"Oh wow the flowers there so beautiful!" I shout looking out over the field of wildflowers

As far as the eye can see, lush fields of wildflowers stretch out in all directions, painting the landscape with vibrant hues of pink, purple, yellow, and white. The air is filled with the sweet scent of nectar, carried by gentle breezes that rustle the flowers and sway the tall grasses. Amidst the colourful blooms, a variety of Flying and Bug type Pokémon flit and flutter, adding life and energy to the tranquil scene. Butterfree gracefully dance from flower to flower, their delicate wings shimmering in the sunlight as they sip nectar from the blossoms. Beedrill buzz through the air, their sharp stingers gleaming in the golden light as they search for pollen to bring back to their hive. In the distance, a majestic flock of Swablu soar gracefully overhead, their cotton-like wings catching the sunlight and casting soft shadows on the ground below. Vivillon with their dazzling patterns, flutter among the flowers, their wings resembling the petals of the very blooms they feed on. Scattered throughout the fields, tiny Scatterbug scuttle along the ground, their soft bodies blending seamlessly with the colourful foliage. Combee buzz from flower to flower, gathering sweet nectar to take back to their hive. Meanwhile, Yanma zip through the air with remarkable speed, their transparent wings catching the sunlight as they dart among the blossoms. As the sun begins to peak up from the horizon, the fields of wildflowers are bathed in a warm, golden glow, casting long shadows across the landscape. The gentle hum of wings and the rustling of grasses create a soothing melody that lulls both Pokémon and travellers alike into a state of tranquil bliss, making the fields a haven of peace and beauty.

"Welcome young man to the Flower Paradise" says a lady at the gate

"What is this place exactly?" I question

"This is a wild area of sort for Pokemon to live in their natural habitats of old, it was set up as part of the conservation drive between the Sinnoh and Johto governments a few years ago. This area was designated as an area to give back to nature. Since then wildflowers, Apricorn trees and Grass types have evolved the ground and made it much more fertile." She explains as a Hoppip flies past.

"That's amazing, I assume trainer aren't allowed in?"

"You can go in along with your Pokemon however we ask you don't battle any of the Pokemon, they here to relax and live in peace, they also have enablers that mean they are unable for capture. This is also due to there being some increasing rare Pokemon housed here. If you'd like to enter I can check to see which of your Pokemon are eligible to enter too?" She says happily.

"Sure sounds like it will be interesting" I say holding up my phone for her to scan

It takes a few seconds, there is a few beeps and boops before it gives the lady a result.

"Ah okay, so you currently only have two in your party who can, they are Togepi and Bayleef."

"Okay, good to know" I say before sending Togepi out.

She stretches up yawning loudly, she then spots me beginning to jump up and down. I scoop her up into my arms causing her to squeal with joy

"What a little cutie!" the lady says wiggling her finger in front of Togepi face who tries to grab at it

I smile

"It looks happy! It must love you a lot" She says.

"Thank you I am trying my best to raise her, I have had her since she was an egg"

"Oh, you must try to meet the field manager, his name Seymour. He a gentle soul, he used to run a day care in Mahogany Town, I'm sure he would love to see a chipper little one like you have".

"Okay, I'll be on the look out for him" I say before pushing the gate open into the fields.

The fields stretch out as far as I can see, I was looking in the guide for them that I had found on there website. You can camp out in the fields over night if you want to, due to the season there are generally a lot of Illumise and Volbeat that flit and flutter around the fields at night, meaning it a popular spot for couples to come to on dates or for anniversaries. The pathway I'm on currently leads all the way to the Lake of Rage which is conveniently our destination, Togepi looks up from my arms watching over the bug type zip and flutter through the fields. It so interesting to see them in there natural habitats in such an open area, normally I'm used to venturing through wooded and bushy areas where Pokemon generally pop out at you rather than being able to see them before. I had been speaking to Ryan about things with my development, he suggested that depending on which region I move onto next that I should look to go onto either the intermediate or the expert path. He referred to the expert path as the freedom path, it means I can venture onto any route or cave or ocean that I find essentially. On my journey through Kanto and my current one I am restricted to the junior path; this isn't just due to my inexperience but you can only enter the Junior competition if you are on the junior path. Much stronger Pokemon are available to those travelling on the other two paths so it would be an unfair advantage to those. Joe had actually been given a scolding by Martha after our venture in Union Cave as he had taken me off the junior path onto an expert path, he did argue that he was with him and in no danger but Martha didn't see it like that.

I think it would be nice to test myself against the higher up but there's one problem.

If you move up you won't be able to compete in the Junior World Championship, you'll be in with the seniors.

I ponder the words Ryan had ended our conversation with, if I moved up I would be up against a lot of stronger trainers. They would have a wealth more experience than I had and their Pokemon would have spent a lot more time with them and be much more battle hardened. Lotus had been probably the strongest trainer I had battled against on a level playing field. Ryan had seemed to take a lot of confidence in me when I defeated her. He had been impressed as well that I had beaten Whitney on my first attempt especially with the strategy I had come up with, he said that it something akin to Callum which also boosted my confidence. I wander further around the fields before finding a nice tree to sit under.

I plop my bag down before taking a seat at the roots too. I let Togepi go to wander around the near area, she picks at the flowers and chase the nearby bug types, the soothe bell attached around her neck jangles so I know she is near. I lay my head against the hard bark of the tree, its rough and I can feel the breaks in the tree as I move my head.

"Would you be Dustin?" comes a soft older voice.

I open my eyes and look up to see an older man, I would say in his mid-sixties, his brow is wrinkled, and eyes are very narrowed. He has spindles of white hair draped across his balding head. His eyes are a dark brown and they beam out of his sunken eyes.

