"How did you do it? Wait, don't tell me! I want to figure it out myself." asked Samuel in a hushed voice while looking out of the room, his voice betraying his calm and composed persona.

  Anya was visiting Faesol and Samuel after a successful heist of the Viridian City Pokémon Center, she gave a smug smile at the guessing Samuel, Anya saw that the ex-champion's brain was storming different options and probabilities.

  Currently at Nick's restaurant, Anya was seated at the end of the cabinet table Faesol laying on her lap and Samuel seated next to Anya. The cabinet itself has some new additions as the room has been soundproofed and some kind of sound devices were installed at two of the corners of the cabinet.

  Samuel was deep in thought as he mumbled various theories he had about the whole operation Anya had made, Anya giggled at few of Samuel's theories, one of her favorites were one where Team Rocket just went in and asked for the Pokémon being kept at the Center.

  They were suddenly interrupted by the voice speakers turning on and a newscaster's voice started to speak out loud.

  "This just in! a Pokémon Center robbed, a criminal organization active in Viridian, reports and local listener are coming in to our Goldenrod Radio station giving us the juiciest details on the recent activities..." The caster droned on every useless piece of information without actually revealing anything important, keeping the suspension up "Stay tuned as we try to organize some of the juiciest bits for you to enjoy after this break!" the voice stopped and a some kind of cheery tune started playing followed by one of the popular songs played at the time.

  "Well, that was annoying, whose idea was it to have breaks just as the information got so good" said Samuel more annoyed by the broadcast, to which gave Anya a smile, the whole broadcast has been part of the plan, she did not know the specifics and had let Pandora handle the information side of things, but the whole 'Intentionally leaked' information idea was totally Anya's idea.

  After a minute, Faesol stirred from Anya's lap, saying "[Someone is coming, food]" and a few seconds later there was a knock on the door.

  "[Huh, Perks of being a Psychic type?]" Anya stated as she carefully caressed Faesol's head with her cutter.

  The door soon opened and Nick expertly maneuvered around the door as both of his hands had trays filled with bowls and plates of food. He made some small chat about the dishes being placed on the table.

  "-this time, it is not, Magikarp" he said as he placed a bowl of fish soup on the table.

  "We have just got some new fresh catch from the market today!" he says proudly with a smile on his lips.

  after a minute or so, Nick left the cabinet, leaving behind a table full of various dishes.

  "Why did we order so much? I mean, why did you order so much?" Samuel asked incredulously as he took in the amount of food on the table.

  "Well. I. Got. Bit. Carried. Away." Anya typed, her yellow cheeks blushing a shade of red.

  "I. Wanted. To. Celebrate. My. Promotion." after a moment she added "[Somehow]" the embarrassment quickly fading, replaced by somberness

  Faesol had stood up, carefully balancing on top of Anya's thighs her sight aimed at some of the fish dished, the red gem on her forehead started to shine as one of the dished started floating towards the side, Faesol the lazy feline as she was, floated herself to the side using her psychic powers, Anya was impressed by her ability itself, she seemed to have grown quite well these past years even if it was wholly motivated by laziness.

  Before they could properly start to enjoy their food, the song from the speakers had just ended, followed by the familiar tune of Goldenrod Radio's news.

  The cheery caster's voice rang out from the speakers, "Thank you for waiting, the news are juuuii-cy this time around! Let's get to the point" he said as a moody background music started playing to set the atmosphere.

  "A short recap of the situation that has happened for those who were not yet aware, Earlier this week, a group of people claiming to be Team Rocket have successfully hit three of the Viridian City's four active Pokémon Centers, this is not to say that they had not tried, the timing of the fourth Pokémon center was unfortunate for the raiding group as an Elite Contender was using the services when a trio of robbers tried to access the Pokémon storage units.

  At first the robbers tried to overpower the Elite Contender, but soon found themselves outmatched, then they tried to flee the scene. The vigilant Elite had noticed the groups attempt to flee with a smokescreen and had managed to capture one of the fleeing thiefs."

  "That's not even the best of it, the captured individual pleaded a deal with the League for everything he knew about the organization and who oversees their operations. Oh, do we got some more juicy details for you listeners, For once, they confirmed to be part of Team Rocket and that their current leader is known with a code name Icarus, who seemed to have gripped the group by the scruff and is rumored to be planning something even more outrageous."

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "The league keeps an ear out for any information regarding this mysterious mastermind and encourages trainers to be vigilant in stopping these individuals, furthermore they seem to be easily recognizable as they wear either completely black or white pants and jackets with a huge letter R on them." The caster jovially starts to explain about the intricate details about the outfit.

  "The league also cautions against actively hurting these individuals especially after they have surrendered or been restrained. I repeat, do not harm the individuals, as a hurt individual might be less encouraged to share important or even correct information. The Ch-" A ringing sound sounded from the speakers "Oh, look at the time, it seems our time is up! More information tomorrow evening, This is the Goldenrod Radio News Thank you for tuning in!" the broadcast ended with the Radio stations unique cheery tune, continued by another somber song which elevated the mood.

  "That, that was something" said Samuel, "Why haven't I heard most of that before?" he questioned.

  "Need. To. Know. Basis." Anya typed, having the volume set on the synthesizer as low as possible, but still audible to Samuel.

