Sunshine
"Mom! Dad!" I was so happy to see them that I forgot they weren't as strong as Tubby. As a result, when I jumped on them to give them a bear-hug we fell on the floor in a heap. I quickly stood up and Tubby helped to pull Mom and Dad off the floor. Tubby and I smiled angelically.
"Is Sunshine okay?" I asked, really worried. Mom and Dad exchanged glances, which I didn't take for a good sign.
"You better come inside and see for yourself," Dad said. Clutching Tubby's huge hand for support, I followed my parents into the house I had grown up in. Sunshine was curled up in a ball, sleeping fitfully. She wouldn't keep still and continuously convulsed. On her face was such a look of pain that I instantly felt bad. Mom's Blissey fussed over her, fetching cold water, blankets and various medicines. I looked to my parents.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Dad took a long time to answer me.
"We're not entirely sure." I looked back at my sister, suddenly feeling awful for not making an extra effort to see her in person. Who was I kidding? Seeing her once in her life time was not enough. Tears stung my eyes as I realized how much I had missed in Sunshine's life: her first smile, her first words, her first steps. Seeing I was close to tears, Mom held me in her arms.
"She'll be okay, you'll see," she said soothingly. I wished I could believe her.
Tubby had to return to his Pokéball because Mom said there just wasn't enough room for him in the house; not like when he was a Munchlax. I reluctantly returned him, promising to give him a whole bag of cookies as a treat as soon as he was allowed out again. The thing about coming home for the first time in so long was that I got to see my old room again. It was exactly the same as I had left it: Parchirisu plush tucked up under my yellow and blue stripy duvet; red carpet miss-matching the pale brown walls; A2 poster of my idol, Officer Jenny with her Growlithe. After placing Tubby's ball on my desk I belly-flopped on to my bed. It felt good to be home.
Later, when I had eaten dinner and washed and it was night time, Mom came into my room to tuck me in. Up until I was eleven, Mom had been tucking me in before I went to bed and since I moved out, we hadn't really agreed that she would stop doing it. So there I was, fifteen years old (and too tall for my age), letting my mom tuck me in before going to sleep. No, not even letting; enjoying it. I felt like her baby all over again. Then I felt bad, because I remembered that Sunshine was the baby and she was sick.
"Mom? Do you really believe Sunshine will be okay?" I asked timidly. Mom had just finished tucking me in so she sat down beside me on the edge of my bed, gently brushing my fringe out of my eyes with her hand.
"You need a trim," she said softly, not answering my question. I grabbed her hand and held it still, staring hard into her eyes.
"Mom." Mom slid her hand out of mine and swapped them so that she was the one holding my hand, holding my gaze.
"Tizzy, I promise you that Sunshine will be fine," she said with such conviction that I found myself believing her. I smiled up at my mom; she was so beautiful even though she was almost forty. She kissed my forehead and made as if to leave my room but I called her back.
"Sing to me," I commanded. Mom smiled at me and did as I had requested until I had fallen asleep.
The next day I was the first person up. Without bothering with breakfast, I rushed out of the house and into the cluster of trees that surrounded Pewter City. Once there, I reached into my pocket and threw Tubby's ball. He appeared in front of me, quite happy to see me. We hugged – it had been so long since we had last seen one another – and I told him what I needed him to do. Tubby refused, pointing to his stomach. I got it; he was hungry. Luckily I had anticipated that and offered the packet of cookies I had promised, which Tubby ate in one mouthful – including the packet! Licking his lips, I could tell that he was satisfied. Tubby gave me a leg up and I was on his back. He ran further away from Pewter City until I told him that he could stop. We were quite far enough. I slide down Tubby's back to see if I could find what I was looking for. After hunting around for a while, I found it.
A large group of Teddiursas. I told Tubby to dive and try to catch one, but when he did so the Teddiursas split up and scattered into the trees. Not one was left behind. I cursed under my breath; knowing that it was my fault my plan had failed. After all, never in my life had I ever caught a Pokémon. I had no idea what I was doing. I sat on the short grass and held my head in my hands in despair. I was useless! It was bad enough that Dad was a Gym Leader and Mom was a Nurse Joy, meaning I had to amount to something worthy of their pride. Add that to the fact that I was crap at all things Pokémon and hey presto! You get my life in a nutshell.
"Tizzy, is it really you?" a voice said. I lifted my head instantly to see a girl my age, with short black hair tied up in two spiky bunches on top of her head. Her eyes were green and filled with concern for me. She wore a black top, green jacket, denim blue shorts and large brown boots. I recognized her almost instantly. Emma Aldington, my best friend growing up. Since she was a few months older than I, she'd left for her journey before me and I hadn't heard from her in four years. A Charizard stood behind her, eyeing Tubby with deep suspicion. I could remember a time when that same Charizard was a Charmander.
"It is you!" Emma exclaimed, embracing me. From the way her arms strangled me it was clear I had been missed. She finally released me from her death grip and I was able to get a better look at her Charizard.
"Your Charmander has really grown!" I said, offering it a cookie which it refused.
"Huh? Oh, it's not the same Pokémon. I traded that weak thing ages ago. It just wouldn't evolve!" Emma's words shocked me. If Tubby had never evolved into a Snorlax, I could never imagine trading him away! I'd love and train with him regardless. I hadn't thought trading "weak" Pokémon would be something Emma would ever do, but obviously she had changed.
"Is that the same Pokémon your parents got you all those years ago?" Emma asked. I nodded. "Wow! He's really...big. Do you over-feed him or something?" I was used to people asking me that so I didn't take it personally. I explained that Tubby was just naturally larger than the average Snorlax, which seemed to impress Emma. She appeared to consider something before going on to ask:
"Do you want to trade it?" I laughed. I'd never trade Tubby! Emma persisted.
"I'll trade you my Charizard! He's really strong and reliable and he can fly you anywhere you want." I didn't accept. Frustrated, Emma sent out five more Pokémon to offer. She had a Marowak, Haunter, Torterra, Lopunny and a Lapras. I refused them all. Emma even tried to offer me two for the price of one but I told her that I would never – ever – trade Tubby. Annoyed at being let down, Emma stormed off. I turned to Tubby and did my best to hug him (my arms didn't quite make it around his very wide stomach).
"I love you Tubby; I'll never in a million years trade you away!"
"Snorlax!" he grinned. I sighed then, letting my arms drop. I still hadn't caught a Teddiursa. All I had done so far was kill a couple of minutes. What I needed was a better plan! I sat cross-legged on the ground and put on my best thinking face. Tubby did the same. Come on Tizzy! You can think of a plan. I know you can do it, I told myself. Tubby nudged me with the tip of his paw; I waved it away. Tubby kept nudging me and I lost my patience.
"What is it??" I snapped. Tubby pointed next to me. Turning my head, I saw a Teddiursa sitting cross-legged just as I was. Its thinking face wasn't nearly as good as mine though. With a jolt, I realized that this was exactly what I had been waiting for! Thinking fast, I grabbed the Teddiursa around the middle. It didn't struggle. Still holding it in my arms, I stood up.
"You're coming home with me! You're going to be a present for my little sister, and then maybe she'll feel better!" I said softly to the cuddly Pokémon. It laughed delightedly.
Note: Hope you liked this chapter! Remeber, this is just a side story of Sinnoh Challenges (which is a LOT better, trust me). I'm trying to explain Tizzy's absence for 5 chapters XD Review/Alert/Favourite = I'll love you! x
p.s be sure to read Sinnoh Challenges if you haven't already! :)