Chapter Text
“Now now, calm down, I know you’re antsy to hear who scored highest on the test, and I’m about to tell you, but I need quiet, got it?”
The professor's tone was friendly but made no room for argument, Birch was always like that, not that she’d been the one being rowdy, now that would have been a sight for the other three kids, Mallory North being childlike.
She was always too serious they said, she preferred the word mature, she wasn’t just more mature though, she was older, in mind at least.
This wasn’t her first life, she’d had a previous one on earth, she couldn’t remember almost any of it anymore, those memories had long since faded, but she retained her personality.
That had always made it difficult to make friends with the other kids in Littleroot, but it didn’t really bother her, after all, she knew about the important things, namely, pokemon.
Finally Professor Birch was done shuffling paperwork or whatever and finally addressed them, “alright as I’m sure you are aware, you all took a test, the trainer aptitude test, whoever scored highest gets not only first pick between starters, but gets to pick between all the young starters, you four scored the highest and get starters, I would like to stress that you all did good, but only one can score highest.”
The four of them nodded, she only knew one of the other testers, the other two were from Slateport and Mauville respectively, the guy she did know, Peter, was probably the closest thing she had to a friend in this town, and even then it was shaky, she had tutored him to help him pass, she’d evidently done a good job.
Mallory had to take jobs like that, as Littleroot’s resident orphan the town was more than happy to give her everything she needed, but she wasn’t content with that, so she often took odd jobs.
“Cmon professor, tell us already, who got it?” Peter whined from beside her, she rolled her eyes, sixteen years old and he whined.
It made sense though, he was a kid who never really wanted for anything, he had two loving parents who both made plenty of money as aids for Birch, on top of that, he was also lucky, having a fire affinity, she didn’t resent him for any of it, she just wished he wasn’t so childish.
This world wasn’t like the one on she knew on earth, no aura was prevalent, everyone naturally had a type affinity, maybe two if they were really lucky, it allowed a person to get along better with pokemon of their type better, understand them better, and if they ever grew advanced enough, learn a move by osmosis, she had dragon.
When she’d discovered it the other kids had pitied her, Mallory understood why too, six, there were six lines of non legendary dragons that weren’t “protected” by a dragon clan.
Just thinking about it made her blood boil, dragons were regarded as the most powerful type, yet the only way to get most of them was through nepotism or if a clan member deemed you worthy, it infuriated a wannabe dragon master like her, most people like her ended up training an Altaria, Flygon, Alolan Exeggutor, Cyclizar, Drampa and Dragalge.
Those were all very good pokemon, but one couldn’t become a master with just them.
To become a registered type master you had to train at least ten different species to their full potential, some got lucky and figured out the secret to evolving a Seadra, but that was still just seven.
Enough of that, the professor was about to get to it, “okay so the top scorer was Mallory North, I’m not surprised, and then Peter Passal, Hannah Suki, and last but not least, Arthur Briar, now here are your Pokédex’s, Mallory you’ll choose last from the bigger lot out back.” He handed them each a red device that almost looked like a phone while he said it.
Birch then tossed out three pokeball’s that contained a Torchic, Treecko, and mudkip respectively, “now these three here were bred for friendliness and stamina over all else, of course they still have room to grow, but they’re meant to help young trainers survive, Peter can go first.”
Peter didn’t hesitate, “Torchic you’re with me, together we’ll brave the Evergrand conference!.”
The chick pokemon seemed happy with this, Hannah then chose Mudkip, and Arthur got Treecko, though he seemed happy about it.
Birch watched as they interacted with their first pokemon and then said, “alright, please wait here for a few minutes while Mallory chooses her starter, I still have some things to tell you afterwards.” He then gestured for her to follow him.
As she did he told her what to expect, “now Mallory, while we breed starters for friendliness and stamina, breeding isn’t such an exact thing, you’ll find the ones back here are still mostly friendly, but they’re going to have different skill sets, if I were you I’d make use of that Pokédex to determine which one to pick, do you know which species you’re picking?”
Mallory nodded, “yes sir, I would like a Treecko.”
Birch sighed, “what have I told you about calling me sir, I’ve known you your whole life, it’s Augustus, or Birch if you insist on formality.”
She rolled her eyes, but decided to start calling him Birch if he so insisted, but he continued, “but we’ve got a great bunch of Treecko’s, I’m sure you’ll be happy.”
Just then they arrived at the corral, it was busy with many young starter pokemon, along with a few older evolved ones to keep them behaving, Birch then called out, “Treecko’s come here!”
Within seconds about a dozen Treecko’s were in front of her, some shouted their names at her, some showed off moves, some stood eagerly hoping to be picked, but as she looked over them she didn’t find anything special, because sure they were starters, but other than that they were all similar, but then she saw him.
He was a lone Treecko standing calmly in the back, he didn’t look particularly interested in what was going on, but that in turn made her interested, “Birch, what about that one?”
