Pokemon: The Scientist’s Rebirth

The first rays of dawn, tinged with a soft, ethereal pink, filtered through the window of Ethan's modest room at the Ketchum residence. They cast a warm, inviting glow across the desk, which bore all the hallmarks of his meticulous nature—a carefully organized chaos of research notes, a datapad aglow with his latest findings, and neatly stacked scientific journals. The faint scent of ink and aged paper mingled with the crisp morning air that wafted through the slightly ajar window.

Ethan stretched, a satisfying pop echoing from his spine, and rubbed the lingering haze of sleep from his eyes. His mornings had become a well-orchestrated symphony of tasks, each movement precise and purposeful. Today was no exception.

He dressed quickly in practical, comfortable clothing—perfect for fieldwork and ease of movement. Passing through the kitchen, he found Delia already busy at the stove. "Morning, Delia," he greeted softly, his voice warm. "You're a sight for sore eyes this early."

Delia glanced up from the stove, a warm smile gracing her lips, "Good morning, Ethan," she replied, her tone light but affectionate. "Don't skip breakfast today," she chided gently. "Be back for it before your classes start."

"Now you're just tempting me to stay," Ethan countered, leaning against the doorframe. "Maybe I'll just call in sick. Tell them I was distracted by… breakfast." He winked.

"Go away," Delia said, shooing him with a flick of her hand as a faint blush crept up her cheeks. She quickly turned back to the stove, hoping to hide the telltale color. But the slight curve of her lips betrayed her. Ethan, catching the subtle blush and the flicker of a smile, chuckled quietly. Without another word, he slipped out the back door into the crisp morning air.

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

The short walk to the Oak Coral's PokeRange was brisk and refreshing. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew-kissed grass and the faint, melodic chirping of Pidgey nestled in the nearby trees. As Ethan approached Bulbs' enclosure, he could see that she was already awake and eagerly waiting for his arrival. 

"Morning, Bulbs," Ethan greeted, crouching beside her with a small smile. His hand reached out, gently scratching her head. The texture of her skin was rough yet familiar, contrasting with the smooth, cool surface of her bulb. "Ready for another day of hard work?"

Bulbs responded with a contented hum, nudging his hand with her head in eager agreement. Ethan chuckled softly, appreciating her enthusiasm. Gone were the days when she would laze about at every opportunity; years of disciplined effort had turned her into an eager early riser.

"Come on, let's go," Ethan said, gesturing towards his back. With practiced ease, Bulbs extended her vines, deftly pulling herself onto Ethan's back, transforming herself into a living backpack. She hoisted herself up, settling snugly against his back, her face resting comfortably on his shoulder.

This had become their preferred mode of transport over the past few weeks. It offered several distinct advantages. For Ethan, it provided excellent conditioning for the weight he would inevitably carry on his upcoming journey. The added weight of Bulbs, while not excessive, provided a constant, subtle resistance that strengthened his back and core muscles, preparing him for the rigors of traveling with a full backpack.

For Bulbs, it was an equally beneficial form of training. Constantly engaging her Vine Whip muscles to maintain her grip on Ethan's back provided a continuous, low-intensity workout. This strengthened the muscles responsible for extending and retracting her vines, improving their speed, endurance and overall power. The constant adjustments she had to make to maintain her balance as Ethan walked, turned, and navigated uneven terrain further enhanced her coordination and control of her vines.

Trainer and Pokémon, now a single synchronized unit, set off towards the Oak Coral inventory room—The place to requisition all materials needed for various research of Oak Coral. Ethan presented his authorization in his datapad to the attendant, who promptly retrieved the requested medicinal herbs. Ethan double-checked the quantities against his notes, meticulously ensuring everything was accounted for. Satisfied, he offered a polite thank-you before continuing on his way.

