Chapter 9- Sandgem Town 1

  Sandgem Town is small. It is a collection of buildings home to many but remembered for its quaint atmosphere, lovely beaches and as the residence of Regional Professor Rowan.

  The northern entrance to the town has both the Pokemon Center and Poke Mart in its vicinity. Nearby the Pokemon Center is Sinnon’s Pokemon Research Lab and Professor Rowan’s home.

  Further along the main road in the commercial district filled with different shops and tourist attractions, mostly intended for trainers that travel through for the Gym Challenge and in the hopes of meeting Professor Rowan. Eventually the main road leads directly to the Sandgem’s beach. Further away from the main road is the residential district, home to many a cast of friendly neighborhoods.

  Erdd is here for a reason, though. He is to see the professor. Not wasting time he follows the road to the lab with Sever by his side.

  The Research Lab looks like two buildings smooshed together. There is the part that is large and imposing, built from industrial materials like a Center, a large and imposing monument. Jutting out the side of that is a one story wood and brick building with stylish eaves, a charming chimney and a cozy vibe. Quite the torment to sensibilities. Behind the building itself is a large fenced off area where many pokemon live and move about.

  Erdd strides in the front door with pokemon behind him to be met with a small reception desk. After walking up to it the receptionist asks “Do you have an appointment, sir?” He responds naturally with “Yes, but I suggest you cover your ears.” The receptionist is confused at this boy’s words and simply stares dumbly at him.

  When Erdd takes in a deep breath, hands panickingly cover ears.

  “ROWAAN!! YOUR ARCH NEMESIS THE KEEPER OF SECRETS HAS SENT ME TO SETTLE A SCORE!!!”

  Erdd’s voice thunders through the research lab, the echoes of his statement reach every corner of the building.

  A voice comes from the overhead speakers “Meeting room one, Troubleson.” The receptionist points to a door and says “Take the second left.” then promptly clocks out.

  Following the directions is easy enough, and the labels on every door help navigation. The final door opens displaying Professor Rowan on one end of a meeting table. Rowan is an older portly man with thoroughly greyed out hair, a bushy mustache and square features.

  He greets his new apprentice with his always gruff tone of voice “That entrance wasn’t necessary you know.”

  “I do apologize, it was my father’s explicit instructions that I introduce myself that way with those words.” is the boy’s reply.

  “I think it was a energizing display!” a charming, and slightly amused voice comes from the other end of the meeting table along with a chuckle.

  Erdd sees the person in the chair and immediately drops himself to one knee and exclaims “Your humble servant greets the Lord of Power!”

  In the chair sits a woman wearing a black outfit with a long coat and teardrop ornaments in her long blonde hair. Cynthia, Champion of Sinnoh.

  The display causes Cynthia’s eyes to light up as her passion “Oh? A follower of the old ways? I remember the passage for this.” She clears her throat and continues in a grandiose tone “Oh servant of the region and sworn to his pokemon, rise. Your respect has been received and let your loyalty be an example to others.”

  Erdd raises himself and gives a reassuring look to Sever, who was confused at his display. He looks towards the Champion, though not daring to make eye contact. He takes a seat in between the professor and Champion before speaking “I was told this should be delivered to you, Professor Rowan, upon my arrival.” and Erdd hands him the letter he used at Jubilife city Pokemon Center.

  Rowan pockets it but says “Now now, that can wait. You are actually the reason I’m speaking to Champion Cynthia right now. The results you put in at the Jubilife Trainer School caused an outcry. Some of the things you wrote about was information not available nor permissible to the public.”

  “That is indeed odd.” Erdd replies, “My father never placed any emphasis on his teaching’s importance in the wider world.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Rowan exasperatedly says “Tribulation Evolutions are on a need to know basis, if such word gets out people would go stir crazy trying to force pokemon to evolve. I imagine criminals and other researchers would have no qualms torturing pokemon to their ends.”

  Cynthia follows up “And the Hisuian pokemon are kept secret to protect archeological sites and historic areas from even more trespassers and looters.”

  Professor Rowan has a grave face now, as he coldly explains “This case is minor because only a few people got ahold of your essay but anyone trying to make it known to everyone would necessitate league interference. Even then you cannot be spreading this information to the general public, or anyone without the clearance for that matter, especially if you are to be one of my hands in the region this year. Do you understand?”

  “Understood.” Erdd responds with a slight scowl from these restrictions.

