*this story has everything that I like to see in a pokemon story, so far, it has Pokemon potential, trainer levels, ancient powerful pokemon, realistically powered trainers/clans. I enjoyed it a lot, I think chapter 6 is the last chapter before the journey officially starts*
Latest update:Augest 8, 2024
Summary:Marco didn't choose to be ripped away from his life by an untimely death. He certainly didn't choose to possess Wally's body when he died in the wild. But he did choose to make the best of his second chance and honour little Wally's dreams. No Poképhilia. Pairing as of yet undecided.
Link:https://m.fanfiction.net/s/14368763/1/Fairy-King-Oberon
Word count:73k
Chapters:6
~Marco Baskers/?~
'What even is my life...' He sighed with his hands crossed behind his head while staring up into an unfamiliar night sky. You see, he was new in this world. He died in his original one while crossing the street to visit his neighbour. The old man was a major part of his childhood. His parents were basically nonexistent and old man Joseppe took it upon himself to teach him values, feed him good Italian food, and tell the most bullshit tales of all. Seriously, if the guy survived even half the stories he told as if he lived them, he was a major badass. All good things came to an end however, and Joseppe's was sadly approaching.
Marco felt obliged to repay the man who took on several important roles in his life. He wanted to show his appreciation for his care and stepped up to visit and care for him in his last few months, no matter how much vitriol the man threw in his face to get him to leave. 'Your youth is there to be enjoyed, idiota! Why waste it with a dying old man, eh?!' Well, that was because he was his gramps, dad, and fun uncle in a single person. How could he not care for him? How could he just abandon him after things went bad? No way. Joseppe had brought him up better than that. And he had inherited the man's stubborn streak too. When he told him that with a smirk, he just glared at him before grumbling some unkind words in Italian.
"Well, it seems you get what you want. I can't visit you when we aren't even in the same universe... I hope you aren't too miserable all alone."
He sighed once again, this time with a melancholic edge. He was thrown into this universe not by choice. When he died, he was quickly respawned in a strange office with a disheveled and obviously overworked guy in front of him.
"Not another one! How many did he kill today?! None of them are on the List! Why are none of them on the List?! All that compensation... Haaaah, well, nothing for it I guess. You! First roll!"
He pointed at him with a fierce expression and glinting glasses. A massive roulette wheel manifested behind the guy and it started spinning as soon as it appeared. Only when it stopped did he discern what was on there. An uncountable number of fictional universes. The arrow was pointing at 'Pokemon AU'.
"Second Roll!"
Before he could even react to the information, the wheel spun again, quickly landing on 'Fairy Affinity (Max)'.
"Final Roll!"
Once again it started spinning, and this time he finally tried to interject and ask questions, but he noticed that he simply couldn't. No sound came over his lips and all gestures were steadfastly ignored by the controversial guy in front of him. He couldn't help but look at him with resentment in his gaze but that too was ignored. Finally, the wheel stopped and the arrow pointed at 'Aura Talent: Nurture'.
"You're quite lucky. Not just a maximised affinity but also a talent that automatically unlocks your Aura Capacity. The prerequisites for the last roll are quite stringent too which means you'll get at least high tier reserves... Well, that's it. Have fun and live well or something like that. Oh, and you'll take over a recently deceased body, so good luck with that."
He negligently waved him away and he felt his body being repulsed out of the cubic room. The sensation of falling consumed him and terror gripped him as he rocketed through an indistinguishable void for quite some time before landing where he was just now with a panicked gasp. His ruminations turned to his current state. He was unceremoniously dumped in an alternate universe of the Pokémon franchise. 'Transmigration it is, right?' He mused before once again looking at his hand. It was smaller than before. He had regressed probably, meaning the body he'd taken over was younger than he was himself.
'At least, I didn't become pudgy again...' he thought with a wry smile, remembering his former 'achievement' of reaching triple digits in weight before realising just how unhealthy that was. He managed to turn his life around with the help of Joseppe who showed him that delicious and unhealthy were by no means synonyms. He was also a slave driver in terms of physical fitness but that was neither here nor there and he profited from the exercise so he had no reason to complain.
'I have to stop avoiding the main topic.' He sternly chastised himself. He had no idea where he was and he appeared in what seemed to be deep in the night. There was no way he could possibly reach the safety of civilization until he could at least see somewhat clearly so he decided to wait out the night while staying vigilant. Sadly, he had only his own thoughts to keep him company and he wasn't exactly in a good mood right now. He closed his eyes for a short moment and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were far more calm.
There was no use in dwelling on the past. He couldn't change what happened so he might as well make the best out of it. 'I could have done without taking over a corpse though. I wonder which poor sod died out here. From what I've gathered it must have been a child... A seriously weak one. My whole body feels weak at this moment.' His thoughts seemed to trigger something as a sudden headache made him wince in pain before blacking out unwillingly.
The next time he woke up, it was in a hospital bed and he stared at the ceiling with blank eyes. He knew the place where he was. In his life, he'd spent many a day in here. He was in the Pokémon Center of Petalburg City. 'I'm Wally... I died and was stuffed into the recently deceased Wally. And what a miserable life he lived...' He mused as he had assimilated the memories of the small fellow. He was always frail and sickly, and his yearning for adventure was a distant dream that seemed to be unfulfillable. A motivational speech during the coronation of the new Champion of Hoenn Steven Stone made that dying ember flare up into an Inferno and he decided to run away from home and try his luck. A fatal mistake as it turned out...
