So... I was told that my Norman's Slaking (as they correctly guessed) had the same name as the Slaking of 'The New Normal's' MC and that I probably should give them credit for it. I'll be honest and say that I hadn't read that one before I started writing this fic. From what I've read up until now, it's pretty damn good though. Despite its focus on pesky politics, that is. So I'll put it down as an inspiration. Thank you for the roundabout recommendation, stranger from the internet who found it necessary to PM me for that reason! As always, please leave some reviews for me to indulge in. If you have some genuine criticism, I'm always happy to receive some of that too. Without further ado, please enjoy!
~Wally Verdant~
"Finally..."
He muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. 'Finishing this gift was such a hassle...' He thought to himself but had a content smile on his lips. He knew of Brendan's birthday for a while already and after his own party where he learned that his starter was Treecko, he had the perfect gift in mind. A while ago, he had found a Miracle Seed in the forest surrounding Petalburg. He had grown curious when he found a tree trunk that was clearly dead but somehow had tender new leaves growing from it. He hadn't planned on selling it or anything so it was just lying around in a sealed box to preserve its energy. Testing its quality seemed like an unnecessary expenditure for the moment so he simply didn't bother.
That changed once he received the Pokédex. A font of information was what this thing was and that included its immediate on-the-spot use. The powerful scanning device was capable of drawing information from Pokémon and items alike and its accuracy was higher than most commercial ones. One of the many reasons that made Professor Birch's sponsorships so coveted was the guaranteed access to a Pokédex. It was just that convenient a tool. And it was one he now had access to so he scanned the seed and found out that it was lower-mid grade. Which was pretty bad honestly. Not a gift worth giving. Not even close. That would have been the end of it if he was a normal guy without any unique capabilities. Luckily for everyone involved, that wasn't the case.
For the past two weeks, he had infused massive amounts of Nurturing Aura into that seed. The daily practice paid off and now, he had a Top-grade Miracle Seed in his hands. It refused to take in any more Aura and was content to radiate Life into its surroundings. That particular trait caused an embarrassing situation already when he forgot to seal it away one evening and they came down the morning after just to see that their dining table sprouted sizable amounts of foliage overnight. His parents seemed to adapt rather quickly to the ridiculous scenes that became more and more common around him though. This one just caused a silent head shake and a tired smile.
'Top grade... I wonder how much it's worth.' He mused out of curiosity. After some research, he'd found mid-grade ones for less than 10k Pokédollar but lower high-grade and upwards were scarce and very rarely found for sale. He shrugged. The thought was just idle curiosity anyways since he didn't care much. 'Though... The difference should be pretty big. Maybe I'll buy some and sell them pumped up to Top Grade through the Joy Clan? That way, I'll be able to pay back my parents sooner than planned.' Now that he had some practice, he was sure he could cut down the time it took him to push the Seed to the top. If it was worth the time investment, he would consider it. He had borrowed a lot of money from them for the spoon and he felt guilty about it even though they reassured him that it wasn't a problem. But even disregarding his debt, monetary gains were always welcome. Talented Trainers often earned a lot but they were Storm Drains for money and resources since they needed to invest quite a bit into their team and themselves.
He had less to worry about since his Nurturing alleviated the most pronounced strain on every trainer's budget: Increasing the Potential of their Team-members. That didn't mean he had no worries in that regard. Light purple seemed to be the soft cap for effective use of his Nurturing Talent. While they still felt a very slight increase after their daily training sessions, the yielded results weren't all that impressive anymore. Without a good opportunity, increasing it to deep purple, or even just purple, would take years. Possibly decades. 'Which is still pretty ludicrous now that I think about it... This is supposed to be the pinnacle for Pokémon who don't have at least some Mythical blood running through their veins. The fact that I can push my team further than that at all with my ability alone is already beyond broken.' He acknowledged and sent his thanks to the fellow who sent him here. Despite the rude treatment, he wasn't one to be ungrateful when his gains were beyond what he'd expected.
As for why he contemplated selling through the Joy Clan, it would definitely be safer than other ventures. Not the least of reasons for that was that they named him Favoured. Similarly to his preliminary trainer status, this was an acknowledgement of his potential and a guarantee that they would take him under their umbrella as long as he showed excellence when taking the NTLE. As long as he scored among the top ten, they'd make it official. Beni apologised but honestly, he hadn't even expected an official response. Just a confirmation that they'd have their eyes on him until his journey started. 'She must have argued fiercely.' He thought with a fond smile as he put the final touches on his gift.
Tomorrow was the party and Brendan had already called him some days ago to tell him he wouldn't need to stay long and in fact, didn't need to come at all if he didn't want to. The future powerhouse knew that he wasn't fond of large gatherings and that was what this was going to be since one of Professor Birch's assistants accidentally leaked that the man would be home for his son's birthday party. Illusive and flighty as he was over most of the year, this was seen as a rare opportunity for many people who had business with the man. That was good for Brendan's pockets since they'd bring a present to not appear discourteous, but it would also inflate the Guestlist immeasurably.
'Maybe I'll ask dad to go early? Late morning seems reasonable. We'll bring May and Mark along and make it a little private gathering before he'll be swept away by all those opportunistic morons. Yeah, that sounds good. Should I call him to let him know?... Nah, let's surprise him.' The plan solidified in his mind. 'Now, how to get up and ask?' He asked himself with a bemused expression on his face when he looked into his lap where Kirlia was wrapped protectively around the Egg of her future sister while snoozing away. Thick streams of Aura flowed through both of them before circling through the other and then back to him. He was glad for the mental enhancement he received from his little princess, because managing three streams of Aura at near-full capacity would have been exceedingly mentally draining otherwise. Even now, he felt the strain a bit but it wasn't all that bad.
