"Pokédex Holder??"
Upon hearing Professor Oak's words, Blue nearly lost his composure.
Everyone knew that his grandfather, Professor Oak, was one of the founding figures of modern Pokémon science—nearly every foundational discipline in Pokémon biology traced its origins back to his research.
And many Kanto Trainers also knew—
The original Pokédex had been compiled and created by Professor Oak and his team, based on years of data collection on Kanto's Pokémon species.
From that humble beginning, through the combined efforts of regional Professors and outstanding Trainers across the world, the modern Global Pokédex had emerged—cataloging nearly every Pokémon in every region, bringing unprecedented convenience to new Trainers.
Later, the addition of Rotom—a unique, sentient electronic Pokémon—had elevated the Pokédex beyond mere data storage, granting it advanced functions, partial autonomy, and even the ability to safeguard its Trainer.
But beyond all that… there existed one truly extraordinary Pokédex.
Handcrafted by Professor Oak himself.
Only Trainers who had earned the recognition of regional Professors—and possessed some rare, exceptional quality—were granted the privilege of receiving this "Special Edition Pokédex."
According to Blue's knowledge, he had never seen his grandfather give one out to anyone…
So when Professor Oak casually brought up the topic, Blue was utterly stunned.
He had assumed he would be the first Kanto Trainer to earn his grandfather's approval—only to find out that Teacher Aiden had beaten him to it!
But… when he thought about it… it somehow made sense.
There was simply no way to compete with this man.
Just by hearing rumors of his achievements, one could tell how absurdly extraordinary Aiden was.
He'd inherited his Gym less than a year ago—and within half a year, had transformed the nearly bankrupt "Sunshine Gym" into one of the eight Gyms qualifying for Champion-level trials, gaining worldwide fame in the process.
Beyond his own skill as a Trainer, Teacher Aiden was renowned for his deep, innovative analysis of bizarre, unconventional battle strategies—and he shared them all freely with everyone.
Countless new Trainers had been inspired—or, as some say, "brainwashed"—by his ideas.
Dozens of Gym Leaders across the world had shifted their entire evaluation systems to match his unconventional, dynamic approach, turning rigid, formulaic challenges into thrilling, unpredictable experiences.
Just in Kanto alone, at least four Gym Leaders had completely overhauled their methods under his influence—each of them heavyweight names, and even Blue himself had struggled for hours against one of them!
Yes… thinking about it now, Teacher Aiden truly was an utterly unique Trainer.
And… strangely enough… he actually fit Grandpa's criteria perfectly.
Grandpa didn't care about raw battle strength—he cared about whether a Trainer had something special, something unique shining through.
And Teacher Aiden?
His brightness was so intense, it practically turned his entire aura pitch-black.
"…"
For a moment, Aiden's mind went blank at Professor Oak's sudden question.
A Pokédex Holder?
That was textbook protagonist status.
Sure, the perks? Probably nonexistent.
But the drawbacks? Absolutely endless. Every bizarre, chaotic, life-altering event in the Pokémon world seemed to find its way to someone with that title.
As if sensing Aiden's hesitation, Professor Oak smiled warmly, his tone encouraging.
"Though I may sound boastful, the Special Pokédex I crafted is incomparable to any standard model."
"And… if it's you, Teacher Aiden, passing the trial should be effortless."
Aiden knew well how powerful the Special Pokédex was.
Beyond the standard functions—species identification, battle data, location tracking—it could emit a special electromagnetic pulse to temporarily halt a Pokémon's evolution, shrink Poké Balls for remote transmission via communication, and even analyze the exact moves a Pokémon had learned.
He didn't understand the science behind it—but he knew it was pure, unadulterated black tech.
And more importantly, becoming a Pokédex Holder meant receiving Professor Oak's personal seal of approval—and being granted a unique title chosen by Oak himself.
Aiden suddenly found himself genuinely curious.
What title would Oak give him?
