II The Bird Bros: Max and Terry

Disclaimer: Pokémon isn't mine.

Summary: A group of interconnected one-shots on the Pokémon Kingdom - and their struggle for survival.

Max and Terry trained a bit – their first battle was terrifying. The enemy Pokémon was a Fighting type and the Bird Bros were shocked when they won after only two hits. Did they really do that?

The others congratulated them later. Max and Terry didn't know how they felt about that. Fighting, fear…was that going to be their life from now one? Even Terry, always the optimist, was scared. Did they really want this?

Later, the BB's were sitting by the water away from the others. Then they heard a noise from behind them and they looked up. It was Hermione, smiling down at them.

"Are you okay?" she asked kindly.

Are we okay?

Max and Terry's thoughts and fears burst from them and they told Hermione everything. Their uncertainties. Their fears. When they stopped talking, Hermione sat with them by the water.

"It's okay to be afraid. That's a part of life. Everyone has fears."

At this, she tentatively touched the water.

"I'm afraid of water," she told them.

They were shocked. Hermione, kind and brave, almost always the first to fight and defend, the very first to begin the Journey, was afraid of something as simple as water?

"How do you stand it?" Terry asked, and Max nodded.

"Because I need to. Water and Water type Pokémon are everywhere. If I ran and hid every time I was scared, who would protect them?"

At that, Hermione looked at the others. Cissy was playing with the Prince, who was laughing. CHF was bugging Moonlet to train, much to Moonlet's displeasure.

They all looked…normal. Happy, even.

"They are our family," Hermione said softly. "Family sticks together."

She turned back to the Bird Bros. "Don't be afraid to fight. If you need help, we'll be there."

Max and Terry looked at eachother, then at her. They smiled. The BB's put their worries aside and leaned against Hermione. Soon, they were fast asleep.

EJS, aka inuyashaxkagome321