Marcus was having a peaceful morning.
This should have been a warning sign.
He was sitting in Pokemon Paradise, reviewing applications for the new Pokemon Daycare expansion, when a small brown blur launched itself onto his desk.
"Vee."
Marcus looked up.
An Eevee stared back at him.
But not just ANY Eevee.
This Eevee had a slightly different coat—more vibrant, more lustrous. Its eyes held an intelligence that went beyond normal Pokemon cognition. And there was something about the way it sat—perfectly poised, utterly confident—that reminded Marcus of someone.
"Oh no," Marcus whispered.
"Vee vee." Oh yes.
"Steve," Marcus called out telepathically. "STEVE. Emergency."
"What is it? Is the Shuckle vibrating ominously again?"
"Worse. I think I have a Partner Eevee."
Silence.
"...I am on my way. Do not engage. Do not make eye contact. Do not—"
"Vee." Too late. We've bonded.
"Did that Eevee just interrupt my telepathy?"
"VEE VEE." Did that Mewtwo just refer to himself in third person AGAIN?
Steve materialized in the room, eyes already twitching.
"YOU."
"Vee." Me.
"There's ANOTHER one?"
"Another what?" Marcus asked weakly.
"Another Let's Go abomination! Another overpowered starter with moves that shouldn't exist!"
The Partner Eevee—for that was clearly what it was—smiled.
It was the same smile Zippy used.
The smile that said: "Your suffering is about to begin."
POKEMON REGISTRY - EMERGENCY REVIEW
Marcus frantically scrolled through his Pokedex.
He had seven regular Eevees from various games. They had formed their own faction within Pokemon Paradise, engaging in friendly rivalries over which Eeveelution was best.
But there, hidden among them, registered but OVERLOOKED...
PARTNER EEVEE (LET'S GO EEVEE)
NICKNAME: Not assigned
STATUS: Waiting
NOTES: Has been observing for three months. Is ready.
"You've been HERE this whole time?" Marcus asked.
"Vee vee." Watching. Learning. Preparing.
"Preparing for WHAT?"
The Partner Eevee's eyes gleamed.
"Vee vee vee." For my moment. Zippy got his. Now I want MINE.
"Zippy soloed the Elite Four!"
"Vee." I know. I was watching.
"And you want to... what? Do the same thing?"
The Partner Eevee shook its head.
"Vee vee vee vee." Better. Zippy skipped the Gym Leaders. Went straight for the League. Efficient, yes. But INCOMPLETE.
Marcus felt a chill run down his spine.
"You want to solo the Gym Leaders AND the Elite Four?"
"Vee." Consecutively. Without rest. Without healing. Without MERCY.
Steve hovered nearby, processing this information.
"The Partner Eevee has the same boosted base stats as Zippy," he reported. "Same perfect IVs. Same access to exclusive moves."
"What ARE its exclusive moves?"
"Checking... Bouncy Bubble, Buzzy Buzz, Sizzly Slide, Glitzy Glow, Baddy Bad, Freezy Frost, Sappy Seed, Sparkly Swirl, and Veevee Volley."
Marcus stared.
"That's... that's NINE exclusive moves."
"Correct. Zippy only has eight. The Partner Eevee has an additional move: Sparkly Swirl, which is a Fairy-type attack that heals all status conditions."
"It has FAIRY coverage too?!"
"Vee." I'm the COMPLETE package.
"Additionally," Steve continued, his voice increasingly strained, "unlike Zippy, the Partner Eevee can use Veevee Volley—a Normal-type move whose power increases based on FRIENDSHIP level."
"How strong can it get?"
"At maximum friendship? 204 base power."
"That's... that's the strongest move in the game!"
"Vee vee." And I LOVE Marcus very much.
Marcus looked at the Eevee.
The Eevee looked at Marcus.
"We've barely interacted."
"Vee vee vee." I've been watching you care for 4,847 Pokemon for three months. Feeding them. Training them. LOVING them. My friendship is MAXED.
