Valeria strides along the New York sidewalk, the Premier Ball snug in her grip. Her mind replays the scene inside Pokémon Home, a smile forming on her lips.
Pokémon from another dimension? she muses. Partnerships, not ownership? Battles? It is like a blend of science and something… more. The idea of raising a creature, training it, and battling alongside it sparks an unfamiliar excitement within her. The possibilities flood her mind as she imagines the applications. She wonders if the creatures will aid the Fantastic Four. She ponders the logistics of introducing the concept to the rest of the superhero community. She can't wait to share this discovery with her family.
Beldum, she thinks, her mind reaching out to the Pokémon within the ball. You're not just some random pet. You're my partner. My companion. We're going to fight together, protect each other.
"Right, Beldum?" she says aloud, her voice filled with determination. The Premier Ball trembles in her hand, almost as if responding to her words. "We'll be the best team ever, you and I."
She continues her walk back to the Baxter Building, her steps lighter, her heart filled with a sense of purpose she hadn't felt before.
As she approaches the entrance, the familiar sight of the Baxter Building fills her with a sense of homecoming. But the warmth is immediately replaced by a sense of foreboding as she enters the main living area.
"Valeria Richards, care to explain this?" Sue demands, holding up a holographic display showing a charge of over three million dollars from "Pokémon Home." Reed stands beside her, his brow deeply furrowed.
Ben, Johnny, Franklin, and even H.E.R.B.I.E. are present, gathered around the room like an audience awaiting a show. Franklin's eyes are wide with worry, darting between Valeria and her parents.
"Are you in trouble, Val?" he whispers, his voice barely audible.
Valeria sighs, bracing herself for the storm. "It's not what you think, Mom, Dad," she begins, trying to sound reasonable. "I got a companion."
"A companion? You mean a pet?" Sue repeats, her voice laced with disbelief. "Valeria, three million dollars for a pet? Do you even realize how much money that is? I think you have been the target of a scam."
"It's not just a pet," Valeria insists, her voice rising slightly. "It's more than that."
Seeing that words alone won't suffice, Valeria decides to take a different approach. She holds up the Premier Ball. "I'll show you."
With a flick of her wrist, she presses the release button. In a flash of light, Beldum materializes in the center of the room, hovering silently in the air.
The room erupts in a chorus of gasps and confused exclamations.
"What in the world is that thing?" Ben exclaims, his rocky face contorted in surprise.
"Is that an alien?" Johnny adds, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination.
Sue takes a step forward, her hands glowing with a faint energy. "I don't know what it is, but we need to contain it."
"Mom, no!" Valeria interjects, stepping in front of Beldum protectively. "It's my Pokémon! Don't hurt it!"
Sue stops, her expression softening slightly. "Valeria, honey, I don't know what a 'Pokémon' is, but that thing looks dangerous. Stay away from it."
"It's not dangerous!" Valeria insists, her voice firm. "It's my partner! And I won't let you hurt it!"
She knows she has to make them understand. She has to make them see that Beldum is more than just some strange creature. It's her friend. Her ally.
"Okay, everyone, just calm down," Valeria says, taking a deep breath. "Let me explain."
She recounts her walk through the city, her encounter with Pikachu, her visit to Pokémon Home, and everything she learned from Orion. She describes the different dimensions, the unique ecosystems, and the incredible bond between humans and Pokémon.
The others are silent for a moment, absorbing the information. Sue looks skeptical, Reed looks intrigued, Ben looks confused, and Franklin looks absolutely thrilled.
"So, you're saying you spent three million dollars on an interdimensional fighting… thing?" Sue asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"It's not just a fighting thing, Mom!" Valeria exclaims, her voice rising in frustration. "It's a Pokémon! Beldum can protect me!"
"Protect you from what, exactly?" Sue asks, crossing her arms. "We're the Fantastic Four, Valeria. We handle the protecting around here."
"I want to do my part!" Valeria says, her voice pleading. "I want to be strong enough to protect myself and others. And Beldum can help me do that."
