It had been four years since Ethan's rebirth, and life was finally starting to feel… comfortable.
No more revolting mashed "nutritional sludge," no more diapers, no more having to deal with the indignity of people cooing at him while wiping his face. Most importantly, he had privacy—something he'd missed more than he thought possible.
In that time, he'd learned a lot about how this world worked. Trainers here officially started their journeys at age ten, but in the Harmonia family there was an unspoken rule: no one left before thirteen. His grandfather had set that policy after his own youth—something about "keeping the bloodline alive and uncrippled." Ethan suspected it was just his grandfather's way of ensuring everyone was over-prepared.
He'd also learned more about the people around him.
His oldest sister, Akagi, now nearly eighteen, was fiercely protective of him and his twin Kitsu. That protectiveness had started when they were still infants—back when she would glare at anyone who so much as breathed too close.
Outa, the third-oldest sister, was the exact opposite—spoiling him and Kitsu relentlessly, almost like a second mother. Unfortunately, her doting tendencies often spiraled into excess, which was why Violet, had to keep her in check. Violet was different from the rest—utterly uninterested in battling. Instead, she was obsessed with studying rare "Delta Pokémon," a strange regional variant so uncommon that even the League didn't fully understand them.
Ethan had gotten to see one for himself—a Delta Charizard Violet had caught. It was nothing like the one from his past life. This one had blackened, skeletal wings wreathed in ghostly fire, with bones the color of obsidian. Its eyes burned like dying embers, and every step it took seemed to carry the weight of something that refused to pass on. Ethan swore the thing watched him even when it wasn't looking.
When he wasn't around his sisters, he spent a lot of time with his grandfather, who was from his father's side of the family. The old man loved to reminisce about his youth—especially his time in the Second Kanto–Johto War.
That war explained a lot—why the two regions, despite being so close, were still on edge with each other. The languages, the customs, even the League rules between them had drifted apart after the fighting.
Ethan looked at his Grandfather, as he looked at him. "Grandfather, why did the war start"
His Grandfather, who's name was Crimson stopped, his hair had gone gray, but his red eyes were still there, as he looked at his grandkid. He didn't know what to say, not knowing this was reincarnated Soul, he tryed to suger it for the two kids.
"Well Son, it started after two Man, let's say two man who had very different but Similar Ideals".
Crimson's gaze drifted past Ethan, as though he was looking through the years themselves.
"One wanted to protect the world… no matter the cost," he said slowly, the timbre of his voice deepened by memory. "The other wanted to change it… no matter who stood in his way."
He paused, leaning back in his chair, the leather creaking under the shift of his weight.
"They weren't evil at first. In fact, they were friends once. Brothers, even, in a way. But their paths split… and the people around them had to choose sides."
Ethan listened in silence, his small hands curling slightly on his knees.
"And that's when the war began?" he asked quietly.
Crimson's red eyes softened for the briefest moment, then hardened again.
"No… that's when the seeds were planted. The war didn't come until those seeds had been watered by years of fear, pride… and betrayal."
He fell quiet, the only sound in the room being the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Ethan felt the weight of the silence press on him, like the story wasn't finished… but Crimson wasn't ready to tell the rest.
Kitsu tilted her head, as she spoke, her eyes looking at her Grandfather. "Was, the war that bad?".
Crimson exhaled from his Nose, as he looked at his granddaughter. "Yes it was, at first, it was normal, Pokémon and trainer fought Eachother, fainted and then left, but then it got worse".
Ethan got a sinking bad feeling about this. "How bad?".
Crimson looked at them as he spoke. "Let's say, it went to the point, they both Trainer and Pokémon to permanent sleep".
Ethan understood does words, his resets had taught him enough, and remember the week said "Hard Mode" but he looked at his sister who was confused, after all she was a kid.
Kitsu looked at her grandfather as she spoke. "Like, using Sleeping Powder?".
Crimson's jaw tightened. "No, little one," he said, his voice quieter now, almost heavy. "Not the kind of sleep you wake up from."
