Ralts was born on the lush grasslands of Galar. When she opened her eyes for the very first time, she found herself surrounded by a curious crowd of wild Pokémon.
She didn't know who her parents were, or why she was alone out there on the plains but none of that bothered her much. Life in the wild wasn't all that harsh.
Many Pokémon were kind. They shared berries with her, played with her, and treated her gently.
Still, Ralts dreamed of another kind of life one she'd only ever heard of from a great, lumbering Bewear who had once traveled with a human Trainer.
Humans, she'd been told, had something called a "Trainer" someone who journeyed far and wide with their Pokémon partners, chasing after their dreams and destinations.
Ralts never cared much about her origins, but she was deeply curious about the outside world. What lay beyond those tall, faraway walls? Where did those roaring machines "trains," they were called go?
If she could travel with a Trainer, just how far could she go?
It was a dream she longed for but one she didn't dare chase too easily. Ralts was shy. She was cautious.
That same Bewear had also warned her: not all Trainers were kind. Some loved their Pokémon dearly. Others threw them away without hesitation.
Ralts had the ability to sense emotions. She'd quietly observed many passing humans, reaching out with her mind but none of them ever sparked that feeling she was waiting for. None made her heart stir.
Until that day.
Ralts was wandering in the tall grass again when she sensed two humans nearby. Their emotions were light and joyful, and the air carried a sweet, fragrant scent. Drawn in by curiosity, she crept closer.
But this time, her usual trick failed.
Normally, she could peek out from the grass unnoticed. Even weaker humans never caught her using her psychic field to probe them.
Yet just as she parted the grass, someone spotted her instantly.
She tried to flee. But then an unexpected invitation stopped her.
"Wanna come eat with us?"
It came not from a human, but from another Pokémon. A stranger. A big, black feline Pokémon with strange patterns in her fur.
Ralts had braced for rejection or even an attack. But instead... she was being welcomed.
So this was what they called love at first sight.
Peeking out nervously from the grass, Ralts kept her body low. Her wide eyes, half-hidden beneath green hair, stayed fixed on the black-furred Pokémon.
That moment when their eyes met Ralts knew it had been the other Pokémon who noticed her. The psychic energy she felt was far more powerful than her own.
Strange... they weren't even the same species, but their auras matched so perfectly.
Ralts stared in a daze, following the elegant movements of that big cat. She forgot to reply.
Sorry, me-from-before. I might not end up with the best Trainer out there... because I think I just found the best Pokémon for me.
It wasn't until the human likely that cat Pokémon's Trainer noticed her, that Ralts finally snapped out of her trance.
"Ralts... (May I?)"
She had meant to speak only to the cat Pokémon, but surprisingly, the human answered too.
Strange... That was the second time today. How was this human able to understand her? Ralts didn't know how to use telepathy. She hadn't even projected her thoughts properly.
As expected from the Trainer of that amazing cat. Even able to understand Pokémon speech... maybe not perfect, but that definitely earned bonus points.
Later, while Ralts was still wondering how to become this human's Pokémon, a fragrant, unfamiliar dish was placed before her.
"Do you know how to use a spoon? Yi-chan, show her."
I know how to use it... Ralts had wanted to say, but hearing that name "Yi-chan" from the human made her pause.
So the cat Pokémon was named Yi-chan... Big Sister Yi...
Ralts felt that familiar psychic aura again. So warm, so close, so comforting. It wasn't her imagination after all.
Yi-chan was her fated Pokémon.
Ralts didn't know exactly what "fated" meant just something she'd heard in passing. But instinctively, she wanted to apply it here.
"Ralts~ (I understand now. Thank you...)"
Reminding herself to be polite, Ralts awkwardly said her thanks before turning her attention to the food in front of her.
She copied Yi-chan's movements, using telekinesis to lift the spoon but her psychic control wasn't very strong yet. The spoon trembled in the air, forcing her to quickly reach out and grab the handle to steady it, finally guiding the food into her mouth.
Just like the scent had promised it was delicious. Another bonus point!
Ralts savored the sweet, tender flavor and found herself liking Yi-chan's Trainer more and more.
After finishing her meal, she still felt a bit hungry. Just a little. But it was her first time meeting them, and she wanted to leave a good impression on Yi-chan, so she kept quiet.
When the human came over to clear the dishes, Ralts peeked out and said quietly:
"Ralts (Thank you... the food was very tasty.)"
"I'm glad you liked it."
The human smiled. That warm, glowing feeling again. Ralts felt her heart soften.
"Here, have one of these. Think of it as dessert."
The human passed her a strange-looking cube. It smelled a bit like berries... but not quite any she'd tasted before.
Was this some kind of special human treat?
Ralts sniffed it, decided she liked the scent, and popped it into her mouth.
Crunch. Crunch.
A little crispy. The texture was nice. The taste was mild, though. The berries back home were still better... but this wasn't bad.
When she finished, she saw the human had turned their attention elsewhere. Ralts followed her heart and tracked Yi-chan, who was now walking toward the lake.
Maybe she could ask her directly. Yi-chan was so kind, after all.
Ralts wanted to show off a little just a little in front of the one she admired. So she gathered her focus and used her newest move: Teleport.
With a soft pop, she landed right where she wanted to go. It worked! But she didn't have time to celebrate. She needed to speak.
"Ralts! (Big sister, you're amazing!)"
And so, Ralts through a twist of fate embarked on a journey that wasn't quite what she'd imagined, but one that would be just as joyful.