2 AM, Sandgem Town Lab
Professor Rowan was about to finally go to bed after pulling two all-nighters. However, suddenly—RING—his phone rang, startling him. "Goddammit!" he cursed under his breath.
Still, he picked up the phone without even glancing at who was calling.
"Hello? Who is this? Who's calling at this hour—"
"Professor!!!" came a frantic voice from the other side.
"..."
'Who are you? Do I know you?'
"Professor, this is urgent!! I just got a call from Celestic Town! Someone just claimed they discovered a new Pokémon!"
"..."
'And?'
"It's a new species! Undocumented! It's from Professor Carolina!"
Professor Rowan instantly shot up from his bed, his eyes wide with shock. "Fuck! Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
Pokémon professors like him often received numerous reports about new discoveries or rumors, most of which were either far-fetched or just nonsense.
It was usually just Pokémon they had never seen before or simple misunderstandings of known species, exaggerated by overenthusiastic trainers or new researchers. However, the key words just now were Professor Carolina and Eterna City.
Who doesn't know Professor Carolina? Could she be toying with something like this on purpose?
Each region typically has one or more Pokémon professors or researchers who play key roles in advancing Pokémon research in that region. However, there is usually only one leading figure—the professor who oversees large-scale projects and serves as the primary authority in their respective region.
For example, take him. In Sinnoh alone, it can be said that, within the Pokémon research pyramid, he's at the top. Not because he's the most skilled, but because his research covers a broader scope and has a more significant impact, particularly in Pokémon evolution and form changes.
In comparison, Professor Carolina's focus is on history. After discovering something, it is likely immediately documented in books for educational purposes, so its impact is not as profound.
As the lead figure, it's natural that he has many assistants working under him. These assistants are usually stationed in various cities and towns across Sinnoh. The one who called him is stationed in Eterna City, so the probability of him lying or talking nonsense is almost zero.
Running down the hall, he yells out to the first assistant he finds, "Get my suitcase ready!"
Then, running back to his office, he sits down at his computer to start a video call. After a few moments of ringing, an older man with gray hair appears on the monitor.
"Yo, Rowan... Hey hey, watch out, ouch, hey, be careful...!"
Professor Rowan simply watched the chaos on the screen before finally, the figure appeared, with messy hair. "Rowan, what do I owe the pleasure of? I seem to be in a bit of a situation here,"
"I know. Samuel, are you still in Sinnoh? Jubilife City?" Professor Rowan asked.
"Yeah, why?" Professor Oak answered with a yawn.
"If I remember correctly, you came here by helicopter, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, what's with all the small talk?"
"Could you lend me your helicopter?"
"Huh? Why?"
"N-nothing... I just got bored and wanted to go for a little ride."
"Hmmm..." Professor Oak gave a suspicious look toward the screen.
Shaking, sweating, and stuttering—clear signs of someone who was truly anxious. Rowan, anxious? Ha! He shook his head and muttered, "If you're not going to tell me the real reason, then forget it. Alright, it's late. Bye—"
"A NEW POKÉMON! A NEW POKÉMON HAS BEEN DISCOVERED!" Professor Rowan suddenly blurted, leaning toward the screen with wide eyes, looking like he was about to leap through the monitor.
"A new Pokémon? Are you sure?"
"It's from Carolina."
Instantly, Professor Oak's casual demeanor changed. His eyes narrowing as he became serious. "I'll pick you up in one hour." Then, without another word, the call abruptly ended.
Naturally, Professor Carolina would not allow both professors to disturb the sleeping children, so they could only wait until morning.
Now it was Sunday, so there was no school. Cynthia looked toward the two people wearing coats similar to the ones her grandma used to wear and watched them curiously.
"How fascinating," Professor Oak said, then turned to Professor Rowan. "How are the scans coming along?"
"Just another minute before it's done."
Also present were Allen, Cynthia, Haaland, Drasna, Grandma Dracelia, and Professor Carolina, all accompanying Professors Rowan and Oak.
DING!
"Here we go."
After scanning the data, Professor Rowan turned around, a serious yet excited expression on his face. "This Pokémon is indeed a new species," he said, pausing for a moment as everyone gathered around the screen, eagerly awaiting his next words. "Now, who among you would like the honor of naming this Pokémon?"