"Uh yes sorry am I in the way of something?" I question looking up at him

"Not at all, Opal mentioned you. I just got back from the market with a few things" He says holding up a small bag

"Oh you must be Seymour?"

"Yes that is myself"

"Oh okay, yes she mentioned you used to run a day care and she thought you'd like to meet one of my Pokemon, Togepi!" I shout out to Togepi comes out from the tall grass and rushes up to jump into my arms

"oh my what a little angel" He says calling out

"Toge?" She calls looking up to him

I stand up and coddle her allowing the older man to see her more

"Oh I think you would like to meet someone too" He says pulling a ball from his pocket and clicking it open.

Out pops a Togekiss, it quite old similar to its trainer, it feathers are still pure white with speckles of blue and red, the ends are a little rougher but they still look delicate if you were to touch them

"Kiss" It calls out calmly as it lands on the floor next to him

"Look Kissy, a little one" He says excitedly

It looks up and calls out happily to which Togepi calls too.

I crouch down holding Togepi so Togekiss can get a bit closer.

"See this is what you could be like if we work hard Togepi" I say to the little one

"Oh I think you are well on your way young man, that shell is very bright and shiny. It is in excellent condition, I can't imagine it will be much longer before it sprouts it wings and evolves"

"You think?" I question

"Of course, I raise many a Togepi in my day I know the tell tell signs. In fact I would say this little one should have evolved some time ago"

"Oh okay" I question standing back up

"Would you mind if I take a look?" He says holding his hands out I hand Togepi over to him, she coos happily as he take her, he crouches down and hold her up to Togekiss his glows a white and bluish colour for a few seconds.

"So what do you think Kissy?"

"Toge" it coos

"I see, nothing wrong with the little one which is good to hear but it could maybe be explained another way" He says before turning to me with a soft smile

"Me?" I question

"Not you as such" He says handing back Togepi to me

"What is it?" "Togepi are sensitive creatures, they were seen as good luck charms back in the day. They have a knack for absorbing the emotions of people around them, even if the person isn't aware. My guess would be that Togepi can feel that you are struggling with something at the moment"

"Oh I see, I'm sorry Togepi, you don't have to worry about me" I say holding her up

"Oh Togepi doesn't realise she's doing it, that generally comes in the next stage, she just absorbing emotions and learning how to adapt to them. Like a child learning how to interact with others" He explains

"Okay I kind of understand what you mean"

"Here's would be my advice, spend the day with Togepi out of its ball, check out the Pokemon and let any kind of worry you may be having leave your mind for the day, I would imagine by the end of it you will have yourself a Togetic"

"Okay I will give it a go"

"Excellent, where are you headed to?"

"My goal was the Lake of Rage"

"Excellent my cabin is that way, I will make myself there, you can stay the night with me and my wife, it would be nice to have some company"

"If your sure I wouldn't want to put you out" I question

"Of course, it will be nice to have some young ones around wouldn't it Kissy?"

"Kiss!" It calls out happily

"Okay, well I'll see you there" I say to him with a smile

He begins to wander off before I look down to Togepi

"So where would you like to head off too?"

"Toge!" She says before pointing off towards the river

"You got it!" I say before sprinting off

We get to the river and see a whole plethora of water type Pokemon. There are Marill and Azuril bopping around in the water, you can see the faint outline of some Goldeen and Seaking below. Most unexpectedly I can see an odd coloured Quilfish and Basculin.

"Oh I have seen those in a book before! There Hisuian Pokemon, there from the old Sinnoh region"

"Toge" She call curiously

"There really rare it a near miracle to see them nowadays"

I take a seat by the river and plop Togepi down, a Marill swims over and inspects Togepi, eventually they befriend each other and Marill lets Togepi jump on it tummy and swims around a little, Togepi giggles and laughs as it goes around. I leave it for a while just taking in the surroundings, eventually the Marill gets a little tired and Togepi hops back to the bank, it rushes up to me happily jumping up and down

"Did you have a good time?"

"Toge!"

"Good to hear" I say with a laugh

It jumps up into my lap

"You know Togepi, you don't have to evolve if you don't want too"

"Toge?" It looks up questioning

"Seymour said you have the ability to evolve but if you don't want to you don't have too. I like you just how you are, plus you getting much stronger in battles, it been a long time since you lost"

"So if you want to stay as a Togepi then, that's fine by me" I say smiling down at her

"Toge" it beams up at me before beginning to light up a blue and white colour

I stare in shock as it swirls and contorts before the light dispels leaving the new form of Togetic in my lap. It form may have changed but it wide beaming smile stays the same

"You evolved, that's great!" I say slightly choking up

"Toge?" It questions a little worried

"No these are happy tears, I'm just glad you able to evolve!" I say picking her up and raising her up

"Toge!"

I pick my stuff up and let Togetic fly about, its a new sensation for her as she never been able to fly before, she stumbles a little in the air but get used to it after a while. She flits in and out of the flower growth in celebration before hovering around my head as we walk. It not too long before we finally make it to Seymour lodge, I can see the faint outline of Togekiss on the poach outside. As I come up to the cottage Seymour pops out to see us

"Dustin young man you made it! And Togepi evolved!" He says as Togetic rushes up to Togekiss to say hi again

"Yeah, thanks Seymour, you really helped clear my head and I think that what allowed it too happen"

"Oh its a pleasure now, I'd like you to take this" He says holding out a small round shiny stone

"This will allow you to evolve Togetic into Togekiss, I know you won't be able to do that until you've finished your Johto challenge I presume however, when your both ready you can use it"

"Oh I can't take that from you"

"I insist young man, its only collecting dust in my drawers please" He says thrusting it towards me

"Okay if you are sure"

"Of course now come, Betty made a beautiful stew I'm sure the pair of you are hungry"