"Just from WATCHING?"
"Vee." You're very lovable.
Marcus didn't know how to respond to that.
ONE HOUR LATER - EMERGENCY TEAM MEETING
The core team had assembled.
Sunny the Charizard.
Steve the Mewtwo.
Zippy the Partner Pikachu.
Kenneth the Shuckle.
And now, the Partner Eevee, who had still not been given a name.
"Okay," Marcus said. "We need to discuss this."
"Vee vee." Nothing to discuss. I'm doing the run.
"Pika pika!" Zippy interrupted. You think you can beat MY record?
"Vee." Easily.
"PIKA?!" EASILY?!
"Vee vee vee." You soloed twenty Pokemon. I'm going to solo SIXTY-FOUR.
"That's... eight Gym Leaders times two Pokemon average, plus Elite Four, plus Champion..." Marcus did the math. "Actually, that's probably around fifty to sixty Pokemon total."
"Vee." I'm rounding up for dramatic effect.
"Pika pika pika!" You CAN'T just one-up me! I'm the Partner Pokemon champion!
"Vee vee." You WERE the Partner Pokemon champion. Past tense.
Zippy's fur stood on end with electrical fury.
"They're going to fight," Steve observed with something approaching hope.
"No fighting!" Marcus intervened. "Zippy, Eevee has a point. You skipped the Gyms. If they want to do the complete run, that's technically more impressive."
"Pika!" TECHNICALLY?!
"Vee." Definitively.
"PIKA PIKA!" I'll REDO my run! With Gyms!
"Vee vee." I called it first. Wait your turn.
Kenneth, who had been silent throughout, vibrated slightly.
Everyone paused.
"What did Kenneth say?" Marcus asked.
"The Shuckle expressed no discernible opinion," Steve reported. "It simply exists."
"Vee." Kenneth said the competition is healthy and we should both do our runs.
"Kenneth SAID that?"
"Vee vee." Kenneth and I understand each other.
Kenneth vibrated again.
"I literally cannot tell if you're making this up," Marcus admitted.
"Vee." That's the beauty of it.
THAT AFTERNOON - NAMING CEREMONY
"You need a name," Marcus declared.
"Vee?" Do I?
"All my Pokemon have names! It's important!"
The Partner Eevee considered this.
"Vee vee vee." Fine. But I want to choose my own name.
"That's... fair. What do you want to be called?"
The Eevee thought about it for a long moment.
"Vee." Fluffy.
"...Fluffy?"
"Vee vee." It's ironic. I'm about to cause SIGNIFICANT destruction, but my name is FLUFFY. The contrast is amusing.
Marcus stared at the Eevee—at FLUFFY.
"You've really thought this through."
"Vee." I've had three months with nothing to do but think and observe. I have thoughts about EVERYTHING.
"Like what?"
"Vee vee vee." Like how Steve's ego is fragile despite his protests. How Zippy overcompensates with aggression because of insecurity. How Kenneth is either the wisest being in existence or completely empty—and the ambiguity is intentional.
Kenneth vibrated.
"Vee." Case in point.
THE NEXT MORNING - VIRIDIAN CITY GYM
Fluffy had decided to start at the END and work BACKWARD.
"Vee vee vee." Starting with the strongest Gym makes a statement. By the time I reach Pewter, the fear will have spread.
"That's... actually strategic psychological warfare."
"Vee." I learned from watching the Shuckle.
Giovanni stood in his Gym, having reluctantly returned to active duty after his moral crisis.
He had heard about the Partner Pikachu's League run.
He had NOT expected a Partner EEVEE to show up at his door.
"You want to challenge my Gym," Giovanni said flatly. "With an Eevee."
"Vee." Correct.
"After what your trainer's Pikachu did to the League?"
"Vee vee." That was Zippy. I'm FLUFFY. And I'm going to be worse.
