Chapter 13 Return and the Apple Opportunity 

Looking at the now healthy Eevee sleeping in his lap, Faust felt a sense of guilt. He had lost his first battle in this world but then again there really was no chance of victory either. But the loss didn't really affect him as much as the fact that he had underestimated the Elite ranked Pokemon did.

His misjudgement but the price had to be paid by his Pokemon. He had realised right from the intensity of the first Inferno that he had not been taking the power divisions very seriously. After all, in the games, a way to level your Pokemon quickly was to fight a high-level Pokemon with your own low-level one that had, say a 4x type effectiveness. But really was much much different than he had expected, Aqua Jet had barely even made the Ninetales budge. 

He shouldn't have acted rashly proposing a challenge out of nowhere. The worst part was his Eevee had to pay the price of his foolishness. Stroking Eevee's soft and fluffy neck, Faust sat there losing himself in his thoughts.

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"This is Abner Flag, the Elite trainer for your security. Don't worry, he's under the guise of a RL affiliate who's in Applegrove Town to scout land for a possible research laboratory. He won't be anywhere close to you unless you call for him or you don't check in with him via a phone call every three days", Professor Ross said gesturing to a rather plain looking trainer with no special features apart from the small ear-piercings he wore.

Faust shook hands with the trainer and made small talk. He then spoke to Professor Ross about the technical details of the Eevee project and the progress. Turns out that the Umbreon and Espeon experiments were already showing progress. Stepping into the helicopter, he took one last look at Professor Ross' face smiling at her before turning away as the helicopter lifted.

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The cold air slapped Faust in the face as soon as the doors of the helicopter opened. Whatever drowsiness he had suddenly evaporated as he plunged his hands deeper into his pockets. Applegrove town had three types of winters, mild, normal and severe. The intensity of the cold depended upon the strength of the low-pressure area during the summer months. The hotter the summer, the colder the winter. And the summer this year had been very hot by the town's standards, the winter ahead would definitely be harsher than normal.

Faust saw a lot of trainers in the base just like the last time when he had left. He was genuinely surprised at their work ethic, so cold and so early yet they had looked awake and not visibly uncomfortable. Perhaps this was one of the rare opportunities they got to actually work in a place like Applegrove town so they didn't mind waking up despite the harsh cold.

"Welcome to the humble Applegrove town. It is an honour to be able to host such a promising young researcher as yourself Professor Faust", the quiet atmosphere was suddenly disrupted by the voice of the Mayor who looked like a little dumpling wrapped in multiple layers of winter clothes. Kyle stood by the Mayor's side which was not strange since they were father and son. What was strange was that Kyle was here, his father didn't bring him around anywhere since he considered Kyle a failure waiting to happen.

Faust stepped forward, shook hands with the mayor and said, "Mr Mayor it really isn't that much of an honour, after all, I live in Applegrove Town. Also, I am just a student for now, please don't use the esteemed title of a Professor for me. Finally, I would appreciate it if the entourage were reduced. To a single-vehicle."

Faust then turned to Kyle and said, "I am really sorry I couldn't meet you before all this happened. But if you're up for it, I could bring you up to speed on the ride back."

Kyle sighed and said, "Hey with you being all that sincere and apologetic I can't really take any pleasure in being angry. But damn man, I was reading the article a night before you left!"

Faust smiled and pulled Kyle into a brotherly hug.

The Mayor just laughed seeing this and flattered Faust a bit more on how great people always remained low-key before agreeing to Faust's requests. The Mayor didnt leave Faust's company till the car finally left the airbase.

A lone car moved along the road leading to Applegrove Town. Faust couldn't help but compliment the beauty of the snow-covered surroundings. The herds of Tauros and Rhydon he had seen two months ago were no longer here instead Faust saw a group of Snower moving around led by an Abomasnow. 

"So what exactly happened and how the fuck did it happen? What did you even write? Did you get to see their lab? New Pokemon!?"

