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Chapter Text

The gravel crunched beneath his feet as Alder trudged down the road, kicking up loose rocks as he walked. The bright afternoon sun bathed the earth in its warmth, beating down upon the rocky path. His necklace of six Pokéballs hung from his neck, clicking into one another as he walked.

He stopped at an outcrop to catch his breath, tilting his head up to look at the clouds. He wiped off a bead of sweat with the back of his hand, a smile curling onto his lips as he glanced up into the atmosphere. The sky was a beautiful crystal clear expanse that stretched past the mountaintops and through the trees. If he squinted enough, he could make out the distant silhouette of a Braviary circling the air, its cry echoing across the sky.

For Alder it was just another day of trekking through the vast Unova expanse, a journey he had been on for nearly two years at this point. He couldn’t remember when he started wandering across the region, but it had been so long that he had forgotten what it was like to live settled.

He knew that he had responsibilities as Champion that were probably being neglected, much to the dismay of the Elite Four who were left to pick up the scattered pieces. It probably wasn’t a very good look that he kept on vanishing from the Pokémon League, but staying in that old building all the time was stifling. The Unova wilderness was a much more thrilling place to be in with its gorgeous landscapes and its crystal clear air. Why wouldn’t he want to keep traveling across the region? After all, the last village he visited had told him this part of the Unovan wild was uncharted, new and ripe for discovery. So of course Alder had to come this way to see it for himself.

There was a rattle of stone as he skidded down the rest of the mountaintop, stopping at a tangle of brambles that seemed to block off the rest of the path. It seemed to be an abrupt end to his journey as he glanced up at the towering vines. But Alder knew from experience that there was always something behind the rough. With a grimace he pushed away the sticks and headed into the bushes.

The twigs poked into his arms and snagged against his poncho, but he managed to push his way through the bramble. With a sigh he brushed away the leaves that got caught in his clothes, then turned around to see where he ended up. His jaw dropped in awe at the sight before him.

The road that he was following had faded out into a wide forest expanse that stretched out into the undergrowth. The old cobblestone was overgrown with grass and ferns, nearly obscuring the ancient path. A couple Sewaddle were huddled in the treetops, wrapped in tender green leaves. In the distance he could make out the figures of a couple young deerling, bounding away into the bushes. It was clear that this place was well guarded, undisturbed by the rest of the world.

Alder glanced back at the broken brambles he had just pushed through, looking at the road he had just taken. He watched it stretch up the hill and disappear over the horizon. He then turned his head back to the undiscovered woods. The towering trees beckoned him into their expanse, whispering songs as the breeze whistled through their budding leaves.

A stray thought passed through his mind. He could either choose to disappear into the woods for a few more days or return to civilization. He had been gone a long while already. Was it perhaps time to return to the Pokémon League?

He paused, then shook his head. He wasn’t needed, the Elite Four could handle the champion responsibilities for a few more days.

With a heart of wonder and eyes of awe, Alder took a step forward and disappeared into the undergrowth.

—

Beams of light filtered in through the dense forest branches, like gold ribbons trailing across the sky. The cooing of Pidoves echoed across the forest, their fluttering wingbeats pattering as they dived in between the trees. Alder trekked in further, watching the creatures weave and dance between the brambles. He closed his eyes, bathing in the sunlight. It must be nice to fly weightlessly through the forest breeze.

He opened his eyes again and tilted his head up to look at the forest canopy. The light trickled in through the leaves and sprinkled across the road in a shower of golden flakes. There was a twinge of nostalgia that twisted in his heart. It reminded him of the woods around his hometown. He had been on the road for a while, maybe it was about time he paid a visit to his house in Floccesy town.

He made his way further down the trail, following the Pidove. But they were faster than him, quickly disappearing from sight. After another hour of walking, Alder could feel himself start to tire. With a sigh he settled onto a fallen log beside the path. He swears he could have walked on longer, maybe the years were finally catching up to him. A little too quickly in his opinion.

He lifted his hands to massage the burn scars snaking up his arms, pulling his gloves up to cover the charred skin. The itch was an ever-present burden throbbing deep in his bones. A constant reminder of his mistakes. Memories that he would rather forget.

As his mind began to wander, he heard a soft trill in the air. Alder lifted his head carefully just in time to see a Sewaddle dangle out of the tree above him. It was hanging from a thin film of silk, twirling in the air. Alder smiled, holding out his hand to let the Sewaddle land.

“Hey there little one!” He said with a chuckle, watching the Sewaddle crawl around his hand. It trilled happily before climbing onto his shoulder. There was a rustle of leaves above him and he glanced up to see more Sewaddle perched on the branches, as well as a Leavanny overlooking the group. One by one they drifted down from the trees and landed on his clothes in a chorus of happy murmurs.

Alder laughed as he watched them climb around his poncho, dangling from his sleeves in thin filaments of silk. Even the Leavanny, who was standing warily in the treetops above, leaped down from its perch to settle on the log beside Alder.

“You’ve all come to join me huh?” He said merrily, reaching out his hand to pat a Sewaddle that was perched on his arm. It was a little difficult for him to move his fingers but he managed to stroke it on top of its head. A chorus of trills echoed in the clearing as the Sewaddle vibrated with joy.

Eventually the Leavanny stood up, its antennas twitching as it glanced back into the foliage. With a swift twitch of its head it beckoned the Sewaddle away before leaping back into the trees. One by one the Sewaddle crawled off of Alder and back into the canopy. He beamed as he watched them crawl slowly up the trunk and into the leaves.

But as the Pokémon disappeared into the forest he felt the familiar ache of weariness that plagued not only his limbs but also his heart.

Perhaps it was really time for him to return home and rest a bit. Standing up once again, he dusted the thin silk strands off of his clothes. Alder smiled as he glanced at the foliage, gilded with the afternoon sun. He swore in his mind that he would try to return to this place again once he was well rested.

Just as he was about to head back down the road, he heard a rustle in the bushes and the muffled sound of laughter. Alder whipped around in alarm as a group of Pokémon tumbled out of the foliage.

A Darmanitan rolled out of the ferns and sprung up in surprise, quickly flaring up its flames in defense. It was followed by a Zorua, Deerling and Woobat, who each stopped playing and raised their hackles in alarm. The Woobat and Zorua growled in warning, posing next to the Darminatian. The Deerling let out a bleat of surprise, its white tipped tail flicking up. Finally, a boy climbed out of the bushes.

He was around five years old, with a thick bush of sage green hair that fell across his back. He had on a faded orange t-shirt and a pair of brown shorts that were ripping at the seams. Most mysterious of all was the strange cube around his neck that jingled as he moved.

The boy froze with fear, his eyes widening. He lowered himself down, crouching beside the Pokémon.

Alder was momentarily shocked, his mouth hung open in surprise. His mind raced with questions. What was this boy doing in the woods? Was he lost? Where were his parents?

The two stared at each other for a few moments, before the boy began to step back into the brush. Alder finally snapped out of his trance. He couldn’t just leave a child out here alone.

“Hey there, my name is Alder!” He said, giving them a small smile as he crouched in front of the little group. “What’s a little guy like you doing out here alone?”

The boy paused, his teal blue eyes blinking. At a closer glance Alder could see that he had a cut on his face. It was pink and swollen with infection, probably painful too.

His Pokémon posed in front of him defensively but the boy stood up, resting a hand on each of their backs. He began to murmur, turning his head back and forth between his Pokémon. To Alder’s surprise, the Pokémon stopped growling and stepped back warily.

“Are you lost?” He asked. The boy only stared blankly at him then let out a chirp, ducking his head. It was a strange gesture, almost like he didn’t know how to talk.

Could he be a Pokémon orphan? Alder had heard countless stories of children who were adopted by Pokémon in the wilderness but never had he actually seen one. It probably wasn’t very likely, but he kept the possibility in the back of his mind. Nonetheless a child this young should not be in the woods alone like this. He needed to get him out of the woods.

“Don’t be scared,” Alder said with a grin, slowly extending a hand. “I’m not gonna hurt ya!”

The boy looked back and forth between his Pokémon, then took a step towards Alder cautiously. His Darmanitan leaned forward in alarm, but the boy turned around to reassure it, speaking in an incomprehensible language. Alder held his breath as the boy slowly moved away from the bushes and out into the clearing.

Bit by bit, the boy inched forward until he was directly in front of Alder. He looked up at Alder, scanning his face for any sign of a threat, then reached out his own little hand and laid it against Alders gloved palm. The boy looked down in surprise, then looked back up. There was a familiarity between them that no Pokémon could offer. A connection seemed to click in his head as his hand curled gently around Alder’s fingers. They were one in the same. They were human.

Alder held out his second hand encouragingly, his breath held in anticipation. He was close to getting him, but one sudden move and the boy was likely to dart back into the forest. He gave the kid a friendly grin.

