Felix was just like any ordinary Pokemon trainer. Early teens, short blonde hair, blue eyes, a neat blue jacket, a red cap similar to one worn by a legend, blue jeans, and comfortable white sneakers. That last article of clothing was pretty lucky for him. After all, if you're running through a heavily wooded area trying to avoid an angry Kangaskhan that's hot on your heels, the most important thing you'd want is comfortable shoes. Felix did his best to duck and dodge his way through all the branches, leaves, and occasional Caterpie as he ran, but all of this seemed like nothing to the Pokemon in pursuit. At last, Felix made his way to a clearing. Finally done with dodging branches, he slowed down for a moment to catch his breath. That was a big mistake. The trainer turned around only to find that the Kangaskhan hadn't slowed down and was now right on top of him. In the split second between when the Pokemon leapt up to pounce on Felix and when it actually impacted, time seemed to move slowly, just slowly enough for Felix to see the Kangaskhan's eyes. Deep, soulless, unforgiving.
They would have been intimidating if it was a fully grown Kangaskhan that pounced on the young trainer.
“KHAN! (Gotcha!)” the baby squeaked as she latched onto her trainer's face and tackled him to the ground.
“Oh no!” Felix shouted as he fell to his back while laughing, the baby landing right on his chest. “Ah, looks like you got me again, Roo.”
“Kanga, Kangaskhan. (It's not like you made it hard.)” Roo squeaked in reply with a smile. Felix replied to this by rubbing the baby's head, causing her to smile even more.
“With a little more practice, you'll be on the same level as your mother,” Felix said as he picked Roo up, set her down gently next to him, and got up himself. “Speaking of, where is Kanga? I thought she wouldn't be too far behind you.”
“Kangaskhan! (I'm coming!)” Both Felix and Roo turned around to find the little one's mother, a fully grown Kangaskhan, making its way out of the woods Felix and Roo just got out of, decorated in all manner of Bug-types that happened to latch onto her for one reason or another.
“Um, Kanga,” Felix said. “You've got something on you.”
“Khan? (Huh?)” Kanga asked before noticing that there were two Metapods in her pouch, three Weedle crawling on her arms, and a Spinarak sleeping on her head. “Kangaskhan... (Ay, Lillipups.)” Kanga said before shaking all the Bug-types off of her, most of them scuttling back into the woods with the exception of the two Metapods. Felix then picked up Roo and walked over to its mother.
“Hm... we should probably do something about those Metapods...” Felix said.
“Khan... (Yeah...)” Roo added as she looked down curiously at the two.
Kanga grabbed the two Metapods out of her pouch and set them on the ground, quickly replacing them with her child. Meanwhile, Felix knelt down to the two Metapods, who just stared at him.
“Metapod? (What now?)” one of them asked in a Metapod's usual defeated tone.
“Don't worry, you two,” Felix said. “I won't leave you alone here.”
“Meta, Metapod? (What's he talking about?)” the other Metapod asked.
“Tell ya what,” Felix continued. “I'll take care of you two until you evolve.”
“Metapod, Metapod. (Sounds like a good deal.)” the first Metapod said. “Meta. (I guess.)”
“Alright, then,” Felix said. “I know. I bet you two are hungry.”
“Metapod... Meta (We can't eat... No mouths.)”
“Well aren't you two in luck,” Felix continued. “I make awesome Pokemon food. Kanga and Roo here will keep y'all entertained while I get it ready.”
“Khan? (What?)” Kanga asked.
“Oh come on, Kanga,” Felix said, replying to the surprised expression on his Pokemon. “You never socialize with anyone other than me and our friends. This'll be healthy for you. Plus, it could be a good learning experience for Roo.”
“Kangaskhan. (He's got a point.)” Roo squeaked as she looked up at her mother.
“Khan. (Fine.)” Kanga finally surrendered.
“Good,” Felix said. He then turned around and started walking towards the center of the clearing so he could set up his cooking supplies. “Don't worry. The food will be ready quickly.”
“You two sure are lucky,” one of the Metapod said to Kanga as Roo played with the other Metapod.
“Yeah, I guess we are,” Kanga replied. “I mean, I'd met a lot of trainers in my day, but not one quite like Felix.”
“It's Pokemon like you and your daughter that I envy the most,” the Metapod continued. “Ever since my two brothers and I were Caterpie, it was our collective dream to be caught by trainers and see the world by their side. Only one of us got caught, leaving me and him behind.” The Metapod rocked a little in the direction of the other Metapod, who Roo was currently trying (but failing) to lift. “Do you think your Felix would take us with him?”
Kanga was silent for a moment before replying. “I really don't wanna shoot you down, but I doubt it,” she finally replied. “His team is a pretty close-knit family.”
“Oh,” Metapod said, sounding a little more defeated than normal.