The beautiful and serene silence was broken by the incessant stream of questions from Kyle. Faust just sighed and rubbed his temples before turning to Kyle and starting to answer his questions one by one.

By the time he had finished, they were already in the town. The car dropped Kyle off first who said he'd come over for breakfast tomorrow and bring his grandmother's apple pie. Faust got off in front of his house and unlocked the door entering his house.

The house was freezing. Faust quickly brought out the firewood and coal out from the basement where it was stored and lit up a fire in the fireplace. While waiting for the room to warm up he called out his Pokemon.

Wimpod took Eevee around to explore the house while Dreepy just lingered over Faust's head. Sorting out the things, he made space in the room for his Pokemon before giving them their food. He had a dinner of whatever he had gotten as takeaway from the morning breakfast at the RL canteen before finally turning in for the night.

The next morning, Faust was awakened by the constant knocking on his door. Opening it he found a shivering Kyle holding a basket outside. Letting him in, Faust excused himself to freshen up and wash his face. Just as Faust walked into the dining room, he heard Kyle's voice.

"You know we should have winter vacations. The temperature is too low for any human being to function," said Kyle pulling his oversized coat around himself tighter.

"If we have winter vacations, the school will be out for at least four months and six months for a severe winter," said Faust.

"Exactly my point!" retorted Kyle.

Today was the first day of school and it was quite obvious that Kyle was definitely not having a good morning. Taking a bite out of the steaming hot pie, Faust expected the familiar sweetness of apples but surprisingly the taste was sour more than sweet. Suddenly Kyle's lamenting voice came from the opposite side of the table.

"Ah, such bad luck. This is the fourth time in a row Grandma has picked out Sour apples."

Faust's ears perked up at the word Sour apples. He hadn't paid much attention to the former Faust's memories of food and the like. But suddenly he recalled that apples of the town came in two varieties, Sweet and Sour. Suddenly, Faust remembered two food items from the Pokemon series, Sweet Apple and Sour Apple. They were used to evolve a dragon type Pokemon called Applin into either a Flapple or an Appletun. Further exploring the memories he found out that Applin indeed used to be a common Pokemon found in almost all apple groves around the town. But that was in the past, people had mistaken it for a pest and a large scale extermination was carried out which brought the entire population of Applin to the point of extinction. The surviving numbers had retreated into the forest that was called the Grand Grove. 

Faust wasn't that interested in an Applin since he already had Dreepy. Sure if he could he wouldn't mind catching extra Pokemon but it wasn't a necessity for him. Faust looked at Kyle, for Kyle a dragon-type would be a great addition to the team. Plus, Flapple and Appletun both had their own advantages. Having a dragon-type would be a great boost to Kyle's self-esteem that had constantly been chipped away under his brother's supposedly insurmountable achievements. Thinking so Faust switched into acting mode. Rubbing his chin he suddenly exclaimed, "Is this a Sour apple!?"

"Umm...yeah. Can't you tell by the taste? Are you feeling alright?", asked Kyle looking at Faust with concern.

"You idiot! This is an opportunity! So you know I went to Grand Coast City and spent time at RL right?"

Kyle had a confused expression on his face but nodded, Faust continued.

"So when I was there I looked through a lot of material and books, a particular Pokemon caught my eye, Applin. At first, I only paid attention to it because it was something found around or at least used to be found in Applegrove town. The most amazing thing was I found references to two more Pokemon related to it, Flapple and Appletun."

Suddenly Kyle realised what Faust meant and asked, "You mean that Applin has evolutions, although it is a surprise but how is it an opportunity?"

Faust smiled and said, "Which Pokemon type is considered the strongest in terms of power?"

Kyle looked at Faust and answered directly, "Of course it's the dragon-type. But I still don't understand how this is an oppor-."

Kyle's eyes suddenly widened and he stood up, knocking down his chair, "The evolutions! They're dragon-type!"

Faust smiled and nodded, "Not only are the evolutions dragon-type but Applin itself is a dragon-type!"