Soon, everyone except him and Oak turned their attention toward the white-haired boy, whose face looked gloomy.
'Professor Carolina said only Professor Rowan and Magnolia were supposed to come, but why is Professor Oak here too?' Allen thought.
Grandma Dracelia ruffled his hair, amused. "Alright, stop sulking. It's just one more person who knows, no big deal, right?"
Only then did both Oak and Rowan understand. It was this kid who had discovered the new Pokémon. They were speechless. How old was this kid?
"Alcremie," Allen said, speaking only one word.
Grandma Dracelia thought Allen was still sulking and thinking randomly, so she wanted to remind him, but Allen beat her to it.
"Alcremie is derived from the word 'alchemy,' reflecting its magical, dessert-like nature, as well as 'crème,' referring to whipped cream. This perfectly reflects its sweet, smooth, creamy texture, and its charming appearance reinforces its identity as a delightful, sweet little Pokémon."
Everyone was surprised by his thoughtful naming. It was clear that Allen had put a lot of thought into it. They all exchanged glances, and it seemed like the name was a perfect fit for the new species.
"I think that's a good name, right?" Professor Oak said.
Haaland looked toward the cake Pokémon, who smiled sweetly at him. "Do you like it, Alcremie?" he asked gently, tilting his head as he spoke. The Pokémon's eyes sparkled, and it nodded happily, the soft cream on its body shimmering in the light.
"Cremie~!" Alcremie chimed, its little voice almost like a melody, as it bounced around joyfully.
"It's settled then, Alcremie," Professor Rowan said before typing the name into the draft. "It's the perfect name for that Pokémon."
"Alright, enough chit-chat," Professor Carolina said impatiently, her tone shifting to focus. "Tell us what you've found."
"Well, Alcremie evolved from Milcery, right?" Rowan said before adjusting the screen to show Milcery.
He then continued, "Milcery is described as being born from sweet-smelling particles in the air. This could mean that its origins are tied to specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by certain flowers or sugary substances in the environment. In nature, many organisms—like pollinators such as bees—are attracted to sweet smells from flowers' nectar, fruits, or sap. If Milcery's body can synthesize and utilize these VOCs, it could form in environments where these particles are abundant. Its 'birth' process might be similar to how certain organisms or molecules emerge in environments rich in specific elements or compounds—like algae blooming in nutrient-rich waters."
"But why is Milcery sweet? Also, Milcery has cream! Grandma Chingling isn't sweet and doesn't have cream!" Cynthia innocently asked, curiously, making everyone smile.
"That's because Milcery's body swells when it absorbs sweet smells," Professor Oak explained. "It's called osmosis. It's when living things take in substances from around them. The sweet smells Milcery absorbs probably contain sugars and other nutrients it needs. Milcery might be soaking up these sugars through its skin or in a special way. These sugars get stored in its body as energy, which causes it to swell up as it gathers more and more energy from the air."
Professor Carolina frowned. "Then why could Milcery suddenly evolve? Is it like the friendship thing, like Marill or Chansey?"
Professor Rowan shook his head, his eyes still on the screen. "Like Milcery, Alcremie is tied to sweet smells and cream-like substances. However, Alcremie may produce more cream due to a more advanced system for synthesizing sugars and other organic compounds. It has an enhanced metabolic system that allows it to produce larger quantities of the viscous, sweet cream."
He paused before continuing, "The cream could serve as both an energy reserve and a method for interacting with its environment, such as attracting pollinators or other creatures to its vicinity, or other special properties, like aiding in defense, distracting foes, or even healing—"
Professor Oak chimed in before looking at Milcery and picking up a little spoon. ""In other words, Alcremie could be classified as a sugar-producing organism with unique metabolic processes designed to synthesize and store complex sugars in its body, similar to how certain plants or fungi produce and store sugars for energy."
After receiving permission, he scooped a handful of cream from Alcremie before looking at it under a microscope. "It's just like whipped cream—texture and consistency. Glucose, sucrose, fats, and water. Hmmm..." He then looked toward Haaland, the owner, and asked, "Can you instruct Alcremie to attack? Usually, upon evolution, Pokémon will learn something new."
Haaland nodded and then looked at Alcremie. He kneeled down. "Cherry, do your best, okay?"
"Creami~!"
