The Vivillon Effect - An Adult Oriented Pokémon Story

The towering, all-steel-and-glass skyscraper in the heart of Saffron housed a massive exercise gym on the third floor. Even on a Sunday, the place was a bustling hive of activity, with swimmers churning the water in the Olympic-sized pool. A middle-aged man, his face etched with determination, pushed himself to the limit, his strokes powerful and precise. Despite the impressive size of the pool, he loathed the gym. It was always overcrowded, and to make matters worse, Pokémon were allowed to roam freely. Nothing made him more uncomfortable than these creatures, which had irrevocably changed his life. They were woven into the fabric of everyday existence, and there was no escaping them.

Elduran Aloger, a 31-year-old sniper, is a legend within the Joint Anti-Pokémon Special Ops for Kanto and Johto (APSO) unit. With 27 missions under his belt, including encounters with legendary Pokémon, he's earned the nickname "Owl." His most famous exploit was a long-range shot that eliminated a rampaging Spiritomb terrorizing a village near Fuchsia City. A fairy-infused round, fired from a kilometer away, brought the destructive Pokémon down with a single, well-placed shot.

A native of Cianwood City of Johto, grew up in a coastal cottage with his parents, successful entrepreneurs who owned an Asset Management Firm. Their idyllic existence was shattered when Kyogre's wrath unleashed a colossal tsunami, ravaging the city and claiming hundreds of lives, including his parents. The catastrophe left Elduran scarred, both physically and emotionally, causing him to keep his distance from Pokémon.

Pokémon activists blamed a shadowy group known as the Watchers, alleging they had attempted to control Kyogre but failed catastrophically. The Watchers remain the primary nemesis of the Anti-Pokémon Special Ops (APSO), responsible for the majority of legendary Pokémon-related disasters. Orphaned by tragedy, Elduran rejected the government's offer of a free Pokémon at sixteen and joined the army. His path was clear: to fight the creatures and the organization that had destroyed his world.

A deafening explosion rocked the building, sending shockwaves through the water. Elduran surfaced, yanking off his goggles as debris rained from above. Adrenaline surged as he sprinted for the changing room and his locker. A Nidorino burst into the chaos, barely clearing him with a leap. Panic ensued as people and Pokémon scrambled for the exits. Elduran remained focused. The distant screech confirmed his suspicions: a Pokémon was responsible. This crisis demanded a swift, lethal solution.

He burst into the locker room, scrambling towards his own. Before he could reach it, a chunk of the ceiling crashed down. Convinced he was a goner, he braced for impact. Then, a violent gust of wind hurled him backward, his body slamming into the metal lockers. Dazed, he looked around, heart pounding. A Vivillon with striking red and white patterns hovered beside a lifeless woman, its mournful cries echoing through the wreckage. It was clear the creature had saved him, a debt he would never fully repay. His locker was buried beneath the debris. He heaved against the wreckage, but it was futile. Just as despair began to creep in, he felt a powerful push. The Vivillon, with a determination that belied its size, was trying to push him out of the way. "Well, if you want to help so badly," he muttered, scooting out of the way. With another forceful gust, the Vivillon swept the debris away from the locker. "Impressive little bugger," Elduran grunted, respect glinting in his eyes. He fumbled with the lock, the bent metal protesting his efforts. Finally, the locker yielded, and he began assembling his rifle with practiced movements. The weapon complete, he stormed out of the locker room into the chaos of the main section of the gym.

He had witnessed countless horrors, but this scene surpassed them all. Gym equipment was scattered like deadly projectiles, claiming the lives of humans and Pokémon alike. Trainers with flying Pokémon were the lucky ones, leaping from shattered windows to safety. Below, the stairwells were choked with panicked people, trampling each other in their desperate escape. Elduran ignored the exits. He sprinted towards a window, a desperate need to assess the threat propelling him forward. As he approached, a colossal, bird-like creature emerged from the distance. His stomach churned in recognition. This was a Class Level 7 threat, Ho-oh, and he was facing it alone. Knowing Class Level 10 was the pinnacle, he understood the gravity of the situation. But Ho-oh's rampage wasn't confined to this building; it was engulfing all of Saffron City.

