Sami leans back on the metal door behind her, sighing. She takes three Pokéballs from her belt and sets them on the floor, then kneels in front of them. She places her Fire Stone, Water Stone, and Thunder Stone on the leather seat just in front of her, then releases the Pokémon inside the Pokéballs.
    The Pokémon that emerge are three Eevees. Only one of them is at its full cuteness potential; the other two look a little ragged. One of them in particular looks skittish although it stays out in the open, whereas the other looks hostile as it growls and hides underneath the back seats.
    "<Faris!>" the first Eevee smiles, jumping onto her trainer. She then proceeds to lick her face. "<I missed you!>"
    Sami laughs gently, closing one eye and smiling as her Eevee rubs against her cheek. "I'm glad I'm so popular, Hikaru-chan," she replies. "I've got some news for you; you've got two new Eevee companions."
    "Uuee?" Hikaru says, turning around. It's then she sees the two other Eevees, one looking frightened, the other glaring at everyone underneath the seat with beady black eyes. "<Did you catch them?>"
    Sami shakes her head. "I got them off someone who'd been stealing Pokémon for a few months. This is the first time I've let them out of their Pokéballs. I would like you to please talk to them, explain their situation to them."
    "<Okay!>" Hikaru smiles before jumping out of her trainer's arms and landing in front of the skittish Eevee. "<Hi! I'm Hikaru! This is my trainer, Faris! What's your name?>"
    "<Na...name?>" the other Eevee says uncertainly. "<Wh, what do you mean...?>"
    "<What did your old trainer call you?> Hikaru replies.
    The other Eevee glances away. "<Good-for-nothing.>"
    Sami and Hikaru both frown. "How did your old trainer treat you, Eevee-san?" Sami queries gently.
    "<He never hurt me...but he always said I was weak, not worth working with,>" Eevee replies miserably. "<I wanted so much to be worth something...but he wouldn't even try to teach me to be stronger...>"
    Sami and Hikaru exchange a glance and a frown. "<How many attacks do you know? What level are you at?>" Hikaru questions. "<It's okay if you don't know a lot of stuff, Faris is really nice and she won't laugh at you.>"
    "<Tackle and sand-attack are the only moves I know,>" Eevee mumbles. "<I'm not sure what level I'm at, but I think I'm somewhere in the twenties.>"
    Sami sighs. "Eevee only learns a new attack at level twenty-seven," she frowns. "It's wrong for anyone to neglect a Pokémon because they think it's weak. It might seem weak at first, but it will grow strong if you train them well. And besides, Eevee evolves into three different forms: Flareon, a fire Pokémon; Jolteon, an electric Pokémon; and Vaporeon, a water Pokémon. It's Eevee's variety that makes it a powerful Pokémon. It's not the Pokémon's fault if it's weak, it's the trainer's for not training it well."
    Eevee's ears perk up at that, and she gazes up hopefully at Sami.
    "<I could become a water Pokémon?>" she asks hesitatingly. "<My old trainer was partial to water Pokémon...maybe if I became a Vaporeon, he would like me!>"
    One of Hikaru's ears tilt to the side. "<I'm sorry for saying so, but I don't think it would make a difference,>" she says bluntly. "<He sounds like the type of jerk trainer who only likes Pokémon for winning battles.>"
    "Uee," Eevee replies, hanging her head. "<I guess I'll never be anything...>"
    "<That's not right!>" Hikaru argues. "<You were stolen from your trainer by some guy, and Faris found you and rescued you. You can be one of her Pokémon now, and believe me, she won't neglect you like your old trainer did! I've only known Faris for a short time, but I'd fight to the death to protect her!>"
    "Mou, Hikaru..." Sami blushes. She addresses Umi, still beaming from Hikaru's compliment, "If you don't want to, you don't have to be my Pokémon. I can just set you free."
    "<I don't know about that...>" Eevee says quietly. "<I don't even remember what it's like to be wild. I don't think I could survive... I'll stay with you. I have nowhere else to go.>"
    Sami smiles faintly. "If that's the case, do you want a name?" she inquires.