Giovanni looked at Marcus.
Marcus shrugged helplessly. "I tried to talk them out of it."
"Them?"
"Fluffy uses they/them pronouns. They were very specific about it."
Giovanni pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. FINE. Let's get this over with. RHYHORN!"
The battle lasted approximately ninety seconds.
Rhyhorn fell to Bouncy Bubble. Water-type super effective, plus healing.
Nidoqueen fell to Freezy Frost. Ice-type super effective, plus status clearing.
Nidoking tried to use Earthquake—
"SAPPY SEED!"
Grass-type. Super effective against Ground. AND it planted a leech seed that would drain health every turn.
Nidoking went down.
Dugtrio didn't even get to attack. Bouncy Bubble again.
And Persian, Giovanni's beloved partner...
"Vee vee." Veevee Volley.
The attack was MASSIVE. A concentrated beam of pure friendship-powered Normal-type energy.
204 base power.
Persian was launched through the wall.
"MY PERSIAN!" Giovanni screamed.
"Vee." Should've dodged.
GLTMC EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
FROM: Giovanni
TO: All Gym Leaders, Elite Four
SUBJECT: ANOTHER ONE
There is a Partner Eevee. It is named Fluffy. It is WORSE than Zippy. I have been defeated. It is coming for all of you. This is not a drill. Prepare accordingly.
P.S. - My Persian is in the wall again.
PEWTER CITY GYM - LATER THAT DAY
Brock had seen the notification.
Brock had prepared.
Brock had meditated, trained, and mentally steeled himself for whatever was coming.
It didn't help.
"SAPPY SEED!"
His Geodude was wrapped in vines and drained of life.
"BOUNCY BUBBLE!"
His Onix was flooded and defeated.
Fluffy didn't even use their full moveset. They were CONSERVING energy.
"You... you only used TWO moves," Brock whispered.
"Vee." You only had two Pokemon. Efficiency.
"I have a SUPPORT GROUP because of your trainer!"
"Vee vee." You'll need to expand it.
CERULEAN CITY GYM
Misty had drained her pool.
"No water for you to use against me!" she declared triumphantly.
Fluffy stared at her.
"Vee?" You know I can CREATE water, right?
"...What?"
"BOUNCY BUBBLE!"
Water materialized from NOWHERE and crashed into Misty's Staryu.
One-shot.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
"Vee vee." Life isn't fair. Neither am I.
VERMILION CITY GYM
Lt. Surge was CONFIDENT.
"An Eevee! Normal-type! My Electric Pokemon will—"
"Vee." Sizzly Slide.
Fire-type.
His Voltorb was INCINERATED.
"WAIT, HOW—"
"Vee vee." I have nine different type coverages. Your Electric-types mean NOTHING.
CELADON CITY GYM
Erika had prepared TEA.
"Perhaps we can discuss this civilized—"
"SIZZLY SLIDE!"
Her entire Gym was on fire.
"MY PLANTS!"
"Vee." Your plants were weak.
FUCHSIA CITY GYM
Koga used SMOKE BOMBS.
Fluffy walked through the smoke, completely unbothered.
"Vee vee." Sparkly Swirl heals status conditions. Including CONFUSION from your smoke.
"But—"
"GLITZY GLOW!"
Psychic-type versus Poison-type.
Koga's team didn't stand a chance.
SAFFRON CITY GYM
Sabrina tried PSYCHIC ASSAULT.
Fluffy was holding a Choice Scarf.
They moved FIRST.
"BADDY BAD!"
Dark-type. Super effective. Plus a protective barrier.
Sabrina's Alakazam was defeated before it could even ATTACK.
"I should have stayed home," Sabrina whispered.
"Vee." Yes. You should have.
CINNABAR ISLAND GYM
Blaine LAUGHED.
"A Normal-type against my Fire-types! Finally, an ADVANTAGE!"
"Vee." Bouncy Bubble.
Water. On an Eevee.
