Patricia Greenwood

  —

  I was so nervous as I paced there in Professor Oak's office. Just an absolute bundle of nerves. Nothing was ready. Not yet, it had only been a day! I wanted everything to be perfect, but it wasn't yet, and-

  "Mom, if you don't stop pacing, I'll have Clefairy use Gravity on you. She's gotten really precise with it during training. She can make someone sit down and not hurt them at all. Hint. Hint." Leaf's face was amused as she cuddled her fae, just casually waiting on a chair. Calmly.

  "But dear, I'm just so worried! What if they don't like it he-" Professor Oak was the one to cut me off this time, a patient, understanding look on his face from behind his desk.

  Also a look of mild annoyance peeking through.

  "Patricia, sit down. You won't do anyone any good wearing out my carpet. They volunteered to come. They are called the Emotion Pokemon. Tell me, will you feel grateful for their help?" I nodded at his obvious words, taking a seat as I did. He smiled at me.

  "Then they will be happy to serve, Patricia. They derive energy from feelings of gratitude, from positive emotions. They are going to have to stay away from you, I suspect. They will be too full of energy to work, otherwise." Leaf laughed, and I couldn't help but let out a tense giggle at the mental image.

  "Patricia, you've never interacted with a Nurse Pokemon, have you?" I shook my head. "Nurse Pokemon species are chosen for very good reasons, primarily their emotional dispositions. A nurse has to care, of course. Don't tell the Indigo Joy's, but I honestly think Indeedee are more suited to the job than Chansey." We both gave him incredulous looks. That was practically heresy in Indigo.

  "While a Chansey might be the best to heal a truly traumatic injury, absolutely, and they of course care immensely, that can feel very lacking compared to the ability to feel your charges' needs, even the ones they won't tell you about because they're being stubborn. That isn't to say that they are better. Any trained Nurse Pokemon, regardless of species, is an accomplished healer, with all the knowledge required to heal others. Indeedee simply excel at it, in my opinion, especially when it comes to emotional wounds. Though, my opinion is based on reports from my colleagues…" He gave me a look. I had come to recognize it after Maddy, and I cut him off before he could ask.

  "You can ask them in a few days after they adjust, Professor." He smiled widely. He wanted to run tests, of course. He was The Pokemon Professor, after all.

  The transfer device on the wall began to ding, and I watched tensely as six Pokeballs appeared in flashes of red light. I gulped as I stood up, joined by Leaf.

  We had already been told what to do by Joyce, not that it was complicated. Professor Oak triggered the release from his desk and set them all loose at once in front of the two of us, and my heart nearly stopped.

  They were adorable!

  The two males stood there looking almost impatient, glancing around. One's hands were clasped behind his back, and he gave me a sharp nod when our eyes met. The other started talking to the females, and oh Arceus they look like little maids! And butlers! I mean, I knew that already, I had seen pictures of these Indeedee, in fact, but they were so much more adorable in person!

  Leaf's face probably looked like mine right about now as the Indeedee formed two triangles led by the butlers, two maids apiece behind them, then with a look at each other they stepped in front of us and bowed. Their eyes were calm as they looked up, even the sterner-looking male. They all chorused as one, in perfect harmony.

  "Indee-Indeedee!"

  I felt like my heart would just stop from cuteness overload, but after a moment their adorableness was replaced by the knowledge that they had left their homes on the other side of the planet to help victims, and I saw every pair of eyes swing to me in an instant. A moment later one of the maids was there, patting my arm gently. The others started talking to Clefairy with interest in their eyes as they watched me and Leaf.

  Leaf had her own female Indeedee, and she was already hugging my daughter with a calm expression on her face. The butlers looked like they were standing guard, backs to us, hands held behind their backs. I looked at the Professor, but he was of course recording the whole situation! I cleared my throat.

  "Thank you, dear." I patted the maid next to me, even as she patted me back. "Before we do anything else, let me- let me just say thank you. Thank you all so much. From the bottom of my heart, t-thank you all for coming all the way here to help these Pokemon..."

  Somehow one of the maids had acquired tissues, and I was quickly blowing my nose, resulting in some very embarrassing noises. I had three of the maids around me by this point, every one trying to soothe me, help prop me up while the butlers looked mildly distressed at my state.

  Leaf's maid, and considering the way she was looking at my daughter that might be literal in the future, gently pulled her to me, and she gave me a hug that helped. A little. I wasn't sad, I was just so grateful that it hurt. They had crossed the planet for strangers!

