"Congratulations on finally evolving, Togetic!"
Having finally resolved the "identity crisis" that had plagued their journey, Julian offered his heartfelt congratulations to his newly evolved partner. Looking at the Togetic floating gracefully before him, and feeling the immense relief that he was finally being addressed as a person rather than a parental figure, Julian's mood soared to new heights.
This truly was a double blessing—a stronger team member and the end of a very awkward nickname.
"Floe~! (Congratulations, congratulations! Our little brother finally grew up!)" Floette chirped, her earlier fear of a "cake-less" future forgotten. She hovered around Togetic, her tiny hands clapping in excitement.
"Sylveeee~ (Happy for you, Togetic! And hey, now you don't have to worry about being defenseless anymore!)" Sylveon added, her ribbons swaying gently. She looked at Togetic with the proud eyes of an older sister who had spent many a battle standing in front of him to take the hits.
"Woof. Woof! (Mhm, well done, little guy. You actually look like you can hold your own now!)" Growlithe offered his own gruff praise. Even though he was still processing the fact that Julian could "hear" him, he couldn't help but be impressed by the transformation.
"Togetic~ Togetic! (Hehe~ Thank you, Julian, and my big brothers and sisters! Julian, I can finally help everyone fight! I feel so much stronger!)"
Feeling the surge of Fairy and Flying-type energy coursing through his body, Togetic began to circle Julian in the air. Unlike his time as an egg-bound Togepi, he didn't need to hop or waddle; he simply glided, his movements fluid and ethereal. He was practically vibrating with the desire to test out his new abilities.
"Is that so?" Julian laughed, reaching up to gently guide Togetic toward the center of the room. "Why don't you show us your non-offensive abilities first? We can test the 'big' moves once we get to a proper training field tomorrow. I'd like to keep the hotel security deposit, after all."
Julian hadn't forgotten the "incident" where a stray move had nearly taken out a lamp during their last indoor practice.
"Togetic! (Okay!)"
Togetic drifted back, closing his eyes in deep concentration. He took a slow breath, and for a moment, the cheerful, innocent aura he usually radiated began to shift. When he opened his eyes again, his gentle face had vanished. In its place was a sharp, calculating gaze and a slightly lopsided, wicked smile that looked completely out of place on such a cute Pokémon.
At the same time, Julian's Aura flared, sensing a sudden, sharp spike in Togetic's mental energy. It was as if his mind had suddenly sharpened into a razor-thin edge.
"Is that... Nasty Plot?" Julian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Togetic! (Yes!)" Togetic chirped, the "wicked" look vanishing instantly as he reverted to his usual adorable self.
"Togetic~! (I also feel like I've learned 'Big Sister's' move, Magical Leaf! And I can feel the wind around me—Fairy Wind! I just didn't want to use them in here because they're too sparkly. And there are two other things... I felt like I knew them when I was little, but I couldn't grasp them. Now I can! One is Mirror Move, to copy what others do, and the other is Morning Sun... but it's dark outside, so that one isn't working right now.)"
Togetic chattered away like a child showing off a gold star from school, listing his new repertoire with pride.
"That's incredible, Togetic!" Julian said, genuinely impressed. "You've gained a whole arsenal! For now, though, take a breath. Adapt to having wings and a longer neck. You can ask Floette for some pointers on the Leaf-moves later tonight while I finish up here."
Julian reached out and gave Togetic a firm, affectionate pat.
[Emm, even though he doesn't have fur anymore, his skin is so smooth and warm. It's like touching fine porcelain.] Julian thought, his hand lingering on Togetic's head. After a long moment of "evolution-cuddling," Julian reluctantly let the Flying-type go.
"Alright, get some rest, buddy. I still have a very important investigation to conduct with our resident detective."
Julian turned his gaze toward Growlithe, who had been sitting by the bed, staring at Julian with a mixture of suspicion and profound confusion.
