Pokémon: The Path of Ascension

At that moment, Toshi's mom, Emiko, was walking over with a kettle of water. Hearing Hideo's words, her face showed some displeasure: "Hideo, how can you say that to Toshi? In the end, it's still your responsibility. If you hadn't been careless in your job, how could a high-level Pinsir appear on the outskirts of the mountain range?"

Hearing Emiko's words, Hideo scratched his head in embarrassment: "Well... I didn't expect that this Pinsir would come out, and it almost led to Toshi getting hurt…"

"Dad, please don't say that. No one could have predicted this. Ultimately, it's my fault. If I hadn't been so scared, Butterfree wouldn't have been so easily defeated by Pinsir. If I could have made Butterfree stall Pinsir for a little longer, maybe we could have waited for you to arrive…"

Toshi lowered his head and stroked Butterfree gently: "Butterfree, it's my fault… I'm sorry."

"Butterfree…" Butterfree shook its head and nudged Toshi's palm, as if trying to comfort him.

A gentle smile appeared on Toshi's face.

"Dad, I'll take Butterfree back to my room and check on the Ponyta's Pokémon egg as well."

Mom Emiko handed Toshi a cup of freshly poured hot water and said gently, "Toshi, be sure to rest well. After going through something like that, you need to take some time to unwind."

Taking the cup from his mom, Toshi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll be fine."

With that, he headed toward his room.

...

Toshi placed Butterfree on his desk and gently asked, "Butterfree, how are you? Does your body still hurt?"

Butterfree shook its head: "Butterfree…"

"That's good," Toshi smiled. "Tonight, you can rest here with me, and once you're healed, you can go back."

Butterfree didn't respond but instead looked at the Egg Incubator beside them.

"Butterfree, this is Ponyta's Pokémon egg, the offspring of my dad's Rapidash, which you've seen earlier." Toshi brought the Egg Incubator closer.

"This is also my first Pokémon…"

After saying that, Toshi hesitated to look at Butterfree. However, Butterfree seemed completely unfazed and kept circling around the Egg Incubator, looking quite curious.

Seeing this, Toshi felt even more embarrassed because he had thought Butterfree would care…

"Butterfree, is this your first time seeing a Pokémon egg?"

"Butterfree." Butterfree nodded.

Toshi smiled: "Actually, my dad wasn't planning to give this Pokémon egg to me at first, so he's been taking care of it all along. He wanted to prepare a better starter Pokémon for me, but for such a long time, he hasn't found a suitable one and reluctantly gave this Pokémon egg to me."

"Butterfree?" Butterfree looked confused.

Toshi smiled and continued to explain: "That doesn't mean we don't care about this Pokémon egg; on the contrary, my dad cares about it a lot since it's the offspring of his Pokémon. However, he also knows that if the talent isn't enough, forcing it could actually harm the Pokémon. My dad wants Ponyta to grow up without going through the struggles its father faced. This is the most sincere wish of every parent for their children."

"Butterfree!" Butterfree's eyes sparkled with understanding.

Looking at the light in Butterfree's eyes, Toshi suddenly recalled the scene from earlier when Butterfree had been seriously injured while protecting him, and he felt an emotional surge.

So, he made a decision.

With a determined look, Toshi gazed at Butterfree: "Butterfree, I hope you can become my family. I don't want to wait any longer! Butterfree, will you accompany me on this journey?"

Upon hearing Toshi's words, Butterfree froze for a moment, then its eyes filled with tears. It had waited far too long for this moment…

Looking into Toshi's eyes, Butterfree nodded vigorously.

Seeing Butterfree's response, Toshi smiled.

"Then, Butterfree, let's be partners from now on!"

"Butterfree!"

...

"Ding ding ding…!"

In the morning, the newly awakened sunlight filtered through the mottled windows, gently illuminating Toshi's young yet determined face.

Slowly, Toshi opened his eyes. Just waking up, he didn't immediately turn off the alarm clock; instead, he looked toward the other side of the bed.

A pair of red, amber-like eyes met his gaze.

"Good morning, Butterfree." Toshi smiled and greeted Butterfree.

"Butterfree!" Butterfree smiled back at Toshi.

Perhaps,

this is what peaceful times feel like.

The thought surfaced in Toshi's mind.

...

"Toshi, come eat breakfast! Today is the day you leave, and you need to catch the train, so you can't be late."

Mom Emiko said while bringing over breakfast, advising Toshi.

"Got it, Mom."

Toshi had just finished washing up and was walking out of the bathroom.

At that moment, his dad was already eating heartily.

"Don't worry, dear, with my Rapidash, Toshi has never missed a train, right Toshi?"

Toshi replied with a smile, "Yes, Dad, Rapidash's speed never disappoints."

"See, even Toshi says so," Hideo continued eating while chatting. "So, no need to hurry; we still have plenty of time."

Emiko rolled her eyes, visibly exasperated by the banter between the two of them.

"By the way, where's Butterfree? Why isn't it with you?" Emiko asked Toshi.

Toshi chuckled and then pulled out a red-and-white Poké Ball from his waist: "Butterfree, come on out."

With a flash of white light, Butterfree appeared.

"Toshi, what's this…?" Hideo was taken aback, even dropping the food he had just put in his mouth.

"Toshi, didn't we tell you…" Emiko furrowed her brow at the sight.

Toshi had anticipated this reaction, so he had already prepared what to say: "Dad, Mom, you know the bond between me and Butterfree. Yesterday, Butterfree risked its life to protect me. So how could I let Butterfree down? I don't want to wait any longer; I want Butterfree to become my Pokémon!"

"Toshi…"

Hideo wanted to say more but was interrupted by Emiko.

"Toshi, Mom understands your relationship with Butterfree, and she knew this day would come eventually. But are you really sure about this?"

Toshi replied firmly, "Yes, Mom, I'm sure."

At this point, his dad anxiously spoke up: "Toshi, what about the Ponyta's Pokémon egg? What are you planning to do with it? You know our household can only support the cultivation of one Pokémon…"

Toshi had already thought about how to address this, so he explained his thoughts to his parents.