"Yup, that's not a problem. I'm thinking of evolving the little Eevee into a Vaporeon, once it's older. I still need a Flareon, too, but I suspect we'll be getting more eggs." She grinned. "More than we'll know what to do with."

Trent grinned.

"So your Jolteon and her Espeon, then?" he asked. "Unless one of you has another her Espeon can breed with."

Aleron nodded. "Jolteon and Espeon. And we'll see about my Eevee later on, if it decides it likes the little one or not. But the little one's got a ways to go before it's of breeding age."

"You seem to know your stuff," Trent said. He was impressed. "I just know the bare basics, and that's just from listening to different pokemon talk."

"My parents are breeders," Aleron admitted. "I grew up on a farm. So this is normal for me."

"Interesting," Trent mused. "You know Quen and I are city folk. Lilycove is the Contest capital of Hoenn."

Aleron nodded. "Yeah, this is more like where I grew up. I'm actually kind of glad we don't have too many pokemon that can breed, because otherwise we'd have a lot of little ones on our hands, and they can be very problematic."

"Be grateful there's no Ditto," Trent said, grinning a bit. "Then you'd be screwed."

"No kidding," Aleron grumbled. "Although that's a good idea, in case I ever decide I do want to breed some of these." She paused for a moment. "But if we end up with a Growlithe egg just kind of laying around because of the local pack, I won't object."

"The locals do seem to like you," Trent observed. "I guess there are a lot more fire-types around here for you than psychic types for your friend."

"Fire-types are much more common in general," Aleron pointed out. "Especially here. But she has her pokemon, and there are some others in the area that are starting to come investigate. Plus the legendaries have decided that we're a good place to drop off abandoned or abused pokemon."

Trent blinked.

"Really?" he asked. "I thought this place was just for the legendaries."

"Apparently not. I've been brought one pokemon, as has Margaret. This place is turning into more of a sanctuary than anything." She shrugged.

"If you don't mind my asking, what was dropped off?" Trent asked.

"A Ralts got left for Margaret," Aleron said with a shrug. "Skittish little thing. And I was given a little Cyndaquil. It seems okay so far, just really young. And a little bit clingy sometimes."

"Huh," Trent mused. "Ralts are fairly rare, even in Hoenn. I can't imagine how one was found all the way out here. But I'm not familiar with Cyndaquil."

"I'll go introduce you. Come on." Aleron started back towards the house, calling out as she did, "Vulpix! Could you go gather up Cyndaquil for me, please?"

Vulpix snorted but trotted off to go get Cyndaquil, bringing the little pokemon outside. The little one immediately darted over to Aleron, looking up at Trent with big eyes.

Trent blinked back at the little thing. It was certainly adorable. He crouched down to get a better look.

Cyndaquil meeped and hid on the other side of Aleron's legs.

"Really, sweets, it's okay. He's not going to do anything to you. You're okay." She smiled a little and shifted so that he could see the Cyndaquil better.

Trent just stayed there and let the little one move at its own pace. It might be a fire-type, but it was still just a baby, it seemed like, and he didn't want to scare it.

Cyndaquil emerged slowly to look at him, clearly ready to bolt. It was a shy little thing.

"So that's the little one. He's just shy, is all. He doesn't even like to let Margaret close." Aleron shrugged.

"He's cute, though," Trent replied. He stood up again slowly, so as not to scare the little thing.

"He is. And when he's a little older, he won't be quite so shy." Aleron grinned when the little one didn't try to hide again, instead just getting comfortable on top of her foot.

"I think the youngest on my team at the moment is Wooper," Trent said. "He's still little, I just caught him recently." He nodded towards he lake where Wooper was happily rolling in the mud in the shallow water. "Blissful little thing."

Aleron laughed quietly. "Well, there's nothing wrong with being blissful. Just makes him easier to look after."