Hi New Friend!

POV Rio

It had been a few months since I arrived in this world, and it was now approaching my birth month. Apparently, it was fairly common to celebrate birthdays in Concordia. The increased standard of living meant people treated birthdays as days of minor celebrations for family and sometimes friends as well. It also helped that Concordia has existed since the times of the Western Roman Empire. And apparently took some traditions from them. Such as Birthday celebrations.

'I do find the date of my birthday to be interesting.'

I was born on June 16th. Which was the Summer Solstice. While I admit it could be a mere coincidence, I found it to be interesting nonetheless. Especially since the Solstices are important magically, and even in my old world, they were quite important days for early cultures. But at least it wasn't a bad sign like being born during an Eclipse.

'That could get you killed, depending on the culture. And who knows what this world would do where magic exists.'

It was shaping up to be quite a celebration. I mean not by my past life standards, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was being around family and loved ones. It had been so long since I had last celebrated my birthday.

'How old was I even before I died? I must have been at least 40 or so, right? Or maybe not. I guess it doesn't matter.'

I was sitting in the common room while Mom worked in the kitchen. I asked if she wanted help, but she told me to help by sitting in the common room and being good.

'I can't blame her. If what she told me is right, then I am just turning 3. What exactly can a 3-year-old do in the Kitchen except be a nuisance? Or a danger.'

So here I was playing with my little wooden fox when I suddenly found I couldn't see. I didn't freak out because I could smell who it was before they even walked in.

"Ah, the little cutie. What are you doing?" said a certain hairy intruder.

"Hi, sister Hatterene. I am just playing with my toys."

"Ah, you flatter me," Hatterene said with a small blush.

'Like crap I do! If I didn't call you that you would get mad again!'

I had at first called her Grandma Hatterene, but she got very upset and shook me like she was trying to rob me. Then once I apologized, I tried calling her Aunt Hatterene, but that wasn't good either. She pouted in the corner and cried like I had kicked her puppy. So I called her Sister Hatterene and said sorry and that I was just tired and couldn't see straight. 

'Basically, she guilt tripped me and now I can't be rude.'

"I brought a present just for you. I think you will like it," Hatterene spoke with temptation.

"Oh? What did you get me? Is it a book?"

"Haha, no silly, where would I get a book?" Hatterene said with a little chuckle.

"I thought Mom said you have lots of books where you live. She said they are the best."

My Mom came running into the room and put her hand over my mouth.

"Hahahaha, kids, am I right? Always spouting nonsense," She said while giving Hatterene a guilty look.

I gave her a wtf look, but she ignored me. Before I could even respond, she was flying out the door. I chose wisely to keep my mouth shut as I could tell Hatterene was a little upset and that she needed to vent a bit. I just went back to playing with my toys while Hatterene excused herself.

"I will be right back, Rio, don't do anything bad while I am gone," Hatterene said with a scary level of calmness.

I just nod and try not to make a sound. I hear my Mom from outside.

"Hatterene, we can talk about this... Wait no! Put me down. I'm sorry, I promise I won't sneak into your house while you are gone and eat all your snacks," my Mom pleads.

Everything just freezes for a moment.

"Oh, you didn't know about that, did you... I'm doomed, aren't I?" My Mom says with worry.

"Yes," was Hatterenes' calm answer.

What followed next was the ground shaking and screams of pain and battle. I just pretended everything was fine. I also prayed to Arceus that Mom would survive. I didn't want to think about what would happen if Hatterene decided to adopt me if Mom were incapable of taking care of me.

Shiver

'Brrr, that would not be pleasant. But I have to wonder what snacks Mom ate?'

I focus back on the outside as I hear the fighting stop, and Hatterene walks in with a beaming smile. Then she picks me up and starts to coddle me. She pulls out a brush, and I can already see where this is going.

Several Hours Later...

'I hate this.'

I was in a pink dress with bows in my hair, and I felt like I was being treated as a doll. 

"Ah, aren't you just the cutest dolly?" Hatterene cooed at me.

I just give the best impression of a dead fish and look at Hatterene. 

"I just want to put you on my shelf back home and leave you there forever," Hatterene threatens with an unerving level of seriousness.

My Mom thankfully steps in to prevent me from getting turned into a doll.

"Okay, I think Rio has had enough."

I look over at her with the most grateful face I think I have ever had. I mouthed thank you and noticed that her clothes looked like she had been dragged through several farm fields and punched through several trees.

'It almost looks like her hair was turned into a bird's nest.'

As I was thinking that a bird flew out of her hair. I gave the best impression of Eddy Wally.

"Wow."

She just ignores my look of wonder and places me at the table. I refocused on what was happening and was still upset that I was stuck in this dress until later. I also really hated that it was the most comfortable piece of clothing I had ever worn. In BOTH lives. But I was really scared to ask what it was made of. I looked at Hatterene, then at the dress, and noticed that the pink was the same shade.