  "Would you all like to walk with us to our home, see Pallet Town? Or would you rather… get started? We can ride Maddy home." Their eyes all got serious and they pointed at their balls. I should have expected that from Pokemon who serve.

  They quickly returned themselves, but apparently Leaf's Indeedee was decisive, and handed her Pokeball to Leaf before returning herself to my daughter's hand, instead of leaving it with the other five Pokeballs still resting on the transfer machine. I began to giggle at the look on my daughter's face. She looked up at me and the Professor with disbelieving confusion.

  "Did… Did I just get a Pokemon? What?" Professor Oak was chuckling, but he was writing down notes as he did. He spoke up lightly.

  "I'm not an expert on the species by any means, but I'm sure you've heard of or read a story with a servant who chose their own master, right?" He raised an eyebrow at Leaf as I began giggling.

  "It looks like she found the Lady she wants to serve, Leaf. I mean, be sure to check with her of course, but I would say yes, probably. Congratulations on the hardest capture of your life." He began laughing even as my daughter's head drooped.

  "Is this what Erin felt like?" I couldn't help it and burst out into my own loud laughter. Erin still moaned about not getting to choose her team. She would probably moan about it forever! She would fight Giratina for them, yes, but they had chosen her. Well, their parents, but close enough. It still felt good, it was just… different.

  I rubbed her hair, drawing a squawk of anger from my little girl, before I turned back to the Professor. He was still writing notes, but he looked up briefly to smile.

  "See you two! Let me know if you need anything, Patricia." I gave him an open, honest smile. A slightly hungry smile, as I thought about what was in my refrigerator at that very moment.

  "Thank you for everything, Professor. If you're interested, Leto finally brought a Tauros back from the plains, and Erin has this spice mix…"

  —

  Leaf

  —

  We released the Indeedee as soon as we got back. The rescues were all watching Poke-dramas or just cuddling, other than an excited Lily and Noodles, that was. Lily had bounded over, Noodles draped across her as always, eager to meet the new helpers.

  My mom released her five, and I released mine. My… Pokemon? Maybe? I wasn't sure how to feel about it. She was adorable, but most Nurse Pokemon didn't like to battle. Maybe there was a misunderstanding? Probably, right?

  They appeared in front of the small, basic clinic, and my mom rushed to speak before they could enter, her face red.

  "It's very bare and rough right now! It was just made yesterday, so it needs work! I'm so sorr-"

  "Dee!" One of the butlers stepped up to her and sharply shook his head, not glaring at her, but his look firm and demanding.

  When she stopped he grabbed her hand, holding it like a Ladies, and bowed over it. He then pointed at the small, plain building and then the rest of the Ranch. He then pointed at mom and then his face. He smiled, and even though it looked awkward I could tell it was a real smile. The rest of them joined him in the following bow to mom.

  She looked so overwhelmed, and I saw kind smiles on the faces of the Indeedee. It was like a perpetual motion machine of gratitude, and I felt like I was done here. I would help out, of course, and especially while I was still here, but mom was going to run the Ranch. She would tell me if she needed me.

  "Okay, I'm going to go get the ribs started, mom. You'll be fine, right?" The Indeedee nodded at me as they surrounded mom, and I made my way towards the gate. We still had our old fence, for now. It was a smaller, safer area for the nervous rescues, so it would probably stick around in some form. We would certainly be making it larger, at the least. Maddy had trouble lifting off.

  I opened our refrigerator, thoroughly amused by how it had changed from the past. It used to be I would come in here looking for something to eat, to snack on, and I would find it half full of vegetables and drinks, sometimes a small package of Pidgey breast. Mom didn't do pre-made meals, so it was easy to tell just how much veggies we had eaten.

  Now there were still plenty of vegetables and drinks, but the fridge was so full we had to stack them on top of each other. And around the huge ribs that took up most of the space, after we had removed most of the racks. I started to pile carrots, celery, and beets- wait, eww mom, beets?- into an arm, and I gasped when I felt something get grabbed.

  I turned and the same maid Indeedee was standing there, starting to place the vegetables on the counter for me. She gave me a warm, gentle smile and I felt my heart melt a little at the sight. How were they so adorable? I gave her a smile back.

  "Thanks, if you just hold… these… I can get… the ribs… out." I pulled the stack of giant ribs out and thumped them onto the counter. They were still too big to prep in here, though. I would have to put the spices on outside on some tarps. She had already placed the vegetables back in the refrigerator by the time I had turned around, and was holding her hands folded before her, calmly watching me. Waiting to serve.

  "So, by giving me your Pokeball, does that mean you want to be my Pokemon?"