    "<?>"
    "A name is something that gives you an individual identity," Sami explains. "If I were to call you Eevee, then that just makes you another Eevee. But if I refer to you by a certain nickname, then that gives you a separate identity that makes you different from other Eevees."
    Eevee's cheeks turn slightly red. "<You'd do that...for me?>"
    Hikaru asks, "<What made you think she wouldn't if she gave me a nickname?>"
    Eevee smiles. "<I guess you're right...yes, please, I'd like...something to make me special.>"
    "Hmmm..." Sami murmurs, placing a finger on her cheek. "What you need is the name of someone strong-spirited, so you can become inspired to have a strong spirit as well... Asuka, maybe? No, I think that's not right, she's too obnoxious and bitchy...Well, how about Umi? She's strong-willed, beautiful, elegant, and doesn't desert her friends. I think that'll be the perfect name for you. Do you like it? I can always think of something else."
    "<Umi...I like it, it sounds like the name of someone who is worth something,>" Eevee smiles shyly.
    Sami laughs gently. "Considering Umi helped save an entire planet, I'd say she's worth something," she smiles. "Umi it is, then."
    Umi closes her eyes, smiling happily. "Uuee!" She opens her eyes. "<You said I could evolve into a water Pokémon...Faris...?>"
    "Hai, called a Vaporeon," Sami nods. "I would have to use a special gem called a Water Stone; when an Eevee is touched by one, it evolves into Vaporeon. Also, if an Eevee is touched by a Fire Stone, it evolves into Flareon, and if it's touched by a Thunder Stone, it evolves into Jolteon."
    "<Do you have one of those stones?>" Umi asks shyly.
    "All three, actually," she admits, pointing to the evolution stones on the seat. "I was planning on asking the three of you if you wanted to evolve. You don't have to if you don't want to, of course; it's just an option you have."
    "<If I evolve, will I get stronger?>" a new Eevee asks. The third Eevee, which had been hiding underneath the seat, has finally poked her head out from underneath.
    "It technically depends on what you evolve into, but yes, in this case and most cases, Pokémon become significantly stronger when they evolve," Sami replies.
    Eevee glares at her, not saying anything for a moment. Hikaru finally pipes up, "<Is something the matter?>"
    "<I don't trust humans,>" the Eevee replies flatly. "<Not after all the times my trainer hit me so many times, then abandoned me.>"
    "<That's awful!>" Hikaru gasps. "<Why did your trainer do that?!>"
    "<How should I know!?>" the Eevee snaps, still glaring. "<All I know is, humans aren't to be trusted.>"
    "<Faris is worth trusting,>" Hikaru tells her quietly.
    The Eevee switches her glare to her. "<I'll believe it when this human proves that she's trustworthy,>" she replies flatly.
    Sami shakes her head. "I'm much the same in personality as you," she tells her softly. "If you don't want to be my Pokémon, I'll gladly set you free. An unwilling Pokémon is better off wild, anyway. They're happier that way."
    Eevee eyes her suspiciously. "<The same?>"
    "I'm distrustful of humans, too." Sami glances away. "One of them once... killed... someone who was very important to me." She closes her eyes. "Ever since then, I've never been able to trust another human completely."
    Eevee slowly creeps out from underneath the seat. Cautiously, she queries, "<Really? How do I know you're not lying?>"
    "I wouldn't lie about such a thing," Sami replies, her voice tight. She swipes at her eyes with her fingers, and faces Eevee. "That person was the only one who cared about me when I was little. I loved her, and I was there when she died. I couldn't do anything to save her, because I was too afraid for myself. That was the most traumatic experience of my entire life, and I can never stop wishing I could have done something to stop it; do you think I could lie about something like that?!"
    Sami softens her tone, shaking her head. "...I'm sorry. It's...a touchy subject, one I don't like to talk about." She rubs her eyes, and her fingers leave wet.
    Eevee takes a step closer to Sami. "<No, I guess not,>" she says softly. "<...I don't trust you completely yet, but I don't think you'll hurt me...so I'll stay as your Pokémon. Provided...>"
    "Provided what?"