“Let’s get you out of these woods, they’re no place for a little guy like you.”

The boy hesitated, then took another step forward. He placed his little hand on Alder’s arm. As slowly as he could Alder lifted the boy gingerly into his arms, cradling him against his chest. He let out a small breath of relief, he was safe with him now.

The boy looked down in surprise as he was lifted off the ground, but eventually wrapped his arms around Alder’s neck, tucking his head against his shoulder. He curled his small hand into a fist as he clutched at Alder’s poncho. Alder felt his heart melt a little as he tucked the boy into the folds of his clothes. He took one last look around the forest. Where were his parents? Maybe once he got the boy cleaned up he would visit the police office in Floccesy town to see if anyone was missing a kid.

He looked down at the boy in his arms with a smile. “Where are your parents, little fella?” The boy stared blankly back at him, but no response was given.

“Huh, I guess I’ll just have to look into this myself.” He murmured to himself, turning away towards the path.

As Alder began to step away, the Pokémon who were with the boy began to cry out in distress. The Darmanitan stepped forward and let out a grunt, tilting its head upwards. The Zorua followed behind, whining in alarm. The boy turned his head to look at them, his eyes widening as he looked back and forth between Alder and the Pokémon. He chirped, reaching a hand out towards the Pokémon.

Alder turned around, his eyes wide in surprise. “Eh? Is something wrong?”

Neither boy nor Pokémon could talk, so they continued to babble incoherently to one another. Alder watched as they gestured back and forth. Maybe they were worried that he was going to hurt the child.

He pointed to the cut on the boy’s face. “Don’t worry, I’m just taking him to my house to treat this nasty cut, and maybe look for his parents.”

The Pokémon looked at him skeptically, then continued their torrent of noise. Alder looked at them in confusion.

“You know you can come with me right?” He finally blurted out, hoping that it was the right thing to say.

The Pokémon quieted, their ears perking up curiously. All of a sudden it clicked.

“Ah so you were worried about leaving him!” He said with a hearty laugh, shifting the boy in his arms. “No need to be so alarmed, you can come along! I wouldn’t want to separate such a loyal group.”

He stepped out of the bushes with N in his arms and started down the road. The Pokémon looked at each other, then back at him. Silently, they began to trail behind Alder.

Chapter Text

After an hour of walking, Alder realized with disappointment that it would be a very long trek to his house back in Floccesy town. He heaved a sigh as he made his way down the road with the boy in his arms, the afternoon light beating against his back. His knees would not be happy with all of this walking. Fortunately he had already crossed the entirety of Unova once, so he knew exactly where to go.

The boy clung onto Alder’s shoulder, eyes stared at him curiously. Every once in a while he would reach up his hand to grasp Alder’s braid, pulling gently on the orange locks. He then directed his attention to the Pokéballs around his neck.

“Watch out there, don’t press that button!” Alder said with a laugh, gently easing a Pokéball out of his grasp. “A Bouffalant is gonna jump out at you if you do that!”

He paused mid step. The boy turned to look at him in confusion

“Actually, having him out might not be a bad idea.” He said, looking down at the Pokéball in his hand. He tossed the Pokéball up into the air. As it hit the ground a red beam shot out and a Bouffalant landed onto the ground, shaking out its fur. It turned its head towards Alder and grunted. Alder smiled, scratching the Bouffalants head.

“Hey there buddy, it’s been a while huh?”

The Bouffalant snorted in response, then turned his head to look at the boy in Alder’s arms as well as the crowd of Pokémon behind them. The boy’s eyes were wide with surprise. He turned his head back and forth between the Pokéball and the Bouffalant as if he couldn’t believe that such a giant creature had appeared from something so small.

“Meet Bo!” Alder said, thumping the Pokémon on the back. “My oldest companion.”

Bo let out a huff through his nose, then turned to Alder with a look of inquiry.

“This little fella was alone in the forest.” Alder said, as if he knew what Bo had been thinking. “No parents around, but he was followed by these guys.” He said, gesturing to the Pokémon behind him. “He has a little scratch but I’m going to patch him up at home before taking him to the police station to see if anyone is looking for him.”

Bo dipped his head in understanding, letting out a snort as he pushed his snout into Alder’s arm playfully. Alder laughed, then moved to stand beside Bo.

“We need your help getting home, I’m done with walking.” He said with a groan, stretching his leg over Bo’s back. He pulled himself onto the Pokémon and set the boy down in front of him. The boy leaned forward, curling his hands into Bo’s hair and let out a squeak of surprise as his hands sunk into the soft curls.

As Alder helped to get the boy settled, the Zorua let out a sharp yip. It darted next to Bo and jumped back and forth next to Bouffalants hooves. Alder watched as the two had an incomprehensible exchange. Bo let out a huff, tilting his head as the Zorua squeaked in response. Strangely enough, the boy seemed to be listening to them attentively too, his head tilted to one side as if he could hear what they were saying. After a while, the Zorua and Woobat leaped on top of Bouffalants back while the Deerling and Darmanitan trailed on the road behind them. Alder turned his attention back to the distance.

“Are you ready?” He said, patting his hand against Bo’s hide with a smile. “Let's go.”

Bo dipped his head in response, then began to trek down the path that led out of the woods. As the tall trees began to trickle away, the boy turned his head around to glance into the retreating forest. His gaze never left the thicket even long after the woods had disappeared into the horizon.

—

After a long day of travel, the setting sun just barely peeked over the mountaintops as the little wooden house came into view. As they approached, Alder squinted his eyes to examine the exterior. The red tiles on his roof were starting to fade in color, but were vibrant enough to not need a new coat of paint. A line of forgotten herbs hung dry on the porch, crinkling in the wind. Overall it looked to be in good condition, despite him not being home for so long.

Bo stopped at the front of the porch, watching as Alder swung off his back with one fluid motion. He turned around to lift the boy off the Bouffalants back.

“Welcome to my home!” He exclaimed excitedly, letting the boy settle back into his arms. He turned back to Bo, giving him one more pat on the head.

“Thanks for the ride Bo, I should really let you out more to get some exercise huh?”

Bo snorted and butted his head against Alder’s hip playfully. The boy leaned out of Alders arm, reaching out a hand towards Bo. He let out a few chirps, gesturing at the Bouffalant. Bo turned his head up and huffed loudly, flaring his nostrils. This sent the boy into a sudden fit of laughter.

Alder shook his head with a smile, gathering the boy back into his arms. “Oh you two, quit being so mischievous.”

He fumbled for a bit to unhook the empty Pokéball from his necklace, but eventually had it in his grasp. With a flash of red light, Bo disappeared back into his Pokéball. Alder hung the ball back onto his necklace and turned to the remaining Pokémon.

“Be my guest,” He said with a smile, twisting the knob open with a gentle click.

Alder pushed open the door with his free hand, flicking on a light switch. An old yellow lamp flickered on, engulfing the first floor of the house with light. The boy turned his head, looking around curiously as he craned his head back and forth between the kitchen and the living room.

The rest of the Pokémon piled in, filling the already small space. He nearly tripped over the Deerling as he crossed into the living room. When was the last time his house was this cramped? It seemed like forever since he had shared his home.

Alder set the boy onto the couch, watching as the rest of the boy’s Pokémon scrambled into the room. The Darmanitan was the first to join the boy, settling on the cushions. The Woobat and Zorua leaped back and forth across the carpet, chirping and trilling as they chased each other. The Deerling was a lot more nervous, padding across the room with caution, its ear flicking nervously.

The boy had turned to look at the tapestry draped over the couch, his hand resting on its surface in awe. It was as if he had never seen something like it before. Alder scratched his chin in thought. His behavior was certainly strange, but that was something for future Alder to think about.

First, he had to deal with the cut on the boy’s face. Alder had assumed the wound was bothering the kid since he kept on touching it gingerly with his hand. His assumption was proven to be correct when the Zorua bumped his infected cheek with his nose and the boy let out a cry of pain, curling away.

He gave the kid a small smile, holding up a hand. “Just stay right here, I’ll get you fixed up real quickly okay?”

The boy didn’t respond, but instead curled up on the couch, his knees tucked up to his chin. The Darmanitan moved next to him and pulled an arm around the boy’s waist. At least he had his Pokémon there to comfort him.
Alder headed into the kitchen and filled a basin with warm water. He then knelt down in front of the cupboards and began to rummage around for some medicine.

He came back into the living room a while later, hand holding a towel and some medicine. The basin filled with warm water was tucked under his arm. The boy had remained in the same tucked position, but uncurled himself warily as Alder approached.

The Darmanitan glared at him, looking for any sign that he might be a threat. Honestly, Alder was a little frightened. Darmanitan were powerful Pokémon, and this Darmanitan seemed very protective of the boy, as if it was its own young. He would have to be very careful in earning its trust.