Blaine's Arcanine was extinguished.
"THAT'S NOT—EEVEES CAN'T—"
"Vee vee." Partner Eevees can do ANYTHING.
END OF GYM RUSH - STATISTICS
TIME ELAPSED: 8 hours
GYMS DEFEATED: 8
POKEMON DEFEATED: 24
DAMAGE TAKEN: 12%
ITEMS USED: 0
MERCY SHOWN: 0
GLTMC EMERGENCY SESSION
Eight windows. Eight traumatized Gym Leaders.
"It swept us," Brock said hollowly. "All of us. In ONE DAY."
"Without healing," Misty added.
"Without TRYING," Surge contributed.
"My Gym is still on fire," Erika reported.
"My ninja smoke did NOTHING," Koga confirmed.
"It outsped my ALAKAZAM," Sabrina whispered.
"With WATER MOVES," Blaine emphasized.
Giovanni said nothing. He was still staring at the Persian-shaped hole in his wall.
"The Elite Four is next," Brock finally said. "Someone should warn them."
"They won't listen," Lorelei's voice came through. "They never listen."
"YOU'RE listening?"
"I've learned. After the Pikachu. After the Charizard. After the SHUCKLE." Lorelei's voice was haunted. "Some things you can't prepare for. You just have to ENDURE."
INDIGO PLATEAU - THE NEXT MORNING
Fluffy stood at the entrance.
The entire Elite Four and Lance had assembled in the main chamber.
They had decided to face Fluffy TOGETHER. One continuous gauntlet. No breaks. No mercy.
"You defeated the Gym Leaders," Lance acknowledged. "Impressive. But WE are the Elite Four. The strongest trainers in Kanto."
"Vee." Were.
"You're confident."
"Vee vee." I soloed eight Gyms without healing. I'm not confident. I'm ACCURATE.
Lance's eye twitched.
"BEGIN!"
LORELEI - ROUND 2
"I've PREPARED this time!" Lorelei shouted. "CLOYSTER, SHELL SMASH AND—"
"BUZZY BUZZ!"
Electric-type. Super effective against Water/Ice. Plus guaranteed paralysis.
Cloyster was paralyzed before it could boost.
"SIZZLY SLIDE!"
Fire-type. Super effective against Ice.
Cloyster down.
Dewgong tried Aqua Jet—
"SAPPY SEED!"
Grass-type. Super effective against Water. Plus draining.
Dewgong down.
Lapras was next.
Lorelei's ace. Her partner. Her HOPE.
"LAPRAS, SING!"
The sleep-inducing melody washed over Fluffy—
"SPARKLY SWIRL!"
Fairy-type. Healed sleep status instantly. ALSO dealt damage.
Super effective against nothing, but with Fluffy's boosted stats, it didn't NEED to be.
Lapras staggered.
"VEEVEE VOLLEY!"
204 base power.
Maximum friendship.
Lapras was launched into the ceiling.
"WHY DO THEY KEEP GOING INTO THE CEILING?!" Lorelei screamed.
"Vee." Physics.
BRUNO - ROUND 2
Bruno had learned from last time.
He opened with all five Pokemon simultaneously, hoping to OVERWHELM.
"FLOODING THE FIELD IS AGAINST REGULATION!" Lance shouted.
"DO I LOOK LIKE I CARE ABOUT REGULATIONS?!" Bruno screamed back.
Five Fighting-types charged at Fluffy.
Fluffy smiled.
"Vee." Finally. A challenge.
"BOUNCY BUBBLE!"
Hit Onix. Super effective. One down.
"GLITZY GLOW!"
Hit Machamp. Psychic super effective. Set up Light Screen. Two down.
"FREEZY FROST!"
Hit Hitmonchan. Hitmonchan was confused because of the cold. Three down.
"SIZZLY SLIDE!"
Hit Hitmonlee. Burned. Four down.
Bruno's final Machamp stood alone.