  "Indeed." I jumped a little, giving her a wide eyed look. She lifted a hand to her mouth and softly laughed. I grinned at her.

  "Too bad you're not an Indeedeeno." She giggled, then stood straight and gave me a single serious nod before her face loosened again.

  "Are you sure you even want to? I'm a battler. Each and every one of my team would have to fight, to train." She gave me a single stern nod before her face relaxed again. Huh, like the butler, where it looked like it hurt to smile even though it was a real smile.

  "Well, I have a Clefairy, you met her." She gave a wide smile, and she must have noticed my confusion, because she just made a hugging gesture.

  "You're Psychic/Normal, right?"

  "Indeed." Okay, that would take some getting used to. Most Pokemon didn't just say their species names all that often, especially not in conversation with humans. Some never did, or couldn't, like Gyarados. Most Pokemon relied on gestures like nodding and shaking their head for communicating with humans, or just full-on pantomime, but I could see how much fun she got out of it.

  Indeed, indeed.

  "Well, as long as you don't have a problem with her?" She shook her head. "Okay, well, I also have a… Fraxure. He's not nice, not at all. It's my fault, all my fault, but he's gettin-" She was suddenly in front of me, waving a finger and shaking her head. She gave me a quick hug, then pointed at my belt. His ball wasn't there, but I understood what she meant.

  "Sorry. Seriously though, I messed up with him, badly. He still hates me, even if he's mellowed out a little. He's not a pleasant teammate. Are you okay with putting up with him?"

  "Indeed." Okay, she for sure knew what she was doing, I saw the smirk peeking out of the warmth. I could get behind that kind of humor, though. Erin was going to love her.

  "One final question, then." She gave me an easy, receptive look.

  "Why me?" She didn't freeze, but I had been watching her closely, and she grew uncertain. My eyes narrowed and she seemed to panic momentarily, before she held up a finger and lightly called out. After a moment Rotom zoomed in from upstairs, looking around. Its eyes landed on Indeedee and grew wide.

  "Oooh, hi there! An Indeedee! How'd you know I was here?" My eyes grew understanding as she began talking to Rotom. If she knew it was here… I already knew the answer before Rotom spoke up a few minutes later, its childish, mischievous voice somehow serious for once.

  "Leaf, she says that Gym Leader Raihan and a Nurse Joy both asked around for those willing to fight, to help a young girl and her friend help people on the other side of the world. She had to beat the other two combat-trained Indeedee's, two butlers, because they all wanted to come, but they couldn't let more than one fighting Indeedee leave. She's not afraid to fight, to get stronger, and she will do that to serve." Rotom turned a little bit more towards me. Its electric eyes were serious as it looked at me.

  "Leaf, you are her ideal future, so long as you are an active trainer. She would be helping you with everything non-combat related, she enjoys it. Her species almost lives for gratitude. She actually doesn't like cooking all that much, though, especially meat, but in everything else you will always have a helper."

  "She gets to help you in combat, and while she doesnt thirst for it like some of the butlers, she enjoys improving herself. She prefers the gratitude you would have for her fighting for you over her own, lesser desire for combat, but she's not a mindless helper drone. She has her own desires, and she does enjoy combat, just not as much."

  "By helping you, she helps you and Erin help other people. She's helping three times over already, and that doesn't count the rescues. She would be there to provide emergency aid, if needed. Don't let her appearance fool you, Leaf. She is a qualified Nurse in her own right, and while she may not be very experienced in real combat, she was the best of those currently at the Galarian Nurse College, and she proved it through combat, all to serve you. To serve those you will help." I looked at it, stunned for a moment, before my eyes slid to Indeedee.

  She was smiling gently, warmly, and she slowly bowed to me.

  She just wanted to help. She wanted to help a young girl, she wanted to help fight, she wanted to help me help people, to help Erin help people. She wanted to help any poor rescues we encountered. Her whole species made me feel… inadequate, as a human. Would there be things like Team Rocket if we were all Indeedee? Just… helping each other, surviving off each other's gratitude?

  "Well, if that's the case, then I have absolutely no reason to say no, and I would love to have you along. We'll need to check with Clefairy and… Fraxure first, but he doesn't get to make decisions at the moment." She grinned, warmly, and I had the sudden feeling Fraxure was going to have a second bully soon.

  This one would just heal him after she beat him.

  —

  Erin

  —

  When I finally woke up again it was early morning, before dawn. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know that, I could feel it. There was that silence you felt everywhere, in that quiet time before most life woke up. I took a deep, welcoming breath of-

  Fuck!

