"Gengar."
Victor sat up, and Vulpix's small head poked out from his embrace.
Victor glanced around, but not seeing Gengar, he called out its name.
Gengar, who was chatting with Kangaskhan in the backyard, heard Victor's call.
It floated over, its upper body phasing through the wall into the room.
"Gengar?"
What's wrong?
"Nothing, just calling for you."
Victor gently pushed Vulpix's head back down.
"Yip?"
Is it time to sleep again?
Vulpix, pushed back under the covers, was a little confused.
Didn't we just wake up?
"Yip~"
Oh well, I'll just sleep a little longer.
It closed its eyes, but after waiting a long time, it realized Victor hadn't come back to bed.
Vulpix poked its head out again and saw Victor pulling back the covers, getting ready to get up.
The confused Vulpix followed him, climbing out of bed, stretching its body, and then trotting towards the door.
It was snatched up by Victor halfway.
Only after he had washed its face with a towel did he let it run downstairs.
Victor finished his own morning routine and slowly walked downstairs, where he leisurely enjoyed the breakfast Gothita had prepared for him.
He was surprised not to see Mime Jr. this morning.
Even Lilligant wasn't there.
Usually, when he woke up for breakfast, Lilligant would be there with Roselia, keeping him company.
Victor's heart ached a little.
It's true. When your daughter grows up, she doesn't care about you anymore.
He tearfully finished his breakfast and handed the dishes to Gothita to wash.
Victor headed to the backyard, intending to see what Gengar and the others were up to.
He opened the door and found Gengar, Lilligant, and the others in the afternoon tea area, chatting with a Kangaskhan.
In the flower garden, Mime Jr., Vulpix, and a baby Kangaskhan were playing.
Victor, curious about the Kangaskhan, walked over to Gengar's side.
Seeing Victor, the Kangaskhan stood up.
Victor looked up at the Kangaskhan, which was looking down at him.
[Kangaskhan]
[Introduction: On its journey, it met the Ninetales who was departing. It learned from the Ninetales that the Breeding House had a new owner and, following its advice, came back to see. It seems you, the descendant of an old friend, are doing well?]
[Hello, Victor. —Kangaskhan]
Is this... one of my great-aunt's partners from back then?
"Hello, Kangaskhan. I'm Victor," Victor said softly to the Pokémon before him. "The new owner of this Breeding House."
"Kanga."
The Kangaskhan nodded, its eyes smiling.
It had heard all about Victor from the Breeding House's Pokémon.
It was very satisfied.
As the new owner, he had transformed the Breeding House into something it had never been before, allowing the Pokémon inside to live and play happily.
Gothita brought over some tea.
Victor sat down, quietly keeping the returning Kangaskhan company.
The Kangaskhan finished its tea.
It sat on the ground, watching the many Pokémon playing in the Breeding House, its eyes full of memories.
Although there were more Pokémon back then, it seemed not every one of them was truly happy.
It and Ninetales had tried to find a way, but they could never get all the Pokémon to coexist harmoniously and be genuinely happy.
It seems... he has managed to do it?
The Kangaskhan thought to itself.
"My great-aunt—"
The Kangaskhan turned to look at Victor.
"In the hearts of you Pokémon, what kind of person was she?"
The Kangaskhan didn't speak, but from the emotion in its eyes, Victor found his answer.
He picked up his tea, took a sip, and then spoke slowly.
"Is that so?"
It makes sense. If my great-aunt wasn't a gentle person, she wouldn't have had so many Pokémon by her side.
I'm really curious about what her life was like back then.
Victor put down his cup and stood up.
The Kangaskhan looked at him curiously.
"Come on, Kangaskhan. Let me give you a personal tour of our Breeding House."
The Kangaskhan smiled and stood up.
It followed Victor, listening to his introductions.
The play area was for the Pokémon to play in. The afternoon tea area hadn't changed, except for the addition of a flower garden, which smelled wonderful.
The dining area, the grass area, the lake area... he introduced the Marill and Golduck families living there.
Then, the planting area, which was growing vegetables, berries, and medicinal herbs.
He also explained what the herbs were used for.
He also greeted the various Pokémon playing nearby.
Watching Victor interact with the Pokémon, the Kangaskhan nodded.
Finally, the forest area, where he introduced the Vespiquen.
After the tour, they returned to the lounge area.
Gothita had already prepared lunch.
Victor ate lunch with the Kangaskhan.
Afterward, they rested in the lounge area for a while.
The Kangaskhan placed its baby back into its pouch and stood up.
Victor also stood.
It was time for the Kangaskhan to leave.
Mime Jr. and Vulpix's eyes were filled with reluctance to see the baby Kangaskhan go.
The baby Kangaskhan felt the same.
They walked to the gate.
The Kangaskhan looked at Victor, and at the Gengar, Lilligant, Machoke, Mime Jr., Vulpix, Gothita, Marill, and Vespiquen by his side.
Victor walked forward.
He took out a small wooden tag and gently placed it around the baby Kangaskhan's neck.
"Grow up safe and strong," he said, smiling as he patted its small head.
Then Victor held out the photo frame, handing it to the Kangaskhan.
It took it.
In the photo, the young girl held a Glameow, her smile like a flower.
The Kangaskhan smiled, then handed the frame back.
"Kanga."
With a gentle wave, the Kangaskhan, carrying its baby, turned and stepped onto the Breeding Path.
Taking the photo frame, Victor watched its retreating back.
It seems the Breeding House will be welcoming more seniors in the future.
He smiled, turned, and went back inside.
A short while later, a framed photo of the Kangaskhan and its baby was placed next to his great-aunt's.
...
On the sunlit Breeding Path, the Kangaskhan walked, looking down at its baby, who was holding the small wooden tag.
Sensing the baby's reluctance, the Kangaskhan stroked its head.
"Kanga?"
Momma, why do we have to leave?
"Kanga."
Because that is no longer Momma's home.
"Kanga?"
But last night, didn't you say it was your home?
The Kangaskhan didn't answer, just kept walking.
After a while...
"Kanga."
It was. But it isn't now.
The baby Kangaskhan looked confused, but it stayed in its mother's pouch and didn't say any more.
That is Gengar's and the others' home now.
The Breeding House is still the Breeding House, but the person is no longer the same.
And if the person is gone, then it is no longer home, the Kangaskhan thought.
An image of a young girl holding her hand out to its younger, lost self appeared in its mind.
"Come on, come home with me. I'll take care of you."
Only where the one you love is... can be called home.
The Kangaskhan's heart ached.
Humans... their lives are so short.
Perhaps it's just as Gallade said.
Because it is fleeting, it is beautiful.
Thinking this, the Kangaskhan looked down at its child.
It was still holding the wooden tag, missing the friends it had just made.
"Kanga."
When you grow up, you can choose to come back.
"Kanga?" The baby Kangaskhan looked up, puzzled.
The Kangaskhan said no more.
Child, that is no longer Momma's home.
But in the future, it can become your home.
Everything... will be your own choice, when you grow up.
...
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