'He, or rather I... am eight years old right now. Mandatory education started around a year and a half ago. The theories that a year in the Pokémon world is far longer than one on regular earth is a bust, at least in this version. And thus, Ash's agelessness stays a mystery. Wait, does he even exist here?... Not that it really matters.' He let that tangent go and decided to think of what to do now.
He had received some more info on those 'gifts' that had been forced upon him and they'd serve him well in this world. Fairy Affinity was pretty much exactly what it said it was. He could easily connect to any Pokémon of that type, understand their needs, and get their trust. Aura Talent: Nurturing was a bit more complicated, but basically, what it meant was that he wouldn't need to bother with things like minmaxing the growth of a Pokémon or pay much attention to its initial potential. He was capable of healing, nurturing, and drawing out the hidden potential in Pokémon. Nothing as simple as Guru from Dragonball Z or anything like it. It was a long and tiresome process that steadily allowed his Pokémon to improve and break their limits, but over time it would help him cultivate his team into true powerhouses as long as they were willing to put in the extra work.
'To think he died because of that...' He sighed with a complicated look in his eyes. The doctors didn't know what was ailing him and finally decided to treat his symptoms until they learned more of his condition. As such, the treatment he got was aimed at a weak body constitution, cardiovascular deficiency, and his asthmatic symptoms. The real reason for his weakness was a dissonance between Body and Aura. The little guy's reserves were inert but so absolutely monstrous right after birth that they influenced his health negatively. If he just kept himself going until he bonded with his first Pokémon, he would have survived since the passive activity of his Aura pool in the permanent company of a Pokémon linked to him would have nurtured his body until it was capable of bearing the strain of his reserves and more.
It was why once he got his first Mon in the games, he quickly became healthy and strong enough to rival the main character and even trump the victory road to prove himself worthy of going toe to toe with them. He would have continued to grow until he reached pretty insane heights and if he learned to manipulate his Aura down the line, he would have been an absolute monster. Alas, it wasn't to be and instead, he would have to reach the little guy's dreams. He already decided that he was going to become a trainer, not just to fulfill little Wally's dreams, but also for his own sake. The Pokémon world wouldn't have been his first choice if he had one, but it wouldn't have been far behind.
Building up a team of unreasonable monsters and bonding deeply enough with them to call them family wasn't a bad dream at all. For now, he'd focus on building himself up though. Now that his Aura Pool was prematurely activated with a natural inclination that would aid his recovery, he'd have little problems with becoming healthy and robust. His thoughts went to the young boy who's demise was his fortune and felt for him, but what could he possibly do to equalise his unintended sacrifice? Nothing. In the end, he decided to do the only thing he could do. He directed his thoughts towards the original Wally, hoping he could hear him.
'Don't you worry, little guy. I'll live in your name and make sure it's one for the legends, and I'll make sure your loved ones live a long and good life too. Just watch me and be proud of the achievements you would have reached on your own eventually. I'm sorry for how your life ended. It was tragic and unnecessary but I hope you'll find peace in the fact that I'll do my best to reach our shared dreams and beyond. If reincarnation exists in this world, then I pray for you to reach your dreams in your next life. May Arceus bless your journey.' It might have been imagination or wishful thinking, but he thought that he felt a bit lighter after concluding his well-wishes. The introspective mood was broken when the automatic door to his room opened with a silent hiss and let in a pink egg-shaped Pokémon with short arms and legs who immediately and determinedly bustled up to him. With animated gestures and a reproachful expression on her friendly face, she began chastising him.
"Chan. Chansey Chan. Chan!"
He could only smile helplessly when she gently poked his chest to make her point. He knew this particular Pokémon from his inherited memories. She often cared for him in the past year when he landed himself in the care of the local Center for one reason or another. The Joy clan wasn't just responsible for the health of Pokémon in this version of the universe. They were also oftentimes the only source of healthcare for humans. Especially little places such as Petalburg City more often than not relied on the local Poké Center for minor to medium issues. And this Chansey was predominantly responsible for human patients. Obviously, she took her job very seriously.
"Thank you for your worry, Chansey. Believe me when I say that I've learned from my mistakes. I'm sorry for worrying you but I can't change the past. So let's put this behind us and I'll make sure it won't happen again?"
He looked at her hopefully and she narrowed her cute little eyes at him before reluctantly nodding and smiling at him. He thought he spied a hint of mischievous intent in her eyes but before he could ask or even contemplate what she was planning, it had already happened.
"Chan..."
She stated and slapped an egg into his face. It miraculously seeped into him and invigorated his body, cluing him in that he was the target of [Soft-Boiled]. A Pokémon Move that was designed to heal but seemed to work a bit differently in the real world. He was shell shocked for a moment before glaring lightly at the Pokémon who was giggling with one of her appendages in front of her mouth. He grumbled at her.
"A warning would have been nice, but thanks. I'm feeling better already."
Her eyes, still twinkling with amusement, softened at his thankful attitude and she patted his head lightly while cooing at him. He felt his cheeks heat up a bit at the humiliating experience. 'I was almost a grown man in my previous life. Getting used to the treatment of a child again will be a challenge...' he groused as he lightly crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her with a bit of annoyance in his eyes.
