The canopy of the Eterna Forest finally began to thin, the oppressive emerald gloom giving way to the golden, sweeping plains of the northern Sinnoh region. Eterna City stood ahead, a fascinating blend of the ancient and the modern. As I walked through the city gates, the first thing that caught my eye was the towering, abstract statue of a legendary Pokémon—looking like a fused, primal version of Dialga and Palkia—that dominated the skyline.
This was a city of historians, herbalists, and one very energetic Grass-type Gym Leader. After a year of traveling, the rhythm of a new city had become second nature to me. First, find the Pokémon Center; second, find a bed; third, find a fight.
I let out a long, theatrical sigh as the city air hit my face. My hat was finally dry, though it still smelled faintly of the "Industrial-Strength Hat Cleaner" I'd used in the forest.
"Finally," I muttered, stretching my arms until my back let out a satisfying series of pops. "Civilization. Real showers. Pillows that aren't made of rolled-up hoodies."
My first stop was the Pokémon Center, a bustling hub filled with trainers. I handed my three Poké Balls over to Nurse Joy, who gave me that standard, comforting smile that seemed to be part of the uniform. While I waited for the chime, I sat on a bench, staring at the ceiling and running the numbers in my head.
"Eterna Gym... Gardenia," I whispered to myself. "According to the League circuit, she's been on a winning streak lately. That means I'm likely looking at another Superior-level battle."
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. My journey was supposed to be a nice, linear progression. You know—start small, beat some beginners, and gradually work up to the big leagues. But between Roark and Byron, I felt like the League was throwing me into the deep end with a bag of rocks tied to my ankles.
"Sylveon has Mystical Fire, which is basically a cheat code in a Grass Gym," I noted, ticking off points on my fingers. "Floette has Psychic now to handle Poison-type coverage, which Gardenia loves to use with her Roserade and Victreebel. But Togepi... man, Togepi is still just a baby in a shell."
Ding-ding~ Ding-ding-ding~
"Julian of Sandgem Town, your Pokémon are fully rested. Please come to the front desk."
I hopped up, retrieved my team, and made a beeline for a nearby hotel. After a quick check-in, I let everyone out in the room.
"Floe~! (Is it mealtime? Tell me it's mealtime!)" Floette emerged and immediately started circling my head like a tiny, hungry vulture.
"Fly-ah~ (Ah, a room that doesn't smell like wet pine needles,)" Sylveon purred, hopping onto the plush carpet and stretching her ribbons.
I looked around. "Wait, where's the little guy?"
I looked back at the bed and saw a white, patterned egg-shape tucked into the crook of a pillow. Togepi hadn't even bothered to wake up; he had just rolled out of the Poké Ball and straight into a nap.
"The life of a baby Pokémon," I sighed. I walked over to the table and tapped Floette's head gently with my finger. "And you! 'Eat, eat, eat'—is that all you think about? I've never missed a mealtime, have I?"
I gave her a stern look. "And I'm serious, Floette. No more eating on my head. My hat is currently hanging by a thread, and if I have to wash nectar out of my hair one more time, you're going to be flying alongside the bike instead of hitching a ride."
Sylveon sat down, her blue eyes narrowing as she looked at Floette. "Sylveon-speech-sound... (You're eating on Julian's head again? Don't you have any class?)"
Floette had the decency to look embarrassed, scratching her pink cheek with a tiny nub. "Florges-sound... (Well, I'm sorry! I get so excited about the berries that I forget where I am. His head is just so... convenient.)"
"It's not a dining table!" I yelled, though I was mostly trying not to laugh. It was hard to stay mad at a Pokémon that looked like a living flower.
"Fly-ah~ (Sigh...)" Sylveon shook her head, her ribbons drooping. She looked at me with a 'what can you do?' expression.
I knew what she was thinking. I had a Shiny Stone in my bag, and once Floette evolved into Florges, she'd be way too big to sit on my head. Until then, I was basically a walking snack bar.
"Alright, stay here. I'm going to whip up a fresh batch of pokéblocks. We're running low on the high-grade stuff, and if we're going to face Gardenia, you two need to be in peak condition."
I spent the next hour in the hotel's kitchenette. The sound of da-da-da as I chopped Nanab and Weavile berries filled the room. I made a specialized spicy-sweet blend for Sylveon to boost her Special Attack and a floral-nectar mix for Floette.
"Dinner's ready!" I called out, setting the bowls down.
Floette was there before the bowls even touched the table. Sylveon was more graceful, using her ribbons to gently nudge the now-awake Togepi toward his bowl.
As they ate, I sat at the small desk, staring at my two collection boxes. Two badges. Two ribbons. My team was strong—Sylveon and Floette were both Elite-class in terms of raw power and move versatility—but the gap between them and Togepi was massive.
If I want to go all the way, I thought, tapping my pen against the desk, I need a full team. A Fairy-only team is a death sentence in the later Gyms or against the Elite Four. One strong Steel-type or a fast Poison-type could sweep us if I'm not careful.
I thought about the League's exchange program. As a researcher, I could probably request a high-potential Pokémon egg or a juvenile from another region. Maybe a Lucario? Or a Metagross to provide some physical bulk? But the idea of "trading" for a partner felt cold. Every Pokémon I had now—Floette, Sylveon, Togepi—we had met through fate.
"Fly-ah? (Jing? What's with the face? You look like you're trying to solve a math problem with your nose.)"
I felt a soft, silk-like ribbon wrap around my wrist. I looked down. Sylveon had finished her meal and was looking up at me, her head tilted in concern.
"Oh, it's nothing, Sylveon. Just thinking about the future. Thinking about who else might join our little family."
Sylveon's expression changed instantly. Her ribbons tightened slightly, and she let out a huff of indignation. "Fly-ah! (Future partners? Am I not enough for you? Ever since I evolved, you don't even sniff my ears or pet me as much! Is it because I don't have the fluff anymore?!)"
I felt a cold sweat break out on my neck. She's onto me.
I couldn't exactly tell her that I missed her Eevee days solely because she was basically a living, breathing plushie with a tail so fluffy it felt like a cloud. Sylveon was beautiful and elegant, but her fur was shorter now, more sleek and refined. Petting her was still great, but it didn't have that "bury your face in the fluff" quality I'd grown addicted to.
"Ahem... well," I stammered, scrambling for a believable excuse. "That's just because you've grown up! You're a refined Sylveon now, a Contest Champion. I was worried that if I petted you like a little puppy, you'd find it beneath your dignity. Remember when you were a hatchling? You'd headbutt me if I touched you too much."
Sylveon paused, her ribbons loosening as she considered this. "Fly-ah... (Well... I wouldn't hate it. I mean, I wasn't used to it at first, but your hands are very warm.)"
Before I could say another word, she jumped onto my lap, spinning around twice before curling into a ball. She reached up with two ribbons and pointed pointedly at the base of her ears and the middle of her back.
"Alright, alright. Message received," I laughed.
I leaned back and started using the "Advanced Eevee-Kneading Technique" I'd perfected over the last year. I massaged the tension out of her shoulders and ran my fingers through the short, velvet-soft fur along her spine.
Petting a Sylveon is a different kind of satisfaction, I thought, watching her eyes flutter shut in bliss. It's less about the fluff and more about the connection. Though... I really do miss that giant Eevee tail. Maybe the next partner should be something fluffy. A Cottonee? A Galarian Ponyta?
Sylveon let out a soft, contented purr, leaning into my hand. Outside, the lights of Eterna City began to twinkle, and the ancient statue cast a long, protective shadow over the streets. Tomorrow, the training would get serious. But for tonight, it was just me, my team, and a very spoiled Sylveon.