  Rowan sighs, releasing his grave expression and begins to speak as if he is leading a college lecture “Now as a trainer sponsored by the Pokemon Research Lab you would be allowed to pick a starter from turtwig, chimchar or piplup, but given you already have a starter we can skip that part for now.”

  Erdd responds here “I am not interested in receiving a pokemon from another person, actually.”

  “More for my other trainers then.” Rowan responds “Next is a generous stipend meant to cover the care of your pokemon and supplies for your journey. You also will be able to request expensive resources like evolution stones or TMs to be granted depending on your performance. This is something most sponsorships can promise you, where the lab differs is your responsibility to the lab.” Rowan takes a breath

  “Most companies will have you be an advertisement or walking billboard. We want you to study pokemon. When you go on your journey you will meet all kinds of pokemon in different situations and we ask that you record your experiences and submit them to the lab. Some lab trainers have even scanned and found new pokemon, regional forms, intact fossils,” he eyes Cythia “legends or unknown historic sites and been heavily compensated for it. You will also be given missions along your journey wherever we have been informed of something in your area.”

  Erdd interrupts “Professor, you’re avoiding the main topic.”

  Rowan nods “And, of course, the calling card of the lab, a Pokedex. A device filled with humanity’s collective knowledge of pokemon compiled into one phone sized device. It has more functions of course like phone services, serving as identification, scanning pokemon and video and audio recording.” He glances at Cynthia and Erdd “Did I miss anything?”

  Erdd’s scowl has deepened at the professor's lengthy lecture, thinking that a few words would have sufficed, but says nothing, lest the professor start up again.

  Cynthia answers bemusedly “I believe you left out the best part, dear Rowan. The Gym Challenge. The crucible for forging the strongest bonds between trainer and pokemon where one can become the strongest if their hearts beat in tune.”

  Rowan is somewhat puzzled by her words “Yes my sponsees are enrolled in the challenge automatically. But anyone can join, regardless of their affiliation or sponsors.”

  She chuckles at his words “Well, not exactly when Erdd here has, to the league’s eyes, popped into existence from nowhere. If not for that dethroned hermit’s arrangements I imagine Erdd would have a hard time having an identity, much less joining the Gym Challenge. Isn’t that right, Erdd?”

  Erdd nods at her words and responds respectfully “I believe my rough plan should I be left in Sinnoh with no assistance was to infiltrate an orphanage and use them to establish an identity to use in the Gyms.”

  That elicits two varying reactions to Erdd’s very earnest words. Rowan stares dumbly, jaw dropped low enough his mouth is visible from under his bushy mustache. Cynthia breaks out into full belly laughter at the hilarious thought of ‘infiltrate an orphanage’.

  Erdd looks quizzically at these very dignified officials' behavior, he wasn’t making a joke or speaking falsely yet they still act as though he a jester performing on their behalf. “I wasn’t joking, esteemed Regional Professor Rowan, Lord of Power Cynthia.”

  “We know.” Rowan sighs out.

  Having stopped laughing, Cynthia changes the subject. “I do enjoy this banter, but alas there is something I wish to ask you, Erdd.” He quickly responds “Of course.” She continues seriously “What else do you know? This environment is secured by me so speak freely, please.”

  Erdd hurriedly bows at being asked please by the Champion and replies instantly “I have been told of the three Creations circling the peak of Mount Coronet, the three Emotions and four Behemoths existing in our region, Champion."

  “Curious. Three Creations circling Mount Coronet? That reminds me of the mural in Celestic Town. But those are said to represent the three Emotions circling either Space or Time.” She thinks aloud before asking Erdd “What else did he tell you?”

  “Nothing else about the myths here, just to never disturb or to prevent the disturbance to these pokemon.” He replies.

  The Sinnoh Champion continues passionately “I simply must find out more about this, I need to go over the family records, check out the known ruins and possibly find more. If he told Erdd this it’s likely true.”

  “I must figure this out.” Champion Cynthia concludes.

  Rowan speaks up “Surely you can’t be going on another archeological trip, you need to be there when the league year starts.”

  “Indeed, and I shall. But the preparations can’t wait! The league has never had problems without me babying them and I’ll still be in touch if anything comes up of course.” She leaves the room like a tempest, practically vibrating at the notion of finding out the secrets of Sinnoh’s myths.

  And just like that, the little man and little monster are left in the meeting room with an exasperated professor.