Birch looked at the one she was pointing to, “oh him, he’s a bit different than the rest, his whole colony was poached, but they didn’t find his egg, afterwards he was sent here, he’s a bit older than the rest, knows things the others don’t too, egg moves, though he isn’t particularly friendly.”
Mallory grinned, he sounded perfect, as she walked up to him he opened his eyes and looked at her, he didn’t seem particularly interested in being chosen but didn’t seem against it, “hey fella, you seem like a good match for me, but I want to know what you think, I want to be a great dragon master one day, though I have bigger dreams as well, what do you want?”
He looked thoughtful for a second before punching his tiny fist into his hand, “tree, ko ko.”
She didn’t have a perfect understanding of what he meant, but you could kind of understand a pokemon based on its tone and body language, “I see, you want to be strong, so you can protect what’s important to you?”
He nodded and she smiled, “I’ll make you strong my friend,” she lowered her tone to a whisper, “maybe even strong enough to mega evolve, how would you like that?”
The little lizard's eyes widened, “treecko?”
Mallory winked at him, “I’ll explain more on the road.” After all, mega evolution wasn’t common knowledge, but she had learned that pokemon that could mega evolve knew of it, it was like a legend to them, passed down, she’d learned that from a passing trainer’s Altaria.
“So, you wanna come with me?”
He nodded, he even looked a little excited now, though he was trying to hide it, “all right Birch, I’ve chosen, I want this guy here.”
Birch didn’t look too surprised at her choice, “got it,” he rummaged through his bag for a second and then handed her his pokeball, “I figured you’d choose him, just for a different reason.”
She raised an eyebrow, “oh, why?”
Birch grinned, “scan him and find out.”
Mallory took out her Pokédex and scanned him, he stood obediently still during the process, though she knew that was unnecessary.
“Treecko, the wood gecko pokemon.
Treecko has small hooks on the bottom of its feet that enable it to scale vertical walls. This pokemon attacks by slamming foes with its thick tail.
This Treecko is male and has the ability Overgrow.
Moves: leafage, quick attack, pound, leer, night slash (egg), worry seed (egg), leech seed (egg), dragons breath (egg) grass whistle (egg).
Safe to say Mallory was thrilled, her Treecko already had an instinctive use of dragon energy, that would save her a lot of time on training, she grinned at the little guy, “you’re quite talented huh? Good, but remember, talent only takes you so far.”
The Treecko nodded at her with determination.
Birch then spoke, “I knew you’d be happy with that, you are two peas in a pod, now we should get back, I’m sure the others are getting impatient.”
She followed Birch back into the lab with Treecko, they found the others still chatting with their new pokemon, “alright everyone, one last thing before you all set out, as my labs sponsored trainers, you all have access to three things,
My corral for any extra pokemon you capture, my tm library, though I will remind you that moves learned from a tm still need to be practiced, and of course me, feel free to call, though do try to keep it to reasonable hours, I have a newborn after all, now you’re free to leave.”
The other three left immediately, but Mallory stayed behind, “about my requests? It’s fine if you can’t fulfill them, but I do need to know.”
Birch looked thoughtful for a moment and then spoke, “ah yes, the Horsea and the ticket, the Horsea is easy, and I already procured one, but I’d like to know why you want to go to Kanto, if you’d oblige me.”
Mallory had expected this, she knew the professor would want to know why, “I want to find a Dratini.”
Birch looked disappointed, “I know you’re no thief, and I know you’re smarter than the people spreading rumors about there being some in Kanto’s safari zone, so where do you think you can get one?”
Time for some lying, “a trainer from Kanto came through town a few years back, he said that once he was swimming far off the coast of Vermilion city when a sudden storm hit, he said he almost drowned before a wild Dragonite saved him, I figure there’s a colony of them somewhere, I want to try and convince one to come with me.”
Birch nodded, “I know the trainer you’re talking about, though I didn’t know that about him, you do know it’s a long shot right?”
She nodded “of course it is, but either I go there and maybe get a Dratini, or I stay here and definitely don’t get one, that’s also why I want the Horsea, not only will it one day be a powerful dragon, but if I get it now it can evolve sooner and swim me around the ocean near Vermillion.”
Birch nodded, “all solid reasonings, life’s about chances, so good thing I already bought the ticket huh?” He laughed as he said it.
She smiled, Birch had always been a figure in her life, not a father, closer to an older brother, but it really shined through when he made bad jokes at her expense.
He handed her a pokeball and a ticket, “the boat leaves in a month at Slateport, it will take you directly to Vermillion, though do be warned, if you find a Dratini the Indigo champion will probably get involved, after all, the Blackthorns have sway with him,
The pokeball has a Horsea, she’s not too young, but I got her from a breeder so she doesn’t have much experience, she also has some egg moves, consider her a late birthday present, though I will have to take the ticket out of your stipend.”
She nodded along as he spoke, “thank you, I don’t know what to say.”
He just grinned at her, “don’t say anything, just go! Start your journey, and make sure to cherish your bonds!”
She smiled, and then, she was off.