“But look on the bright side,” Kanga said. “You and your brother over there still have each other. Plus, you might evolve soon. I hear Butterfree are really popular among younger trainers.”
“I guess that's true,” Metapod said, sounding a little perked up. “Becoming a Flying-type would probably help with seeing the world, too.”
“Food's ready!” Felix called.
“Come on,” Kanga said as she picked Metapod up. “If you only experience one joy in this world your entire life, it has to be Felix's cooking.”
“But my brother and I still can't eat,” Metapod replied as Kanga picked the other one up, Roo following close behind.
“Oh, you're so pessimistic,” Metapod's brother said. “Even if we can't eat, we can at least see what it's like to be cared for by a trainer.”
“So that's why you're the fun one,” Roo said. “Now I can see the difference.”
Felix had laid out a picnic blanket upon which sat nine bowls of what looked like generic Pokemon food. Generic to the untrained nose, at least. Kanga, Roo, and even the two Metapod could tell that there was something special about the food in each bowl.
“Alright, Kanga, Roo, your food is in those two white bowls over there,” Felix said. “Metapods, I made some special food for Bug-types. That's in these two green bowls.”
“Metapod. (Thank you.)” both Metapod said in unison as Kanga set them down in front of their bowls.
“And let's not forget everyone else,” Felix said as he pulled five Pokeballs from his belt. He then threw them up into the air while shouting “Come on out, everyone!”
Out of each Pokeball came a Pokemon dear to Felix's heart. There was Drake the Ampharos, Pinky the Slowbro (with Shelly the Shelder biting her tail), Tartar the Tyranitar, Nana the Tropius, and Piggy the Emboar.
“Lunch is ready, everyone,” Felix said to his Pokemon. “But first, I'd like you to meet these two Metapods.”
“Meta... pod? (Um... hi?)”
“Amp, Ampharos. (Hi, I'm Drake.)”
“Slowbro Slowbro. (I'm Pinky, and this is Shelly.)”
“Tyrannitar. (I'm Tartar.)”
“Tropius. (Name's Nana.)”
“Emboar, Emboar Emboar.. (And last but not least, Piggy.)”
“Look at that,” Felix said as he watched his Pokemon get acquainted with the Metapods. “They take after their trainer. Always ready to make new friends.” Felix stood there smiling for a moment before he heard an all-too-familiar rumbling noise. “Oh, I forgot to make myself lunch. I think I still have enough bread to make a sandwich.”
While Felix was making his sandwich, his Pokemon wasted no time digging into their food.
“So how'd you two meet Felix?” Drake asked with his mouth still half-full.
“Well...” the boring Metapod started.
“We hitched a ride on a vacant Kangaskhan,” the fun Metapod interrupted. “That Kangaskhan turned out to be Kanga and she turned out to be Felix's Pokemon.”
“I could see that happening,” Nana said. “Roo loves to play with Felix, and Kanga loves to let her daughter out to play with him. Pretty sure that's because of Kanga's crush on him.”
Upon hearing this, Kanga started choking on the food she just ate. “Ah! W-what?” Kanga spent a few seconds coughing before managing to expel the morsel. “I do not have a crush on Felix. He's just a father figure for Roo, that's all.”
“Are you sure?” Tartar asked. “I mean, you do walk with him quite often.”
“And what about that time when we were in Johto and you two were snuggling in the Ice Path?” Piggy added
“Have you any idea how cold it was in there?” Kanga defended. “We were trying to share body heat.”
“That's the exact reason why I was out in the first place,” Piggy deadpanned.
“Is this really a good time to talk about this?” Kanga asked as she returned to her food.
“That's your excuse every time this topic is brought up,” Pinky said. “It's not entirely healthy for you to keep emotions like this bottled up like this as long as you have.”
“Oh for the love of...” Kanga started. “Pinky, I'm about to verbally use Outrage. Can I get you to put a veil of silence over Roo for me?”
“Sometimes, I get the feeling that's the only reason I'm here,” the Slowbro sighed as she turned to Roo. “Roo, your mommy has to say some things she doesn't want you to hear.”
“Is she about to go Zubat-shit crazy?” Roo asked.
“Watch your language, little one,” Kanga growled.
Roo recoiled a little. She knew her mom could be really scary if she got angry enough. “Sorry,” Roo squeaked. It was then that Pinky used her Psychic power to put a veil of silence over the little one.
”By the way, yes, I think your mommy is about to go Zubat-shit crazy,” Pinky said to Roo telepathically. The Slowbro then turned and nodded to Kanga.
“Alright then,” she said before turning to the others. “Let's make a few things clear. Do I miss Roo's father? Yes. Do I consider myself and Roo lucky that we managed to escape from Team Rocket? Of course. Am I happy we met Felix? What self-respecting Pokemon wouldn't be? Do I consider Felix a father figure for Roo? Yes! But do I have any feelings for Felix further than that? No! Felix is a friend who helps me raise Roo like a good friend would!”