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

From Oak Coral, they trekked to Xanadu Nursery, nestled just outside Pallet Town, near the beginning of Route 1. The nursery was run by Florinda Showers, a serene young woman with long, flowing violet hair and gentle, almond-shaped eyes that radiated calm curiosity. Ethan had been initially struck by her beauty, igniting a desire in him to possess her as his possession, a reaction he quickly recognized as a lingering echo of the original Ethan's personality, rather than his own. He had from then on consciously used his interactions with Florinda as an exercise in emotional and hormonal control, deliberately avoiding any flirtatious behavior and consciously suppressing any inappropriate thoughts. He knew that his upcoming journey would bring him into contact with many attractive females, and he couldn't afford to be distracted by such fleeting desires he will feel for all of them. Not only would it detract from his scientific pursuits, it could also lead him to serious troubles.

Xanadu Nursery had been on the verge of closure after the sudden passing of Florinda's parents, who had originally run it. It had fallen into disrepair, neglected and overgrown. Two years prior, Ethan, needing a controlled environment to cultivate specific poisonous plants for his research, had approached Florinda with a proposal. Initially hesitant, overwhelmed by her inexperience, Florinda had been reluctant to revive the nursery. However, with Ethan's encouragement and practical support in setting up automated monitoring systems and with the help of Potter, the resident gardener, she had managed to bring the nursery back to life. In return for his assistance, Ethan received a permanent discount on all plants he acquired. This had allowed him to save a significant portion of his research budget and diversify his studies.

Now, Xanadu Nursery thrived, a haven of exotic and often dangerous flora, where vibrant flowers bloomed alongside thorny vines and poisonous shrubs, most cultivated from seeds and seedlings provided by Professor Ivy.

"Good morning, Ethan," Florinda greeted him with a warm smile. Her gaze flicked to Bulbs, perched on his back. "She's looking healthier than ever."

"That's thanks to your help, Florinda," Ethan replied, returning the smile. "I need the usual Stunbloom and the recently sprouted Toxic Vine."

"Of course. I've already prepared them. They're just outside the clean room. You're heading there as usual, right?" Florinda asked.

"That's right. I need to check on the quarantine plants and prepare Bulbs's morning feed," Ethan replied. "Thanks again for letting me set up the facility here."

"No worries, it benefits the nursery too," Florinda said. "I just wish I could see what's inside. I'm dying to know what secret project you're working on."

"It's nothing secret," Ethan reassured her. "I'm just ensuring that exotic seeds imported from other regions, like the Orange Islands, don't contaminate the local ecosystem. Proper quarantine measures are essential before they can be transferred to the main greenhouse. Besides," he added with a slightly more serious tone, "the environmental conditions in the clean room are strictly controlled. Any fluctuations could damage the plants. And you have no training in clean room procedures. You might accidentally ruin everything, even the plants outside. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"Alright, alright, I'll control my curiosity for now," Florinda conceded with a playful pout. "But you promised to teach me how to maintain and use a clean room so I can manage it even when you're gone."

"I will, I promise," Ethan said. "I'm just a bit tied up with work and classes at the moment."

Ethan then left Florinda and entered the enclosed, opaque white structure he had built within the greenhouse. He donned a clean suit, returned Bulbs to her Poké Ball, disinfected his hands, and entered the small, cabin-like space inside, sealing the zipper door behind him. Finally, he had some privacy.

Inside, he surveyed his soilless cultivation setup: his hydroponics and aeroponics towers, thriving with exotic plants not normally found in Kanto. The "quarantine" was a convenient fabrication he made-up, a way to grow plants that others might question or even disapprove of, away from prying eyes. Ethan had gone to great lengths to acquire these seedlings, and he wasn't about to expose them unnecessarily. The excuse about Professor Ivy's seeds needing quarantine was flimsy at best; any seeds she sent would have been thoroughly vetted.

"Besides," he mused to himself, "I've warned Florinda and Potter – the only two people in this nursery – that the clean room contains sensitive information, trade secrets from Oak Coral's ongoing research and data above their clearance level. Any unauthorized access could have legal repercussions." This warning, coupled with a small security system he had installed, complete with cameras and motion sensors, had been enough to keep their curiosities at bay for now.