He knelt down in front of the group, setting the basin down on the ground.

“Hey there, I’m going to treat the cut on your face alright?” He said softly, dipping the towel in the warm water and wringing it out.

The boy leaned back warily as Alder lifted up the towel to wipe off the wound, pressing himself against the back of the couch. His Pokémon leaped up from their positions, each barking out tense warnings. Darmanitans flames billowed higher as it narrowed its eyes. Alder internally let out a sigh. This would be difficult.

He pulled his hand back. “Calm down there, I’m not going to hurt him!”

The Darmanitan huffed, unconvinced. Alder sat back onto his knees in thought. He had to assure the Pokémon that he meant no harm.

With one hand, he traced a finger along his own cheek. “His injury is infected, I need to use human medication to treat it properly. Or else it’s going to get worse.”

The Darmanitan seemed to understand, letting out a disheveled grunt as it sat back onto its feet. However it continued to glare at him cautiously. Alder gave it a friendly nod. He appreciated how protective the Darmanitan had been, but there were limits to how much wild Pokémon could care for a human child. He hoped that the Darmanitan could understand that Alder was just trying to help. He turned his attention back to the boy, holding the towel out.

With an encouraging nod from Darmanitan the boy straightened his back, sitting up once again. He closed his eyes hesitantly, but seemed to melt into the comfort as Alder dabbed the towel on his cheek. He intended on just cleaning the cut, but then instinctively moved to wipe the rest of the dirt and grime off his face. This poor kid really needed a bath.

The boy wrinkled his nose as the towel passed over a smudge of dirt on his face, letting out a small giggle. Alder smiled, then his expression slowly fell.

A feeling of Deja vu shot through his heart as he dipped the towel back into the basin, wringing out the excess water. He remembered this familiar action, carved into the back of his memory. Back when Alder was younger, back when burdens were weightless. A child, more than a decade ago, running into the house with a face covered in mud. The sounds of laughter echoing in the living room as Alder wiped layers of dirt off his face. A flash of red hair, a small bruise on his cheek and a toothy grin. A distant son who disappeared into the rising urban cities of Unova, never to be seen again.

Alder put the basin aside, looking over the boy’s face to make sure he didn’t leave any dirt stains behind. It had been so long since he last took care of a child, but it was all starting to come back to him. He ran his hand through his hair with a sigh. He would have to wrack his brain later for all the parenting skills he shelved away.

Now for the hard part.

Alder picked up the medicine bottle and shook it, watching as the clear liquid sloshed around. He opened the cap and dabbed a bit of it onto a clean cotton gauze. The air was instantly filled with the sharp stinging scent of minty herbs. He held the gauze out for the boy to see. It was possible that the boy might lose trust in what he was about to do next, but he had to do what was best for his health.

“This might sting a bit bud, but I promise it’ll be quick.”

Alder pressed the gauze against the wound as gently as he could, but the boy still reacted harshly, flinching away from the stinging medicine with a cry. Alder dabbed at it a few more times before quickly pressing a bandage on the wound, all while trying to sooth the child.

“Hey hey you're alright, look it's all over now.”

The boy hiccupped, tears brimming as he peeked open his eyes. The poor kid must be so scared. Alder wanted to give him a comforting embrace but he didn’t want to frighten him even more, so he bit back his fatherly instincts and focused on capping the bottle instead.

The Darmanitan scooted forward, cupping the boy into his arms. He sniffled a bit more but began to quiet down, curling into the Darmanitans fur. Alder picked up the basin and took a few steps backward to give them some privacy.

Maybe he should leave him with his Pokémon for now, it had been a very overwhelming day after all.

He smiled with amusement as the Darmanitan attempted to grumpily settle down on the couch with the child in its arms.

“The couch isn’t all that comfortable, big fella. I can take him upstairs if you want me to.” He gestured up the wooden stairs to the second floor. “There’s an extra bed he can sleep in.”

The Darmanitan gave him a glare, and Alder quickly scooted away. Now was probably not the time to bother it.

He headed back into the kitchen, placing all his supplies back in the cabinets. He could hear the soft commotion of noise from the living room as the Pokémon trilled to each other quietly, like they were having a conversation. A few minutes later he peeked back into the living room. The boy had fallen asleep, curled up in the Darmanitans arm. The other Pokémon were crowded onto the cushions, squeaking in protest as they pushed each other around to fit on the seats. They didn’t look all that comfortable, attempting to squeeze together on the small couch. As much as he wanted to help, Alder decided not to upset them and just to leave them alone for the night.

Just as Alder was about to turn away he heard a grunt from behind. The Darmanitan was holding the boy in his arms as if he was trying to carry him. The Darmanitan grunted again, tilting its head up and gently pushing the boy towards him. It glanced back and forth between Alder and the stairs.

“You…want me to take him upstairs?” Alder said, trying to piece together the gesture. The Darmanitan hesitated, then nodded its head slowly.

Darmanitan usually carried their young, but the boy was clearly too old for him to be picked up by now. It was strange that it was trying to carry around a human child, but clearly the Pokémon cared enough about the boy to want to put him somewhere more comfortable to rest.

As he approached the Darmanitan, he saw a flash of intensity in its face. There was a glint in its eye, a burning fire that billowed in its gaze. A look that Alder instantly recognized: a father protecting its child. All of a sudden Alder understood why it had been so protective the whole time: it saw the boy as its own son.

Alder gave the Darmanitan a smile, kneeling down to look the Pokémon in the eyes. “Look. From one parent to another, I promise I'm not going to hurt him. Okay?”

Its two black irises stared back at Alder with an unreadable expression. The Darmanitan blinked, then turned its gaze to the side with a small huff. A resignation, an invitation of trust. Alder leaned forward to take the boy from its arms.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

With a gentle hand he lifted the boy into his arms, resting his sleeping head against his shoulder. The boy furrowed his eyebrows, burrowing his head underneath Alder’s chin. Alder smiled softly, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear.

As he stood up and began to stroll slowly out of the living room, the boy opened his eyes blearily and wrapped his arms around Alder’s neck. His blue eyes peered at Alder sleepily as they made their way up the stairs.

Chapter Text

The coos of early morning Pidove echoed faintly through the room.

Alder leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed in thought as he stared at the boy. 

He was resting peacefully, eyes closed in blissful sleep. The morning light danced across his spring green hair, and the soft rumbling snores of the boy’s Pokémon echoed across the room. The air hung with the faint minty-scent of herbal medicine. 

After he had brought the boy into the spare bedroom last night, he had quickly fallen asleep in a very curious manner.

Rather than sleep with his head laying on the pillow, he had instead taken the multiple pillows and pulled them into a nest-shaped heap. The once neatly folded blankets were now tossed about and pushed into the clump. He had then curled up in a ball within the messy heap, where he was now dozing. In his many years of life Alder had never seen someone choose to sleep like that.

The rest of his Pokémon were curled up around him protectively. They had refused to leave his side the entire time. However as a result, his little abode had suddenly become more cramped with the presence of new visitors. It had been a struggle making his way up the stairs last night as he tried to squeeze past the Darmanitan in the narrow hallway. He could technically make them sleep outdoors if he wanted to, but Alder had no intention of separating someone from their Pokémon.

As he lifted his shoulder off from the doorframe, the old wood creaked loudly, instantly shattering the peaceful moment. The Darmanitan’s eyes snapped open as it lifted its head in alarm. The deerling awoke next, followed by the Woobat and Zorua. The boy’s eyes snapped open last, his light teal eyes bore into Alder’s with one singular emotion: fear.

Alder quickly lifted up his arms. “Sorry there little fella, didn’t mean to wake you up!”

The boy scrambled up swiftly, pressing himself against the Darmanitan. He blinked for a few moments, seemingly trying to remember where he was. His hand reached up to graze the bandage on his face, poking at it experimentally.

The Zorua yipped, standing up and shaking out its fur. It hopped over the Deerling and nestled into the boy’s lap. The boy reached out his hand, stroking the top of the Pokémon's head with a small smile. Alder’s heart melted as he watched the Pokémon calm down the boy, warbling to one another in one big huddle.

“Sorry for scaring you” He said apologetically once again. “Are you feeling better?”

The boy cradled his Woobat in his arms, tilting his head upwards to look at Alder once again. This time his eyes glistened with curiosity rather than fear. He seemed to be doing better, as he didn’t flinch away when the Woobats wing accidentally brushed against his cheek. Yet he didn’t reply.

An awkward silence hung in the air as Alder awaited a response. The Darmanitan shuffled forward protectively, letting out a soft huff. Finally Alder decided to break the tension.

“Here I can show you around.” He said, stepping out of the doorway and beckoning the boy towards the hall. “You might as well get to know my house while you’re here, yeah?”

The boy slid out of the bed-nest he had made, with his little crowd of pokemon following behind. 