There was a moment of silence before the fun Metapod spoke up. “But do you want something more than that?” he asked.
“No!” Kanga insisted. “I... I mean, he's a human, and...” Kanga just shook her head and went back to her food. “This conversation is done. Pinky, you can let Roo hear again.”
“Ok,” Pinky said as she lifted Roo's veil of silence.
“Kanga, you should at least talk to Felix,” Drake said as he walked over and placed his hand on Kanga's shoulder.
“We talk plenty,” Kanga said flatly, not even looking towards the Ampharos. “It's not like Pinky is a new addition to the team.”
“Again, is that all I'm here for?” Pinky asked. “I can battle and I use Surf.” He then went back to his food, grumbling about “Psychic-types have other purposes.”
“Yes, but you never have any really personal conversations,” Drake continued to Kanga. “Think about Roo. She doesn't just need a father figure, she needs a father.”
Kanga and Drake looked over to see Roo offering the boring Metapod a piece of her food. “You wanna try it?” Roo asked. “It's really good.”
With a defeated sigh, Kanga turned back to Drake. “Alright, fine,” she said. “If it'll make you all feel better, I'll confess that I might have feelings for Felix. If you get off my back about it, I'll talk about it to him. Alright?”
There was a short silence before Tartar mumbled, “About time.”
“Alright,” Felix said out loud as he finished eating and packing his stuff back up. It had been about two minutes since his Pokemon had their conversation, but he, of course, had no idea the conversation had even transpired. (Obviously he figured they had a conversation, but the topic he didn't know about.) “If we get moving soon, we might be able to make it to Pewter City by sundown.” Felix then began walking towards his Pokemon, only to find that one of the Metapod had evolved into a Butterfree and was flying around with Roo on his back.
“Khaaaan! (Wheeee!)” Roo was shouting as Butterfree flew around above the heads of (most of) Felix's Pokemon. Of course, Kanga looked a little worried, but she didn't seem to be making any objections.
”Maybe she's finally overcoming her fear of strangers,” Felix thought to himself with a smile. “Hey everyone!” he called out loud. “Are we having fun?”
“Freeeee! (Yes we are!)” Butterfree cheered.
“Well I'm glad everyone got to meet each other,” Felix said. “Butterfree, Metapod, it's time for us to say goodbye.”
”Actually, Felix, Kanga wanted to talk to you first,” Pinky said to Felix telepathically.
“Ah!” Felix shouted, surprised by his Pokemon's voice suddenly appearing in his head. “Pinky, I really wish you would warn me before you did that.”
”Sorry,” Pinky said. ”But still, Kanga...”
“Right,” Felix said. “Go ahead and patch her through.”
Pinky turned to Kanga and both their eyes flashed blue for a moment before Kanga began walking towards Felix.
”Felix, I think we need to talk about something,” Kanga said.
“What about?” Felix asked.
”Well...” Kanga started. ”First off, before I say anything, I want you to know that what I'm saying is for Roo's benefit.”
“Noted,” Felix said. “But it's not giving me a very good feeling about where this conversation is going.”
”I know,” Kanga replied. ”That's why I've put this conversation off for so long.” The Parent Pokemon took a deep breath before continuing. ”Felix, we've traveled together for a long time, and in that time, you've done everything in your power to help me raise Roo, and she's needed that ever since she lost her father. You're a father figure for her, but what she needs is an actual father. And, as awkward as this is to ask, I was hoping if... if you could be that father. If we could step our relationship a little further up. For Roo's sake.” Kanga shut her eyes and braced for some kind of berating from her trainer. Like maybe an “Are you crazy?” or a “Why would you even consider such a thing?” or something else along the lines of what humans called “Pokephihlia.” However, all that came was silence. Kanga opened her eyes to see that Felix was still sitting there, but he had his eyes closed. ”Felix, did you hear me?” Kanga kinda prodded her trainer, but all that happened was he completely fell over face-first into the ground. ”Felix? Felix!” Kanga quickly knelt down to her trainer to see if he was alright. He wasn't breathing. ”Oh no! What have I done?” Kanga quickly picked her trainer up and ran to the other Pokemon. “Guys! Something terrible has-” Kanga started, but she was quickly stopped when she noticed that most of the others were asleep. Only Roo was still awake and was walking towards her mother, but even she had a kind of drowsiness in her step.
“Mamma...” Roo said. “Is it nap time yet?” Roo didn't even wait for an answer before collapsing right before Kanga's feet.
“What's going on?” Kanga asked. But it was right then that she felt an odd drowsiness overcoming her, as well. As she fell backwards into sleep, two thoughts ran through her mind.
First: ”I'm sorry, Felix. If I knew what was coming, I would have said something sooner.”
Second: ”Rest now, my children, for when you awake, a whole new world shall be your home.”