Updating! Am I not nice? Or perhaps it's more like I'm overdue (at least compared with how often I updated before), and I'm sorry. A bit. But mostly I had work to do, and maybe weekly/every second week updates aren't so bad?
Anyway, I don't own pokèmon, my beta is awesome, and I hope you enjoy the chapter :)
Chapter 2 – In Which a Promise is Made
There was nothing dramatic about the capture.
On their third day together, with renewed energy, Chikorita followed her around like a lost puppy. She – it turned out to be a girl – would never let May out of her sight, and nuzzled up to every part of her available. Clearly May had been adopted as the new mother, and her new child became more attached to her by the hour. As the night drew near, they shared a meal and the warmth of a bonfire together. May's other pokémon had been fed while Chikorita slept. She was reluctant to introduce her other pokémon to the baby, considering how scared she seemed. May learned that the hard way, yesterday evening, as she had let out her starter. Because her Blaziken was all about care and kindness, but apparently he was very, very scary for a tiny baby grass pokémon, who froze and then ran. Luckily, May found Chikorita fast, because camouflage is not a good survival strategy when you are orange and yellow and your surroundings are all a vibrant green.
May stretched her slightly stiff limbs. A small being curled in on itself in her lap, making itself as tiny as possible. Small target – more difficult to spot. She wondered if the aggressive Chikorita had ever had any reason to hide like this, tucked in nice and safe against its mother.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of you. You're safe with me, I'll protect you and feed you and care for you. You'll never again be alone, and I will never abandon you." Her fingers stroked the leaf gently.
"Chi..ka" The little creature sighed contentedly, shifting herself even closer. May took a pokéball from her backpack, and carefully let it touch Chikorita. The ball opened, and the baby pokémon disappeared inside to the hum of a lullaby.
On the fifth day, May felt it was time to leave. Chikorita was much better, and now needed other kinds of treatments. Like food and kindness and the steady presence of a caring parent, which did not exclude travelling. Besides, her supplies were running low, and she was still stuck in this forest, still lost. And then there were the others, which probably had been waiting for her a couple of days already at the pokémon center in Azalea Town.
"We are moving today. You need to travel in the pokéball, Chika." May's voice was slightly muffled through her mouthful of breakfast.
"Ka?"
May smiled down at her new pokémon, but a slight frown was etched on her face. "That's good, eat it all. Your color worries me." Chikorita was still just as much autumn as the first day. Then again, it was probably caused by some kind of undernourishment, and therefore would take time to fix. "Of course you look cute anyway, Chika, but I want you to be healthy."
Chikorita nuzzled her hand, all agreement. Her leaf shone in the morning sun, perked upward in contentment.
"I know how it is to be the brown one, though. My friends, you see. I don't have delicate peach hair or emerald eyes. Even Harley has that purple and green going for him. I'm just not much in comparison, you know? All normal." Her limp, drab hair swung in front of her face, as if to punctuate her statement. "But then again, you 're not normal at the moment, and I guess that can be a problem too." Chikorita looked up at her, and nudged her leg gently.
Looking down at her new baby friend, her smile was pulled forth, and she found it a bit easier than before. There was so many things more important than appearance, after all. "You're right, that was enough self pity for one day! We really need to get going, or who knows how they will react when we get there. Especially Harley..." A shudder of impending doom went through her, and the camp was packed up in record time.
Forest hikes can be very enjoyable. Forest hikes endured alone (because her pokémon were mostly secure in their pokéballs) and lost (because said pokémon were even worse at finding directions) equaled a very bad mood. After the glade, May needed one and a half day of bewildered walking to find the right trail and reach the other side.
Finally she scurried through town, one goal in mind: The pokémon center. "Brace yourself May" she mumbled before bravely pushing open the door to trainer heaven.
"MAY! Oh, May, how could you?! Don't you love us anymore?" Purple locks were everywhere. May found herself squeezed up against a cacturne-green outfit, which owner embraced the daylights out of her.
"Harley... Get off! Can't breathe..." He entangled himself from her slightly, still holding her arms in a vice grip, as if she would suddenly decide to disappear. Tears went everywhere. "Thanks, and really, you can let me go. Of course I care about you guys."
"We were worried, May. We expected you here sooner. Four days are stretching it too much, don't you think?" Solidad looked slightly worn, and tired. Her voice was calm, but it created a stony, sinking feeling inside.
May glanced over at Drew. He was silent, glaring back with ferocity. She expected him to maybe be slightly, just a tiny bit angry, but still... "I'm truly sorry. I got lost in the forest." The glare didn't appease one bit.
Solidad relented, though, with a relieved smile. "At least you're safe."
"But May, you kind of stink..."
"Thanks, Harley, that's what over a week of camping does to you." As if he would look any better after a similar ordeal. And she knew how she appeared at the moment. No need for reminders, thank you very much! Time to use the no-nonsense voice."If you'll all excuse me, I really want that shower. Now." Harley finally let go.
She got a key and locked herself into a room. Luxuries like a bed and the bathroom bid her welcome. A pity she had to hurry. After the too quick shower she draped herself on the bed, feeling the slightly coarse texture of the blanket. Flipping out Chikorita's ball, she released the pokémon. "Ka!" was happily exclaimed, and suddenly May's hands were full of affectionate, nuzzling pokémon. She had heard stories of Ash's Chikorita, maybe it was a species thing?
"I'm happy to see you too, Chika. I met my friends again." She let the little baby worm herself even closer. It felt nice.
"Chi?" Those big eyes looked at her with unconditional love. Just for being there for her for some days.
"I wish they would look at me more like you do. You could say it was a strained welcome, but... I deserved it, I guess." A bright orange leaf gently stroked her chin, a soothing gesture.
"I'm fine. They'll get over it. Harley probably has already. Solidad also, perhaps." Drew... she had no idea. He had been so silent. Angry. Why angry? She was late, but not to the extent that it would inconvenience him that much. Worried, then. Somehow that thought warmed her a little, from her chest outwards. Drew was worried, and she felt good for it. Oh, she was a horrible person... But at the moment, this slightly wrong feeling was wonderful.
"Say, do you want to meet my friends later?"
"Chi!" Voice not at all soft and adorable anymore, her little baby turned her head away in a clear dismissal.
"I guess that's a 'way later', then, because 'no' is not an option, my friend. Can't have a one person social circle forever, can we?" A bubbly laugh escaped May, even though she tried to keep her stern mask. Chikorita was still facing away in defiance, her little face all scrunched up.
"No worries, I won't leave you, remember?" Chikorita whipped around in an almost sparkly manner, delight radiating from her in waves again. "That's right, shake off your sorrows and move on. Let's do it together, then?"
