Chapter Text
Leaning back, Marceline Abadeer held a small red and white sphere in her slim fingers. "And...what's in this one?" She asked, lifting her blue gaze to lock eyes with the professor, Bonnibel Bubblegum, who was giving her the first Pokemon she'd ever owned.
"It's breed is Eevee, and it can evolve into one of eight possible things. First there's the water type, Vaporeon, who evolves with a Water Stone. Second is Jolteon, who's like Vaporeon but with a Thunder Stone. And then there's Flareon, who has a Fire St-"
"Yeah, that's interesting. How do I get it out?" Marceline asked, attempting to force open the small black band that separated the red from the white.
"Don't force it!" Bonnibel gasped, snatching the Poke-Ball back from the new trainer. The two had been in school together, but around high school veered off on different paths. Bonnibel on the path of a Pokemon professor, which she was still working for, but nearing actually being one, and Marceline being a rough-and-tumble girl who'd only just now decided to become a trainer. After witnessing a battle between one of her friends and a stranger, she'd become intrigued and had come to her old friend, seeking to own one of the little creatures for herself.
"Okay, then tell me." Keeping her voice down, the teen crossed one leg over the other and raising an eyebrow at the professor.
Clutching the ball in her hand, Bubblegum arched her arm behind her back and threw it in the air, shouting," Eevee, come out!" In a blast of red and white light, a small brown Pokemon with a cream white mane manifested on the floor in front of the new trainer. Shaking its head, the little Pokemon reared up on its hind paws and sniffed at her hand, resting its front paws on her leg. The Poke-Ball flew back into Bubblegum's hand.
"Wow. That is cute." Marceline leaned forward, now more interested in the Pokemon in front of her than before. "What's its gender?" Reaching her pale hands forward, the teen lifted the Eevee off the ground and set it on her lap, gently scratching behind its ears. In response, the fluffy Pokemon purred gently and shut its eyes, leaning against her chest.
"He's a male." Professor Bubblegum replied, watching the fluffy brown Pokemon rest against the girl. Smiling a little to herself, the professor thought,' He's probably going to become a Sylveon, or Espeon or Umbreon. I can tell already. Unless she gets a stone. If only she'd let me explain.'
"Eh, I honestly don't care about gender - I just didn't want to use the wrong gender terms for him." Marceline adjusted the Eevee in her arms, so that it was comfortably resting against her stomach. "Can I give him a nickname?" To which Bubblegum nodded. "Yes, you can. Just make sure that he knows his name."
"Hm...well, I'm not good with names." With a concerned frown, the punk rock teen gently tugged on the black and brown ear of the Eevee. "How about...Trey?" As if in response, the Eevee opened a black eye and purred gently in response. "Considering that you've told me about 3 of the forms, and he seems to not mind."
"Trey it is, then." Stepping back, Bubblegum entered the name 'Trey' into a machine and Marceline's name below that with her cell number. A few moments later, a small brass tag popped out of the slot and she selected a black collar off of the wall, attaching the tag and crouching in front of the other teen, reaching her hands forward and clipping the black leather around Trey's neck. "There."
As if looking proudly at the small tag on his collar, Trey twitched his nose and lifted a small paw, gently jingling the little thing. "I think he likes it." Amused, Marceline gently pushed the Eevee's paw aside and read the engraved name. Then she flipped it over and read her own name and number. She'd given the professor that information a few weeks prior. "Say, PB, do you have any Pokemon?"
A grin worked its way onto Bubblegum's face and she reached to her belt, where she had three Poke-Balls and one Ultra Ball. Holding two in one hand and two in the other, the professor arched her arm back like she had with Trey's ball but with all four, and in front of the new trainer appeared a Ralts, another Eevee, a Vulpix, and a Braixen. "Their names are Sandy, Erin, and Red. All three of them are girls. And then my Braixen's name is Hero. He's the only boy."
Looking at the Pokemon in admiration, Marceline stretched out her free hand to the one closest - who was Hero. The Braixen peered first at the pale hand, and then back up at the owner of it. Intrigued, the other three Pokemon stepped forward, as if in unison. Feeling threatened, Trey stood up on the teen's lap, neck fur risen uncertainly. A little growl rumbled in the back of the Eevee's throat and he pressed his brown pelt against her stomach. "Explain their names."
At first confused by the strange question, Professor Bubblegum replied," I named Sandy that because when I found her, I was on vacation with my parents at the beach and we found her unconcious in the sand. Erin, well, I've always liked that name. Red because of her pretty russet coat, and Hero because..." The professor's voice drifted off, and she looked at the Braixen fondly. "He was a rescue Fennekin, and he saved me from burning to death in one of the schools I was studying at. He didn't want to return to his job though, and he stuck with me to this day."
"That must have been scary. You were lucky to have such a brave friend." Marceline lifted Trey from her lap and set him on the ground, where he shook on his paws when approached by Erin. He was smaller than the other Eevee, and obviously intimidated. "You're a bit of a coward, aren't you, boy?" Chuckling fondly, the teen picked her corwardly Eevee back up and set him on her lap once again.
