At the same time, Owen's father noticed Owen and Eevee. He smiled and asked, "How was it? Did you learn anything from the training yesterday? You look a bit tired."
"We're doing alright..." Owen replied. He walked over to the coffee table and squatted down, bringing his eyes level with the Magnemite's single eye.
Magnemite, as a species, has only one eye situated in the center of its spherical body.
"Kuo-yi..."
When their eyes met, Magnemite let out a nervous, metallic cry. It looked incredibly shy around strangers.
"Don't be nervous. I'm very friendly. Right, Eevee?" Owen flashed a reassuring smile at the Magnemite.
"Vee..." Eevee rolled her eyes. She had no intention of exposing Owen's true nature in front of a new guest.
"I've already cleared it with the management," Owen's father explained. "This Magnemite is still technically registered under the power plant, but we're the ones fostering it now."
He walked over to the door and picked up a black, square device. "I also brought this back from the plant. It's a specialized charger for Magnemite. It plugs into the home circuit—essential gear for any household Electric-type."
Owen nodded. Compared to Eevee's gourmet food and expensive supplements, electricity was actually quite cheap. A single unit of electricity (kWh) costs less than fifty cents and could keep a standard refrigerator running for thirty-six hours.
If the Magnemite wasn't frequently discharging high-voltage attacks or undergoing high-intensity combat training, simply maintaining its biological functions wouldn't consume much power at all. It would be a mere fraction of their monthly utility bill.
Of course, that was assuming it was just "living." Since it couldn't even hover yet, it was no wonder Owen's father said it wouldn't "eat" much.
"Nice to meet you," Owen said, extending a finger for a friendly greeting.
"Vee!" Eevee hopped onto Owen's shoulder and reached out a paw as well. With a new member in the house, things were bound to get lively.
"Haha, you kids get along. I'm going to start on dinner," his father laughed.
"Okay!"
Owen and Eevee kept their hands in the air, but Magnemite hesitated, motionless.
"Kuo-yiiiiiii..."
Suddenly, the Magnemite's body hummed. Its gray surface took on a slight reddish tint—it was overwhelmed by the sudden warmth from Owen and Eevee.
"Uh... is it okay?" Owen was confused.
He didn't realize that this was the first time anyone had ever greeted this Magnemite with such genuine kindness.
In the power plant, its kin were indifferent, leaving it to huddle in corners alone. Even when senior employees looked after it, they were practical adults; they were blunt and didn't really account for a Pokémon's emotional state.
To the Magnemite, Owen felt very special. Eevee did too, though it sensed a faint, unexplained "rivalry" coming from the fox-like Pokémon...
"Kuo-yi..."
After the initial nerves passed, Magnemite calmed down. Using the magnets on either side of its body, it slowly shifted itself and touched Owen's finger with a magnet. It was finally responding.
So tingly...
Owen felt a weak current travel from the magnet. It didn't hurt; it was just a tiny, buzzing numbness. It seemed the little guy couldn't quite control its power yet.
Next, Magnemite turned its other magnet toward Eevee. As the current hummed through her fur, Eevee's hair stood on end.
Instant fluff!
The Legal Loophole
The arrival of the Magnemite didn't change the household routine much, but Owen personally felt a bit of regret.
He finally had access to a second Pokémon, but this one wasn't suitable for capture. Magnemite is a powerful species, but if it can't manipulate electromagnetic waves to hover, it's a different story entirely.
"The chance to train a second Pokémon early is here, but the timing is all wrong," Owen sighed.
Earth was different from the Pokémon world. Most Pokémon had migrated from the Rifts over the last few decades.
While there was large-scale breeding now, the numbers were still far below those of the Pokémon world.
Because resources were limited, the Pokémon League restricted the number of Pokémon a trainer could hold to ensure sustainable development.
Owen suspected there was another reason: a Pokémon is as dangerous as a firearm. If Trainer Associations allowed private citizens to stockpile Pokémon, it would be no different from hoarding an arsenal.
Hence, the laws state that one cannot raise Pokémon without being a registered trainer.
Even with these laws, there were still many criminals using Pokémon to cause chaos. This proved that Pokémon are a double-edged sword. Without restrictions, society would fall into disarray.
New trainers like Owen were strictly limited. Currently, he could only officially own one. To catch a second or third, he would need to apply to the local Trainer Association or a public university.
Only after a background check and proof of financial capability would the quota be expanded.
However, where there are policies, there are loopholes.
Because this Magnemite was registered under Owen's father's company, it was considered a "corporate Pokémon."
Since his father was an employee of that corporation, it wasn't considered private ownership. This was a classic loophole used by some to begin training a second team member early.
This was why Owen felt regretful. He had the opportunity to bypass the system, but he lacked the funds to actually raise a second Pokémon.
He could barely afford Eevee's "luxurious" lifestyle as it was. These loopholes were meant for the wealthy.
That evening, Owen's mother returned. Dinner was served, though Owen and Eevee only ate a little since they'd had a big meal earlier.
Still... you can skip a meal, but you can't skip the milk.
Eevee downed a large glass of fortified Moomoo Milk mixed with berry juice. Owen, on the other hand, had a glass of regular store-bought milk.
"Vee..."
As she drank, Eevee looked over at the Magnemite sitting by the power outlet. She shook her head. Drinking milk is how you enjoy life. Sitting by a plug, eating electricity is just weird.
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