Years passed faster than I expected.
Before I knew it, it was the last week of school, the final days before I am officially old enough to start a journey.
Our classroom looked the same as always: sunlight through the big window, chalk dust floating in the air, desks covered in scratches and doodles. But the atmosphere felt different.
Our teacher clapped her hands.
"Alright, class," she said with a warm smile, "this is your final week here. By Saturday, you'll need to submit your plans for the future."
"Remember, there are many paths in this world: You can continue your studies, you can choose a specialized field… or you can become Pokémon Trainers who battle, travel and participate in contests..."
Her purple eyes moved across the room as if she looked at us.
"Whatever you choose," she added, "make sure it's something you truly want."
With that, she dismissed us.
Chairs scraped. Bags rustled. Voices filled the room with excitement and nerves.
I slowly packed my notebook and pens. My hands moved automatically, but my mind… felt blank.
I stared at the wooden table below, then I glanced at the boy beside me.
"Bran," I asked while closing my bag, "what are you going to do?"
He grinned immediately with confidence,
"I'm going to become a Pokémon Trainer and will compete in the Indigo League and become Champion."
He puffed his chest a little.
"My dad promised he'll get me a Moon Stone when I start my journey, so Nidorina can evolve before our first Gym battle."
"…A Pokémon Trainer, huh?" I murmured.
Then Bran asked, "What about you? What's your plan?"
I paused.
"I… haven't really decided."
My voice sounded unsure, even to me.
"I like exploring. I like studying Pokémon. Spending time with them makes me happy. But if I want to travel and see lots of Pokémon… I'll need money. A steady job. Something realistic."
My expression must've looked gloomy, because Bran said.
"With how strong your Pokémon are? You should definitely become a trainer!"
I forced a small smile.
"I don't… like battling."
Bran stared at me, dead serious.
"Dude… then why are they so freaking strong?!" he said, half annoyed, half totally impressed.
"Your Lopunny knocked out my Nidorina in literally one hit!"
I shook my head slowly.
"I didn't train them," I said quietly. "They did it themselves."
I still remember that day.
We were exploring near Viridian Forest when we accidentally stepped into Ariados's territory. Before we knew it, sticky webs shot out and tangled Floragato tight.
Lopunny rushed to free her, but Spidops dropped down and blocked the way. The Ariados came closer, fangs were ready to bite.
I didn't think. I just threw myself between Ariados and Floragato.
Ariados's fangs sank deep into my shoulder. A burning, sick feeling spread fast as poison rushed through me.
Floragato stared at me, eyes huge and terrified. Lopunny froze too.
That moment Floragato changed…
After that day…
They started training before the sun was even up, practicing moves against trees and rocks over and over until their paws, ears, and legs were sore.
It scared me.
So, I sat them down and told them (almost shouted) that they didn't have to hurt themselves to get stronger and If you keep pushing this hard… I won't talk to you anymore. I mean it. Please slow down. Rest. Let me train with you instead. We'll get stronger together, okay? Promise me.
Only after they swore not to train until they were hurting did they finally ease up a little.
They still trained every day… but now they waited for me to wake up first.
Although they never said it out loud, I knew exactly why they were pushing so hard.
They never wanted to feel helpless again…
or watch me get injured.
Ever.
Bran sighed, "Well… whatever you choose, I know you'll figure it out."
He swung his bag over his shoulder and waved. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah… see you."
---
I walked toward the school grounds, thoughts swirling around me like thick fog.
By the time I got there, my head still had no answers.
But the second my Pokémon spotted me, they ran straight over, ears perked, small tails wagging happily.
Meowscarada reached me first. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in, pressing her soft chest right against my face, warm fur brushing my cheeks. Lopunny slipped in from the other side, hugging me just as tight. Both of them leaned close, warm and happy, their gentle breathing rising and falling against me.
I laughed softly.
"It's only been a few hours…"
They had changed so much over the years.
Lopunny stood almost 4'7", long and curvy.
Her light-brown fur was smooth and soft everywhere, with cream patches that looked like thigh-high stockings and gloves.
She had wide hips, a round, perky butt that moved when she walked and long legs that made her look both cute and sexy. Her chest was covered in the same light-brown fur, but it was extra fluffy right between her breasts, giving her a soft, bouncy look.
Meowscarada stood nearly 5 feet tall, sleek and tempting.
Her light-green fur clung to a slim waist and curvy hips, with darker green legs like thigh-high stockings that highlighted her long, thighs and soft round ass.
The fluffy fur around her chest and thighs gave her a soft bust and plush look, while her short fluffy tail flicked playfully behind.
The dark-green mask framed her beautiful pink-red eyes and her dark green cape draped over her fluffy chest like it was hiding something soft and tempting underneath.
They do looked bigger and stronger than Pokémon size shown in the anime, but to me, that only meant one thing:
I had taken care of them well.
"Alright," I finally said, patting their heads, "today we continue to watch Metapod in Viridian Forest."
They will evolve any time…
Meowscarada took my backpack and dashed home to drop it off, she was very fast.
With only my notebook and pen, Lopunny and I headed into the forest.
The deeper we walked, the quieter it became.
Metapods hung motionless from the branches by thin silk threads, dozens of hard green shells waiting to evolve.
Well, there's no change. I wonder when they'll evolve; it's been so many days already…
Until suddenly:
Something dropped from above.
Before it could hit me, Lopunny's long ear snapped upward like a whip and caught it mid-air with a soft thwip.
A sharp cry echoed.
I looked up.
A Pidgeotto circled overhead, wings tense, eyes angry.
I turned to what Lopunny caught.
A Metapod.
And worse, its shell… was cracked.
"…It's not time for it to evolve." I whispered. "So why?"
Pidgeotto swooped down at us, sharp claws ready to grab.
Lopunny spun and kicked Pidgeotto hard in the chest.
It let out a painful screech and crashed into a tree. Feathers flew everywhere. One wing looked twisted. It flapped weakly, trying to get away, then limped into the sky, still crying in pain.
The forest became quiet again.
I carefully took the Metapod from Lopunny.
The crack was deep, painful.
I could feel it shaking slightly.
"Why…?" I muttered.
"Was Pidgeotto trying to break the shell? Was it going to harm it?"
Pokémon rarely ate each other these days. The League had planted berries and fruits everywhere, so no one had to hunt to survive. But they still fought. Stronger ones bullied the weak, took the best spots or just picked fights to show who was boss.
That part never changed.
Maybe that's why the Metapod had been targeted, because it can't fight back.
I sighed.
"I need to take it to Nurse Joy."
I carefully held the injured Metapod in my arms and turned to leave.
But before I took a step, a sharp voice cut through the trees:
❝Wait! What are you doing to that poor Metapod?!❞