  I hissed as my everything hurt, and I don't mean that in a 'ha ha' way. I meant it literally. Every part of me ached, and for a second I was back there, tearing up and blubbery on the outside yet 'calm', but my mind trapped inside, screaming, squeezed so tightly that I started TO-

  "Indee."

  My eyes shot open in panic, and I was met with the sight of warm brown eyes peering at me in concern.

  Oh Arceus!

  Even through the pain, through the panic that hadn't disappeared, only receded, I smiled. Indeedee were the best Nurse Pokemon, fight me. This maid was so adorable that I would eat a Chanc- okay no I wouldn't, they are sweethearts, but still. Indeedee supremacy, full stop.

  She smiled a little and began to gently, softly hug me. It was unreal how she was able to somehow touch me and not cause pain like everything else did. It was also the most soothing hug I had ever felt, and I wondered if that was an obscure use of a Move, or just her being an Indeedee. She let me go and held up a finger before swiftly walking out the open door. It took me a moment to think again after that hug, and then I realized what had happened.

  Where the fuck had an Indeedee come from? This was Leafs room, not Galar! Not a Pokemon Center! Not that I was complaining! The very sight of her had been soothing, and that hug…

  Patricia slowly walked in. She looked like she had just been woken up, the maid rubbing her back. Patricia shook her head a little and looked my way. Her face lit up like the sun as she saw me awake in the dim light. She rushed over to the side of the bed, sitting on the chair that was still there.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  "Erin, dear, how are you feeling?" She was so concerned it hurt, and I felt so guilty. Sixteen days watching me lay here. Sixteen days of her ward lying here lifelessly as she was forced to watch helplessly. Like she had been forced to LISTE-

  "Indee!" There was a butler next to her now, but I only had a moment to start to fawn over his appearance before he frowned so hard it felt like he had slapped me, just without the pain! He pointed at me, then my head, then held up a finger to his mouth. His expression softened, and he patted my hand gently before stepping back.

  "That one was easy enough, dear. That mask of yours is gone, Erin. Don't you dare torture yourself over any of your actions in that place, or anything you may or may not have done. You saved…" Her voice started to break, and she held up a hand to her mouth, eyes screwed up in horror. Broken up at the sight of what it had done to me. Thank Arceus above she hadn't seen what it was actually doing to me. Just the blood from it's… that hadn't been communion. That had been writing a message on a razor blade and shoving it into my mind.

  Message received, right?

  "Deeee…" He was glaring again and I stopped my train of thought. As much as I could, I mean, it was kind of still running there in the backgr-

  "Indee!" I didn't want to look at Patricia's face right now. She was silent for a long moment, before she gently hugged me. It hurt so much I almost screamed, but I didn't care. I needed a hug, and I had held in screams from much worse pain, and- ahhhhh. And that would be a Healing Pulse from the maid.

  "Erin, please, I know you can't just stop it, but don't torture yourself, please. Just… Just accept the gratitude you're owed and feel like the hero you want to be so badly." I laughed once, but it was bitter.

  "Patricia, I'm not a hero. I'm an idiot who thought she could take her… odd knowledge and apply it here. I was right about Clefairy, she's benevolent for the most part, but I should have known that something would happen. I'm from… where I'm from, and I was interacting with a fae! I'm exotic. I'm interesting! I didn't know about that thing-" Squeezing so tightly I felt my-

  "Erin, stop it. He wants to glare at you and can't, and he's glaring at me now. You might be right. Maybe you were foolish, but you didn't know about that thing, so you can't blame yourself. In fact, every time you blame yourself out loud, you get a day with no dessert. I would say in your mind, but I want you to eat my baking again one day." I tried to pull away, but only for a moment. It hurt so badly even through the Healing Pulse that had never ended. That let me receive comfort.

  "That's not fair and you know it, Patricia…" She chuckled and gently released me. Her eyes were wet as she stared at me, an odd look in them. The maid let the Healing Pulse fade as I felt okay momentarily. Then there was a constant low ache everywhere, and she gave me a sad look. Poor thing, she just wanted to serve, to help like all Indeedee, and how do you hel-

  "Why are there Indeedee in Kanto?" Now that I could think for a second, I had to know. She smiled at me warmly as the two Indeedee also smiled. It looked like it hurt the butler, but it was a real smile.

  "Why, to serve, Erin! What else would Indeedee do?" Her eyes were way too amused, but I smiled at the sight of her. Happy. Delighted to have a secret to hold over me, even for so short a time. Here. Not there. My eyes teared up.

  Worth it.

  The Indeedee gave me warm looks as Patricia spoke.