Alder first led the group out of the bedroom door and to the little hallway. He pointed down the hall towards the opposing door.

“That’s my room right over there, feel free to knock if I’m in there and you need something.” 

They then made their way down the stairs, the old wood creaking as they walked along. Alder gestured to the right side of the house.

“That’s the kitchen over there, with my chimney and stove. It’s all old and dusty but it works just as well as any of those new electric stoves!”

He then turned to the left, gesturing into the space. The morning light shined in through the window, revealing the true artistry of the cabin. An enormous hand-weaved rug was splayed out across the room in a colorful pattern, leading up to the couch draped over with an old tapestry.

“And that's the living room. It's a little small but you're welcome to sit down on the couch whenever you want. Just don't let your little friends chew up my cushions!” He said with a chuckle, glancing over at the Pokemon. The Zorua yipped sharply in protest, wagging its tail playfully.

Alder turned around in a circle, just now realizing that the ‘house tour’ was finished.

“Ah well, I suppose it is a small little home.” He said wistfully, his wide grin fading to a gentle smile. “I built it myself, back when I first became champion and wanted privacy. How ironic that I ended up staying everywhere but here to escape the media instead!” He said, hands placed onto his hips as he let out a hearty laugh. “I haven’t had a need to renovate it ever since my son moved out many years ago…”

He trailed off into silence, realizing that he had started rambling again. Clearing his throat, he turned back to the boy with a smile. “Sorry I got off topic there, are you hungry?”

The boy was attentive, absorbing every word. Yet he didn't utter a sound the entire time. Alder furrowed his eyebrows slightly in thought. Maybe he was just shy.

He turned out of the living room and began to stroll into the kitchen. “Well while we’re here, do you want some breakfast? I made some oatmeal while you were asleep.”

The boy tilted his head curiously, following Alder into the room. 

As the group piled into the area, Alder headed to the counter and began to ladle the warm oatmeal into two separate bowls. He then sprinkled a couple berries on top and dropped a spoon into the warm meal. He placed them onto the table, gesturing for the boy to sit.

The boy climbed onto the chair like a Pansage would climb onto a tree, settling onto his heels. Alder slid the smaller bowl towards the boy with a hearty smile. 

“Eat up buddy! You must be starving. I’ll get some berries for your Pokémon there.”

Alder faced back towards the counter, washing out a handful of berries and scattering them onto a few small plates. He could hear a commotion in the background as the boy dug into the meal. He fully expected to see the boy's bowl empty of food.

But when he turned around, he realized that the boy had picked off all the berries with his hands and was feeding the last piece to his Woobat. The warm oatmeal remained untouched, unusual for a kid his age who would usually have a ravenous appetite.

“Not hungry?” Alder said in amusement, setting the plates down on the table and easing into his own chair. “Ah then I'll get started on my own breakfast, I'm starving!” The boy didn't seem keen on responding, so Alder looked down and began to dig into his own meal.

As he ate spoonful after spoonful of oatmeal, he noticed that the boy was staring at him intently, watching him use the spoon with confusion. The boy reached towards the spoon in his own bowl and lifted it up experimentally. He tilted it back and forth, watching as the oatmeal spilled off the edges. He then brought the spoon of oatmeal to his lips, nibbling at it cautiously. 

Alder watched as the child began to slowly eat the meal, his hand clasped around the handle of the spoon in an unusual manner. The spoon wobbled as the boy struggled to hold it correctly. A feeling of concern started to gnaw at his stomach as he watched the boy try and mimic the way he was eating the oatmeal. Something wasn't right. 

“Can you understand me?” He suddenly blurted out. The boy glanced up in surprise, but didn't acknowledge the statement. He blinked once, then returned silently to the meal. 

“Do you speak English?” He tried again. The boy peered up in alarm but didn't respond, instead murmuring something to the Darmanitan and then staring back at his bowl. The Darmanitan moved closer warily and the other Pokémon followed suit. Alder felt his heart drop. This boy didn’t understand English, this whole time he never did.

All the strange behaviors were starting to fall into place. His obliviousness towards the usage of utensils, his inability to understand or speak words. The way he jabbered and mimicked the sounds of the Pokémon around him, the way the Pokémon treated him like one of their own.

He was an orphan. A child left to the mercy of the elements and raised by the wild.

So was he abandoned in the woods after all? Left to the care of Pokémon? Surely a parent wouldn’t do that to their own child. Alder felt his head spinning as he set his spoon down gently into his bowl, the rest of his oatmeal forgotten.

What if his parents couldn’t be found? Where would he go then? No, surely there must be someone out there looking for him.

Forehead now creased with worry, Alder stood up from his chair. “Come on little guy, let’s get you to the police station and figure out where your family is.”

Chapter Text

“Hey Jenny!”

A set of bells jingled as Alder pushed open the door to the police office. Officer Jenny was seated at her desk, scribbling away at some paperwork. She had light teal hair and a buzz cut that was covered by the police hat on her head. Her light hazel eyes darted up as the champion entered the room.

“Well hello there Alder, what brings you here today?” Her lips curled up into a teasing grin. “Or are you here to play with the Herdier again?”

Alder let out an embarrassed laugh, scratching the back of his head. “No no, not this time! I have an actual issue on my hands..”

Jenny raised her eyebrows in disbelief. But just as she opened her mouth to respond, the Darmanitan walked into the room, with the boy sitting on its back. Her eyes widened in surprise as the ragtag group of Pokémon stumbled in behind them.

“That’s new…you've got quite the party there.” She said with a laugh, leaning over her desk to watch the Pokémon wander inside. “What’s this all about huh?”

“I found this kid alone in the woods.” Alder replied, gesturing at the boy on the Darmanitan’s back. “He didn’t have any parents around so I figured I would bring him here to see if you could find his family.”

“Here take a seat,” Jenny said, gesturing at the chair. “Let me see how I can help.”

As Alder lowered himself down onto the seat, Jenny swiftly turned to her computer and began to type away at the keyboard.

“So where exactly did you find him?”

Alder scratched his chin in thought. “Far out in the woods, just past Anvilla town.”

Jenny hummed in surprise. “Well that's a far place for a kid to be. Did he tell you anything about himself?”

Alder shook his head. “I don’t think he knows English, as far as I can tell.”

Jenny paused. “Oh…really?”

“Yeah it's quite strange. I was trying to talk to him this morning about his breakfast and he just won't respond to anything.”

“He won't give you his name?”

“Nothing.”

Jenny chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. “Well this is a weird situation. Give me a few moments, I’ll look through our missing children system.”

Alder tapped his hand against the armrest as Officer Jenny swiveled around in her chair, picking up her phone to dial a number. Behind him he heard the Deerling trill softly, and the sound of someone trilling back. As he turned around to look he saw the boy squatting on the edge of a chair, softly stroking the Deerlings head and making incomprehensible noises. The Deerling seemed to understand perfectly, wagging its tail with an excited bleat. Alder smiled at the innocent interaction, his attention from Jenny drifting away momentarily.

“He’s not in our database.”

Alder blinked back to the moment as Officer Jenny turned back to him, shaking her head. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and he leaned forward in disbelief. “Are you sure about that? Surely someone has to be looking for him right?”

Officer Jenny clicked through her computer, her eyes narrowing in focus. 

“Trust me Alder, I’ve looked through all of the missing children reports we have gotten. Around Anvilla town and even throughout Unova.” She looked back up from her computer. “None of them match his description or his circumstance.”

Alder crossed his arms thoughtfully, his expression turning from confusion to concern. 

“Jenny, this might sound like a strange theory, but I think that he might be an orphan.”

Officer Jenny raised an eyebrow. “An orphan? What makes you think that?”

“I mentioned before that he didn't speak English. He didn’t know how to properly sleep in a bed or even use a spoon.” 

He gestured to the boy behind him. “That wound beneath the bandage on his face was infected long ago, I could tell when I first looked at it. It must mean that he hadn’t gotten lost recently.”

“And the Pokémon…” Alder clasped his hands together.

“Those Pokémon were in the woods with the boy when I found him. I think they're trying to protect him.” He leaned in closer, murmuring to Jenny. “They’re his family, they’re all that he has.”

Jenny tapped her keyboard thoughtfully. “Those are some interesting points…” She muttered out loud. 

“But unfortunately I can't make a definitive decision on his status at this moment.” She said, shaking her head. “Even if he is an orphan, by protocol I have to wait a few days to see if someone is looking for him.”

“What happens if no one comes to get him?” Alder questioned, leaning forward.

Officer Jenny picked up a stack of papers and tapped them against her desk. 

“Well I can keep him in my care for a few days. But if no one comes to get him then we’ll have to put him into foster care.” She turned back to her computer and began to type furiously at the keys. “For now, let me see if we have anywhere to place him…”

From the corner of his eye Alder could see the boy with his Pokémon. He was sitting on the ground with his Woobat on his head. He broke out into a wide grin when the Woobat tumbled off, and all the Pokémon erupted into laughter. 