He positioned himself prone on the floor, deployed the rifle rest, and waited for Ho-oh to reappear. He chambered a water-infused bullet. The military had developed ammunition imbued with Pokémon types to exploit their vulnerabilities, even those of legendary creatures. Ho-oh was weak to rock, electric, and water. A new tremor shook the city as another building succumbed to Ho-oh's wrath. Patience was a virtue now. Finally, the colossal bird filled his scope. This was a one-shot gamble; reloading was impossible. An eye shot was crucial. Even Class Level 9 Pokémon had retreated after a single well-placed, weakness-exploiting bullet. The frustrating truth was that legendary Pokemon seemed impervious to death, but intense pain could force them to withdraw.

The bullet pierced his right eye. Ho-oh let out a blood-curdling shriek, its flight erratic and descending rapidly. Panic surged as Elduran realized the creature was heading straight for the building he occupied. His scope confirmed his grim fate.

Leaping from the ground, he sprinted to the opposite window and hurled himself out, just as Ho-oh crashed through the floor above. The building crumbled behind him. His mind raced back to countless training scenarios: falling from great heights. The theory was simple, land on your feet, lean to one side, and roll. Best-case scenario: a broken leg and ribs. But the debris-strewn street below made that unlikely. Impalement was a very real possibility. Even a lucky landing on flat ground would probably result in serious injuries. There was no escape. Death was inevitable.

As he plummeted, Elduran braced for impact. An overturned car, twisted and mangled, loomed below. He didn't care as much as he thought he would. He was going down, driving away Ho-oh all by himself.

Just as he was about to hit the ground, a gust of wind caught him, slowing his descent and pushing him away from the building. He was still falling fast, but the damage would likely be less severe. Then, a blur of color tackled him from the side. Vivillon had saved him, pushing him into the back of a large, overturned truck.

Elduran groaned as he rolled to a stop. Vivillon lay outside, motionless, with a large piece of concrete near it. "Damn it, get up!" he shouted to himself. With a painful effort, Elduran rolled to the edge of the truck, grabbed Vivillon's wing, and pulled. "You're heavier than you look," he muttered, struggling to haul it inside. Just as he succeeded, the building collapsed onto the truck. The world seemed to end for a moment. Half the truck bed was crushed, but miraculously, the roof held on their location. They were alive, but barely. Elduran surveyed their precarious situation. The truck was teetering on the brink of collapse. They had survived, but only by a miracle.

- - - -

A few hours later, Elduran gaped at Vivillon, astonished by the rapid healing of his head wound. "It's not fair," he grumbled. "Arceus gave us brains, but Pokémon got all the good stuff. Why did you even bother saving me? If you knew how much I despise your kind, you'd realize you saved the one person in this building who wants Pokémon wiped off the face of the planet." Elduran shivered violently, his swim trunks offering little protection against the biting cold. He was more likely to freeze to death than suffocate or dehydrate. Though air was seeping in from somewhere, the rescue team clearing the debris could block it. But he was certain the cold would claim him before anything else.

Vivillon stirred and its eyes opened slowly. It stared right into Elduran's eyes and made a "Viiii" sound. Elduran had always wondered how it was that Pokémon seemed to understand humans better than the other way around. Despite humans being considered the more intelligent species, Pokémon often communicated more effectively.

He still didn't understand how trainers could comprehend what their Pokémon were saying. All he heard were endless variations of "Viiii" this and "Viiii" that. It all sounded like gibberish to him. People insisted that owning a Pokémon was necessary to understand them, and even Pokémon professors couldn't provide a clear explanation. They simply accepted it as a given.

Elduran looked at Vivillon and felt an urge to thank him, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. He kept reminding himself that these creatures had destroyed his young life. Vivillon stared at him with an unreadable expression.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Elduran asked.

He couldn't understand how he knew, but he was absolutely certain that the look in Vivillon's eyes was one of admiration, tinged with sadness for its previous trainer. Elduran found it unsettling that he could tell what the Pokémon was feeling. Even if he believed in the Pokémon-human connection, it was supposed to take months to reach that level.

Elduran's shivering was becoming uncontrollable. He wouldn't last much longer. Vivillon stood upright, opened its mouth, and began using string shot, aiming directly at Elduran. Elduran tried to roll away, but Vivillon persisted with the string shot. When Vivillon finally stopped, Elduran looked at himself. From his waist to his neck, he was covered in string, almost silk-like. He realized that it was trying to warm him up.