  "Well, I needed Nurse Pokemon, and Raihan and Joyce were kind enough to help me. By the way, you need to call Joyce more! She worries about you!" She knew what she was doing. I'll let this play out, though. She's obviously excited to tell me.

  "Yes, because you're so old and decrepit you obviously need two Indeedee to help you in your advanced age. I see. I texted Joyce... I think." I grinned at the false outrage on her face. It felt so good to see. It had been worth it, even if it had POPPE-

  STOP IT!

  It had been worth it, even with that!

  Even with all of it…

  "Well, yes. Me and Maddy need help these days, you know. Her wings ache, the poor thing." I chuckled at her. She smiled gently and leaned in a bit more, speaking softly.

  "I needed Nurse Pokemon because all Ranches are required to have at least one, Erin. And for a Rescue Ranch? The more the merrier. All the better to care for the rescues, wouldn't you say?" My eyes grew wide. Then they began to tear up as my eyes closed. She didn't hug me, aware it hurt too badly to do it often, but she stroked my head as I cried softly.

  "Erin, you act like you need to take the weight of this world on your shoulders, and I can almost see why you think so. It's a good thing you're wrong. You are not alone, and you need to stop acting like you are. You are not the only one who cares, and you will accomplish nothing if you try to take on too much. Delegate, Erin. Share the burden. Like those transcripts you asked Officer Jenny to delete."

  My eyes shot open in horror, but she covered my eyes with her other hand, continuing to gently stroke my hair.

  "I understand why you tried to, Erin. The Indeedee do as well." She showed them!? Wait, of course, they were Indeedee… "I read those transcripts, before I burned the copy Maddy brought me from Officer Jenny. And melted the ashes. You were so gentle, so calm, and I can't thank you enough for that. I don't think I would have been able to do that, not at the time." Her voice was warm as she spoke. Warm, and so soft.

  "I've already dedicated almost three weeks to this, Erin, and I'm close. I'm taking my exams at the Lab today, and if I score high enough, I'll have my qualifications. I could open a regular Ranch at that point, but not one for rescues. We need to talk with the community for that, and the town hall is already planned for tomorrow. Me, the Professor, and Clefairy all know we can convince them, Erin. We're so close, and it's going to work. You know what that means, right?" I shook my head slightly. I mean, I had ideas, but…

  "That means, Erin, that you can send me any rescues that you liberate from those people. You don't have to try and somehow save all of their victims single handedly, driving yourself insane when faced with an impossible task. I've put in so much work, and I didn't do it for you. Well, not just for you."

  "Professor Oak has put in a lot of effort as well, and he sold me the land for cheap. It was still very expensive, but he wants to help too, Erin. Officer Jenny is also putting herself out there to vouch for me, for you, when the objections inevitably occur. So many people want to help you, dear. I'm not trying to berate you, saying all this." I felt her kiss the top of my head.

  "I just want you to know that you aren't alone. You aren't a monster, and you're not hated. There are people who would and have fought for you. There are people who have never met you who would support you, if they only knew you. You are a good person, Erin, no matter what price you paid." I flinched at that.

  "I want you to know that you are supported. I will always support you. I don't care where you came from, who you were before, or how little time we've spent together. You are family, Erin. To me, to Leaf. You would both deny it, but I think we all know you have an older brother too." I stiffened. Family?

  Family was…

  "I know you have some trauma around the word 'family', Erin, but I know you understand love. We love you, you insane girl. I can see your thoughts right now, too. Pity love doesn't exist, Erin, and you know that. The problem with families is you don't get to choose them, right? Well, I choose you, Erin. Leaf chooses you. Leto chooses you, Artemis, Kallen, Cerberus, Seraphina, Hecate all choose you. We choose all of you." She kissed the top of my head one more time, before she removed her hands. I heard some papers shuffling as I sat there, trying not to cry. It hurt, in so many ways.

  "You don't have to answer, Erin. No matter your choice, you will remain loved. Always. But I would like to offer you the option." I wanted to cover my mess of a face so badly, and I couldn't move! The butler lifted the sheet in front of my face with gentle hands, and I knew he felt my gratitude.

  "I would like nothing more in this world than to officially adopt you as my daughter, Erin, and Leaf would love to have you as an older sister. I have two forms here, both filled out already. They each just require a signature. I…" She sounded embarrassed, but I was crying so hard it hurt. Even through the Healing Pulse that had started.

