It was an average school day at Red & Blue Elementary School. The students were learning as usual, but it was difficult for Plusle to pay attention. She was much too excited about the family reunion that was going to happen later.
The teacher, Mr. Charizard, turned towards the class. "Alright, Plusle, what is 12 times 12?"
"Party," Plusle answered. "I-I mean, 144."
All the students snickered. Even Mr. Charizard looked somewhat amused. Plusle just shrugged and chuckled. Minun blushed, he was having some secondhand embarrassment. Magikarp facepalmed and Machoke snorted.
"Quite an unconventional answer," Mr. Charizard quipped, and he went back to writing on the whiteboard.
Plusle looked up at the clock. To her joy, it was very close to dismissal time. And soon enough, the bell rang. The students filed out the door.
"What time did you say it would start?" asked Magikarp.
"4:30," said Minun.
Plusle licked her chops. "There's gonna be a potluck. Grandpawmot always makes the best pies."
"Hopefully Morpeko doesn't steal the dessert," Minun quipped.
"See you all then," Machoke said.
They scattered and went to their respective residences. When the twins arrived home, Plusle knocked on the door, and Snubbot answered.
"Dad, auntie!" she happily exclaimed. "How was school?"
"Fine," Minun answered. "Where's mom and dad?"
Before Snubbot could answer, the sound of something dragging on the floor was heard. The kids looked up and saw Michael attempting to haul a table with one hand. Phyllis had a wagon full of drinks, including root beer.
"Could someone give me a hand here?" Michael wheezed.
Snubbot and the twins approached him and held onto the table. "Are we going soon?" Plusle asked.
"Thanks," Michael panted. "Yup, we just gotta load these into the car and set things up."
"I'll drive!" Phyllis suggested.
"NO!" Plusle, Minun, and Michael yelled.
Soon enough, Michael parked the car, and everyone gathered their stuff. The twins and Snubbot put up the extra table. Michael and Phyllis took out the chairs and drinks. Phyllis took out a photo of a Kantonian Raichu and an Alolan Raichu, and the latter was holding a ukulele. With a longing, pensive look, she put it on a table.
Snubbot walked over and noticed the picture. "Who's that?"
"That's Raichu, my stepbrother, and his wife, Raelynn," Phyllis told her, remaining serious.
Snubbot was too excited about the other relatives' upcoming arrival to notice Phyllis's rather serious expression. "They look really nice!"
Phyllis sighed. "Yeah…"
Right then, Machamp and Geraldine dropped Machoke and Magikarp off, respectively.
Snubbot cheerfully ran over to greet them. "Uncle Machoke! Uncle Magikarp!"
"Hey, Snub," Machoke greeted her.
Another car pulled into the parking lot. It was Grandpawmot, his wife Dedenne, their son Pawmo, his wife Pachirisu, and their son and daughter, Togedemaru and Pawmi. They all got out of their vehicle.
"Mom, dad!" Michael exclaimed.
"Hey, big bro," Pawmo greeted Michael, putting his hand out for a handshake. Michael took his hand, only to feel a sudden vibration. It was a joy buzzer. Pawmo snickered and Michael rolled his eyes.
Phyllis's younger cousin Morpeko came driving by in his car shaped like an Oran Berry and honked the horn. "Hey!"
"Peko!" Phyllis called out and waved at him.
As Morpeko got out, Magikarp looked at his car and noticed a bite mark on it. "What's that doing there?"
"I mistook it for a real berry," Morpeko chuckled sheepishly. "Boy, did I regret that."
Suddenly, there was a twinkle in the sky. An Emolga came down at breakneck speed, causing Grandpawmot's glasses to fly off. She landed gracefully on a tree branch and lifted her flight goggles with a wink. "Guess who's here?!"
"Great Aunt Momo!" the kids shouted.
"Always one for a dramatic entrance, eh, Aunt Emolga?" Michael commented.
"What can I say?" Emolga shrugged and began to climb down. "I always glide with style."
Minun cleared his throat and gestured to Snubbot. "Guys, meet Snubbot, the newest member of the family."
Snubbot waved her hand at them and grinned. The Electrodent family looked at Snubbot for a moment, and then they cheered. Snubbot smiled radiantly.
"Well, let's give her a good welcome, then!" Dedenne yelled joyously.
They all gathered around and took turns shaking hands with her. Snubbot was elated, she had such a big family, so many people to talk to! But that wasn't the last of them. Another car came into the lot. A Snorlax, a Pikachu, and a Pichu stepped out.
Minun looked up. "Uncle Snorlax?"
"Sorry we're late," Snorlax said.
Emolga snorted. "Not like that's out of the ordinary."
Snubbot looked at Snorlax. He didn't look anything like the rest of the family. "Hi, I'm Snubbot."