"Then I'd be honored, Professor Oak."
After a deep breath, Aiden nodded slowly—accepting the challenge.
It was just a Pokédex Holder test. Oak wouldn't seriously unleash his full team on him, would he?
Usually, before the trial, Oak had already thoroughly analyzed the Trainer's unique traits—and designed the test to reflect them.
So it wasn't necessarily a battle.
And what title could he possibly get?
Gym Leader? Sunshine Trainer? Streaming Master?
All of them sounded ridiculous.
"I understand."
Professor Oak nodded.
Though Aiden had seemed slightly reluctant at first, he'd ultimately accepted the trial with decisive clarity.
And his eyes—there was no uncertainty there.
Only absolute, unwavering confidence.
Just like the young Red, whom Oak had met years ago.
When he'd first seen Red as a child, Oak had seen it instantly—the aura of a true champion.
Only those with unshakable self-belief, who marched relentlessly toward their goals, could become great Trainers. And that applied to every field.
Smiling with quiet pride, Professor Oak turned toward an open field, not looking back as he spoke.
"Then come with me."
Pokédex Holder…
Behind Aiden, Red's eyes flickered with something unreadable.
A complex mix of emotions: one part astonishment, two parts envy, three parts awe, and four parts quiet understanding.
Of course.
A Trainer as extraordinary as Teacher Aiden couldn't go unnoticed.
The moment he stepped into the room, Oak had seen the light radiating from him.
If only… someday, when he grew stronger, he could challenge Teacher Aiden to a full, unreserved battle.
That would be an experience beyond compare.
…
News of Aiden's Pokédex trial spread through the research center's group chat like wildfire.
By the time he stood quietly on one side of the field, waiting for Professor Oak's next move, dozens of young and middle-aged researchers in white lab coats had gathered around him.
"Unbelievable—Teacher Aiden's first visit to the lab and he's already caught Professor Oak's attention. I wonder what the test will be…"
"With a Trainer like Teacher Aiden, I bet the Professor is itching for a real battle. I've been here for years and have *never* seen him command a Pokémon himself!"
"Who knows? But you're supposed to be recording Pokémon data—why are you here gawking?"
"Shhh! Miss this chance and you'll regret it for life—seeing Teacher Aiden face off against Professor Oak might never happen again!"
"Mew~"
Watching the growing crowd, Mew didn't understand most of their chatter—but it still let out cheerful, rhythmic "Mew~" sounds, as if enthusiastically agreeing with them.
"…"
Too many humans…
Mewtwo, who instinctively recoiled from human crowds, felt a wave of discomfort.
It was about to use Psychic to levitate into the air—when Mew, ever the troublemaker, wrapped its tail tightly around Mewtwo's arm.
Mewtwo sighed, defeated.
"Don't worry. My test is simple."
Professor Oak smiled gently as he faced Aiden, then spoke calmly.
"I will ask you three questions. If your answers satisfy me, you will pass."
Aiden exhaled in relief.
Thank goodness—it wasn't going to be wild combat.
His battle with Satsuki had taught him just how insane Kanto Trainers could be.
If Satsuki was already this twisted… what would the legendary battler, former world champion, "Battle Legend" Professor Oak be like?
If it was just three questions? He felt confident.
Aiden nodded.
The trial began.
After a moment of quiet thought, Professor Oak looked toward the weakened Eevee cradled in Red's arms—and asked his first question:
"The first question, Teacher Aiden: What are your thoughts on Eevee?"
The moment he spoke, every researcher around them pulled out their tablets and pens.
"Stop staring! Start taking notes!"
"This is a rare moment—Professor Oak and Teacher Aiden in dialogue! And Eevee is Teacher Aiden's starter Pokémon—he'll have profound insights!"
"Is this a freebie? Interesting…"
Eevee?
Aiden blinked.
He hadn't expected such a simple question.
As Eevee's Trainer—and the one who had witnessed its growth—he could recite the entire Pokédex entry from memory.
