After spending a couple of hours with Piplup, guiding him through the basics of bonding and interacting with his new partner, I finally told Apoorv,
"It's time."
Apoorv looked at me, still a little hesitant.
"You sure? I don't know if I'm ready for this yet."
I smiled, trying to reassure him. "You've got this. Piplup's chosen you. Just trust the process."
Apoorv nodded and released his grip on the Pokéball, holding it out toward the little penguin Pokémon.
"Piplup," I said softly, "it's time. When you're ready, enter the ball."
Piplup tilted his head, looked at Apoorv one last time, and then jumped toward the ball. With a flash of light, Piplup was absorbed into it.
Apoorv looked down at the Pokéball in his hands, a mix of excitement and disbelief in his eyes.
"It worked…" he whispered, almost to himself. "I've got my first Pokémon…"
"Yeah, you do," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now comes the real training."
We stood there for a few moments, letting the weight of the moment sink in. Piplup was now officially his, and the journey had just begun.
On the way back to Apoorv's house, I made one last stop in the nearby fields. I spotted a young, obedient Pidgey hopping around, pecking at the ground for food. It looked like the kind of Pokémon that would fit perfectly with our next plans. I motioned to it, and after a few moments of hesitation, it hopped onto my shoulder, ready for whatever came next.
By the time we arrived at Apoorv's house, the sun had begun to dip lower, and the smell of lunch wafted from the kitchen. We were right on time.
I opened the door with a wide grin. "Apoorv! We're here."
Aunty, who was already setting the table, looked up with a welcoming smile. "Aakash, come, sit. Lunch is ready. I'll set the plates."
I waved a hand dismissively, "Aunty, you wait. Apoorv will set the plates." Then, I motioned to the Pidgey sitting on my shoulder, and it understood immediately.
With a soft chirp, Pidgey jumped from my shoulder and flapped toward Aunty, landing gently in her lap. She looked down in surprise, then smiled at the little bird nestled in her lap.
I grinned. "Aunty, this Pidgey is for you. Whenever Apoorv causes trouble or sleeps too long, just have it peck him. It's a good reminder to get him moving!"
Apoorv, standing at the doorway, groaned. "I'm so dead," he muttered, but there was no mistaking the fondness in his voice.
Aunty laughed, running her hand through the Pidgey's feathers. "Oh, I like this already. Looks like I have my new assistant."
Pidgey chirped happily as if agreeing with the new arrangement.
We all sat down at the table, and as we began to eat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The world outside might be changing rapidly, but right here, in this moment, everything felt right.
The rest of the meal was filled with laughter, stories, and the comforting presence of family. Aunty made sure to feed us well, as always. Puranpoli, the sweet Indian flatbread stuffed with jaggery and lentils, was especially delicious.
By the time we finished eating, the evening was settling in, and we all gathered around in the living room. A few hours of relaxation were long overdue, and I needed to catch up with Apoorv. I glanced at him, seeing how his expression had changed since this morning.
"So, what do you think about everything, Apoorv? Piplup's ready for some serious training," I asked.
He smiled, looking down at the Pokéball in his hand. "I've got a lot to learn, but I think we're ready for it. We're gonna do this together, right?"
"Of course," I said with a grin. "It's all about teamwork, and you've got a solid partner now."
He laughed. "And a Pidgey to keep me in check."
I chuckled. "That too."
We spent the rest of the evening talking about our plans for the next day and the exploration trip to Zone M-17. It felt good to have a moment of calm before we set out again.
After lunch, I didn't stay long.
Aunty tried—she always did—but Apoorv was already distracted, sitting cross-legged on the floor with his Pokéball placed carefully in front of him like it might roll away if he blinked too hard. Piplup popped out a few seconds later, immediately waddling toward the kitchen, clearly investigating the source of the puranpoli smell.
I smiled, waved goodbye, and headed back.
The villa greeted me with quiet.
The kind of quiet that only exists when a place is alive but resting.
The moment I stepped inside, small footsteps rushed toward me.
"Happi~!"
Happiny barreled into my legs and hugged them like her life depended on it, polished white stone clutched proudly in both hands.
I laughed and scooped her up.
"Miss me that much?"
She nodded enthusiastically—then promptly poked my cheek.
Fair enough.
I spent the next hour just… being there.
No politics.
No zones collapsing.
No evolution arms race.
Just Happiny dragging me across the living room to play, insisting I watch her carefully arrange berries by color, then demanding I clap when she succeeded. When I set her down to get water, she waddled straight to Chansey.
And that's when I saw it.
Chansey stood calmly in the open space near the backyard, hands glowing faintly pink.
Happiny stood in front of her, eyes narrowed in deep concentration, tiny hands glowing unevenly as she tried to mimic the motion.
A soft pulse spread outward.
Weak.
But real.
Chansey nodded encouragingly.
Happiny beamed.
She was practicing.
Healing.
When I wasn't around, she spent her time doing exactly what her instincts told her to do—learning, copying, growing.
Nearby, the Eevee siblings chased each other in circles, occasionally stopping to watch Happiny like proud spectators before resuming their chaos.
I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, quietly watching.
This… this was how it was supposed to be.
Later, I sat down with Chansey on the back steps, the evening breeze carrying the scent of berries and damp earth.
"I've been thinking," I said. "Pokémon Centers."
Chansey's ears twitched.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Chan…sey!"(Yes. That's what we should do.)
I nodded. "Not just for trainers. For civilians too. People are still scared. Injuries are rising. Panic makes things worse."
Chansey tapped the ground once thoughtfully, then gestured toward the deeper part of the zone.
She spoke slowly, carefully.
"There… is… a group."
I tilted my head. "A group?"
She nodded.
"Jiggly… puff."
That made me pause.
"They don't come out much," she continued, "but they live deeper inside. They are cautious. Quiet. They know Heal Pulse."
That caught my full attention.
Heal Pulse wasn't just basic recovery—it was advanced healing. Controlled. Precise.
"They could help in Pokémon Centers," I said slowly.
Chansey nodded again, firmer this time.
"They want to help," she added. "But they are afraid of humans."
I exhaled.
"That's fair."
I stood up. "Talk to them. Let them know I'll come meet them soon. No pressure. No forcing."
Chansey smiled gently.
She understood exactly what kind of meeting that would be.
Before heading inside, I sent a quick message through the secure channel.
The government had already started nurturing Oddish partnerships with medical staff—doctors, nurses, emergency responders.
Once Oddish learned Grassy Terrain, they could provide passive healing, stabilize patients, reduce shock.
Not perfect.
But enough to save lives before advanced care arrived.
A bridge.
Between humans and Pokémon.
Between fear and trust.
I looked back once more at Happiny, now curled beside Chansey, fast asleep after exhausting herself with practice.
"This is the future," I murmured.
Not armies.
Not stones.
Not power.
Care.
Healing.
And Pokémon who wanted to help.
Tomorrow, I'd deal with a new Zone.
new pokemon.
But tonight?
Tonight, I let the world rest.
__________________________
Support me on p@treon:
[email protected]/blaze98