19. The first
Robert was currently sitting at the edge of the little clearing in the eastern jungle. He had a smile on his lips as he watched Vulpix play in the clearing. Curled up on his lap lay Eevee, enjoying Robert stroking its back. The two had been here a week now and had fully recovered.
Eevee was cautious of everyone and it took a few days of coaxing and food before it started trusting Robert. Robert knew it was only this quick because Eevee had seen he was the one who had rescued them from the Beedrill that night. It probably would have taken a lot longer otherwise. After a bit of convincing from Robert, it had only just today let someone else pat it, although briefly.
It turned out though that of the two it wasn't Eevee that was difficult to approach. Vulpix refused to let anyone else touch it even now and if he were gone for too long it would start crying out. It wouldn't even eat the food someone else brought it. Robert was still the only one who could approach it without a fuss, more often than not it ran over at the sight of him.
Robert was a bit helpless about this. He didn't expect that the cautious Eevee would be the more trusting of the two. He didn't mind too much though, it always behaved when he was around and didn't cause a fuss as long as no one else got too close. He really didn't expect his first Pokémon to be cautious and reserved, with the other aloof and proud. At least he hoped they would be his first.
Dennis had talked to him last night about the two Shiny's. Dennis mentioned how he planned to take them and sell them for a huge price in town. Naturally, Robert strongly objected to this and even stated that he would hide both Pokémon from Dennis. Robert waited to get yelled at but all he got was a smirk from Dennis. Robert blanked for a second before he realised he had been tricked.
Dennis was just testing him and seeing how resolved he was. It was obvious how attached all three had become but with the trouble these two shiny Pokémon could bring he needed to be sure. This was exactly the response Dennis was hoping for, though he already expected it. Dennis had given him two empty Pokéball's right then and told Robert it was up to him how he convinced those two. Dennis wasn't too worried about it though. The two Pokémon were both rather young and both were very attached to Robert.
Robert himself was rather nervous. He couldn't help it, they would be his first Pokémon. Robert took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Eevee wake up, Vulpix come here I have something really important that I want to ask you both." Eevee raised its head at Robert a little puzzled but still jumped out of his lap and sat facing him. Vulpix came bounding over the moment it was called over and sat beside Eevee. Robert took another deep breath to try and calm his nerves again, "alright guys, the truth is that I don't plan to live on this farm forever. It's nice here and all but I want a life of adventure. I plan to go travelling everywhere and become an amazing Pokémon trainer. I was hoping you two would join me as my first partners on that journey." Robert then took out the two empty Pokéball's and placed them in front of each Pokémon.
The two little fuzzballs were surprised at first but quickly understood what was happening. They both looked up at Robert, who was wearing an incredibly nervous look. Then they looked at each other, Robert swore he saw them let a little grin sneak on their faces. They simultaneously stepped forward and nudged the ball in front of them, the Pokéball's popped open and sucked the Pokémon in with a red beam of light. They shook once each then went still.
Robert sat there dumbfounded. That was it, that simple. Truth be told when he discovered these two little fellows talent he thought he would need a lot more convincing if they agreed at all. He didn't get a chance to check their talent the night he found him but he had plenty of time in the week that followed. These two were both gold grade talent!
During his lessons with Mariah, he had learned that there were two levels above silver. Gold phase and Platinum phase. She didn't know the level caps or anything else for them, just that after silver was gold than platinum.
If these two weren't proof that Shiny's had high talent, then he didn't know what was. He also learned that Pokémon don't automatically listen to you after being caught and need to be tamed first, high talent Pokémon are especially difficult to tame and are usually more arrogant. Yet here he was with two super talented Pokémon and all he did was ask.
Robert decided to stop hurting his head and not think about it anymore. once he stopped thinking about it, he couldn't help the excitement washing over him. He now had not one but two Pokémon. His very first. Once he calmed down a little Robert quickly picked up both Pokéball's and ran back home.
The rest of the family was just sitting down for breakfast. Although Robert was absent they all knew where he was and what he was doing. Dennis and Mariah were ok as they were confident Robert would succeed, the twins were not so much. Both Sasha and Stephanie had tried all sorts of methods to get on Eevee and Vulpix good side. Nothing they did seemed to have any effect.
At least Eevee was a bit more polite. Although it still didn't let them close it ate food they brought as long as Robert was around and sometimes responded when they or their Snubbull talked to it. that Vulpix however was just rude! It wouldn't even acknowledge anyone else's existence. Unless you got too close then it would start growling at you. Even if they brought it food it would ignore it, but if Robert handed it the same food it would happily eat it!
As both sisters were both sulking about the mean Vulpix Robert burst through the door, overflowing in excitement. Everyone could tell right away what the result was. Before Robert could say a word though Dennis thew what looked like a belt to him. "here take this. You ran off so fast earlier I couldn't give it to you". Robert was about to complain to his father for interrupting him when he noticed what it was.
It was a special belt that allowed you to attach Pokéball's to it. He happily wore the belt and put his two Pokéball's in it. he then sat down at the table for dinner with his family, a big grin on his face the whole time.