What Aquacorde City lacked in size, it made up for in its beautiful vistas. Professor Apple had heard the other lab employees discuss its merits and, as she gazed over the stone bridge crossing the deep blue river separating Aquacorde from Avance Trail, she was inclined to agree. She sat back in her seat - one of eight pulled up around a cafe table. Today was the day: the day five trainers would arrive to assist in her research. If all went as planned, they had the chance to revolutionize Kalos - the whole world as they knew it. She just hoped that, in return, she’d be able to revolutionize their own lives as well.

Professor Apple glanced at the deep blue sky - a light breeze and passing clouds overhead kept the weather from getting uncomfortably warm. Much better than spending the day in the lab. It was a good thing she and her personal assistants had left Lumiose City yesterday. While she had wanted to be early for any of the arriving new trainers, it was nice that she had the time to enjoy such a lovely day. She had even let out her Aron, who sat on top of the table in a deep nap.

Her gaze dropped down towards the riverbank - one of her assistants was sitting over there, gazing deep into the water. It wasn’t surprising; Lynda enjoyed pokemon more than picturesque views.

In fact, one would be hard-pressed to describe the view said young woman was taking in as ‘picturesque’; rather than the mostly calm waters and the sun refracting off the river’s surface, Lynda’s attention was drawn to the handful of Carvanha that were chasing after a desperately struggling school of Magikarp. The Savage Pokémon weren’t indigenous to this part of the river, so it was possible that the lab assistant was fascinated by their appearance; but to those who knew Lynda, it was clear she was admiring the tenacity of the predators in pursuing their prey so far downstream from their natural habitat. 

But a moment later, the young woman rose from her squatting position by the riverbank; predator and prey had disappeared further downstream, and the beauty of the river itself didn’t do much to keep her attention. So she turned towards the plaza a short distance away, heading towards Apple with the glint of morbid curiosity still in her eyes. 

Professor Apple waved to her returning assistant and looked back to the one seated right beside her. B was perhaps a bit of an oddball, but competent enough at his duties - which, right now, involved putting together some small starting packages for the new trainers. His Y-Unown floated around his head, looking towards Avance Trail.

“You better finish soon; they’ll be here any minute.” She broke the peaceful silence between them. B didn’t answer right away - in fact, it took the chirping of his Unown to disturb him from his task and look up at Professor Apple.

“Right - almost done- oh.” A small pokeball slipped from B’s fingers and began to roll off the table. The Unown darted down and stopped it. “There we go.” B took the pokeball back and tucked it into the bag he was working on before tying the drawstring into an awkward bow. “And that’s the last of them!” He beamed.

“You actually finished before anyone showed up? Congrats!” With that teasing comment towards B, Lynda joined Apple and the other assistant present; choosing to stand near the table rather than take a seat. “Guess that head start was worth it after all!”

B’s smile cracked, and the Unown’s eyelid dropped halfway down. Professor Apple had to suppress her laughter, though her snort woke up her Aron. This was typical of them and, as typical of Professor Apple, she began her scolding to Lynda: “Lynda, B thought it might be a good idea - it’s unlikely these children will be fully supplied, and it’s one less thing you’ll have to care of later. The least you can do is thank him for his work.” She glanced at the messy knots closing off the bags. “And remember that he is lacking some depth perception.” B’s  cracked smile turned into a frown.

“Alright, alright, fair enough.” Despite the light scolding, Lynda barely succeeded in stopping herself from laughing at Apple’s own jab at B; it wasn’t quite a smirk, but her lips visibly twisted to hold in a snicker of her own. “Thanks, B, you’re doing God’s work!”

“Mhmm. And next time, you can do it yourself.” B shrugged and began pulling out the pokeballs for the new trainers. Aron looked around, shook his head, and rose to feet with a yawn. Professor Apple patted the small pokemon.

“As I was going to say, however - when the new trainers arrive, please try to remember their faces. We’ll be seeing them for quite some time, after all.”

“Particularly Lynda. I have my own work to do after all.” B finished setting up the pokeballs so they wouldn’t roll away.

“Yeah yeah, I know the plan,” Lynda said somewhat carelessly, as her attention was drawn to the quintet of Pokéballs that B was arranging. In just a few short minutes, she- and a handful of other young men and women- would take their first Pokémon from one of those balls, and then their journey would begin. 

“I do have to ask, do you think they’ll be up to the task? It seems you have a lot of work for them.” B leaned back in his seat. 

“...I will admit, some of them seemed a big ragtag - and it’s still a shame about that cancellation - but I’m sure they’ll be competent.” Professor Apple redirected her gaze back to the bridge into Aquacorde. Her Aron followed  suit, apparently curious over who his trainer had chosen.