"You can stop anytime, you know?"
He told her and she giggled again, apparently happy that he was well enough to joke around with her. He sighed and allowed her to play around a bit more. It was obvious from his memories that she cared for the little guy before his unfortunate demise, and he couldn't help but think that it was cute that she mothered him as much as she did even though the first-hand experience was one he could done without. Finally, she seemed to have had enough and left him alone after giving him another stern warning. He didn't have much time to contemplate the encounter before his father stormed the room and fiercely hugged his helpless form to his chest. He refrained from complaining when he felt tears drop down on his head. With a shaking voice, the man whispered.
"You're awake... Thank goodness... I thought we lost you..."
He certainly expected the fierce stab of guilt at his words but pressed it down quickly and tentatively returned the hug. Wally's and now his parents were worried permanently about him and rightfully so. The little guy collapsed quite often and even good days could easily go south instantly. With his Aura passively nurturing his body thanks to his talent that wouldn't happen any longer, but no one other than him knew that. With some bitterness in his voice, he whispered back.
"I'm sorry... I wanted to take my fate into my own hands and I failed spectacularly and hurt my parents in the process..."
As his father held him close, he couldn't help but be relieved that he wouldn't have to act. He completely inherited the emotions with the memories. He didn't have to. He could have watched the memories from the outside, distant and unrelated. But that wasn't the choice for him. Instead, he immersed himself. It was as if he lived those eight years with them. He decided to let those bonds form since it would have been disrespectful to both, the child and his relatives to dismiss their care. They went through so much... He would respect and love them as much as they deserved.
On a less emotional but just as important note, he also wouldn't have to dumb himself down to the level of a child. Wally was sickly and frail. He didn't have the constitution to go out and have fun with his nonexistent friends. So he channeled all his energy towards his obsession and read a truly massive amount of books in the process. His vocabulary was incredible even by adult standards and for a child of his age? Nothing short of prodigious. The knowledge he accumulated was nothing to scoff af either. Especially since his parents were pretty well off and made sure to keep him busy and engaged to minimise the times he fell into depression because of his chronic illness.
He shelved those thoughts and slowly pulled out of his father's embrace to look at him seriously. The man had almost the same shade of hair as he did, and he was rather handsome despite the premature wrinkles he had amassed because of the stress of having a sickly child with an indeterminable ailment. With a clear voice, he once again apologised and decided to make some things clear.
"I am sorry to have worried you and mom, but I won't give up my dream."
The man's eyes hardened like the metapods in Ash's most legendary battle.
"If I have to barricade your room, I will do so, young man. I will not allow you to throw your life away for a flight of fancy. This time, you were lucky to be found by a wandering trainer but what if it's a wild Pokémon the next time? Or one of the moronic grunts from those comic villains called evil teams?! Or any other unscrupulous human being? While the world might look like a bright place, it is anything but! There is danger lurking everywhere and that's not even including your illness!"
He pushed his hand agitatedly through his hair before taking a deep breath. He then continued, far calmer than he had been. His tone was soft and persuasive.
"Please... You know I don't like bringing up your illness, but please reconsider. If you run away again and something worse..."
He decided to interrupt him in that moment. With a soft but serious voice, he began making his case.
"Hear me out please. I don't plan on running away again. In fact, I promise to not do that again. Losing my consciousness in the middle of nowhere wasn't a pleasant experience. But I've gained something from this. I can feel my body strengthening. It's as if something deep inside of me unclogged and is finally flowing freely. I don't think my illness will be a problem for much longer. Let's make a deal. If I'm right and my illness doesn't plague me anymore in two years time, you'll let me take the test for my trainer certificate. If I'm wrong, I'll pursue a different path. I still won't give up on interacting with Pokémon. I won't compromise on that. But I'm willing to go the science route instead. I think if I have a longer conversation with Professor Birch, he'll be at least willing to consider me as a lab assistant."
The relief on his... Dad's face was profound. He sagged back into the chair behind him and looked at him with shining eyes. He wasn't crying but Wally was pretty sure it was a close thing.
"Thank Arceus you aren't going to be stubborn about this. Your mum will be so relieved to hear that. She wanted to put you into one of those old Tide Bunkers that are still around here and there. Believe me when I tell you, she was entirely serious."
He paled at that and looked at his dad with alarm. He just smiled back sardonically. He could imagine it too. She was always more partial to extreme solutions. As for those things, they were basically indestructible, and once sealed, it was incredibly hard to leave or enter. They were relics from a time when the relationship between Pokémon and humans wasn't quite as... harmonious as it was nowadays.
"I think I'm good. No need to take drastic and potentially irreversible steps one might regret later on."
His dad just nodded languidly, more relaxed than he'd seen him in a long time. The experience of living two lives was a strange one. He had two sets of childhoods and if he was being honest, despite the sickness taking a severe toll on him, he preferred Wally's. He had loving parents who shied no costs to try and get him the help he needed. 'Ever since I sent that pseudo prayer towards the little guy, I feel more and more at home in this body. It is as if an invisible rejection was resolved. Did his remnant merge with me? Eh, whatever.' He decided not to think too much about it. He knew his personality was the dominant one and if Wally's influenced him a tad, he wouldn't sweat about it. He was a good kid. He had a splendid work ethic despite his young age, respect for his parents and the sacrifices they made, and he had a grand dream he was clinging to with all his modest might. He was a bit impulsive and meek, but both were traits of young children and easily overcome by his more mature mind. Well, hopefully. The comfortable silence stretched on for a bit before he decided to ask for something to aid his physical conditioning.
