Chapter Text
### Chapter Ten: Consequences and Compromises
Pamela Isley woke up the next morning with a renewed sense of excitement. She had promised Ralts and Magikarp that they would become her Pokémon, and today she had the Pokéballs to make it happen. She hurriedly got dressed and ran to wake her aunt Phoebe. "Aunt Phoebe, it's time to go meet my Pokémon friends!" she called softly but insistently, shaking her aunt gently.
Phoebe groaned and slowly opened her eyes, blinking sleepily. "Pammy, it's so early... What time is it?"
"It's time to go meet my Pokémon friends!" Pamela repeated, her face beaming with excitement.
Phoebe chuckled, unable to resist her niece's enthusiasm. "Alright, alright. I'm getting up. Let's have some breakfast first, okay?"
Pamela nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
They went downstairs, and Pamela helped prepare breakfast, her excitement never waning. After a quick meal, they got ready to head out. Phoebe brought Leafeon along, the lazy Pokémon stretching and yawning but happy to accompany them.
"Let's take the scenic route," Phoebe suggested, smiling at Pamela's eager nod. They walked through the picturesque countryside, the early morning light casting a beautiful glow over the fields and trees. Birds sang, and the fresh scent of nature filled the air.
Pamela could hardly contain her excitement as they neared the river. "We're almost there!" she said, practically skipping the last few steps.
When they reached the river, Pamela called out, "Ralts! Magikarp! It's me, Pamela!"
Ralts emerged from behind a tree, waving its tiny hand. "Ral-ralts!" it greeted cheerfully.
Pamela waved back enthusiastically. "Hello, Ralts! I brought my aunt to meet you."
Phoebe smiled and waved “oh how adorable what a lovely little ralts. it's even shiny how wonderful.”
Just then, Pamela felt a familiar tug on the vine she had just cast into the water. With a gentle pull, the shiny Magikarp emerged, her now massive and chonky golden form glistening in the morning light. Magikarp flopped happily in the shallow water, creating large splashes.
Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of the two shiny Pokémon. "Pammy, these are your Pokémon friends? They're both shiny!"
Pamela beamed with pride. "Yes! This is Ralts and Magikarp. They've been my friends for a while now, and today they want to become my Pokémon."
Phoebe knelt down to get a closer look at the Pokémon. "I can't believe it. Shiny Pokémon are so rare, and a Ralts! They're hardly ever spotted in this region I've only ever seen them on contest broadcast on the television or seeing information added about them in the bi-yearly update of the Pokedex."
Pamela nodded. "I know, I'm so lucky. And look how big Magikarp has gotten!"
Phoebe looked at the Magikarp, her eyes widening further. "It's about five times bigger than a regular Magikarp. Magikarp aren't supposed to grow so large naturally in the wild. hmm I wonder How did it manage to get so big?"
Pamela hesitated for a moment, then decided to share part of the truth. "I've been giving Magikarp special berries I made using grass-type energy that are designed to help her grow stronger and bigger. I just wanted to make sure my friend was happy and healthy."
Phoebe's expression shifted from surprise to concern. "Pamela, do you remember what I told you about Magikarp? How Magikarp very rarely evolve but just because something is rare doesn't mean it won't happen. This could have been very dangerous what if your friend had evolved into Gyarados and went on a rampage? Kids have gotten seriously hurt because of doing the same thing."
Pamela's excitement waned as she saw her aunt's serious expression. "I remember, Aunt Phoebe. But Magikarp is really sweet and has never caused any trouble."
Phoebe sighed deeply brows furrowing. "Pamela, you should have told me you were playing with a Magikarp. It's a big deal you could have been in danger and I'd have never known. So Not only are you grounded for a whole month after the Harvest Festival, but if you want to keep Magikarp, you'll need to make sure it doesn't evolve into a Gyarados. You'll need an Everstone."
Pamela's eyes widened with a mix of disappointment and understanding. "I'm sorry, Aunt Phoebe. I didn't mean to keep it a secret. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Magikarp."
Phoebe's expression softened slightly. “I know just how much you love Pokémon Pammy. And how this isn't the first time you've had a potentially dangerous encounter with pokemon.”
Phoebe asked seriously “Remember when you had just turned eight and we were visiting my brother Payton. you were playing with your cousin’s outside in the mountains by the ranger station your uncle works at. there and recently been a forest fire that had probably been started by some wild pokemon fighting over food or territory.”
Phoebe gave a tired sigh thinking about that day. “a wild aggron had shown up now. Usually they tend to stay at the top of the mountain but aggrons are very protective of their territory. and must have been riled up from the recent forest fire. Of course Patrick and Patricia were terrified when they had spotted the aggron practically charging in their direction they were only twelve at the time the poor twins didn't know what to do.”
“Do you recall what you did when your cousin's were panicking” Phoebe asked pointedly.
“I just wanted to make the aggron not sad about the forest being gone anymore” Pamela mumbled embarrassed.
“Hmm” Phoebe pondered responding in a sarcastic tone. “I suppose standing in front of an enraged aggron’s path holding out a handful of flowers. and using your powers to regrow the surrounding forest in minutes if not second's while somehow talking said aggron into joining you for a tea party in the newly grown forest could make the pokemon not ‘’sad‘’ anymore.”
“Ugh” Pamela groaned “I remember Patricia and Patrick saying that they would never again attend any tea party with me again. And that afterwards uncle Payton was chastising me for over an hour over my reckless endangerment of myself and my cousins.”
“And do you remember what rules I gave you to follow after I had found out the danger you had put yourself in.”
Pamela replied sheepishly “don't mess around with wild pokemon because it is unsafe and I could get hurt.”
“One rule pammy it was literally one rule and you broke it. nothing happened this time but what if it had.”
“I'm sorry auntie I swear it won't happen again promise.” Pamela said with a pouty face trying to pull on her aunt's heartstrings.
“Ugh I can't stay mad at a cutie like you but this doesn't mean I forgive you for breaking the one rule. We'll get an Everstone to make sure Magikarp doesn't evolve. But you need to understand the importance of following the rules and being honest."
Pamela nodded solemnly. "I understand, Aunt Phoebe. Thank you for trusting me."
Phoebe smiled gently. "Alright, come on let's make this official."
Pamela turned to her Pokémon friends, holding out the Pokéballs. "Ralts, Magikarp, would you both like to be my Pokémon?"
Ralts nodded eagerly. "Ral-ralts!"
Magikarp flopped energetically, creating a big splash as if to say yes.
Pamela's heart swelled with joy as she gently tapped each Pokémon with a Pokéball. The Pokéballs wobbled slightly before making a satisfying click, indicating a successful capture. Pamela held the Pokéballs close, doing a happy little dance feeling a sense of completeness and happiness.
"Congratulations!" Phoebe said, patting Pamela on the back. "You've got some amazing Pokémon, Pammy, make sure to take proper care of them."
Leafeon wandered over, sniffing the Pokéballs curiously before giving a lazy nod of approval.
Pamela smiled brightly, her eyes shining with happiness. "Thank you, Aunt Phoebe. I can't wait to start our adventures together."
As they walked back home, Pamela couldn't stop talking about all the fun things they would do and the training they would start for the tournament. Phoebe listened, her heart warmed by her niece's passion and excitement.