By the time Growlithe disappeared back into the forest, sunlight had shifted overhead.I checked my phone.
12:47 PM.
"…Already lunchtime? Seriously?"
Pidgeotto chirped like she agreed—she had battled, after all.
I found a shaded spot beneath a massive redwood tree—one of the giant trees that had merged into Aarey a few days ago. Its trunk alone was wider than my entire bedroom.
I sat down against it, pulled off my backpack, and opened the steel tiffin box my mom packed this morning.
Simple, comforting food.
Chapati, aloo bhaji, and a small container of pickle.
A normal Indian lunch in a world that was no longer normal.
I smiled without meaning to.
"Thanks, Mom…"
Just as I was about to take my first bite—I froze.
My camera was still on.The chat was still scrolling.I was… still live.
[BRO YOU EATING??]
[STREAMER NEEDS ENERGY TOO]
[PLS DO NOT GET JUMPSCARED WHILE CHEWING]
[EAT FAST WE WANT MORE POKÉMON]
I laughed awkwardly.
"Oh crap—I forgot the stream was running."
Pidgeotto tilted her head as if judging me.
"I'm not ending it halfway," I told the viewers. "But I can't exactly talk while chewing, so… let's do this."
I shifted the camera angle so it faced me and Pidgeotto rather than the food.
"If you guys want something to do for a few minutes, check out the Pokédex app or the website."
Chat paused. Then exploded.
[YOU MADE AN APP??][BRO WHAT][LINK?? LINK??][WHAT DOES IT EVEN DO]
I chuckled and took a small bite of chapati. Pidgeotto flew away to forage few more berries for her lunch.
"The app explains the basics of Pokémon behavior. You can find info about the species we met today."
I counted them on my fingers.
"Pidgeotto—my partner. Caterpie. Metapod. Growlithe."
Pidgeotto gave a proud chirp at her name.
Chat continued blowing up:
[BRO DROP THE APP STORE LINK]
[DOWNLOADING RN]
[WAIT SO THESE CREATURES HAVE CATEGORIES??]
[ARE U SURE THEY'RE NOT ALIENS]
Between bites, I nodded.
"They're aliens to our planet and we're to theirs. As you know Earth is expanding well it's actually merging with their planet . They follow a natural ecosystem—just not one we knew existed until now."
I pointed the camera gently toward Pidgeotto.
"For example, Pidgeotto is a predator species, but very loyal once bonded. Caterpie are completely harmless. Metapod are in chrysalis phase—they evolve into Butterfree, which usually aren't hostile."
Someone typed:
[WHAT ABOUT THE FIRE DOG]
I wiped my hands and smiled.
"Growlithe. Fire type. Strong, brave, loyal. They're amazing companions and often work with law enforcement—not here yet, obviously, but eventually."
Somewhere in Mumbai Police HQ, someone was probably nodding again.
I finished the last bite of chapati, packed up the tiffin, and took a sip of water.
"Alright… break's over."
Pidgeotto perked up instantly.
But the chat wasn't done:
[BRO WHAT WAS THAT LUNCH]
[CHAPATI GANG RISE]
[YOUR MOM PACKED YOU LUNCH WHILE YOU BATTLE MONSTERS?? QUEEN]
[RESPECT TO MOTHER OF THE FIRST TRAINER]
I rolled my eyes fondly.
"Please do not turn my mom into a meme."
[TOO LATE BRO]
I gave the camera a final look.
"All right everyone—Pokédex downloaded? Info checked? Good. Because we're going deeper."
The forest ahead grew dimmer, denser—shadows curling under fallen branches and thick moss.A faint buzzing drifted through the air… distant, but real.
I felt my pulse quicken.
Pidgeotto stiffened, feathers rising.
"Okay," I whispered, standing. "Lunch is over. Exploration continues."
The deeper we walked into the forest, the thicker the air became—not dangerous, just… alive.Pidgeotto perched on my shoulder now, unusually quiet, eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape with practiced focus.
The buzzing I'd heard earlier faded away, replaced by something new:
Soft mooing.
I frowned.
Mooing? Inside a forest like this?
I stepped past a curtain of oversized ferns and suddenly—
The trees opened up.
A wide, sun-lit clearing stretched before me.Tall grass swayed gently in the breeze.
And standing calmly in the middle of it—
A herd of Miltank.