"Can you get me some resistance bands? I want to start working out lightly to strengthen my body a bit and I've read those are gentler and more versatile than weights."
Not to mention far better suited for kids. Children in the anime verse of Pokémon had ridiculous feats of strength, but he was a sickly one and his body was lacking so he wanted to start off light before slowly raising the intensity. 'A healthy mind dwells in a healthy body after all. Some Roman philosopher claimed that and I think he was right.' He mused. Also, he didn't like looking like a wimp and Wally, well, he was a good kid, but damn did he look wimpy. It wasn't strange to be honest. He had to fight his 'illness' for his whole life and basically only began to really move when he began training his Ralts in the future. Before his dad could answer his question, he threw another one at him.
"Also, why are you taking this so well? I kinda expected far more scepticism and an interrogation."
The faintly amused glance he sent him rankled him a bit, but at least he answered his questions.
"For the bands, I think I can convince you mum, yes. As for your second question, two reasons really. I trust you and your mind for one. And the other reason is that you seem really confident. I am a business man and seeing through a facade of bravado and bluster is an acquired skill you can't do without if you want to have a successful business. Add to that that I know you quite well, and I can tell that there's none of that in you. You genuinely believe what you say and you were serious in contacting Professor Birch if you don't get better. I want to respect your commitment. You are 8 years old and have never asked for anything not related to knowledge or Pokémon. You are honestly more knowledgeable about them than most adults. I've had conversations with Veteran trainers who couldn't answer half the questions you can."
A strange smile he had sometimes seen on old man Joseppe's face. Whenever he asked why he was smiling like that, he waved him off and told him to mind his own business.
"I'm proud of you my son, and I want to see you fulfill your dreams. Now that you have a realistic chance, I couldn't be more glad and believe me when I say, your mum will feel the same way."
'Ah. Joseppe was proud of me. And now my dad is too... What a horrible timing for rain.' He thought to himself as he tried and failed to suppress the steady stream of tears that left his eyes. He didn't even notice his dad standing up to fold him into a gentle embrace until his warmth encompassed him. 'I guess I don't just look like a child but feel like one too...' He contemplated wrily as the warmth slowly lulled him to sleep.
With a grunt of exertion, he took another step. And then another. And another. And so forth, until he couldn't push himself any further. He tumbled into an undignified heap before putting in a supreme amount of effort to roll on his back. He breathed heavily as he lied there, watching the leaves in the canopy rustle with the wind and catch those rare beams of sunlight that managed to penetrate the majestic treetops spanning above him. 'It's so peaceful...' He sighed as he enjoyed the endorphins his workout released into his brain. It's been two months since he was released from the center and ever since, the performance of his body was on a steady rise much to his parents's joy.
Now, he was just past the borders of Petalburg City without company for the very first time. Usually, either his dad or his mum would accompany him to his workouts to make sure he wasn't collapsing or putting himself in danger, but he convinced them that he was in calling distance of the 'City' which wasn't even a proper village by his old world's standards. He also had his PokéNav with him to call them if necessary. While he loved his parents and appreciated their worry and attention, he needed a bit of alone time too. He wasn't even in any danger since the small Pokémon around here wouldn't ever attack him. The passive Aura he released was presumably enough to calm down even annoyed Pokémon of the Rookie stage. Calm Baby stage mons would at most be curious, not aggressive.
The worst that could happen to him was having his lunch stolen by a cheeky Zigzagoon. Before he really noticed it, he dozed off into a nap from the calm atmosphere, the idyllic surroundings, and the pleasant exhaustion after a fruitful workout. It was around an hour later that he woke up from his nap, refreshed and hungry. Immediately, he noticed that he wasn't alone any longer since there was a small weight lying on his chest. Carefully, he opened his eyes just to lie them onto the most adorable sight he'd ever seen. On his chest, there was a snoozing Ralts. It was lying on its stomach with its head slightly turned to the side, releasing silent snores.
'That's beyond adorable...' He thought to himself while falling into a dilemma. He wanted to eat and then return to the city to not worry his parents but doing so would mean to move. That would undoubtedly wake up the little fellow who was using him as a bed. With an imperceptible sigh, he decided to risk it after checking the time. He had to be home in half an hour to not risk being grounded. He gently poked the small form on his chest, making it stir before releasing a cute sound and pushing itself up, only to freeze when it made eye contact with him. A faintly alarmed sound left its startled form before a slight buildup of energy made Wally tense a bit. The action was unnecessary though since it simply teleported around a meter away where it stood, seemingly indecisive about something. He quickly remembered that the Ralts evolutionary line was famous for being natural empaths, so he kept his mind calm and tried to push his positive emotions to the forefront. The pleasant sensation of seeing something cute, the love he held for his parents, and the motivation he had from the visible progress he made over the past two months were among the stronger ones.
