mostly to ensure that I'm still alive and healthy."
"Understandable," Sirius and Delia wanted her to check in quite often after the almost mugging, "So you're just wandering around until he let's you go or what?"
"That and getting some paperwork done," Bill let out a low sigh, "I'd much prefer it if I wasn't going to inherit the company when Dad decides to retire," He shook himself before asking, "Have you two had tour of the building?"
"Not yet, we were planning on joining the next tour group," Vali answered with a slight shrug.
"Well why don't I just give you one," Bill offered earning surprised looks though Steven's turned to understanding when the researcher explained, "Dad doesn't like it when I'm not being social and tends to shove me into doing things during times like this. If I'm giving you two a tour, I won't have to socialize with strangers or have to go do paperwork. Dad will also be happy to see that I'm trying to foster a good relationship with the heir of another corporation,"