Alder felt a twinge of sorrow flare up in his heart. There was no way that this child would do well in a foster home. He could imagine how terrified the poor boy would be, suddenly thrown into such an unfamiliar environment and separated from the Pokémon he had known his whole life. With the way that things were, he was more than likely to slip in between the cracks of the system. 

All of a sudden he was overwhelmed with a powerful feeling that pounded against his ribs, wrenching his heart in his chest. He turned his head to look at the boy. The boy twisted his head to the side, and his irises glinted sage green as they hit the light. At that moment their eyes met each other, and Alder saw something shine in the boy’s gaze.

Hope.

He felt an old feeling awaken in his heart, one he had put to rest long ago: the overwhelming protectiveness from a father to son.There was no way he could walk away and leave such a young life to the mercy of a system that would destroy him. No way he could let that spark of hope die. At that moment a sudden impulsive decision slammed into him.

“I can look after him.” He blurted out, sitting up in his chair.

“Oh?” Officer Jenny said in surprise. “You’ll…take him in?”

Alder nodded. “I can take care of him while we wait, to help take some of that work off your hands.” His gaze softened a little. “Besides, I have an empty nest back at home. I think I have the time to look after a kid.”

Officer Jenny tilted her head to the side. “Are you sure? You said that he doesn’t speak English and we don’t know how socialized he is with the outside world...”

“Well that's what a parents job is right?” Alder said with a smile. “To teach their children to live in the world around them.”

“I just…” His smile dropped slightly and he let out a shuddering breath. “I just don’t want to think about him ending up alone in an unfamiliar system.”

Jenny nodded in understanding, flipping a folder open and pulling out a couple sheets of paper. She slid them in front of Alder. “Then I’ll be listing you as his foster guardian for now, and we’ll see if anyone comes looking for him alright?”

Alder nodded hastily. “Sounds good to me.”

Before he could even register what had happened, Alder was staring at his own signature along the dotted line of the paperwork. His gloved hands shook slightly, almost like they had moved on their own accord. 

“I’ll contact you in around a week to let you know if anything else happens.” Jenny said, gently pulled the papers away from him. “But you can always call me if you have questions, okay?”

“Alright. Thanks for all the help Jenny, I knew that I could count on you.” Alder chuckled, pushing himself out of his chair. Jenny’s air of professionalism dropped as she smiled back sheepishly.

“Thank you, I’m just doing my job.”

Just as he turned away and began to usher the Pokémon out of the room, Jenny’s voice echoed out behind him.

“You have a good heart, Alder”

“Heh?” He turned around just as Officer Jenny stood up, shuffling the papers in her hand. She looked at him with a smile.

“I said that you have a good heart, you're very honorable.” She walked over to a shelf, stuffing the papers into a folder. “Not many people would volunteer to help out a kid with such a unique situation.”

Alder looked at the boy, who had stopped playing with his Pokémon and was now staring at him. His light blue eyes were shining with curiosity and spirit. Alder felt his heart settle, his previous inner turmoil quieting to a low rumble. In that moment, he knew he had made the right choice.

He shook his head and chuckled. “I appreciate the compliment Jenny, but I’m just doing what I think is right.”

—

Back at the home, Alder and the boy were sitting on the couch, a little distance apart.

The Zorua, Woobat and Deerling were running around the living room in a chaotic game of ‘tag’. Alder watched the Deerling leap back and forth, bouncing over the Zorua as it tried to keep up. The Darmanitan remained cautious, crouching at the bottom on the couch and eyeing Alder warily.

The boy was fidgeting with the sleeve of his shirt, watching his Pokémon play in the living room. He seemed tired from the busy day, his head occasionally dropping as his eyelids fluttered closed. 

“I suppose that I should call you something instead of ‘little fella’ then huh? Give you a nickname for now.”

Alder looked at the boy, scanning his face for any flickers of understanding. The boy blinked awake again, looking at him curiously.

“Is there anything you want me to call you?” Alder attempted to ask.

The boy made no indication that he understood, turning his attention to the Darmanitan at the base of the couch. Alder sighed softly, returning his gaze to the Pokémon playing in the living room.

His attention turned to the cube puzzle around the boy's neck. He had it with him ever since he came out of the woods. Alder scanned his eyes across the trinket.

It was an interesting puzzle, but it was so complicated he didn’t think he could even comprehend it. He leaned back in thought, eyes focused on the intricate patterns on the surface. This must be a relic of his past then, the one clue that linked him to whoever his parents might have been. Suddenly a small engraving in the corner caught his eye, and he leaned in for a closer look.

N

A singular letter, carved into the surface of the puzzle. Alder remembered carving his son’s name into the wooden toys that he once played with. Perhaps this was the boy’s name. It was definitely a strange thing to name a child, but he might as well see if the boy responded to it.

“N?” He asked softly.

The boy suddenly turned his head towards Alder, recognition flickering in his eyes. Alder took in a sharp breath of surprise at the boy’s reaction. His heart beat with hopeful anticipation.

“N?” He repeated again. “Is…is that your name?”

The boy opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then closed it again. No words were spoken in that moment but the boy… N’s eyes were shining with an alertness Alder had not seen from him before.

Alder felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He gave the boy a warm smile. “Well N…it's nice to finally meet you.”

Chapter Text

Although he had called Officer Jenny to inform her of the boy’s name, many days still passed with no updates. Alder kept his old Xtransceiver in his pocket, waiting for a call from Jenny and hoping that he had parents out there looking for him. In the meantime, Alder figured he would help the boy become accustomed to life at home.

N was skinny, likely from the lack of adequate food in the forest. Alder began to prepare some fresh vegetables for the boy and his Pokémon. A couple more good meals should fix him right up. 

The house was filled with life, a chorus of laughter and excitement that Alder had not heard in years. Darmanitan was perched on the stairs, watching in amusement as Zorua and Deerling chased each other around the kitchen. N had joined in with the chaos with Woobat perched on his head, giggling with laughter as they ran in circles around the table. 

Alder was currently grilling squash on the stove, and he laughed as the Pokémon brushed past his poncho. 

“Hey slow down there, no running in the kitchen!” He exclaimed, putting the spatula down on the counter and throwing his arms out just as Zorua was about to circle past again. Zorua squealed in surprise, but quickly recovered and lunged onto Alder’s shoulder, clamoring over his head and flipping back onto the ground with a mischievous snicker. With a flash Zorua had transformed into an illusion of N, and now two copies of the boy stood facing each other in the kitchen.

Alder roared in laughter as the scene grew more chaotic, as the two identical boys began to tackle each other. Woobat fluttered up in surprise, clearly confused by Zoruas illusion. Alder reached out his hand to scoop up the “real” N – the one without a gray bushy tail – but stopped himself as he caught a glimpse of Darmanian on the stairs. It had tensed up with a glint of warning in its eyes, and Alder quickly pulled away.

After the events of the first night, Darmanitan had returned to its wary demeanor, keeping a cautious eye on Alder once again. While all the other Pokémon had warmed up to his home, Darmanitan was the only one that seemed on edge. Alder made sure to keep his distance from his new guests, trying to show Darmanitan that he was not a threat. But it was quite difficult for him to connect to N and his other companions. 

“Hey I meant no harm there, I was just stopping the commotion.” He said softly, giving Darmanitan a smile and turning back to the stove. Darmanitan tilted his head up and grunted in mistrust, but his demeanor fell away as the sweet smell of butternut squash wafted up the stairs. Eventually he caved in and made his way into the kitchen, joining the rest of the group. 

The other youngsters stopped playing and scrambled to the table As Alder set down platefuls of fresh grilled squash. Deerling poked her nose over the lip of the table, sniffing eagerly as the scent filled the kitchen.

“Eat up everyone!” Alder exclaimed heartily, passing out platefuls of squash to everyone in the room. “You all must be hungry.” He slid a plate to Darmanitan as well, who hesitantly accepted the meal.

N had learned to sit in a chair the normal way and eat with a fork, likely from watching Alder. He was a smart kid, having picked up a lot of behaviors from visuals alone. The concept of cooked food was still new however, and his eyes lit up with surprise as he bit into the warm meal. Surprise quickly turned into delight as he bit into another squash. The meal disappeared quickly, vanishing in mere seconds. N swallowed his last bite and looked up expectantly, holding out his plate for more.

Alder laughed as he took the plate from N’s hands, scooping more onto the dish. “Tasty isn’t it? Well you’ve got a lot more meals to try, this is just the start!”