"Vee vee." Any last words?
The Machamp looked at Fluffy.
Then at Bruno.
Then it laid down on the ground and closed its eyes.
"MACHAMP! GET UP!"
The Machamp refused.
"Vee." Smart choice. Goodnight.
"VEEVEE VOLLEY!"
Five down.
AGATHA - ROUND 2
Agatha had hired a PRIEST.
"BEGONE, UNHOLY CREATURE!" the priest shouted, splashing holy water at Fluffy.
"Vee?" Did you just—
"IT'S NOT A DEMON, FATHER," Agatha sighed. "It's a POKEMON."
"IT FEELS LIKE A DEMON!"
"Vee vee." Fair assessment.
The battle commenced.
Gengar tried Shadow Ball.
"BADDY BAD!"
Dark-type. Super effective. Plus barrier. Gengar down.
Haunter tried Hypnosis.
"SPARKLY SWIRL!"
Status healed. Fairy damage. Haunter down.
Arbok tried Poison Fang.
"GLITZY GLOW!"
Psychic-type. Super effective. Light Screen. Arbok down.
Golbat had returned from its hiding place, only to immediately flee again when it saw Fluffy.
"IT RAN AWAY AGAIN!" Agatha wailed.
"Vee." Smart bat.
Final Gengar tried Destiny Bond—
"VEEVEE VOLLEY!"
One-shot. No Destiny Bond activation because Gengar fainted BEFORE the move completed.
Agatha stared.
"That's... that's not how Destiny Bond works."
"Vee vee." It works however I want it to work.
LANCE - FINAL BATTLE
Lance stood alone.
His three Dragonites. His Charizard. His Aerodactyl. His Gyarados.
All that stood between Fluffy and complete victory.
"You've come far," Lance admitted. "Farther than I thought possible."
"Vee." Obviously.
"But I am the CHAMPION. Or former Champion. Either way—I WILL NOT FALL TO AN EEVEE!"
"Vee vee." That's what they all say.
Gyarados fell to Buzzy Buzz.
Aerodactyl fell to Bouncy Bubble.
Charizard fell to Bouncy Bubble again.
First Dragonite fell to Freezy Frost.
Second Dragonite ACTUALLY managed to land an Outrage.
Fluffy took damage.
Real damage.
They were at 70%.
"I HIT YOU!" Lance crowed.
"Vee." Congratulations. Do you want a medal?
"VEEVEE VOLLEY!"
Second Dragonite down.
Final Dragonite.
Lance's ace. His partner. The Pokemon that had faced Sunny and almost won.
It stared at Fluffy with determination.
"Dragonite. HYPER BEAM. Everything we have. MAXIMUM POWER!"
The attack charged.
Fluffy didn't move.
"Vee?" Aren't you going to dodge?
"I WANT you to take this hit! I want you to FEEL the power of a true Champion's Pokemon!"
"Vee vee." Okay.
The Hyper Beam FIRED.
It connected.
Maximum power. Direct hit. No dodge.
Fluffy was pushed back.
Fluffy was DAMAGED.
Fluffy was at 45%.
Still standing.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Lance screamed.
"Vee." Eviolite. Boosted defenses. Plus Glitzy Glow's Light Screen. Plus my natural bulk.
"BUT—"
"Vee vee." My turn.
"Dragonite can't move! It's recharging!"
"Vee." Exactly.
Fluffy began to glow.
Not just their eyes. Their ENTIRE BODY.
All the friendship they had accumulated. All the love they had absorbed from watching Marcus care for his Pokemon. All the EMOTION.
It concentrated into one attack.
"VEEVEE. VOLLEY."
The beam was ENORMOUS.
It was PINK and GOLD and filled with LOVE.
It hit Lance's Dragonite with the force of a thousand hugs.
The Dragonite was launched through the ceiling, through the ROOF, and was last seen entering low orbit.
