56 New Partner

Steven embraced Paul for a while, comforting the red head as he further calmed down from his grieving. Paul smiled at Steven a bit, conveying his thanks without words, after initiating to disengage from the embrace. The blue head just smiled back and nodded while patting his shoulder, showing that it was okay, and he understands his grief.

Paul finally clarified to the three on what happened, on which Amber tearfully hugged the red head immediately after he was finished unfolding the events.

Ultimately, Gardevoir chose to save her daughter by using the move [Healing Wish], not only with her Psychic Energy, which could be recovered, but also with her life force. She chose her daughter to survive, despite the cost being her life. She even smiled and bade farewell to Paul, making him promise of taking care of Ralts, before doing so.

Paul didn't know why he kept on crying earlier, although he has only met Gardevoir for a short time. Maybe it was because she was a Pokemon, maybe because of Gardevoir's love for her daughter, maybe because he was able to converse with her telepathically, or maybe because he never felt life being drained away from someone, like how he felt Gardevoir pass away with his psychic energy observing her. Despite all the possible reasons, Paul still felt sad and hurt with the turn of events.

Though, he knew that he should be strong as he would face more challenges in the future, especially now that he has a new partner. Recalling the changes in the Ralts Egg, Paul rescanned the said egg.

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Name: [Egg] Shiny Ralts (Dark Blue)

Type: Psychic/Fairy

Gender: Female

Ability: Trace

Level: Rookie

Held Item: None

Moves:

(Innate) Destiny Bond, Disable, Teleport, Calm Mind, Future Sight

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Paul was quite shocked, but still felt sad that Ralts becoming a Shiny Pokemon and having a Dark Blue potential came with the cost of her mother's life. Recollecting what happened, Paul vowed to himself to take care of Ralts well in the future. To make her feel the care and love of a family, and to never feel alone. Not only because of his promise with Gardevoir, but because every pokemon deserves to be loved and to be cared for.

He also wanted to find that Ursaring who killed the Gardevoir pair because of territorial dispute for a 'talk' in the future. When he was certainly strong enough to 'talk' it out with the bear pokemon, but for now, he will still try to learn more and keep being stronger.

Through Paul's reminder, the quartet buried Gardevoir under the tree of the hill on the glade with the pokemons help. The red head left a writing on the tree, with the pocketknife that Amber brought. Though he tried to ask the pink head on why she brought a lot of stuff like that, the latter only gave him a look that says, 'Isn't it obvious?'. Paul supposes that emergency items were important, thus he took note on preparing one for himself for whenever he goes out.

As the quartet left the glade in order to come back to the breeding house, a writing was etched near the bottom of the tree.

'Lays here was a caring wife, especially a loving mother.'

Paul left with his three friends, with him carrying an additional baggage: the Shiny Ralts Egg. They were able to come back to the breeding house after twenty minutes of walking, the time currently being 3:00 p.m.

As soon as he saw his mom, Paul left the pokemon egg carefully on the side, before running to her in order to give her a hug. Mary was surprised, but nevertheless gave a hug back to her son. She was worried though, thus rapidly asked the following, "What's wrong? Did someone bully you? Is it your friends? I'll immediately talk to-"

"Mom." Paul cut her off. "I'm fine. I just wanted to say I love you, and thank you for being the best mom, ever."

Mary, being the emotional mother she is, immediately teared up with Paul's sincere words. "Thank you baby, I love you too, always; and for your information, you're also the best son I could ever ask." She paused to look carefully at her son, disengaging the embrace. "Did something happen?" Mary finally asked, seeing her son's quite puffy eyes.

Knowing he couldn't hide much from his mom, and he wanted to be honest as possible with his family, he told Gardevoir's story with his parents. Joseph and Mary listened intently, then comforted their son right after he finished sharing.

His friends also shared it with their parents, all the adults giving him a pat in the shoulder along with a comforting look. All of them chatted a bit more before they all decided to call it a day and go home.

"Hey Paul, take care! Let's see each other next week, okay?" Amber called out to the red head.

"Yeah, Paul. Let's also chat in our group chat alright?" Jake interposed.

"Remember to call us if you want need someone to talk to." Steven lastly added.

"Yes, yes, ma'am, sir. I would try my best to remember all your reminders. Also, I would like to say that I only cried, for a moment." Paul paused when he saw the looks thrown to him by his friends. "Fine, I cried more than that." He corrected before continuing, "But I am fine, and I do not break easily. So please, do not treat me like I am fragile because of what happened earlier."

Receiving a stern look from Amber, Paul was forced to make a promise. "Fine, I'll contact you guys. But still, I am really fine." He added as an afterthought, "I think." The read head laughed seeing the glares he got from his friends.

He waved his hands to shoo his friends away. "Go home already! Let's talk later. Stay safe alright? Again, Congratulations for our grades this semester! Let's keep working hard okay?" He said to his friends before directing his attention to his friends' parents.

"Please be careful on going home, I am glad you accepted my invitation for today. Have a pleasant day." Paul bade farewell with a wide grin.

"Take care, Paul." Mrs. Azure reminded with a warm smile.

"Farewell, Paul." Mrs. Stone gently spoke.

Mr. Rose and Mr. Azure, on the other hand, only gave him a pat on the shoulder and a smile as a farewell.

Steven also joined on bidding goodbye, "Bye, Paul." He looked at Paul's parents before nodding at them, "Mr. and Mrs. Crimson."

Amber, being her, taunted the red head. "Ta-ta, big head." She laughed before directly running to Mr. Rose who had a helpless but doting smile at her antics.

"See ya!" Jake simply stated before heading towards their car.

After the three families went home, the Crimson Family also called it a day as they went home. Paul, who was now holding an Egg Incubator with the Ralts Egg from the Crimson Breeding House, pondered while looking at the car window.

'Hmm… Ralts would only hatch a month and a half after. For now, I should keep on being with the egg, so that she could be familiar with my psychic energy.' He decided before closing his eyes, evidently tired from the happenings today.

Mary, who was chatting softly with Joseph at the front of the car, nudged her husband to stay quiet as she inclined her head towards Paul at the back seat.

'Stay quiet, Paul is sleeping.' She mouthed. Joseph nodded in understanding as both of them gave a loving but worried gaze at their son.

'He's fine.' Joseph whispered, encapsulating Mary's hand with his own, while his other hand rests on the driving wheel.

'Yeah, he is. If not, he eventually will.' Mary concluded, finishing off the topic. Her husband bobbing his head in agreement.

The Crimson Family had a quiet car ride as they went on their way towards their home.