He sat up slowly and crossed his legs before taking his backpack and pulling out his packed lunch. Lots of protein and carbs to fuel his workout, but also some berries with regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties as well as some naturally sweet fruits. The latter was what he offered the little fellow who seemed more and more undecided if it wanted to leave or not. It stilled for a moment and the horn-like growths on its head began to glow. An innocent presence suddenly pressed up to his mind and he could feel curiosity, uncertainty, and hunger radiate from it. He did his best to send back the positive emotions he had prepared, knowing that they were extremely sensible to the negative variant.
It didn't take long for her, because somehow the presence communicated her gender, to be swayed. With slow wobbly steps, she came closer and... Stumbled over her own feet. A wry smile spread on his lips when the still connected presence radiated surprise, pain, and the urge to cry into his mind. He tried to send her some reassurance while slowly shifting towards her. When he gently took the sniffling little psychic fairy into his arms, she immediately clung to him. Any wariness seemed to have evaporated as she aired her grievances over their temporary empathic link while fishing for sympathy.
"There, there, little one. How about you eat something. It'll help distract you and you'll feel better with something in your stomach."
He did his best to support his words with the impressions and sensations he sent her through the connection. He supported her with one arm while rummaging in his backpack with the other. There was something in there that he had made the evening before. Finally, he found what he was searching for. With eyes alight, he pulled out the tightly closed glass containing the pecha mousse he mixed for himself. Slowly, he put the little Ralts on his lap and reassured her as he opened up the glass.
"Have just a moment of patience, little one. Believe me when I say it's worth it."
Once open, he plunged the spoon into it and presented the creamy delight to a curious little Ralts who was tilting her head cutely.
"Ra?..."
She enquired with a questioning lilt to her presence. He smiled gently and confirmed.
"All yours if you want. Why don't you try if you like the taste?"
She opened her mouth with some trepidation but as soon as the pecha mousse touched her tongue, she was overcome with joy. The creamy texture was just right for the young Pokémon and the taste was mellow and sweet. The mousse was a perfect fit for her palate and she communicated that fact by wiggling joyfully on his lap and smiling up at him with a bit of the mousse running down her lips. She even clapped her little hands together a couple of times.
"Well, now you've done it. I don't think I'll let you get away. You're mine now."
The adorable display caught his heart and he had already decided to follow the footsteps of the original. His starter would be a Ralts too it seemed. He ignored the slight confusion from her when the possessive emotion filtered through their temporary connection and sent a text to his mum to tell her that he may end up being late a couple of minutes since something came up. He made sure to reassure her that it wasn't anything bad.
"So, little one."
He started as he looked at her seriously, only to break his mien almost instantly when she longingly pointed at the glass container. He indulged her gluttony and fed her another spoon much to her delight before getting serious again.
"Wanna come with me? I'm not a trainer yet, but I'm allowed to possess a baby stage Pokémon thanks to my exemplary results in my theoretical testings in school in addition with my background. I would like to have you accompany me when I go and make a name for myself. What do you say, will you join me?"
The confusion from before returned, but it was underlined by a craving for the mousse. She had understood the basics, it seemed and agreed as long as she'd be fed. 'Well, I don't know why I expected anything different...' He smiled ruefully and fed her another spoon. That was how he met his first loyal partner.
~Rachel Verdant~
"She slept on you..."
"Yeah."
"And now you want to keep her."
"Mhm."
"You don't even know her potential."
"Doesn't matter. I won't choose my team based on their potential. While somewhat challenging, it's possible to nurture even the lowest of the low to become a monster. Personality and synergy are more important for me and I feel we have clicked instantly. Also, I can't abandon such an adorable creature now that she's become attached."
She sighed at her son's words and looked at him with a hint of fondness in her eyes. Of course he'd find his first partner like this. It wasn't the first time in the past two months that she found him in unexpected company. Sometimes, when he napped in their garden, a Pokémon or two would join him. The neighbour's Skitty or a wild Lotad or two were regularly found in their garden when Wally was there. Ever since that... incident she didn't want to think about, he seemed to have an almost magnetic influence on them, much to his delight. She did her best to push down the mounting panic but some of it must have shown because the eyes of her prodigious son softened from his guilty conscience.
She wasn't really angry at him. More upset and worried that he did something so bullheaded that it could have cost him his life. He was such a level-headed and intelligent boy usually that she'd forgotten about the impulsiveness he must have inherited from his father and, admittedly, herself. Luckily, it didn't end in a disaster and seemed to have a positive effect instead. Ever since, he was a bit more serious and mature, and his body's condition was improving at a visible rate. She was still worried that he'd relapse, but she allowed herself a tentative spark of hope that everything would be alright. She banished those thoughts and went on one knee to look him in the eyes. She adopted a grave tone of voice to alert him of the seriousness of the situation.
"Are you sure? I won't deny that she's an absolute cutie."
She tickled the small Mon to emphasize her point and she released the most delightful little giggle ever as she squirmed in her son's arms, seemingly incapable of escaping her teasing fingers, only to pout soulfully at her when she stopped.
"But the choice of one's first partner is an important one. I'm sure we could arrange for a regional royal starter for you?"
She tried to persuade him but felt a surge of pride and irritation in equal measures when his gaze stayed firm. He had already decided and was only informing her. 'There's that stubborn streak...' She inwardly sighed but in the end, she smiled with a slightly defeated air.
"Oh, fine. I won't try to convince you anymore. But we will put her through the works at the center before we register her in your name, alright?"