Vivillon kept saying "Viii" loudly, raising its arms and looking directly at him. It took him a few seconds, but he finally got it. Vivillon wanted him to raise his arms. He did so, and Vivillon covered them with string, creating a makeshift shirt. Vivillon said another "Viii," but this time Elduran understood immediately. He got up, opened his legs, and Vivillon covered him with string from his feet to his waist, wrapping around his legs so he could still walk. Elduran sat down again, feeling much better and warm.

"Vivillon," Elduran began. "This is not easy for me to say but thank you." Vivillon blinked twice and fell back asleep. "Guess with that injury on his head, he wasn't ready for all that string shot," Elduran thought to himself. He had only known the bug Pokémon for half a day, and he was already growing attached to it.

Looking up, he saw water dripping slowly from one of the cracks in the truck's roof. He got up, collected a piece of metal debris that could easily function as a bowl, and placed it under the dripping water. It would be slow, but it would be enough for them to survive for a few days.

Either it was raining outside, or the emergency crew was constantly using Rain Dance to ensure trapped people had access to water seeping through the cracks. Elduran began to hear distant sounds. They seemed far away, muffled by the debris piled on top of them. This would take days. All he could do was hope.

- - - -

Elduran had lost count of the days they'd been trapped. Three or four, perhaps. His bond with Vivillon had deepened, and he'd learned she was a female. Beyond Gust, she knew Psybeam, having tried to clear debris before he woke up. He stopped her, fearing she might disturb something critical holding the truck intact

The noise from above, presumably the rescue teams, was growing louder but still seemed too far away. Starvation loomed as a real threat. A dark thought crossed his mind: he could attack and eat Vivillon. That would provide sustenance for days. However, he realized his martial arts were no match for her potential poison powder and stun spore. Most troubling of all was his reluctance to do it. He had grown attached to Vivillon, a departure from his usual practical thinking.

"Vivillon had been depressed for days, mourning her trainer's death. She was vocal and angry about their predicament, and Elduran eventually realized she was blaming Ho-oh.

"Let me tell you something, Viv," Elduran began.

Vivillon squeaked, spun in the air, and stared at him with tears in her eyes.

"Oh shit, did I say something wrong? I mean, I understand you're grieving, but look at us. I don't have time to babysit, and I really thought you were the strong one here."

She looked at him, marched forward, and clung to his chest, her wings enveloping him as she cried. Elduran was frozen, unsure what to do. His brain told him to hug back, but his hands wouldn't move. He recalled his words to her and finally understood.

"Viv was the name your trainer gave you, wasn't it?"

Vivillon hugged him tighter, her wings almost hurting him. Elduran tried harder and finally managed to hug her back. He couldn't understand why it was so difficult to return the gesture. After all, it wasn't Vivillon who had robbed him of his childhood, it was Kyogre. Or rather, it was humans. An organization he owed some payback.

He shielded himself behind his dislike for Pokémon, but he knew it wouldn't last much longer. If he ever got out of this, he would quit APSO. His hunt from now on would not be for Pokémon, but for humans. The organization called Watchers had been behind every legendary Pokémon attack. Everyone but him and a few others still blamed the Pokémon, but he had refused to see the obvious.

“I have to say though, you have a nice name. I would have named you the same. What I wanted to say to you was that it wasn't Ho-oh's fault, Viv. An organization called Watchers is responsible. In fact, they're believed to be behind most of the legendary Pokémon attacks worldwide. I don't know how they do it or why they do it, but they're always there when these attacks happen. I bet it will be the same with this event now too.'"

"Their communication wasn't perfect yet, so it took a few more hours for Elduran to fully explain who Vivillon should really blame. As he was talking, they heard a noise from below. Something was coming for them.

The noise grew louder, and a hole began to appear in the bottom of the truck bed. Dust filled the truck, but Vivillon used Gust to clear it. Standing before them were two Pokémon: an Excadrill and a Zubat. Vivillon was preparing a Stun Spore, but Elduran rushed to calm her down.