  "I didn't know if you would rather be Erin Greenwood Phoebus, or Erin Phoebus Greenwood, so I have a form for each. Leto is more than fine with this." She let out an easy, amused laugh. "You can have two mothers, Erin, even if me and Leto aren't in a relationship." I couldn't help the laugh that broke through my tears. I heard her place the papers down.

  "I'm not asking for an answer, Erin. I'm not even looking for one. This is an option for you. It's one me and Leaf dearly hope you will take, but we will never force you to do anything. Now, I'm going to go get breakfast started, dear. I think you could use something more substantial than that gruel the Nurses prescribed."

  I heard her get up and quietly leave, and the sheet was lowered. Not that I could really see out of my filthy face. How was I even supposed to clean myse-

  The maid gently, so gently wiped my face clean with a wet cloth, and oh Arceus I love Indeedees. She gave me a warm smile, even as the butler firmly nodded at me, before turning on his heel and confidently striding out the door after Patricia, hands clasped behind his back.

  Leaving me with a choice.

  It wasn't a hard choice. Not at all.

  It was a very hard step, though.

  —

  Leaf

  —

  I think my mom forgot that I was downstairs on the couch. I mean, I don't think she was trying to hide the conversation, considering the sun isn't even up yet, so I should be sleeping, but still…

  I wanted to go tell Erin the same words as my mom, give her a hug- okay, maybe not that, I'd rather not cause her pain. I wanted to see that she was going to be alright with my own two eyes, with my mind, somehow. Maybe Clefairy? No… No, that was a dumb idea, but so was going up there right now. She was still crying, harder than before, and I knew she had to be in agony. I was certain of it when another maid rushed up the stairs past my mom, somehow called from the clinic.

  My newest Pokemon was still out there with the rest of them, though. That hadn't been her. I didn't need to know their tiny fur variations to know that hadn't been a trained fighter like she was.

  Because Arceus strike me down if I lied, but she scared me. In the best kind of way, like Clefairy, but in a very different way than my mischievous, playful terror.

  Fraxure'd had a typical Fraxure reaction to the news that Indeedee would be joining our team, while Clefairy had been ecstatic. She liked to help, too! She had happily bounced over to Indeedee, and they had started casually chatting like old friends. Fraxure, however, hadn't liked that.

  He had furiously demanded a fight, and I had warned her about him, so I wasn't surprised when Indeedee calmly patted him on the arm and started strolling to the battleground Leto had made, right past the stunned dragon. It was a standard Pokemon League Generalist sized court, but I wouldn't be commanding either of them. Instead I had carried Clefairy to the small dugout Leto had made. We had a good view of the field, and a Protect would be enough to save us from a stray attack here. Clefairies Protect was powerful enough.

  I announced the start of the battle and ran inside, but Fraxure was already almost across the court by the time I got there, it had looked like. I had been terrified for a moment, thinking the Nurse Pokemon had frozen up from the sheer… Fraxure-ness of my dragon, but no. She had not frozen up, in fact, even as I noticed the atmosphere in the arena shift somehow.

  She had been waiting for him to enter her half of the arena.

  She had sent him flying backwards with a precision Psychic so quick we had barely been able to track the energy. Fraxure, for his part, had taken the Move like a Champion. I had been genuinely proud of him as he had flipped over in the air, crashing into a skidding three-point landing that made me and Clefairy both cheer. He had seemed so cool, so in control during that awesome moment, we had almost started to root for him. My awesome dragon baby! My little badass!

  Then he got mad…

  She didn't let him get closer the next time. This time, she somehow made the attack shoot downwards at an angle, and my dragon found himself quickly slammed and bounced across the court. Still, he was a dragon. He had roared, he had raged, and he had stood up again. He had charged again.

  He hadn't stood up after the next Psychic slammed him into the ground the instant he entered her half of the arena. Not until she had healed him with a Heal Pulse. She had smiled so warmly at him, and he had smiled right back at her. Then he had charged.

  She let him, that time, and she had twirled around him. She hadn't danced, or dodged, she just… flowed around him each time he tried to Slash or Dragon Claw her, like she suddenly remembered an errand that required her to twist to the right smoothly. She was so casual. Each time she did, she would reach out and pat him, and he would shimmer slightly, over and over again as he refused to learn a lesson. Eventually, she got tired of her games, and she tossed him away with another Psychic.

  Still smiling warmly, calmly. Eyes full of care.

  His next charge she had done nothing, and I saw the confusion on his face even as I began to grin. I wasn't surprised when his Slash barely cut into her. That had been a lot of Play Nice's, as many as would stack on a single target. She actually stopped him with both hands on his blades, and as his eyes widened in surprise she had thrown him up with another Psychic, easily twenty feet into the air, into his half of the arena.

