🎄 Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄
To celebrate, I'll be releasing 5 chapters today, dropping one chapter every hour. Consider it my Christmas gift to all of you 🎁
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Thank you all for reading and supporting the journey. Enjoy the chapters!
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April 30, Evening
I sat on the new villa's sofa, legs stretched out, mug of coffee in hand.
The room was quiet—Grookey asleep on the armrest, Pikachu curled on my lap, and Mankey snoring loudly on the top beam like a monkey-shaped ceiling fan.
I opened my banking app casually.
And blinked.
Then blinked again.
₹2.1 million.
Deposited within one week.
All from selling Miltank Milk.
No Pokéblocks yet.
No potions.
No evolution items.
Nothing from exploration teams.
Just milk.
I leaned back, rubbing my forehead.
This was insane.
And when the potions factory machines came online next week
—and Pokéball automation kicked in
—and the Pokémon Department began mass orders—
It was the difference between earth and sky.
I stared at the ceiling for a full minute.
"My life has become DLC content."
Just as I set the phone aside, it buzzed.
Rawat calling.
I picked up.
"Yeah, Colonel?"
His voice was tight.
"Aakash, Evolution Stone acquisition has stalled. Other countries seem to have realized something is… off. They aren't exporting the crystals anymore. Not a single one."
I sighed.
"Finally."
"And now?"
I smiled slightly.
"Now? nothing. We handle it tomorrow.."
A pause.
"Why?"
"Because tomorrow is May 1st."
He blinked audibly.
"Maharashtra Day?"
"Exactly. A perfect day to introduce Evolution stone to the world."
Pure silence.
Then—
"Aakash… you're serious."
"As serious as an Arbok trying to swallow me."
I took a long breath.
"Call Mama. Tanisha. Imran. Ritu. Arjun. You should come too, Colonel—you need your own Pokémon at this point."
Rawat exhaled like someone preparing for chaos.
"…Understood. We'll meet you tomorrow."
"Good. Aarey, morning."
I hung up.
Grookey lifted his head sleepily. Pikachu shifted on my lap. Mankey farted from above.
"Great," I muttered, waving the air. "Real majestic partner energy."
I stood, turned off the lights, and went to my room.
Tomorrow was going to be the start of a new era.
I needed rest.
May 1 — Early Morning
The alarm rang before sunrise.
I showered, packed a small bag, recalled the team, grabbed the evolution stones I needed…
And walked out of the villa.
The sky was painted in faint orange.
Mumbai was buzzing with excitement there were preparations for today's events were going on everywhere. For a moment it felt like I had returned to pre-merge time.
I breathed in the fresh, earthy air.
"Evolution, huh…"
Today, Maharashtra—and the world—was going to witness something that would change the future forever.
I got into the car.
And moved straight toward Aarey Forest.
______________________________________
The road into Aarey was quiet, sunlight filtering through the trees as I followed the familiar path toward the main clearing.
I expected to arrive first.
I was wrong.
When I stepped out of the car, six familiar figures were already waiting.
Mama Kadam.Tanisha.Imran.Ritu.Arjun.And Colonel Rawat.
All standing in formation like they were attending a military parade.
Behind them—
A group of twenty people, split neatly into two rows.
Half wore police uniforms.
Half wore fire brigade gear.
They looked nervous, excited, overwhelmed—and very obviously desperate.
Rawat stepped forward, arms crossed.
"They're the ones being trained by Kadam and Tanisha," he said. "They need Pokémon."
Tanisha cracked her knuckles.
"And fast."
Mama Kadam adjusted his cap, looking tired but determined.
"The laws are passed. Rescue units, rapid response teams, law enforcement—they all need Pokémon partners immediately."
Tanisha nodded beside him.
"We've trained them in basics—formation, safety drills, controlled movement. But without Pokémon, it's pointless."
Imran added, "And now that zones are forming everywhere, we can't send unpartnered personnel inside."
Ritu raised her hand casually.
"And I want a Pokémon that doesn't try to eat my hair. Just saying." glancing at her pikachu on her head.
Arjun snorted. "Good luck with that."
I lifted a hand to stop their chatter.
"Alright. Then we'll start with the easiest and safest choice."
They all leaned forward slightly.
