Chapter 35: Back To The Lab Again

But before he could do anything, Lance's eyes were suddenly drawn elsewhere. Violet too, gazed upward. Before their very eyes in the sky above, space began to distort. Out popped a cute and lovable Pokemon, and was entirely pink.

"Mew?", Mew questioned, popping into existence again. This was one of Mew's signature moves, even though it had the ability to learn every single Pokemon move in existence. Mew used Teleport a lot wherever it went.

"Oh, so you're back, Mew.", Violet greeted Mew, who was still floating around in the sky. Seeing Violet call out to Mew, Mew's eyes quickly shifted to her.

"Mew!", Mew said, only to use Teleport once again, only to reappear next to Violet, floating above her head. Mew had a happy expression. Lance, on the other hand, though...

"You...", Lance tried to say. He could recognize at a glance at who the Pokemon was floating near Violet. Violet simply smiled at Lance.

"What, never seen a mythical Pokemon before? That's real hot coming from one of the world's strongest Trainers. You have a full team of just Dragonite, don't you? Where's your bravado now?", Violet asked with a smirk.

"Have you realized what you have just done?", Lance asked. His seriousness was on a whole other level now.

"What I've done is not a thing. This isn't my doing. Mew is just checking up on me. Isn't that right, Mew?", Violet asked with a smile.

"Mew Mew!", Mew happily responded, as if Mew was actually answering Violet. "Mew Mew Mew!", Mew continued to say. Even Violet paused this time.

"Ricky did what?", Violet questioned. Mew proudly stuck its tiny chest out as if it was prideful.

"Mew!", Mew responded. Mew was trying to say that "I was caught by Ricky!". Violet simply turned quiet hearing that.

"What is Mew trying to say?", Lance questioned.

"Oh, right. You don't really open up to Mew until after you've created a close bond with it, or if Mew acknowledges you. It would seem Mew has been caught.", Violet answered what Mew was trying to say.

"Mew!", Mew happily responded, bobbing its cute head up and down. Mew even did its classic giggle, doing a flip of its body, and floated away a couple paces.

"Did I hear that right? A mythical Pokemon was "caught"?", Lance questioned, sucking in a cold breath of air.

"I don't like to repeat myself. That's exactly right.", Violet responded, grinning.

"Let me guess. I think I know who.", Lance said, sucking in a cold breath of air, realizing who Violet and Mew were talking about.

Violet simply smiled, and didn't look back at Lance. Instead, she looked at Mew.

"I'll leave Ricky in your care alright, Mew?", Violet asked Mew, giving it a task to do.

"Mew!", Mew acknowledged Violet's request. Mew then curiously looked at Lance. It used its ability to allow Lance to perceive Mew, because Mew was curious of him. But Mew didn't even give Lance a chance to respond, before Mew used Teleport again.

Mew quickly sped off to where the ranch was that belonged to Professor Oak, vanishing from sight. Mew was really fast when it came to flying, and it was even faster than some Flying-type Pokemon.

"Like mother like son, I guess? Is that what I'm supposed to say here?", Lance questioned, still showing surprise in his eyes. He didn't know he would have a chance to encounter Mew like this!

Violet finally turned back, and looked at Lance while letting out another puff of smoke.

"So, there's going to be a pretty interesting turn around this time. Don't you think so?", Violet asked.

"If mythical Pokemon are now being involved, then who knows what will happen.", Lance answered, unsure of how this year's Gym Challenge will go. The Indigo League was held once a year, allowing trainers from all over the world to participate in it.

"Right? You should know my answer then. I'll join the Elite Four.", Violet answered. "I think we'll be able to see something interesting this time around.", VIolet continued.

"Very well. I shall go notify the League upon my return. If you want to head into the Victory Road, I'll give you a permit.", Lance said.

"Understood.", Violet responded with a nod.

"Then I shall take my leave.", Lance responded. He grabbed one of his own Pokeballs, and tossed it into the air.

An imposing, red glow released from it. It gave off a similar vibe to Violet's Articuno.

"Awoo!", Dragonite said, greeting Lance. Lance hopped on Dragonite's back, and Dragonite started to flap its wings. Violet's expression remained unchanged, acting as if she had seen one of Lance's Dragonites multiple times.

That's right, Dragonites. Lance was known to own several Dragonites. He was one of the world-leading trainers of Dragon typing. Most of his Pokemon were Dragon Pokemon!