In the end, he decided to let them sleep while ensuring that the Egg was encased in Aura to keep it safe and sheltered. He called his dad over his PokéNav despite him being just two rooms away. The ridiculous but surprisingly astute man immediately guessed the reason for his silent voice and ninja'd into the room with a camera to capture the previous moment. He definitely didn't ask his dad to send him the picture and made it his background... With a strained smile, he endured the silent coos from both his parents and contemplated the meaning of life before finalising his plans for tomorrow. May and Mark were soon contacted and gave the plan green light. With the preparations done, he enjoyed the peace afforded to him with his sleepy partner and the slightly shaking Egg that already seemed to be eager to play with them despite not even being born yet.
~Bartholomew Birch~
He was irked and ready to become quite unpleasant when he opened the door. He had thought that they'd at least wait until the official event started before trying to swarm him, especially since he declared that those bothering him or his family before it started would be barred from entering the premises. And yet, someone decided to risk it and it wasn't even 9 am yet. Once he took in the people in front of the lab's entrance, he was befuddled however. This wasn't what he'd expected. Not at all.
"Can I... help you?"
He asked with slight bewilderment. Three children. There were three children, one fascinating Pokémon, and an Egg in front of his lab. The only one he recognised was the girl, who was the daughter of his old friend Norman. The two boys, one aberrant Kirlia, and the slightly shaking Egg she was holding securely were unfamiliar. He didn't know either of the boys, of that he was sure, but the Kirlia rang a bell in the back of his mind. Surprisingly, the smaller of the two boys stepped forward to answer after little May gave him a shy little wave and smile as a greeting, and the other two accepted his lead without the slightest hint of displeasure. The boy smiled politely at him and answered his inquiry.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Professor Birch. I devoured your latest paper on environmental influences and their possible effects on Pokémon evolutionary paths. It was even more brilliant than your previous one. My name is Wally Verdant. You probably know Norman's daughter May already, and this is Mark. We are friends of Brendan and we decided to surprise him early since later, he won't have any time for us. We went to your home first but Mrs. Birch told us that Brendan accompanied you to the lab so we decided to come over to either get him or celebrate with him here. I know your time is valuable but may we trouble you to inform him that we are here to kidnap him?"
'Wally Verdant... Ah. Now I remember.' As the local 'Pokémon Professor', he had access to most profiles of local trainers. Only very few had a status high enough to have their details concealed from him. Of course he was contractually bound to not release any information on them but he did have access to their data. As such, he knew of the young boy who somehow managed to trigger an aberrant evolution and drastically increase his bonded partner's Potential after unlocking his Aura during a traumatic experience. He also knew that his son had befriended him and that the boy's excellence triggered his competitive spirit. He just failed to connect this green haired young man with a supposedly 8 years old boy. His calm demeanor and the gentle smile on his face in combination with his intelligent and curious eyes and the robust body made him seem a few years older than he actually was. 'Wait...'
"Kidnap?"
He asked with some bemusement colouring his voice. That sensation only grew when they collectively nodded with a serious glint in their eyes, so he decided to play along.
"Well, wouldn't it be far better a surprise if I didn't inform him then? Just come in and get him. No need to be shy."
They didn't hesitate for long. The spokesperson of the little group exchanged a look with the other two and they nodded. Decisively, they rushed into his lab. They didn't even pause for a single moment and he guessed they let the Kirlia search for him because they accurately approached him with him being none the wiser. The poor lad didn't have a chance to retaliate at all. The Kirlia paralysed him with impressively controlled Psychic-type energy before they pushed him over. Wally caught him by his shoulders and the other boy, Mark was his name he believed, took his legs and gone they were. With a slightly mischievous air, he circulated his modest Aura reserves to cloak his presence and followed them. It would be quite embarrassing if his son was genuinely abducted by a bunch of children after all.
Cloaking was a technique he had honed almost his entire life and it was a bit of a lifeline for him. It was pure luck that he managed to unlock his meagre Aura-reserves so early in life and instead of trying to be something he wasn't, he decided to play to his strengths and develop this technique. He was nondescript by nature and playing into that fact paradoxically helped him make a name for himself. Going unseen in the habitats of true monsters and researching all that made the area special was what brought him much of his fame.
He didn't do it to be known though. He simply loved Pokémon and wanted to offer humans new ways to satisfy their needs. Nowadays, there were mimicry environments for almost every general typing with habitats for type combinations and specific species being in development all around the known world, and he was the pebble that caused this. Thinking of it did fill him with pride, though not because he was a big name in the scientific community. The reason for his pride was that his actions were the cornerstone for a better understanding between Pokémons and humanity. He allowed them to push their cooperation to new levels by unraveling some intricacies that were unknown even to the inhabitants of specific regions. Instinctively, Pokémon often grasped that some areas were more beneficial for them than others but he translated a part of the code. He found many of those reasons and laid the foundation to make them understandable and reproducible. His thoughts paused when the children arrived at the apparent hiding spot. It was one he knew.
They didn't take him all that far. Just outside of Littleroot Town, slightly off the side of the usual path, there was a humongous tree that had fallen ages ago. It was overgrown by plant life and was the center of its own little semi closed ecosystem. A fascinating case close to home that he visited from time to time to catalogue the changes it went through over the years. Now it was used as a hideout for whatever heinous deeds they had planned with his son. With quick and gracious movements belying the slightly clumsy Facade he showed to the outside, he decided to climb a tree close to their hiding spot and channeled some Aura to his ears to sharpen his hearing while still keeping himself cloaked.
"... Was that for! Why would you do that?!"