"Yeah, he was sent back in with a Houndoom to find any people who were left. A classmate and I were stuck in the chemistry room and the Houndoom took down the door. But it was Hero who first snuck into the room from a tiny crack where a hole had been burned in the wall and found us." Professor Bubblegum affectionately rubbed the Braixen's head, and he made a small sound in response. "And besides, what kind of professor would I be if I didn't have Pokemon of my own? I'm studying evolution and Pokemon behaviors."
"Man, I love Houndooms. I want to have one of my own someday." Marceline mumbled in response, looking down at Trey. The cowardly little Pokemon flicked an ear, keeping his eyes locked onto the others. "That sounds like a lot to study at once. Aren't you graduating soon?"
"This week, in fact. Finals are in two days, and I'm studying the heck out of my books. Unfortunately my Pokemon aren't getting all the attention they need, and I don't like it." With a small sigh the Pokemon professor stood back up, about to return the four of her Pokemon back into their Poke-Balls.
"Wait! If you're done in a few days, I could take care of them until then." Marceline offered, startling Trey. The Eevee jumped down and blinked when he was nose to nose with Sandy. A little 'eep' escaped his jaws and he pressed against the teen's legs, trying to hide in her. "And then when you're done, I'll trade them back. Besides, I need a few days to get everything together anyways. I plan on beating the Elite Four and becoming a champ, and that takes some serious prep!"
"Some 'serious prep'?" Professor Bubblegum echoed, raising an eyebrow in confusion at the new trainer. Making an exaggerated sigh, Marceline clarified," Preparation, dummy. It's not like I can just waltz into Victory Road and expect to pass the guards, much less the actual cave system itself."
"Well...these guys could use some exercise. Do you guys want to go with Marcy?" Bubblegum asked, and Erin was the first to squeak in approval. She was followed by Sandy and Red, but Hero seemed a bit more reluctant to leave his trainer's side. Just making a small grumble, the Braixen stepped up to Professor Bubblegum and rested his paw on her hand, eyes locking onto hers. With a small sigh the Pokemon professor crouched down and rubbed his head. "It's okay, I promise. Marceline's not a bad person, even if she looks like one."
"Hey, don't insult me. I get into all kinds of trouble." Marceline looked down at Bubblegum with a frown, and Hero quickly jumped to his trainer's defense. Opening his jaws, a burst of fire shot out of his jaws and nearly singed her long black hair. Just before that happened, though, the teen yelped and dove off of the chair to avoid the flames. "What was that for!?"
"Sorry, Marceline!" Professor Bubblegum gasped, and looked sternly at her Braixen. "Hero, that wasn't called for. You know not to attack people unless they have bad intentions." Hero looked at his feet in shame, and his trainer couldn't help but rub one of his long ears affectionately. "Sorry for getting angry buddy, just...don't do that anymore."
Lifting her gaze now, Bubblegum locked eyes with Marceline and said," So you promise to take good care of them? I can give you some food for about a week for five small Pokemon, and that should suffice until graduation." The new trainer nodded eagerly and responded," Of course! And if I somehow run out, I have money to buy enough food for a while longer." The girl worked at a food place during the day, but was planning to quit soon - she'd earn money from Pokemon battles from now on. It was like unwritten law to give someone a little bit of money for a good battle, like you gave people who played instruments on the street.
The Pokemon professor gave her Pokemon all a loving look, and then resumed her two Poke-Balls in one hand stance. "Pokemon, return!" In another flash of red and white, all four of the professor's Pokemon returned to their balls. Turning to Marceline, she handed her Pokemon over to the new trainer. "I'm trusting you with my preciouses, Marcy." The new trainer reached out to take them and put them in her bag, but the professor appeared reluctant to hand them over. After another long look, she finally slipped them into her friend's hands. "Only a few days."
"Only a few days." Marceline repeated, gently setting the Poke-Balls and Ultra Ball into her pack. "All right, Trey, come on. He doesn't have to be in his ball, does he?"
Bubblegum shook her head no. "No, but it's recommended to only have out one or two. Otherwise they get out of control." There appeared to still be concern in her eyes and her gaze drifted down to Marceline's pack.
"I promise I'll take good care of them." The new trainer's voice dropped a note or two, sensing just how much trust her old friend was putting her. "Though I'm sure they'll miss you a lot. Especially Hero."
"You'd better." Professor Bubblegum finally seemed to relax a little, and she smiled more comfortably now. "Now be on your way, you're just wasting time at this point. Take this PokeDex, and this is an impossible goal, but could you try to fill it with Pokemon information? It'd really help on my long-term studies."
Taking the red object, Marceline examined it for a moment, then slipped it into her bag among the professor's Pokemon. "All right. I guess I'll see you in a few days, PB!" Stepping backwards to the door, the new trainer raised a hand in farewell. "Bye!"
Raising her hand was well, Professor Bubblegum watched Marceline leave the building and head towards the next city, where they sold potions, antidotes, and such. "Bye, Marceline..."