Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon
The Little Things
"Standing on a dirty old rooftop
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by
I sit here alone and I wonder why
Come on let's keep moving forward
Hold your head up high, there's no time for looking down
You will not believe where we're going now
Here we go let me remind you to
Look ahead, the past is behind you"
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Day 2
Annastasia and Logan were at the Oak Laboratory helping the two Professor Oaks sort out a problem in the lab's terrarium. The four of them were investigating a flock of Doduo and Dodrio that had been acting malicious towards some of the new additions. According to Logan, the other Pokémon in the lab were concerned that the noisy and dangerous flock was going to continue to antagonize the new Pokémon, and they wanted it to stop immediately.
The first thing they noticed when they entered the terrarium was the intensely annoying, loud, ear-splitting screeching that was echoing through the large artificial landscape. They covered ears and continued to walk inside.
"That is definitely them. They sound really upset. Logan, can you understand what they are trying to say?" Gary asked the Purrloin.
Logan had his paws clamped over his ears, but he still managed to hear Gary over all the noise. "They are arguing about water….I think…it's hard to tell".
"This is the most horrible sound ever. No wonder these Pokémon complained", said Annastasia, although no one other than the Purrloin could hear her.
Logan stopped and asked a Nidorina where she last saw the Doduo and Dodrio, and she pointed to the very back left side of the terrarium. They headed in that direction.
"I see them!" Gary exclaimed after a few moments. "They really do look angry".
Six Doduo and four Dodrio appeared to be squawking angrily at a group of fusion Pokémon. One was a Growlithe-Goldeen hybrid, another appeared to be a Bulbasaur-Vaporeon combo, and the third was an all-too familiar Sandshrew.
"Quiet!" Annastasia yelled at them. When they didn't stop, she turned to the Sandshrew. "What did you do to them?!"
"I did nothing offensive", the Sandshrew replied with false politeness.
"Growlldee growllldddddeeeeen", barked the Growlithe-Goldeen fusion.
"Bulba vapor pory por bulb", the Vaporeon-Bulbasaur fusion shrieked.
"Um, it sorta sounds like they are trying to say that the Doduo and Dodrio are mad because the fusions are drinking the same water as them", Logan said hesitantly. "I guess they don't trust the fusions since they aren't 'real' Pokémon".
"Drio driiiiioooooo do do!" the tallest Dodrio yelled at Logan.
"So apparently the fusions are untrustworthy because they can't speak properly", Logan explained. "Fusion Pokémon aren't very clear speakers, remember".
"Then why are you here?" Professor Oak Sr. asked the Sandshrew.
"The noise was bothering me and I wanted to see how Annastasia would handle it", Sandshrew explained.
The Dodrio and Doduo started squawking again, and this time it seemed louder than before.
"Ok", Annastasia said calmly. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to find some peace. The Pokémon stopped squawking and watched her instead. Then she opened her eyes.
"How did you do that?" asked Gary. "Did you use the power of aura to calm them?"
"Actually I have a headache, and that isn't really how aura works. Maybe these Pokémon just need someone to reason with them", she responded.
"So what seems to be the problem you guys? The fusion Pokémon have been here a while now and they have never once tried to hurt you", Professor Oak Sr. said to the Pokémon.
"Do do Dodrio drio", one of the Dodrio responded.
"So you don't understand the fusions, we get that", Annastasia replied. "But most people can't understand Pokémon, but a lot of people trust their Pokémon".
"Dodrio Do dri do Dodrio", it replied.
"Doooodrio Dodrio do", said another.
"They say that the fusions have all been keeping their distance, except now they are starting use their watering hole", Logan translated.
"Our Bulbasaur ambassador explained to you that some Pokémon are very territorial and don't like it when unfamiliar Pokémon enter their territory", Gary told the fusions. "Remember I said that to you too when you first got here?"
"Growldeen deen"
"Vapppporasaur"
"Okay. Just stick to your side of the terrarium for now on", Gary replied, though unlike Annastasia, he did not have the ability to understand what they were trying to tell him.
"Growldeeeeee growl Growldeen", one of the fusions tried to explain to Logan.
"This Growldeen is saying that there is an issue with the watering hole on the their side. At least I think that is what it is saying", Logan responded. "Like I said, when the fusions speak, it is harder for other Pokémon to understand".
"Maybe the hose isn't running properly", Annastasia. "Or the pool has a crack and the water is leaking out, so it won't fill".