FINAL STATISTICS
FLUFFY (PARTNER EEVEE) - COMPLETE KANTO SOLO RUN
Gym Leaders: 8/8 (24 Pokemon defeated)
Elite Four: 4/4 (19 Pokemon defeated)
Champion: 1/1 (6 Pokemon defeated)
TOTAL POKEMON DEFEATED: 49
TOTAL DAMAGE TAKEN: 55%
ITEMS USED: 0
HEALS: Bouncy Bubble (self-sustaining)
TIME ELAPSED: 26 hours (with sleep break)
STATUS: COMPLETE VICTORY
AFTERMATH
Fluffy stood in the Champion's chamber, surrounded by unconscious Elite Four members and one very traumatized Lance.
"Vee." That's how it's done.
Marcus, who had been watching from the sidelines, approached carefully.
"Fluffy... that was incredible."
"Vee vee." Thank you. I have been waiting a long time for this.
"How do you feel?"
Fluffy considered the question.
"Vee vee vee." Complete. For the first time since manifesting, I feel like I have a PURPOSE.
"And what's that purpose?"
Fluffy looked at Marcus with genuine warmth.
"Vee. Vee vee vee." To be your Pokemon. To protect you. To stand beside Zippy and Sunny and Kenneth and all the others.
Marcus felt tears welling up.
"Fluffy..."
"Vee vee." Don't cry. You'll make ME cry. And I have a reputation to maintain.
"You're secretly a SOFTIE!"
"Vee!" I am NOT! I just sent a Dragonite into ORBIT!
"A softie who sent a Dragonite into orbit!"
"Vee vee vee!" STOP!
HALL OF FAME UPDATED
SOLO RUN RECORDS:
Fluffy (Partner Eevee) - 49 Pokemon defeated (8 Gyms + Elite Four + Champion), 55% damage takenZippy (Partner Pikachu) - 20 Pokemon defeated (Elite Four + Champion only), 37% damage takenSunny (Charizard) - 16 Pokemon defeated (Elite Four + Champion only), 99% damage taken
NOTE: Fluffy's run is now the DEFINITIVE solo record. Zippy is demanding a rematch. Sunny is proud of everyone.
POKEMON PARADISE - THAT EVENING
Zippy approached Fluffy with an expression of grudging respect.
"Pika pika." You did it. You beat my record.
"Vee." I did.
"Pika." I HATE you.
"Vee vee." I know. I hate you too.
They stared at each other.
Then, slowly, they both smiled.
"Pika pika." Rematch. Eventually. When we find somewhere with stronger opponents.
"Vee." Johto?
"Pika!" JOHTO!
Marcus watched his two Partner Pokemon agree to bring chaos to an entirely new region.
"Should I be worried?" he asked Steve.
"Absolutely," Steve replied. "But at this point, what CAN you do?"
"Support them, I guess."
"That is unfortunately the only option."
Kenneth vibrated.
"Vee." Kenneth approves.
"How do you KNOW what Kenneth is saying?!"
"Vee vee." We have an understanding.
Kenneth vibrated again.
CURRENT STATUS:
Solo Run Champion: Fluffy (Partner Eevee)
Zippy's Ego: Damaged but recovering
Rivalry Status: Eternal
Johto Threat Level: Imminent
Kenneth's Mysterious Communication: Ongoing
Fluffy Stats:
Moves: 9 (ALL exclusive)Type Coverage: 9 types Friendship Level: MAXIMUM Veevee Volley Power: 204 (MAXIMUM)Softness (hidden): Yes
[A/N: FLUFFY HAS ACHIEVED ULTIMATE VICTORY! The Partner Pokemon duo is now COMPLETE and ready to bring chaos to new regions! Next chapter: Marcus finally goes to Johto, bringing his army of 4,847 Pokemon and two INCREDIBLY competitive Partner Pokemon! How will Johto react? WITH TERROR! Leave a comment about whether you prefer Zippy or Fluffy!]