"Gardevoir, just leave everything here — you should go and rest too."
"Gar~" (Of course, David. If you need any help, just call me.)
"Will do, thanks."
Once Gardevoir had quietly excused itself, David turned to the groceries spread across the counter and began going through them one by one.
"Let's see… Combee honey, Moomoo Cheese made from Moomoo Milk, Slowpoke Tails — both fresh and smoked…"
He picked up the next item and his eyes lit up.
"Sirfetch'd's Leek from the Unova region — now that's quality."
He ran his fingers along the length of it. The Leek was large and firm, its quality easily matching the one he had won through the system lottery some time back, if not surpassing it.
"And this fine bone — another Unova specialty. Perfect for a broth."
By the time David had finished sorting through everything, a clear picture had formed in his head. He knew exactly what he was making.
"Alright then. Everyone, come on out!"
He reached for the Poké Balls on his belt and released Zorua, Lucario, and Kirlia into the kitchen. Shelgon he decided to leave sleeping — the kitchen simply wasn't big enough for it.
"Lucario, rinse those bones and get them into the pressure cooker. Kirlia, wash the fruits and vegetables."
"Luca!"
"Kir~"
Both Pokémon immediately got to work. David picked up his chef's knife and turned his attention to the Leek, considering how best to break it down—
"Zoro~ What about me, David? What should I do?"
Zorua had jumped up onto the counter and was looking at him with wide, expectant eyes.
David thought for a moment. Most of the prep was covered.
"You — stay close and use Confusion to pass me whatever I ask for."
Zorua gave a satisfied little cry and sat up straight, ready for duty.
And so the kitchen filled with quiet, focused activity. One trainer and three Pokémon, each with their task, working steadily through the evening. The hours passed. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, and by the time darkness had settled completely over the city, the moon hung high and bright in the night sky.
Out in the living room, David's mother and Aria sat waiting.
"I wonder how he's getting on in there…"
"Should we check on him?"
Before either of them could decide, the doorbell rang.
David's father, Derren, had finally made it home after clearing his League duties for the day. For some years, the work had kept him out until past midnight. By that standard, tonight he was back early.
He stepped inside and looked around the living room with mild surprise.
"What are you two doing out here? Waiting for me?"
It wasn't unusual to find Aria in the living room, but his wife, Marie, was always in the kitchen at this hour on New Year's Eve.
"Where's David? He's not still out, is he?"
His mother tilted her head toward the kitchen. "He's in there. He said he'd handle dinner this year and wouldn't let either of us near the stove."
Before she could say another word, David emerged from the kitchen. Behind him, Zorua and Kirlia trailed along, each using Confusion to carry several large insulated containers.
"Dad's home — good timing. Let's eat."
The family — people and Pokémon alike — moved out to the backyard. The Moores had long since made the backyard the standard setting for family gatherings. With Pokémon in the household, it was simply more practical, and more comfortable for everyone.
"Come and see how I did~"
David directed Zorua and Kirlia to set out the dishes, and one by one they appeared on the table.
Charcoal-Grilled Slowpoke Tail. A Golden Broth Abalone and Braised Cabbage, the soup built from hours of simmering the fine bones alongside a careful selection of other ingredients. A Smoked Meat Platter. Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish. Braised Prawns. Stir-Fried Twice-Cooked Pork with Leek. Furrow Chicken Slices. A clear Mushroom Soup.
And then, the finishing touches: a Moomoo Cheese Soufflé in the style of the Kalos region, and a rich Old Gateau — both making use of the Moomoo Cheese and Combee honey from the earlier haul. Finally, a homemade drink, something David had put together from memory after tasting a similar recipe during his time in Efo Province, using Bounsweet's sweet nectar as the base.
The three of them stood there for a moment, looking at the table.
Then they looked at David.
Then back at the table.
The spread was something you would expect from a high-end restaurant — varied, balanced, and put together with real skill.
Is this really my son?
What they didn't know was that David's cooking had always been decent, but not quite at this level. It was only after his Aura had awakened, combined with six months of quiet, consistent practice, that his precision and control had sharpened to the point where results like this became possible. Give it another two years, and he'd be properly formidable in the kitchen.
"I'll go first."
Aria picked up her chopsticks, plucked a piece of the Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish, and put it in her mouth. She went still.
"Well? How is it?"
She said nothing. She simply reached for another piece.
That was answer enough. Their father and mother exchanged a look and picked up their own chopsticks, and once they started, neither of them stopped.
David quietly plated up the Pokémon food as well, distributing prepared portions to Aria's team alongside his own. The dishes were sized for tasting — which was probably wise. Dragon-type Pokémon had an appetite to match their build, and if the whole table had gone to feeding them instead, David would have had to cook through the night.
Watching everyone settle into the meal — family and Pokémon together — David felt something warm settle in his chest. A smile found its way onto his face without him deciding to put it there.
The New Year's Eve dinner stretched long into the night. Fortunately, David had prepared more than enough. Since his Aura had awakened, his stamina and focus had both improved considerably. Cooking at this scale would have left him exhausted before — tonight it had been manageable.
He felt the weight of time for a moment, standing there in the backyard with the night sky overhead.
Half a year. That was how long it had been since he first stepped out as a new trainer. In that time the world had shifted around him in ways he hadn't expected. And starting with the small Zorua currently curled near his feet, he had somehow ended up with four new partners at his side.
"Zorua."
"Zoro~" Hmm? What is it, David?
"Let's keep working hard together. All of us."
"Zoro!" ( ^∀^ )
As midnight arrived, fireworks bloomed across the dark sky in bursts of color — red, gold, blue, green — and the new year quietly began.