"Viv, you can relax now. We're saved. These are rescue Pokémon. Excadrill digs tunnels, and Zubat can guide it using its impressive hearing. They're a staple rescue team for finding trapped Pokémon and humans. It's a good thing you were loud," Elduran said.

Vivillon let out a long 'viiiiiiiii.'

"Okay, okay, I was loud too," Elduran admitted, turning to the other two. "So I assume we follow you through that tunnel?" he asked, maintaining a respectful distance from the unfamiliar Pokémon.

Excadrill nodded in approval and entered the tunnel, motioning for them to follow. The tunnel was impressively large, as Excadrill was widening it as it dug. Elduran and Vivillon crawled along, moving slowly but hopeful of a safe escape."

- - - -

One week has passed since the Ho-oh Incident, which resulted in over 1500 human casualties. The toll on Pokémon was even higher, as countless creatures remained trapped in their Poké Balls, unable to be freed. Unless their trainers were found alive or deceased, the Pokémon Registry Center (PRC) in Celadon City was powerless to break the bond.

A tragic consequence of this situation is that releasing a Pokémon from a buried Poké Ball would result in immediate death. Twenty-one years ago, the PRC proposed a law allowing trainers to transfer their active Pokémon to the Database, similar to switching between active and stored Pokémon. While this would have offered numerous benefits, the public voted against the measure.

The legendary bird's rampage caused five skyscrapers to collapse, leaving Saffron's city center in ruins. The devastation was far greater than the Kyogre incident in Cianwood, despite Kyogre's higher threat level. Saffron's larger population led to a significantly higher casualty count, even though only five buildings were destroyed

Elduran finished making coffee, rinsed the pot, and stepped out onto his second-floor balcony. His apartment was located on the outskirts of town, in a quiet neighborhood. He sat down, took a sip, and heard the doorbell ring.

Without checking the camera, Elduran buzzed the person in. A few moments later, a woman in her mid-30s knocked on the door. She had long blonde hair, was of average height, and was dressed in a gray pantsuit. Elduran unlocked the door and let her in.

Elduran greeted Gemma, complimenting her appearance.

"I can't say the same about you," she replied, looking at him with concern. "Seriously, how are your injuries?"

"Just scratch wounds," Elduran assured her, pointing at his injuries. "No broken bones this time."

He set his coffee on the table and motioned for Gemma to sit down. "I know what I'm asking is risky," he said. "I need your help, Gemma. You know how desperate I am."

Gemma nodded. "I do, but there are other ways to deal with this. You can't keep hurting yourself like this. If the higher-ups found out I'm giving you intel, I'm as good as fired."

"I know, and I really appreciate you for doing this for me. Do you have any specific locations?"

"See, that was the easy part. We just have a region, not specific locations though. The Watchers' influence seems to be worldwide. There aren't many criminal organizations that big. But unfortunately, you won't like my answer, it’s far. They're located in the region of Tenera. That's all we know."

"Tenera, huh? You know what, I kind of like that."

"Yeah, an island nation located 6 hours away by plane from any other civilization. Why did I even think you wouldn't love it?"

"I don't know," Elduran said, smiling, "your sharp observational skills are slipping."

"So how exactly are you planning on taking them down? You're not even a soldier anymore. You quit, remember? No resources, no guns, and no Pokémon. Are you going to ask them politely to kill themselves?"

"Nope, definitely no guns. You're right about that, but you know how good I am with the bow. It'll have to do," he said.

Gemma sighed. "Bow? Seriously? Okay whatever let’s go along with it, bow instead of guns. Got it. How about resources? I know this apartment is a dump, and the rent has cost you next to nothing, but there's no way you've saved that much. I know soldiers don't have a high pay."

"Oh well, that's easy. I'll earn money by simply becoming a Pokémon trainer."

Gemma gasped. "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard that right."

"You heard me perfectly right," Elduran said with a smirk. "Tenera is part of the 1st Year Pokémon Trainer Agreement like every other region. New trainers get free housing in Pokémon Centers, free human and Pokémon healthcare, and free food up to 50 Pokédollars a day from the PokéCafés and up to 300 Pokédollars a day for Pokémon food from the PokéMarts. Sounds perfect to me. Plus, any trainer can stay up to a year in a region, even if it's not their own, without a special visa."