The answering smile was so precious that it instantly made giving in worth it. She wouldn't tell him that all he needed to do to convince her was smiling brightly at her. That was a recipe for disaster after all. But giving in once in a while to see his little face light up from joy was entirely possible.
~Wally Verdant~
He kept the little cutie in his lap at all times to make sure she didn't just teleport away when startled. As far as he knew, this was her first time in a Pokémon Center and her curious looks from beneath the bangs of her 'bob-cut' supported his guess. As long as she was in his arms, she was far more calm than usual. His mere presence seemed to embolden her, so he felt her poke at things and people with her budding psychic abilities like a curious toddler would. Occasionally, she would send him the equivalent of an empathic question mark when she wanted something explained, and he indulged her. He wasn't certain how her curiosity would be received but as of yet, she only got some indulgent smiles and a bored grunt from a Vigoroth who had just received treatment and was left out of its ball by its trainer, so he guessed it was alright.
His attention went to the glass door that just opened in he unconsciously waved to the Chansey that came though. He instinctively knew that it was the same one that always cared for him when he was less than healthy. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him and she immediately bustled over and began mothering him and ensuring that he was hale and healthy. He chuckled with fondness in his voice and clarified.
"Hello to you too, Chansey. I'm glad to say, I'm not here because of myself but this little one here. I actually have an appointment for testing little Ralts. She became attached to me and I'm allowed to register a baby stage Pokémon to my name. I just want to make sure everything is alright with her and register her."
The little one squirmed shyly under Chansey's scrutiny, making the motherly Pokémon coo softly at her before gently stroking the top of her head. She calmed down under the gentle ministrations and relaxed into his hold before looking up at him with a slight smile and soft shiny eyes. 'No need to ensnare me with cuteness. I already decided to keep you anyways.' He mused while smiling back just as softly. Once she grasped what he needed, Chansey decided to take matter into her own hands and urged him to follow her. He shrugged and did so, following her deeper into the building. They went past the trauma center where acute cases were treated and stabilised, and entered the test areas. It looked quite similar to what hospitals in his previous life looked like, only far more high-tech. Not without reason was this the biggest building in the 'City'.
The personell here was responsible for most health care issues of this place, be it human or Pokémon. Chansey led them to the laboratory of Nurse Joy. She was the youngest of four sisters stationed here and she was responsible for lab work and testing. In his previous life, almost every lab he'd been to was sterile and neutral without personal touches in decor. That clearly wasn't the case here. The room was predominantly a soft and gentle pink in colour and while scientific appliances he could only guess the use for took up the majority of the room's space, there were lot's of little personal touches marking the room as her's.
For example, she had several selfies with her favourite patients on the walls. The one he found the cutest was the one of her and a lively Buneary sitting on her head while cheering into the camera. She even had one with himself. He was smiling exhaustedly into the cam with her face pressed to his as she winked and showed her tongue. Her playful nature was clearly on display and it helped her to connect easily with young and energetic Pokémon as well as patients. He knew her personally since she actively tried to help find the cause for his periodic collapses.
She failed to consider massive aura reserves stressing a weak body beyond its capacity but he didn't hold it against her. He was a very rare case from what he'd seen online, and even though the Joy clan most likely knew quite a bit more about Aura than the uninformed public, a civilian having such massive innate reserves that it passively harmed their body was completely unheard of. When he entered, she turned around from whatever it was she was doing to look curiously who was visiting her, only to smile brightly when she recognised him. The joyous expression did hold a trace of worry though. That was until she noticed the little one in his arms and evidently remembered the reason for his visit. Ralts waved at her uncertainly before glimpsing upwards at him with questioning eyes beneath her fringes. He held her a bit closer, calming her down a bit, before addressing her.
"Don't worry. This is Nurse Joy. She's responsible for testing and will take some measurements of you. It'll be over quickly after a sensor scans your body and she'll interpret the data provided. The entire process is quick and painless."
Despite his reassurances, she tensed slightly and he smiled helplessly under the curious and somewhat teasing eyes of Nurse Joy. He adjusted his hold so that she faced him and raised her to eye level, making her tilt her head at him curiously.
"If you're good and obedient and don't teleport away, I'll make you some more of the Pecha Cream you like so much. Deal?"
Her entire face lit up and a fire of determination appeared in her eyes as she nodded gravely, making Joy giggle silently while his helpless smile deepened. Suddenly, the horn on her head glowed softly. Was she checking if she was really safe to interact with? 'Well, it's better that she's overly careful than blindly trusting, I suppose.' He mused before his attention turned back to Nurse Joy.
"Right, I remembered. You aren't here for yourself but the little Ralts in your arms and you even made an appointment, correct? Are you going to make use of your privilege to register a baby stage Pokémon to your name?"
She asked curiously and eyed the little one as he nodded. Her humm was a considering one before she winked at him.
"I can tell that she's pretty young so as long as her energy levels aren't too high, I'll register her in your name even if she's a bit beyond the Baby stage, alright? You are allowed to train her, but you'll need to check in monthly so that I can make sure she's doing alright. I know it's a hassle but training Pokémon is serious business and we need to ensure that you don't accidentally mistreat her. You are still a child after all and while I know that you're a little prodigy, others don't. It's for your benefit too since oftentimes, mistreatment isn't intentional and as long as we iron out all your mistakes early on, they won't make it into your profile if you decide to go professional."
