When I heard the voice, I turned around.
Standing there was a kid about my age, dressed in a loose yellow tunic with green edges, a long-sleeved black shirt underneath, blue-green tights, and purple ankle boots. A simple straw hat shaded his face, and a short blonde ponytail stuck out the back.
Up close, though… something felt off. His face was soft and pretty, almost like a girl's big eyes, smooth skin, a gentle voice when he spoke. If it weren't for the outfit and the way he carried himself, I might've mistaken him for one.
Also, he had this calm, bright feeling around him, like everything got a little warmer and kinder just because he was there.
He tilted his head and his voice was gentle, almost sweet.
"What are you going to do with that poor Metapod?" he asked again, eyes wide and worried.
Something about his face stirred a faint memory... I'd forgotten so much from my old life, but there was this strange feeling I had seen him somewhere before. Still, the Metapod shivered in my arms, and I didn't have time to dig for half-buried memories.
"Why is its shell cracked?!" the boy shouted, pointing at the Metapod. "Did you do that?!"
"No!" I shook my head fast. "A Pidgeotto attacked it. I was just taking it to the Pokémon Center!"
He stepped closer without hesitation, but Lopunny moved first.
She slid between us in one smooth motion, ears lifted, posture alert. Her eyes narrowed just enough that anyone would understand: don't touch him.
"Lo… puni."
A calm warning.
The boy blinked, surprised, then looked from Lopunny to me. His gaze softened, almost understanding.
"…You're really close," he murmured, voice quiet and warm. "She trusts you a lot."
For a moment he just observed her, like he wasn't seeing a Pokémon, but a feeling. Lopunny stared back, emotion steady and protective not fierce, just protective.
I rested a hand gently on Lopunny's shoulder.
"It's okay," I whispered.
Her muscles stayed tense for a second… then she exhaled and lowered her guard, though she didn't step away.
"...Lo."
Soft, but still alert.
The boy nodded once.
"Can you hand me the Metapod?" he asked softly. "I'll heal it."
I froze.
"…You have a Pokémon that heals?"
He shook his head.
"No," he said simply. "I can do it."
Both Lopunny and I stared, equally confused. Healing like that wasn't something a normal person should just… say.
But for some reason I just… had a feeling he could really do it. I slowly held out the Metapod.
The boy gently took it into his hands, holding the Metapod like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"...Meta…"
A weak little sound trembled from the shell.
The boy held his hands over the cracked shell.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then, a soft, golden-yellow light started to glow from his palms.
As the light spread over the crack, you could see it was hard for him. Sweat started to form on his forehead. His hands began to shake a little.
The crack in the shell slowly closed up, getting smoother.
Metapod let out a soft sound, almost relieved.
"...Paa… pod."
But the boy looked worse. His face got pale. His breathing became quicker and more shallow, like he couldn't get enough air. He wasn't just tired; he was feeling Metapod's pain.
When the light finally faded, he was careful. He gently placed the healed Metapod on the soft grass. Then, as if his legs couldn't hold him anymore, he fell to his knees right there.
He breathed heavily, hands pressed against the ground. A long, shaky breath escaped him and his whole body trembled like he was barely staying upright. He looked completely drained.
I slowly crouched beside him, unsure if I should touch him or not.
"…Are you okay?" I asked quietly. "How did you do that?"
Grass shifted behind me.
Meowscarada stepped forward, silent as a shadow. Her tail flicked once as she came to my side. Her sharp pink-red eyes locked on the boy, watching carefully.
He glanced at me and said, "It really tires me out. Sometimes I have to sleep a whole day. But… I couldn't just leave it in pain."
He rested his hand gently on the Metapod. The shell was smooth and perfect again, no cracks left.
Then he let himself sink down onto the grass, lying on his back, breathing hard. His eyes fluttered for a moment, then drifted to Meowscarada, then to me.
He gave a tired little smile, like he could feel the same love coming from her that he'd seen in Lopunny.
"You're… really close to your Pokémon, huh?" he said quietly, almost in awe. "I can tell. They love you a lot."
Hearing this, I looked at both of them.
Lopunny rested her paw on my arm.
"Lopunny…"
Meowscarada placed her paw gently on my shoulder.
"…Meow."
I placed my hand over theirs, feeling that familiar comfort.
"They're my most trusted companions in the whole world…"
Both Pokémon's eyes softened, Lopunny with gentle warmth, Meowscarada with a proud, confident spark.
After that, the boy told me his name was Amarillo and explained the ability he used. It's called the Healer, or Verdian Power, a special gift from Viridian Forest that lets him heal Pokémon just by touching them.
I was truly amazed.
He said he lives deep in the forest and I was shocked again. After all, Viridian Forest is pretty dangerous with all the wild Pokémon.
I asked him how he knew the Metapod was injured, and how he could tell my Pokémon loved me.
He said, "I can understand them. I can feel what they feel."
Hearing this, I immediately asked, "Can I learn how to do that?"
He shook his head.
I sighed, shoulders slumping.
He laughed softly, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. "You want it to understand your Pokémon better, right?"
I nodded.
"But you don't need it. Look at them; you already understand them."
Meowscarada and Lopunny both nodded, agreeing with Amarillo.
"Meow~"
"Lopuu~"
Soon Amarillo recovered enough to stand, and we said our goodbyes. I started walking out of the forest, my head still spinning.
A human who can heal Pokémon just by touching them… and even understand what they feel? I have seen stuff like Aura and psychic powers in the anime, but watching it happen right in front of me was a completely different experience.
Yet... this world still has so many mysteries. So many amazing, impossible things I haven't even seen yet.
I smiled to myself, heart racing a little.
I'm definitely going to see every single one of them.
Every secret, every wonder… with my Pokémon by my side.
When we were close to leaving the forest, Meowscarada and Lopunny both grabbed my hands and pulled me off the path.
I immediately understood what they wanted…