Kyle suddenly had an ugly look on his face and said, "You mean to say that the creatures I squashed like bugs and flushed down the toilet just to see them struggle as a child were bonafide dragon-type Pokemon."

Faust did not know whether to laugh or cry at Kyle's sudden regret for what he had done as a child.

"Screw all that. We can get you a dragon-type Pokemon. In fact, we can get you two dragon types. Moreover, while it wasn't stated clearly what the evolution conditions were I think it has something to do with the two types of apples. I say this because there are two types of apples and two types of evolution."

Kyle was visibly excited. He couldn't wait to go find an Applin but Faust stopped him.

"We can't have you catch the Applins close to the town. It will be difficult to find any and even if we do, they will probably be weak with low aptitudes. We will have to go to the Grand Grove. Besides if we want to get Applegrove town on the map, the Applins will have to be brought back into our Apple groves in and around the town. But I think that might be a problem, I mean people paid so much in the past to get rid of the what they considered pests, it will be hard to have them believe unless we have proof and support."

Kyle patted his chest and said, "Well Professor Faust leave the mundane to me, I'll speak to father and explain to him just how big an opportunity this is. I know he will agree, he's been trying to get the Alliance to pay more attention to Applegrove town for years now. Besides ever since you came back, he's been looking forward to an opportunity to cooperate with you on something or just anything."

Faust agreed and then solemnly said, "First we need to get two Applins. We will have to go to the Grand Grove soon before the proper winter sets in. Also, we can't let anyone else know. If the word spreads too far too quickly, it'll bring in the clans and families of Dragon's Nest City. They'll be aiming for a complete monopoly and the benefits will be siphoned off to Dragon's Nest City."

Faust and Kyle decided to take the entire week off to prepare for the trip into the Grand Grove. They didn't need such a long time but Faust had the idea to involve Ross Laboratories. He wasn't doing this for Professor Ross or the kindness of his heart. Involving RL would bring in resources for Faust to conduct his research to present in front of the Researcher's Union and the Alliance. Second, it would deter other influential entities from interfering if they caught wind of what was going on.

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"So you've found something that would put Applegrove town on the map and possibly enhance the already glorious collection of achievements and laurels RL has", came Professor Ross' voice from over the phone.

"Yep, that's true. It's big enough to bring the Dragoon family here, although I'd rather not have that group of proud pricks in Applegrove. They'll most likely be siphoning off all resources to Dragon's Nest anyway. So you in or out?" asked Faust.

"Of course I'm in. You are like an intellectual Midas, everything you put your hand on turns into scientific gold."

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Faust had arranged everything on his end and even Kyle was being hailed by his father as no less than his brother, much to his annoyance. 

Two days later, they met up in the hallway in school leading to the teacher's room. Faust and Kyle looked at each other and then at the door across the hallway. 

"Faust I can't do it. That guy is scary enough to people he likes. It terrifies me to imagine what's he like to people he doesn't like", said Kyle slowing inching backwards.

"Look it's just a leave of absence. We are in our final year anyways. Besides, it's not as if you're going in alone. We both go in together."

Just as Kyle was about to retort, the door to the teacher's room opened and Mr Flint came out.

Faust was dumbfounded seeing him. Mr Flint was wearing thick glasses that made him look like a nerd. But the first impression one would get by looking at the glasses fell apart almost instantaneously as one looked below his neck.

'Is this what they mean by don't judge a book by its cover?'

Faust couldn't help but think so.

Silence pervaded the hallway. After a minute of the tense silence, Mr Flint held out a folded paper. 

"Mr Mayor asked me to hand you two your leaves of absence for the past two days and five days hence starting today."

Kyle subconsciously reached out for the paper and Mr Flint let go. Mr Flint then turned and went back into the room. Faust and Kyle didn't move an inch. 

"What just happened?", whispered Kyle looking at the papers in his hand.

"We got what we came for", replied Faust.

"Just like that?", asked Kyle again.

"Just like that indeed", replied Faust smiling.