Researching into questions

Thanks to Steven giving her permission, Vali was able to get information directly from Nurse Joy about Cradily. Writing up the report she'd be sending to Professor Oak in a week once the evolution had settled and any extra information was added in, she made sure to create a two more copies that Steven would be able to send to Professor Rowan and his father. She was surprised by a few things when it came to Cradily. Cradily did seem to have much aggression at all even when exposed to water which usually set off any newly evolved rock-type. He also seemed to find the cold less bothersome. He seemed to dislike moving too much. And the most surprising development was his diet, he began eating rocks and ate less pokemon food.

Vali consulted Professor Oak about the change in appetite. Professor Oak had some theories and ended up consulting Blaine. They managed to theorize that Cradily had evolved to become a more stationary hunter that gained nutrients from the rocks around it due to its heavier body. The heavier body had developed in order to better fight the strong currents around where it normally resided, but that had the negative effect of making it harder to catch prey which in turn forced it to adapt. The flexible neck would allow for it to catch whatever prey ended up coming near it. During the times it couldn't obtain any prey, it would be able to subsist on the rocks around it. As a result, it did not require as much protein in its diet as when it'd been a Lileep. With this in mind, they were able to put together a more accurate observation of how Lileep and Cradily had lived long ago.

Swearing echoed through Vali's room as she struggled to get Vulpix into the bath tub in order to wash the mud from his fur. Thanks to the warmer than normal last few days, the snow had melted and promptly turned most of the training grounds into mud pits. As if deciding to throw his nature as a Vulpix into the wayside, the kit had decided that rolling around in the mud would be fun. She growled at Vulpix and used her magic to grab him before dropping him gently into the shallow pool of hot water that wouldn't actually harm the little fox. She heard the door open and called over her shoulder while beginning the annoying process of cleaning off the fox, "Yeah?"

"Professor Oak is calling," Steven answered as he took in the sight of her trashed bathroom, "Do you want me to answer it?"

"Please, I need to get this little brat cleaned before the mud fully dries," Vali glared at Vulpix as he gave her an innocent 'who, me?' look that she didn't buy for a minute.

Steven came back after a few minutes as Vali finally got Vulpix to sit still long enough to start cleaning him up. It helped that Elrond had decided to use psychic to keep the brat still too. Steven snapped a picture of the scene for her before saying, "Professor, you're on speaker."

"Yo, Professor," Vali called over her shoulder.

"Hello, Vali. How goes bathing the kit?" Professor Oak's voice was filled with suppressed laughter.

"Almost reminds me of the time I had to get Ash and Gary bathed with Daisy after they decided it would be fun to take mud baths with the Poliwag," Vali cleaned away a particularly stubborn patch of mud, "Only this time there is only one troublesome brat and I have Elrond to help me,"

"Psychic-types do tend to help in such matters," Professor Oak agreed with a soft chuckle.

"So what did you need to talk with me about?" Vali requested as she drained the tub before refilling it, "Did I forget to add something to the report?"

"Not at all, I am actually calling to say tell you that I want you to turn it into a research paper," Professor Oak answered startling Vali into dropping the soapy wash rag she was using.

"What?!" Vali almost squeaked as she shouted.

Elrond caught the wash rag and continued cleaning Vulpix seeing as his trainer was currently in a state of shock. Professor Oak nodded lightly as he said, "I want you to turn it into a proper research paper. I'll send you a few guidelines along with some extra material I've been able to get from Blaine."

"B-but Professor," Vali shook away her surprise, "I would've thought you'd do that,"

"I would, but seeing as you were the one to obtain the information and are also close enough to the subject of the paper itself, you'd be the perfect person to write it," Professor Oak smiled at her, "Think of it this way, you'll have started paving your way to mastery,"

Vali weakly protested by pointing out, "I'm only ten."

"Physically speaking, but age doesn't matter when it comes to things like this," Professor Oak pointed out, "I'll help you as much as I can and even edit the paper, Vali,"

Vali opened her mouth to protest before closing it when she realized that Professor Oak was serious. Inwardly groan, she said, "A-alright, I guess."

"Good!" Professor Oak grinned at her, "I can't wait to see how you do. If you'll excuse me, I've got to go deal with a few things,"

With that, the call ended and Vali slumped against the wet side of the bathtub. She looked at Steven, "How the hell did this even happen?"

"Because you're Vali Potter and your luck is interesting," Steven offered her a warm smile, "Not to mention, you are fairly good at putting together information and presenting it in a fashion that keeps the reader interested without taking away from what they're learning,"

Vali groaned softly, "How the hell am I supposed to write a research paper? We have less than two weeks before our battles with Sabrina and then we'll be on the road. Where will I find the time to write it?"

"Write it in your spare time without letting it get in the way," Steven suggested as Vulpix licked her cheek seemingly trying to apologize for being a brat, "There isn't a time limit after all,"

Vali turned back to finishing up Vulpix's bath, "True. I guess it isn't so bad, but I'm only ten. What ten year old writes research papers?"

"What ten year old is a data collector for Professor Oak?" Steven retorted as he leaned back against the doorway, "Think about it this way, you'll be making things easier to obtain your goals,"

"True," Vali had to admit that he was right, "I wonder how my luck will counter balance this time,"

Because Professor Oak having Vali write a Research Paper rather than do it himself was lucky, the fact that fans of Professor Oak's work would check out hers simply because she was one of his sponsored trainers meant there wouldn't be as much trouble getting people to pay attention to her future work. Professor Oak was probably doing it for reasons that would only be clear to the man. Deciding it didn't matter why this was happening, she decided that it would be best to worry about everything later on. For now, she had a bratty kit to finish bathing.