    "<You let me evolve into the strongest of Eevee's three possible forms!>" Eevee states firmly.
    Sami smiles and wipes away the last of the tears. "Do you want a name first?"
    "<Anything is fine, I don't care,>" Eevee tells her.
    "In that case, how about Fuu?" she suggests.
    Eevee considers this name for a moment. "<Fuu...it's short, succinct. I like it,>" she decides. "<Fuu is a good enough name.>"
    Sami smiles and refrains from reminding Fuu that she had said that she didn't care what she was named. "As for the strongest Pokémon type...every type has its strengths and weaknesses, and in the end you'll learn the same amount of attacks as Hikaru and Umi at the same levels. The difference is that you'll learn different attacks. But, in the circle of water-thunder-fire, thunder beats water and has no special advantage over fire. Water is defeated by thunder, but beats fire. And fire is beaten by water, and has no special advantage over thunder. Does that help?"
    Fuu considers her options. "<I'll take thunder,>" she decides. "<I'll become a Jolteon.>" She jumps up onto the leather seat above her, and looks over the stones.
    "<Are you sure you should evolve?>" Umi queries, worried.
    "<I'm not going to stay weak like you!>" Fuu snaps before touching a paw to the Thunder Stone.
    While evolving, Fuu did not see Umi wince.
    "I told you before, Umi-chan," Sami reminds her gently, "you don't have to evolve if you don't want."
    "<I...I'm just a little scared, that's all,>" Umi says quietly.
    The light of change shimmers away from Fuu's newly evolved body, leaving behind a menacing-looking monster with spiky yellow fur. She stretches and flexes her body. "<...>"
    "<How do you feel, Fuu?>" Hikaru wonders. "<What's it like to evolve?>"
    "<...I can't describe it,>" Fuu the Jolteon replies. "<I feel...different. I don't know how to explain it.>" She steps down from the seat and sits next to Sami. "<More powerful. Like I could take on the world and win!>"
    "That's typical, actually," Sami explains to Umi and Hikaru. "When other Pokémon of mine evolved, they all felt the same surge of invincibility. It wears off after a few moments."
    "<You're beautiful as a Jolteon, Fuu,>" Umi says quietly.
    Fuu thumps her tail twice, but says nothing in response.
    "<It looks interesting,>" Hikaru pipes up. "<Ne, Umi, didn't you say wanted to be a Vaporeon?>"
    "<Eh?>" Umi says, startled. "<Well, I'm not sure yet, but...>"
    "<In that case, I'll evolve into the Flareon, so if you decide you do want to evolve, you can be what you wanted. I like fire, anyway,>" Hikaru smiles before jumping up onto the seat. She identifies the red stone, then touches her paw to it.
    Umi, Fuu, and Sami watch in silence as the Fire Stone reacts to Hikaru's body, and the transforming light overtakes her. Her form swells and takes a new shape, and once the light fades off, Hikaru has evolved into a Flareon.
    "Flare! Flare flare!!" Hikaru cheers, jumping into Sami's lap and knocking her against the door behind her. "<This feels great, Faris! I love being a Flareon, it feels so exhilarating!!>" In her happiness, she nuzzles her face to Sami's and licks her cheeks.
    Umi watches silently as her new trainer laughs and strokes Hikaru's flame-red fur. 'If I evolve, will I be as happy as that?' she wonders to herself. "Uuee..."
    <You should choose for yourself on what makes you happiest,> an unfamiliar voice sounds in her head. <Keep in mind that if you evolve, you cannot change back, and there is a chance that your personality may change. It has happened before, that during evolution, something triggered a change in a Pokémon's personality. It's not exceptionally common, but there is still a risk.>
    "<Who are you?>" Umi whispers, ears turned back.
    <I am Batts, Faris' strongest Pokémon. I have been psychically listening in on what you all have been saying-- and thinking-- while you were talking. I am just outside the room you are in.>
    "Uee..." Umi breathes. She gazes up at Faris and Hikaru, then over at the Water Stone. '...I want to be someone important. I want to live up to my name.' With that, she jumps up onto the leather seat and touches the Water Stone with her paw.
