"Wake up sleepy head." Mikes voice rang through Malina's ears. Malina slowly opened her eyes, she was on Mike's bed. It had been two days since The incident with Mike's mother and today was the day Malina and Mike would begin their journey. Mike was excited. This journey would help Malina and may help her get her life back on track, as well as show Mike what the rest of the world outside his region looked like.
Mike was already dressed and ready, the smell of breakfast filled Malina's nose, making her wake up quicker. All Malina could think of was what she would see and do out in the world. When Mike and Malina entered the kitchen Mike's father was already sitting at the table. The mother was setting up the last of the food. Mike could tell she was still mad at him for not choosing the snivy.
"Morning, hope your ready for the big day." The father said noticing Mike.
"You bet, I'm sure your ready as well Malina?" He asked looking down at her.
"Sure." Was all she replied with, Mike could tell she was still nervous about going on the big journey. Mike pulled out a chair for Malina. Malina hoped on the chair, Mike sat down next to her. When Mike's mother sat down, his father started asking her about a large sum of money missing from their account. Mike's mother replied saying she had no idea, Mike didn't say anything because he knew his mother was mad at him enough as it was, she would probably hate him if he told dad about the snivy she had adopted. Malina nudged Mike, since she had paws she couldn't get her own food without digging her whole face into the meals. Mike grabbed her some pancakes and some bacon. "You want syrup?" He asked. Malina looked at him unaware of what "syrup" was. "It's a really sweet liquid, you might like it he replied.
"Sure I'll take some." She replied. While mikes mother and father were debating whether or not there was a thief stealing their money. Mike poured some syrup on top of Malina's pancakes. She looked at it weird.
"This is what syrup is?" She thought to herself. Malina started looking at her pancakes, wondering how she could eat without making a big mess on her face. "Screw it." She thought and with that plunged her face into her pancakes. Mike laughed, Mike's father looked over and started to chuckle as well. Mike's mother just rolled her eyes.
"What does he even see in that useless piece of..."
"Honey, I think we really need to call someone about this." Mike's father broke in breaking her train of thought.
"It's fine josh, just drop it for now ok." She said trying not to sound annoyed.
"Fine." He replied. "But I still think we should be alert just in case."
Mike got himself a couple pancakes and some syrup and started eating, Malina had pretty much demolished her food, gulping it down like it really was a liquid. When she finished most of her mane, and her face was covered in syrup. Mike smiled. "I think someone needs to get a bath once were done." He chuckled. As the rest of breakfast went on Malina got a unsettling feeling In her gut, and it kept growing.
After breakfast, Mike took Malina to the bathroom and started filling up the tub. Malina couldn't shake the unsettling feeling in her gut. "Ready to hop in?" Mike asked. Malina snapped out if her daze and slowly got into the tub.
"So, nervous about the big day?" Mike asked trying to make conversation.
"A little bit." She replied, mike gave her a look. "Alright, a lot."
"There is nothing to be worried about, just believe in yourself and you'll be fine." Mike advised.
"But thats just it, i can't believe in myself, there is nothing to believe in." Malina replied.
"See, now there is your problem, if you keep believing your weak, you're going to become weak." Mike advised again.
"I am weak, i mean look at me, my ribs are showing, my horn is barley even sharp-" malina began.
"Malina stop it, the more you keep insulting yourself like this the more it's going to get worse, for once try thinking positive, if you cant think about something positive about yourself, think about positive things you do for other people." Mike replied, getting tired of her can't-do-anything behavior.
"But thats the thing, i don't do anything positive for other people, i just take up space." She complained.
"Well, you make me happy." Mike responded, trying to cheer her up.
Malina looked at him with surprise. "I do?" She asked.
"Sure, you don't act spoiled, you don't try to break stuff in the house, i dont know why other absols don't like you back at your clan." He complimented.
Malina had a slight blush on her cheeks, making Mike smile. He gave a small hug before going back to scrubbing the dirt off of her body. "Could you hand me your paw please." Mike asked.
Malina let him grab her paw so that he could wash it off. "Is you're mom always... Well, you know, scary?" Malina asked.
"Not usually, i don't know what has gotten into her lately." Mike replied.
"She probably hates me." Malina thought out loud.
"She feels that way about all wild pokemon." Mike replied. "She is what you would call, a perfectionist, she sees the flaws in every pokemon and loathes them for it." Mike explained.
"So, would it be any different if you found a different pokemon?" Malina asked.
