Chapter 50 - National Park

  Teddy relaxed at The National Park Café, his table overlooking the pavilion just before the park proper.

  Behind him the fountains he had dreamt of cascaded into the sky, the droplets shimmering beautiful rainbows.

  Around him, trainers walked their prize Companions while various bug Pokémon busying themselves about the flowers and fields.

  The whole terrace was alive with life, and before him spread the park proper.

  I can’t believe I’m here!

  The magazines and shows he had greedily devoured growing up made it seem breathtaking.

  Now he knew the truth.

  If anything, the park had been undersold.

  Grass fields rustled with the passing breeze, wildflowers bloomed along every walkway. Trees; some small and some enormous, lined the entire park.

  Within the fields, trainers lounged under decorative trees of burning red and sapphire blue.

  His dream spread before his eyes.

  I am going to see the world with my team, Teddy realized in awe.

  And yet, even surrounded with all of the beauty, his eyes were drawn to his friends.

  To his Gastly, nestled comfortably in the shade of a sapphire tree.

  To his Munchlax, who was utterly absorbed in big brother-ing their newest member to death.

  To his Togepi, who rested in MunchMunch’s arms, happily absorbed every ounce of attention she could get, cooing all the while.

  He didn’t miss the envious glances from the many trainers present.

  He couldn’t help but smile in pride.

  His team was special.

  Unique.

  Those years waiting? Totally worth it.

  It was awesome, and he was so proud of them.

  He slipped out his phone and snuck a picture.

  “Mum,” he whispered to himself, “you are not going to believe this.”

  Even the slight trepidation he felt, knowing he had to somehow explain he now had a Fairy of all types…

  Was completely overshadowed by the absolute, unmitigated warmth blossoming in his chest.

  Besides… how much trouble could he really get in, right? She was the one who sent it to him.

  Even as he thought it he knew the argument would never hold.

  Togepi giggled and tried to roll out of MunchMunch’s arms…

  Which was mostly her waving her hand-paws and foot-paws around.

  MunchMunch immediately gasped and fell to the ground, as if she was too powerful, the baby Togepi bouncing on his belly.

  She shrieked in excitement. Teddy didn’t catch Shadow quietly cackling under her tree.

  He sighed and took a drink of his milkshake.

  Yeah… he had made mistakes.

  And yeah… he still had a lot to learn.

  But as he watched the team?

  His Team?

  Yes.

  This was what his Journey was about.

  ____

  MunchMunch loved Happy.

  She was everything he had hoped she would be, and he hadn’t even known what he wanted her to be!

  But now that she was here, he knew she was everything he didn’t know he had hoped for.

  And her name really was perfect.

  Because he felt so happy when he looked at her.

  And he could see his Mama Gastly smiling!

  And his Teddy, too!

  Happy giggled and tried to roll over, but was too little to do so. MunchMunch gently picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

  She was so tiny now, but he was going to help her grow big and strong.

  Just like he was growing big and strong. That way, she could explore the world together with them!

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Happy, did you know, we are going to find a Chocolate Cake that is bigger than a house?” he exclaimed in excitement.

  Happy continued to look at him and giggle.

  MunchMunch felt his tummy grow warm.

  “Hi kiddo, would you like to battle?” a voice surprised MunchMunch from his playtime.

  He looked up to see a Snubbull standing in front of him, paws on his hips and trying to look tough; his trainer with super poofy hair was talking to his Teddy.

  MunchMunch smiled. He hadn’t seen a Snubbull since Azalea Town!

  “Me?” MunchMunch asked.

  “Yup!” the Snubbull responded, sticking out its chest.

  “Hmmmm… That’s ok! I’m playing with my baby-sister! Thanks though!” MunchMunch laughed, waving a claw and smiling as Happy tried to grab it.

  The Snubbull faltered.

  “Uh, but don’t you think she would like to see you battle?” he pressed.

  MunchMunch chewed on his forever-snack while he thought about it.

  “Nope,” he said. “I think she is happy playing!”

  As if to agree, Togepi giggled super loud and tried to grab his paw with both of her tiny paws.

  Snubbull huffed.

  “But what if she thinks you are weak?” he tried once more.

  Togepi babbled and tried to kiss his nose. MunchMunch leaned down, just so she could.

  “She doesn’t, don’t worry!” MunchMunch sighed in contentment, tickling her belly.

  He loved when his Teddy rubbed his belly, so he thought she might like it, too.

  Togepi immediately grabbed his paw with both of her hand-paws and foot-paws, cooing and smiling.

  That made MunchMunch even happier.

  “You know what? You’re right! I bet she definitely knows you are super strong!” the Snubbull barked.

  MunchMunch looked up to see him staring off into the sky.

  “Wouldn’t it be super cool if she got to see you battle! And show her just how strong you are, though?”

  The Snubbull glanced down out of the corner of his eye.

  MunchMunch paused and thought about it for a moment.

  That… did sound really cool.

  And he did want Happy to see how strong he was.

  MunchMunch gasped.

  Wait.

  What if Happy thought he was as cool?

  Just like MunchMunch thought Mama Gastly was cool?!