Big, pink, gentle cow-like Pokémon with dark patches and round udders. Their tails flicked lazily as they grazed or nuzzled each other.
But what caught my breath wasn't the Miltank themselves—
It was the cluster of tiny Pokémon gathered beneath them.
Seven… eight… no, at least a dozen small newborn Pokémon huddled close, drinking warm milk.
Separated from their families by spatial rifts.
My heart tightened.
"Oh wow… you guys are taking care of them."
Pidgeotto chirped softly, strangely touched as well.
The livestream chat exploded:
[BABIES??][BRO ARE THOSE POKÉMON KIDS??][WHY ARE THEY SO SMALL][COW LADY ADOPTED EVERYONE][PROTECT THEM AT ALL COSTS]
I slowly raised a hand toward the camera, asking everyone to quiet down.
"Okay… okay. Let's go one by one."
I stepped closer gently, careful not to startle the herd.The Miltank watched me with calm, almost knowing eyes—but didn't move.Maybe they sensed Pidgeotto wasn't a threat.Maybe they sensed I wasn't.
I knelt down a few meters from the babies.
"Let's start on the left."
A tiny monkey-like Pokémon clung to a Miltank's flank, drinking greedily while occasionally glaring around with comical suspicion.
"This is a Mankey," I explained. "Fighting type. Very agile. Their temper is… well… volatile."
The chat laughed.
[THE BABY LOOKS ANGRY ALREADY][HE DRINKING MILK BUT READY TO THROW HANDS]
Beside Mankey, two fox-like Pokémon huddled close to each other.
Big black eyes.Bushy tails twitching nervously.Soft brown fur with creamy collars.
"These two are Eevee. They're extremely adaptable Pokémon—they can evolve into many different forms depending on environment."
Chat instantly panicked.
[MANY??][EVO TREE??][FOX CAN BECOME WHAT EXACTLY??]
I smiled."We'll get into that later. For now, they're just scared and hungry."
Next to them were four tiny mouse Pokémon with yellow fur—electric sacs on their cheeks occasionally sparking softly as they nursed.
"These are Pichu," I said. "Babies of Pikachu. They're very young—probably only days old."
One of the Pichu hiccuped and released a tiny spark.
Pidgeotto flinched.Chat screamed.
[BRO IT JUST SHOCKED THE MILK][LITERALLY A BATTERY DRINKING MILK][PUT INSULATED GLOVES ON THEM]
I continued smiling.
"They're harmless at this age. Their shocks are weak."
Next were two small horse-like Pokémon with flames for manes—though the flames of these newborns were soft, warm glows rather than real fire.
"These are Ponyta. Fire types. Don't worry—their flames don't burn when they're babies."
Chat melted.
[HORSE BABIES ON FIRE BUT CUTE??][LITERAL FIRE PONIES][TAKE ONE HOME]
Beside them, a small purple rat Pokémon nibbled on grass near the Miltank.
"This little guy is Rattata. Normal type. Very common. Smart, fast, and usually travel in packs."
Rattata squeaked indignantly, as if offended by "common."
"And all of them," I added, slowly panning the camera,"are being fed and protected by the Miltank. She's basically adopted every lost baby that fell into this world."
The chat went silent for a moment—just hearts and emojis.
[THIS… THIS IS PURE][MILTANK IS MOM OF THE YEAR][WHO NEEDS A ORPHANAGE WHEN COW MOM EXISTS]
I sat down in the grass.
Pidgeotto settled beside me.
"This… is the first peaceful herd we've seen. No fighting. No panic. Just nature doing what nature always does—adapting."
My voice softened.
"If Pokémon can care for each other like this… maybe we can learn to live with them too."
The Miltank blinked slowly, then gave a gentle moo that echoed warmly across the clearing.
I smiled at the camera.
"Let's take a moment to observe quietly."
The forest breeze rustled through the grass.The babies continued drinking.Pidgeotto spread one wing protectively behind me.
For the first time since the Merge began—
Earth felt peaceful.
The peaceful scene didn't last long.
As I shifted the camera to show more of the clearing, something large moved on the far side of the pasture—massive silhouettes pushing through tall grass like waves.
I zoomed in.
A whole herd of Tauros stood there—muscular, brown bovine Pokémon with three tails swishing aggressively. Their horns gleamed in the sun. Even at a distance, they radiated energy.
