It has been three days since I started working at the kids' summer camp.

  Three days of waking up early, doing chores alongside lab aides, and trying and failing to herd children like a slightly underqualified Mareep herder.

  And now, I was standing inside one of Oak's outdoor training barns with four researchers and two other Pokédex candidates, waiting for the kids to gather for the morning session.

  One of those candidates I recognized: Ashley, the Pokétuber from Rin's birthday party.

  She caught my eye as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, a camera strapped to her chest as usual. She had adjusted surprisingly fast to camp life, though the exhaustion under her eyes suggested it was costing her.

  The other candidate was a boy about my age, Clancy, with black parted hair and glasses, holding a notepad and looking eager to get the day started.

  Kids began spilling in from breakfast, thirty, maybe forty of them, all between seven and twelve, buzzing with energy that could power the entire ranch if people ever figured out how to harness it.

  Mixed among them was Ash Ketchum, his dark hair sticking up like he had slept in a wind tunnel, wearing a t-shirt slightly too big, his eyes full of fire even at his age.

  Gary Oak looked like a miniature version of a future heartbreaker, already smug and certain he'd be the best one here. Serena, with lighter hair and a warm smile, stood politely at the edge of the group, her outfit neat and clean.

  Seeing them here as actual kids, instead of characters on a screen, felt weird even after all these years.

  Still, I found a strange sort of joy, a privilege to be a part of this amazing world.

  I almost laughed out loud at my sentimentality.

  Ashley walked over and stopped beside me, rubbing her temples.

  "Morning," I said.

  She slumped dramatically. "Please tell me we're canceling the schedule and letting them run wild in the fields."

  "Nope."

  I nodded toward Oak's approaching figure. "Today's the big one."

  "Oh gods. Pokémon picking day."

  I huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah. The day they get their partners for the rest of camp."

  Ashley groaned under her breath. "They're going to fight over every cute or cool Pokémon, aren't they?"

  "You know they are."

  "Fantastic," she deadpanned. "I can't wait."

  We stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the sea of kids forming little noisy clusters—some practically vibrating with excitement, some arguing about which Pokémon they were going to pick, and some already whining because they'd lost their shoe.

  It was pure, unfiltered chaos.

  And somehow… kind of nice.

  "Alright, everyone!"

  A booming voice cut through the chatter.

  Professor Oak stepped out of the main room, followed by three aides pushing carts brimming with Poké Balls. Two dozen? Three dozen? It was more than enough for the morning's excitement.

  The kids quieted instantly.

  Oak had a presence that demanded respect.

  He scanned the crowd, smiling warmly. "Good morning, campers!"

  "GOOD MORNING, PROFESSOR OAK!"

  The kids shouted back, nearly shaking the rafters.

  He chuckled. "Today is the day you'll each choose a temporary partner Pokémon."

  Excitement erupted once more, cheers, squeals, and one kid jumped so high he fell over.

  Ashley whispered beside me, "Here we go…"

  I exhaled through my nose, smiling.

  Oak stepped forward, motioning for the aides to bring the carts around.

  "Alright, little trainers," he said, his voice booming yet gentle, "form a line. Everyone will receive one Poké Ball. Inside is the Pokémon you will care for during the camp."

  A tidal wave of noise

  followed, excited cheers, nervous whispers, and one kid chanting, "Please be a Dratini," like a prayer.

  Ashley sighed beside me, but she was smiling too.

  It was impossible not to be caught up in the excitement.

  We helped Oak pass out the Poké Balls one by one.

  "Here you go."

  "Hold it carefully."

  "Yes, it's real."

  "No, you can't trade it."

  A little girl with pigtails hugged her Poké Ball like it was a plush toy.

  Gary strutted back to his spot with the smug confidence of someone who believed fate would grant him the strongest Pokémon.

  Ash nearly dropped his ball three times.

  Once every kid had one, Oak raised his hand.

  "Alright! On my mark… three… two… one—release!"