His son exclaimed heatedly after being freed from the impromptu use of [Disable]. He seemed to get more and more irritated as the other children ignored him while busily working half hidden from his view. Just as he was about to explode, Wally slapped a party hat on his head and Norman's daughter threw some confetti at him.
"""Happy Birthday!"""
Brendan was speechless when it was revealed that they had put up a small table with a rather nice looking cake on top of it. There were also several choices for beverages but he couldn't make out what exactly was offered since he was too far away.
"What... You guys... Why..."
His lack of eloquence could be excused since it was clear that he was quite emotional at the moment. Bartholomew felt a bit out of place, but was committed to watching over them for now. A soft smile stayed on his lips as he watched the pride of his life struggle for composure. He was glad that his son had found friends to rely on. Few things were as important in life as pillars to lean on when times were rough.
"Ah, think nothing of it. You know I dislike big and meaningless social gatherings, so we decided to nab you early and have our own private party. We just wanted to prank you a bit in the process so we asked your dad if we could kidnap you. Surprisingly, he actually agreed. Kirlia found this place beforehand and we negotiated with the Pokémon that inhabit this area to leave us some space and now here we are. Eat up. I made the cake myself so it should be pretty good. Once you're done gorging yourself on baked goods, you'll get some presents."
His eyes weren't the best and he could only enhance one of his senses at a time due to his limited reserves so he couldn't make out the expressions on their faces but from the tone of his voice, it must have been a mischievous one. His son stayed silent for a moment before nodding while releasing an emotionally charged noise of agreement before taking a bite of his piece of cake.
"It's good... Thank you..."
He murmured almost too silently for him to hear. It was clear that he was still a bit overwhelmed so they ate in near silence. Until the more heavy-set of the two boys talked for the first time. Violently.
"I offered to punch your lights out to get you, but Wally said Kirlia had it covered! Next time I'll get you for sure!"
'... Is there something wrong with this fellow?' He couldn't help but think to himself. It didn't seem to be a new development however since the others barely reacted beyond some tired head shakes.
"This reminds me. Mark, I order you to start meditating. I'll guide you the first few times but once you've got it down, I'll test your progress weekly. I'm pretty sure you have an innate Fighting-type affinity that messes with your brain a bit. Getting it under control by means of meditation should help you keep those violent impulses under wraps. It would be good for you to join my workouts too. Reaching your full potential is only possible if body and mind are in balance. That's especially true for people with Fighting-type affinity. Tempering your inborn ferocity with discipline is an essential step to develop your affinity."
'Hoooh?...' A glimmer of interest sparked at the words he witnessed. The more he listened in while they talked over the meal, the more surprised he was. Mark was admittedly a bit dimmer than the others, but he was by no means lacking in intelligence. He was just more physically inclined. In comparison, his son and Norman's daughter actually seemed to understand most of what they were debating about. 'When did my son reach such a level of theoretical understanding?...' He asked himself and felt a bit lost. Did he fail to witness the intellectual awakening of his son? He glanced at the most probable culprit who was casually instilling knowledge in the others.
'This young man is definitely beyond the norm...' He mused. The conversation wound down when most of the cake was gone, leaving only two pieces unconsumed. It was time for gift-giving it seemed.
"Me first! I didn't have enough time for a life-sized one, so I made a charm for your Pokédex!"
May handed over something too small to discern for him, but his son's gratitude was genuine and warm so he must have appreciated the gift. Mark handed him... A hammer. 'There really is something wrong with him...' He mused with the same wry amusement his son had in his voice when he thanked him. Finally, Wally pulled his present from his backpack.
"My gift isn't for you. It's for your Treecko. If you want, you can call him out of his Ball? I wanna meet the little fella anyways."
There was some genuine excitement in his voice that hinted at his deep love for Pokémon. A necessary quality to awaken one's Aura as he very well knew. Brendan didn't hesitate and summoned his partner from his Ball.
"Come out and meet my friends, Treecko!"
The green gecko Pokémon appeared and looked around warily before his eyes fell on Kirlia who was positioned on Wally's shoulders. They stared at each other for a long moment before the evolved one of the two sniffed and looked away, which of course ended up immediately irritating the little prideful fellow. With a smile in his voice, Wally chastised the Psychic Fairy.
"Be nice, princess. He hasn't been born for long and didn't have the time to catch up yet. In fact, you were weaker than him at his age."
The reprimand was spoken with a low voice, causing him to have to strain his enhanced hearing even more. 'My reserves are running low. I should really stop...' He mused hesitantly, but made no move to follow his thoughts. 'Just a few more minutes.' He decided.
His focus sharpened and his eyes bulged when Wally opened the box. The sheer amount of Life Force wafting out of it invigorated the surroundings. He could sense the Flora around him crying out in joy from the sudden injection of Plant-type energy and Aura. 'Top grade... It's a Miracle Seed, isn't it?' He was too far away to see the item clearly, but the feeling was similar to the one he felt back when he acquired a High grade one for his loyal partner Sceptile. 'Just who is this boy...'
He was so surprised that he didn't notice his cloaking technique slip, which was why he failed to recognise the 'danger' he was in when a Wurmple noticed him. By the time he turned to it, it was already too late to react and all he could think was 'Not again...' before being sprayed by copious amounts of silk created by [String Shot]. On his way down, he crashed against a couple of branches which ended up slowing down his fall enough to avoid grievous injury. Due to his Aura reserves running low, he still felt his consciousness slip away after releasing a pained groan.
~Wally Verdant~
Treecko hadn't let the Seed out of his eyes ever since he opened the box, but he didn't act prematurely and waited for his trainer's command. 'Good man.' He thought to himself. The handover was interrupted by a loud crash and a pained groan. The voice sounded suspiciously familiar and when they investigated after putting away the Seed for the moment, they found Brendan's father lying at the foot of a tree not too far from them. His eyes and the side of his face were covered by silk and when he looked at the tree beside them, he noticed some broken branches, making it clear what happened.