Nearby, Mimikyu was out on a stroll for some exercise. He was wearing a green hooded sweater to conceal himself. He shivered from the wind that nipped at his cheeks and looked at his surroundings. It felt nice to be out and about.
Mimikyu then met a sight that filled him with mixed feelings; the Electrodent family was together, and they were all chatting and laughing. He was moved to see them having such a good time together, but at the same time, he had twinges of envy and sorrow. They had something that he did not have. He watched from behind a tree, and the cold wind tickled his nose, causing him to sneeze. This attracted Plusle's attention. She went over to him.
"Oh, hi, Mimikyu," she said, and she noticed the sad look in his eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Um…" he said timidly. "I just feel left out. I've never been to a family gathering before."
Plusle thought about this. "You know, you can join in if you want."
"Are you sure the others won't be scared of me?" Mimikyu asked.
"Our family opens their hearts to everyone," Plusle told him, extending her hand. "Trust me."
Mimikyu thought about this. More than anything, he wanted to be a part of it, and he knew he had to give everybody a chance. "Okay."
He took her hand, and she brought him over. The Electrodent relatives took notice of him.
"Hi, I'm Mimikyu," Mimikyu awkwardly greeted them. "Hope you don't mind another guest."
Dedenne turned towards him. "Hey, anyone who's a friend to our grandkids is a friend of mine."
"Spend all the time you'd like," Grandpawmot said warmly.
"Aw, thank you." cooed Mimikyu. Then he noticed Pikachu. He brightened up even more and went right to him.
"Oh, hey," Pikachu said.
"Hey!" Mimikyu giggled, trying to hold back his eagerness. "Okay, pull yourself together," he whispered to himself. "I just want you to know I'm a huge fan, heh."
Pikachu was flattered. "Nice suit, by the way."
Mimikyu blushed. "Oh, you're too kind."
Soon, people brought out the dishes they had brought for the potluck.
Morpeko shrugged. "Sorry, I would've brought my pavlova, but I got kinda hungry and ate it on my way here."
Phyllis laughed. "Oh, Morpeko."
"I prefer chocolate mousse anyway," Magikarp thought.
Everyone started to feast on their dinner.
"Was the Dedenny's restaurant named after you?" Machoke asked Dedenne.
"Heh. Never heard of that one before," commented Dedenne. She took another bite of her berry salad.
"We've got just about everyone here," Snubbot began, "but someone's missing. Where are Raichu and Raelynn?"
Everyone looked at each other uncomfortably. Nobody was entirely sure how to explain this to her. Pichu clung to Snorlax.
Michael cleared his throat. "Um…they're dead, Snubbot."
Snubbot was rather muddled. "Oh, well, maybe they can show up next time."
Michael looked at Grandpawmot, nonverbally asking him to say something. Grandpawmot rubbed the back of his head. "There won't be a next time for them," he said. "They're gone."
Snubbot's ears drooped. "Why can't they show up?"
Phyllis finally spoke up. "There was an accident, and they can't come back. It's hard to explain."
Dedenne slowly raised her hand. "You see, when someone dies, their body shuts down. They can't do anything anymore, and we can never see them again."
"But I never got to meet them," Snubbot whimpered.
Minun wrapped his arm around her. "I know, baby."
"Yeah, it hurts a lot," said Morpeko. "There's nothing we can do, really."
"I think it's helpful to remember them," Pawmo chimed in. "Thinking of all the good times makes me feel better."
Pikachu said his piece. "Our parents…they were great. Mom loved tuning her ukelele and would sing to us all the time. Dad always had such nice stories to tell."
Snorlax held both Pikachu and Pichu. "I've been taking care of these boys ever since."
Mimikyu was deeply saddened by this. He knew just how Pikachu and Pichu felt. He had been in their shoes in the past.
"Y'know, sometimes, I can still hear mom playing Aloha 'Oe at night when I'm about to sleep," Pichu said.
This gave Mimikyu an idea. "Why don't we sing that song?"
The others nodded in silent agreement. They stood up, joined hands, and performed in harmony.
"Aloha 'oe…aloha 'oe,
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace, a ho'i a'e au…
Until we meet again."
Pikachu looked at Mimikyu. "Thank you."
Mimikyu beamed. He was happy to receive words of gratitude from Pikachu in particular, but most of all, he was overjoyed that everyone's hearts had been filled with such nostalgia and memories.
"And…pops?" Pichu hugged Snorlax. "I love you."
Snorlax kissed him on the forehead. "Love you too, son."
Snubbot squeezed Minun's hand. "Dad, I feel so warm and fuzzy inside. Is it normal?"
Minun smiled. "Oh, it's better than that."
And she wasn't the only one. It was a feeling that was shared by everyone in the vicinity. They felt closer than ever, and they knew their familial bond and memories would continue.
Author's note: Snorlax adopting Pikachu and Pichu was suggested by my friend, LightningThePikachu. Credit goes to her.