The chat panicked instantly:
[BRO THOSE ARE NOT NORMAL COWS][THESE ONES LOOK READY TO CHARGE][ARE THESE BULL POKÉMON??]
I kept my voice calm.
"Those are Tauros. Very strong. Very territorial. Best to leave them alone unless you want to run for your life."
Even Pidgeotto ruffled her feathers uneasily.
But something else pulled my attention.
At the end of the pasture, beneath the shadow of the dense forest, two tall elegant Pokémon stood perfectly still. Manes of brilliant orange flames danced down their necks, tails blazing like controlled infernos.
Rapidash.
"Looks like the parents of the Ponyta," I whispered. "They're waiting patiently."
The Rapidash watched their young drink milk, heads high, eyes sharp but gentle. A beautiful, almost regal sight.
I switched the camera back to the Miltank herd.
One by one, the babies finished drinking and began leaving—guided by instinct or drawn by faint sounds from deeper in the forest.
First the Ponyta trotted away toward their Rapidash parents.
Then the Pichu wandered off together in a tiny electric cluster.
Rattata scurried into the bushes.
The Eevee pair hesitated before leaving, sniffing the air cautiously.
And soon, only three remained:
MankeyTwo Eevee
The Mankey was glaring at Pidgeotto like she had personally insulted his ancestors.
"Oh boy…" I muttered.
Chat burst:
[MONKEY WANTS SMOKE][LET HIM FIGHT THE BIRD][BATTLE 2.0 LET'S GO]
Meanwhile, the two Eevee approached me shyly—sniffing the air, then my backpack, then the leftover berry scent on my hands.
"Aww, you two want snacks?"
They nodded—actually nodded.
I sat down slowly and offered them a few small berry pieces.They ate with tiny, delicate bites, tails swishing softly.
As they ate, I whispered:
"Do you both… want to come with me?"
Their ears perked.
"I won't be your main trainer. I want you to meet my parents—they're kind, gentle, and they'll feed you good food every day. You'll be in a warm home, not alone in the forest."
The Eevee looked at each other.
Then at me.
Then both hopped into my lap.
Chat melted instantly:
[THEY CHOSE HIM][OMG FAMILY POKÉMON][AUNTY AND UNCLE ABOUT TO GET THE BEST PETS EVER]
I stroked their heads gently and said:
"Okay. You two are coming home. But behave, okay?"
They chirped softly in agreement.
I set them down beside me—and turned to address the last remaining troublemaker.
Mankey.
He cracked his knuckles.
He actually cracked his knuckles.
"Right," I sighed. "You want to fight Pidgeotto, don't you?"
Mankey thumped his chest.
Pidgeotto stepped forward with a determined cry.
"All right. But no serious hits—we're just sparring."
The battle started fast.
Mankey lunged with surprising agility.
"Pidgeotto—Quick Attack!"
She blurred forward.
But Mankey didn't dodge.
He absorbed the attack, bracing—
Then released stored energy straight back at her.
"Counter!?" I shouted. "You know Counter at this age?"
Pidgeotto was knocked back mid-air, surprised but unharmed.
Mankey smirked—actually smirked—like he just declared himself the protagonist.
Chat exploded:
[MONKEY HAS SKILLS][PLOT TWIST: MANKEY IS THE MAIN CHARACTER][BIRD GOT COUNTERED LMAOO]
I pointed forward quickly.
"Wing Attack!"
Pidgeotto struck with more force this time—gentle but firm.The level difference was too much. Mankey was pinned in the grass, panting heavily but grinning like a maniac.
The moment the wind settled, I knelt beside him.
"You're strong," I said softly. "Really strong. But you're alone."
Mankey's grin faded.
"If you want to grow—really grow—I can help you. I'll train you, feed you, guide you. You can be my partner."
Mankey froze.
I held out my hand.
"I'll make you stronger than you can imagine. If you come with me."
He stared at my hand for several long seconds.
Then—
He placed his tiny, calloused hand on top of mine.
Pidgeotto chirped triumphantly.The Eevee danced in the grass.
And the chat exploded into chaos.
[MANKEY JOINED THE PARTY][THE MONKEY IS NOW HIS SON][TEAM EXPANSION LET'S GOOO]
I smiled wider than I had all day.
"Welcome to the team, Mankey."
The forest rustled around us—and for a moment, everything felt perfect.