Pokemon: The Scientist’s Rebirth

Ethan stood rooted in place as Professor Oak's Alakazam shimmered back into the room, bringing with it two individuals whose sudden presence left him momentarily stunned. The first was the Nurse Joy of Pallet Town, her iconic pristine uniform and distinctively styled pink hair making her instantly recognizable.

The second was a gruff, older man with a rugged look. His disheveled salt-and-pepper hair and a permanently etched scowl on his face gave him a wild, almost feral appearance. Ethan recognized him instantly from Jacob's frequent bitching—Cedric Oakheart, the only Master Breeder of Oak Coral and the boss of Jacob. He was a celebrity in the Pokémon world, a figure almost as famous as Professor Oak himself and also a member of the Oak family. Despite his achievements, his reputation was complex, frequently tarnished by his irritable nature and rude personality.

"This better be important, Samuel," Cedric growled, his deep voice filling the room. "I was in the middle of something crucial, and you know how I hate being interrupted."

His sharp gaze then swept across the room, settling on Ethan. His eyes flicked briefly to the Bulbasaur nestled in Ethan's lap before snapping back. "Boy, don't you know how to show respect to your elders? Sitting there like a lazy Snorlax while your superiors enter! Kids these days have no respect at all." He grunted.

"I told you, Samuel," Cedric continued, "bending League rules to give intern positions to fledglings like him is a mistake. Look how it's gone to his head and turned him into such an insolent brat."

The criticism was sharp, laden with years of institutional hierarchy and barely contained frustration. Ethan could see why Jacob often bitched about his boss – Cedric Oakheart was not a man known for his patience or diplomacy. So, Ethan quickly scrambled to his feet, cradling Bulbs protectively in his arms. "I'm sorry, Master Cedric. I didn't mean to be rude," he said, bowing slightly in apology.

Cedric huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Words mean little, boy. Respect is shown through action, not just empty apologies." He pulled out a chair noisily and slumped into it, crossing his arms with a scowl.

"Master Cedric, please," Nurse Joy interjected gently making her presence known. "Our sudden arrival startled the poor boy. He's clearly still trying to process what's happening." She offered Ethan a kind smile. "There's no need to be so harsh on him. He's young but promising. Give him a chance to show his worth."

Ethan, grateful for her defense, quickly stepped forward to pull out a chair for her. "Thank you, my boy," Nurse Joy said warmly as she sat down.

Professor Oak cleared his throat to regain control of the conversation. "Cedric, if you could set aside your skepticism for a moment, I think you'll find this demonstration well worth your time." He turned to Nurse Joy. "You brought the Pokémon I requested?"

Nurse Joy nodded, retrieving a Poké Ball from her pocket. She released a small Eevee onto the floor. The Pokémon had minor bruises and cuts but appeared alert and curious despite its injuries.

"Ethan, if you would," Oak prompted, gesturing toward the Eevee.

Recognizing what Professor Oak wanted, Ethan adjusted his grip on Bulbs, positioning her so her bulb faced the injured Eevee. "Bulbs," he commanded, "use Vital Powder."

The unfamiliar move name drew curious frowns from both Nurse Joy and Cedric. With a soft "Bulba-bulb!", Bulbs released a gentle cloud of silvery-white powder from her bulb. . It drifted almost ethereally towards the Eevee, which was initially startled and tried to dodge. But the powder was persistent, quickly enveloping the small Pokémon.

Eevee coughed and shook itself, trying to dislodge the powder. Within moments, the minor cuts on its body began to close, and its fur regained its luster. The small bruises faded, leaving the Pokémon visibly healthier and more energetic.

Nurse Joy's eyes widened, her gaze darting to Cedric, whose expression shifted from irritation to interest. The three adults exchanged a long, intense look before Nurse Joy broke the silence. "Professor, this is—"

Cedric cut her off, his voice sharp. "What in the name of Arceus was that?" he demanded, his tone sharp but intrigued. "Boy how did your Bulbasaur do that?"

Ethan hesitated, glancing at Oak, who nodded for him to answer. "It's a move I call Vital Powder," Ethan began, explaining how he had experimented with medicinal herbs and trained Bulbs to synthesize the healing powder.

Cedric's demeanor shifted to a more serious one after listening to his explanation. "Leave us," he commanded Ethan. "We need to discuss this privately."

Again, Ethan looked to Oak for confirmation. The professor nodded. "You can go, Ethan. And leave Bulbs here we'll need to run some confirmatory tests on her. Take the rest of the day off. I'll call for you later to discuss you well-deserved reward."