  He hadn't moved after he landed, but he did after the next Healing Pulse. She had smiled so gently, so warmly at him as he had staggered to his feet, dazed but perfectly healthy, and he had smiled right back at her. Staggered around some more. Then he charged, because Fraxure was Fraxure, and he learned lessons the hard way.

  She had casually beat his ass for an hour, and by the end the only ones not enjoying the spectacle had been Erin and Koffing. She had been hanging out with the unconscious Erin while we all sat in the suddenly too-small dugout eating snacks. Mom was ecstatic at the sight of my dragon getting tossed around, Lucy in her lap while Noodles hung out on her shoulders for a change. The Indeedee were loving the spectacle of their fighting comrade dominating Fraxure, and Rotom had said something that had really gotten to me.

  "Is she helping him by beating him up? I don't think she's getting tired at all, but I dont think it's possible for Fraxure to feel gratitude if he's not the winner somehow."

  It had gotten the entire group of Pokemon and humans laughing, laughing so loudly that Fraxure had heard and even began a small charge towards us. Indeedee still tossed him into the air. She had taken to trying to flip him like a coin, and she was starting to get good at it.

  An hour. A full hour she beat his ass, a warm, gentle smile on her face the entire time, rarely moving from her spot after her Play Nice demonstration. Eventually he had collapsed, unable to force his tired, battered body to move. He was in perfect health. His body just remembered, and it would take some time to forget.

  Fraxure hadn't tried his little intimidation games with any Indeedees that night, that was for sure. Not that he had many targets.

  I had probably done Leto proud with the snarl on my face the day we had returned home from Pewter City, as I stood in the woods alone with him for our little talk. He knew I had been serious when I threatened him, far away from any help or rescue. I hadn't been scared of him, not after the cavern. If he hurt a rescue on purpose, in maliciousness and not through an accident, I would break his blades off and feed him to Leto.

  Alive.

  He stuck to bothering Clefairy and Erin's team.

  It had hurt me to threaten my baby like that, but I had seen his looks at wild Rattata while training. I would accept the guilt for threatening him like that, because the rescues didn't deserve to deal with him. I don't think many people did. Just me.

  My fault, still. Just not as bad as before.

  Dinner had been Tauros ribs, and Erin would hate that we had eaten them without her. We hadn't cared. Leto would go get her injured daughter a Tauros if Erin asked her. She got us Tauros when she felt like it, or when she was in a really good mood for some reason, because they were a pain to carry. She could and did easily carry the weight, but it was a constant crick in her neck as she ran.

  Professor Oak might have made that more likely, though. Leto was invested in the ranch succeeding, and Professor Oak had been instrumental in getting mom and us as close as we had in the past two weeks. I think Leto wanted what Erin had endured to matter, aside from her own compassion for the rescues, so when he had complemented the otherworldly ribs enthusiastically, and for minutes, I hadn't been surprised when she looked into the distance, eyes thoughtful.

  There were too many Tauros, because it's not easy separating a Pokemon like that from its herd, and not many native predators could take one down, even in packs. Arcanine could alone, easily, but Arcanine were uncommon in the wild. Tauros weren't the kind of Pokemon to spread wildly beyond their habitat, though, so people didn't worry about a Tauros Stampede, not really. I had to imagine the Rangers had been grateful to Leto for culling them on occasion, still.

  They had certainly sounded happy to hear she was following her rules.

  I hadn't quite believed my ears when I heard that Leto of all Pokemon had submitted to rules, but she wasn't stupid. She had explored around Pallet, she was well aware that if she just ate close to home there would quickly be nothing left to eat, and that's if she wanted to eat a lot of small Pokemon. She had been eager to follow instructions to juicy, succulent meat that could be devoured in the field or put on her spit to slowly roast. I was thinking about getting them a small motor for it, actually, so Cerberus didn't have to turn it. Although, he did seem to enjoy doing it…

  "I see your eyelids twitching, Leaf. Good morning, dear." My mom turned on the coffee machine, then gently lifted my head to sit down on the couch, stroking my head as she waited for caffeine.

  "Morning… you maybe should have waited to ask her…" Erin was still crying, but it was quieter. Less pained, with two Heal Pulses trained on her.

  Our voices weren't quite whispers, but Erin wouldn't hear us.

  "I regret the pain she's in, Leaf, but no. Letting her know she is loved and wanted is worth a little physical pain before she could let her own mind continue to hurt itself. I know she would agree." Yeah… yeah she probably would…

  We sat there in silence for a time. Eventually she spoke up, hesitantly.