He already knew about the monthly check-ins and he wasn't bothered about that. He welcomed it even, since this way he had someone knowledgeable to discuss her progress with. It was a win-win for him. He nodded mutely and she hummed a cheerful tone as she rose from her seat to prepare the scanner. Soon, everything was calibrated and ready. He deposited Ralts on a white platform. She looked around with some trepidation but was far calmer than he expected. After she started the deep scan that would take some minutes to complete, she turned to him and seemed worried.
"Are you holding up alright? Fainting in the wild must have been a jarring experience. I talked to your mum some days ago and she said you're healthier than you ever were. You also missed your last check-up..."
'Ah, yeah... I forgot to check in last week...' He felt a bit guilty since this young woman took time out of her own busy schedule to try and help him. With an apologetic smile, he told her.
"Sorry for being tardy about that. It's just such a novel experience to not feel weak all the time that I forgot to come in. Fainting in the wild was a bit scary but all went well and I feel like something unclogged inside of me. I have more energy and I can actually run without being on the verge of fainting now!"
There was some real childlike enthusiasm in his voice and she smiled when she heard it before frowning a bit. She seemed in thought for a moment as she murmured.
"Something unclogged, huh..."
He had an inkling that she'd connect the dots but he wasn't all that worried. While not seen that often, Aura was far more common in this universe if compared to what was seen on screen and in the lore some people puzzled together. Most of the top trainers in this world had at least a strong type affinity and they were all monsters in their own right. Out of curiosity, he watched some vids and found things that had him gape with disbelief.
For example: Bruno, who was wrestling with a ginormous Onix and obliterating an entire cliff side in the process, only to come out of it absolutely unscathed while laughing boisterously. Or the young martial arts prodigy Bea taking on a Machamp and managing to throw it before it obliterated the ever-loving shit out of her. She still managed to keep up for three minutes before giving in and only one of her arms was broken. He didn't even see the punches being delivered and he was pretty sure they broke the sound barrier. There were lots of insane feats from humans out there, so he wasn't worried about having that particular piece of information known to someone who held his trust.
Nurse Joy continued to talk to herself with a voice too low to hear while rummaging through a big box filled with strange gadgets. Soon, she was halfway into the box and he was worrying that she'd fall in when a sudden joyful cry erupted from her half-hidden form. She struggled a bit to get out of her predicament, but when she did, she presented him with a strange apparatus.
"Let me check something real quick... Wait. Do I have your consent for a quick scan?"
She asked him with pitiful eyes. He sighed and nodded. He wanted to know some details anyways since the way he was thrown here was rather sudden and the thing he lacked most was information. He only got the barebones of an explanation.
She lit up and pointed the thing at him before pressing a button. The tool beeped several times in quick succession and she read the results when it stopped.
"That can't be right..."
She said with furrowed brows and repeated the procedure, only to make an uncertain sound and try again. Then she pointed it at herself, presumably to test if it was working. Reading those results, she concluded with confusion in her eyes.
"Huh..."
She then turned to him and shrugged.
"Seems you'll be a little monster. I kinda know now why you were so sickly. You had pretty big inert Aura reserves. They were just sitting there, putting pressure on your body without doing much. That feeling as if something unclogged was you unlocking your passive reserves to become active. Now that your Aura is circulating, it's supporting your body as it was supposed to be. Seems like we'll see each other less from now on."
She seemed genuinely happy for him and smiled brightly. He returned the gesture and shook his head.
"That just means I'll have to visit you privately. I'd like to think we are friends by now with how often you poked and prodded at me. Playing doctor is something friends do with each other, is it not?"
He blinked at her innocently and smirked inwardly when she sputtered with pink cheeks before glaring at him.
"You're a little rascal..."
She mumbled before her expression reverted to a kind smile.
"I'd like that. A visit from time to time, I mean. Friends can't call me Nurse Joy though. Dunno why I'm even called that to be honest. I mean, we all have the basic training for it, but I specialise in Labwork. Anyways, I'm Benevolence Joy. Friends call me Ben or Beni. Also, as long as you want, I'll keep this a secret. Call it patient-nurse confidentiality or something. I won't even tell my sisters."
She winked exaggeratedly, but any possible response from his side was interrupted by a light ding sound, drawing both their attention. This was the indicator that Ralts's scan was done. He was just about to return to her when a sudden flash made him instinctively raise his arms to catch her. 'She teleported.' his mind supplied when she cuddled close before looking up with an adorable smile on her lips, seemingly asking for praise. Softly, he told her.
"You were such a good girl. You really earned your reward. When we get home I'll mix it for you, alright?"
Her enthusiastic cheer drew a soft smile, not just from him but from Beni too. She then turned to view the results and hummed with consideration.
"She hatched less than a month ago and her energy levels are firmly at the peak of the baby stage."
He recalled the categorisation that replaced what he knew as levels from the games. From low to high, the stages went:
Baby
Rookie
Regular
Advanced
Elite
Veteran
Ace
Authority
Champion
Master
Guardian
The distinction wasn't quite as clear cut as it was in most media since a lot of factors could influence energy volume or density, either temporarily in the form of boost moves or permanently by means of rare natural treasures, special conditions during evolution, mutation, and quite a few other factors. The potential of the species and the individual Pokémon played a large role too. He was absolutely certain that the large clans, strong individuals, and prevalent organisations had methods to permanently strengthen Pokémon. There were so many things one had to consider that weren't part of the games, or at least not implemented in the way it was in the real world. He could only sigh at how much knowledge he'd have to consume to count as somewhat competent.