"What is he doing here?..."
Brendan asked as he looked down on his dad with a confused expression on his features. May tapped her chin thoughtfully before offering an answer that was probably true.
"Maybe he wanted to make sure that nothing happens to us? We are kids and while we are close to the main path, technically this is a wild area, isn't it? Chances are that we won't meet any strong Pokémon out here but we can't be 100% sure so he probably followed to protect us from the shadows."
She nodded with a slightly cocky smile and closed eyes after finishing her hypothesis and Wally shrugged before confirming her guess.
" It's probably that mixed with curiosity. He should have realised who I am and your dad is a friend of his, right? So he was curious as to what we planned to do with his son and watched over us in the process. Now, talking over someone who lost consciousness after falling down a tree is kinda rude, so let me try and heal him before we ask him."
He knelt down and carefully infused his Aura into the professor's body while radiating his intent to help. He was fairly certain that Professor Birch had a full bonded team of decently strong Pokémon. He didn't know why they let him get hurt, but he was certain that if his life was in jeopardy, they'd step in so he had to make sure he wouldn't be seen as a threat. 'Close to no damage... But his Aura is almost depleted.' It took only a small infusion to wake him and soon they were sitting around the table again with a picnic basket filled with snacks. He had made them in case of the cake not being enough to sate them. They waited for him to gather his bearings before Wally handed the slightly confused Professor a piece of cake and some coffee.
"Ah... This is some good coffee. Thank you, young lad. For both, the coffee and the Aura. I was in need of a small pick-me-up. Now, I am sure you are wondering why I am here?"
He asked only to look at them with a befuddled expression when they shook their heads as one.
"We already have some ideas why. The first reason is very likely to watch over us, but you could have easily had one of your Pokémon follow us around if that was all. I think you were also curious about some things so you followed us personally."
He told him, causing the man to smile wrily. He took another sip before answering.
"That's pretty much it, yes. I'm glad you found friends, my son. While their methods are... unique let's say, they clearly care for you. That said, I do not think accepting young Wally's gift would be a good idea."
Brendan looked at him with a confused expression as he hugged Treecko, who had decided to sit in his lap, closer. The young Pokémon was borderline-glaring at the Professor. Finally, Brendan asked the question burning on all their tongues.
"Why wouldn't I? I don't know for sure what it is but it looked like a Miracle Seed. An item that is very suitable for young Grass-type Pokémon. And since he is the one gifting it, I don't think the grade is low. It'll help Treecko along and would undoubtedly accelerate his growth. I don't think he'd give me something to harm me or my Pokémon. I don't understand, dad. Please explain."
Wally nodded along and glanced at Professor Birch with some curiosity in his eyes. Why would he not want his son to accept a Top-grade Miracle Seed? The man kept his serious countenance and leaned forward slightly. He then took the fork on the table and took a bite of the cake before answering the question.
"That's a splendid cake. Truly a treat. Before I answer your question, you have to understand the value of what he wants to offer you as a gift. Top-grade and Transcendent-grade resources are not bought. They are either given as a reward for 5-Star League missions and above, Expeditions into dangerous territories, or traded for other equal resources. They are incredibly hard to come by because it's almost impossible to artificially create them and the cost for doing so is very rarely worth the reward. As such, the only ones available are those found in wild areas, protected by strong Pokémon. I have no idea where little Wally found this, but I have no doubt it's a Top-grade Miracle Seed. The problem isn't that the grade is too low, but the opposite. It's simply too valuable to receive as a birthday gift."
Wally took in the expressions around the table. May, who had some knowledge about resources due to her background, looked shocked about the information. Mark was a bit clueless but had some skill in reading the room. He just didn't know what to do with the information and usually defaulted to violent reactions or at least threatening gestures or comments. Brendan himself looked uncertain for a moment before seemingly resigning himself. He was about to fold in front of his father's decision. That wouldn't do.
"With all due respect, I don't think you have a good reason to interfere in this matter. I am wondering just how this is your decision? I mean, I would back off if using this Seed would be dangerous to use, but I researched this item extensively. There is a significant synergy between Treecko's evolutionary line and Seed type resources. Slowly integrating the energy in it should allow him to push his Potential and Energy-capacity as well as its density to the next level without negative side-effects. All he needs is extensive control exercises, rigorous physical training, and some creativity in his use of Energy to become a future powerhouse."
He first emphasised the many advantages of accepting his gift before following up with his personal reasons. He couldn't be entirely truthful as his reasons included his fears of what the future was supposed to hold for them. For example, the Evil Teams were becoming more and more bold and would soon begin to meddle with forces beyond their understanding. He had no idea how his presence influenced future happenings. That was the main reason he wanted both, Brendan and May, to be ready for what was about to come. With his direct involvement, any potential future knowledge was becoming less and less reliable, and that wasn't even considering the fact that this was an alternate universe. He had to make sure they'd be ready for the challenges to come. They'd need to be stronger than their media-based counterparts. They were his friends and he wouldn't allow them to die an ignoble death because he was a stingy little shit with what he handed out to them. With determination flowing through him, he pinned the Professor he somewhat admired with a sharp look. Unknown to him, there was a slight but noticeable sense of suppression that descended on the surroundings, felt by humans and Pokémon alike.
"As for the cost, Brendan is my friend. It's as simple as that. By giving him this Seed that holds no real value for me, I hand him a tool to protect himself and to grow. I am gifting myself some peace of mind by allowing a good friend to grow stronger. Between friends, there is no need to talk about costs. People and our connections to those we hold dear are more valuable than resources."