  Dozens of Poké Balls burst open simultaneously, white light flooding the training field like a miniature sunrise.

  And then...

  Chaos.

  But the good kind.

  A cluster of Oddish tumbled out, their leaves shaking.

  A few Growlithe yapped and immediately started play-fighting.

  A tiny Pidgey landed on a boy's head, startling him into a scream.

  Two Poliwag spun in confused circles.

  An unusually fluffy Mareep trotted straight into Serena's arms.

  The kids went wild, laughing, squealing, and kneeling to pet their new partners.

  But then came the complaints.

  "I wanted a Charmander!"

  "Why did I get THIS thing? It's just a plant!"

  "My Growlithe won't listen to me!"

  "This Poliwag keeps SLAPPING me—!"

  I stepped in before tears began.

  A boy with messy glasses stomped his foot. "I wanted a Sandshrew! But I got a stupid Nidoran!"

  The Nidoran flinched, its ears folding.

  I knelt beside them both.

  "Hey," I said quietly. "You know Nidoran evolves into something strong enough to break boulders, right?"

  He sniffled. "Really?"

  "Really. And look, he wants to be friends."

  I tapped his chest. "That means something."

  The boy wiped his nose and looked at his Pokémon again, this time with curiosity.

  Beside me, Ashley was trying to separate two girls who were arguing over which of their azuril was cuter.

  A lab aide was already bandaging a child who had hugged another niodran a bit too tightly. Suddenly, someone shouted, "MY MARILL IS RUNNING AWAY—!!"

  Yeah… this is going to be a long day.

  Eventually, Oak clapped his hands.

  "Everyone, gather around! We'll start with a simple lesson on Pokémon types."

  The children assembled in a semi-circle, flopping down on the grass with their new partners.

  Their excitement shifted to focused fidgeting.

  With the practiced ease of someone who had taught thousands of trainers, Oak launched into the basics.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  During the lecture, he glanced at me.

  "Arata," he called out, "bring out your Pidgeotto for the young ones. It's a Flying Type example."

  Ah, right. He had informed me earlier.

  I stepped forward, retrieved Livia's Poké Ball from my belt, and released her.

  With a flash, she materialized, showcasing broad wings, sharp eyes, and a tall posture—easily the biggest Pidgeotto you'd ever seen.

  The kids gasped in unison.

  "WHOAAA—!!"

  Livia preened at the attention, fluffing her feathers and lifting her chin as if posing for a magazine cover.

  Oak chuckled. "That, children, is the result of careful training."

  Heat crept up my neck, but I couldn't help

  but smile. Livia clicked her beak proudly, and Caesar's ball warmed at my hip, as if he wanted to show off too.

  The lesson continued, sunlight cutting across the field while the kids whispered excitedly around me.

  It felt kind of nice.

  Later That Day

  By late afternoon, camp had wrapped up for the day.

  We cleaned up, returned the temporary Pokémon, and handed the kids off to their dorm supervisors.

  Now, I was walking the dirt road back toward the Ketchum Inn, dusk settling over Pallet in soft orange light.

  The sky looked like it had been brushed with watercolors, soft orange, violet smudges, and streaks of gold filtering through the berry orchards.

  My feet crunched over gravel as the inn came into view, warm lights glowing behind its windows. It felt homey.

  I pushed open the front door.

  Warm chatter drifted from the lounge.

  Delia and a few young women, neighbors, perhaps, were sprawled on the sofas, watching a drama on the wall-mounted screen. The actor had just pinned the heroine against a door when the room erupted in giggles and half-embarrassed squeals.

  Delia turned first.

  "Oh! Arata, welcome back."

  Her smile was bright and warm, making the room feel lighter. "Is Ash with you?"

  I shook my head. "No. He's probably still at camp."

  She sighed fondly. "That boy… I told him to come home once camp was done, but he never listens. He's probably with Gary again."