But was that what Professor Oak wanted?
Aiden lowered his head, thinking deeply.
Around him, the researchers held their breath, afraid to disturb his focus.
Even Mew, usually so frivolous, fell silent—its eyes fixed on Aiden, waiting.
Eevee…
Red instinctively looked down at the Eevee in his arms—the one still unconscious, its face occasionally contorted with pain.
He, too, found himself curious.
What would Teacher Aiden say about it?
Silence stretched for half a minute.
Then Aiden lifted his head.
His expression softened into a gentle smile.
"Eevee is an exceptionally unique Pokémon. To date, eight known evolutionary forms have been identified, each with its own distinct charm."
"So I believe Eevee is a Pokémon of tremendous potential."
Professor Oak nodded slightly—but his expression betrayed quiet disappointment.
From a purely technical standpoint—evolutionary diversity, battle potential—this was a perfectly adequate answer.
But Aiden didn't stop.
He shifted his tone.
"Yet, in my view, Eevee possesses another trait—one shared by all Pokémon, but expressed far more vividly in Eevee."
He paused.
"…It strives to respond to its Trainer's emotions."
His gaze grew tender.
In its evolutions—Flareon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon—each form was directly tied to the emotional bond between Trainer and Pokémon.
For Aiden, that was the clearest proof: Eevee didn't just evolve—it answered.
"Its base stats are modest," Aiden continued. "Many Trainers, impatient for power, force Eevee into countless battles to artificially harden its battle instincts."
"But I believe Eevee is an emotionally sensitive Pokémon. Rather than rushing to boost its strength, the true path is to nurture its heart—to slowly build trust and a bond."
"If you raise Eevee with love, it will strive to fulfill your hopes—and when it finally evolves, it will reveal its full potential."
Aiden's voice grew quiet, thoughtful.
He remembered his own early days as a Trainer.
He hadn't realized that his Eevee had long been ready to evolve.
But it had waited—because it wanted to respond to *his* decision.
Only after he finally understood, after they cleared the misunderstanding, did it evolve into Sylveon overnight.
He and Sylveon… both a little foolish, weren't they?
Perhaps that was why they fit so perfectly together.
"So I believe," Aiden said softly, "that possessing powerful Pokémon can make you a strong Trainer—but becoming a great Trainer means understanding each Pokémon's individuality, adapting to their nature, and helping them grow into their best selves."
As he finished speaking, Aiden felt a faint, gentle tremor in his pocket.
He smiled.
Was that… Sylveon's approval?
He looked back at Professor Oak.
And saw the old man's eyes gleaming with quiet, heartfelt pride.
"Of course. That's why you've become such an exceptional Trainer, Teacher Aiden."
Respect. Trust. Unwavering passion for Pokémon.
It sounded simple.
But how many Trainers truly lived by it?
It was because Aiden had never abandoned these principles that his team—his extraordinary Pokémon—had chosen to stand beside him.
Even the Legendaries… had turned their gaze toward him.
"Teacher Aiden… your answer satisfies me completely."
Professor Oak nodded slowly, his gaze soft.
Indeed—no matter how the world changed, the bond between Trainer and Pokémon remained the most moving force of all.
Around them, the researchers nodded silently. Some even wiped their eyes, quietly.
"Amazing… even if it wasn't the 'correct' answer, it was still… Teacher Aiden!"
"That's the true bond between Trainer and Pokémon!"
"Teacher Aiden… the GOAT!"
"…"
Beside them, Red looked down at the Eevee in his arms.
He nodded, firmly.
Teacher Aiden was right.
It wasn't just Eevee.
It applied to every Pokémon.
Only a Trainer who truly trusted their Pokémon… could be called great.
He still had so much to learn.
"Then… the second question."
Professor Oak's expression shifted.
His warmth faded. His eyes grew deep, serious.
"Teacher Aiden… do you know about Celebi?"
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