"We will check it out. Come with us", said Logan. He extended a paw to them. They agreed to come.
When they got to the pool, they noticed that it was indeed cracked. The water was saturating the ground instead of collecting in the medium-sized artificial pond.
"I can get it from here. Thanks for your help you guys", Gary told Logan and Annastasia.
"No problem", Annastasia responded.
"Anytime", Logan added.
Annastasia and Logan left the area and started heading towards the front of the lab and back to their home up the street.
"Wait for me!" the Sandshrew called as it tottered after them.
"You know, I think those other fusions actually enjoy your presence, unlike us, so why don't you join them? You used to be their leader, sorta, before your life fell apart basically", Logan told the Sandshrew after it had caught up with them.
Sandshrew crossed its arms indignantly. "I did a very honorable thing. Rather than allow myself to die an respectable death, I relinquished my powerful form and saved the life of this young female human".
Logan and Annastasia raised their eyebrows.
"That is your version of the story. My version is that you tried to take over the world, failed, and me and the rest of Team Rocket stopped you before you killed both of us", Annastasia retorted.
Logan sniggered. "That is true".
Sandshrew acted as if they hadn't spoken. "The only thing that matters now is that you uphold our contract. I was once the most powerful Pokémon in the world. The only Pokémon more powerful than Mewtwo, and you caused my downfall".
Annastasia laughed at it. "Right, and I forced you to became a Sandshrew".
"I am serious", it replied.
"I know, I know. I must use my money to make the world a better place for Pokémon. Hey, we just helped Professor Gary solve an issue in his terrarium. So there you have it. I keep telling you that justice for Pokémon everywhere is going to take a lifetime. So relax, we don't even have justice for humans in this world", Annastasia told it. "On a brighter note, in less then a month we go on vacation".
"Oh Yeah! For like almost half a year too. I suppose it isn't a real vacation, we still have to look after the kids, but Alola is not as dangerous as Kanto. And now that they are a little older and more experienced, we don't have to be watching them 24/7", said Logan.
"Precisely. And I get to meet Michio's family. Like on a personal, not just a professional basis", Annastasia responded. "That will be nice".
When the three of them returned to their home up the street, they noticed a bunch of cars in the driveway. Including one new one.
"This is beautiful", Annastasia commented when she saw the car. "And it can only mean one thing".
"That you got a new car?" Sandshrew guessed mockingly.
"Ok it means two things. This means that Michio decided to learn to drive", Annastasia told them.
"You mean he doesn't know how? But Jay knows how to drive. Don't people get their licenses around age fourteen?" Logan questioned. "I thought he would have gotten his license years ago"
"Jay knows how because he took lessons from papa and I. The thing is, Michio never got his license because in Alola he didn't need to. Everyone walks everywhere, and if he wanted to someplace further away, he had a chauffeur", she explained.
"What is so great about driving? Isn't it a waste of planetary resources? You have Pokémon that use teleport", the Sandshrew responded. "I don't see why you can't just do that".
"Most Pokémon that know teleport cannot teleport more than two or three people per trip, and they can only bring them short distances at a time. Also, it tires many Pokémon out very easily, unless they are a legendaries like my parents' Mew. And cars in Kanto are required get at least 500 miles per gallon of gas, which is quite efficient. This car uses no gas or electricity and runs only on solar power. And it is very safe and produces no air pollution. And it is beautiful", Annastasia explained. "Was that a good enough explanation?"
"I suppose", Sandshrew responded nonchalantly.
"I want to help you teach him how to drive", Logan said to Annastasia.
"We'll see. Too many people will be distracting, and I don't know how nervous he is going to be", Annastasia responded as she opened the front door to the house. "Besides, you can't drive, you can't even reach the gas petal".
"You don't have to really have to be able to do something in order to teach it", Logan replied.
Inside June, Soledad, Anika, Amber, Jezz, Jay, Takeshi, Jocelyn Maya, Lily, Nolan, Lexi, and Rita were talking and eating food with their parents and some of their parents' friends. There were also six children that looked to be about eleven that Annastasia had never met before.
"We are back", Annastasia announced. "When did you all get here?"
"A few minutes ago. I had no idea you all were planning surprise party for me", said June happily. "I spent all yesterday morning texting Jay, Amber, and Soledad and no one said anything about it".
"Hence the surprise, June", said Soledad. The eleven year old turned to Annastasia. "So did you help my dad with those Dodrio?"
