Chapter Text
"Alva, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you." Richard kennings beamed at his daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Ava blushed, looking down at the praise. "thanks, Dad. But I only got the job because of you. It's not going to be the same alone.'"
"It won't, but there's no reason it needs to be worse. Who knows? Maybe you'll enjoy not having your old man slowing you down. Professor Oak's been pleased with your own results so far or he wouldn't have offered you the position." He smiled and pulled her into a quick hug." Either way, we'd best get to the lab. I'm sure the professor is waiting. Do you have everything you need?"
"Right here." The 17-year old hoisted a bag off the ground with a quiet grunt. "I tripple-checked the list we made and made note of what I still need to buy at the Pokemon center."
"That's my girl."
Dr. Kennings was an approachable man, well liked in Viridian city and the Pallet lab he worked at. He had an air of strength about him, though it was somewhat contrasted by the cane some would assume he was too young to need. Only in his mid-40's, his work as a field researcher had been compromised 2 years ago by an accident in rock tunnel, resulting in a permanent limp that prevented him returning to the field very often.
Ava, having been his travel companion for years leading up to the incident, offered to take up what part of his work she could. And though Oak had agreed, she had been limited to light work in the range of the nearest towns for the last few years. At least until her recent birthday, when he'd offered her a full position traveling to more remote research sites and gathering data while her dad, now as recovered as he would ever be, would work as her counterpart in the lab, adding her findings into the various guides and databases based from Oak's lab; especially the famous Pokedex.
Outside the day was warm but overcast, sparing them from the overbearing heat of the sun's direct rays as clouds cast slow-drifting shadows over the houses of Veridian City. A gentle wind blew, rustling the trees and grass and carrying a flew butterfree around the wildflowers that grew in the yards and fields between houses in the outskirts of the small city.
Dr. Kennings whistled and soon heavy, padding footsteps started made their way around the house. A pidgeotto glided down from the top of the roof, making a few circles above the pair before before alighting gracefully on Ava's lifted arm.
"Morning, Jori." She greeted the Pidgeotto with a few pets over its crest and looked up as an arcanine trotted into view.
The arcanine barked happily in greeting, nosing her shoulder affectionately before laying down in front of Dr. Kennings. The researcher passed his cane off to the fire Pokémon before climbing into its back,
Once mounted he took the backpack from Ava and patted the Arcanine's shoulder, prompting the dog to get to it's massive paws. Ava walked beside the pokémon, chatting absently with her father and she contemplated the journey she was about to embark on. Marjoram soared above them, crying in warning when a Beedrill buzzed by too close for his liking.
In the lab, there was the usual relaxed atmosphere as the aids went about their buisness. Professor Oak was chatting with one of them, but dismissed her as he noticed the two Kennings approaching, and chuckling when he noticed the arcanine peering in longingly from the closing door, only barely consoled by an aid offering a buiscuit and apology(after Dr. Kennings had already done the same).
"Richard, Ava. It's good to see you!"
"Good morning, Professor." Ava smiled and her father nodded, moving over to his desk and sitting on the edge of it in a way that made another of the aids roll her eyes playfully.
"I'll bet you're excited to know where I'll be sending you on your first assignment as an official aid to the lab." Oak was grinning. "I think I've found something quite special for you to do!"
The professor went over to his desk, rummaging a bit and pulling out a sealed manilla envelope stamped with the lab's information and a delivery address in black ink. It was about the size of a frisbee, and when Ava took it she could feel something small, flat, and hard inside it.
"I need you to bring this weather data to a climatologist in Olivine City."
Ava's eyes widened. "but, isn't that all the way in—"
"In Johto, yes!" Oak nodded. "I have every confidence you'll get it there safely. It'll be a bit of a trip, but I thought it would be a good start to get you traveling farther away, and a good way to save on postage besides! Then once it's delivered we can start discussing the direction youd like to go with further research!"
"That's great." Ava beamed. "Thank you, professor. That sounds incredible!"
Oak nodded. "I thought you'd be pleased. Now, I can't send you off to another region as a reprisentitive of my lab without identification. I imagine you brought your pokédex with you?"
Ava pulled the device from her pocket and handed it over, following as Oak went over to the computer at his own desk to plug it in.
