The Celestic Town Market was a far cry from the sleek, automated supermarkets of Jubilife City. Here, the stalls were made of weathered cedar, and the air was a thick, fragrant soup of sun-dried herbs, roasting nuts, and the sharp, acidic bite of fresh Berries.
I navigated the narrow cobblestone aisles, my arms already starting to ache under the weight of several paper bags. "Okay, let's see," I muttered, ticking off a mental checklist. "Growlithe is a K-9 lineage Fire-type. They have high metabolic rates. I need spicy, high-protein fuel. Cheri Berries are a must, and maybe some Spicy Eggplant Berries to mix into the kibble..."
I handed a handful of coins to a vendor for a crate of bright red fruit. "I wonder how the four of them are getting along," I mused, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I hope leaving them alone in the hotel wasn't a mistake. Sylveon is responsible, but Floette gets... well, she gets 'moody' when she's hungry. And Growlithe is still essentially a stranger to them."
I shook the image of a demolished hotel room out of my head. "Nah, Growlithe is police-trained. He's probably the most disciplined one there. I just need to finish up here and get back before Floette decides to eat the curtains."
Back at the "Ancient Heritage" Hotel, the atmosphere was... unique.
If a Ghost-type expert like Fantina had walked into the room, she would have immediately started searching for a Haunter. A thick, palpable aura of purple resentment was radiating from the windowsill.
Floette was slumped against the glass, her signature flower wilting and drooping as if it were made of lead. Her eyes were glazed, staring at the street below with the intensity of a thousand suns.
"Floette... (Julian, where are you...)" she whimpered, her voice a hollow shell of its usual cheerful self. "Floette... (The hunger... it's consuming me...)"
"Fia-fiyau! (Oh, for the love of Arceus, stand up!)" Sylveon barked from the bed. She was currently wrapped comfortably around the Pokémon Egg case, her ribbons acting like a temperature-controlled blanket. "Fly-fly-fiyau! (He's been gone for twenty minutes! We ate a huge breakfast in the mountains! You are not starving, you're just being a drama queen!)"
Floette didn't even turn around. She just let out a long, pathetic sigh that made the window fog up. "Floette... (Food... only food remains...)"
Sylveon rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her own brain. She adjusted the Egg case, ensuring the heaters were steady, and decided that if Floette wanted to pretend she was a Victorian orphan, she could do it alone.
But where was the new guy?
Sylveon looked over the edge of the bed. Her ribbons twitched in surprise.
Growlithe was currently trotting slowly across the hardwood floor with an air of immense importance. Balanced precariously on his back, nestled deep in his thick orange fur, was Togepi. The little egg-Pokémon was holding onto Growlithe's tufted mane with both hands, his face split into a massive, toothless grin.
"Togepi! (Giddy-up, Big Brother! Forward, to the closet!)"
Growlithe puffed out his chest, his tail wagging slowly. He was treating this like a high-stakes patrol mission. "Woof! (Understood, tiny recruit! Securing the perimeter!)"
Sylveon watched them for a moment, impressed. Well, at least the newcomer is good with kids, she thought. If he can handle Togepi's 'General' phase, he'll fit in just fine. She let out a massive, tooth-baring yawn, curled her ribbons tighter around the Egg, and closed her eyes. If there was going to be a "Hunger Games" reenactment, she was going to nap through it.
The Interrogation
Down on the floor, the "patrol" came to a halt by the mini-fridge. Togepi slid down Growlithe's side, landing with a soft thump on the carpet.
"Togepi-priii! (Big Brother, you are so fast! And so warm! You're like a walking sun!)"
Growlithe beamed. Back at the Academy, he was always told to be "stoic" and "professional," but he secretly loved being told he was soft. "Woof! (It's part of the training, little one! Good fur maintenance is essential for a Fire-type!)"
Growlithe sat down, his black nose twitching as he looked at Togepi curiously. "Woof, woof? (By the way, recruit... how long have you been serving with this Trainer?)"
Togepi blinked, his large eyes widening as he started counting on his stubby, three-fingered hands. "Togepi... pri... (One... two... ten... a million! Lots and lots of days!)"
Growlithe blinked. A million days? This Trainer must be ancient. He decided to try a different angle. "Woof. (I see. And what's the verdict? Is he a good leader? Is he... reliable?)"
"Togepi! (Mama! Mama is the best Mama!)" Togepi cheered, throwing his arms up.
Growlithe's entire body went stiff. His ears swiveled forward so fast they made an audible snap.
"Woof?! (Mama?!)"
"Togepi! (Mama! Mama cares for the Egg! Mama gives the best scratches!)"
Growlithe's brain, which was currently a mix of high-level police tactics and puppy instinct, began to whir like a broken fan. He looked at the door, then back at Togepi.
Mama? But... Julian was a male human. Growlithe had seen enough humans at the precinct to know the difference. Wait... does this mean the Trainer is a cross-dresser? A master of disguise? Or...
He suddenly remembered the way Julian had looked at him in the Pokémon Center—the drool, the glazed eyes, the frantic desire to pet his fur.
A PERVERT!
Growlithe's fur stood on end. He started pacing in tight circles, his paws clicking rapidly on the floor. I knew it! The 'Doctor' title is a front! He's a fur-obsessed kidnapper who makes small Pokémon call him 'Mama'! No wonder the blue one with the ribbons is so weirdly protective! I've been assigned to a den of madness!
"Woof! (I have to escape! I have to find a Jenny!)"
Togepi watched the orange dog spinning in circles and giggled, thinking it was a new game. "Togepi-priii! (Spinny! Spinny!)"
A few blocks away, I was just leaving the Poké-Mart with two heavy bags of spicy kibble and a new brush when I felt a sudden, violent chill down my spine.
"A-achoo!"
I wiped my nose, shivering. "What was that? It's nearly summer. Did someone just walk over my grave?"
I adjusted the bags, feeling a strange sense of unease. "I should hurry. I have a feeling the 'bonding session' is going in a very weird direction."
I raced back to the hotel, took the stairs two at a time, and fumbled with my keycard. As the door clicked open, I pasted on my best "I'm a responsible adult" smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! I'm back! Dinner is—"
I stopped.
Floette was still a puddle of grey misery by the window. Sylveon was snoring on the bed, her ribbons wrapped around a very confused-looking Egg. And Growlithe...
Growlithe was standing in the corner of the room, vibrating with tension, giving me a look of such profound horror and judgment that I actually checked to see if my fly was unzipped.
"Uh... Growlithe? You okay, buddy?" I asked, setting the bags down.
"W-woof..." Growlithe whimpered, backing further into the corner, his eyes darting between me and Togepi.
"Mama's back!" Togepi cheered, waddling toward my legs.
I froze. I slowly turned my head to look at Growlithe, whose jaw had practically hit the floor.
"I can explain that," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "It's... it's a translation error. He's an Egg-Pokémon, they just... they imprint on the first thing they see..."
Growlithe didn't look convinced. He looked like he was ready to call the S.W.A.T. team.
Note to self: I thought, feeling a massive headache coming on, teach Togepi the word 'Trainer' immediately. Or 'Dad.' Literally anything else.
"Let's just eat," I sighed, reaching for the spicy kibble. "Please don't bite me while I'm sleeping."