"Yes. There was just a territorial issue that was a bit too big for Ash's Bulbasaur to handle on his own", Annastasia replied. "It is all good now. Sorry I missed your entrance, June".
"No its fine!" June responded with a smile. "It was an emergency. Soledad said the birds were really loud and that she could almost here them from the yard, even though the terrarium is supposed to be soundproof".
"It was loud for sure", Logan told her. "Happy Birthday, June, by the way".
"Yes, I can't forget that. Happy Birthday. Congrats", Annastasia added. She and Logan gave her a hug.
"Thanks you two", June responded.
Annastasia introduced herself to the six new children, four girls and two boys, who had come to her house. They were all about June, Takeshi, Jay, Amber, and Soledad's age, ranging from 9 to twelve. They were friends June and the others had met a few months ago, while Annastasia was in Toka. Then Logan started to talk about the car and how excited he was about it.
"I know, it is nice. I hope he doesn't crash it", said Lily.
"Onēsan, if you don't have your license, how are you supposed to teach Michio how to drive?" asked Jocelyn.
"I technically have a license, I just can't use it", Annastasia responded. "Not yet, anyway".
"What did you do to have your license taken away?" asked Takeshi. "I can't imagine you breaking any rules. That would be unsafe, and you are always careful".
"I didn't break any rules", Annastasia explained. "Its because of my seizures. I wasn't allowed to drive when the doctors thought I could have one. But it has been three months since I had one, almost four, and I just need to go six months without one and then I am allowed to drive again. I can't wait. I haven't been able to drive in years".
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that", Jocelyn commented. "I remember you took me to preschool a few times. That was such a long time ago".
"Only a few years ago", said Jay. "I remember".
"So I don't want to be rude and leave the party right away, but where is Michio?" Annastasia asked.
"He went back to your room across the street after he parked the car. He said he had to get June's present because you both forgot to bring it over. He didn't come inside yet though, and it's been about twenty minutes", Jay explained.
"I will be back then", said Annastasia before leaving the room. "Bye".
"Why didn't she just wait until he came back?" one of June's friends asked the others.
"Michio is kinda shy. He probably would get very uncomfortable if he came back and discovered that the house reached near maximum capacity since he left", June explained.
Lil-G and Bleu watched Annastasia exit the house. They left to join her as she crossed the street to the Pallet House.
"So did you two meet June's friends?" she asked her Pokémon as they matched her pace.
"Altarria tar"
"Lillipup pup"
Annastasia and the two Pokémon took the stairs, as their room was only on the third floor of the five-story hotel. When her parents bought the Pallet House from Delia, they were tempted to make it ten stories. Then Delia reminded them that not that many people passed though Pallet and that they would have more than enough room with just five stories and 14 rooms on each floor. And she was right. Despite Pallet Town having become one of Kanto's most unique places to visit over the last two decades, the place was rarely filled to the brim with guests. Most people who came to Pallet were travelers passing or visitors coming to see the famous Oak Lab. Some were fans of the world famous Pokémon Master and Frontier Brain Ash Ketchum. Many fans claimed it was good luck to visit his hometown at least once during their journeys, even though Ash himself no longer lived in Pallet, having moved to Cerulean City almost twenty years prior. Now that Annastasia and her family lived in that house, and the Pallet House was their place. They always took advantage of the extra space to host special guests. Annastasia stopped in front of room 315 and knocked on the door three times.
"Plusle?" a small voice answered.
"Mi Minun!" said another.
"I'm here, hold on a sec", said a third voice.
A moment later the door swung open. Plusle and Minun were jumping on the bed and singing while a lazy Liepard groomed herself on the corner loveseat. Michio was holding the door.
"So what's up?" he asked. "I really did come to look for her present. I knew Jay was going to tell you. I wasn't hiding. I just can't fucking find it anywhere".
"I put it in here", Annastasia responded, opening a drawer under one of the room's two desks. "Forgot to tell you. I saw the car. It's perfect. We can't forget to thank your parents."
"I was really hoping you would say that because I already fell in love with it too so we can't return it. Unless I total it", Michio responded.
"That is not going to happen. I am bringing an emergency break with me", said Annastasia. She looked over to the two electric rates playing on their bed. "Plusle and Minun are here again. Did they follow you all the way down to the pier when you went to get the car?"
"Yeah. Your parents were taking care of the twins and I thought Maya and Lily were watching them but they snuck onto Bleu and since he was flying above me I couldn't tell they were there until it was too late", he quickly explained.