    "Umi!?" Sami gasps, startled by the sudden burst of evolutionary light. Her eyes soften as she gazes on Umi's changing form, and Hikaru leaves her lap to watch the transformation. "...kirei..."
    The light shimmers away, revealing a beautiful finned water Pokémon: Vaporeon. Umi takes a step forward, her head down but her eyes cast shyly on Sami. "<...I'm home.>"
    Sami smiles warmly. "Welcome home."
    "<...!!>" the blue-skinned Pokémon cries, eyes filling with tears. She leaps into Sami's lap, knocking her against the wall, and joyously licks her face.
    After much laughter and tears, Sami manages to calm Umi down. She convinces her, Fuu and Hikaru to return to their Pokéballs. Once inside their Pokéballs, she attaches them to her belt, then returns the three stones to the void behind her back that all anime characters possess.
    <More friends for your 'collection', hmmm?> Batts' voice sounds mildly in her head.
    Sami smiles fondly. "Oh, shut up, you."
    She stands, then turns around and opens the door leading into the cockpit.

    "What?!" Starr exclaims, grabbing the map away from Jessie and flipping it right-side-up. "Ten miles south? No, that's not right. Topaz City is here." She jabs a finger at the map. "Whilst reading a map, you should always be sure it's the right way up before giving the pilot directions." She turns to James. "Turn left. Topaz City should be just over those hills."
    James obliges and Jessie sulks. "Why don't those stupid cartographers mark the top of the maps?"
    Starr has a sudden sneezing fit. "Well, if you'll notice, when the map's upside down it's a lot harder to read since the writing's upside down, too…"
    James starts to snigger. Jessie reaches across Starr and whaps him in the head.
    "OWWW!" James wails.
    "Don't kill the pilot!" Starr says. "I don't exactly want to crash."
    A throat-clearing noise from behind makes everyone turn around. Sami has come back.
    "Hey, Sami," Starr smiles. "What were you doing back there, anyhow?"
    Now Jessie has a sneezing fit. Starr raises her eyebrows. "Uh-huh…"
    Sami shrugs. "Just getting acquainted with new Pokémon."
    Starr nods, then happens to catch sight of the scenery below. "HEY! There's Topaz City! James, we're gonna miss it! Land quick!"
    James obliges, maybe a little too well.
    "OWWWWWWW!" all the occupants of the helicopter yell as the aircraft thumps to the landing platform.
    "Raichu, would you mind getting off my head?" Starr inquires politely, removing the electric Pokémon.
    "Raiiii…" Raichu says, dazed. When Starr sets him down, he staggers into the seat, shakes his head, and blinks.
    Sami stands up. "Nice," he says to James, who is presently upside-down in the pilot's seat with a spectacular view of the underside of the steering column.
    James growls as Sami leaves, and attempts to get up. He forgets the steering wheel exists, hits his head on it, and falls out of the seat and onto the floor.
    Jessie rolls her eyes and Starr looks at James sideways, saying mildly, "Poor baby."
    "James, stop whining and get up!" Jessie hauls James to his feet.
    Starr jumps out of the helicopter, takes her black sweater out of the same void Sami got her evolution stones from, and pulls it over her head, concealing the Team Rocket sweater. Sami pulls on a black trenchcoat as she does so.
    "What are you doing?" Jessie queries, staring at them.
    "Making sure no one knows I'm a Team Rocket member. This way, nobody freaks and calls the cops, so I can get the job done with nobody hounding me on the way," Sami replies smoothly.
    "This is what 'going In Cog Nee Toh' is," Starr says slowly.
    "I KNOW that," Jessie snaps, annoyed.
    "Mm hmm. Do you have a sweater, or something?"
    "No."
    "Here, take this then." Sami holds out a trenchcoat to James, who leaps behind Jessie.
    "I am NOT wearing that thing! It's unfashionable!" James looks at the trenchcoat as though it were a very large bug.
    "In which case, stay here, guard the helicopter, and DON'T GO ANYWHERE!" Sami tells him sharply.
    He and Starr walk off, leaving a very bored Jessie, James and Meowth.