Evening settled over Little Root Town as the Chen family farm glowed warm and lived-in.
"Food's ready!"
Chen Shi set the plates of Pokémon food that Grandpa and Grandma had prepared on the table outside the villa.
A crowd of Pokémon cheered in unison and settled down obediently.
Chen Shi smiled.
"This probably won't be enough for you all—remember to eat lots of meat and energy blocks!"
He portioned generous helpings to every Pokémon according to size, and for each placed a cup of Combee honey.
Togepi and Leafeon couldn't wait; they dove in at once.
"Chakki-doyii~ (This is too delicious!)"
"Bui~ (Totally!)"
The two little cuties were nearly swooning with happiness.
Even Florges began to eat with impressive enthusiasm, and Dreepy had buried its head so deep in its bowl that only the tip of its tail remained visible.
As for Swampert… best not to ask.
Chen Shi glanced over the family's roster and swallowed.
There were four Pokémon at Elite-Four pinnacle: Salamence, Sceptile, Venusaur, and Garchomp—an absurdly powerful lineup.
Then there were Swampert and Kingdra at mid-Elite.
Gengar and Foongus at early Elite.
Roserade and Gardevoir hovering at near-Elite peak.
Grandpa and Grandma were absolutely hidden heavyweights of the League.
The Swampert and Kingdra were, in fact, the parents of Chen Shi's own Swampert.
A thought struck him and he jogged over to Grandma's Garchomp.
"Shark-bro, it's been seven or eight years, right? Have you and Dragon-sis had a baby yet? I'm waiting!"
The nearby Salamence—Garchomp's mate—snorted, releasing twin puffs of steam from her nostrils as she turned away in mock annoyance.
Garchomp scratched its head with a massive claw and protested loudly.
"Garchomp! Garchomp!"
(What are you anxious about? I'm trying, okay—give me time!)
Chen Shi laughed. Dragon-type Pokémon were famously slow to reproduce, and with bloodlines like Salamence and Garchomp on top of Elite status, his hopes had never been high. He only teased Garchomp because of a certain drunken promise from years ago.
When he was nine, that Garchomp had stolen a bottle of Grandpa's liquor and gotten utterly hammered. In its tipsy bravado it told its mate to try harder so they could have a baby to travel with Chen Shi. It assumed the kid wouldn't understand—but Chen Shi had always been able to understand Pokémon speech since he was small, maybe a bizarre transmigrator perk. He'd never forgotten that night's boast.
"Here, Shark-bro—have something good!"
Chen Shi pulled a bottle from his pocket and handed it over. Garchomp's eyes lit up; it clapped him on the shoulder with a heavy claw.
Grandma called out,
"Alright, Shi'er, stop teasing—come sit."
Chen Shi beamed and took his seat, biting into roasted meat.
In this world, there were ordinary animals too—raised for food. The family ate them openly; it was simply life.
Grandma asked gently,
"Shi'er, how was Sinnoh this year? Did you run into any danger?"
Chen Shi smacked his lips and answered lightly,
"Danger? Me? You know I wasn't challenging gyms—just sightseeing. Sinnoh is beautiful, and I met three partners there."
He glanced affectionately at Florges, Leafeon, and Togepi.
"Back then, Florges was just a Floette." Chen Shi continued. "She'd been captured by poachers in Kalos and sold into Sinnoh. By chance I rescued her."
"I almost handed her to Interpol so she could be returned to Kalos, but she clung to me and refused to leave."
"You should've seen her face—so pitiful. Later she simply joined my traveling party."
Togepi and Leafeon exchanged bewildered looks. Who would've guessed the elegant big-sister figure of their team had such a tragic past?
Florges' face flushed scarlet, but she pretended not to hear.
Grandpa and Grandma exchanged amused looks.
"And the other two?" they asked.
Chen Shi lowered his voice.
"I found them in an underground cavern."
He explained how he'd gone looking for a rumor about a shiny Beldum—but after two long months found only two starving little ones instead.
(The author notes that in the animation timeline, the Metagross that appears is tied to that Iron-Dumbbell; here, the story uses Beldum.)
The two little ones had been born in a dark cave, bullied by other Pokémon, surviving on moss.
When Chen Shi found them, they were unconscious from hunger.
Dreepy puffed up proudly.
"Duo~" (I found them!)
Leafeon and Togepi buried deeper into their bowls in embarrassment.
Florges snorted delicately, giving them a sideways glance. As if saying: "And you dare tease me?"
Grandpa asked,
"Shi'er, are you fond of Metagross? If you want, I can talk to the Zifuqi family and trade for one. Your team isn't full yet."
Chen Shi waved him off.
"No need, Grandpa. I only like shiny Metagross' appearance. I'm more curious about a shiny Beldum—heard the shiny Iron-Dumbbell is what interested me in the first place."
Grandpa thought for a moment.
"A shiny Metagross is special, but since Beldum reproduce by splitting, a single shiny could yield two or three offspring across its life. If you want one, I'll arrange it—no matter the cost."
Chen Shi's eyes lit up.
A shiny Metagross… who wouldn't be tempted? He remembered that iconic scene of a Trainer stepping out with a silver, gleaming Metagross in an old episode—so cool.
But he hesitated: he already had a shiny Dreepy; a shiny Metagross would cost Grandpa far too much.
"No, Grandpa. I'm fine. Let it be."
Grandpa and Grandma exchanged a look and nodded.
But Grandpa secretly resolved that if Shi'er truly wanted one someday, he would find a way to secure a shiny Beldum—whatever it cost.
Chen Shi brightened suddenly.
"Grandpa, how about I trade a spot that's full of ancient spirits—an ancient-spirit site—for one?" he offered excitedly.