  "What do you mean? Need to know basis? Since when do former champions get left out of the loop?"

  "Since. Gaining. The. Title. Former." Anya shrugged mischievously.

  "[You should eat while it is still warm]" Faesol quipped at Anya, having finished her first meal.

  "[Oh, right, I kind of forgot, Thanks Feef]" She answered while giving the feline a short scritch over her back with the tip of her cutter.

  The rest of the meal went uneventfully as they ate in silence and when they couldn't eat anymore, Samuel released one of his new Pokémon who finished the food with a gusto, shoveling the food and having it disappear in seconds flat.

  When it was time to pay the bill, Anya took charge and paid for the whole meal by herself, saying to Samuel that its the least she could do and that its not a real problem for her.

  "No, I insist, take it as a gift for your promotion" Samuel countered.

  They went back and forth for a while, not allowing the other one to pay for the whole thing.

  "[Just split the bill, fifty fifty, Nick is dying while he tries to keep himself from laughing]" Faesol added.

  True to Faesol's words, Nick's face was redder than tomato as he tried to hold his laughter in, occasionally releasing a chuckle as he couldn't hold it in while watching the comedy routine between Samuel and Anya.

  "Fifty. Fifty. Compromise. Half. Each." Anya said embarrassed.

  "Deal" Samuel said, rubbing the back of his neck afterwards.

  --------------------------------------

  Back at the Samuel's lab.

  Anya had followed Samuel and Faesol back to the lab, as today was also the day when Faesol was going to go back with her to Viridian. They took rest of the evening packing Faesol's stuff into bags and boxes, whilst being bombarded by questions about the Raid on the Pokémon Center.

  "You are telling me, that the whole thing was orchestrated."

  "Yup." Anya answered.

  "Even the caught individual?"

  "No. There. Never. Was. Any. Caught. Individual, Neither. Was. There. Elite. Contender. To. Stop. The. Fourth. Raid."

  "Wait, wait, wait" Samuel said as some of the things clicked for him.

  "That, That is terrifying if what you say is true, it is truly insane." his face went white.

  "It. Was. Not. Easy. It. Took. While. To. Plan. Everything." Anya waved Samuel off.

  "The. Problem. Was. That. We. Were. Too. Good." She continued "We. Had. To. Intentionally. Tone. Down. The. Sneakiness. To. Make. Mistakes. I. Am. Proud. Of. Their. Success."

  "Why did you do it? Why steal Pokémon from other people?" Samuel interrogated

  "Who. Said. That. We. Stole. Owned. Pokémon?" Anya gave Samuel a playful smirk, she was quite happy that Samuel has been able to recognize her gestures and expressions, it gave Anya some hope that she could someday be understood completely, without using obvious and intentional tells.

  "Then, what did you take from the Pokémon Center? Was the whole raid an illusion?" he said deep in thought.

  "Abandoned. Pokémon." Anya said

  "What did you say? I think I misheard that one."

  "I. Said. Abandoned. Pokémon. We. Took. Abandoned. Pokémon. Piles. Of. Unwanted. Pokémon."

  "Wha-What would that accomplish, why take those?"

  "Wow." Anya typed as she was caught off guard.

  "I. Thought. At. Least. You. Would. Understand. That. Pokémon. Do. Not. Want. To. Stay. Inside. Their. Pokéballs. The. Rest. Of. Their. Lives." Anya took a small break, her breathing heavy, she thought that THE Pokémon professor would get why they took the unwanted Pokémon away from the Pokémon Centers.

  "We. Were. Lacking. In. Pokémon." Anya said after calming down for a moment.

  "Apologies Anya, I did not meant to upset you. It had not just occurred to me, in my ignorance that abandoned Pokémon could be helped." Samuel said.

  Anya hated that part of Samuel, she did not like how she was incapable of hating Samuel as his honesty shone so truthfully at her, something in his words told Anya that Samuel was speaking the truth and that he was truly sorry and he really meant it. She knew what kind of person Samuel could become in the future.

  They soon finished packing and were waiting at the labs entrance, Samuel approached with a small case in his hand.

  "[A moment, Anya]" Faesol said somberly as she approached Samuel.

  "You sure, you want to go?" Samuel asked Faesol for the third time that evening. Having grown attached to the feline's presence these past years, even if it was ultimately supposed to be a temporary stay.

  "[Yes, I am grateful for all the things you have done for me]"

  "All right, I understand, just so you know, you are always welcome back here at the lab."

  Alakazam suddenly appeared in a flash of red light.

  Samuel's Alakazam and Faesol gazed at each other for a while. Alakazam looked at Anya, gave her a nod before turning back to Faesol.

  "[Go, witness the world you have trained for, witness the future that keeps ever changing, be with the one who need you the most and stay by the one who you need to be fulfilled. Be it someone you know, or someone you don't, may your path be lighted by the joy of companionship and endure the hardships of said relations.]" The Alakazam said with almost a poetic flair on his words.

  "[Thank you, Master, for teaching me, for everything]" Faesol stated with a deep bow.

  "[You are no longer my disciple, you are your own person now. I hope you will treat yourself fairly. Good bye]" he said finality apparent in his voice before teleporting them to Anya's apartment.