–

The sound of rain hitting the rooftop reverberated throughout the house in a gentle murmur. Squinting through the window, Alder took a look at the soft spring drizzle that had started up a few minutes ago. Little speckles of dew began to cluster onto the window panes, running down the glass in gentle streaks. Everyone had settled down in the living room as the morning bled into the afternoon. It was calm, peaceful. Suddenly Alder heard a loud yelp at the doorway.

Zorua had his paws propped up, pawing eagerly at the door. Deerling had waddled over and joined Zoruas commotion, bleating loudly as she looked back and forth between Alder and the door.

“Do you want to go outside?” Alder asked, walking over and turning the knob with a click. As soon as he opened the door both Pokémon darted outside in excitement. Zorua instantly leaped into a puddle, soaking Deerling with water. Deerling squealed in surprise and kicked water back at him. N watched them go, then eagerly scrambled off the couch and started after them.

“Well there they go.” Alder said with a laugh as he turned to greet N. “You want to join them too?”

N smiled timidly, reaching up his hand to grasp Alder’s palm. All of a sudden Darmanitan let out a loud rumble in warning, the sound thundering across the room. Alder froze, his eyes widening in surprise as the Pokémon rose up from its seated position on the ground, the flames on his head billowing to a threatening height.

Alder felt his throat close up nervously as Darmanitans surly gaze settled on him. He had never seen a Darmanitan get this defensive before. Unpredictability made Darmanitan incredibly dangerous, both to him and N. Immediately his attention turned to guarding the boy standing next to him.

“Stay right there N,” Alder warned cautiously, his arm reaching protectively towards the boy. “Don’t move clos-”

Before he could finish his sentence, N ducked under Alder’s arm and began to stroll back to Darmanitan. Alder squawked in surprise, watching the boy walk straight up to the Pokemon with no hesitation. 

Just as he was about to interfere, N reached out his hand and placed it gently on the side of Darmanitans face. He looked up at the Darmanitan with an expression of patience, murmuring something in an incomprehensible language. Darmanitans expression seemed to soften instantly, as he let out a low rumble in response.

Alder stood there in awe, watching the two exchange ‘words’ back and forth to one another. It was an incredible sight, as if the boy was speaking directly to his Pokemon

“I-is everything alright?” Alder managed to stammer out in his shock, watching N finally turn away from Darmanitan and trot towards him.

Before he could react, the boy had curled one of his hands around Alders palm. He turned around and curled his other hand around Darmanitans arm. He pulled the two closer with an indescribable sound, looking between his two guardians expectantly.

Alder glanced up, staring into Darmanitans black beady eyes. The Pokémon’s aura brimmed with mistrust and unease. Throughout all the Pokémon he had interacted with over the years, it was rare to see one so defensive and cold. The only Pokémon he knew of that had acted like that were ones that had been mistreated somehow in the past. Alder frowned unhappily at the thought. Darmanitan were usually very gentle despite their strength. It pained him to think that this one might have been hurt in a way that left him so wary. 

Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned his attention back to the situation at hand. Darmanitan might not trust him, but if they were both going to be taking care of N, they would have to get along. 

“Look here. I know that you might not want to trust me, and I will respect that.” He paused to consider his words carefully. “But I’m just as much of a guardian for N as you are. We both just want the best for him.” He swallowed hesitantly before continuing.

“Please believe me…I’m not going to hurt him, or any of the other Pokémon. I don’t want you to make an enemy of me.” 

Darmanitans gaze glistened with uncertainty. But he let out a long huff, ducking his head down and squeezing his eyes shut. The wooden floors creaked as he lifted up his arms one by one, backing away from Alder and N.

Alder watched Darmanitan slowly move away, disappearing into the shadow of the living room. His rippling muscles were tense with restlessness, yet there was a hint of sorrow in his movement as he shuffled away.

Alder looked back down at N, who still had his fingers wrapped around his palm. The boy stared off at Darmanitan, an unreadable expression on his face. He turned his head back up to look at Alder, his expression disappearing as he gave him a sympathetic smile. Alder had a feeling that whatever secrets the two had wouldn’t be revealed anytime soon.

He kneeled down at the doorway and gave N a small wink. “Thanks for the help there N, I think Darmanitan might just need some time alone.” He gave the boy’s shoulders a gentle push. “How about you head out there and have some fun in the meantime? I think your little friends are waiting for you.”

With a smile, the boy stepped out of the doorway and dashed into the downpour, joining Zorua and Deerling in the rain.

–

Sitting on a chair beneath the canopy, Alder had tried to stay awake to watch N and his Pokémon as they played outside. But the exhaustion of the recent days finally began to catch up to him. The lively nature of all the new youngsters was a sharp contrast to his previous years of quiet living, and they had drained his energy quite rapidly. Bit by bit he felt his head drooping until he soon dozed off on the porch, chin tucked beneath his head, snoring loudly.

Many peaceful minutes passed until he felt a sharp tug on his poncho, jerking him awake. He blinked open his eyes blearily and turned around to see what had snagged onto his clothes. N was crouched next to Alder, fiddling with the fabric of the poncho.

It was only then that he was able to take a good look at N’s clothes. N's orange t-shirt hung from his shoulders, covered in dirt and smudges. His shorts didn't seem much better either, with loose threads unraveling from every seam. Alder frowned to himself, he should probably get N some new clothes.

N noticed that Alder was awake and let out a shy laugh, quickly ducking underneath Alder’s poncho. Although he was still sopping wet from the rain, N seemed to enjoy using his poncho as a towel, snuggling into the beige folds. Alder let out a chuckle at the amusing sight as the boy seemed to get swallowed up by the cloth.

“Comfy isn’t it?” He said with a laugh, adjusting the poncho with one hand. “Made it myself years ago.” 

All of a sudden an idea dawned on him. A poncho! N needed some new clothes, and what better fit for him than a comfortable drawl that could be worn anywhere at any time? It had been years since he last made clothes, and even longer since he made one for a child. Would he still be able to remember how to do it? Well whatever he made, at least it would be better than the old clothes N was currently wearing.

As N used Alder’s poncho like a towel to dry his wet hair, Alder leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. He decided that he would start work on the project that night.

–

Alder had coaxed N into changing out of his old clothes into a brand new set of shirts and shorts that he had found while rummaging through his spare closet. They were slightly too large for the boy but they would just have to do for now. Just temporarily.

As N and his Pokémon slumbered on in the night, Alder began work on his new project. He lowered himself onto a chair and scanned the loose pieces of fabric that were laid out on the kitchen table in front of him. There were a couple large scraps of beige fabric, coupled with some strands of gold lace that he had shoved away a long time ago. They had been sitting in his drawers gathering dust, so it was about time that he put them to some good use.

He winced as he flexed his hands, feeling the uncomfortable pull of scarred skin across his wrists and palms. It had been many years since he had worked on a project ever since his hands were injured. He could only hope that he still had enough practice to see it through to completion.

Alder measured the boy’s old orange shirt and brown shorts and noted down the dimensions, then began his work. The night hours were filled with the sound of snipping scissors and the whirr of the sewing machine.

As the morning light filtered in through the windows, Alder put the final touches on the poncho. With a skilled flick of his wrists he laid the poncho out on the table and stood back to admire his work. The poncho was a light beige color gilded with gold lace around its edges. Alder had added an orange ring of pattern around the shoulders and finally topped off the design with a small white button.

As he led out a loud yawn, he heard the patter of footsteps as N and his Pokémon made their way to the kitchen for breakfast. Looking up at the stairs, he saw N peek his head shyly through the handrails.

“Morning N! Did you have a good sleep?” Alder greeted him happily. N gave him a shy smile, then his eyes wandered over to the poncho on the kitchen table, gaze brimming with curiosity.

“Oh this?” Alder picked up the poncho and beckoned for N to come into the room. “This is for you!” N clamored down the stairs eagerly, stopping in front of Alder.

“It's a poncho, cute isn't it? Here let me help you put it on.” He said, kneeling down to be at the same height as N.

“I noticed that you liked my poncho so I made you your own little version.” Alder said as he fiddled with the cloth to get it over N’s head. “Now let’s see if this fits you…”

The fabric dropped over N’s shoulders, fitting perfectly over his frame. Alder grinned in triumph, scanning the poncho for any errors.

“Well won’t you look at that! Fits as snugly as a Swadloon in a leaf. Do you like it?” He said, looking back up at N. 

N was too distracted to answer. His little eyes were bugged out in awe as he stretched the fabric over his arms, running his fingers through the soft fabric. N swung the poncho back and forth, watching the golden lace twist and glint in the sunlight. After a few moments of twirling around he finally stopped to look up at Alder. His lips curled into a bright smile, eyes lighting up with delight.

All of a sudden he darted forwards, slamming into Alder and nearly knocking him over. Alder let out a oof as the boy wrapped his arms around Alder’s waist, hugging him as tightly as he could. N didn’t say a word, but his eyes were squeezed shut in happiness. A smile peeked out from beneath the fabric of his poncho. Alder froze in surprise, but then gently curled an arm around N’s back, wrapping him in a comforting embrace. A small smile spread across his face as he stared down at the boy in his arms.

