Tall blades of grass towered over Cybele's small, rodent-like body. The fragrance of ripened berries teased her nostrils, her nose twitching in the air with anticipation. A warm breeze drifted through the balmy summer air and ruffled her soft lilac pelt. The summer had been especially hot, and today was no different. The sun had scorched the grasses so that they were tinted a brilliant golden. The sky was a radiant azure with not a cloud in sight; and in the center was the large, blinding sun, which shone on the expansive field with as little ruthlessness as ever. Cybele kept her ruby-colored eyes fixed on the ground as she padded towards where her children frolicked together.
It was almost expected of a sensible Rattata to gnaw and eat anything, and, more importantly, to reproduce. Cybele was no exception. She was hailed by many as perfectly average. She had fifty children, forty of whom were grown and no longer needed her adamant attention. However, the other ten were as rambunctious as any other group of kittens. A mother's work was never done.
She observed quietly as her children played amongst themselves, nibbling idly on one of the abundant grass blades. Chi chased Sapphire through the field. Yitro ate to his content, satiating himself with a small wild strawberry plant. Jacinta and Naff napped beneath the chinaberry tree. Its glossy, deep green leaves rattled and shined in the zephyr. Its long branches extended far from its trunk, providing a shady haven for flora and fauna alike. Rangsey looked to the skies as a peaceful flock of Pidgeys flew through the field. They made no noise except the rush of their wings. Yasmin, Tadeo, Faith and Oren skulked through the meadow, entertaining themselves with their own game. Cybele, satisfied, could no longer resist the lure of the berries. She spied a strawberry patch which Yitro had not yet reached and headed towards it.
She buried her muzzle in the rich, jade foliage of the wild strawberries, their jagged edges brushing against her fur. The juices from the bright red fruit dripped down her throat, and she savored its sugary consistency. A clear day, many beautiful children, a satisfying meal—what more could she ask for? She rejoiced in the ecstasy of the moment, until she remembered him. She pulled away from the strawberry patch, brushing her snowy white whiskers against in the grass. He had haunted her thoughts ever since he had been gone. She had tried to let go, but the memories kept drawing her in. She could remember how his pelt glistened after a long bath, the twinkle in his eyes when he would be presented with a good meal.
"Mama," said a calm, collected voice. Cybele brushed away the tears that welled in her eyes and looked towards her addresser.
"Regina," replied she, attempting to maintain her composure. She followed her daughter to the chinaberry tree, where she laid down across the grass, short and green beneath the shade of the great tree. She looked so much like him. Cybele folded her limbs beneath her small frame, her long, curled tail laying flat against the cool ground. She and her daughter shared a silence, the only sounds those of the children speaking with each other and their frenzied movements as they frisked about.
"Have the children been good to you?" asked Regina. Her ears twitched when Tadeo released a playful screech. Of all of Cybele's children, she assumed Regina to be the most polite. She would not have exchanged a foul word even with her most loathed enemy, although Cybele assumed that her daughter had none. She knew not how it pleased her mother to have a visit from one of her first children. Lily had long departed with her mate and the others simply could never find the time to see their mother when they had their own affairs to be taken care of. But it seemed as if time was no factor for Regina, as she always seemed to go about her business very slowly, taking care to observe everything around her. It was an idiosyncrasy that she had also noticed in him. Although her daughter was most beloved to her, it was at times painful when she made comparisons such as these.
"As well-behaved as you could expect children to be," Cybele responded. An amiable expression spread across her daughter's features. Behind them, Jacinta stirred. She let out a large yawn as she awoke from her light nap. She stumbled about, brushing off traces of the bark of the chinaberry tree from her fur. She saw her sister and mother nearby and meandered towards them with a drowsy look in her eye.
"Whatcha talkin' about?" she asked blearily, situating herself across from her two relatives.
"We're discussing how naughty you've been," said Regina with a mischievous grin. Jacinta giggled in the peculiar, high-pitched squeak that was unique to her. Cybele agreed with Regina, sending Jacinta into further hysterics.
"You guys are lying!" exclaimed Jacinta once she had ceased her laughing.
"Geez Jaci, you're gonna wake the dead with that laugh," mumbled a fourth voice groggily. Cybele observed that Naff, too, had awoken.
"It's Reggi's fault, she's funny!" protested his sister. Naff, recognizing that he would no longer be able to sleep, decided to join his sisters and mother in their small conversation circle. He had deeper colored fur than his female counterparts, but it was also more ruffled and unkempt. They sat and discussed trivial things, although Naff was most keen on complaining about his littermate's tendency to laugh at things which were, in reality, not the slightest bit amusing. Cybele did not have any preference on the direction in which their talk headed, because she found any moment spent with her children a refreshing one. To know that, although he was gone, her offspring were still plentiful and able to accompany her was a relief.
"I remember Daddy used to pick me strawberries all the time on pretty days like today," Jacinta recounted. Naff began his own conversation with his sister as they reminisced of things that their father used to do. Regina was silent, realizing the sensitivity of such talk with her mother present. Cybele looked mournful, and soon she could feel the tears gathering once more. She looked at all of her beautiful children—all without a father. It was only she, the solitary parent. It was the only aspect of her ordinary existence which threatened to cause it to be any less. Naff observed his mother's dampening spirits, and attempted to make amends to the topic of the conversation.
"It's too bad Daddy had to leave with that mean trainer," added Naff quickly. However, this did not have the desired effect on Cybele. She burst into tears and left towards the base of the chinaberry tree. She slumped against its sturdy trunk, the coarse bark caressing her thin body as she drowned in her sorrow. She missed him so desperately. He was her mate. Her first love and her only love. But he had gone. Whether it was of his own will or not was a question that lingered in Cybele's mind; a question which had never been answered. She could never forgive the human who had taken her dearest Rattata away from her. The humans were selfish, cruel creatures who thought of nothing than the glory upon entering an arena, the thrill of a fight, the taste of victory. Was it only the simple Pokémon who could appreciate the pleasures of a sweet-tasting berry and the company of one's offspring?
Naff and Jacinta motioned to comfort their weeping mother, their faces ones of deep concern. Regina shook her head and motioned for them to not go.
"Leave her be, she'll be all right," she instructed them. They were still, and soon the other children had noticed Cybele's melancholy state and soon joined their elder sister, heeding her advice to allow her mother to sob in silence.
"Mama isn't gonna leave us too, is she?" asked Faith of her sister concernedly. This began the worried murmur of voices from all of the children, but they were soon silenced by Regina, who appeared not to be rattled.
"Mama would never leave us," Regina told her siblings matter-of-factly.