It's a day like many others in Post Town, and Emolga is enjoying some well-deserved rest after a long and exhausting morning mission. The late afternoon of May invites to nap, but Azzurra, the eldest of his children, doesn't think so.
Emolga's adoptive daughter is pretty: a sixteen year old Alolan Vulpix, who had been entrusted to him when she was just an Egg, during his honeymoon. It had been organized on Ibisco Beach, far from his native village, and nearby, into the surrounding forest, he had come across an orphanage, where two Eggs stood out among the many little guests that populated it.
Needless to say, he had brought them both with him.
"Daddy, are you sleeping?" the fox asks him, jumping on the hammock above which the parent is napping; he moans compliantly and hugs her, as when she was a puppy and woke up startled in the grip of nightmares.
"What is it, Light Blue?" he asks, using the joking nickname he had given her as a newborn, after his wife had decreed the name, with jovial peremptoriness.
"Dad, I've realized something... you never told me how you met mom..."
These words throw Emolga into a panic, and into the most complete euphoria: it's so beautiful to plunge into the past...
"Ah, really?" he stutters, trying not to appear at his daughter's eyes like an adolescent full of embarrassment.
"Really. Since you have some time, would you talk to me about?"
How to resist these aquamarine eyes? Emolga has always struggled to do it, even when she did some knavery and had to scold her, like a good self-respecting parent.
The flying squirrel sighs, knowing that with the stubborn teenager who lives under his own roof there is little to do.
"We go back of twenty years..."
"I like the stories of the past..."
"Who is she?"
"Have you ever seen her?"
"Not me…"
That March day had brought something new to the peaceful village of Post Town: a face never seen before, an innate elegance, a soothing voice.
"I don't know who she is or where she comes from, but she seems a splendor to me!" Gurdurr had said, with already heart-shaped eyes.
"Boss, you could be her ideal type!" Tim, one of his collaborators, had dared.
"It's true! She is so tall and proud! And you're the best!" concluded Burr, the other assistant-carpenter.
And while Gurdurr swelled like a haughty Pidgeot, Dunsparce, Emolga's childhood friend, blushed visibly.
"E-Emolga, she's... a fairy..."
"Yes, she's very beautiful."
It would had taken at least two years for the bee to decide talking to Virizion, considering the fact that the latter sporadically frequented their village, and they could spend months before seeing her again.
On that March day, however, the grass antelope had stopped at Swanna's Inn for a tasty fruit salad and all of them had gathered around her.
The girl had so politely introduced herself and begun to rattle off details of her adventures all over the world, snatching out screams of surprise and admiration from anyone. Even the owner was enchanted.
Dunsparce and Emolga, on the other hand, had remained on the sidelines, at a small table not far.
"I will never have the courage..."
"To do what, Dunsparce?" Emolga was sipping his sparkling water as he listened with interest to Virizion's stories.
"Nothing... Let's drop it."
After finishing the snack, Emolga and Dunsparce had left the tavern to reach the latter's school; the little bee was attending a course in Geography and Mapping, while the squirrel enjoyed his money, being rich of family.
When they returned to the restaurant for lunch time, they saw Gurdurr coming out of it in tears, and Virizion in the doorway.
"B-But what happened?" Emolga asked him then. Seeing a big and tough Pokémon like that crying was an unusual sight.
"Sniff... Allergy..." he muttered, before heading elsewhere.
"EH?!"
"Hey, we're not even getting to the part where you talk to Mom!" Billy intrudes, Emolga and Virizion's second child, adopted with his sister and born fifteen days later.
Billy is a Rockruff, also a sixteen year old boy, with mischievous ways but sweetness and sensitivity as well.
"Guys, what do you have today? What is all this curiosity?" the rodent can define his rest as finished.
"I want to listen too!"
"But then you do your homework!"
"Received!"
Emolga had entered the inn with Dunsparce in tow, and had found it empty, with only Virizion intent on speaking thickly to Swanna. After hearing the sound of footsteps, the beautiful Pokémon had turned and smiled at them both.