“Is that a yes then?” He said with a hearty laugh.

N didn’t reply, but instead burrowed himself further into Alder’s arms. A happy squeak rumbled from his throat.

Chapter Text

“Hold still, this will be very quick.”

N squeezed his eyes shut as Alder cupped a hand around his cheek and began to peel off the bandage on his face. With one swift tug the bandage came off, revealing a healing scar left by the infected cut. N blinked hesitantly, his hand reaching up to graze the tender skin.

“There we go! Look at that, all healed up.” Alder exclaimed with a smile, tossing the bandage away. “Better go eat your food before it gets too cold.”

N scooted eagerly onto his chair, where a breakfast of warm cornbread awaited him.

As the days passed by, Alder and N quickly fell into a steady routine. Each morning N and his Pokémon would clamor down the stairs and tumble excitedly into the kitchen, where Alder would be cooking up a hearty breakfast meal. Afterwards the day would be filled with some sort of playtime or other activity. When night fell Alder would tuck N and his Pokémon into bed, finishing the day off with the reading of an alphabet book in an attempt to teach the boy English.

Day by day N grew more accustomed to life at Alders. The boy had mastered the ways of fork and spoon, wielding his kitchen utensils with prolonged skill. His appetite grew. And so did his hunger for mischief.

“N!” Alder hollered, his hands cupped to the side of his mouth. Standing at the front of his house, he waited for an answer. Only the rustling of the forest leaves responded to his call. He scrambled down the stairs in a panic. He had only left the door open for a few moments, and all of a sudden N and his Pokémon had vanished.

“N! Where are you?” He called out again, feeling worry began to stir in his chest. How could he have lost the boy already? He scratched his head in thought. Even his Pokémon were missing. Where could they have gone?

He started towards the woods, heading as fast as he could towards the forest edge. His heart began to pound with fear, all the possibilities of calamity running through his head.

All of a sudden there was a rustle in the bushes. Alder turned in alarm as N stepped nonchalantly out of the foliage, his arms full of berries. He had a tangle of twigs in his hair and no shoes on. His poncho was slung haphazardly around his shoulders. Darmanitan stepped out from behind him along with the rest of the Pokémon, watching with a wary expression as N ran over to him.

“N! You gave me a heart attack,” Alder scolded as the boy approached him, putting a hand on his chest. “ You can’t just disappear like that without telling me.”

N skipped up to him with an innocent grin on his face. He reached up and dropped a couple wild berries into Alder’s palm. Alder couldn't help but drop his frown, accepting the berries with a smile. 

“Alright alright, I'll let you off this time.” He sighed in defeat, cradling the berries in his palm. “But next time you go off on your own you must let me know, alright?”

N nodded in understanding, then laughed and wiggled away as Alder began to pull twigs out of his hair. 

“Look at this, you got your hair in a tangle already!” He exclaimed playfully. “And where are your shoes? Fix your poncho and your shoes before you go play buddy.”

Alder watched N button up his own poncho and slip on his shoes with wobbly but practiced ease, shooting a grin at Alder before darting off to play. Alder settled on the steps of his front door, watching Darmanitan wrestle N with a lighthearted gentleness as the other Pokémon joined in with the pile. The boy had rapidly picked up on a lot of skills, even faster than Alder had anticipated.

The only thing he had not been able to get N to do was speak.

For the first few days N communicated with Alder by tugging on his poncho and gesturing with his hands. Alder didn’t know how much vocabulary the boy knew. So he began to narrate all of his actions to fill the silence of the house, and hopefully so the boy could pick up some words along the way. At the age of five, N was already quite late in speech development, and the critical period for him to learn English would soon be over. It was vital for him to learn to speak as soon as possible.

Despite being unsocialized, N was a bright child, picking up vocabulary quickly and already starting to react to certain words. In the absence of conversation Alder would turn on the old radio in the living room and let it run. He would also leave out old picture books in the living room for the boy to peruse at his own pleasure. He had even turned to re-reading parenting books in an attempt to find ways on teaching him speech skills. But as days turned to weeks and N remained mute, Alder was starting to lose hope.

Alder sat at the edge of N's bed, rereading the alphabet book he had been reading every night for nearly a week. The room was faintly illuminated with a little lamp that casted a golden light by the bedside. N and his Pokémon were curled together on the bed, snuggled up beneath the blankets.

“B is for Basculin…C is for Cryogonal.”

A chorus of soft trills answered him, and Alder continued on.

“D is for Darmanitan, like your little friend over here.”

N pointed excitedly to the Darmanitan drawing on the page.

“Da.”

Alder’s mouth dropped open in surprise. He blinked a few times, trying to process if he was just hearing things. 

“Da!” N was beaming as he repeated the word again, reaching over to tap Darmanitan gently on the head. 

Alder fumbled with a response. “Y-yes…yes! That's right N, that's Darmanitan.”

“Da…man…i…tan” N finally murmured out, the first full word he had spoken since coming to Alder's. He looked over at Alder expectantly. “Dama…nitan.”

Alder felt his spirits lift, and a wide grin spread across his face.

“N, you're speaking!” He exclaimed, a relieved laugh escaping from his lips.

“Damanitan!” N exclaimed excitedly, throwing his arms up into the air.

“Darmanitan!” Alder shouted back, laughing loudly as he threw his arms up as well.

-

“And that’s where I’ll leave the story off for now.” Alder said one night, closing a chapter book about the life of a wild Deerling. “We can start the next chapter tomorrow.”

N had picked up on language so fast that they had upgraded from reading alphabet books to chapter books in just a few days. When Alder looked back over at the bed, Deerling and Zorua were fast asleep, sprawled out across the mattress. N had his head rested on the pillows with Woobat laying next to him, eyes attentive but starting to droop with sleep. 

“I like the book,” N murmured, stroking the top of his Woobats head. “I like Deerling and the forest.”

“Mmm” Alder hummed, reaching over to pull the blanket over N’s shoulders. “Do you miss the forest?”

N squinted his eyes in thought as he struggled to find the right word. “Maybe,” He mumbled beneath the cover of the blanket. “Maybe I do.”

He then turned his head slightly to look at Alder. “But I like it here more.”

Alder smiled gently to himself, “I’m glad that you like it here.” He said, reaching across the bedside table to close the lamp. “Now get some sleep alright?”

“Mm hmm” N nodded sleepily, his eyes drifting close.

“Good night, N.”

“Night.” N chirped back, pulling his Woobat into an embrace and snuggling into its fur. It wasn’t long before him and his Pokémon fell into a deep slumber.

Alder sat on the bedside with the alphabet book in hand, watching the blankets rise and fall with N’s steady breathing. He looked up at Darmanitan, who was watching him with an intense stare. Alder gave him a smile.

“You raised these young ones well.”

Darmanitan huffed and turned away, but Alder could see that he was secretly pleased.

He reached over and ran a hand gently through the boy’s mint colored hair, pulling out pieces of twigs and bark that always seemed to get tangled in his locks.

-

The ringing of an Xtranceiver echoed loudly through the night, as the small screen flashed with a bright light. Alder pried his eyes open and fumbled to reach for the Xtranceiver on his nightstand. The name Officer Jenny flashed over and over again on the screen.

“Hello?” He murmured into the Xtranceiver, voice heavy with sleep. “Jenny?”

“This is Alder right? I’m so sorry for calling you so late.” Jenny’s voice responded from the other end, crackling with static. “But I have an update about N.”

Alder shot up in his bed, feeling his heart lift with anticipation. “Did you find his parents?”

There was a pause on the other end of the call. 

“Well I actually called to tell you that…nobody came to look for him.”

“No one at all?”

“No.”

Alder felt his heart sink into his chest.

“What are you going to do then?” He murmured softly, feeling dread start to creep slowly into his bones.

“Well I don’t have any choice but to put him into foster care. I’ve been looking into foster homes so you don’t need to look after him for much longer. Here, I can pull up a list of homes that I’ve found…”

Jenny’s voice disappeared into the background as Alder's arm dropped into his lap. He rested his chin in his hands, deep in thought.

He had finally gotten N to start talking after days of silence. It would be a devastating transition for him to be sent away again. Knowing the foster care system, the likelihood of him finding a permanent situation would be unlikely. Being taken away from two places that he called home, it would destroy the poor boy.

N needed a home, a permanent one. One where he could properly flourish and get the attention he needed.

Alder looked back down and stared at the Xtransceiver in his hand. The bright light flickered on and off as Jenny’s voice echoed faintly in the background. It was then that he was hit with a wave of longingness, piercing through his heart. Years of loneliness had made him forget how much he missed having a family under the roof of his home. Yet here, more than a decade after he last had a family, a youngling had found his way into his empty home.

