Mick took a nice, even breath as he tried to focus again. He had spent the last several hours trying, and failing, to use any of his moves. Even ones he knew a newborn Cyndaquil should know. Each failure only caused him to grumble more and more. He had seen how scratch was supposed to look before, how his claws would glow faintly, but he couldn't feel the power. There was once, only once where he could feel it begin to build, but he just couldn't get it again.
As the move failed, again, he sat on his rump with a depressed sigh. Emma nuzzled against his cheek, "come on... It's not that bad. Most new Cyndaquil aren't able to use their moves right away either. It takes practice and in some cases a calm mind, you're getting frustrated so it's much more difficult... Let's get you something to eat, that way you can take your mind off the moves and come back later with a clear mind."
With a sigh and a nod Mick picks himself up from where he was sitting and heads back inside.
Despite living inside a cave the air never seemed stale, there didn't seem to be too little air to breathe, and even many of the pokemon were employed by local businesses. It was... Honestly a bit jarring when he saw pokemon in the same kinds of roles that humans had back home. Fighting types had been given plenty of jobs working alongside construction teams, even helping out when they felt the job was too dangerous for creatures that weren't as physically durable. Fire types were helping in forges, and there was even one Flareon he had met on his way out to the training ground who got a job helping a local jeweler get the perfect heat for his silver and gold. Rock and ground types were helping the eternal digging that these Diamond dogs loved to do even as a hobby. While there were a few different types of other pokemon around, those ones were the main focus of the area. There had been a few water types that felt out of place until there were several large pools created for them to live in. Since much of the pipes and machines were steam powered there was actually a large demand for fresh water, which the pokemon were more than happy to provide in exchange for food and shelter at the least.
There were plenty of things that had confused Mick when he thought about them, now that he actually had more time to truly think about anything other than his studies.
Already there were schools with psychic-type guest speakers that were teaching pups about pokemon and how they reacted just like the other dogs if you were mean to them. He had passed by an elderly dog and a somewhat-older-looking Machoke speaking to one another over a game that was eerily similar to chess... Even if the old dog couldn't understand the Machoke, they didn't appear to be letting that stop them. With the old dog laughing every so often and making it at least appear like he could tell what the pokemon was saying.
"This place really is a paradise... now if only we could get organized rosters for battles again, pokemon need them to become stronger, and I want a shot at the champions!" The thought was enough to put a bit more pep in Mick's step as he continued on his way to Cousin Vinny's home. Unbeknownst to him, he had a special guest waiting just for him to arrive.
Vinny took another sip of his tea as he watched his guest, smiling as the two of them conversed like old friends.
"So... you said your name was Professor... Elm... Am I correct?"
"Absolutely, Foremost scientist on the study of pokemon Evolution, at least... up until about a few days ago... when I had been unceremoniously dumped into King Halfpaw's lap. It was quite a doozy of a tale to tell when we both regained our wits, at least it was a good thing that I still retained my ability to talk."
"That's definitely good, what was his reaction?"
"Well... Less than pleased when I had started thinking that he was a previously-undiscovered stage of the mightyena evolution line..." Elm says as he rubs the back of his head with a sheepish chuckle. "Fortunately he understood that I was just as confused as he was so he didn't do anything too drastic."
"Well..." Vinny begins. "If I know how our king is, he's generally pretty laid back since most of the work is done by the dogs that specialize in different areas of the government. He hardly holds court anymore because of the changes into a mostly autonomous society, He's mostly in place to give his approval or disapproval in laws."
Elm nods, stroking the strange red and white collar around his neck. "That explains why the Diamond dogs managed to integrate pokemon into their society so quickly..."
Both of them turn toward the front door as it eases open, revealing a Quilava and Cyndaquil.
Emma rubs the back of her head as she speaks first. "Um... We were hoping to get something to eat...?" Vinny chuckles a little as he gets up.
"Absolutely, I was just talking to Professor Elm here, I'm sure Widget already cooked up something for the both of you."
Mick's gaze travels to the larger pink pokemon in the room. "P-Professor Elm? You're... A Slowking?"
Elm nods a little. "Yes, it was a little bit of a surprise to me as well, although the crown is a little tight from time to time and I get the occasional headache." He lets out a small chuckle. "But what about you Mick? I haven't seen you in over a year."
"Well... I've been busy..."
"Busy? With what? When I had seen you last you were just a short little guy... much like you are now." Elm teases.
"You know how hard I had to study, and even now I'm trying to train just to go speak with Arceus." Mick replies with a slight huff.
"Oh yes! That's why I came here in the first place." Elm says with a bit of realization. "you see... There was a rumor going around that there was a little fire type that was planning to brave the surface world and trek through the most dangerous forest on the planet to speak with the god of all pokemon."
The smile on the Slowking's face was enough to make Mick sigh a little when he realized how his plan actually sounded from an outside perspective.
"So, I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind requesting a copy of my research notes...? I don't doubt that Arceus would believe that the knowledge my team accumulated about pokemon evolution and how it works would be very useful to have in this world."
"Hmm..." Mick hums as he places a paw on his chin. "...I can see that it would be useful, just like the knowledge that pokemon breeders have for any biology studies..."
"Exactly!" Elm exclaims, "I have to stay here in the hopes that my wife and son are both in the city somewhere, while you are planning to speak with Arceus. I've even got a couple of train tickets to take you to the Diamond Dog town closest to the Everfree."
"Really!? That... I-... I don't know what to say?"
Another chuckle from the psychic pokemon. "Just say you'll accept my request, I hope that you are able to depart soon, but please don't feel like I am rushing you."
Mick managed a slightly stunned nod just before Vinny walked back into the room. "Well... I don't exactly know what a Magikarp is... but Widget said that several psychic types told her that cooking them up wasn't going to demand divine retribution... So, I hope you guys like fish fillet!"