Micah unpacked methodically, finding homes for his limited possessions. Clothes in the closet, not many, but enough. His mother's ointment and note and Finn's keychain went on the desk, visible reminders of home. The journal she'd given him joined them, still mostly empty, waiting for experiences worth recording.

  He released Donny and Bellatrix. The Rhyhorn immediately began investigating the room with intense curiosity, sniffing everything, occasionally attempting to headbutt furniture to test its structural integrity. Bellatrix completed her standard security assessment, checked the window's locking mechanism, and positioned herself near the door.

  "We're staying here," Micah explained to both Pokémon. "This is home now. Well, a temporary home. For however long this apprenticeship lasts."

  Donny rumbled, pressing against Micah's legs. The Rhyhorn didn't understand the words, but he understood the tone,uncertainty mixed with determination.

  Bellatrix's ear flicked, acknowledging the information but not particularly concerned. Her job remained the same regardless of location, assess, guard, protect.

  Micah checked his PokeNav,3:47 PM. Too early for dinner, too late to start anything substantial. He could explore Rustboro, as Maxie had suggested. Or he could stay here, let his Pokémon adjust to the new environment, maybe read more about egg moves and early training techniques.

  Or,and this option felt increasingly appealing,he could rest. Actually, rest. Let the accumulated exhaustion of the past week finally catch up with him.

  He chose rest, lying on his new bed with Donny curled beside him and Bellatrix maintaining her vigilant watch. Through the window, he could see mountains stretching toward the horizon, the late afternoon sun painting them in shades of gold and shadow.

  Tomorrow his real work would begin. Tomorrow he'd meet the other researchers, start learning the complex skills that made field research possible, begin building the foundation of knowledge that might,if he worked hard enough, learned fast enough, proved himself capable enough,eventually qualify him as a legitimate scientist.

  But today, for these few remaining hours, he was just a twelve-year-old kid from a failing farm, lying in an unfamiliar room, trying to process how drastically his life had changed in less than a week.

  Sleep claimed him before he could fully catalog all the emotions competing for attention. His last conscious thought was of his mother's pomade and his father's handshake, of Finn's promise of a future battle, of Maxie's rare praise and Cassidy's encouragement.

  He had people believing in him. People who thought he could do this.

  Now he just had to prove them right.

  Micah woke to the sensation of being watched.

  Not threatening, just... observed. He opened his eyes to find Donny sitting on his chest, staring at him with intense focus, apparently waiting for signs of life. Bellatrix remained at her post, but her eyes tracked him as consciousness returned.

  "Okay, okay, I'm up," Micah mumbled, carefully moving Donny aside. His PokeNav showed 5:23 PM, he'd slept for over an hour. His body felt better for it, the deep muscle fatigue from days of walking finally beginning to ease.

  Dinner wasn't until 6 PM. That gave him time to actually explore a bit, maybe walk down to Rustboro proper, get a sense of the town that would be his nearest access to civilization.

  He gathered Donny,who immediately tried to climb onto his shoulder, failed due to Rock-type density, and settled for walking beside him,and Bellatrix, who fell into her professional guard position automatically.

  The trail from the facility to Rustboro was well-maintained, winding down the mountain through forest that was alive with Pokémon sounds. Micah spotted several Aron picking at exposed mineral deposits, their Steel/Rock-types' natural mining instincts on full display. A Skarmory circled overhead,not Maxie's, a wild one, scouting for food or territory.

  Rustboro itself was charming in a way Mauville hadn't been. Where Mauville was industrial and efficient, Rustboro felt organic, built around the mountain's natural features rather than imposed upon them. Stone buildings with climbing vines, streets that followed geological contours, parks where wild Geodude sunbathed on artificial boulders.

  Micah wandered through the town center, Donny attracting attention from locals who seemed delighted by the baby Rhyhorn. Several people asked if they could pet him, and Micah found himself falling into the role of proud trainer, explaining that yes, Donny had just hatched a few days ago, and yes, he was very strong for his age, and no, the horn-nub didn't hurt when he accidentally poked you with it during enthusiastic greetings.

  Bellatrix, meanwhile, kept perfect formation, her presence causing most people to give them slightly more space than they otherwise would. The Houndour's professional demeanor communicated clearly, I am working. Do not interfere.

  By 5,45 PM, Micah headed back up the trail. He didn't want to be late for his first communal dinner,first impressions mattered, and showing up late would signal either disrespect or incompetence.

  The cafeteria was already filling when he arrived, researchers claiming their usual spots with the territorial instinct of people who'd established routine. Micah grabbed a tray,standard institutional food, but quality institutional food, he noted,and looked for somewhere to sit that wouldn't intrude on established social groups.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  A hand waved from a corner table. Micah looked over to see a young woman, probably mid-twenties, with orange hair pulled back in a messy bun and an expression that radiated friendly approachability.

  "You must be the apprentice!" she called. "Come sit. I promise we don't bite. Well, I don't. Tabitha might, but he's not here yet."

  Micah navigated through the cafeteria, Donny and Bellatrix following, and joined her table. Up close, she had the kind of face that smiled easily, with laugh lines that suggested she did so frequently.