'Must be my imagination. God, I hope it's my imagination.'

I just focused on eating and having fun. Once that was done, we started handing out presents. The first was from Mom. I opened the box, and inside was something I was not expecting. It was a small wooden horse figurine, but this one had a horn and wings.

"I don't know why, but I saw it at the market and knew you should have it," My Mom says with a distant look.

"Thank you, Mom. I love it."

I wasn't sure myself, but I felt somehow connected to the wooden figurine. But that could wait until after my next present. I was surprised by the size. It was over 3 feet tall and about half as wide. I open it and I am confused.

"What is it?"

Hatterene just smiles and responds.

"A new friend." 

Inside the Box was a large, Dark Blue and Light Pink egg. And as soon as Hatterene said that, it cracked. I quickly set it on the floor, and the box fell apart, leaving the egg fully exposed. It kept cracking until it burst into light, and I had to cover my eyes.

'I have the distinct feeling someone is shouting something at the top of their lungs right now.'

In Another Universe...

"Achoo. Hey, that punk is thinking something rude. After all I did for them. Ugh, kids these days."

Back To Rio...

I had the sudden urge to sneeze, but kept it in. Then I swore I heard something.

"Loser..."

"What?"

Everyone is too distracted to hear me muttering.

"It must have been the wind. Though I don't think I have ever been insulted by the wind before."

I shake my head a refocus on what came out of the egg. It was a 3 or so feet tall Ralts. I actually had to look up to the Shiny Ralts. But despite that, it was extremely shy and made itself look smaller.

"Uh, hi, my name is Rio. And congrats on being born. Or is it hatched?"

Hatterene ignores my question and approaches the Ralts.

"Welcome to the world, little one. I shall name you Princess," Hatterene says with certainty. 

Ralts, my Mom, and I all looked at her like she was crazy.

'She just hatched, can you give her a little time to adjust before naming her?'

I didn't say it out loud, but Ralts nodded. I was surprised, but I wasn't sure if it was just a coincidence. Just in case I used the methods I had heard work when dealing with mind readers. It worked, but not on who I was expecting.

"Cutie, please stop projecting such strange thoughts. I'm not familiar with a quantum harmonizer, and I'm sure you shouldn't be inserting one into my photonic resonation chamber. Whatever that is," Hatterene says with a slight blush and a confused face.

I nearly died laughing on the ground as Hatterene just looked at me with the most baffled face. My mother is equally confused, as she can't read minds, so she just starts laughing nervously. Ralts is just standing there like a deer in headlights as I think she is trying to read my mind, but it was a garbled mess of nonsense and memes right now. Hatterene then asks another dumb question.

"Since when were Ogres like Onions? Is referring to how they smell pungent."

I answered correctly.

"Yes, no!"

My Mom joins in.

"Well, which is it?"

"Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. They are similar."

"Where would you even learn that?" My mom responded.

I looked to the left and scrunched my nose.

"A bird told."

While that was technically not true, it was also technically true since I heard it on Twitter a couple of times. Or at least I saw a video on YouTube with some tweets in it. Okay, it's just a straight-up lie, but I had to answer the question. What I didn't know is that I started a several-hour argument about what creatures correlate to what vegetables. I ended up just sitting in the corner with my toys, and I played with Ralts while Hatterene and Mom got progressively more aggressive. Then it happened. Hatterene and Mom got some wine out.

"Well, this can only end poorly. We should probably hide somewhere so we don't get forced into dresses or worse."

I had a full-body shiver, and it seems Ralts did as well. We didn't stick around to find out why and just hid in the bedroom. I didn't trust the door, so I grabbed some blankets and made a bed underneath the bed and hid under there. It was quite loud out there but so I decided to tell a story to distract us.

"Want to hear a story?"

She only nodded.

"Good, now let me think of a good one. Hmm, oh that's a good one."

I decided to tell one from my childhood.

"It's called the NeverEnding Story. Don't worry, I won't tell the actual whole thing, or else we will be here for eternity."

That made her laugh, which was good enough for me.

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Authors Note:

Ah, I need to rewatch that movie. They were good in my memory, but it has been quite a few years. Also, yes, Ralts is a Shiny Alpha Pokémon. Also, ignore the wind and the other Universe, it is just a little joke. And no, Hatterene didn't read Rio's mind before; it was just that the method Rio was using caused him to project his thoughts. Like yelling your thoughts. Any being with psychic powers could hear those thoughts without trying. This chapter is a bit more lighthearted as I figured Rio is a kid at this point, and it doesn't hurt to act like one. Especially with how dark it can get later. Until next time, Ciao.