[Mhm. That's why Papa is the best.]
His little princess privately commented while showing a superior and smug smile on the outside. He fought down the light flush that wanted to appear on his cheeks when her admiration flooded their bond. Professor Birch looked surprised for a moment before his features softened. Slowly, a smile spread on his face before a barking laugh pushed past his lips.
"Well said, young one. I hope you keep that attitude. It'll help you reach far. Just don't be too naive in trusting anyone. Though, with a walking sensor of emotions by your side, I suppose you will know who to trust and who you shouldn't."
He grinned at his son, who seemed bewildered by the sudden change in demeanor from his dad.
"Take the Seed. I'll prepare a room for you two to use it as efficiently as possible. Pay him back for this gracious gift by giving it your all to reach the top. Challenge him fiercely and fight for what you think is right! Live up to his expectations of you. Now excuse me as I need to prepare for this afternoon. Claydol, if you'd be so kind as to teleport me to the lab?"
As soon as his last word fell, he was gone. All the tension flowed out of Wally's body and he let himself fall back into the soft grass while Kirlia shortly floated in the air before settling down on his chest. May joined him while giggling about the undignified way he lied down and the other two did too after hesitating for a moment. In harmonious silence, they stared at the majestic canopy above them and watched the leaves dance in the wind.
His Aura was circulating in peaceful and steady rotations as it always did as long as Kirlia was outside of her ball. Which was basically a permanent occurrence. They knew it was a bit dangerous, but keeping her in her ball was almost painful with how close their connection was. The muted and stifling sensation they felt when she was 'locked away' was almost unbearable and it seemed to become worse the stronger their bond grew. They were working on a method to keep her crown hidden and they were making headway but it wasn't easy at all. Crafting illusions wasn't that hard but keeping them in place at all times and making them convincing ones, that took time, practice, and effort. It wasn't a skill that could be acquired overnight.
"So... That was a thing."
He broke the silence with some wry amusement in his voice and earned himself some affirmative noises. Brendan was silent and thoughtful with a complicated expression on his face. He sat up and turned to face him with crossed legs, causing Wally to glance at him curiously.
"This was the first time I've seen someone change his mind so quickly... Usually, it takes days of long and frustrating arguments to get one's opinion through to his stubborn skull. But you managed to do it so quickly... I really admire your confidence, you know?"
He smiled a complicated smile and Wally could see the pain and insecurity hidden beneath the surprisingly honest expression. He turned his eyes back up to the leaves that were dancing in the tranquility of a silent morning in the forest as he took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering.
"Imagine your dad as a tree. A massive birch protecting everything beneath it. A habitat that shelters an uncountable number of people and Pokémon. If he wasn't confident in his decisions, he wouldn't have reached as far as he did. But do you know what he sees as his biggest achievement? I kinda can imagine what it is. Princess? Please let him experience the echo of what you received from his dad whenever he looked at him."
Kirlia had to concentrate heavily to transfer the emotions. She was getting better, but it was still quite challenging for her to connect her senses with people other than him. Soon, he could hear Brendan's gasp and a small smile stretched his lips as he enjoyed the peace.
"And that's just a fraction of what he actually felt, mind you. My little princess is a profigy, but she isn't yet at the level where she can share emotions freely. Oh, and by the way. That Seed I gave you? When Treecko drained it completely, send me a message. It's rechargeable."
A long silence stretched between them before Brendan's helpless laugh disrupted it.
"Rechargable?... A resource that can only be acquired by luck, and you just... Recycle it? Only you, Wally."
He finally gave in and lied down beside them. They spent some more time in silence as there was no need to say much. The first one to talk was Brendan and he asked some loaded questions.
"If he's so proud of me... Why didn't he ever say anything? Why did he miss my last three birthdays? Why... Why is he never here when we need him?"
Wally could hear the bitterness in his voice and it was painful to hear the usually so jovial boy so lost and hurt. He decided to share some wisdom with them.
"Adults are dumb. They often lose sight of what is truly important. That's why we kids have to guide them. Don't just accept his decisions. Ask for their reasons and if they are as dumb as the ones he had today, challenge them. He is many things but I don't believe he is narrow-minded. If your arguments are sound, he will at least hear you out. As for his absence, I'm afraid as long as he loves his job, he won't stop with his spontaneous expeditions. What you can do is try and accompany him. Learning his ways can only be beneficial for you."
He left his friend to ponder over what he said and closed his eyes. A nap sounded like a splendid idea right now.
[Papa! I think my sister is about to hatch!]
The slightly frantic voice of his princess in combination with the more rigorous shaking of the Egg he was holding securely to his chest penetrated his sleepy mind and he was fully awake immediately. The Dex said that it would take another two to three days before it would hatch but it seemed that assumption wasn't entirely correct.
"I'm up, I'm up."
He murmured while chasing the last vestiges of the sleepy haze on his thoughts away. He channeled some Aura to his mind to make it as alert as possible and took a good look at the Egg. Some cracks were already visible and he frowned slightly before looking out the window of his room. 'Ah, I think I found the reason for her early hatching.' He mused as he saw the bright light shining into the room. He had overlooked the fact that today was a full moon. The Clefable line was notorious for their almost fanatic fascination with the moon. He just didn't realise that even before hatching, it would have such a strong influence. 'It seems that there is more to it than just some quirky character traits.' He thought to himself as he moved fully into the Moon's shine after opening the window. He sat down cross-legged and placed the Egg in between his hands while channeling as much Aura and Fairy-type energy as he could through the Egg to help her along.