  "You don't mind-" I cut her off by shaking my head.

  "Mom, it was kind of inevitable. It almost… makes sense." She gave me a confused look and I continued quietly.

  "This might be crazy, and I don't know exactly how to explain it, but… I've given it a lot of thought, after Erin and Raihan talked to me, after I eavesdropped." She gave me a little glare that I returned. "Originally it was Red, and he kind of defeated Team Rocket. But they came back, obviously. In every other… Generation, there was a female character option, but not the first. Everyone left, and I didn't get to go, not until Kanto was re-released…" She was giving me a very odd look.

  "She may have been dropped into the Lowlands, but Erin is trying to recreate her adventures in the games, and do good along the way, right? Well, the protagonist was from Pallet Town, and they had a single mother. They were also… well, not sponsored, not in the games, but they interacted with Professor Oak, and were supported by him in theory…" She looked so confused, but it was hard to explain this! I didn't understand, either!

  "I'm not sure what I'm getting at. I don't think that Erin was sent here to do anything that she hasn't already done. I think Raihan was almost right. Erin was given the gift of life, but that was it. She was a messenger because she cared, nothing made her contact Looker. 'Fate' can't be a thing, or else why not stop any of the other schemes that involve the… Legends, instead of just Galar, whatever will happen there? If it even… can be stopped? Maybe Fate is a thing, actually…" My mothers eyes were very worried as I continued.

  "It's not like it all fits perfectly, but… tell me it doesn't seem coincidental, me missing my first Circuit and having to wait years. Erin shows up the same year I finally get to leave, with aura and a team that can help me out of my situation. Tailor made to help me, actually, a team that she didn't choose. It's almost like… It's almost like Erin is the protagonist, at least of Kanto, and it's like the world is trying to prove it. Like she could just slide right into my life and nobody would notice." I held up a hand as my mothers face fell.

  "Mom, trust me, I didn't mean it the way you think I meant that. Not like she would take my place… I love Erin, I want her to be my sister, and I don't want her to go anywhere. It's just weird. She goes from playing Red as a boy character, to… LeafGreen, playing as the girl character that hadn't existed before. That's… almost an analogue for how she's interacted with her two different… places. Boy in her old place, girl here… If she hadn't met me, she would have gone after Team Rocket… It's like she's the protagonist, but so am I? Two main characters for one game. Like she was the addition, the re-release for this world, but somehow I'm still alive, so we're both here?" She gasped softly and I nodded, eyes closed.

  "I'm not explaining it well at all… I don't understand it well enough to explain it, I just have a feeling… But if Erin got a wish granted by… that Pokemon, which I think we're all sure of, and she can't remember the wish that was granted, not out of all the countless ones she made throughout her life that it could have been… Who's to say that wish didn't involve us? Me? Who's to say it wasn't for a family? A family in her favorite world? I was her favorite protagonist to play as, too… I have this strange certainty these days, mom, after the… cavern. I don't know how, but I know. It was somehow a fact, until Erin came into this world. I… wouldn't be alive, right now." She was softly crying above me, but I kept my eyes closed. I was calm. I had accepted all of this more than a week ago. Somehow I knew, just like I knew the sun would rise tomorrow. Maybe it was that Clefable? Its domain? Its foresight?

  "I'm not sure how I know, but I do. Without her help, her wish, I would be dead. I don't actually know when, but I have a feeling I know exactly when I was supposed to die." How had I woken up just in time to avoid Fraxure that horrible night? I had been sleeping!

  And something had woken me up. What had it been?

  Mom knew too, based on the look in her eyes I saw when I risked a brief peek.

  "Even without all… that, mom, no. No I don't mind, not at all. I love her already, and I'd love for her to be my big sister. I just… I have so many questions, but these are the kind of questions that you never get answers to. Not unless you…" I trailed off as my moms face grew worried, then startled. I shook my head before she could even get started.

  "I won't, mom. Not that she ever told me where any were, or if there was one that could answer, other than that one, and it's supposedly asleep. She never told me what they are or do. Just that they… existed. I'm not an idiot." Her shoulders slumped in relief. Like she thought I would somehow go confront a Legendary.

  Not even Erin would be crazy enough to do something like that, not when it was real life, not pixels on a small screen held far too close to young eyes.

  I doubted she would even threaten such a thing! Erin didn't lie!

  Not even Erin was insane enough to confront a Legendary.

  "Not even Erin would confront a Legendary, mom. She wouldn't even threaten that, Erin doesn't lie."

  I really didn't like how deliberately silent she became.