"Most likely, i brought a psyduck in the house before and she just flipped out." Mike replied, chuckling. "She called it a dirty use of yellow feathers."
Malina laughed a little. "What about me, what does she say?" Malina wondered.
"Who knows, the only thing i realized was she didn't like you the first time she saw you, but like i said, she is like that with all pokemon." He replied.
"What about you're dad?" She asked.
"My dad is a lot better with pokemon to say the least." He replied. "He would always tell me stories when i was young about his adventures, traveling to the different regions, conquering the elite four, bonding with his pokemon. He told me that once he met mom, he had to leave his pokemon."
"What! Why?" Malina shouted on accident, outraged that she would make him get rid of his team.
"My mom didn't like them, they weren't "perfect" as she claims." He responded.
"Thats outrageous, it shouldn't matter if they are perfect or not, they should have been with him because he cared for him." She replied.
Mike chuckled. "If only everyone thought like you Malina."
Malina wasn't sure what he meant, but she did see it was a compliment which made her smile.
After a while, Mike finished and helped Malina dry off. Leading her into his bedroom, Mike went off to find a brush so that he could groom her fur, meanwhile Malina looked at herself in the mirror.
"What does Mike see in me?" Malina wondered. "What is there to see." She wondered.
Malina paced back and forth on the floor for a bit pondering the question, when suddenly she felt the feeling of un-comfort in her stomach, only this time, it was much worse. Malina wondered what could be making her feel this way, when suddenly she was picked up by her mane and shoved against the wall.
Malina was about to let out a scream when suddenly a hand cupped her mouth. Upon focusing at her attacker, she couldn't believe it, it was mike's mother.
"Alright, it's time you and i had a little "talk." She threatened, making Malina go limp in fear. "I don't know what Mike sees in you, or why he picked you in the first place, but let me make something clear. If i ever see you with my son again after today, i will personally make sure you suffer, do i make my self clear." All Malina could do was nod. "All you are is just a filthy white rag my son found to play with, and do you know what happens to filthy white rags." She asked angrily, Malina shook her head. "They get thrown away." Malina could feel the mothers grip tightening around her mouth, making her cringe in pain.
Taking her hand off of Malina's mane, the mother threw Malina down to the ground, causing her head to slam down on the floor. She could feel her conscience slipping away quickly. The last thing she heard before blacking out was. "You're not good enough for my son."
Malina was awoken when she felt herself being shaken violently. "Malina wake up, are you OK?!" The voice asked frantically, it didn't take a genius to find out it was Mike.
Malina opened her eyes, Mike let out a sigh of relief. "Malina stay right where you are, i'm going to get some bandages." Mike alerted before running off again.
"What why would he need bandages?" Malina wondered, she felt weak but couldn't figure out why. It wasn't until she laid her head down, did she see the pool of blood her head had created. "Oh thats just great." Malina thought.
Mike came back with some gauze and wrapped the cloth around her head, trying his best to cover up the head wound.
"What happened, i came back in here and you were in a pool of blood, knocked unconscious." Mike asked.
"I don't remember." She lied, avoiding eye contact.
"Are you sure?" Mike asked.
Malina nodded, she wasn't really paying attention, at the time the mothers words kept replaying through her head. "You're not good enough for my son." The more Malina thought about the more she thought it was true. She suddenly felt tears sting her eyes.
"Malina, what's wrong?" Mike asked.
Without answering, Malina dug her head onto Mike's shoulder, letting out weeps. Mike didn't say anything, he could tell something was wrong but didn't bother to say anything, it was obvious something was wrong, but she would need time before she told him anything.
After a while, Malina stopped crying, now she just kept her head on Mikes shoulder. Mike lifted Malina and sat on his bed, setting Malina in his lap."feel better?" Mike asked. Malina didn't reply. "None of that was about the big journey was it?" Mike asked. She still didn't reply. Mike laid Malina down on his bed, laying her head on his pillow, making sure to keep her horn off of the pillow. "I think it would be best if you just lied down for now." He advised, tucking her in. Malina still didn't reply.
Mike didnt hear a word out of her until he reached the doorway. "Mike." She called out, grabbing his attention. "Will you lie down with me?" She asked. Mike looked at her for a second then smiled warmly.
"Sure, a little while wouldn't hurt." He replied, the truth was, he did feel a little tired, and he felt like lying down after his almost near heart-attack from earlier. Sliding under the covers, Mike settled next to her, Malina cuddled close to Mike, enjoying his smell. Mike felt a little uncomfortable, remembering their conversation about pokephilia two days ago, but didn't complain since her fur was really warm.