"I'm going to train Beldum to be as strong as possible, so we can protect each other," Valeria declares, her voice ringing with determination.
Ben scoffs. "Yeah, right. That little tin can protect you? I've seen tougher paperweights."
Valeria glares at Ben, her eyes flashing with anger. "Beldum is strong! You just don't know it yet!"
"Oh yeah? How strong can it be?" Ben challenges, a smirk spreading across his rocky face. "What can it even do?"
Valeria smirks back, confident in Beldum's potential. "It can do plenty! Show them, Beldum!" she commands. "Use Tackle!"
Beldum, floating silently in the air, seems to understand Valeria's command. It focuses its red eye, and a faint blue aura surrounds its metallic body. Without a specific target, it simply charges forward, ramming straight into the nearest wall.
The impact is far more powerful than anyone expects. Instead of simply bouncing off the wall, Beldum cleanly passes through it, leaving a perfectly circular hole in its wake. Dust and debris rain down as the others stare in shock at the gaping opening.
"Whoa!" Johnny exclaims, his eyes wide with surprise. "That little thing just punched a hole through the wall!"
"What the—?" Ben stammers, his jaw dropping open.
Reed rushes to the wall, examining the hole with scientific curiosity. "Incredible! The force of that impact… it's far greater than its size would suggest."
Valeria beams with pride, turning to Beldum. "Good job, Beldum!" she says, patting its metallic body.
The Beldum makes a series of high-pitched beeping sounds, as if preening at the praise.
"Well, I'll be," Ben mutters, shaking his head in disbelief.
Valeria crosses her arms, a triumphant grin on her face. "So, you see? Beldum is strong! And it's going to stay."
Sue sighs, exchanging a look with Reed. "Valeria," she says, her voice softer now, "I still don't know about this. But if you're serious about this… Pokémon thing… then Beldum can stay."
"As long as you understand that Beldum is your responsibility," Sue stresses. "You have to feed it, care for it, and make sure it doesn't cause any damage."
"Duh, Mom. That's obvious," Valeria retorts, rolling her eyes.
Reed nods in agreement. "And," he adds, "Beldum will need to undergo a series of tests. We need to make sure it's not harmful and study its biology."
Valeria shrugs. "Fine. I was going to do my own tests anyway." She turns to Beldum. "Come on, Beldum. Let's go to the lab."
With that, Valeria and Beldum float off toward her personal laboratory, leaving the others to stare after them.
"Well," Ben says, breaking the silence, "at least she's happy. And that little thing seems to like her."
Franklin steps forward, his eyes shining with excitement. "Can I get a Pokémon too, Mom? Please? I promise I'll take good care of it!"
Sue's expression hardens. "No, Franklin. Not yet. We need to investigate this Pokémon Home first. We don't know what those creatures are capable of, or what kind of influence they might have."
"But Mom!" Franklin protests.
"I understand that there might be benefits to having a Pokémon," Sue concedes, "but three million dollars? That's outrageous! And we need to be sure that it's safe before we allow you to have one."
"But I want one now!" Franklin whines, his voice rising in desperation. "Please, Mom! Please, Dad!"
Reed places a hand on Franklin's shoulder. "We know you do, son. But we need to learn more about these Pokémon first. It's for your own safety."
Franklin slumps his shoulders, his face etched with disappointment. "But it's not fair!" he cries. "Val gets one, why can't I?"
Sue kneels, taking Franklin's hands in hers. "It's not about being fair, honey. It's about being responsible. We need to make sure that bringing Pokémon into our lives is the right thing to do. And we need to be prepared for any potential risks."
Franklin looks up at his parents, his eyes still filled with longing. "But what if it is the right thing to do? What if having a Pokémon could make me stronger too? What if it could help me protect you?"
Sue sighs, knowing that she can't completely dismiss Franklin's feelings. "We'll see, Franklin," she says softly. "We'll see."
***
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