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Chapter 159: Like Father Like Son
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 18:48:24 +0000 UTC
Gladion had the meeting with Professor Oak tomorrow and he had some big plans for the day but for that he needed to see his father. So he decided to visit his Lab which was just behind the gym.
The lab’s entrance was a reinforced steel door, etched with a cartoon Aerodactyl that Milo and Lila, Gladion’s younger siblings, had doodled on with markers.
Pushing it open, Gladion was hit by a wave of sounds—chirps, growls, and the clatter of tools.
Inside, the lab was a whirlwind of organized madness: incubators hummed with glowing eggs, a Chansey waddled by with a tray of Oran Berries, and a dozen baby Eevees scampered across the floor, their fluffy tails bouncing.
At the center, Ben was wrestling with an Aerodactyl, its fossilized jaws wide open as he scrubbed its teeth with a massive toothbrush.
The ancient Pokémon, who had been living underground for at least thousand-years , was rowdy, its wings twitching, but it stayed still, cowed by the piercing stare of Erza’s Charizard lounging in the corner.
Charizard, one eye closed, the other fixed on Aerodactyl, radiated an aura of 'behave or burn'.
Ben, humming a tuneless ditty, paused to pet an Eevee nuzzling his leg, its big eyes demanding attention. “There’s my little fluffball,” he cooed, scratching its ears, oblivious to Gladion’s arrival.
Another Eevee leaped onto his knee, nearly knocking the toothbrush into Aerodactyl’s throat, which let out a grumpy squawk. “Easy, big guy,” Ben said, patting the fossil Pokémon’s snout. “Your fangs are shinier than a Golem’s hide already!”
Gladion cleared his throat, and Ben spun around, toothbrush raised like a sword. “Ah, if it isn’t my rich genius son!” he exclaimed, grinning. “Here to fund your old man’s dreams? I’ve got a request—new equipment for a project. Won’t cost much, just a few million.”
Gladion’s eye twitched, his psychic aura spiking with disbelief. “A few million?” he echoed, voice cracking. “Dad, you just got new gear last month! That incubator cost more than my gym’s roof!”
Ben waved a hand, undeterred, still scrubbing Aerodactyl’s teeth. “Pfft, details. Science waits for no budget! Besides, the Eevees want new toys. Go on, ask big brother Gladion!” He gestured to the dozen Eevees, who turned in unison, their big, sparkling eyes locking onto Gladion in a synchronized Baby-Doll Eyes attack.
Ben joined in, batting his eyelashes with an exaggerated pout, his grin mischievous. “C’mon, son, you can’t resist us!”
Gladion groaned overwhelmed by the onslaught of cuteness, he relented.The Eevees yipped, tumbling over each other, one waving a tiny paw like it was high-fiving its victory.
Gladion massaged his temples, muttering, “Fine, Dad, you get your equipment. Eevees, you get your toys—plush Poké Balls, chewable TMs, whatever.”
The Eevees erupted in triumphant squeals, high-fiving each other with tiny paws, one accidentally smacking another in the face, sparking a playful tussle.
Ben joined in, high-fiving an Eevee, only to trip over another, landing in a pile of fluff. “Victory!” he cheered, laughing as an Eevee licked his face. Charizard huffed, its tail flame flickering, as if rolling its eyes at the circus.
Ben, dusting himself off, noticed Gladion’s pensive expression. “Son, what’s troubling you?” he asked, his tone shifting to fatherly concern, toothbrush still dripping with Aerodactyl drool in his hand.
Gladion hesitated, Ben squinted, suspicious. “Did you and Gwen fight again? Need me to shield you from your mother’s wrath?”
Gladion waved a hand, flustered. “No, Dad, nothing like that! Gwen’s fine—probably terrorizing people somewhere.”
Ben snorted, tossing the toothbrush into a sink, where an Eevee promptly tried to chew it. “Then what’s up? I’ve been taking care of you since you were a screaming infant—more than your mom, who was busy torching Gym challengers. I know when something’s off. Spill it.”
Gladion sighed, leaning against a lab bench, dodging an Eevee that tried to climb his leg. “I’m meeting Professor Oak tomorrow for a business deal. I’ve got a plan that could rain money on us—big time.”
Ben raised an eyebrow, shooing an Eevee off his notes. “But?” Gladion hesitated again, then said, “I’m thinking of offering him the Fairy-type discovery.”
Ben’s eyes widened, but he shrugged, petting Aerodactyl, who grumbled but leaned into it. “That’s it? Go for it. Fairy-type’s a game-changer—Oak’ll eat it up.” Gladion frowned, his psychic aura probing his father’s nonchalance. “Dad, don’t you want the credit? Discovering a new type—that’s legendary status.”
Ben laughed, a hearty bellow that startled the Eevees, one tumbling into a pile of Poké Puffs. “Son, if I wanted fame, you think I, the son of Maren Vortex, Kanto’s war-hero legend, would’ve ditched his shadow to breed Eevees? I’m happy with my lab, my fluffballs, and my Aerodactyl’s shiny teeth.”
He grinned, patting Aerodactyl, who snapped playfully, nearly taking his hand off. “You’ve already put me on the map, Gladion. I was just breeding Eevees, Chanseys for Nurse Joys, and Ground-types for gyms. Now? I’m the only breeder in three regions raising ancient Pokémon—Kabuto, Omanyte, this toothy guy.”
He gestured to Aerodactyl, who preened, showing off its gleaming fangs. “That’s honor enough for me to die happy—well, that and new lab gear. Plus, toys for these Eevees and their kids and grandkids!” He laughed, scooping up an Eevee, who licked his nose.
Gladion’s smirk mirrored his father’s, his psychic aura warm. “Alright, but I’m milking Oak dry. Guy gets too much credit for free—time he pays up.” Ben’s eyes gleamed with greed, his grin downright villainous. “That’s my boy! Squeeze every PokéDollar out of him. Oak’s got more grants than a Snorlax has snacks.”
Charizard, still lazing in the corner, huffed as it muttered, [Like father, like son—greedy as Meowths.]
