(Day 12, and we're happy to say we're halfway through the AUvent Calendar everybody! This time, we're going to an AU we visited before back when it was a concept. But with an official name this time. Swapping Over. It's pretty much a version of Crossing Over, but roles have been swapped. More on that's covered in the concept/preview, which will be linked down below.)

Day 11: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/59136367/

Swapping Over Preview/Concept: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58709205/

A few years ago before Kat and Ben actually met Grune and Johnny Worthington III respectively, they encountered each other by chance. And ended up hitting things off which lead to them becoming friends. One of the things they had in common was that they had great dads.

Mauga Malosi was a member of Overwatch, instead of Talon like his prime counterpart. But was also Kat's adoptive father who he loved very much. One faithful day when he was on vacation at a beach with his best friend Baptiste, he saw an infant on a raft and investigated. Soon finding out that this baby had ears and a tail like a lion cub, and concluded he was a hybrid. And when he saw no one was around the young baby, Mauga concluded the poor thing was abandoned and decided to adopt him. There was just something about the little bundle of joy that warmed his two cybernetic hearts.

After two decades of successful missions, Mauga officially retired to enjoy his days in peace. Though he did let himself go during his retirement, yet didn't keep his skills rusty. Especially when he taught Kat everything the lion hybrid knew about fighting with his Keyblade. As a gesture, the former made a special Keychain for the latter, which give Kat a Keyblade based on Mauga's old weapons to fight with.

Arsalan ended up on a different path compared to his main counterpart. As he was orphaned at an early age, and was placed in a church alongside fellow orphans. And while he was taught morals to become an upstanding member of society... He had a bad habit of stealing things, but a talent of making sure it was never traced to him. A talent of which would soon come in use...

One day during his stay, Arsalan found out the church he lived in was financially struggling. But what was worse was that loan sharks were trying to extort the head of the chruch into selling the building. Livid, the lion doned a mask and outfit, and after finding them... Beat up the higher-ups who were in charge of the extortion scheme, and threatening them to call off the extortion. Though not before stealing their ill-gotten gains to help the church out. Though he soon started targeting other criminals in high positions that abuse their power, and stealing from them while ensuring they got arrested. The fellow orphans who he grew up with soon giving him the nickname Regulus, the phantom thief. And while some of them knew what Arsalan was doing, they kept it a secret out of gratitude for what he's done.

Fast forward to when he was an adult, and he happened to notice an orange boy scared and confused. The lion approached him with the intent of helping him to calm down, and soon learned that the latter was displaced and in a different body as he had been freaking out. Before learning his name was Ben Fuller. Feeling bad for the young human-turned hybrid, Arsalan ultimately took him in and adopted him as his son. Especially since every child needs guidence. Though not every guidence would involve teaching the young Worthicoot combat and thievery skills. Plus the concept for his signature cane weapon as well. Nonetheless though, Ben was very grateful to have such a loving and caring father/teacher helping him grow, especially since there were times the hybrid surprised the lion with moments he showed his father some creative tricks.

Fast foward to Christmas day on the same year Kat and Ben met, and they were spending the day together with their dads. After Arsalan and Mauga met and started getting to know each other and their sons, the day just pretty much progressed into the night. And that was both dads had a surprise present for their sons.

They handed wrapped up spheres to their sons, and let them open them to find two Poké Balls since they knew both Kat and Ben enjoyed Pokémon a lot. And told them to give a quick throw. And as soon as they did that... Out popped a Sprigatito and Sobble respectively! This was such a surprise neither of them expected, but they were so overjoyed to be getting their own Pokémon for Christmas, that they quickly gave their own dads a big hug! And while Arsalan and Mauga gave their respective sons a hug back, even Sprigatito and Sobble got in on the group hug. With Sobble climbing onto the lion's left shoulder and cuddling, and Sprigatito (Who Kat would nickname Magic) climbing up and resting between Mauga's right shoulder and Kat's head, purring no doubt like his new trainer.

One thing that also made Christmas that year memorable was a big star that shone brightly outside the window in the night sky. Yet was ultimately unimportant to everyone involved. And while some years later Ben and Kat would meet future friends and comrades, the two best friends would still have each other and their Starter Pokémon. Even if Sobble and Magic were fully evolved into Inteleon and Meowscarada respectively by then.

Ben Fuller (Swapping Over), Ben's Sobble/Inteleon (Latter mentioned) & short story belong to  BenSullicoot

Kat (Swapping Over), Magic the Sprigatito/Meowscarada (Latter mentioned) & art by  AnonymousKat

Arsalan belongs to Tokyo Afterschool Summoners/Housamo

Mauga Malosi belongs to Overwatch

Sobble & Sprigatito belong to Pokémon