It seemed to be working since with every rotation, some of his Aura and energy would be absorbed into the as of yet unborn sister of his princess. The energetic shaking was now accompanied by occasional pulses of Fairy-type energy and soon, cracks covered the entire surface of the Egg. With one final crack, the shell finally gave in and a small, star-like body rolled out of it. Instinctively, she reached out with her Aura and was immediately grasped and cradled by him. Physically as well as with his Aura. She looked up at him and cooed softly with a voice that could only belong to a newborn.
"Cliiii..."
Breaking out of the Egg early had obviously taken a toll on her so he gently circulated his Aura and pulled out the Moomoo Milk he had prepared and put into stasis from his backpack. He was beyond glad that he prepared early instead of waiting. Cleffa reacted immediately and vigorously to the food-source and began suckling on the bottle nipple he had attached to it. Kirlia was surprisingly silent and the bond was a bit muted so he glanced at her only to find her spell-bound. She was staring in wonder at the little creature in his arms and he smiled softly while gently prodding their bond to get her attention. Suddenly, as if experiencing it all at once, a massive wave of emotion washed through their connection. Adoration, wonder, trepidation, worry, love, protectiveness, and so many more.
His little princess was entirely overwhelmed by what she had witnessed and didn't know how to deal with it. He could have helped her sort it through but he thought it would be better for her if she came to terms with it by herself. He simply encased their bond with his own emotions and centered her while she dealt with the storm of feelings inside of her. Cleffa drank half the bottle in the meantime and made a satisfied sound before blinking up at him curiously.
"Cliiii?..."
She stretched her little arms in his direction and he indulged her after putting away the bottle for later. He softly grasped her small body and brought her closer to his face much to her delight. She released some joyous cries and patted his face with her stubble arms while releasing trace amounts of energy that caused some sparkling dust to rain down on his lap before it glowed and disappeared. Slowly as to not startle her, he stood up and walked to the window, making her squirm a bit in his grasp. He turned her around and her entire attention was immediately caught by the big shiny sphere in the night sky. There were no clouds obscuring this beautiful sight and light pollution wasn't a thing here, so she was free to admire both, the majestic moon and the truly wondrous amount of visible stars. Slowly, Kirlia regained control over herself and floated to their side before settling on the windowsill.
[I am a big sister now.]
The statement seemed a bit distant, as if she couldn't yet believe the fact. He nodded sedately while gently but firmly holding Cleffa so that she wouldn't try to take off out of the window. The little girl was stretching her stubbly arms as if trying to reach the stars from here. It was an amusing sight and the faint sounds of exertion she released added to the general ambience.
"You are. That means from now on, you hold responsibility. We will guide her and make her strong. Not just as a Pokémon, but as a person too. Clefable is a quintessential Fairy. Mysterious, obscured, and playful as well as a bit mischievous. We will nurture her and make sure she is lacking nothing while teaching her to respect the struggles others have to go through."
He turned to her and saw that she was listening attentively, his silent but serious voice having captured her focus completely. Earnestly, he continued.
"There are so many little things she'll have to learn and much of it, she will only grasp through observation. So from now on, it's our responsibility to live our best life and be the role models she deserves."
Determination flooded their bond as she nodded.
[I will teach and protect my sister. No harm will come to her as long as I live.]
He mirrored her sentiment, but made sure she understood that she was included in his statement. As long as he was alive, he wouldn't allow harm to come to her. He ignored her faint embarrassment and cuddled the drowsy newborn to his chest. She turned in his arms and pressed her face into his warmth, making him laugh lightly.
"Let's lie down for a few hours. Neither of us had quite enough sleep yet. Tomorrow, we'll need to show her off, so it'll be a long day. I hope she won't be too shy."
Amusement and confirmation floated through their bond before he climbed his bed after putting the fragments of her Egg away. He'd keep them as a keepsake, just as he had kept the empty focus from Kirlia's evolution after letting Beni look it over. He was a sentimental fool and he was unapologetic about it.
"I know what I said, but she hatched ahead of time so I couldn't get you over here. Kirlia is strong enough to teleport with someone but only once as of yet, and only in a range of 500 meters or so. That's not even to say that it was 2 am and all of you were sleeping. How about you come over today? I'll have Beni perform a check-up on her anyway so we could meet afterwards?"
He pacified his friends over the conference call he started with his PokéNav. They were put out about the fact that they weren't able to witness little Cleffa's hatching. He quickly appeased them with the offer that they'd be allowed to meet her today, though May was still a bit miffed since theoretically, she could have made it if he called her. She also understood that she probably wouldn't have managed to crawl out of bed at 2 am, but she wanted to have the choice. Her mother, who came looking at what the ruckus was about, disagreed. He was sure he could hear her pout when she was chewed out by her mom with her friends listening in and pretending they weren't hearing anything. After that slightly awkward interlude, they exchanged some more idle conversation before he ended their call since they'd meet soon anyways. He looked down at the little bundle of joy who was content to play with his fingers and softly addressed her.
"Are you ready to meet my parents?"
His voice caught her attention and she smiled up at him with crescent shaped eyes from her adorable dimples pressing them half shut. 'Is my love for cute things a consequence of my Fairy Affinity or was it always there?' He asked himself as he felt himself melt a bit from that precious display. Thinking back to the times he was late to school in his previous life because the route to his school went past a pet shop and he couldn't just leave the puppies without a healthy dose of affection, he concluded that he probably always had a thing for cuteness. He grabbed the second half of the bottle from the night before that he'd set on the table to feed her and went down the stairs after rising slowly to not startle her.
Kirlia floated behind them and he felt her Psychic energy probe the surroundings and cautiously push all the little possible tripping hazards away. She didn't see his soft smile but she didn't need to since he sent her the cotton-like affection through their bond, making her humph embarrassedly behind them. She didn't stop what she was doing for even a single moment though, much to his amusement. Once in the kitchen, he sat Cleffa down on the counter and asked Kirlia to entertain her until he was done cooking.