All this effort was dedicated to cultivating some specific herbs and plants: Amora Lily, Loveblossom Vine, Desirebud, Heartsage Herb, Passiflare, and others. Their names hinted at their properties: they were all powerful, natural aphrodisiacs. Ethan had been feeding small, carefully measured doses of these plants to Bulbs, hoping she would be able to synthesize their essences into a new move, much like she had with Vital Powder. The progress had been promising, and Ethan anticipated tangible results soon

After tending to the plants in the clean room, harvesting the necessary ingredients, and preparing Bulbs's specialized feed – a mixture of poisonous herbs, medicinal plants, and now these aphrodisiacs – he and Bulbs left the nursery, carefully securing the clean room behind them.

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

On his way back to Pallet Town, Ethan returned to the cozy Ketchum residence, his home for the past few years. The house always carried an air of warmth, thanks to Delia's impeccable touch. As he stepped through the door, he called out with a teasing grin, "Delia! I'm home. Did you miss me?"

Delia appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, her expression caught between amusement and mock disapproval. "Ethan, you were gone for just a couple of hours," she replied, though her playful smile betrayed her stern tone.

"That's long enough to miss your cooking and...well, everything else," Ethan said, letting his voice dip into a teasing lilt as he shrugged Bulbs off his back and set her down gently. "Speaking of which, what's for breakfast? Something as delightful as you, I hope."

Delia rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Flattery won't get you extra bacon, you know."

"Worth a shot," Ethan quipped, leaning casually against the counter as Bulbs made her way to a sunny spot near the window.

"Go freshen up," Delia said, pointing toward the bathroom. "You smell like you've been rolling around with Bulbs all morning."

"Harsh, Delia," Ethan shot back with mock offense, his grin widening. "But for you, I'll clean up nice."

He quickly washed up, the cool water rinsing away the morning's sweat. When he emerged, freshly invigorated, the dining table was already set, laden with a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, and Delia's signature berry preserves.

"You're spoiling me, you know," Ethan said as he slid into a chair, deliberately letting his fingers brush hers when she handed him a plate. "How will I ever leave when I've got someone like you looking after me?"

Delia huffed, though her faint smile didn't fade. "You're impossible, Ethan. Just eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

As he tucked into the meal, Ethan couldn't help but savor not only the food but also the lively exchanges that had become a cherished part of his mornings.

As Ethan finished the last bite of his breakfast, he leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly. "Delia, as always, you've outdone yourself. If I didn't have classes and research to do, I'd spend all day eating whatever you cook."

Delia shook her head, amused. "If only your charm worked as hard as you claim to."

"Oh, it works just fine," Ethan replied with a sly grin. "You're still smiling, aren't you?"

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips betrayed her amusement. Then, glancing at the clock, her expression shifted. "Speaking of hard work, Ash hasn't come down yet. He's going to be late for his class again."

Ethan chuckled, pushing back his chair. "Typical Ash. I'll go drag him out of bed."

"I'll handle it," Delia said, heading for the stairs. "Ash! Breakfast is ready, and you're going to be late if you don't get down here!"

Her voice carried through the house, the kind of gentle yet firm tone only a mother could perfect. Ethan smiled to himself as he leaned back, sipping the last of his tea. This had become part of the routine too – waiting for Ash to join them.

"Better hurry up, Ash," Ethan called out toward the stairs with a playful edge in his voice. "If you don't get down here soon, I'm heading out without you. And this time, you'll face the teachers' scoldings on your own—I'm not covering for you like I did last time!"

The faint sound of shuffling upstairs signaled that Ash would soon make an appearance—likely with his usual grumbles about mornings. Ethan chuckled, glancing at Bulbs, who had sprawled contentedly in her sunny spot by the window. Another day in the vibrant world of Pokémon had begun, and this well-established morning routine had become second nature to him. The day was just getting started, and there was still much to accomplish today.

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