"We'll stop at the Growlithe tribe first."
Mama Kadam and Tanisha said it at the exact same time:
"Perfect."
Growlithe matched Perfectly with police.
Perfectly with rescue teams.
Loyal. Brave. Alert. Obedient.
And since Mama already had a Growlithe leading his unit, the tribe trusted him.
I pointed toward the deeper part of the forest.
"Follow me. And stay in formation."
The entire group straightened immediately.
Rawat glanced at me.
"You're sure they'll accept new trainers?"
I smirked slightly.
"Growlithe are loyal to justice and courage. and with recent migrations growlithe tribe has grown considerably."
I looked at the twenty personnel behind him.
"These people are exactly what they're looking for."
Mama Kadam smiled proudly.
"Let's go meet the pack."
We moved deeper into the forest, following the familiar burnt-scented trail that only one Pokémon could leave behind.
Arcanine's territory.
The trees opened up into a wide clearing of sun-baked stones and half-charred logs.
The air shimmered faintly with heat—and before the new trainees could even gasp—
A massive striped form stepped out from behind a boulder.
Arcanine.
The Guardian of western Aarey.
The leader of the Growlithe tribe.
His mane billowed like fire turned into fur, and his eyes locked onto me with recognition.
I stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Good morning."
Arcanine snorted once in greeting—half respect, half acknowledgment. His gaze drifted immediately to the six familiar faces behind me… and the twenty unfamiliar ones.
Growlithe trotted out next.
First two… then five… then an entire pack of nearly sixty surrounding the clearing. Their tails wagged hard when they spotted Mama Kadam.
Mama knelt, patting his own Growlithe.
Tanisha stepped beside him.
"We're ready, Aakash."
I nodded and addressed the pack.
"These people are protectors—police and firefighters. They want partners. They want to fight beside you, save lives with you, and protect this city."
Arcanine lifted his head proudly.
His aura surged out like a heatwave.
All twenty trainees stiffened—some almost buckling under the pressure.
Arcanine stepped forward, looked each human in the eyes, measuring them silently.
Then he growled sharply.
A trial.
Not a battle.
A test of courage.
The Growlithe began choosing on instinct—approaching trainees they resonated with.
One by one…
A bark.
A nuzzle.
A wagging tail.
And a bond was formed.
Growlithe joined their humans.
Not handed out—chosen.
By the end of it:
6 police trainees had Growlithe partners.
2 fire brigade members had Growlithe partners.
Eight new bonds.
Eight new protectors.
The chosen humans were emotional—some trembling, some laughing, some crying openly as Growlithe pressed their heads into them.
But the remaining four police officers stood silently.
Disappointed.
The Growlithe had approached them… then simply moved on.
I stepped toward them.
"Don't feel discouraged."
One of them shook his head. "We trained so hard, sir…"
I smiled slightly.
"And you'll get your Pokémon. But Growlithe choose based on instinct and compatibility."
"Then who…?"
"That's for you to slowly figure out. See which pokemon feel compatible to you. "
Arcanine growled softly at my side, approving the decision.
I turned to him.
"Would you like to witness an evolution today?"
Arcanine paused for just half a second.
Then he nodded.
A deep, dignified nod.
The Growlithe pack barked in excitement.
I gestured for everyone to follow.
"Let's go to the lake."
The Lake
The air grew cooler as we approached the shimmering blue water.
Normally, this place was lively—
Staryu splashing, Poliwag waddling, Magikarp leaping,
But today?
Silence.
The water lay still—too still.
Even the wind seemed careful.
Because behind us walked Arcanine.
His aura washed over the entire lake like a warning:
The King is Here.
Be respectful.
Be quiet.
water Pokémon peeked from underwater, but none dared surface.
The trainees noticed it too.
"This place feels… quiet today."
"No… it feels like a throne room."
Arcanine stood proudly at the lakeside, watching the water ripple around his reflection.
The Growlithe arranged themselves behind him like a royal guard.
Mama Kadam stepped up beside me.
"You're really going to evolve one today?"
"Yes," I said softly. "It's time Maharashtra sees evolution with their own eyes."
The sun gleamed off the lake.
Arcanine's mane glowed gold.
I looked back at everyone.
"Then let's begin."
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