Dunsparce had felt like melting, while Emolga hadn't felt anything special, only surprise; could it be she didn't notice Gurdurr's tears? What had she done to him?
However, they didn't know and couldn't judge her, so the squirrel greeted her warmly and introduced himself.
"Very pleased, Emolga."
They had remained to speak for the whole meal, even though Dunsparce had not said a word and had confined himself to listening and nodding dreamily; the speech was conducted entirely by Emolga and Virizion.
After nearly two hours, the antelope had looked at the big wall clock and had apologized:
"I enjoyed your company, boys, but now I would like to travel south. I heard that there are islands wrapped in mist... as if they were mirages..."
Virizion had then left, and Emolga found himself commenting with Swanna on the resolute character of the adventurer, as well as her undeniable charm.
"Said between us... Gurdurr was rejected by her... but don't let it get away from here!" the innkeeper had told him.
"Oh…"
"Are you gossiping behind me?" Virizion has just returned from her shopping trip; with her there is also Jeremy, the youngest child, the son of miracle: a six year old cub very similar to his mother, if not for his yellow cheeks and soft paws, a paternal heritage. Nobody would had bet a Pokédime on his coming to the world, and instead the genetics had surprised everyone.
"I bought you the almond flour you like so much! We'll make a nice cake!"
"Yup! But I'm the one who added lollipops!" points out the little of the house, hopping here and there.
While Jeremy goes to the kitchen to arrange the shopping, the beautiful Virizion approaches her husband and kisses him softly.
"Were you reviving the past?"
Emolga blushes.
"Y-yes..."
"Dad was telling us about your first meeting!" Azzurra interrupts him.
"And then he told us that you gave the heisman to Gurdurr! Who would have thought about it!" Billy adds.
"Eh eh... guys, what can I do if your father caught me immediately!"
"Your mother gave the heisman to ALL Post Town, including uncles Dunsparce and Keldeo!"
"REALLY?!" the dog exclaims.
"MOM!" the daughter reproaches her feignedly, shielding herself.
"Yes, then I went to fall in love with the only one that pierced me with his eyes!" the antelope giggles.
"No wonder! At the time you were as cold as an icicle!"
"I remember that while Quagsire was explaining the sharing of the upgraded moves, you told me plainly that you didn't want to deal with me!"
Virizion is amused, remembering those moments doesn't weigh on her.
"B-But things have changed!"
"Daddy, you're all red!" Azzurra laughs even louder.
"It takes a group hug!" Billy proposes, and they find themselves tight in their warm and comfortable family nest.
On the threshold of the living room appears Jeremy, who has some biscuits stolen from the breakfast bowl in his mouth.
"Leave me a little room!" he exclaims, slipping into the arms of his family, and scattering crumbs everywhere.
After that cuddly reunion, Azzurra and Billy decide to finish their school assignments, then gather some friends and go for a walk. Jeremy came out with the youngest of the children of the two heroic saviors of the world, Orlando and Beatrice.
Emolga sighs: now they too are full-fledged adults, with the human-turned Pokémon evolved into a magnificent Samurott and the Paradise designer as a shimmering Raichu. Their two children, Rica and Milo, are habitual visitors of their home.
"What do you think?" his wife asks to the thoughtful squirrel.
"About... everyone. All our friends. About Swanna who married Gurdurr..."
"Eh eh eh... the strangest and most epic couple in the universe..."
"About Dunsparce who is always travelling..."
"He became an explorer of Master Rank..."
"Who would have thought?"
Emolga turns to his wife.
"Those who surprised me the most, however, were the Eevee siblings..."
"Well, Umbreon liked Meloetta's songs and Espeon found Keldeo's company amusing..."
"Years later, I'm still surprised..."
Virizion rubs her cheek against that of the groom.
"Everyone has found its way... and I still thank that distant day, when I met the love of my life."
"A small love that has gone against you?"
"Yes... just that."
Emolga comes down from his hammock. His sleep has passed completely and he feels full of energy.
"Honey... what would you say to knead that famous almond cake?"
"I say it's a great idea."
The two head to the kitchen; the May afternoon opens up to perfumes and light. Everything looks wonderful.