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Bertha was halfway through breakfast when the familiar hum of the transfer system drew her into her workroom.
A flash of white light materialized into a Poké Ball on the transfer pad, and two more followed in quick succession.
"Well, well. Today's youngsters are certainly efficient," Bertha mused, her lips curving with faint amusement. "It's only been a little over a week, and he's already finished the job."
A label affixed to one of the Poké Balls read Whitewind Town Pokémon Center. Luther had made it to Whitewind Town. "Chiaki! Did you feed Wooper yet? Your new Pokémon just came through. Don't you want to take a look?"
She raised her voice down the hallway.
From the courtyard came a clatter of chaos, followed by Wooper's indignant squawk. Footsteps thundered toward her.
A girl of twelve or thirteen burst in, her ponytail swaying, clutching a bag of Pokémon feed. Hot on her heels was Wooper, still gnawing on an empty feeding bowl.
Chiaki's eyes immediately locked onto the Poké Balls on the transfer pad, bright with excitement, anticipation, and raw yearning.
She darted forward, hand outstretched, only for Bertha to pluck the Poké Ball up first.
Chiaki puffed her cheeks in protest, but Bertha merely pressed a firm palm against her head.
"Luther left a note. He said these Pokémon should absolutely not be released indoors. He even promised they'd be satisfactory for both you and me. That kind of wording… my curiosity's piqued. Since he warned us so clearly, we'd best release them in the courtyard."
Chiaki blinked, not quite grasping the nuance. Her instinct told her this Luther fellow had probably only caught what Aunt Bertha wanted, Ground-types.
'Please let there be a Steel-type. Just one Steel-type!' She chanted inwardly, as though sheer willpower could bend fate.
Bertha's courtyard sprawled wide, designed to accommodate her breeding work. From the massive sandpit she'd built herself, a Hippowdon rumbled up at the sound of footsteps, snorting in greeting before sinking lazily back down.
Nearby, Rhyperior was locked in a brutal contest of strength with a Graveler, the grinding of stone on stone sharp enough to set one's teeth on edge. At Bertha's approach, Rhyperior spared her a glance, then went right back to the struggle.
Above the pit, a colossal clay figure floated serenely, its psychic aura keeping it aloft. Of the ring of eyes carved into its body, only one was open, watching Bertha and Chiaki. It even gave them a casual wave.
Perched atop the psychic golem's head, the Gligar king clacked its pincers eagerly, trying to draw Chiaki's attention. But Chiaki instantly pressed herself closer to Bertha, refusing to look. The Gligar slumped in visible disappointment.
By the pond at the edge of the house, Quagsire was leading a squad of Wooper through move drills.
Chiaki clung tightly to Bertha's hand. For a brief moment, her grip slackened at the sight of gentle Quagsire, only to tighten again when a whiskered Whiscash burst from the water with a splash.
Bertha sighed. It wasn't that Chiaki disliked Ground-types… it was just that her experiences here had left her with all the wrong impressions.
Her Pokémon adored Chiaki. Every one of them tried, in their own way, to play with her.
But from Chiaki's perspective, they were all terrifying brutes, snarling, brawling, hulking monsters. Every attempt to soften that image had only backfired: the "kind smiles" they offered looked menacing, scheming, and downright sinister to her young eyes.
After much discussion with her Ground-types, Bertha had finally hit upon the crux of the issue. Quagsire and Wooper, for some reason, were the only ones Chiaki could truly warm to.
"Maybe," Bertha had concluded at the time, "Chiaki just thinks you're… too ugly?"
Depending on how you phrased her answer, the "maybe" and the question mark were hardly necessary.
This was a classic case of a difference in aesthetics. Bertha reflected with a quiet smile that, at Chiaki's age, she herself had always been drawn to Pokémon that looked strong, fierce, and imposing.
Chiaki, however, seemed to prefer the cool and stylish, Pokémon with high "cute points" and undeniable charm.
Bertha couldn't make it to the Abandoned Mine Area herself, but she hoped that the Pokémon Luther had brought back would meet Chiaki's tastes.
As soon as Bertha held the first Poké Ball, her Pokémon swarmed curiously around her. They already knew Chiaki was about to get new companions, and naturally, they all wanted a peek.
The first Poké Ball hit the ground, and a Sandshrew's narrow eyes blinked open. It glanced around, taking in its surroundings with curiosity.
But curiosity soon gave way to horror: the entire cluster of Bertha's imposing Pokémon turned their eyes on it simultaneously.
Sandshrew shivered, instinctively wanting to dig a hole and disappear. Then it looked up at Chiaki and remembered Luther's instructions before leaving: 'this girl is your Trainer'.
Somehow finding a spark of courage, Sandshrew hesitated, then tentatively shuffled over and pressed against Chiaki's leg.
"Oh? Looks like you two are already hitting it off. Luther really found you a perfect little partner," Bertha murmured.
Chiaki knelt down, studying Sandshrew with careful attention. The longer she looked, the brighter her eyes grew, until she finally scooped the little Pokémon up into a hug.
So this was it, the difference in taste. Sandshrew, this tiny, adorable creature, had captured Chiaki's heart instantly.
Bertha tossed out the second Poké Ball. Diglett emerged, looking bewildered as it found itself surrounded by a cadre of powerful Ground-types.
It wasn't that Diglett wasn't afraid… it was more that it simply fainted on the spot.
If Chiaki hadn't come running over to pat its rosy little nose and pinch it gently, Diglett might have stayed "playing dead" indefinitely.
Like Sandshrew, Diglett instantly won Chiaki's affection. Hugging both little Pokémon tightly, she couldn't help but praise Luther, her admiration for him rising with each new companion.
Bertha shook her head and laughed softly.
"Young people really do understand young people, huh?"
Clearly, Luther had put a lot of effort into catching and selecting these Pokémon. Chiaki's delight at the first two made that obvious.
Unable to contain her excitement, Chiaki grabbed the third Poké Ball and flung it onto the courtyard, hoping for another adorable little friend.
Bertha's own anticipation rose. This one had to be the Pokémon Luther mentioned, the one that could satisfy both Chiaki and Bertha. In other words… a Steel/Ground-type, most likely.
A massive Steel-type serpent shimmered in white light, taking a long moment before its full form became visible.
It straightened its colossal body, letting out a commanding roar as it asserted its presence in the courtyard.
Bertha's Pokémon blinked, impressed. The first two small companions had been cute, but this giant was downright awe-inspiring. Now this was worth looking at.
Bertha clapped her hands in satisfaction. "Excellent. Size, sheen of the scales, the look in its eyes, the aura, it's clearly a top contender in its region. Luther must have cleared out one of the Abandoned Mine Area tunnels to get this one."
"Chiaki, here's the Steel-type you wanted. Luther was thoughtful enough to pick one for you, and its stats and ability are top-notch." Bertha's words trailed off as she suddenly realized something, gently patting Chiaki's shoulder. "What's wrong? You don't like it?"
The Steel Serpent and Chiaki stared at each other, eyes wide. The Pokémon was confused; it was making its grand entrance for the first time in front of its future Trainer, posturing, roaring, showing off its immense strength… and yet its Trainer gave no reaction at all.
'It blinked slowly, tilting its massive head. Was this really the response it was supposed to get?'
(End of Chapter)