"Oh. I just wish Plusle and Minun would spend more time with the twins and less time with you. Why do they even like you?" Annastasia asked.
Michio picked up an almost-empty bag of treats. "Because I keep buying these for them. They are like healthy and shit".
"Oh. Well start feeding those treats to them in the crib. Then they will learn that they will only get treats if they spend time with the babies", Annastasia answered. "Oh, and did you remember my bike?"
"Um...no. I just realized that I totally forgot. I must have left it at the pier. I was so excited about the car that I forgot", he responded. "Fuck".
"Did you at least lock it to something?" She asked worriedly.
"Possibly. I don't know. I can get you a new one though if someone stole it", he replied. "So don't worry about it".
"But I had that bike since I was four. It used to have training wheels on it", she pouted.
"That explains the Jigglypuff bell", Michio mumbled.
Annastasia took his hand and pulled him towards the door.
"Look I'm sorry. Maybe no one will steal it. I mean, it's pretty old", Michio told her. "Don't be mad".
"I am not mad. We are just going to go get it", Annastasia told him.
"Now?" he questioned.
"Yes now! Every second we wait is a second that someone else can be riding away on it", she explained pointedly, tugging his arm. "So let's go".
Plusle, Minun, Peruva, Bleu, and Lil-G followed them out into the hall and down the stairs.
"I don't think anyone is going to want to drive us. It will take about half an hour to get there and back", Michio told her.
"I know. I'll drive", Annastasia answered. She looked up at the sky. "Oh, its drizzling now, and it looks like its going to pour any second. We better hurry or it will get rusted!" She dug into one of his pockets while they were walking and pulled out a key.
"You can't drive", he told her. "You aren't allowed, doctors' orders".
"Well…..it's been a while since I've had a seizure. I am sure Liz wouldn't think too much of it. We will be fine. This is a great time for you to learn to drive too", she responded. Annastasia climbed into the driver's seat of the new car.
"Ok fine", he responded. "Since I can't stop you, I might as well come along".
Michio got in the seat next to her. He watched as she started the car and backed out of the driveway. Rita had met him at the pier, and Annastasia was grateful they were the last ones to park in the driveway. They didn't have to make anyone move their car in order for her to get out. Once they were out of the neighborhood, Annastasia sped down the street.
"Aren't we going too fast?" Michio questioned. He gripped the sides of the seat nervously.
"This is my bike we are talking about. I love that bike so much. And this is road gets hardly any traffic, and I work for the police, and I am paying attention, so I can speed if I want", she snapped.
"Wow you really care about this bike. I never saw you care about an actual object before", he commented. "Don't snap at me. This is partly Rita's fault. She drove me back. She should have made sure I had everything".
"I am not being snippy on purpose its just that this is a big deal. I made a lot of memories on that bike, and Jocelyn said that she would be willing to ride a bike despite her fear if I agreed to let her have mine", Annastasia explained.
"Oh yeah. I forgot she still can't ride", Michio responded. "I just thought it was an old bike you had sitting in your garage. I didn't think it was important".
When they got down to the pier, the bike was not where he had left it.
"Are you sure you left it here?" Annastasia asked, gesturing towards the bike rack.
"Positive. I don't understand. It's been less than on hour since I was here. I didn't think it would get stolen so quickly", said Michio. "I'm so sorry".
Annastasia closed her eyes and sat down on the edge of the pier. Peruva sighed and rested her head onto her lap. Annastasia buried her face in Peruva's soft fur. Bleu and Lil-G joined them.
Michio sat down next to them. "Is there any way I can make it up to you?"
Annastasia scratched Peruva behind the ears while she silently contemplated.
"No. It's ok. I can get Jocelyn her own bike. On the bright side, we got a car. I'd say that's a pretty good trade off", she finally responded.
Annastasia rested her head on Michio's shoulder. Neither of them felt like going back home, despite the fact that they were supposed to be at June's birthday party and it looked like it was about to downpour any second. They closed their eyes and savored the moment of peace.
But it was only a moment, because a few seconds later, the voice of an elderly woman called out to them. Or to Michio, rather.
"So is your girlfriend?! Is this her?! Or did you find another blond who can deal with you?!" she called out.
They both their eyes opened immediately. Michio stood up when he saw the yacht coming towards them.
"Who is that?" Annastasia asked.
Michio smiled when he recognized the couple.
"I suppose I would call them my friends".
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-Lyrics by The Jonas Brothers