Kitsu's brow furrowed, her mouth opening like she was about to ask more, but Ethan quickly reached over and tapped her arm.
"Kitsu… I think he means they didn't wake up at all," Ethan said softly, his own stomach twisting at the thought.
For a moment, the old man didn't speak—he just stared at the table in front of him. When he finally did, his words came slow and deliberate.
"In war… people forget that Pokémon are living creatures too. They become weapons. And weapons… break."
Ethan caught the way his grandfather's eyes shifted—just briefly—to the far wall, where an old, framed photograph hung. Two younger men stood there in the picture, smiling, each with a team of powerful Pokémon behind them. One of them looked a lot like Crimson… the other, Ethan didn't recognize at all.
The silence stretched again, the clock ticking in the background, but this time Ethan didn't try to break it. He knew this wasn't a story for one sitting.
Crimson glanced at the boy and gave a small nod, his voice calm but firm.
"Well, anyway… that's enough stories for today. Come on—it's nearly dinner time."
The two children stood, their chairs scraping lightly against the polished floor. Together, they followed their grandfather down the grand staircase of the mansion, the faint smell of cooking already drifting through the halls.
The kitchen and adjoining dining area were already lively with activity.
Violet sat curled in one of the corner armchairs, a thick, leather-bound book in hand, her eyes flicking up only briefly before returning to the page.
Asagi was on the floor near the window, humming softly while tending to her Pokémon—carefully brushing a Mareep's wool so it shone like fresh snow.
Midori was perched at the far end of the counter, tools scattered around him, goggles on her forehead as she adjusted something small and mechanical—a new invention in the works, judging by the focused frown on his face.
Outa was at the sink, hands wet as she gently washed berries for her Pokémon, occasionally passing a cleaned one to a patient Rowlet perched on her shoulder.
And Akagi stood beside their mother at the stove, sleeves rolled up as she stirred a pot. Every so often, their mom would hand her an ingredient, and Akagi would toss it in with precise, practiced movements.
The warm light from the hanging lamps made the entire room glow, a quiet sense of home settling over them.
"Alright," Crimson said as he stepped in, his deep voice instantly catching everyone's attention, "let's get the table set."
Ethan sat on the dinner Table, as he looked at his family gather, he sat next to Outa as she looked back at her brother.
"What's wrong?". She asked looking at him
Ethan just blinked as he looked at Crimson. "Just thinking a few things".
Akagi, who had finished setting the plate, looked at Crimson. "Grandfather, have you been telling war stories again?".
She was not surprised, but a bit annoyed, as their mother giggled, Violet then closed her book as she sat down, followed by Midory and Asagi, who had their Pokémon next to them.
Crimson smirked, not even trying to deny it. "If the stories are worth telling, they're worth telling twice. Or ten times."
Akagi rolled her eyes. "You mean exaggerated."
"Embellished," Crimson corrected, raising a finger like he was about to launch into another epic.
Outa leaned her chin on her hand. "You're going to start talking about the 'Great Sky Leviathan Incident' again, aren't you?"
Ethan couldn't help but smile faintly. The sound of the family bickering was oddly comforting, even if his mind still felt far away.
Violet glanced at him from across the table, her sharp gaze catching the small crease in his brow. "You're quieter than usual, Ethan."
"Just… thinking about some stuff," he replied, poking at the food in front of him. "About how fast everything's been moving lately."
Asagi chuckled, patting the head of the Riolu sitting beside her chair. "That's life, little brother. One minute you're training, the next minute you're knee-deep in chaos."
Midory grinned knowingly. "And sometimes the chaos is fun."
Akagi snorted. "Speak for yourself."
Crimson gave Ethan a long, appraising look before leaning back in his chair. "Whatever's bothering you… remember, you've got people here who've been through worse and came out stronger."
Ethan gave a small nod, his lips twitching into a faint, grateful smile. The table seemed to warm a little more after that, chatter spilling in from all sides as plates were passed and the evening settled into a comfortable rhythm.
Kitsu then asked, as she looked at her family. "Hey, where's dad?".