  “Ok!” MunchMunch cried, jumping up and cradling Happy. “I want to show Happy how strong I am!”

  The Snubbull laughed while MunchMunch quickly waddled over to his Teddy, carrying Happy carefully.

  “Munchmunchmunchmunch!” he explained, handing Happy to his Teddy.

  He looked at him seriously, so his Teddy knew he had to be super careful. Happy liked to try to roll, after all.

  His Teddy laughed and took Togepi into his arms.

  Then he looked at MunchMunch, the question clear.

  Are you sure?

  “Munch!” MunchMunch called, skipping onto the field.

  His Teddy walked behind him, holding Happy while Mama Gastly drifted over from under the tree.

  The Snubbull grinned.

  Then MunchMunch froze.

  …Snubbull had a lot of teeth.

  MunchMunch started shaking as he remembered his last battle.

  The one where he forgot things.

  And hurt.

  He felt his foot-paws get cold.

  “MunchMunch?” Mama Shadow called in concern.

  “Muuu,” MunchMunch trembled.

  Maybe… Maybe he didn’t want to battle after all?

  And then, like a burst of sunshine in the dark, he heard his baby-sister call out.

  “Piiiii~~!”

  MunchMunch gulped and turned to see her excitedly waving at him.

  MunchMunch clenched his paws.

  He could do this.

  He could show Happy how cool he was!

  “MunchMunch, Defense Curl,” his Teddy called out gently.

  MunchMunch grinned.

  His Teddy knew exactly what to do.

  He was going to help him be safe!

  Then the Snubbull used Bite.

  MunchMunch closed his eyes and flinched. But… it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.

  He peeked open his eye, to see the Snubbull with his mouth clenched around his tummy.

  MunchMunch giggled.

  “Defense Curl!”

  MunchMunch took a huge bite of his Leftovers and clenched all his muscles again.

  Snubbull used Scratch and his claws bounced off of MunchMunch!

  “Piiii~~Piiii~~~” he heard Happy laughing.

  MunchMunch turned to wave at her, and she waved back.

  He was looking cool for Happy!

  Then he remembered, he forgot something! He needed to set a good example, just like Mama Gastly did for him!

  MunchMunch turned and looked at the Snubbull, opened his mouth and Cackled.

  ____

  “Oh please no,” Teddy sighed as his MunchMunch randomly decided to cackle like a Gengar, hands on his hips and head thrown back.

  It was so realistic the Snubbull actually faltered.

  Naturally, Shadow joined in.

  But that wasn’t the issue.

  The issue was his Togepi.

  Who was looking at MunchMunch with pure adoration, her coos slowly shortening.

  Teddy sighed.

  Baby’s first cackle.

  Well… at least MunchMunch wasn’t scarred from his last battle. Teddy counted that as a win any day, even if it meant his Fairy-type was going to cackle like a ghost too…

  “Uhm… that doesn’t sound like a Munchlax call,” the Snubbull’s trainer called uncertainly. “Not that I’ve ever really heard one before.”

  “He… he loves Gastly a lot, so he copies her in everything.”

  Teddy felt Gastly puff up in pride next to him and he had to hide his smile.

  MunchMunch and Snubbull continued while Togepi cheered them on.

  “Oh, that’s… really sweet?” The trainer didn’t sound so sure.

  Teddy couldn’t really blame her, but he did secretly find it funny to see MunchMunch cackle so convincingly.

  Then, his MunchMunch used Metronome.

  Teddy watched in a mixture of amusement and worry as his tiny cannonball flopped his belly straight onto the ground.

  Then Bounce twenty feet into the air, completely dodging the Snubbull’s next bite.

  Togepi shrieked in excitement, her eyes glued on MunchMunch.

  MunchMunch burst into cackling giggles as he dive-bombed the Snubbull, smashing him into the ground with all the force of a 100kg meteor.

  Teddy was impressed the Snubbull managed to stand back up.

  But MunchMunch wasn’t done, using another Metronome without needing to be told.

  Then he opened his mouth, and Yawned.

  MunchMunch giggled and turned to wave at Happy as the Snubbull fell asleep and its Trainer facepalmed.

  “I admit defeat, good battle!” she called, walking over. “Your Munchlax is terrifying!”

  Teddy grinned.

  “Thanks —!”

  Then he froze.

  His Togepi was staring at MunchMunch with absolute focus. Staring at his paw, more specifically.

  Staring at his paw, and waving her own paw.

  ____

  Shadow was so proud.

  The Fairy was already trying to cackle.

  It didn’t sound anything like a cackle, but the effort was there.

  That was what was important.

  She could perfect the technique later.

  She nodded.

  MunchMunch was a good big-brother.

  Then Teddy shouted and Shadow looked over.

  To see the baby Togepi fire a Hyper Beam out of its paw, straight into the air.

  Well, it was more of a sputtering light beam with about the same damage potential as a flashlight, she mused.

  The baby promptly fell asleep.

  MunchMunch clenched both his paws and started skipping in circles, the joy evident on his face.

  Great, Shadow sighed. Now there are two of them.