"Mike?" She asked.
"Yes?"
"Do you really like me, or are you just adopting me in order to annoy your mother?" She asked.
Malina didn't hear anything from Mike, it wasn't until a couple seconds past that she felt something warm touch her cheeks and felt mike squeeze her gently. "Does that answer you're question?" Mike asked.
"Yes." She replied cuddling up closer to him.
Josh (the father as you will recall.) kept looking at the unusually high bill that came from his credit card company. "Who the hell is millian foster?" Josh wondered. Martha (the mother) had gone out to get some grocery's, but had to hold back on some items since the one mysterious bill cost 10,000 pokès.
Following the address, Josh came to a ranch, it seemed like an average ranch, hosting miltanks, and caring for crops and such. It wasn't until he noticed the sign that said they also had an adoption area, that he was certain he was in the right area. Walking up to a young-looking boy, probably just about a year older than his son. "Excuse me, do you run this farm?" Josh asked.
The boy looked up noticing the stranger walking toward him. "No sir, i dont, that would be my dad, you can find him in the house." The boy replied.
Josh was surprised that the boy didn't have an accent of one that was a farmer, but just decided to dismiss it and head up to the house the boy was talking about. Knocking on the door, a man, probably in his 70's opened the door. "What can i do you for?" The man asked when confronting josh at the front door.
"I understand you have an adoption area on this farmland?" Josh asked.
"We sure do, come right on in." The farmer replied, giving room for josh to enter the house.
"Who is it?" A female voice shouted from upstairs.
"Just some business hon." The farmer replied.
Josh took a seat at a table, the farmer sat in front of him. "So, what pokemon can i interest you in?" The farmer asked.
"Actually, i came here because i got a bill from this farm." Josh replied. "It says i purchased something from this farm?" He asked handing the farmer the bill.
The farmer took a close look at the bill. "Well, either you purchased a lot of corn bushels or you bought off one of our rare breed pokemon." He replied.
"Rare breed pokemon?" Josh asked.
"Yes we have quite the couple, but these aren't just any pokemon, these are special, their shiny." He replied.
"I see, by the way, did a woman come by here a couple of day ago?" Josh asked.
The farmer thought about it a bit. "Come to think of it, was she brown haired, little wide around the hips?" The farmer asked. Josh nodded. "Yes, as i recall, she bought off one of our shiny snivys, she never gave the reason as to why she wanted one she just told us it was for something special." He replied.
"I see." Josh replied. "Well, thanks for your time, now as it would seem, i need to go talk to my wife."
Not even letting the farmer say goodbye, josh marched out of the house and got back in his truck, speeding back to his house in an outrage.
Josh waited for his wife to return home, it wasn't long after he got out that he saw her car pull down the road to their house. She had a lot of explaining to do. As soon as she pulled in and got out of her car he opened his mouth.
"Want to explain to me what you were doing two days before when i was at work?" He asked.
Martha looked at him strangely, she knew where he was going with this, but tried to seem innocent in her best way. "I was just merely doing housework, what were you doing?" She asked.
Josh knew this was a lie. "Stop lying, i know you adopted a pokemon while i was at work, now where is it?" He asked.
"What? Me? Adopt a pokemon? I have no idea what you are talking about." She replied.
"I talked to the farmer, millian foster i think his name was, he confirmed you were there a couple days ago." He replied, starting to sound annoyed.
"Alright fine, i might have adopted a pokemon." She admitted.
"And let me guess, you tried to bribe our son to get rid of his absol so that he could have something that fit towards what you want?" He asked.
Martha didn't reply instead just rubbed her neck. "Damn it Martha!" Josh yelled slamming his fist down on the hood of his truck. "I thought i said to just leave it alone."
"She doesn't deserve him, shes a runt, Mike won't be able to win any battles with her." Martha protested.
"Thats why he is trying to train with her, to make her stronger." He rebutted.
"It would take forever, she doesn't have the skills, the strength, or hell, even the speed, there is no way i can just let him have "her" as his pokemon, its too pathetic." She replied.
Josh walked right up to Martha so that he was face to face with her. "Now listen here." He whispered angrily. "My pokemon weren't perfect to begin with, but i helped them grow stronger, we beat the fucking elite four with no problem at all, if i can do it, Mike can do it too, i don't want anymore of this non-perfect bullshit out of your mouth."