"There's one big problem, smartass. You actually need to prove you're competing for badges or lose all the benefits. And Tenera doesn't use PokéDollars. They use Crimson Cetis."

"Even better," Elduran exclaimed. "I never understood why we need Pokémon even in our currency. I love that country already. And when did I say I won't be competing?"

"You know you can't just get your starter Pokémon and challenge all gyms. You can challenge them in any order you want, but the challenge will be based on how many badges you have. To even challenge the first gym, you'll need at least two Pokémon. The second gym needs three, the third four, and the fourth five. There's no requirement to get a sixth Pokémon. But you have half a year to get the first four badges, which isn't easy. I only managed to get to three myself when I was sixteen by the half year mark. I ended up with five badges, but my family paid for everything for half a year."

"Oh, I'm competing alright. If I can't get to 8 badges, then it means I can't do anything to the Watchers," Elduran said seriously.

"Wait, let me get this straight. You'll be fighting them with actual Pokémon?" Gemma asked, looking at him curiously.

"Did you actually think I'd go fight them solo with a bow?"

Gemma took a serious look and stared at him for a few seconds before speaking with a calm and steady tone. "Elduran, you know you're too old for this shit, right? Pokémon trainer at 31? And please don't mention Rurik Crevace. He's the exception."

"Why not mention him? He got his starter Pokémon at 42 years old, became the champion of Johto a year after that, and 33 years later, he's still the champion. He's the oldest ever to become a champion and the longest-running champion. I know Pokémon, Gemma, and you know it. I wasn't the best shot because I have the best aim. I could always sense their movement, their habits, what they would do next, and not because of a hunch. No, it's because I devote 2-3 hours daily to studying Pokémon, and I've been doing it for too long, far too freaking long. I admit I'll definitely need to work on connecting with them, but I feel the training part I'll be able to handle. They'll need to fight the Watchers, so I'll need them to be as strong as possible."

Gemma got up and walked towards the window, while staring outside she talked with a calming voice, “Elduran...if you only see pokemon as weapons, you will not get far” .

“I don’t see them as weapons anymore. I really have changed. “

Gemma grabbed one of her pokeballs and released one of her pokemon. A red light formed into a Vileplum, a flower looking pokemon. Elduran in a matter of a second, was off his chair grabbing a knife from the kitchen counter and as he was turning to face it, he realized what Gemma had done. He stopped mid turning, dropped the knife to the table, took a deep breath, sat down back to the chair and stared at Vileplum tensily.

"I see your Gloom evolved," he said while still looking at Vileplume."I have to say," Gemma began, walking back towards the table and petting her Vileplume on one of its petals, "this is definitely an improvement." She sat down again and stared at Elduran, who still couldn't avert his gaze from Vileplume, as if it were going to attack him the second his eyes were averted from it. "You still have a long way to go. You can't trust Violet, a Pokémon that knows you. Deep inside you, you know your dumb little brain is telling you that there's no way she'll ever hurt you."

"Why wouldn't she? Every time I saw her out of her Poké Ball in the past, I forced you to recall her. If I remember correctly, you left me because you couldn't be with a person who would force their Pokémon to be in their Poké Ball for most of their life." Elduran retorted.

"I left you, dumbass, because you didn't believe in the idea of marriage, you wanted me to move into this shitty apartment to save money, and frankly, to be completely honest, you're too immature. It doesn't help that you're also eight years younger than me. The Pokémon thing was just the excuse." The last sentence she said calmly.

"I guess I deserve that. You know what, that makes me feel better. I really did think you left me because of the Pokémon situation," he said, relaxing in his chair. "I thought Pokémon took you from me too. By lying, you did make me feel more uncomfortable around Pokémon. Congrats!" he said with a sarcastic smile.

Gemma couldn't believe it. Elduran was staring at her, comfortably sitting in his chair and smiling. He actually wasn't looking at Violet. He noticed her staring at him with her mouth half open, and his face showed that he was trying to understand what she was thinking about. Gemma saw the realization on his face when he abruptly stopped smiling and turned his head towards Violet. It was clear as day that even Elduran couldn't believe what had just happened.

"You really do feel more comfortable around Pokémon. You weren't lying," Gemma said.

Elduran thought he was just putting on a show, but apparently, he really did feel just a tad more comfortable around Pokémon. That Vivillon had sure changed everything about his worldview.

