A prospective pokemon and talking of feelings

Professor Oak handed over Smaug's pokeball as he considered her idea, "It has merit and Gary would definitely benefit from having a companion when not around Ash."

"I'm thinking either a Spearow or Rattata," Vali said as she clipped Smaug's pokeball to her belt, "Either would work, they're both relatively on the same level as a Pidgey. Though the same could be said for a Meowth,"

"Not another Pidgey?" Professor Oak asked with a raised eyebrow as he pulled out her research paper which was multiple pages more than when she'd given it to him.

"While a second Pidgey could work, it would likely cause more jealousy between the two than Gary not getting a pokemon at all," Vali took her research paper already dreading going through the notes that Professor Oak had added, "It would also expand on both Ash's and Gary's knowledge of pokemon which is always nice. They need to be aware of any differences in care,"

Professor Oak sat down at his desk as he considered her words. Vali had spoken to Professor Oak the moment Ash and Gary had gone to check on Pidgey with Steven watching over them. The idea was to get a pokemon for Gary. One of the normal ones that kids sometimes ended up getting as a pet that later became one of their partner pokemon. While Gary would likely never be able to replicate Ash's stupidly lucky adventure to get Pidgey, he would have a pokemon like Ash and be able to keep from getting too jealous of his friend. It wasn't full proof especially given that the boys could be competitive and there was a chance they'd end up fracturing their friendship regardless of what she did. That was something she acknowledge even if the thought wasn't pleasant, the two boys have pokemon that had practically grown up alongside them would mean they'd have more protection during the course of their journeys.

"I admit to having similar thoughts," Professor Oak finally stated.

"If it helps, I have also considered another reason why this is a good idea," Vali noticed the curiosity in his eyes and quickly added, "Both desire the path of the trainer which is a dangerous road as everyone knows, we both know how bad that could go regardless of the preparations done with them. I'm going to journey with Ash much like Steven has, but I doubt Gary will choose to join us. With that in mind, it would be for the best if Gary is able to raise a pokemon as Ash has if only to have more protection than a starter pokemon could offer. Especially if said starter pokemon decides their trainer isn't worthy,"

While it doesn't happen often thanks to the young age most starter pokemon are given out, it has happened multiple times over the course of history. Not all trainers paired with such a starter survive being abandoned, the other pokemon they've captured turning on the newly abandoned trainer upon seeing weakness. Each region had a specific starter that did that sometimes if their trainer proved unworthy, Kanto had two the Charmander-line and the Bulbasaur-line. The Charmander-line needed a strong trainer with confidence and little weakness. The Bulbasaur-line required their trainers to possess a strong spirit and a sense of balance. If the trainer presented to them proved to be less than what they wanted, the pokemon would refuse to work with them. While it was possible to earn the respect and adoration of both, it was extremely difficult and most trainers that failed to be acknowledge by their 'pokemon' failed to do so.

Professor Oak nodded as he turned to his computer, "You're right, Vali. Especially when you consider who their father's are and who exactly Gary's mother is, I will begin looking for a proper companion. What pokemon would you suggest?"

"Other than what I've already listed, I believe Gary might benefit from a Bellsprout," Vali answered after a few moments of thought, "They're not exactly the strongest pokemon, but they aren't weak either. They grow slowly, but any trainer worth their salt would be able to bring forth their full potential with some patience," She smiled a bit, "Gary might not be as hot-headed as Ash sometimes, but he could stand to learn some patience as well. Regardless of what pokemon he ends up getting, I would advise keeping it in region to be safe,"

"I seem to have a lot to think about," Professor Oak began to type on his computer, "Smaug can begin exercising them. Only light exercise though, they took a lot of damage after all. Smaug will likely find them rather stiff for about a week, but that will fade with time,"

"I'll keep that in mind," Vali thought about what she'd do to help Smaug out.

"I've put together notes on your research paper as you've probably guessed. Overall, it isn't a bad first attempt, but you can definitely do better," Professor Oak glanced at her, "Is there anything else you need?"

"Not at the moment, I'll collect Ash and we'll be out of your hair. Do you want me to take Gary with us for dinner?" Vali asked earning a nod, "Make sure you eat, Professor. Delia will get annoyed if you don't,"

"I will," Professor Oak shuddered a little, "No need to threaten me, Vali,"

Vali tossed him a grin over her shoulder as she walked out of his office, "But it works so well!"

Snickering as she listened to the Professor's grumblings, Vali walked away from his office to where Gary, Ash and Steven were.