  The woman beside her, with short hair and full cheeks, tilted her head, eyeing me curiously.

  "Well, if you're free," she teased, "you could join us. We don't bite."

  Another one chimed in mischievously, "Unless you want us to."

  My brain stalled.

  Delia laughed, covering her mouth politely.

  "Don't tease him too much, girls. And Arata, they are right, we don't bite, much ~"

  "Ha ha…" I rubbed the back of my neck, heat creeping up my ears. "Yeah, let's skip the biting. I'm heading out back to train my team. Rain check?"

  They all cooed as if I'd said something romantic.

  I escaped down the hallway before they could corner me again.

  Outside in the berry garden, Delia's Persian lay curled on the patio, its tail flicking lazily. It cracked an eye open as I passed, stared at me judgmentally, then went back to sleep.

  Cats.

  Beyond the orchard, the land sloped quietly toward the cliff edge overlooking the ocean. The wind was colder there, sharp with salt.

  Perfect for training.

  Reminds me of home...

  I unclipped my Poké Balls.

  "Come on out."

  Light flared.

  Caesar materialized first, towering and armored, tusks gleaming in the sunlight.

  Livia swooped upward the moment she formed, catching an updraft.

  Orin landed on all fours, giving a small growl in an attempt to look threatening, but he came off as more cute.

  We settled into a circle beneath the tree that overlooked the sea. The branches creaked overhead, and the surf rumbled below.

  I exhaled and closed my eyes.

  The connection came slowly,

  threads of warmth, breathing in sync, minds

  brushing together.

  A steady flow of energy moved through us.

  My power pulsed outward gently...

  ... enhancing., making them stronger.

  Orin's aura flickered, raw, unstable, but growing brighter each day.

  He'd been difficult at first: hurt, starved, afraid. Even with the bond helping, he'd snapped and growled for days.

  But now… he was healing.

  Hungry to grow stronger.

  Caesar's presence was a mountain, solid, immense, unwavering.

  Livia's was a sharp wind, focused, alert, proud.

  Minutes passed as I tried something new, attempting to draw out their abilities.

  To my surprise, it came easier than I expected for Caesar.

  Then again, he's been with me the longest.

  Maybe an hour passed.

  When the meditation ended naturally, I opened my eyes.

  The sky had dimmed into a darker blue.

  Time for physical training.

  I stood and clapped my hands.

  "Alright. Orin first."

  He barked, a stubborn spark in his eyes.

  "Today's all about power. I want you to hold your slash until you can't hold it anymore. Got it?"

  He nodded.

  Aura flared around his paw, shaky at first, then tightening and becoming more coherent.

  A good sign.

  While he practiced, I walked further into the clearing where the ground was firm.

  Caesar straightened, knowing exactly what I wanted.

  "You ready?"

  He nodded once, curt, eager for the challenge.

  I glanced up at Livia, hovering above.

  "We'll need you for this, too."

  She dipped her wings in acknowledgment.

  I stepped back.

  "Alright, Caesar, I want to try something new today. We'll start slow with your new move, Earthquake, minimal output. Go!"

  His foot slammed down.

  The ground trembled, small, contained.

  Dust lifted.

  Livia hovered, unaffected.

  "Good. Now... " I pointed upward. "I want you to push the quake through the air, not the ground."

  This was impossible for most.

  Earthquake wasn't meant to be used like that.

  But if I'm right...

  Caesar braced himself, eyes narrowing slightly in skepticism.

  He stomped again, harder this time. Energy burst outward, and the shockwave lifted, rippling off the earth like a heat mirage.

  It was barely anything, but it reached Livia...

  just a brush.

  Enough to make her wings wobble slightly.

  He snarled in satisfaction.

  I couldn't help but grin.

  Mold breaker.

  "Again."

  And again.

  And again.

  The ocean roared in the distance.

  The night deepened as my partners pushed themselves.

  This…

  This was the life I'd always wanted.

  And we were just getting started.