A job offer

Professor Oak smiled at her as she finished explaining what had happened since the last time they'd spoken, "That's wonderful news, Vali! I didn't expect you to get Smaug to evolve so soon since most trainers put it off until the first year to ensure they have a strong enough bond to prevent any accidents."

"That's because they don't have a small pool of pokemon like me and don't understand just how prideful fire-types can be," Vali snorted softly, "Anyway, did you get the information I sent you?"

"Yes, I did," Professor Oak shuffled around something in the desk he was sitting at before pulling out the binder of stuff she'd sent him, "You're very thorough when you want to be,"

Vali flushed a bit, "Considering the fact that I'm really hoping I might one day be able to raise an Amaura, I figured that being thorough would be the best course of action."

Professor Oak chuckled, "Well, I can tell you that this will definitely help the research along. I'm going to be sending a copy of it to Blaine since he's the leading authority on Fossil Research in Kanto."

"Really?" Vali thought he might add somethings to it before he did that.

Professor Oak nodded as he leaned back into his seat, "Of course, your notes are very well written and rarely go off topic. You ensure that your personal opinion and theories are separated from the actual information. While you could be a bit more concise in some places, it doesn't really take away from the information you've presented," Professor Oak actually looked proud, "The pictures you sent as well as the pages of your own personal theories made everything fairly clear. It makes me eager to see what else you can do."

Vali remembered her discussion with Zaria prompting her to ask, "Professor, do you think I might be able to become one of your data collectors? Not right now, but eventually?"

Professor Oak blinked a bit in surprise before nodding, "I don't see why not, but what brought this on?"

"Before Zaria left, we ended up having an interesting conversation," Vali answered as she looked at her hands, "I don't see myself getting a regular job if I fail to become an Elite Four or an ACE. I can't see myself being happy with a desk job or something like that. Don't get me wrong, I know that some people would be happy doing that, but I just can't see that kind of future for myself. If I become one of your data collectors, it would mean going traveling wherever I wish and whenever I wish unless you needed me to do something. Combined with becoming a Photographer, I think that would be the kind of future I want since it would allow me to keep battling with my pokemon, meeting new people, and discovering parts of the world I've never been too before," She flushed a bit as she spoke, "I love the idea of being able to wander as I wish rather than just settle down somewhere. Eventually, I'd like to settle down with someone, but that's years in the future,"

Professor Oak grinned at her, "You sound a lot like someone I knew back when I was a young boy going on my own journey," She looked at him in surprise, "That actually reminds me of something I've been wanting to talk with you about."

"Is something wrong?" Vali asked him while hoping everyone was fine back in Pallet.

"Not at all," Professor Oak shook his head, "On the contrary, I think this is a great opportunity for you," She looked at him in confusion, "How would you like to become a data collector now?"

Holy mother of Mew, Vali hadn't thought that this kind of thing would happen when she talked to him today. Pushing away her shock, she asked, "Really, Professor?"

"I don't see why not. Of course, you wouldn't be acting as my usual data collectors do since you're still on your first journey and not sixteen just yet," Professor Oak began to explain what he wanted her to do, "I want you to take pictures of the pokemon you come across, the areas you come across, anything that strikes you as odd, and the like. Simple things that you would probably do anyway. I want you to continue writing those journals of yours and sending me the information at each city you come across that has post office only this time adding copies of the photos,"

Vali thought about it carefully before nodding, "I can do that pretty easily."

"In exchange, I'll put money in your account to pay for the copies of the photos you send me, journals, writing utensils, and expenses such as a new camera if your current one breaks," Professor Oak continued earning a nod from her since it made sense and was a relief since cameras could be expensive, "I will also pay you around 1,000 poke per the journal you send me and more if it helps me with something I'm currently researching. You'll also get a percentage of the money I get from the League each time I publish something that you helped research like with all of my data collectors,"

That wasn't a bad exchange and it would help with her pokemon's upkeep which was going to be harder now that two of her pokemon had evolved into their final forms, Vali nodded lightly, "I think I'll take you up on that offer, Professor."

"I'm glad," Professor Oak smiled at her, "This also means that once you get your eighth gym badge, I can increase your capture limit to ten,"

"Seriously?" Vali would be able to have all her pokemon with her if that was true and room for at least two more once the egg hatched.

Professor Oak nodded, "Of course, it'll increase to twelve if you place high enough in the League conference. I know you won't abuse the privilege like some trainers might."

"I'm not complaining, but why, Professor?" Vali asked him unable to believe that she might be able to have all her pokemon traveling with her again.

"For my data collectors, it's to help carry around any equipment and necessary items while also providing ample protection while they're in the field," Professor Oak explained which was beginning to make sense, "It's also to ensure they have at least one flying type capable of flying to my lab to deliver physical copies of any data when a post office is too far away," Professor Oak smiled a bit in amusement, "Of course, my data collectors are usually over sixteen and have collected the minimum of eight badges in their home region,"

Vali relaxed a bit, "Thank you for this opportunity, Professor. I'll do my best to insure you won't regret this."

"I know you will," Professor Oak said as a crash sounded followed by cursing and laughter that had to have come from the two little terrors she knew very well.

"Looks like Ash and Gary are up to their usual tricks," Vali commented earning an eye roll, "Tell them I said 'hi' and make sure Delia knows I'll be calling tomorrow,"

"I will," Professor Oak's eye brow twitched as a shriek sounded, "Those boys,"

"Have fun, Professor," Vali told him before the connection cut off.

"That sounds fairly easy considering the fact you're already doing so," Steven commented when she finished telling him about the Professor's offer, "It's definitely more than what most Rookie trainers end up doing,"

"I'm not exactly normal and Professor Oak knows me well enough to know that I'll make sure he won't regret it," Vali replied as she sat down to eat her dinner, "I wasn't planning on asking him about it just yet, but somehow we ended up discussing it when I asked about the information I sent to him about how Lileep is changing in preparation of his evolution,"

"And he was going to ask you anyway?" Steven asked as he sat down across from her.

"Mhmm," Vali confirmed as she took a bite of her stew.

Steven shook his head lightly, "It says a lot about your luck as a pokemon trainer to get offers like this during your first year."

Vali hummed lightly as a thought occurred to her, "You know it wouldn't surprise me if every time someone becomes a trainer that Arceus flips a coin or something to decide their future. One side means a successful trainer and one side means an average one."

Steven blinked before shrugging, "It honestly wouldn't surprise me."