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[h3][color=f7941d]~Avery Grant~[/color][/h3]

Phanpy seemed pretty content, sprawled out on his back, allowing Avery the pleasure of giving him bellyrubs. A little treat, from me to you, Phanpy might say. But Phanpy couldn’t speak, so Avery would have to enough talking for the both of them. He could handle that. Phanpy seemed pretty easy going, and so was he. They were like peas in a canoe.

Wait. That’s not quite right.

He heard laughter. The way he was feeling, he could have joined in. Everything was just, GREAT, yeah? Laughing was great, so laughing would make what’s great already even more great.

He didn’t notice the cotton-candy swirl until it was right up on him. Err...bent down by him, might be a better phrase. She was looking at him and…

[color=f49ac2]“Hi. I’m Melody. Melody Avery Hemlock, actually! I was wondering… are you alright?”[/color]

Melody…wait, Avery? She couldn’t be Avery. He was Avery. They couldn’t both be Avery, could they? But...if they were both Avery, then neither could be Avery. She’d be Melody and he’d be…

He’d be, what, Garfield?

That could work. Probably. The girl seemed friendly enough. But why ask if he was alright? He was obviously insanely happy. Right?

Just then a hand touched his shoulder, although it retreated just a few moments later. He looked over. Peggy? And she had also asked if he was alright. Was something wrong?

He noticed his cheeks felt wet and his vision a little blurry. He moved the hand not patting Phanpy’s belly to his face. Warm. Wet.

He was crying?

But…

No, crying wasn’t allowed. He had to be strong. He promised. He promised that he’d always be strong. This...this couldn’t count. They weren’t sad tears. They were happy tears. But tears were tears, and crying was crying. He wiped his eyes on his arm, and when he pulled it away, he was smiling ear to ear. He gave the girls a nod.

[color=f7941d]“I’m fine. More than that. I’m just so happy, y’know? This little guy,”[/color] he paused for a moment, eyes turning down to the Phanpy that had apparently been comfortable enough to begin to doze off. Lazy punk. Avery continued. Well, tried the best he could. 

[color=f7941d]“It’s just...it...he-sh...e I…”[/color]

Well...that didn’t quite come out the way he was expecting. Brain, get ahold of yourself. Avery needs you, buddy.

He took a deep breath and stood up. Phanpy stirred from its half slumber and lazily looked up at him. Who said to stop the rubs, bubs? Keep on-a pattin’...is probably what the look meant. He wiped his face with his arm again and looked down at the two, rather short girls.

[color=f7941d]“It’s all good. Got too happy too quickly, ya? Little dude's too adorable for words.”[/color]

He finally got a good look at the room. Melody had an adorable fluffball, the really quiet guy had...a planty poochyena. And the eager beaver had picked up a Nidoran. They looked a lot alike already. Wow! A match made in Elm Lab.

Speaking of which, Avery looked over at the professor. He gave the man the biggest smile he could manage and another thumbs up. Then he looked back down at the Pokemon. They were all so...so different. Like, Peggy’s Waterhound was all protective and stuff. And it was singing! It must really like Melody.

Avery wondered if Phanpy could sing.

That’d be awesome!
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