Martha didn't reply but rather stared at him darkly, it was obvious she didn't agree with his reasoning.
"Now come on, we need to go get mike for his journey." Josh said walking off.
"I wouldn't count on it." Martha sighed under her breath.
Josh went inside and went to Mike's room, flicking on the light he saw Mike blink at the light and sit up slowly.
"C'mon sport, time to begin the big journey." Josh shouted enthusiastically.
"Actually dad." Mike replied. "It might have to wait a day or two. Malina has gotten into an accident."
"What do you mean?" Josh asked walking up to the bed.
Mike showed his father the bloody part of the bandage that covered Malina's head.
"I don't know what happened but she won't tell me, i don't think we are going to be able to go on the trip for another day or two." Mike advised.
"I see, well better go tell your mother." Josh informed walking out of the room. "She didn't." Josh thought going back outside to meet Martha.
"You did not just cause the injury to that absols head?" Josh asked angrily.
"I just had a word with her, thats all." Martha replied.
"What is wrong with you!" Josh shouted. "You've never acted this way before, are you nuts? You could have killed her!"
"Well you know what? I said it once, i'll say it again. She's a pathetic loser and she doesn't deserve our son." She replied, and with that walked into the house.
Josh just sighed, it was clear as long as the absol stayed at the house, he was going to have to keep a close eye on Martha. Without wanting to argue anymore, Josh just merely got the groceries from out of the back and just walked inside.
Malina didn't know how long she had slept for, but when she awoke, she was probably in Mike's room still, she mostly couldn't see due to the fact that the lights were off and the room didn't have any windows. "Mike?" She called out quietly.
"Oh, you're awake." Mike replied in a surprised tone.
"What time is it?" She asked.
Mike looked at his watch, pressing a button it illuminated a dim light, enough for him to see the time.
"4:56." He replied. "So, the sun should be low in the sky."
"Wait, weren't we supposed to go on the big journey at noon?" She asked.
"I postponed it until tomorrow, i can't let you go out there when you have a head injury, you need to heal up before we can go out." He responded.
"Tomorrow?" Malina thought. "If mike's mother sees me still with mike tomorrow, shes going to kill me."
"Are you sure we can't just leave now?" Malina asked.
"Positive, i don't like the idea of us starting our journey on a head injury." Mike replied.
Malina sighed. "Thats what i thought you would say."
"You think you're able to train a little?" Mike asked, he remembered that Malina still needed to learn sword dance.
"I-i guess." she replied, surprised he still wanted to train.
"Great." He replied happily. "Hold on, let me get the light." Mike got off the bed, feeling the walls, he eventually came across a switch, flipping it, a bright light came on, making Mikes eyes cringe, malina's as well. "Sorry, forgot that happens if you sit in the dark too long." Mike chuckled. "Now lets see that head wound."
Mike walked over to Malina, unwrapping the gauze, he eventually was able to take a closer look at the wound, her fur had been stained by the amount of blood, but for the most part the wound had closed up. "Great, for the most part i think you should be fine, but i think we should practice sword dance, before we practice tackling again." Mike advised.
Malina moaned, if there was one thing she hated more than spending an entire day tackling wood, it was spending an entire day looking like an idiot that had constipation. Mike helped Malina off the bed, she wobbled a bit but was able to keep her balance for the most part. Mike walked out the back door with Malina following close behind.
"Alright, lets start like how we always do, showing me your battle stance." Mike began.
Malina had gotten better at her pose, mainly because it was the easiest part of the whole training exercise. Malina angled her head and slid her left feet back, giving her body a much more stable balance in case of an attack..
"Great, now let move on to practicing sword dance." Mike advised.
"Um, mike?" Malina asked. "Why do we practice a battle stance anyway?"
"A battle stance shows how much of an experienced fighter you ate, even if you are not that great of a fighter, you might be able to scare off an opposing enemy with a menacing pose. They will think that you know more about fighting then they do, and might run off." He explained.
"So in other words, it tricks enemies?" Malina asked.
"Not all enemies, but it does show how good of a fighter you are." He corrected. "Now then, remember, just believe in yourself, you have the strength, now just believe in yourself."
Malina tried her best in making herself confident. Bringing up all the energy she could, Malina strained once again to pull off the move.
"Come on Malina i know you can do." Mike cheered.
Malina kept straining to force the move to work. Eventually she just gave up. She just couldn't sum up enough confidence to pull off the move.