Gemma got up, recalled her Vileplume, and said, "I think you got everything. I'll be heading out. Elduran...I'm actually happy you're doing this. I'm happy because there's a possibility that after you give these creatures a chance, you'll forget about vengeance and all this crap about the Watchers and actually become a real trainer."

Elduran got up and looked at her with a small smile on his face. "You could spend the night with me, you know. You might never see me again."

Gemma let out a sigh and raised her left hand. "You see this thing here? You might not know what this piece of metal is, but it's called a ring, a wedding ring to be exact."

Elduran kept smiling. "Hey, you can't blame me for trying," he said as he hugged her goodbye.

Before Gemma got out the door, she turned around and took a Poké Ball out of her purse, not a typical ball but a green and white ball with a yellow dot between the two pairs of red stripes, a Friend Ball, her lucky Friend Ball that she had kept from her days as a trainer and had never had to use. She tossed it to Elduran, closed the door, and walked away.

- - - -

Three weeks had passed since Ho-oh's devastating attack on Saffron City. Elduran stood atop a vast hill overlooking the city, where the majority of victims, both human and Pokémon, were laid to rest. Today, a solemn memorial service was held, drawing in nearly half of Saffron's population.

Mayor Christopher Cornwell and Gym Leader Rina Comps delivered heartfelt speeches, offering condolences and emphasizing the urgent need to bolster the city's defenses against future threats. The usual platitudes about strength and resilience echoed through the air, a common refrain following every disaster.

While Rina was a renowned Psychic-type trainer, previously considered for an Elite Four position, she had chosen to remain in Saffron. Her exceptional skills made her the strongest gym leader in Kanto. However, Rina was a victim of the system's limitations. The League's bureaucratic red tape hindered its ability to proactively address threats, often reacting only after crises had unfolded. The requirement for regional leagues to seek permission to cross borders and intervene in other regions made it challenging to combat multi-regional criminal organizations like the Watchers.

Despite his personal disdain for Pokémon, Elduran respected powerful trainers who refused to be beholden to the League. Although obtaining eight badges in any region granted lifetime residency, working for the League meant forfeiting all other regional residencies. While League employment offered relative security and ease, freelance Pokémon trainers had proven to be more effective in dealing with the Watchers. The army and League were simply outmatched by the power of legendary Pokémon. It pained Elduran to acknowledge that firearms were no match for these mythical creatures, but it was a harsh reality. At least now, he hoped to join the ranks of those who could truly make a difference.

"I think we've both had enough of this for a lifetime," a voice behind Elduran said.

He turned to see Bob, a towering figure who always seemed to be in peak physical condition.

"Hey, Bob!" Elduran greeted him with a friendly punch on the shoulder.

"I'll miss you, Owl," Bob replied, referring to Elduran's role as the team's sharpshooter. "The security we felt with you watching our backs was invaluable."

They shook hands, their grips firm and powerful.

"Ho-oh, by yourself? That's a hell of a way to go out. I can't wait to tell my kids about the legendary man who was part of our unit," Bob said with a grin.

"You guys will be even better without me. I might be crossing over, but I finally understand what you've always been trying to tell me. Trainers have a huge advantage in this fight. I wish I could have both my firearms and Pokémon at the same time," Elduran admitted.

"That would be terrifying," Bob joked. "Too much power. Imagine you with six champion-level Pokémon and a rifle. You could rule the world!"

"If we all agree that trainers are stronger than firearms, why are you guys in the army?" Elduran asked curiously.

"You keep forgetting that 99% of the population tries being a trainer at 16. We just weren't good at it, but we still wanted to make the world a better place. Giving up our Pokémon to join the army was tough, but I still see mine occasionally. Elduran, let me tell you something. You have the potential to be really good, or really bad. It's up to you."

"What do you mean?" Elduran asked, intrigued.

"You have an incredible knowledge of Pokémon. I've seen you studying them constantly. You don't even need a Pokédex to know their moves and abilities. But knowing the moves and being quick with your orders isn't enough. The bond between you and your Pokémon is more important than anything. They need to trust your decisions and execute without hesitation. It's not about loving them or telling them jokes. It's about a bond based on respect. Some trainers achieve it with rainbows and unicorns, some with strength, and some with fear. You have to spend time building that bond. It's more important than studying moves and counters."