[I will fulfill my duty as her big sister, Papa.]
She swore solemnly with barely suppressed excitement and he left them to it while concentrating on his task. Soon, delectable scents were rising and waking the dead in the form of his parents. Even their zombie-like constitution didn't stop them from pausing on the stairs when they witnessed the joyful sounds of a floating Cleffa who was 'hunting' little toy-stars he had bought for her ahead of time. She floated after them and was slowly catching up under Kirlia's telekinetic guidance.
"Well, that's not a sight I can claim to wake up to every day."
The slightly gruff voice of his father floated into his ears. He prepared and plated the last dish before sitting down with them as Kirlia floated over with Cleffa quickly reuniting with him, much to her joy. It was short lived however since suddenly, she was looking at him with wobbly lips and teary eyes. He tapped her forehead softly as he gently told her.
"No need to cry, little star. I have your breakfast right here."
She lit up at the sight of her Moomoo Milk and immediately latched onto the bottle nipple once it was in range. Of course, his parents saw this as the perfect opportunity to tease him. His mom started.
"Look at him. He's grown so fast. It feels just like yesterday that he was not even ten years old and now he's a father of two."
"No no, it was yesterday. But even back then he was a father of one. He sure works fast, doesn't he? He hasn't even had a girlfriend yet, but two children are already in his care."
"Right? It makes a mom proud and happy to have raised such a responsible young man."
They continued in the same vein until they grasped that he wouldn't react much to their words. He wasn't embarrassed about the care he gave his little girls. They deserved the best and he would do his utmost to provide it.
"I'll have to bring her to Beni for a check-up later on and it'll take a while since my friends want to meet the little cutie. We'll meet up and may come back home or we'll play with her in nature for a bit. Dunno for sure yet."
Noises of approval were muffled by the food he provided for them, but they were understood nonetheless. Such a peaceful scene, he left behind for the Pokémon Center. Cleffa, who saw the outside in daylight for the first time, was overwhelmed but happy and waved at everyone and everything. She was confused that most people waved back while the postbox didn't despite having a perfectly fine limb to do so. 'Oh god, I'll die of diabetes in a month or so, won't I?' He acknowledged while observing her absolutely adorable actions. Luckily, they reached the Center before he collapsed from all the sweetness and were quickly received by Chansey who instantly fell in love with the little cutie.
"Chan... Chansey."
She softly told him before going back to cooing at the little star in his arms and mothering all three of them. He smiled wrily as he was patted and checked over if everything was alright. Cleffa reacted positively to Chansey's gentle ministrations and Kirlia endured them with as much dignity as she could save after having been 'guided' into Chansey's clutches by her skillful use of [Gravity]. She really shouldn't have attempted to flee.
"Look. I know you mean well and I appreciate your care more than you can imagine, but if Beni is waiting for us, shouldn't we slowly get going before she starts a search party?"
Chansey seemed to consider his words seriously, before shrugging and gesturing that they should follow. She refused to relinquish her hold on Kirlia though, which made her just a tad indignant.
[Why am I treated like an insolent child?! Papa! Save me from her mothering clutches! Papa!]
He rolled his eyes at her and threw her a look before answering.
"Stop being so dramatic. You know how she is. She'll let you go eventually so enjoy her affections for as long as they last. She has taken a liking to you and despite what you attempt to portray, I know you like her too."
Annoyance and reluctant resignation filtered through their bond as she grumbled into his head while crossing her arms.
[Just because I like someone doesn't mean I have to endure such humiliation.]
Despite her ongoing grumpiness, she never attempted to teleport out of her grasp. She didn't want to hurt her feelings after all. His little princess was considerate like that. The rest of their way was spent in relative silence with only Chansey's humming and chanting filling the conversational void. Cleffa tried to join in, but was so off beat that she noticed herself and fell silent. He looked down and found her frowning slightly before taking a deep breath and trying again. This time, her voice was far more melodic and faint traces of energy were entangled in her musical attempt. He didn't feel sleepy but had the inexplicable urge to let her do what she wanted with him. 'She figured out [Disarming Voice]...' He thought to himself as he shrugged off the weak compulsion and smiled proudly. That was the moment they reached Beni's lab.
"I have expected you, Wally."
She turned in her swivel chair and caressed the Bonsly situated in her lap. 'Just... What.' He thought to himself as he stared at her with a deadpan. Her mischievous smile began to strain when he refused to change his expression until finally, she sighed and slumped back into her chair.
"I thought it was funny..."
She pouted and Bonsly tried to cheer her up after noticing her mood shift. A soft smile played on her lips as she reassured the little fellow.
"Don't worry. I'm not really sad. We are just playing."
He stared at her for a long moment before nodding in acceptance. Wally watched their interaction and asked curiously.
"Is he yours? He doesn't seem to be the usual choice for Nurse Joy's roster."
She played around with him for a bit while answering.
"Yeah, he's mine. We do keep them in our Clan compounds because the sweat they release through their eyes is extremely rich in minerals which are necessary for the growth of specific berries. This one got attached to me when I visited my aunt and I've decided to at least complete his basic training before letting him decide what he wants to do with his life."
She sat him down on the ground and he quickly ran over to the miniature rockery he hadn't noticed until now. Her eyes then turned to Cleffa with an affectionate sheen. His little star showed continuous signs of an extroverted personality as she waved at her rigorously with both arms.
"Cliiii!"
Her greeting was enthusiastic and a tad loud, but most of all, beyond adorable. Preempting anything Beni could say, he immediately clarified.