"Woof? Woof! (Finally done? Alright, Cook—explain. How is it that you know exactly what I'm saying?! Since when did humans speak Dog?!)"
Julian pulled up a chair and sat down, meeting Growlithe's intense gaze. "It's not 'Dog,' Growlithe. It's called Aura. Every living thing has it—a life force that connects us all. Very few humans can tap into it, and I only discovered I had it by accident a few months ago."
Julian leaned forward, his expression softening. "I've been trying to connect with you for a while, but you're a tough nut to crack. I think because we've spent so much time together lately, and because of the emotional spike from Togetic's evolution, our Auras finally 'clicked.' It's like a bridge. I don't hear your barks as much as I feel your thoughts."
Growlithe tilted his head, his ears twitching. He seemed to be weighing this information, checking it against his knowledge of the world.
"Woof... (Aura, huh? I've heard of Aura Guardians in the old stories... though they usually wear cooler hats.)" Growlithe barked, his tail giving a single, involuntary thump.
"Now, my explanation is finished," Julian said, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Now it's your turn. Care to explain why, in the privacy of your own mind, you've been calling me 'Cook'?" (￢_￢)
Growlithe's ears flattened against his head. He looked away, suddenly very interested in a stray piece of lint on the carpet. "Woof... woof! (Well... can you blame me? Every time you open that bag or walk into a kitchen, magic happens. You're the guy with the steak. Therefore, you are the Cook.)"
"I have a name, you know," Julian retorted. "But fine, I'll take it as a compliment to my culinary skills. However, I have a bone to pick with you—pun intended. Why were you so suspicious of me? You've been looking at me like I'm a wanted criminal for weeks!"
Growlithe's expression shifted. He looked at Togetic, then back at Julian, his brow furrowing.
"Woof! Woof! Woof? (I have to confirm something! That little fellow... he was calling you 'Mommy' the whole time! You didn't brainwash him into saying that, did you?)"
Julian stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. "You're kidding! That was the reason? You thought I was some weirdo kidnapping baby Pokémon and forcing them to call me 'Mom'?"
"Woof... (In my defense, it's a very weird thing to hear! I thought you were a Master Manipulator!)"
Julian wiped a tear from his eye. "Look, it's a biological thing. Togepi are extremely impressionable. They 'imprint' on the first thing they see when they hatch. I was the one holding the egg. I tried to correct him a thousand times—trust me, it wasn't my idea. I've been as embarrassed about it as you were confused."
Growlithe let out a long, huffing sound that was clearly a sigh of relief. He sat back on his haunches, looking much less tense. "Woof~ woof woof~ (W-Well... I guess that makes sense. Who would choose to be called 'Mommy' by a spikey egg in public? My apologies, Julian. I guess I really did get the wrong idea.)"
"You think?" Julian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I hadn't unlocked this Aura connection, you'd probably still be looking for my 'secret hideout.' Honestly, if anyone else heard a Pokémon calling a guy 'Mommy,' they'd call the authorities. I'm lucky you were the only 'officer' on the scene."
Julian thought about it for a moment, a shudder running down his spine. If he'd walked into a Pokémon Center and Togepi had screamed "Mommy!" at the top of his lungs in front of a crowd, his reputation would have been ruined across the entire Sinnoh region.
"Alright, the air is cleared," Julian said, standing up and stretching. "But I have a proposition for you, Growlithe. If you agree to drop the 'Cook' title and just call me Julian—or Jing—I might be persuaded to make something extra special for breakfast tomorrow. I'm talking about slow-roasted Sitrus berry sausages and hand-mixed protein biscuits."
He watched Growlithe closely. He knew the way to this dog's heart was firmly through his stomach.
Growlithe's eyes widened. He licked his chops, his professional "detective" resolve crumbling instantly at the mention of the word 'sausages.'
"Woof! (Deal! For sausages like that, I'll call you 'High King' if you want!)"
"Julian will do just fine," Julian laughed.