He lifted the Xtransceiver back up to his ear, where Jenny’s voice rang out from the speaker.

“Alder? Alder you still there?”

“Yes I’m here, sorry.” 

“Okay. So I plan to go pick him up sometime in the next four days. How does that sound?”

Alder paused for a few moments, pondering the possibilities. He cleared his throat then spoke again.

“Actually Jenny, if I may ask, what are your policies on adoption?”

-

A low creaking sound echoed through the home as Alder pushed open the front door. As he stepped into the room he was greeted with a chorus of chatter. Zorua and Deerling darted over excitedly, yipping at Alder's feet. Woobat fluttered around Alder’s head, settling onto his shoulder with a squeak of joy. Darmanitan cracked an eye open curiously, but remained curled up on the rug in the living room.

“Hey there! Wow it's nearly dinnertime already. The paperwork took a lot longer than I expected.” He said with a laugh as he gave each of them a rub on the head. “I'll get started on dinner, you all must be starving.”

As the Pokémon were getting their fill of affection, N dashed towards the front door with a wide grin. He let out an excited chirp as he crashed into Alder's arms.

“N! How was your time home alone?” He exclaimed with a hearty laugh, engulfing him in a warm embrace. “Sorry I was gone for so long, I had something very important I had to do.”

As Alder tucked N into his arms, he was hit with an overwhelming feeling of love. Love from a father. Love for the world. Love for the child with his little hands currently wrapped around his ribs.

 N burrowed his head into the crook of Alder's neck. Alder furrowed his eyebrows and pulled his son in closer.

Chapter Text

Across the lawn, N and his Pokémon were engaged in a game of wrestle. Alder trusted Darmanitan enough to chaperone the youngsters while he did a couple chores.

Spring was bleeding quickly into summer, and the weather was warm enough for both Alder and N to donn white sleeveless tank tops. Their ponchos currently floated in a tub of soapy water that Alder was hauling onto the lawn.

With a heavy huff, Alder dropped the wooden tub of water down on the ground. The water swished side to side at the sudden movement, spilling out from the edges of the tub. He flexed his hands to loosen up the tight scarred skin around his palms. He could see N sitting on the grass, chattering to his Pokémon a little ways away. 

With a washboard in hand and a clothesline set up behind him, Alder settled down onto his wooden stool. He shook out his arms, cleared his throat, and then got to work.

As he began scrubbing N's poncho on the washboard, his mind began to wander. After adopting N, his life had gotten a lot more busy.

Every day was a new cycle that required careful planning. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, activities, responsibilities. He knew the cycle well and had done it before, but it was a whole new challenge with a bunch of other youngsters. There was always the lingering presence of his job, and all the champion responsibilities he had neglected. He pushed those responsibilities away to the back of his mind and focused on the current ones.

“Dinner…” He mumbled to himself as he worked. “What to make for dinner tonight…?”

“Alder?”

“Hmm?” 

Alder blinked in surprise as a timid voice interrupted his thoughts. N stood in front of him with his head tilted in curiosity. 

“Oh hello there N, do you need something?”

“What are you doing?” N asked, articulating each word. He was doing great speaking wise considering the fact that he had known no English before.

“What am I doing? Well I'm washing our clothes with this washboard.” He said with a smile, lifting up the washboard and letting the stray soap duds trickle down the wooden frame.

N stared at him curiously, watching him scrub the poncho on the washboard. After a while he reached out his little hands.

“Can I try?”

“You want to try? Sure why not,” Alder said, standing up and dropping his supplies into the water. “Let me get you a little tub, I have an extra washboard too so you can wash your own poncho.”

A little while later the pair were sitting side by side in the sun, scrubbing away at their ponchos.

N's Deerling and Zorua had wandered by, curiously peering into the basin. N had his tongue sticking out to the side of his mouth, small hands fumbling to keep the washboard still as he scrubbed furiously at a food stain.

Alder peered over at N's tub. “You're doing great buddy! Just make sure to get that smudge over there too.”

N nodded in focus. Alder returned to his own scrubbing, but then had a mischievous thought.

With a playful smile, Alder dipped his hand into his tub and flicked a bit of water from towards N. 

N squealed in surprise as the cold water droplets smacked against his face. Alder barely had time to put a hand up before N pushed a handful of water back at him.

“Woah you got me soaked!” He said with a roar of laughter.

“You got me wet, that's payback!” N exclaimed with a playful pout, wiping water off his face.

Alder splashed a handful back at him. N whacked him with his sopping wet poncho. Alder heaved another soapy wave from his basin.

They were both standing now, stools knocked into the grass. With ponchos and basins prepped like weapons of war, the water fight began.

Zorua and Deerling ducked away with a shrill cry of surprise to avoid getting hit by the waves of water that began soaring through the air. Darmanitan tucked Woobat safely under his arm, snorting in annoyance as a couple of droplets hit the flames on his head and sizzled on impact. Eventually all the young Pokémon ducked under Darmanitan, watching Alder and N throw water at each other.

By the end of the game they were both lying on their backs in the grass, covered in soap duds and laughing. Their clothes were discarded by the wayside, tubs nearly empty of water. 

Alder sat up and wiped the soap duds from N's eyes, before picking up the ponchos and shaking them.

“Well…now our clothes are dirty again.” He said with a snorting laugh.

N put his hands up to his face to smother a giggle. “Oops!”

“Oops? That's all you have to say?” Alder exclaimed in mock annoyance, ruffling N's wet hair and causing the boy to explode into laughter.

—

One morning Alder made his way down the front porch and settled on the front lawn. The cold morning dew sunk into his clothes. Despite the sun not being out yet, the summer air was still humid and warm. He took in a breath of fresh air, letting his eyes drift close and his heart settle.

After a few moments he heard the front door of the house creak open. Little footsteps tiptoed down the stairs and rustled the still grass. Alder opened his eyes and looked down to see N sitting down beside him.

“Good morning N, what are you doing here so early?”

“Zorua pushed me off the bed.” N said with a pout, flipping his poncho over his legs. “I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

“Ah I see,” Alder said with a soft chuckle. “That little rascal.”

N nodded in agreement, then looked up at Alder. “Why are YOU here?” he questioned.

“Well I'm just doing some morning meditation.”

“Meditation?” N asked, tilting his head to the side.

Alder nodded. “Yep! It's a method of relaxation, helps to clear your mind before the day starts.” He smiled down at N. “While you're here would you like to join me?”

N nodded eagerly, fluffing out his poncho and sitting up straight to mimic Alder's position. “What do I do now?”

“Just sit here and breathe in and out.”

N puffed out his cheeks and exhaled ferociously.

“Not like that!” Alder exclaimed with a bark of amusement, tapping N on the head.

N squirmed in laughter “You told me to breathe out so I did!”

“Ah you silly boy, I meant to breathe in and out gently. Like this.”

Alder took in a deep breath of air, pausing for a few moments before exhaling and relaxing again. He looked back down at N.

“See? Just like that. Calm and collected.” 

N regained his composure and closed his eyes, puffing out his own chest. Alder turned back towards the horizon and closed his eyes.

As the early trill of Pidove signaled the arrival of morning, the sun began to peek out from between the treetops. Golden rays of sunlight settled across his hair, lighting up the orange hues like a flame. Cradled by the warmth of the sunlight, Alder felt himself grow weary. He let the light engulf him with sleep.

—

He was awoken moments later by Darmanitan, who had come outside when Alder was asleep and was blowing smoke rings into his face. N was kneeling in front of him, giggling. 

“Alder!” He exclaimed between fits of laughter. “You fell asleep!”

“Oh did I?” Alder remarked with a lopsided smile, shaking out his head and trying to regain his composure. “How silly of me!”

Darmanitan gave him a look of disappointment, lined with a hint of amusement. He grunted and blew another smoke ring into Alder’s face.

“Alright alright I got the message!” He exclaimed, waving the smoke away with a cough.

“That was not supposed to happen!” N exclaimed jokingly.

“No it wasn’t,” Alder replied with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “I suppose I was just too tired last night.”

“You need a bedtime.” N suggested.

“Perhaps, perhaps I do need one.” Alder said in agreement. He shook himself awake, readjusting his poncho. “Anyways, let's try this again, yeah?”

“Okay,” N said, settling back down next to Alder. He pointed a finger at him. “But you can't fall asleep again!”

“I won't I wont..” Alder said with a chuckle, settling back down onto the grass. He could hear Darmanitan settle down a little ways behind them.

He straightened his back and watched N do the same. Then the two took in a breath together, feeling the crisp morning air flow into their throats and down to their lungs. Like a chorus, their breaths of tranquility joined the melodies of nature risking beneath the wake of the morning sun. The two fell into the trance of their meditation, Darmnitan's gentle hum an accomplice to their tune.