  "I'm Phoebe," she introduced herself, extending a hand that was covered in what looked like dried saltwater stains. "Marine biology division. You'll be working under me this season, apparently. Maxie sent me a message about an hour ago explaining the situation. Welcome to organized chaos."

  Micah shook her hand, relaxing slightly at her casual warmth. "Thanks. I'm Micah. This is Donny," he gestured to his Rhyhorn, who was investigating the table leg, ",and Bellatrix." The Houndour had positioned herself strategically to monitor the cafeteria's entrances.

  "Cute Rhyhorn, serious Houndour. That's an interesting team dynamic." Phoebe leaned forward conspiratorially. "Fair warning about tomorrow,I'm going to have my assistant, Matt, show you around properly. Full facility orientation, safety protocols, where everything is, how not to accidentally contaminate sensitive experiments, the usual. It's boring but necessary. Try to stay awake."

  "I'll do my best."

  "Good answer." She took a bite of her dinner, chewed thoughtfully. "So. Twelve years old, farm background, Maxie recruited you directly. That's unusual. He doesn't take apprentices. Like, ever. What's your story?"

  Momentarily shaken by her sheer straightforwardness Micah paused before he gave her the abbreviated version,his family's struggles, Maxie's research interest in their land, the arrangement that had been struck. He left out the more personal details, the emotional weight of leaving home, but covered the essential facts.

  Phoebe listened with focused attention, occasionally asking clarifying questions. When he finished, she nodded slowly.

  "That makes sense. Maxie values practical intelligence over formal education. You've got hands-on experience with land management, basic ecological observation, soil analysis. Those are real skills, Micah. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't belong here just because you didn't go through traditional academic channels."

  "Will people do that? Make me feel like I don't belong?"

  "Maybe. Probably. Academia has its gatekeepers." Phoebe's expression turned more serious. "Tabitha particularly can be... rigid about credentials and hierarchies. He'll test you, push you, probably assign you the most tedious work imaginable to see if you quit. Don't take it personally. It's how he evaluates everyone."

  "And Courtney?"

  "Different kind of challenging. She's brilliant but socially... unconventional. Doesn't really do small talk or emotional support. Just expects absolute precision in everything. If you work with her, follow her protocols exactly. Don't improvise, don't take shortcuts, don't assume anything."

  This aligned with what Maxie had said, but hearing it from someone who actually worked with these people made it feel more real. More immediate.

  "What about you?" Micah asked. "What should I know about working under you?"

  Phoebe laughed. "I'm the easy one. I care about competence and curiosity. Follow instructions, ask questions when you're confused, don't pretend to understand things you don't, and we'll get along fine. My division is off-duty this season, so we'll mostly be doing equipment maintenance, data analysis, and preparation for our next field rotation. Not glamorous, but essential."

  "That actually sounds perfect for learning."

  "Smart answer. You're going to do fine, Micah." She glanced toward the cafeteria entrance. "Brace yourself. Tabitha just arrived."

  Micah followed her gaze to see a man who could only be described as intimidating enter the cafeteria. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with the kind of presence that commanded attention through sheer intensity. His black hair was military-short, his expression set in permanent analytical evaluation. He moved with purpose, claimed his food with efficiency, and settled at a table alone,apparently preferring isolation to social interaction.

  "He looks friendly," Micah said weakly.

  "He's a teddy bear once you earn his respect," Phoebe said, though her tone suggested this might take approximately forever. "Just... don't try too hard. He hates obvious attempts at ingratiation. Do good work, don't waste his time, and eventually he'll acknowledge your existence."

  They continued talking through dinner,Phoebe explaining the facility's informal social dynamics, pointing out various researchers and their specializations, providing context that would help Micah navigate this new world. It was invaluable information delivered with casual warmth that made him feel slightly less out of his depth.

  By the time dinner concluded and researchers began dispersing to their evening activities, Micah felt marginally more prepared for tomorrow.

  Marginally.

  Back in his room, with Donny dozing on the bed and Bellatrix completing her nightly security assessment, Micah pulled out his journal and finally made his first real entry,

  Day 7, Arrived at the research facility. It's built into a mountain, which is either really cool or slightly insane. Maybe both.

  Met Phoebe,she seems nice. Actually nice, not fake-professional nice. She's my supervisor for the season, which apparently means I'll be doing maintenance work and learning basic protocols instead of real field research. Not what I imagined, but it makes sense. Can't run before you walk, Dad would say.

  intimidating. Tabitha looks like he could kill someone with a glare. Courtney is apparently brilliant but socially challenging. I'll meet them eventually. Not looking forward to it.*

  Donny is adjusting well. He tried to headbutt a dresser earlier. Bellatrix has decided the room is secure and has downgraded to "moderate vigilance" status.

  I miss home. Miss Mom and Dad. Miss Finn. Miss everything being simple and straightforward. But I'm here now. This is happening. Tomorrow starts for real.

  Don't screw it up, Micah.

  He closed the journal, turned off the light, and settled into bed with Donny curled against his side. Through the window, stars were beginning to emerge, the same stars he'd seen from his farm but somehow different from this new vantage point.

  Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new lessons, new opportunities to prove he belonged here or reveal that he didn't.

  But tonight, in this quiet moment before everything began, Micah allowed himself to simply exist,exhausted, uncertain, hopeful, and determined.

  His journey was only beginning.