Strictly speaking, a Kangaskhan Baby is also a Kangaskhan—and a female at that.
After all, there are no male Kangaskhan; the entire species is female.
The growth rate of a Kangaskhan Baby is extremely slow. Right now, it was only palm-sized, completely incapable of living independently.
It would take years before it gradually grew into a small Kangaskhan, and only then would it leave its mother's pouch to live on its own.
Until then, as Kangaskhan's Trainer, Yozora naturally bore the duty of protecting the little one's safety.
Of course…
For the Kangaskhan Baby, the safest place would always be inside its mother's pouch.
"Little one, you'd better grow up quickly, alright?" Yozora said with a gentle smile as he stroked the baby's tiny head.
The little creature seemed to understand only half of it, eyes curving like crescent moons as it blissfully enjoyed its caretaker's affection.
The reason Yozora said this was simple—if the Kangaskhan Baby became strong enough, it would also enhance Kangaskhan's battle power.
Of course, under normal circumstances, that wasn't possible.
This involved a special kind of evolution: Mega Evolution, a form of transformation very popular in the Kalos region.
Mega Evolution was evolution beyond evolution itself.
It not only unleashed hidden potential, but in some cases even allowed a Pokémon to break past its limits, granting immense power for a limited time.
Once the battle ended, or if the Pokémon was defeated, it would revert to its original form.
Naturally, something so powerful came with strict requirements.
Not only did it demand rare evolutionary items, but most critically, it required a profound bond of trust between Trainer and Pokémon.
…
After Mega Evolution, Kangaskhan itself did not change much. The real difference was with the baby in its pouch—the Kangaskhan Baby would instantly grow to several times its size, transforming into a strong young Kangaskhan.
That child would then fight alongside its mother, giving Kangaskhan an enormous boost in combat strength.
In Yozora's view, if the Kangaskhan Baby already had some strength of its own… then after Mega Evolution, its enlarged and strengthened body should become even more formidable!
That was why he hoped the little one could grow quickly, becoming stronger day by day.
Of course, training it was out of the question.
The baby was far too small, unable to withstand the strain of serious training.
The only solution was breeding and nourishment.
A skilled Breeder could provide Pokémon with food that was tasty, nourishing, and perfectly suited to their needs—subtly yet profoundly aiding their growth and strength.
That was the true strength of a Breeder!
And conveniently, Yozora himself was an excellent one. He firmly believed that under his care, time would gradually turn the little Kangaskhan into a strong and resilient fighter.
As night deepened, Yozora recalled Kangaskhan, set up camp, and prepared dinner.
…
The next evening.
After a full day of trekking, Yozora finally descended from Mt. Moon, arriving in the wild fields that stretched between Cerulean City and the mountain.
According to his map, this spot was at least thirty kilometers away from Cerulean.
At Yozora's usual pace, it would take about three days to reach the city.
He pitched camp beneath a large tree, released all of his partners, and began preparing dinner.
Rustle, rustle…
Drawn by the aroma of food, the surrounding bushes suddenly stirred, and wild Pokémon began to emerge one after another.
There were Raticate, Geodude, Caterpie, Oddish, Sandshrew, and many others—ordinary wild Pokémon.
But leading them all… was a Machop.
Machop was a humanoid Pokémon with a gray-blue body and five-fingered hands. Its strength was remarkable, often employed by humans for heavy lifting and transport.
The sheer number of wild Pokémon here exceeded a hundred. Under Machop's command, they slowly formed a ring around the campsite.
"Char!"
Charmander instantly tensed, leaping forward to guard the camp.
At once, the gathered wild Pokémon froze under its fierce presence, none daring to advance further.
Except for that Machop.
Unfazed by Charmander's pressure, it strode forward boldly, soon standing face-to-face with Yozora and his partner.
A broad, cheerful grin was spread across its face, and its confident stride carried an air of leadership.
Yozora's eyes lit up in surprise.
His Charmander was a Senior Level Pokémon—its aura was terrifying to ordinary wild Pokémon. The fact that hundreds had immediately halted proved just how overwhelming its presence was.
But this Machop…
From Yozora's Aura perception, it was only a Senior Level Pokémon, and yet it resisted Charmander's intimidation completely.
No wonder it had become the leader of so many wild Pokémon.
Pokémon: Machop
Type: Fighting
Rank:Senior Level
Ability:No Guard (Always attacks head-on, never dodges or defends. The sheer force of its fighting spirit compels its opponent to do the same, making all attacks land without fail.)
Potential: Gym Leader Level
Description: Passionate and combative, with a strong sense of justice and natural leadership.
"Well now, this is interesting. No Guard, huh? No wonder it's so fearless…" Yozora muttered with a faint smile after glancing over Machop's attributes.
That Ability was the definition of reckless.
Not only did it throw itself headfirst into battle, but its sheer momentum pulled opponents along with it—forcing both sides into a clash where every attack hit true.
"Machop, Machop!"
The wild Pokémon waved its arms animatedly, trying to communicate. It pointed at Yozora's simmering food, then gestured back at itself and the other Pokémon.
"You're saying… you want me to share the food with all of you?"
Yozora had always been able to understand Pokémon speech. At first, he thought it was just a natural talent.
Now he knew better—it was the power of Aura.
Sound was also energy, also a form of Aura.
Though faint, Yozora could sense it. That was why he could understand Pokémon speech.
Of course, sound was only the weakest, roughest form of Aura.
His comprehension was crude, giving him only a general sense of what they meant.
Even so, it was endlessly useful.
"Mm!"
Machop nodded firmly, confirming that Yozora had understood.
"No can do. This is our dinner. If I gave it all to you, my own partners wouldn't have anything left to eat," Yozora replied with a shake of his head.
Charmander roared in agreement, both endorsing Yozora's words and issuing a threat to the Machop.
…
…
(End of Chapter)