The world felt different today.
My journey has really started…
I looked at the two walking beside me.
Meowscarada moved with that sleek, graceful sway, her cape fluttering lightly around her, pink-red eyes catching the light every time she glanced at me.
Lopunny walked softly at my other side, long ears swaying like silk ribbons, her steps light but always perfectly in rhythm with mine.
"Feels weird, doesn't it?" I said in a soft and low voice
They both tilted their heads at the exact same moment.
"Meow…?"
"Lop…?"
Pure confusion, but their eyes were smiling.
I couldn't help it. I smiled, reached out, and wrapped my arms around their hips, pulling both of them in close against me in one sudden, tight hug.
"Nyaa~?!"
"Lopuu~?!"
Meowscarada let out a startled squeak that melted into a happy purr the second she felt my arms around her waist.
Lopunny's ears shot up in surprise, then flopped forward as she giggled and pressed herself closer with a soft "Lopuu~♡".
Their warm fur brushed my cheeks, tails flicking like crazy. I pulled them even closer, burying my face between their soft, fluffy chests for a long moment. I just breathed them in, that sweet, familiar scent that always felt like home. Their hearts were pounding just as fast as mine, little thumps I could feel against my ears. I smiled into their fur, happier than I'd ever been.
Ryan's drifted into memory.
Flashback.
The day he found their eggs…
the first time he woke up and saw them sleeping beside me…
how slowly they grew and learned, step by step.
Meowscarada, who once was a tiny Sprigatito, playful and clumsy…
then a determined Floragato…
and finally, evolving into Meowscarada in that desperate moment,
to save me from Ariados.
And Lopunny…
In that same moment, she pushed past her limits and used a move she had never trained, never practiced, never even seen before.
Giga Impact.
A move where the user throws their entire body forward, unleashing every ounce of strength in one unstoppable, devastating charge.
She learned it through instinct, because protecting me mattered more than anything.
All of that… all those memories… felt like one long heartbeat echoing inside my chest.
I exhaled slowly.
"…It's time," I finally said.
Meowscarada's tail swayed softly.
Lopunny's ears perked.
I smiled looking at them.
"It's time to fulfill my promise to you."
Their eyes widened: hope, excitement, and something warm shining inside them.
I stepped forward and gently held out my hands.
"Come on," I said softly.
"I have something to show you."
A little while later, we stopped in front of a tall, elegant building, with warm stone walls, wide windows, and flowers hanging in tidy boxes beneath them.
A small carved sign near the entrance read:
"Starlight Garden Hotel."
I took a breath and walked inside.
The lobby was quiet and cozy.
Soft golden lights glowed overhead, and the air smelled faintly of vanilla and fresh linen. A fountain shaped like a Lapras sat in the middle, its tiny carved waves shimmering under the lights.
The woman at the reception desk looked up as we approached. She wore a neat uniform with a small badge shaped like a Premier Ball.
Her smile was polite and warm.
"Welcome to Starlight Garden Hotel," the receptionist greeted with a warm smile.
"I booked a room for today," I said. "Under the name Ryan."
She nodded. "Of course. I'll check right away."
Within seconds, she found it.
"Room sixty-nine," she confirmed, printing a small slip and preparing the keycard.
When she finally looked up again, her eyes drifted to Lopunny and Meowscarada.
Her expression softened.
"…Your Pokémon are beautiful," she murmured, almost shy, like she didn't mean to say it out loud.
I felt a small warmth spread through my chest.
"Thank you," I said simply.
She handed me the keycard with a polite tilt of her head.
"Enjoy your stay."
We walked down the hallway.
Finally, we stopped at a dark wooden door marked:
69
I held the keycard between my fingers, then turned to my partners.
"Here," I said, offering it to them with a small smile. "You two open it."
They blinked, ears twitching.
"Meow??"
"Lopuu…?"
Total confusion, but so cute it made my chest hurt.
I handed them the keycard with a grin.
"Go on, open it."
They looked at each other, then at the keycard like it was some strange treasure.
Meowscarada and Lopunny both reached out at the same time. Their paws overlapped and together they held the card. They fumbled it into the slot, a little clumsy, a little shaky, completely adorable.
BEEP.
The lock clicked.
They opened the door…
Inside was perfect.
Warm golden light filled the room, soft and welcoming. The wooden floor felt warm under my feet, and a huge bed waited, piled high with fluffy pillows and a thick white blanket that looked like a cloud. A few candles glowed gently, filling the air with light lavender. The curtains were drawn, keeping everything private and cozy.
I stepped in, dropped my bag, and took a deep breath.
Then I reached to my belt, opened two Poké Balls… and inside were two beautiful diamond rings, sparkling in the warm light.
"I know it's not like in the movies," I said softly, voice trembling just a little, "where people get married with big parties and everyone watching."
I looked up at them, "But one day… I promise… we'll have something even better. A real ceremony, with flowers and music and all our friends. I'll stand there and tell the whole world how much I love you."
"Meowscarada… Lopunny… will you spend the rest of your lives with me?"
They didn't hesitate.
Meowscarada's pink-red eyes filled with happy tears. She nodded fast, a soft "Nyaa~♡" breaking from her throat.
Lopunny's big brown eyes shining. She nodded just as hard, whispering a trembling "Lopuu~♡".
Meowscarada kicked one leg back, the door shut with a soft, perfect thud.
They stepped forward together.
I slipped the first diamond ring onto Meowscarada's paw. Then the second onto Lopunny's.
The moment the rings were on, they threw themselves at me.
Soft arms, fluffy ears, warm fur everywhere. They hugged me tight, kissing my face, my lips, my neck, happy, eager, a little messy with joyful tears. My clothes came off in seconds, shirt pulled over my head, pants tugged away, scattered across the floor.
By the time we tumbled onto the bed, I was completely naked, laughing and breathless between them.
We fell into the soft mattress together, three hearts finally saying yes in the only way that mattered.
Everything we'd waited for…
finally began.