[attr="class","spiral"]“I want it used to being referred to by its specie’s name before anything else. We have no idea how intelligent they can be.”

And, while not wrong, Fernando uses it as a cop out to avoid tackling the subject at hand. Although he doubts Kyle cares, the debate about nicknaming Pokemon always leads to a stringent debate over how Pokemon are treated. For whatever reason, despite being able to provide for them with much better resources than that of a homeless child, others tend to have the preconceived notion that Fernando neglects his Pokemon.

It’s almost as baseless as the rumor that Team Rocket follows his every move.

“So what did you name your Poipole?”

Several snaps of his fingers is enough to draw his Pokemon’s attention. He points to a Kangaskhan in the clearing and the Ultra Beast takes off with a bobbing flight path. When it gets within striking distance, it sprays them with a VENOM DRENCH, aggressively invading their airspace and takes the occasional jab at the parent Kangaskhan.

“You have one, right?”

Fernando cannot imagine otherwise. With how lax the League had been with placing regulations on taming these Ultra Beasts, barring Kyle from having one seems near impossible. But Lopez always had a way of surprising him. After all, this could just be a repeat of the Tapu Koko choice.

“I think they’re a bit weaker due to the antidote but it makes them more receptive to our commands."

A PROTECT blocks the Kangaskhan’s DOUBLE HIT and Fernando finds a chance to step in. Another jab of its stinger in the Kangaskhan’s neck is an ample opportunity to catch it. The Pokeball strikes the creature and it disappears before their eyes.

[attr="class","spiral"]“Lopez.”

Fernando breaths a sigh in anticipation of fulfilling his own prophecy. “At the rate we’re heading someone else is bound to do it and have it end horribly.”

He snaps his fingers again to draw the Poipole’s attention but it doesn’t hear it from that distance. Fernando approaches, claiming his successful capture, before pointing at their next target, Scrafty. The Poipole trails after in hot pursuit, spraying the Pokemon with its VENOM DRENCH.

“So why risk it and take the fall for something we’ll undoubtedly have to clean up?”

The two Pokemon break out into a small scuffle and the Ultra Beast’s aerial superiority wins it the match. The Scrafty ends up covered in stings, left to be scooped up by another empty Pokeball.

“Speaking of clean up, how was Mauville?”

[attr="class","spiral"]“I didn’t mean the actual clean-up, Lopez.”

Fernando takes a swig of his coffee to let his words sink in. How much can he probe without upsetting Kyle. As his best friend, there are certain boundaries he thinks he can cross but at the end of the day he’s not too comfortable about pressuring the Elite Four member too hard. The fact that he’s never came out about Alfric’s report tells him enough. Or at least he infers as such.

“Just the important things I should know. Any thing I’d find interesting. There were quite a few surprises I came across when reading certain people’s reports.”

By now his Poipole has tired itself out from actively battling various Pokemon. To supplement its efforts, he adds his Zeraora to the fray. Fresh from its Pokeball, the Pokemon leaps into action, actively hunting down the Liteo with several well placed PLASMA PUNCHES. When it goes down, Fernando captures this one as well.

[attr="class","spiral"] “They’re naming Ultra Beast: Lighting, or Xurkitree if you prefer the scientific name,” Fernando adds in. “It’s supposed to be a combination of circuitry and the way it was shaped like a tree but it starts with an ‘X’.”

Fernando doubts Kyle cares about the decision that goes into naming Pokemon genus so he doesn’t go further into detail. He too finds very little value in the specifics despite his willingness to entertain such conversations with the League’s scientific community. For him, it’s more about seeing how much information the scientist are willing to share, especially since so few seem to care for what they have to say.

“But yes, the others included it. The others included a lot.”

The gist is to test if his SUPER LUCK will coerce Kyle to giving up the information voluntarily. Chances are, he won’t, not with the presence of a nearby Absol. Ignorant to the omen that comes with the Pokemon’s sighting, Fernando’s Zeraora continues to battle with reckless abandon. It lunges forward and ‘wrestles’ with the fellow furry and some PLASMA FISTS. Fur gets tugged, yowls are screamed, and a Pokeball puts and end to it before it becomes uncomfortable.