"I went ahead and registered you for a Laboratory ID." Oak explained as he started to type. "So you'll be able to catch and register pokémon on behalf of the lab, should we need to study any pokémon in controlled situations. You'll also be able to access certain facilities registered with the greater laboratory program and even get a discount on admission to certain scientific and educational experiences! Of course, it also works parallel with your personal ID, so you'll still be able to register your own Pokémon, but keep in mind that any way you use your laboratory ID will reflect on us."
"Right." Ava nodded. "I'll be careful using it."
"I trust you will. Otherwise I wouldn't have registered you." Oak smiled and disconnected the pokédex to hand it back. "You'll also be able to grant temporary lab IDs, should you find yourself with trusted company, but don't just give them out willy-nilly!"
"I'd never." Ava shook her head. "I'm not doing anything that could hurt the lab, not after all you've done for dad and I."
"I'm glad to hear it." Oak hummed and rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "Now, is there anything I'm forgetting? You have Pidgeotto, so I shouldn't need to send a Pokémon with you. It's a good thing, too! If I gave you Bulbasaur I wouldn't have any pokémon left myself!"
Ava glanced over at the solitary pokéball on the professor's desk. He'd given two of his final three Pokemon out to his grandson and another young trainer a few years back. Ava had envied them a bit at the time, given free rein to travel the entire region at just eleven years old, but she'd been helping her dad with fieldwork at the time and wouldn't have traded that for the world. Besides, she'd already had pidgeotto by then, her father had helped her catch the then-pidgey when she was only 9, when she had just begun joining him on his safer excursions.
"I think that's all from me." Oak nodded decisively. "I look forward to hearing from you, Ava! I'll let your father send you off, I think he has something to give you as well." The professor winked playfully and went back to his work.
Ava followed her father back outside at his beckoning.
"Now, Ava, I have complete faith in you." He started, his voice soft. "But I'm still going to worry. So, I want you to take something that will help put is both at ease."
Ava nodded, curious as she took the offered pokeball, but gasped in shock as she read the ball's ID. "Dad, I can't take arcanine! You've had him for years, and he helps you with so much! He loves you."
"He loves you too. And I can't think of a partner more suited to help your field work. You two work perfectly together.'
"But dad-
"Plus he's barely fit in the house since he evolved, and you know he doesn't like his ball much. He'll be better off adventuring with you. And knowing he's there to keep you safe will help your mother and I worry so much less less.'
Right. Her mother. She'd always been reluctant to allow Ava to help with her father's research, especially after his accident. She'd tried just about everything to convince Ava to decline Oaks job offer, even if she respected the decision in the end. that morning she'd been nearly impossible to pull away from her daughter, fussing over the supplies Ava packed, asking if the teen really felt ready. She'd nearly been late to work for her long goodbye, something Ava had never seen before.
"A friend of mine is bringing a dodrio from his ranch for me, so ill still have a ride to work as well." Dr. Kennings assured, pulling his daughter into a tight hug.
"Okay." Ava sighed softly. "I'll take him, if you're sure."
"Stay safe. Call if you need anything at all, alright?"
"Of course."
Ava held the pokéball almost reverently as she turned to Arcanine. He was laying outside, peacefully sunning in a patch of light that had managed to break though the clouds, but his eyes were alert and on the pair, fluffy tail wagging. Her bag was nestled between his paws, and Marjoram waited on his back preening a wing.
"Dad's sending you with me." She explained with a smile. "are you ready for an adventure, boy? We're going all the way to Johto!"
Arcanine got to his feet, startling the Pidgeotto perched atop him into flight. Dr. Kennings laughed as the canine nudged him for ear scratches, which the doctor was happy to offer.
Ava was honestly glad to have the fire type along. Marjoram was an excellent companion and great at scouting out wild Pokemon to study, but Ava had never really enjoyed battling. Training Marjoram for other tasks had always intregued her far more, and he'd evolved from her efforts to train him as a scout and assistant, not from battles. If she ran into any trouble with wild Pokemon or a rogue trainer the powerful and intimidating arcanine could very well save her life(or her wallet).
And so, with a final, tearful goodbye between people and Pokémon alike, Ava set out to uncover new mysteries in the bright, beautiful world before her.