A couple of days later I performed the blood bond ceremony with Mongo and something unexpected happened…

  Detected sufficient power… Initializing System… Pokemon Master System Unlocked!

  “What the hell? I said in a daze.

  Scanning Host and Host’s pokemon…

  .

  .

  .

  Data compiled.

  Name: Orick Ortiz

  Pokemon Team:

  Charizard (Alpha) (Low Champion Talent)

  Ivysaur (Alpha) (High Elite Talent)

  Kadabra (Mutated) (Top Elite Talent)

  Totodile (Mutated Alpha) (Mid Elite Talent)

  “...” I stood slack jawed, until a sharp “Char!” woke me up.

  “This is going to change everything.”

  .

  .

  .

  Open Novice Package?

  .

  .

  .

  —

  April Fools! None of the above occured in our timeline.

  —

  I hastily left the breeding centre after signing a bunch of documents, with Mongo in tow. His name came to me immediately when I saw him, and from what I can tell he’ll probably just accept it.

  I made my way to my room at the pokecenter and released my team, sans Mongo and said, “Alright team, we’ve got a new member.”

  “Char?” “Saur!” “Bra.” Replied my pokemon. Drako asked if they would be strong, Hellen was just happy to have another friend and Prof said he would wait to comment until he had assessed them.

  I chuckled and looked at Drako, “They’re going to be a menace to you in particular when they’re fully grown.” Before releasing Mongo. It wasn’t even half a second before Mongo honed in on my hand and lunged with all his might, only to be frozen mid air with a psychic hold from Prof.

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  “It’s okay, release him.” I say, while grabbing Mongo and giving him a hug… which ended up with him biting my shoulder. Luckily I already have three fairly powerful bonds with pokemon which have strengthened my body. Otherwise, I shudder to think of having Mongo as a starter.

  I carefully peel off his jaws and directly dumped out a huge bowl of food tailored for water pokemon. I had prepared some for the potential water pokemon I would choose today, but would have to customize the recipe for the totodile line with some influence from the mudkip line to account for his potential ground typing.

  Mongo dug in ravenously, quickly clearing the bowl.

  I filled the bowl.

  He ate.

  I filled the bowl.

  He ate.

  Finally, he flopped onto his back with a quarter of the bowl left. His face showed a look of pure ecstacy.

  I walked up and patted his round belly and gave it a rub.

  “Diiile.” He sighed out.

  “Everyone, this is Mongo … if you’re fine with that name?”

  “Toto.” He sat up and adopted a pondering pose. After a moment, he shrugged and gave a nod.

  “Alright. Mongo, this is Drako my starter.” I gestured towards Drako and Mongo gave him an appraising gaze as Drako snorted some flames and looked away. I guess Drako was sensitive about me saying Mongo would be a problem for him. This should give him some motivation to continue improving quickly.

  “Hellenbore, my second bond.”

  “Ivy! Ivysaur!” Hellen greeted Mongo warmly, extending a vine to shake Mongo’s hand. Judging by the small grimace that Mongo was hiding, Hellen used too much power and needed to work on her fine control.

  “And Professor X, my third bond.” Prof just nodded.

  “Dile! Dile! Totodile!” Mongo declared, posing with his head held high. Prof told me he said he would be stronger than all of them.

  His moment was interrupted when he was grabbed by Hellen’s vines and lifted high into the air. His mouth was wrapped and he could only wiggle inefectually.

  “That’s enough Hellen.” And like a switch Mongo was now in a basket of vines that imitated a merry go round. Mongo quickly adapted and cried out in glee, “Toto!”

  “Alright, welcome to the family Mongo. Time to go meet Mom and Gramps.”

  —

  “He’s so cute!” Squealed Mom as she hugged Mongo. She had already given a hug to each other member of my team. They all loved her and sometimes I wondered what she puts in those snacks… No, no, Mom is great! The secret ingredient is love!

  “Why are you looking at me with that weird face, Orick?” Oh no! Mom caught me!

  “Nothing, Mom.” I hastily reply.

  She narrowed her eyes, “Every time you make that face you’re thinking about some outlandish theories or conspiracies. Don’t think I don’t know, I raised you.”

  The jig is up! I quickly tried to rise but my arms were locked tight by Gramps! Mom quickly approached and they smothered me in a group hug.

  A moment later we all laughed and broke apart, with a confused Mongo still being held by Mom.

  “I’m glad you still have some childish spirit!” Mom said with a smile, “I was worried your travels would be hard on you…” She looked away, her smile turning a bit sad.

  “Everything’s been pretty smooth sailing actually…” I said.

  I thought over my life since I became a trainer. Truly, I had been playing on easy mode since the start with Drako. Which steamrolled into the strong team I have now and some financial security.

  Though Mom worried I would have it rough, I worried about the opposite. I may have had it too easy. A flower in a greenhouse may be beautiful but it won’t be tough, since it hasn’t had to struggle. If I was targeted by a criminal element we wouldn’t duke it out through a bunch of 1 vs 1 battles.

  “Don’t be an idiot!” Gramps said as he whacked my head, apparently sensing my thoughts. Can he read my-

  “No, I can’t read your mind it’s all over your face, learn to control your facial expressions if you don’t want to give away what you’re thinking.”

  It was at this point when Mongo leapt from my Mom’s arms and bit my head…

  In a playful manner of course.

  With the totodile faceshield I was free to brood over my worry free life. Damn these teenage hormones.

  I plucked Mongo off my head and proceeded to enjoy my time with my family.

  Though in the back of my head I was making preparations. Just in case.