"Hmm, i think i have an idea." Mike proposed. "Rather than trying to force it, try more on concentration, use mental power, rather than brawn." He suggested.
"How do i do that?" Malina asked.
"Easy, just clear your mind, and say i can do this, over and over again as much as you can." He replied. "Alright, ready? Lets try it again."
Malina did as Mike instructed and cleared her mind, shutting her eyes for max concentration, she repeated the saying. "I can do this, i can do this, i can do this." Over and over in her mind. Very faintly, 4 swords started to appear around her.
"Come on Malina, you're doing it." Mike cheered.
"I can do this, i can.. Do.. This, i... Can... Do... This." Malina suddenly found herself straining to say the words in her head. The swords were becoming less transparent.
"Come on Malina, you're so close." Mike whispered.
"I can do this, i can do this, i can do this." Malina kept repeating in her mind, though the words were losing value.
"I can't do this!" Malina shouted, dipping her head, the swords faded away, it was another failed attempt.
Mike groaned. "What happened? You were so close." He asked.
"I just couldn't do it, the words lost value to me, i-i just can't do it Mike, its impossible." She replied.
"That's not true Malina, you were so close, i know you can do it." Mike encouraged.
Malina looked at him. "I wish i could believe that." She replied.
Mike sighed, no matter how many times he told her, she could never believe in herself. It was a reoccurring problem, one that probably would never get resolved if she couldn't see her own potential, something Mike had been trying to hint her at.
Mike sat down next to Malina. "You know, you keep telling yourself you can't do it, you won't actually be able to do it, i keep telling you, you're not weak, you're just not used to these kinds of abilities, why don't you believe me?" Mike asked.
"Because after years of being pushed around and being under everyone, i just can't simply believe that i actually have the ability to just, use a move. Accept it Mike, i am weak, if i can't even pull off a sword dance, then i don't deserve to be you're partner." She replied.
"You're not weak." Mike replied angrily, A voice Malina had never heard before. "How many times do i have to tell you, you just need practice."
"Mike, i wish i could belive that but-" malina was suddenley cut off when mike flipped her on her back and held her down with his arms and legs.
"Listen to yourself!" He shouted. "Stop saying you can't, i know you can do this, why can't you just for once believe you can do it."
"M-mike y-you're scaring me." Malina whimpered.
Mike sighed, taking his hands and knees off of Malina, he sat back down and stared at the ground. "Im sorry." He replied. "It's just, I'm tired of you saying you can't, no matter what i do i just can't get you to believe, because the truth is, i cant make you believe in yourself on my own Malina, you need to believe as well, i know somewhere inside of you, there is the power to do this, you're just not seeing it the way i do."
Malina didn't say anything, in fact, neither of them did, for a couple minutes the only sound was of the wind rushing by.
"I'm going inside, you can follow if you want." Mike spoke out, getting up, Malina noticed his voice had no emphasis like before, it was just emptiness. Mike stopped for a second and looked back at Malina. "Malina, if you really don't think you can do this-." Mike paused, it was obvious it was something hard for him to say. "If you really think you can't do this, then don't bother coming inside, just leave."
"What? Why?" Malina asked getting up.
"Because i can't take it anymore, you constantly degrade yourself, its like I'm talking to a Depressing doll. If you really can't do this, then i can't help you, not anymore." He explained.
Malina felt hurt he would say things like this, but she saw his point. If she continued to beat herself down like this, then there really was no point in him taking care of her, it would all be for nothing.
"But, where would i go?" She asked.
"I don't know, probably back out to the forest, or if anything, in an adoption center." He responded. "So the question is, are you willing to believe in yourself, or are you going to walk away?" Mike asked.
Malina got up, from where she stood there was two directions, towards the woods, or towards Mike. Both had their risks, but Malina knew which one she really wanted to pick. She walked up to Mike.
"Are you really able to do this?" Mike asked.
"I can try my best." She replied.
Mike smiled, getting on his knees he gave the absol a hug, glad she finally came through.
"I think for now we should just go inside, i think i can smell dinner cooking." Mike replied.
For the first time in a while, Malina actually smiled, sure, she might not have the most perfect partner in the world, but she was happy she had a partner that believed in her.
At this point, that was all that really mattered.
To be continued...
Hey guys, sorry to cut this one so short, but i am currently working on a new story and wanted to post something for BAFF so that I didn't feel like i was completely abandoning it, see you guys next chapter and thanks for being patient.
