Pokémon (Kanto Adventure)

Chapter 19: The Power of Trade Evolutions

As Dylan, Paige, and Carson walked down Route 5, the sun high in the sky and a gentle breeze making the day feel perfect for travel, Paige couldn't stop smiling. She was still riding the high from her victory at the Cerulean City Pokémon Contest. Her Cascade Ribbon was safely tucked away, but she kept glancing at it with pride.

"I still can't believe I won! My first ribbon! Ivysaur and Weepinbell were incredible out there!" Paige beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Dylan, chuckling, nudged her. "Don't let it go to your head, Paige. You were great, but we've got a long way to go. Winning one ribbon doesn't mean you can slack off."

Carson, walking beside them, flashed a wide grin. "Come on, Dylan, let her enjoy the moment! That battle was awesome. I'm just glad I wasn't the one facing her—I'd have been toast!"

"Thanks, Carson! And don't worry, Dylan," Paige said with confidence. "This is just the beginning. I'm not letting up anytime soon!"

The trio continued down the route, the tall grass swaying around them as wild Pokémon occasionally rustled in the bushes.

 The peaceful atmosphere stretched before them until a woman appeared up ahead, her white lab coat flapping in the breeze as she hurried over to them. Her arms were full of books and papers, and a pair of glasses sat perched on her head.

"Excuse me! You three look like capable trainers—could I have a moment of your time?" The woman, clearly flustered but determined, approached them quickly.

They stopped, exchanging curious glances. The woman balanced her load as she introduced herself. "I'm Tabitha, a Pokémon researcher. I study Pokémon evolution, particularly how some evolve through trading."

Carson scratched his head, curious. "Pokémon that evolve through trading? That's a pretty specific field of study. What makes them so special?"

Tabitha's face lit up with excitement. "It's incredibly special! Pokémon like Machoke, Kadabra, and Haunter can only evolve when traded. I'm trying to figure out why. What triggers their evolution? Is it tied to the bond with trainers, or maybe something in the transfer process?"

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Sounds pretty complicated. I've always wondered why they evolve that way. It's not like leveling up—it's something else."

Paige, now intrigued, asked, "So, what do you need from us? Do you want us to help with your research?"

Tabitha smiled warmly. "Exactly! If any of you have Pokémon that evolve through trading, I'd love to observe and gather data. I've been traveling Kanto, collecting as much information as I can."

Tabitha's eyes sparkled as she gestured toward the winding path ahead. "Why don't you all come to my cottage? It's not far, just up Route 5. I have a machine there that can handle Pokémon trades. You can help with my research, and who knows, maybe one of your Pokémon will evolve through trading!"

Paige's interest piqued, and she turned to Dylan and Carson. "That sounds cool. I mean, who knows what we might learn, right?"

Carson nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I've never actually seen one of those trade machines up close. Let's do it!"

Dylan, a little more cautious but still intrigued, shrugged. "Why not? Could be fun."

As the trio followed Tabitha, excitedly chatting about Pokémon evolution, little did they know they were being carefully watched from behind a nearby tree. Team Misfits—Heather, Lionel, and Edward—huddled together, whispering among themselves.

Lionel, his voice dripping with excitement, leaned in closer to the others. "Did you hear that? She's got a machine that trades Pokémon."

Edward's eyes lit up, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "You know what that means, right, Heather? You could trade your Haunter, let it evolve into a Gengar, and then they could trade it back to you."