Welcome to Gaia! ::

Michael thought about it for a minute before asking. "Want to head to route 4 Rose?" He had read a little on the area and had wanted to check it out.

Michael followed Rose out of the train station before asking. "If you don't mind me askin' which region are you from Rose?"

Michael looked at Rose and replied. "Me I am from the Hoenn region. I heard about Team Aqua from my father Professor Birch and decided to join." What are your regions like Rose? Sorry to ask I have only been to my region and this one."

"Well I guess I won't be welcome there then. But they sound amazin'. What other regions have you seen?"

Rei sighed. His work had been piling up on him as of late.

"Too much research to be done, never enough hours in the day." He turned to a Zubat that was nibbling on a candy.

"I suggest we take a break. I've been at this for hours, and could use fresh air." His companion nodded and swooped into the comforting shade of his hood, her usual spot when he went outside during the day. As he descended the stairs to the lobby of the hotel, his thoughts drifted to his latest work.

He mentioned a weapon. That could be anything. But why would he need a Legendary Pokémon for it? We could always go to the Legendary Pokémon before he does. But where would it be? I'd have to know the legends of the region to get anywhere close to the answer. He sat on a couch and stared out the window.

If there's one thing I've learned while being on this team... Legends may as well be as credible as science and history records. He gave an almighty sigh and shook his head.

"Never enough hours in the day, and too much research to be done, Countess." His Zubat nuzzled her head against his cheek, as if to reassure him. He laughed.

"You're right. I need a break." He stretched and flipped through a few pamphlets.

"Huh. There's supposed to be a market in this city. Maybe they'll have some exotic goods?"

He rose and looked down at his TADS. A friendly reminder from his calendar marked today's important detail:

His Pokémon were to evolve. He grinned.

"Well, today's the day. Magikarp's shining moment." A goal in mind, he rushed out the hotel and to the waterside. He hesitated a moment, then tossed out his Poké Ball.

"Go on, Magikarp. Do what you have to." A very excited Magikarp leaped from its constraining ball and splashed into the ocean. He stayed submerged for a few minutes, Rei waiting excitedly at the shore.

Magikarp swam twenty feet underwater before glowing a brilliant yellow.

It was time.





While Magikarp was off being dramatic, Rei sent out his Venipede and Horsea. He leaned in close and whispered to them.

"Don't be too obvious about it. He's been waiting his whole life for this moment." He smiled warmly at them, proud of their accomplishments.

Venipede was first to evolve, curling itself into a ball and spinning in place rather rapidly, until it was but a blur. When it finally slowed down, a Whirlipede was looking up at Rei, content with its new form. The Horsea, surprisingly modest about the evolutionary process, hopped behind a bush and emerged a Seadra.

The seaside flashed a brilliant white light. Rei removed his cloak, knowing it wouldn't do him any good in a moment. Ten feet away, the sea churned and frothed in excitement.

WHOOOSH!

A six-and-a-half metered sea serpent lunged out from the water and roared, frightening the Whirlipede and Seadra at the shore. In a flash, it rushed towards the small group, stopping its head inches from Rei's.

The two stared each other down for a long minute, neither blinking or conceding an inch. Rei was very aware of the mental changes that his teammate underwent. Evolution to a Gyarados was a dangerous gamble for a Trainer; some owners of Magikarp were killed by their former partners, usually due to fear or lack of recognition.

At last, the Gyarados looked away. He remembered his friend, his partner who had saved him from certain death a long time ago.

Gyarados smiled, perhaps the most frightening thing Rei witnessed throughout the event.

Rei smiled back, albeit a bit more weakly. Gyarados swam to the sea and decided to test his super-splash attack that he had been working on since he was a Magikarp. He raised his tail, and with a ferocious cry, slammed it down against the sea.

His super-duper-secret-attack! Aqua Tail!!!

A tidal wave rushed out from the energy of the tail slam. Rei quickly recalled his Pokémon and left the city, not wanting to be identified and jailed for a huge amount of damage that Gyarados could cause.

He found himself in the south side of Lumoise City.

Rei looked down at the posted message on his TADS.

"What luck, I'm already here." He looked up and headed off to the gate, arriving in time to hear the question presented to Rose. He waved hello to the two and joined in on their conversation.

"I've wanted to know that as well. I remember hearing grand stories about Rangers. Any truth to them?" He smiled at the young girl.

Rei nodded in understanding.

"I figured it'd be a tough path to follow. What made you decide to become a Trainer instead, then?"