Ethan nodded, gently setting Bulbs down. "Listen to Professor Oak and do your best, okay?" he told her. Bulbs nuzzled his hand affectionately before hopping toward Oak.

With a final goodbye to the room's occupants, Ethan left, his mind swirling with thoughts of why such important figures seemed excited about his new move.

 **********************************

Ethan made his way through the streets of Pallet Town, his mind still processing the meeting that had just taken place. The reactions of Master Cedric and Nurse Joy to Vital Powder had exceeded his expectations. Though part of him wanted to stay and hear their discussion, he understood that some conversations needed to happen without him present.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the peaceful streets as he walked. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since morning. A small restaurant caught his eye – The Pallet Plate – one he'd passed many times but never entered.

Usually, his meals consisted of Delia's excellent home-cooked food or the utilitarian meals served at Oak Coral's canteen. But today, with unexpected free time on his hands, he decided to try something new.

The bell chimed softly as he pushed open the door to the restaurant. Inside, warm lighting and the aroma of home cooking created a welcoming atmosphere. Finding a quiet corner booth, Ethan settled in and studied the menu.

"Welcome to The Pallet Plate," a cheerful waitress approached. "What can I get for you today?"

"I'll have the cream of chicken soup and a beef steak, please," Ethan ordered.

"Excellent choice," the waiter said, jotting down the order before heading to the kitchen.

Yes, Chicken and Beef not Torchic or Tauros meat. When Ethan had first arrived in this world, he'd been surprised to learn that normal animals existed here, alongside Pokémon. In his mind, the Pokémon world had always seemed self-contained, with Pokémon occupying every ecological niche. But reality proved far more complex.

As Ethan settled into his seat, he found himself contemplating the unique food ecosystem of this world. Unlike what many might expect, Pokemon were generally not consumed by humans in this world. Most Pokemon species were protected by strict laws, making their consumption illegal except under specific circumstances.

While there was a black-market trade in exotic Pokemon meat, the practice was heavily criminalized. Only certain specialized restaurants held League sanctions to serve specific livestock Pokemon like Tauros, Dodrio, Magikarp, Goldeen, and Seaking. Even then, the regulations were stringent - Pokemon had to meet specific age and size requirements, with most approved specimens being near the end of their natural lifespan. These restrictions, combined with the extensive paperwork and monitoring involved, made Pokemon meat prohibitively expensive and relatively rare.

"Here is your meal, sir." the waitress said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Thankyou," Ethan responded, using the pause to gather his observations and start digging into his food.

The majority of human protein consumption came from conventional livestock—chickens, pigs, cattle, and fish. These ordinary animals occupied the lower rungs of the food chain, lacking the extraordinary abilities that made Pokémon so formidable. In the wild, they often fell prey to carnivorous Pokémon, which found them easier to hunt than energy-wielding Pokémon capable of mounting stronger defenses.

As he cut into his beef steak, Ethan reflected on the rare exceptions he'd witnessed. His mind flashed back to his first day in this world, when he'd stumbled upon a Pidgeotto feeding on a Caterpie. Such Pokemon-on-Pokemon predation did occur, but it was relatively uncommon in the wild. The temperament of the Pokemon played a crucial role - more aggressive species like Houndoom, Gyarados, Fearow, and Charizard were more likely to prey on other Pokemon than other gentler Pokemons such as Ninetails, Growlithe, Dragonite or Persian, they typically stuck to hunting normal animals.

The fundamental distinction between normal animals and Pokemon lay in their ability to harness the world's energy. Pokemon could manipulate this energy to create powerful moves and abilities, while normal animals lacked this capability entirely.

This energy manipulation also contributed to Pokemon's enhanced intelligence and sentience, often matching or exceeding human levels of consciousness. It was this advanced consciousness that made the idea of consuming Pokemon morally questionable to most people in this world.

"Everything to your liking, sir?" the waitress asked as she cleared his plates.

"Perfect, thank you," Ethan replied, leaving payment and a tip on the table. The meal had given him not just physical sustenance but also time to reflect on yet another fascinating aspect of this world he now called home.

 *************************************** 

The quiet walk back to Delia's house gave Ethan time to clear his head. Reaching the house, he noticed an unusual silence, Ash's typically energetic presence conspicuously absent. It was Saturday, so he was likely out playing with friends. Ethan checked the kitchen and living room but found no sign of Delia either.

"Delia?" he called softly, but there was no response.

Curious, he went upstairs. As he neared Delia's bedroom, faint sounds reached him from behind the door—soft, low moans that stopped him short.