There mother stopped as she spoke. "Your father, has a few things to do in the company".
Asagi sighed as she spoke. "Again, he is the Damm C.E.O doesn't he have people for that".
Akagi looked at her twin as she looked at Ethan and Kitsu as she spoke. "Hey, not Infront of the Kids Sis".
Kitsu tilted her head, a little pout forming. "But he promised he'd be here for breakfast this time…"
Ethan, though still young, noticed the slight change in their mother's expression — just a flicker, but enough to know she was covering for their father.
Their mother placed the last of the plates on the table, her voice warm but firm. "I'm sure he'll join us later. You know how important the Harmonia Corporation is to him — and to all of us."
Kitsu puffed her cheeks, clearly unconvinced, but didn't push further.
Asagi leaned back slightly in her chair, crossing her arms. "Still… it wouldn't hurt for him to take a day off once in a while. We're not going anywhere."
"Asagi…" their mother warned, though her tone lacked real bite — more a reminder than a scolding.
Ethan just quietly started buttering his toast, the clink of the knife against the plate filling the silence that followed.
Finally, Kitsu reached for the jam and smiled at Ethan. "Well… at least you're here. Right, big bro?"
Crimson looked at them as he spoke. "That reminds me, Grandson and Granddaughter, what do you two wanna be?".
Ethan paused as in his head he spoke. "I wanna be a Pokémon Trainer, like in my past life".
But he didn't say that, there was something his grandfather wanted to say.
Crimson looked at both of them as he spoke. "There is a lot of Path Gym Leader, Becoming a Branch Manager for Hermonia Corporation, Professor, Inventor, Scientist"
Akagia was the first to speak. "Well, everyone knows I am gonna be the heir to the Harmonia Corporation, so I am already on that path".
Asagi snorted as she spoke. "I am joining this idiot, twins for life and everything".
Midori, who still hadn't eaten anything and was still tinkering with an Eviolite. "I from day one decided I am gonna be an inventor, I mean I did make the Electirizer"
Every single sibling spoke at once. "We know, stop bragging about it".
Outa just smiled as she spoke. "I will just be traveling the world, and help trainers out".
Violet just spoke with a cold, calculated way. "Professor, specifically one of the Delta Pokémon".
Ethan just stopped there as he spoke. "Kitsu and I want to be trainers".
The whole table went quiet, as a pin drop can't be heard, as Ethan looked around
His 11-year-old Brian, in his 5-year-old body, is now going overdrive, as he spoke in his head. 'Did I just say something taboo?'.
Then a Hardy laugh came from Crimson as he spoke. "Arceus, here I thought I was gonna be the last one in this family".
Crimson's laughter boomed through the dining room, deep and warm, making the silverware rattle slightly on the table.
Akagi raised an eyebrow, setting down her fork. "Last one in the family…? You mean to actually be a trainer?"
Crimson nodded, still chuckling. "Exactly. Everyone else here has taken the safer roads—business, research, invention. But to take the path of a trainer? That's a road that eats the unprepared alive."
Kitsu's little fists clenched in determination. "We won't be unprepared! We'll train, and we'll be the best!"
Ethan managed a faint smile, though inside his mind he was already calculating. 'If I play this right, I can get strong without drawing too much attention… at least at first.'
Midori finally looked up from her Eviolite, smirking. "Well, if you two end up as trainers, I can always make you gear. Imagine—Midori-brand battle tech on the league circuit."
Outa's eyes softened. "If they're really going to do it, I'll travel with them at first… at least until they get their bearings."
Their mother, who had been quiet until now, glanced at Crimson. "You're encouraging them?"
Crimson leaned back, a small, knowing smile on his face. "I'm saying… if they have the fire for it, it's better to forge them now than let it burn them later."
To be continued
So yeah, if you go back to last, Ch you will see I edit it, I changed Outa to Midori, in my notes Outa was the sweet sister who spoiled her siblings and Midori was the one too Invent I mixed up the names and so I fixed it, also give me image for the Waifu in the Harem you want for Volume 2 Cover