As a Togetic, it is my duty to spread happiness. Or at least, I think it is…

In Toge hierarchy, once a Togepi evolves into a Togetic, they are required to travel the world until the higher-ups decided that they're "worthy" of evolving into Togekiss. Even human-owned Togetic, such as myself, have to do this. I miss my trainer, even though I only see him about once a year. I wonder if he worries about me sometimes… and that lonely Deerling, and that Archeops who wants to fly, and all the other Pokémon I've met and remembered… I wonder if they ever think about me?

Needless to say, this wandering lifestyle just isn't for me. I'd like to stay somewhere, but I don't know where I truly belong. If I admitted this in my species' homeland, I'd be promptly punished. So what do I do?

I suppose questioning things I can't answer won't help. So one day, I decided to tell someone about this – a Pokémon I cross paths with often, an Altaria. Contrary to what you humans believe, not all Pokémon speak the same language, so it took me a while to understand her. I still don't undersand her sometimes.

"Oh, Altaria, what do I do?" I asked her, desperately. I told her all about my troubles.
"Well, child," said the Altaria, "a duty you don't want to do isn't a duty at all." Or at least that's what I understood.
"But Altaria, you don't understand. You don't know what Toge society is really like… If you try to abandon it, they'll…" I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence.
"Togetic, you must understand. It's okay if you fall. You are you, and that makes you wonderful!"

I took Altaria's words in, without seriously thinking about them, and then I quietly flew away.

You humans often think of Togekiss being nice Pokémon. That's not necessarily true. In the place members of my kind hide themselves away in, informally known as the Toge Homeland, they can be very cruel to those who disobey them. Shiny Stones are rare, so there are very few Togekiss in the world, and they are all very powerful. I've seen a Togekiss get angry before, and their Air Slashes can destroy several objects at once.

I eventually ended up in a forest in a faraway region. Maybe spending some time in a peaceful place would help me think clearer? In the forest, a Poochyena seemed interested in me and seemed to want me to follow it. I followed it across the mossy ground and tight corridors of branches. Eventually, the Poochyena stopped moving, and looked towards a small clearing. It must have found something it wanted me to see.

That something was a small, white Pokémon, with a few red and blue triangle patterns… a Togetic, like me. Someone who would truly understand me. I hope.

Well, here goes nothing…

"Umm… hello?" I asked, nervously.
"Yes, what is it?" the other Togetic replied, before turning around. The Togetic sounds distinctly male.
I tried to tell him everything. I tried to tell him about how I was doubting myself and my duty, and how I was worried about being punished for it. But I can't. I'm too nervous to. All I managed to say was: "Wh… why are you here?"
"Oh…" said the other Togetic. "I was just visiting my friend here, that Poochyena. He seems to have guided you here."
"Well I'm here because… because… I… I'm… not really sure where to go," I stuttered.
"Is something the matter?"
"I'm… I'm…" my voice went quiet. "I'm not good at being a Togetic… and I was surprised to see another one here…"
The other Togetic paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out what I said.
"You seem desperate. I'd be happy to help… explain, please."

I told him my story, including my conversation with the Altaria. I nervously anticipated his response.

"You're worrying too much," he finally said.
"What…?"
"You're overreacting. The Togekiss in the homeland aren't that bad. Did you have a bad experience with one? Or did you just believe the rumours? Whatever the case, if you're in need of genuine help, in this case, you doubting yourself, I'm sure they'd be fine with it."
"Re… really?" I started to feel ashamed for getting so upset, for doubting myself. Why had I overreacted like that?
"They'd only punish someone if they did something such as attack and severely injure wild Pokémon without provocation. And besides, I don't think you'd count as a deserter."
"Well… I'm glad I had someone to talk to who understood me. I suppose I should go to the homeland, then…"
"Well, would you like me to come with you?"

I took the other Togetic's hand, and together we soared into the twilight sky.

"You don't need to feel bad about doubting yourself," he said. "I'm sure you made a lot of Pokémon happy, and I'm sure they're thinking about you right now. It's okay if you fall. You are you, and that makes you wonderful."