"You will not steal or borrow my little star. That wouldn't end well for anyone."
His renewed deadpan was answered by a short pout before she grinned with a wink and they grew more serious. Kirlia was quickly recruited to float some shiny things around to distract her while Wally worked to get her to cooperate with Beni's tests. Since she was a fresh hatchling, there were a few more tests than usual to determine her comprehensive health but it only took them less than half an hour to complete them. The remarkably cooperative Baby Pokémon didn't fuss at all through the procedures and soon, they had the results in front of them.
"Hmm... She's beyond healthy honestly. I'm guessing you fed your Aura into her Egg on a daily basis, right? Well, it shows. Her Energy levels are a fair bit higher than usual for recent hatchlings and she has none of the common postnatal problems. Potential-wise she starts off at Deep Green which is very respectable. No problems at all from her early hatching."
He breathed a small sigh of relief when he heard her verdict. He had hoped that would be the case since he nourished her diligently and made sure to support her completely during her hatching. Having his hopes confirmed did much to reassure him. He looked down onto his lap where she was playing with a dancing shiny star and couldn't resist ambushing her with his fingers. He tickled her a bit, enjoying her joyful laughter, before cradling her tiny form between his hands.
"You heard that, little star? You're as healthy as they hatch. No problems at all. Aren't you glad?"
She didn't understand much of the human language yet, but the warm tone of his voice encouraged her to cheer with him.
"Cliiii!"
She then tapped his hands a few times and he felt some energy invade them, making them itch a bit. 'Was that [Tickle]?' He mused as he continued to play with her. His attention was quickly taken by Beni's return, who had disappeared in the back of her lab for a moment.
"Come on. Let's go! I've taken my lunch break for this!"
She looked at him eagerly and he couldn't really deny her. Not that he wanted to. They had to meet around lunchtime anyways and he had prepared quite a bit of food, stored in his trusty spacial backpack. With an intentionally overstated indulgent smile that earned him a gimlet eye, he nodded.
When he looked over at May, he genuinely feared that she might explode. She was vibrating in the spot she chose to sit in and ever since they arrived, her eyes hadn't left little Cleffa. Even the oblivious Baby Pokémon had noticed and seemed confused. He sighed and told her.
"If you promise to be careful and gentle, I'll let you hold her. She's pretty active for a Mon that hatched last night, but she is a Baby-stage Pokémon with little in the way of endurance so I need you to promise that."
She nodded vigorously with shining eyes. They never left the little Fairy's form. He looked down at the star-shaped Pokémon and asked with a soft voice.
"Are you alright with being held and cuddled by her?"
She didn't understand the language yet but instinctively interpreted the Aura infused into his question and nodded with her whole body. The confusion gave way to joy as she stretched her little arms towards May, who looked ready to faint from cuteness overload. Instead, she powered through and gently took her into her arms and started playing with her.
"I heard from dad that she used to dislike being near Pokémon..."
Brendan silently addressed him with a curious tone of voice and he shrugged. He didn't know much about her life before he met her. All he could say was that she got along famously with Kirlia from the start.
"If that's true, you'll have to ask her yourself what changed. I can only speak for the time I've known her."
He nodded thoughtfully before going back to his grilled cheese sandwich. A glance at Beni told him that she was still shoveling his noodle salad into herself and he cringed slightly. That stuff was far too fatty for him but she specifically asked for it so he made it to accommodate her. Deciding that it was as good a moment as any, especially since he already gorged down his food, he turned to Mark and asked.
"Wanna try to get into the mindset for meditation? I've verbally told you how it works but I think learning by doing would work better for you than learning by listening."
Mark was surprised for a moment before nodding with a smile. He guided him through the process and was surprised that it took him only around ten minutes to sink into his first meditative trance. He understood quickly however that Mark's thought processes were a bit more simplistic if compared to his own so emptying his mind wasn't as challenging for him. That didn't mean he was dumb or anything, just that his talents didn't necessarily lie in scientific fields. He was just more physically oriented and that fact helped him now.
As he looked around after instructing Mark with Brendan listening in from the side, he noticed just how peaceful everything felt. May was playing around with Cleffa and Kirlia, Beni was finally sated and was now hogging the blanket he brought along to make this impromptu picnic more comfortable, and Mark had begun to snore, showing that he transitioned from meditation to sleep splendidly and seamlessly as Brendan was staring at the boy with a wry smile firmly in place.
'This second chance... Most would be content with such an idyllic scene, and I do enjoy the peace that wasn't interrupted as of yet. But...' He let himself fall onto his back to stare at the sky. Cloudless and coloured in a deep and vibrant blue. Seemingly endless and unreachable. His right hand clenched into a fist while he protected his eyes from the worst of the sun with his left. An excited smile spread on his lips as a deeply entrenched sensation of wanderlust rose to the surface. 'I am greedy.' He acknowledged. He didn't just want peace. He wanted to go out there. To explore and fight for a place among the top. He wanted for his name to evoke a sense of awe in others. He wanted to earn the respect of those he idolised in his past life. And most of all, he wanted for him and his team to be remembered as legends.
Kirlia noticed his mood of course and they shared a quick moment of yearning before calming down. There was still just under a year left until he'd go on his journey. If he wanted to make sure everything went well, he would have to prepare. To stay focused. To do everything in his modest capabilities to skew the board in his direction. He wouldn't allow himself to be mediocre. He felt he owed it to the past owner of his body, and himself, to excel. He wanted his family to be proud of him and he wanted to bring them joy and excitement. He wanted his current and future Team-members to fully realise the potential he knew was in them. So that was what he'd do. He'd dazzle the masses and make the important people in his life proud. For now, he had to make sure his friends were prepared too though. It would be such a chore to find new ones.