Dilemmas, dilemmas. What should I have as my cover image?

I do not own pokémon as it belongs to The Pokémon Company, Game Freak and Nintendo. Long may they reign!

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Chapter 3: You caught an Eevee?

Oreburgh City wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Sure it had the gym so I suppose most trainers were psyched about that but I wasn't really interested in the league. Didn't need a rock smash licence either so I didn't see the point. Other than the gym, the air was really bad and all the souvenirs involved coal. I did visit the mine though. It's corporate and government owned but they have a section for trainers in the hope they'll catch and reduce the local zubat and geodude populations. Mostly it doesn't work because everyone coming here would have passed through a cave or been right next to one if they lived in Eterna city.

Anyway, I've spent a week tracking down an illusive Onix mostly because, even if they're more common in other areas, I'm less likely to get killed if I catch one here. It should have been easier but well Mum's a worrywart and made me wear a tracking anklet for my journey. I don't mind normally but whenever I go too deep, the signal cuts off, she frantically calls the police and I get dragged out of there by an exasperated Officer Jenny.

Now that that's done and I neither had nor could afford a fossil, I planned to head back to Jubilife City and catch a taxi straight to Floaroma Town. This would skip the zubat filled cave that required rock smash (which I had already visited).

"Hey! Grey, wait up!" called a familiar voice as I was but ten feat from Oreburgh Gate.

"Palkia, why do you hate me?" I sighed in exasperation.

Latinum jogged up with a grin, "You know I've been waiting around the gym for almost two weeks now to give my good old rival a battle but you never showed up."

"I did mention that I wasn't interested in the competitive circuit," I answered.

"But trying to be the champion is what trainers are all about. Come on, I don't want a sissy coordinator as my rival," harped Latinum.

Can you repeat that statement in Hearthome City. I want to sit back and watch the response. Knowing that saying that would be rude however, I repeated my personal rule about being polite (or at least civil) to everyone so that I could go through life without having enemies.

"I don't really want to be a coordinator either, just travel a bit and enjoy raising different kinds of pokémon," I dissuaded, "Now you mentioned a battle? I guess I have time but let's go back to town to use a public arena. I don't feel like waking up all the zubat or blocking the entrance for other people."

Latinum shrugged, "We can just move off the main path."

"Do you really want one of our pokémon to step on a geodude mid match," I drawled.

"Good point, we wouldn't want some no name pokémon to throw my decisive victory into dispute," nodded Latinum sagely.

Giving one last longing look at the cave entrance, I followed Latinum back into Oreburgh City. So much for reaching Jubilife by sun down.

"So, what do you want to be when you grow up," asked Latinum jovially, "I'm going to be the champion of course so you don't have a chance at that spot but I can see you as a potential elite four member in a geeky kind of way."

"Why thankyou for making assertions about my mediocre social status at school," I deadpanned before looking up at the sky, "Honestly, I'm thinking about getting a job at Devon corp. They make maps among other things so they have an interest in trainers who can effectively document what pokémon live in what areas. I'd earn more than working for a regional Professor and there would be less restrictions as to what I can catch and where I can travel."

"So you wanna be a researcher," Latinum clarified.

"Kinda," I replied.

"Dude, that's LAME," snorted Latinum.

I sighed, "Well, we're here now so it doesn't matter. I'm guessing you want the same rules as last time?"

"Yup, I'm going to kick your ass and show you the importance of being a gym certified trainer," Latinum yelled as he jogged towards the other side of the marked battle field.

This area was supposed to be the city's park but well, Oreburgh was Oreburgh so the field terrain was dirt. Dirt, dust and the occasional patch of different coloured dirt.

"I think I'll start with Nincada," I announced as I released my pokémon and tapped my earpiece.

"WHAT! You caught another useless bug pokémon," exclaimed Latinum.

I shrugged, "I ran into another kricketot so, since they're rare, I caught it. Then I went on the official bug fan website and asked this kid in Hoenn if he'd trade me a freshly caught nincada for it. Nincada has an interesting ability when it evolves so I thought it would be useful, particularly against you."

"Well it's not going to work since a bug is always just going to be a weak little bug. But I guess if you're going to start behaving like a proper rival then I should support your efforts I guess," sighed Latinum before posing theatrically, "NOW it's time to introduce my second chosen of destiny. Come out Eevee!"

"What," I said as the brown mammal came bounding out of its' poké ball.

"That's right! I caught an Eevee like only a true trainer destined for greatness could," waved Latinum smugly, "No doubt you were dazzled by such a rare and priceless pokémon. It's alright, I'll let you have a turn patting it after the battle."

"Eevee aren't native to Sinnoh," I said flatly.

"Well that shows what you know. I rescued this little fellow when he was injured and running away from some poachers," Latinum bragged, "Then I nursed it back to health and earned its' trust over a long an arduous process, slowly rekindling its' trust in humanity."

"It's a baby eevee; it will trust and adore anyone that feeds it," I deadpanned as I rummaged for my phone, "Are you sure you caught it. You're not just spouting tall tales for something you just traded for over the GTS."

