DISCLAIMER – I don't own anything used/mentioned in this Fic, bands, songs, brands, Pokémon etc.

I sat opposite my Granddad in the busy hustle of the crowded pub. Next to me were my Brother, Sullivan, and his girlfriend, Bailey. At the head of the table sat our Mother and next to Granddad was Nan. Between my grandparents sat my little sister, Pandora.

On Pandora's lap sat my Buneary, fast asleep, and by my feet laid my Vaporeon. I didn't like to keep my Pokémon in Pokéballs too long, but although The Stoat allowed Pokémon to be out, bringing every one I owned would not have been the best move.

My Mother and Granddad were talking about gardening and crops they'd planted. Bailey and Sully were talking about things going on at university, from which they were visiting, and Pandora was boring Nan with some story about Jessica and Lauren, two of her friends, having a fight.

I slid my immensely pale finger over the rim of the glass before me. My skin was so pale that my veins stood out vividly, like brightly coloured snakes under my skin. I stared at the Coke in my glass daydreaming about leaving home, just me and my Pokémon, us against the world. Getting out of Garret Hills and moving about from place to place. Me, Vaporeon, Buneary, Charmeleon, Ninetales all of the rest. We'd walk out over those hills at sunrise and never go back to those constant-same houses with their low-life gossip.

'Hello, my name's Brianne and I'll be your server,' a chirpy ginger girl asked, 'What can I get you folks?'

'I'll have the fish and chips, and my little girl there will have sausage and mash,' Mother said

'I'll have the barbeque chicken,' Nan said

'We'll both have this chicken pie,' Bailey said

'Could I have the lamb curry?'

You most certainly can,' Brianne said kindly, 'And you?'

I felt everyone's eyes slide onto me slowly. My relationship with food was an odd and complicated one. I had gone through a stage of starving myself to lose weight. Then a stage of eating too much and I became a little more that chubby. Then I started to throw up what I did eat. Now I struggled through each and every meal, snack and piece of chewing gum.

'I...uh...I'll have the...the sea bass risotto, please,'

'...sure thing honey,' Brianne said awkwardly and skirted away.

'Well done monster-munch,' Sully said, making a jibe at my past

'Leave it,' Mother scolded

'Yeah, wide-load, leave it,' I hissed

'Vay, vay,' Vaporeon called from my feet,

'Shh,' I cooed.

A few moments later Brianne came out with all our meals. I stared at everyone's before trying a bit of the rice of my risotto. It was creamy but filling. I had to cut a small fillet off the two larger pieces of sea bass. My eyes started to well up, my mouth salivated uncontrollably, my hands started to shake, my legs quivered. One more mouthful and I was in heaven.

I managed to not stuff the whole plate in my mouth at one, and even gave Vap some fish under the table. It was going averagely well...then my mother mentioned dessert.

'I'll have the chocolate brownie,' Pan said

'I'm fine for one,' Bailey said sweetly

'Chocolate fudge cake for me Ma','

'I'll...I'll have the...peach and raspberry crumble, please,'

When it arrived I almost cried. Balls of soft crumble atop a lake of mashed raspberries with islands of sweet peach. The sweetness was overwhelming. The syrup was amazingly hot.

After we had all finished, and I had almost cried, we walked out into the chilling night air. Nan and Granddad went to their car in Granddad's disabled space, due to his hip. Pandora skipped along beside me and Vape as we made our way to the far end of the maze of cars.

Too late did we realise that there was a man walking oddly close behind us. He wore a long black coat and low rimmed top hat. His boots clicked across the concrete. All of a sudden he made his move.

Pandora was snatched from my side with a scream. Sully and I ran for the man, but he threw a Pokéball to the ground, out of which a Primeape materialised.

'Pri! Pri!' It snarled.

'Vaporeon, get ready,'

'Primeape, Karate Chop,' the man said in a low, smooth voice as he leisurely strolled away with Pandora under his arm.

'Vaporeon, Water Gun,'

From Vaporeon's mouth came a steady jet of water, aimed straight at the Primeape, who just carried on moving, forcing it's shoulder into the force.

It got close enough and besides Vape's swift slink to the side the foe Primeape smashed its fist into Vape's shoulder, forcing him to the ground with a yelp.

'Fury Swipes,' the dark man said

'Vape, Tail Whip!' I started to become desperate. Vaporeon slapped the foe with his mermaid-like tail and Primeape's glowing fists blurred as he scratched and swiped.

Whilst the battle was going on, Sully had slipped behind the battle and was running at the man from behind. 'Glaceon!' the man barked, and from a bush to his left leapt a Glaceon, growling already.

My Vaporeon was beat, and the only Pokémon I had on me was my Buneary, not that she'd do much good against Primeape and Glaceon.

Dropping a third Pokéball, a Dragonite emerged. The man leapt onto it's back as it rose into the black cloudy sky. Throwing his arms wide, he absorbed Primeape and Glaceon back into their Pokéballs and rose higher, off above The Stoat, leaving us standing there, watching as he took Pandora away.

The moon was partially covered by a small wisp of cloud, giving the car park a patchy light, and a ghostly feel. We stood in dead silence, tears in our eyes, looking at each other having no idea what we could say or do.