Now on his Dragonite's back, Lance quickly fled off, leaving Violet behind in a blink of an eye. Violet was left alone again. She finished off her cigarette, and extinguished it.

"Was that a Dragonite!?", Gary's voice called out to Violet, quickly approaching her.

"Haha! You must be seeing things, Gary.", Violet said, shrugging Lance off while seeing an excited look in Gary's eyes.

"And besides, don't you have our lunch to clean up? Hop to it.", Violet said, urging Gary back inside.

"Fine. You buzz kill. You sure can ruin the mood sometimes, Mom.", Gary grumbled, but didn't deny his mother.

"That's what we mothers do best, right?", Violet smirked at Gary.

Still, Violet smiled. A look of nostalgia appeared in her eyes. Once upon a time, Violet too had the opportunity to battle Lance in the Indigo League.

But fate spun a different thread this time. Lance had secretly watched her battle she had with Ricky the day before. He was satisfied with the results Violet had shown him and Lance took no time to offer her a spot in Kanto's Elite Four!

And Violet accepted the position, just right after Ricky left for Professor Oak's Lab!

Violet is going to enter a busy period again, realizing the road ahead of her now. She strutted back inside the Oak Residence with eyes full of determination.

Meanwhile, toward the other end of Pallet Town.

A large foothill could now be seen, with a gate at the very bottom of it. A large and open ranch that seemed to go on for miles and miles stood at the very top of it. But just as three figures approached the gate, the man of the group suddenly turned his head toward the sky, only to spot a faint figure swiftly flying off in another direction. It caused the man to come to a complete halt. A look of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

"Was that a Dragonite?", Ricky questioned, not believing what he had just seen. He was pretty sure he saw a spiky-haired man riding on its back, which resembled Lance too...

"A Dragonite? This isn't dreamland, Ricky. Who'd see a Dragonite out here in Pallet Town?", Serena retorted.

"Hahaha...", Ricky laughed with a dry voice. 'I'm pretty sure that was Lance just now...', Ricky inwardly thought. Still, he decided to keep it that way. Even if that really was Lance, he didn't have any business with Ricky. It looks like he had business with someone else. Ricky just wondered who exactly it was which prompted Lance to come here?

But that also prompted Ricky to think of another thing. If that really was Lance of Kanto's Elite Four, this probably shouldn't go unreported...

It wasn't known to many apart from Professor Kukui and Lillie, but Ricky did rise up and was just recently promoted to an Aether Foundation Admin, courtesy of its active CEO, Lusamine. She was none other than Lillie's mother. She was a very rich and powerful figure among the entire Pokemon World. She wasn't exactly a trainer, but she was a dominant figure, no doubt about that.

And at the start of the week when Ricky first departed, he received that promotion. That meant he reported directly to Lusamine now, as an admin, and not just as Lillie's caretaker anymore. That meant Ricky had duty now. Lusamine did give Ricky a lot of freedom to see as he deemed fit while adventuring, but he couldn't just go rogue and stay quiet during the entire journey.

'I am not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me, like Serena said. If that really was Lance, then something prompted him to move. Clearly it wasn't for me, so I don't know if I should report this to Lusamine...', Ricky wondered to himself, becoming quiet.

Yet little did Ricky know at the time, Lance's visit to Pallet Town would alter the adventure he was going to go on. He just wasn't aware of it!

"Ricky? We shouldn't keep Professor Oak waiting.", Lillie said, calling out to him as she saw Ricky turn quiet.

"You're right. It's probably just my imagination. Let's go buzz Gramps so he can open the gate.", Ricky responded, ensuring Serena and Lillie that he was fine. They nodded their heads in response.

Ricky approached the big gate and saw a touch screen pad on the side of the wall. It was very similar to heading inside an apartment complex. After dialing in, it didn't take long for the trio to see Professor Oak's face appear on the screen.

"Welcome my boy! I've been waiting for you three to arrive. I've already got the Pokemon set up and ready to choose, so come on in. I'll unlock the gate!", Professor Oak happily said, greeting the trio.

"Professor Oak sure doesn't like to waste time! We'll be welcoming three more new Pokemon into our teams shortly, huh?", Serena happily asked.

"I can't wait!", Lillie responded with a smile.

"Same here. We're all in agreement with what we want to choose right? We don't have to keep Gramps in suspense for long.", Ricky questioned. Serena and Lillie nodded their heads. It looks like they were on board with what they had previously discussed.

That meant Ricky would get Charmander, Lillie would get Bulbasaur, and Serena would get Squirtle!