Then it hit me: our secret place.
The little hollow tree at the edge of Viridian Forest.
A year ago, when they were still just a tiny Sprigatito and a little Buneary, we'd stumbled into it while running from a swarm of angry Beedrill.
We ran for our lives and dove straight into the hollow tree to hide. Buneary tripped and fell through a hidden hole in the bottom.
Following her we landed in a small underground cave.
A thin stream ran down from the roots above, forming a clear pond that was always cool to the touch.
Thick tree roots curled along the walls like they were protecting the place.
When sunlight filtered through the gap overhead, the water sparkled like tiny stars scattered across glass.
Right in the middle was our favorite big mossy rock. We always sat there, legs dangling in the cool water. That was our secret spot, the place we went whenever we wanted to be alone or relaxed.
I turned and ran toward the forest, heart pounding even harder.
They had to be there. They just had to.
When I finally reached the clearing and slipped inside the hollow tree, I found them.
Floragato sat on one side of the mossy rock, her short leafy tail tucked close.
Her paws rested lightly on the edge of the pond, and her legs dangled into the water.
She was gently kicking her feet, slow and nervous, sending tiny ripples outward.
Lopunny sat at the opposite corner, her long ears flat against her back.
Her arms were wrapped loosely around her legs, shoulders slightly hunched, she was sad.
They heard my footsteps the moment I came in, both of them tensed slightly.
But neither turned toward me.
Floragato's ears twitched, but she kept her gaze on the tiny ripples in the pond, gently swishing her legs through the water like she was pretending I wasn't there.
Lopunny shifted only enough to turn her head a little farther away, long ears falling forward to block her face.
I walked toward them slowly,
By the time I reached the edge of the pond, my feet were red, dirty and sore from running barefoot through the forest, grass stuck to my heels, dust coating my skin, and small scratches lining my toes from roots and stones.
I sat down in the middle, between them, just like always.
Then I lowered my legs into the water.
The cold pond water wrapped around my ankles and toes, washing away dirt. Tiny ripples spread out.
"Do you remember… how we used to come here?" I asked softly. "It's such a nice place, isn't it? Back then I said I wanted to travel the world with both of you."
Floragato's ears flicked slightly, and Lopunny's long ears lifted just a little, small reactions.
"…I'm sorry," I whispered. "For whatever I said earlier."
The pond water moved gently around our legs, breaking our reflections into tiny shifting shapes.
"I really do love Pokémon," I continued. "Since the moment I came to this world, all I ever cared about was exploring. Meeting new Pokémon. Spending time with them."
I swallowed, staring down at the ripples.
"I never wanted some weird relationship with a Pokégirl or whatever everyone else thinks is normal."
"I finally get it," I said quietly, staring at the sparkling water. "Pokémon aren't just for battles. They're our partners… our real family. When you spend every single day together, laughing, eating, sleeping side by side… it's only natural to fall in love."
I took a shaky breath.
"I love you guys. I really do. And… yesterday, before everything happened, I had that dream.
The one that made me wake up all hot and sticky, my heart racing.
In the dream, Pokémon were all around me, soft fur against my skin, warm tongues, gentle paws… touching me, loving me the same way I love them. I woke up confused and scared, but now I know… that dream wasn't wrong.
My heart already knew what my head was too afraid to admit."
Floragato's ears twitched. Lopunny finally glanced back, her big brown eyes still wet.
I looked at them, voice soft.
"I'm sorry. Please… forgive me."
"I love you both," I whispered. "More than anything. I shouldn't care what the world thinks. As long as I never force anything and we all want the same thing… I want to be with you. Really be with you. Travel the world together every day… and maybe, one day, even have a family with you."
The second the words left my mouth, both of them turn around. Their eyes were shiny with tears, but huge smiles broke across their faces.
"Nyaa~!"
"Punny~!"
They launched themselves at me at the same time. I toppled backward onto with a surprised laugh as two warm, fluffy bodies crashed into my chest. Floragato nuzzled my neck, purring like crazy. Lopunny wrapped her long ears and arms around us both, squeezing tight, her happy little "Punny~♡" muffled against my shoulder.
I hugged them back just as hard, laughing and crying at the same time.
We stayed like that for a long time.
Then Floragato climbed higher, rubbing her soft furry cheek against mine.
She'd seen kisses on TV, so she gave me a shy, careful lick right on the lips, her rough tongue warm and gentle, tasting faintly sweet.
I turned and kissed her back properly. Our lips pressed together, then my tongue brushed hers shyly at first, then curled in slow, gentle circles.
Her tongue slid against mine with soft, wet sounds. Each tiny swirl sent tingles down our spines.
She let out the tiniest happy hum, vibrating against my lips. Our breaths mixed warm, quick, and sweet and little drops of shared saliva gathered at the corners of our mouths.
I could feel her whiskers tickle my cheeks, her soft fur brushing my face with every tiny tilt of her head.
Lopunny didn't want to be left out. She wiggled in from the other side, her long ears flopping over us like a warm blanket.
I turned and kissed her too. Her tongue was smoother, sliding against mine in slow, loving strokes. A little saliva mixed warm and sweet, dripping at the corners of our mouths as we took turns kissing, noses bumping, soft purrs vibrating against my lips.
The three of us traded gentle, happy kisses under the sparkling light, wrapped in fur and warmth.
But before their paws could wander lower, I pulled back a little and held up a hand, smiling through my flushed face.
"We have to wait," I said softly, gently catching both of their paws in my hands to stop them from wandering any lower.
"When I turn ten and we start our journey, the law says it's okay for people to be together like that to fall in love, get married. Until then… no grown-up stuff, okay?
They both gave me the saddest little looks, ears drooping, lips pushed out in tiny pouts.
I laughed and pulled them closer.
"But we can still lick and kiss each other, right? Just no real sex that's the grown-up part we have to wait for."
They tilted their heads, ears flopping in confusion.
I turned bright red and tried to explain in the simplest way:
"Sex is…"
"Sex is…" I whispered, my voice barely there. I used my hands and a few quiet words to show. My face was burning the whole time.
They both watched me closely, ears perked, then slowly nodded. Their eyes said they finally got it.
"That's the grown-up part," I mumbled. "We have to wait until I'm ten and we start our journey before we can do that."
I quickly added, "But kissing, licking etc … Everything else is still okay. We can keep doing all the fun stuff we like, just not that one thing yet."
Their eyes lit up like I'd just given them permission to open presents early.
Before I could say another word, my pants were already down around my ankles.
Lopunny gently pushed me onto my back and climbed up, settling her soft, warm folds right over my mouth.
I didn't even have time to protest; my tongue was already tasting her sweet warmth.
She leaned forward with a happy "Pun~♡" and started licking along my hard shaft, slow and loving.
Floragato slipped between my legs, purring a soft "Nyaa~♡" as she nuzzled my balls and licked the other side of my cock, her rough tongue making me shiver every time it moved softly around my penis.
They moved together perfectly, Lopunny's smooth tongue up one side, Floragato's rougher one up the other, both of them purring louder with every lick, warm and happy and completely mine.
I gave up trying to talk and just let the cave fill with their sweet little sounds and the soft, wet noises of three best friends who finally understood they were allowed to love each other exactly like this, until the day we could love each other even more…