The Indigo Stadium's roar faded into a distant hum as Erza and Ben Vortex stepped out into the cool evening air, their proud smirks glowing brighter than the stadium lights.
Behind them toddled two four-year-olds, the latest twins to bless the Vortex family—Gladion and Gwen's little brother and sister, Milo and Lila.
The twins' eyes sparkled like twin stars, wide with awe from the battles they'd just witnessed, their tiny hands clutching Pokémon plushies—a mini Colossus for Lila, a pint-sized Gengar for Milo. The family wove through the bustling crowd, fans still chanting "Vortex! Vortex!" as the siblings' victories echoed across Kanto.
Erza glanced down at Milo, who was bouncing on his toes, waving his Gengar plushie like a battle flag. "Careful, champ—you'll knock someone out with that!" she teased, ruffling his messy hair.
Milo grinned, undeterred, his voice a high-pitched squeal. "Mama, Gwen was so cool! Her Gengar went *poof* and *bam*—Blaine's Magmar was taken out just like that! I'm gonna be a ghost trainer like her!" Lila, clutching her Colossus plushie, pouted and tugged Erza's sleeve. "Nuh-uh, Gladion was cooler! His big dino—Colly-Wolly—smashed everything! I'm gonna have a dino team like him!" Erza chuckled, her smirk softening.
"Both your siblings were amazing, you little troublemakers. Now keep up, or I'll have Alakazam teleport you to bed!"
Ben, walking beside her, dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief, tears of pride streaming despite his broad grin. "Oh, Erza, our babies—can you believe it? Glady took down Pryce, and Gwen smoked Blaine! My heart's bursting!" He scooped Lila up, spinning her until she giggled. "What'd you think of your big brother's Tyranitar, huh."
Lila's eyes shone, her voice a squeaky declaration. "Colly-Wolly was the bestest! He went *boom* and the ground shook like my bouncy ball!" Milo, not to be outdone, tugged Ben's pant leg.
"No way, Daddy—Gwen's Gengar was sneakier! He tricked everybody, like when I hide your glasses!" Ben laughed, wiping another tear. "You two are gonna give me a heart attack with all this excitement!"
The twins' chatter escalated, their tiny voices rising as they squared off, oblivious to the amused glances from passing fans.
Milo planted his hands on his hips, Gengar plushie dangling. "Gwen's the best, Lila—she beat an Elite Four! That's way harder than a Champion! Gengar's all spooky and smart!" Lila stomped her foot, clutching her Colossus plushie—dubbed "Colly-Wolly" in her toddler wisdom—tightly.
"Nuh-uh, Milo! Gladion's better—he only used two Pokémon! Colly-Wolly's a giant dino who eats ice for breakfast! Gwen needed five Pokemon to beat her opponent—that's like, a gazillion more!" Milo stuck out his tongue.
"Five's cooler 'cause it's trickier! You're just a Colly-Wolly fanbaby!" Lila gasped, affronted. "Am not! You're a Gengar goofball—bet you sleep with a nightlight 'cause you're scared of ghosts!"
Erza stifled a laugh, guiding them toward the family's waiting car.
"Alright, you tiny terrors, save the battling for the playground. You're both Vortexes—you'll be legends like your siblings someday!"
Ben, still sniffling, added, "Yeah, but no fighting over who's cooler, or I'll cry harder, and then you'll have to mop up my tears!" Milo and Lila giggled, but their debate shifted seamlessly to a new topic—Colossus versus Zeus, Gladion's Electivire.
Milo waved his Gengar plushie, pivoting with toddler logic. "Okay, but Zeus-Zappy's cooler than Colly-Wolly! He's all *bzzzt* with lightning, like my toy zapper! He'd zap Colly-Wolly into a sparkly dino!" Lila's eyes widened, clutching her plushie protectively.
"No way, Colly-Wolly's the coolest! He's a giant rock monster—Zeus-Zappy's shocks would just tickle him! Colly-Wolly'd sit on him and win!" Milo puffed out his cheeks.
"Zeus-Zappy'd dance around him—too fast! Your dino's slow like a sleepy Snorlax!" Lila retorted, "Nuh-uh, Colly-Wolly's fast and strong—he'd eat Zeus-Zappy's sparks for lunch!" Their argument dissolved into giggles, both mimicking their chosen Pokémon—Milo sparking like Zeus, Lila stomping like Colossus—until they tripped over each other, landing in a laughing heap.
Erza scooped them up, one under each arm, her smirk unwavering. "You two are a walking Pokémon battle—save some energy for dinner!" Ben, wiping his eyes, chuckled. "They're just like Gladion and Gwen—always bickering, always shining. Oh, Erza, I can't believe our Glady beat Pryce!" His voice cracked with pride, tears welling anew.
Erza's eyes softened, her confidence unshakable. "Of course he did, Ben. He's our boy—the war hero Maren's grandson, with fire in his soul and a team that could shake mountains. Pryce never stood a chance." She set the twins down, who resumed their debate in whispers, now arguing if Colly-Wolly's roars were louder than Zeus-Zappy's zaps.
Ben sniffled, clutching his handkerchief. "And Gwen—taking on Blaine and winning! Our kids are unstoppable. I don't have to worry about their safety anymore—not with power like that."
Erza nodded, her smirk deepening with certainty. "Exactly. Gladion's got Colossus and that brain of his—he's a fortress. Gwen's ghosts are a nightmare for anyone dumb enough to cross her. They're safe, Ben—stronger than we ever dreamed." Her voice carried a quiet conviction, a mother's faith in her children's boundless potential.
Ben glanced at her, his tears slowing.
"Do you think Gladion can really pull it off—converting Moonwood's gym to a major one? It's a big leap." Erza's laugh was sharp, almost defiant. "Of course he can. He's not just strong—he's driven. He's got dad's stubbornness, my fire, and your heart. Proposing a General-type major gym? That's not a dream; it's a plan, and Gladion doesn't fail plans. He'll build it—brick by brick, battle by battle—and trainers'll flock to Moonwood to learn from the guy who crushed a Champion. The League'd be fools to say no."
Ben beamed, pride swelling as he pictured Gladion's vision—a bustling gym, diverse Pokémon, trainers molded into champs. "You're right—he's got it all figured out. And Gwen, training with Agatha for the Elite Four? Our kids are rewriting the rulebook!"
He hugged Milo, who squealed, "Gwen's gonna haunt everybody!" Lila tugged his sleeve, insisting, "Gladion's gym'll have dinos—biggest ever!" Ben laughed, tears sparkling. "Both of 'em—legends already, and you two'll be next!"
The twins, undeterred, resumed their squabble as the family reached the car. Milo waved his Gengar plushie. "Gwen's cooler 'cause she's sneaky! Gengar's like a ninja!"
Lila huffed, squeezing Colly-Wolly. "Gladion's the coolest—Colly-Wolly's a king! He'd squish Gengar like a pancake!" Milo gasped, "Ninja pancakes are awesome!" Lila giggled, "Dino kings rule!"
"Alright, Vortex crew—home for dinner, then you can argue about dinos and ninjas all night," Erza said, her smirk mirroring her older children's. Ben, still dabbing his eyes, murmured, "Dad would be so proud—his grandkids, shaking the world." Erza's hand squeezed his, her voice soft but fierce. "He is proud, Ben. And the kids are just getting started."
----Author Notes------
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