Alcremie nodded seriously, thinking this was her life mission. She then looked at everyone before her eyes fell on Allen.
The others had a bad feeling.
"Creamieee~!"
Sure enough, after the cry, Alcremie's body flashed with green energy, and she released a stream of cream that landed on top of Allen's head, instantly forming into a decorative swirl on top of his head.
"Bad luck!" Allen muttered inwardly. Initially, he thought it was just normal cream, but suddenly he felt incredibly energetic, as if he were on something like cocaine.
"Oh, it can produce its own cream!" Professor Oak made a mental note.
"Milcery can't produce its own cream. Instead, it absorbs sweet-smelling particles from the air, which causes it to swell up. It's just like another Grass or Poison-type Pokémon that has specialized glands to produce chemical reactions according to their biology. In Alcremie's case, it's exocrine secretion, where specialized glands produce and excrete sugary or fatty substances that form its body, mimicking whipped cream."
"No, you're still not answering my question. How does it evolve?" Professor Carolina pressed, impatient with all the explanations.
"Uhm, as we know from Milcery's characteristics, it absorbs these nutrients. It stores them in the form of sugars or fats within its body, which causes it to swell. This swelling indicates the accumulation of stored energy. This also includes how it attacks or defends. My theory is that Milcery here, before evolving, already stored enough energy and only needed a catalyst—a catalyst to evolve."
Professor Oak paused for a moment before scratching his head. "Hmm, no, this also... no... this is no... no..." Everyone could see Professor Oak scratching his head while making scribbles in his notes before giving up. "Aiyah," he sighed, then turned toward Allen. "You're the one who discovered Alcremie, right?"
Allen was taken aback but nodded.
"What did you do before Milcery evolved?"
"Uh? Pick it up and hug it? Spin it?"
The more Professor Oak heard, the more he frowned. Professor Rowan was also confused.
How? Just how?
Allen facepalmed as he watched the two professors going crazy. After thinking for a moment, he realized it wasn't respectful to keep them guessing, so he decided to give them a hint. "Uhm, Grandma, is it just like when you make a cake?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Allen.
He coughed before explaining, "It's like when you beat the cream when making a cake. It can cause the cream to swell and eventually turn into whipped cream. Isn't it the same process?"
Everyone's eyes lit up, except Cynthia's, of course.
When cream incorporates enough air, or when you mix air into the ingredients, the texture and consistency change. In Milcery's case, by agitating or spinning the sweet substances it absorbs, it creates a kind of "whipping" effect, incorporating air into its creamy body and causing a shift in its composition.
Now the question is, how? How to agitate them? Beat like real whipped cream? Impossible!
Grandma Dracelia asked, "Allen, were you just playing around with Milcery before? Do you really not remember anything?"
Allen shook his head, not wanting to answer. There was no way he would admit that he knew all that.
Professor Rowan sighed, almost going crazy by this. Then he remembered something and asked, "Where is Magnolia, by the way? Isn't Milcery from Galar?"
"She is late. Her granddaughter is making a fuss at home, so she couldn't come now," Professor Carolina answered.
Sighing, Rowan then turned toward Oak. "It seems we need to offer a bounty prize again. We're getting old; I can't think of any new ideas."
Professor Oak also nodded somberly. The thought that they were so close to solving the mystery of Tai, but in the end, couldn't, made it feel like they were on the verge of a big breakthrough, only for it to slip away—like missing a kiss at the last moment.
Allen was curious. "Bounty prize? Criminal?" he asked.
Usually, a bounty was related to criminals, right?
Professor Carolina answered instead, "No, it's like a prize for whoever solves a research mystery. Sometimes, when we run out of ideas, we hold a bounty prize, and the winner gets a reward. This is also to search for and filter talent in research."
"Oh, a prize? May I know what kind of prize, Grandma?"
"The previous one, I gave a trainer a Pokémon egg from my lab," Professor Oak answered, then shrugged. "Well, it was a Bulbasaur egg. It would be a waste if a regional starter didn't get a trainer."
Allen immediately stood up straight, puffing out his chest with newfound confidence. "Then no worries! If I can make one Milcery evolve, I can make two! Heck, I could probably make an entire army of Milcery evolve! Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, Grandma Carolina, don't worry! I'll solve this mystery faster than you can imagine!"
"..."