"As sure as the sun rises," Latinum smiled haughtily.

I snapped a photo with my phone and sent it before tapping the number I'd been made to add over the course of the week, "Hello, Officer Jenny, it's me Grey. I'd like to report a stolen eevee. Yes it's the photo I just sent you."

Taking a few moments to realise what I was doing, Latinum's jaw dropped in disbelief. He stomped over while I gave Officer Jenny several more details.

"I did NOT steal my Eevee!" yelled Latinum doggedly, "I caught it fair and square a week ago!"

"You literally just told me you rescued it from poachers. They are more than capable of deregistering a poké ball. According to the law, the information printed in black and white in our trainer handbooks and what Prof. Rowan told us when we got our licence, you are always supposed to check any pokémon retrieved from legally dubious encounters within 48 hours of reaching a settlement," I informed him, "After that, if it belonged to someone else and they can prove it, you're accountable for theft. Jenny's station is just around the corner so she says she'll be here any second. Just stay put and we'll sort it out."

"I AM not going to stand for this!" Latinum growled and turned to recall his eevee.

"Nincada, sand attack on Latinum."

"AARGH! Dammit, you son of a-" Latinum cried as the bug shot dirt in his face.

A police car screeched to a halt and Officer Jenny stepped out, "Hold it right there!"

"Officer," said Latinum as he rubbed his eyes, "That Eevee is mine, this asshole is making things up."

Jenny held up her phone, "The call's still connected and I heard you admit that you caught a pokémon which doesn't exist in the wild. We'll see whether its' stolen soon enough."

She walked up to the eevee, which stared up at her innocently. Crouching down, the officer pulled out a scanner, "Eevee are extremely expensive to buy from retailers, easily over ten thousand dollars. If this belonged to someone, they would have gotten it identichipped in case of theft."

The device beeped immediately and brought up a screen visible with augmented reality vision.

"It says here that this Eevee belongs to an Amanda Coal, heiress of Sinnoh Mining Ltd. and was reported missing a month ago. The missing posters for this eevee have been in the pokémon centre for almost as long, complete with diamond collar and $5000 reward," Jenny told us, "If I remember correctly, the girl's run herself ragged asking everyone and putting missing posters on every available surface she can find."

"But . . . but I caught him. That makes him mine. We were going to do great things together and I was going to evolve him into an Umbreon," Latinum stammered, "If the little bimbo lost her pokémon and wasn't capable of rescuing it than she doesn't have any right to it. He's mine, it's official, the poké ball says so."

The officer frowned, "This eevee is female. Had you bothered to examine it or check your summary gazer then you'd know that. It was also your duty of care to report any incidents of poaching and have any and all pokémon recovered during such incidents checked out. And no, handing your pokémon over for healing does not count. Nurse Joy does not have time to check six hundred or more pokémon in the event they might be stolen. Had you informed her of this eevee's circumstances, then and only then would she have checked for prior ownership. I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me. Grey, I need a witness statement so you come too."

I nodded and tuned out Latinum's rant, Officer Jenny handcuffing the blonde as he swore, carried on and yelled something to the effect of 'you'll pay for this. I will have my revenge'. It was something cliché like that, at least I think it was. I'm very good at ignoring people.

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"Oh Phyro, I was so worried!" cried Amanda as she nuzzled her Eevee. The girl had ruby red eyes, luscious waist length black hair and an expensive designer outfit. If someone looked more closely however they would see bags under her eyes and chewed on nails.

"I'm glad this case had a happy outcome," smiled Officer Jenny from across her desk, "You're lucky we found her at all considering the circumstances."

"You said another trainer reported it during a battle," Amanda enquired, stroking her eevee.

"Yes, it was in the possession of one Latinum Omega," affirmed Officer Jenny.

"It was that guy in gaudy clothing who hit on me for an hour while I put up missing posters for Phyro!" Amanda gaped, "I can't believe this. When I tell my father about this, his career prospects are so dead."

Officer Jenny winced, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. He's in a cell for the night but his uncle's some kind of big shot. It's been four hours and the man's already paid the fine and practically expunged any further consequences. Latinum will still have a criminal record since his lawyers weren't able to bully me into removing it but it's essentially buried. My boss called about showing the kid lenience too which only made me more determined for the charges to stick. The things that came out of that kids mouth when I took his poké ball to deregister it were atrocious."

Amanda Coal gave her eevee a reassuring squeeze, "What about the other trainer. I'd like to thank him in person and give him the reward money."

"Grey? I'm sorry Ms Coal but he left hours ago," apologised Jenny, "I mentioned the reward but he wanted to get to Floaroma Town. Something about the Wind Works Friday Flower Festival so I'm guessing he wants a drifloon."

"But, the reward, why would he . . ." Amanda trailed off.

"Quiet boy, polite but I got the impression he prefers to avoid anything that draws attention to himself," Jenny winked, "I can't give out any personal information since he's just a witness but he was only in Oreburgh for a week so he should be near the top of the gym registry if you want more information. Keep an eye out and I'm sure you'll cross paths on your travels eventually."