"I'll keep that in mind. Gemma gave me similar advice," Elduran said.

"You should listen to her. She was a great trainer back in the day. And one last piece of advice: If you're enjoying your new life, forget about the Watchers and live a little. Arceus knows you deserve it," Bob said.

"Now you're asking too much of me," Elduran said with a smile.

Bob looked at Elduran with a smirk. "I like that beard you've got growing. I never thought of you as a beard guy, but let that hair grow out a bit. You're not in the military anymore, so no more military haircut." Bob offered his hand for a handshake.

They shook hands one final time. "I like my hair short, but I'll try growing the beard to about a finger's length. I don't think I could survive the itch if it got any longer. Until we meet again, my friend. My flight is tomorrow morning, so this is goodbye."

"For your own good, I hope we don't meet too soon," Bob replied, glancing at a woman walking towards them. "Well, this is my cue to leave. Sorry, but I thought this person should know you quit the force. Stay safe!" he said as he walked away.

"Wait, what?" Elduran called out, but Bob ignored him and continued walking.

A woman in her fifties approached Elduran, her eyes swollen from recent tears. She was dressed in black, her attire reflecting the grief she carried.

"Are you Elduran?" she asked.

"Yes, I am. Can I help you with something?" he replied.

"I'll keep this brief. Don't be angry at your friend, but he told me you were the one who drove Ho-oh away. It wasn't easy for him to reveal that information."

"And why were you looking for me?" Elduran asked cautiously.

"Because of this Vivillon, my daughter's Vivillon..." Tears streamed down her face. "All she wanted was to..." She was unable to continue.

"It's okay, I understand," Elduran said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'd love to see Viv again. She must have been an amazing person to raise such a well-behaved Pokémon."

"You misunderstand," she said, regaining her composure. "Bob told me you quit the force. Vivillon wants to join you permanently. You're allowed to have her now, if you want."

Elduran was taken aback. Viv as his first Pokémon? The joy he felt was immense, but was it right to take her from her previous trainer's family?

"I don't know if I can accept her," he hesitated. "She must mean a lot to you."

"This isn't about us. She's not an object, and I'm not asking for any money. She truly wants to go with you, and if she does, the only obstacle is whether you're willing to accept her," she said softly.

"I will definitely take her," Elduran replied with determination.

The woman released Vivillon from her Pokéball. The Pokémon rushed towards Elduran and embraced him tightly, almost suffocating him.

"I'm so happy to see you," Elduran said, struggling to breathe. "But we definitely need to work on your hugs. This is the second time you've tried to choke me to death."

"Well, that proves it's you," she said, smiling through her tears. "They identified my daughter on the second day. After I signed the paperwork, they broke her Pokéball connection. I had to recapture her. She let me after I promised her I would find you." she said, placing her thumb on the top of the Pokéball for five seconds. A blue ring of light appeared around her finger. On her phone, she entered her password into the Pokédex app. Then, she handed the Pokéball to Elduran. "Put your thumb there on the blue ring." Elduran held his thumb on the ring for five seconds. The light flashed twice and disappeared. "There, now Vivillon is yours. Take good care of her," she said, turning away with tears in her eyes.

Vivillon turned to her and hugged her from behind. The woman stopped and gently stroked Vivillon's wing.

"Excuse me, but can I please have your name?" Elduran asked softly.

"My name is Johanna," she replied, as Vivillon released her and began to walk away.

"One last thing," Elduran hesitated. "Can I please have your daughter's name? I think it would mean a lot to Viv."

The woman stopped and wiped away her tears. "Her name was Nancy. Take good care of her best friend, please. She was the world to her."

As she walked away, Vivillon's tears flowed freely, unable to contain her grief at the mention of her previous trainer's name.

Elduran walked towards Vivillon, gently taking her into his arms. This time, he initiated the hug, offering her comfort.

- - - -

The plane finally touched down. After clearing security, he emerged from the airport into a vast expanse of farmland with a distant city a few miles away. He had arrived in Tenera, and Asven City, where his registration awaited, was a short bus ride away. At 31 years old, he was about to embark on a new chapter as a trainer.