"Her potential isn't bad either. She's a light green."
'Ah... The system I abhorr the most. Luckily, I do not have to pay much attention to that because of my Aura talent.' He thought to himself as he scowled in distaste. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, iridescent. Those were Potential Grades with the last one being pretty much exclusive to legendary beasts or their descendants. He had no idea how it was possible to measure Potential but from what he'd read, official grading was really accurate. Potential influenced not just the growth rate, but also the comprehension of moves, combos, and some other factors. If one wanted to battle competitively, it was highly recommended to have a team of at least green Potential mons.
This caused a stigma against Pokémon with low innate Potential since the lower it was at birth, the longer it would take to raise it to an acceptable level which wasted precious time and resources. Living, breathing creatures were reduced to colours determining their worth. Pokémon were at the very least sentient with most reaching the initial level of Sapience while maturing. There were quite a few who went beyond that such as most Psychic types. His distaste must have shown on his face since Beni looked at him with a bewildered expression. He clarified his reaction by explaining his thoughts to not let a potential misunderstanding fester. She smiled sadly when he was done.
"I understand your point of view, but... See it from this perspective. Human athletes, scientists, artists, and even workers in specific fields, have the same thing going. Professionals have to reach certain standards and those with talent in their chosen field will have an easier time reaching those. You have to understand that people aren't born equal and the same principle applies to Pokémon. It is far more likely that talented individuals draw attention and investment."
He took a moment to digest those words and she let him contemplate without interrupting his thought process. He didn't think about it from that perspective, and her words shook his conviction. He had trouble retorting at all since nothing she just told him was wrong. He thought himself open-minded enough to admit his faulty world-view, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
"I... Understand what you want to tell me, and I can admit that my view is probably way too limited. I don't have to like the system that decides the worth of an individual based on the colour they were assigned but I understand why it exists and the reason why it is important..."
Speaking those words felt like admitting defeat. As if bitter ash was spreading on his tongue. She seemed to recognise his feelings because a compassionate little smile appeared on her lips before she continued berating him.
"You act as if there are no trainers defying those odds. While most accept that higher base-aptitude means lots of saved time and money, there are those who reached for the stars with their loyal companions. Misty Waterflower's second-strongest Pokémon is a Golduck that started out with orange Potential. Agatha, that old witch, wrangled against the reigning Champion at the time with a deep orange Haunter that later became the strongest Gengar she has in her roster. The former Champion Mustard won his position without a single Champion-stage Pokémon and not a single member of his team had above yellow potential. There are loads of examples that show that you don't have to follow mainstream methods to be successful, you know?"
'... My perspective is really narrow, isn't it?' His lips twisted into a self-depreciating smile. He realised that he was being a sanctimonious little shit and it wasn't a good feeling. 'Fine. I won't discriminate against either. For me, it'll simply be a matter if we click or if we don't. My talent will help me push my team to great heights anyways.' Beni wasn't done yet though.
"Also, it's entirely legit to substitute a good aptitude with grueling training. A good work ethic can do wonders. Of course, both would be best but which one you prefer depends on you. There's also the fact that it isn't impossible to raise your partner's Potential and break their limits. Pokémon have it easier than us humans in that regard due to their more malleable genetic structure that sometimes reacts to the slightest stimuli. It only takes a single miracle to transform a hard worker with subpar aptitude into a monster with exceptional aptitude and a splendid mindset. And I haven't even started talking about the fact that, while prevalent, battling isn't the only career path a Pokémon can follow. Let's not even talk about the obvious alternatives like Coordinators and Rangers. There are uncountable ways for Pokémon and humans to bond. For example construction work, cooking, and police work, just to name a few. Most of those alternative paths have lower requirements than professional battling and can still be just as fulfilling."
He sighed in defeat. A helpless smile spread on his lips as he raised his hands in a placating gesture. If he wanted to stop her, he had to rightfully admit being wrong.
"Alright, alright. You win. My view was narrow and I didn't consider even a fraction of all the facts. I have much to learn, so I hope for your guidance oh wise one."
His smile had admittedly shifted towards the cheeky side but the fact that she answered with a grin that made her eyes light up told him that she didn't really mind. Ralts, who was pretty confused by the conversation they just had, pulled on his shirt to get his attention. He looked down and found teary eyes staring into his. Her horn glowed slightly and he suddenly felt a foreign sense of hunger push against his mind.
"Sorry, little one. Let's go home so that I can make you your favourite treat, alright?"
She nodded and pressed her head against his chest while sending content emotions through the temporary empathic bond. He looked at Beni apologetically, but she waved him off.
"Go home and feed your first registered partner, will you? I can't bear to see the cutie hungry. Also, bring me some of that Pecha Cream next time you come in. I'm curious since she seems so smitten with it."
The impish smile she sent with her words made it seem as if she was joking, but he knew better. He would bring some sandwiches with the cream the next time. Just to be on the safe side.
Link:https://m.fanfiction.net/s/14368763/2/Fairy-King-Oberon