Smaug growled as he carefully stretched out his wings visible wincing. Vali began to help him out gently massaging the membranes with an oil that Professor Oak had recommended. After a full minute with them full stretched out, she motioned for him to slowly close them. After doing it one more time, she had Smaug take a break and rubbed some homemade berry-based salve into Smaug's right wing where it had been broken. Smaug laid his head in her lap with a tired groan and she stroked between his horns, "You did good, Smaug. You'll be flying around in no time."

Smaug released a puff of smoke from his nose with a snort. Vali heard the backdoor open and looked to see Delia walking out. Delia looked at Smaug with a small frown, "How is he?"

"Tired and really stiff," Vali answered as Smaug closed his eyes, "The pain isn't as bad as it was before,"

"That's good," Delia walked down the small set of steps leading down from the back deck and walked across the patio to where Vali was sitting, "So Blaine likes you?"

"I'd like to think he does," Vali focused on the warm scales beneath her fingers and the soft rumble coming from Smaug's chest as he began to doze, "You're worried,"

Delia let out a low sigh as she sat down beside Vali, "Is it really surprising that I am?" Vali shook her head slowly, "How are you really?"

Vali bit her bottom lip thinking about how to answer that question, "Today or usually?"

"Either," Delia picked up Vulpix who'd wandered away from the cuddle pile that had formed while everyone watched Smaug complete his exercises.

"Some days, it's okay and I can put everything behind me. Other days, I'm not okay and can't keep my mind from straying to it," Vali answered as Smaug nuzzled into her stomach, "Today, I'm okay for the most part. Being around my pokemon and everyone else really helps," She looked towards her pokemon smiling at the sight of Celina leaning into Balto, "It was difficult being back in Vermilion City and I felt like it was difficult to breath until we got to the port. Even then, I didn't feel relaxed until we were on that boat and Vermilion was a receding mass behind us," Her smile dropped, "It'll be awhile before I feel relaxed in Vermilion,"

"That understandable," Delia reached out to take one of Vali's hands and squeezed, "And the Gyarados attack?"

"A lot easier to deal with," Vali's smile returned albeit weakly, "If you take away Empress and I almost falling off the boat, it was actually really fun if a bit scary. Looking back, I can feel the rush of excitement burning through my veins and just how..." She struggled to find the right word, "Right it felt to be in that position," She winced a bit hearing how that sounded once she'd said it out loud, "Sorry,"

"Don't be, I can understand somewhat," Delia waved off her apology with a slight smile, "I was a pokemon trainer as well though I preferred the contests to everything else. Exploring the world with your pokemon beside you and facing dangers, I can definitely understand it even if I never went through something quite so exciting,"

Vali looked at her curiously, "Delia, do you still have your pokemon?"

"Only two of them, the rest either passed away or went off to start their own families after Ash was born," Delia smiled sadly, "I miss them everyday, but don't begrudge them their happiness,"

"Which pokemon do you still have?" Vali wondered why she hadn't met either of them if Delia still had the two around.

"I have a Meganium and an Altaria," Delia answered with a fond smile, "Maggie tends to the berry orchard and lives mainly at the lab. Aria spends her time ferry the lab assistants around the Corral to help keep track of all the pokemon living there,"

"How come I've never met either of them?" Vali had visited the orchard and orchard after all.

"You have," Delia retorted with a soft giggle, "Quite a few times actually while at the lab, they're the ones that helped you keep Ash and Gary out of trouble after Daisy left for her journey. They're rather friendly,"

Vali remembered what Delia was talking about with a small jolt and gasped out, "You have a shiny Altaria?!" Delia let out a loud laugh and grinned as she nodded showing where Ash had inherited his smile from, "Where in the name of Arceus did you get a shiny Altaria?"

"I went through Hoenn during my first journey since Kanto doesn't really cater to Coordinators," Delia answered as her eyes gained a distant look to them, "During a rather horrid storm, I ended up coming across a flock of Altaria who were kind enough to let me stay in their cave with them. I ended up bonding with a little Swablu that had been injured while the flock went to find a good place to wait out the storm and ended up taking him with me,"

Vali smiled a bit before frowning as confusion hit her, "Wait, him? Why is his name Aria?"

"Aria liked the name and wouldn't take on another," Delia giggled a bit, "Not to mention, everyone assumed he was a female. The looks on their faces when they realized Aria was a male were hilarious,"

And that was part of why Sirius had fallen for Delia, Vali grinned, "I'll bet."