This one-shot is focused upon Kaylin! And there's some May-Misty interaction in this one! This is about Kaylin's first day in Ballet class!
Kaylin: 3 years old.
''May, don't you think it's time you should start separating yourself from the triplets?'' Misty hummed, her brows furrowing at the woman sitting before her.
''Huh?'' May's eyes snapped open, and she sniggered at the question. ''Why would I start now? They have away from me plenty of times before.''
''I mean with people they have never seen before.'' Misty mused.
''…what?'' May tilted her head.
''You're fine with leaving the triplets in mine, Dawn's and Mrs. Ketchum's care,'' Misty replied. ''But I think they should start getting familiar to people they don't know,'' Misty continued. ''I'm just trying to say that both you and Ash are busy with your own careers, and don't get too much time to spend with each other. Plus, raising triplets is not an easy job. Believe Me, I know. Though my sisters aren't triplets, they don't raise the bar very high.''
''What do you mean?'' May challenged, trying to process what Misty just said.
''My sisters have always been my mother's favourite while I have always been my father's little girl. Over the years I saw my mother getting busy with me and my sisters, and couldn't get enough time for my father. And my sisters, as crazy as they are, would always tend our parents for everything making them doing all their stuff. They were always clinged to our parents every single second and refused to detach themselves from their body. They wouldn't let them breathe. That was when I decided I'm not gonna be a bit like them. I would not be dependent on anyone and take all my decisions on my own.'' Misty explained.
''So what are you suggesting?'' May raised a brow.
''I'm trying to say that you should hire a nanny. I had to leave Brooke with nannies because I couldn't take her along with me to the Gym every day, and I personally think it really helped. And trusting my sisters with her wasn't really an option.''
''You know I can't Mist. My children are just too young. I can't really leave them with some stranger. I fear they'll be confused and react differently towards us. Besides my children don't take time to acclimate to a new face.'' May began to sink into the cushions, envisioning her children with any random stranger.
Misty smirked, knowing what the heart of her friend's problem was. ''But you can't hold onto them forever, May. They must learn things on their own. Trust me, keeping the 'end' in mind, they'll appreciate it more. In the future, they'll have a better self-esteem from doing things on their own.''
''Don't be ridiculous, Mist. They are just three. They always need me and Ash around.'' May vouched.
''See. Right there. They are so attached to you and Ash!'' Misty laughed. ''You've had the little angels for three years and I don't think they have been on the floor more than they have been in your arms. You must learn how to separate them from you a lil bit. It's not like I am suggesting you to send them to a military school.''
May looked down at her feet watching Kaylin attach herself to her mother's legs, giggling and trying to rub her cheek against her skin.
Smiling down at her daughter, May exhaled, placing her hands over her eyes. ''I don't know. I don't think I'm ready to do that yet.''
It didn't take Kaylin long before sensing her mother's vexation, as she turned her eyes onto the woman and frowned. Getting to her feet, Kaylin began to pour on her mother's leg, gaining the coordinator's attention.
''Up go KoKo, Mommy!'' Kaylin squeaked.
May smiled at her toddler and followed the little girl's command by lifting her up into her lap, and placing a soft kiss on the child's forehead as she held her tight.
''See, that's what I'm talking about.''
May looked over at the redhead and scowled, securing Kaylin in her grip. ''What's wrong if my baby wants to be cuddled?''
''Nothing,'' Misty simply replied. ''That just proves my point that how attached they are with you. And that maybe you need to try a little bit of separation. If you wait any longer, it'll probably give Kaylin or Carol or Chris a whole lot of anxiety.''
Admitting to herself that Misty was somewhat right, May frowned and looked down at Kaylin once again. The little girl was simply smiling up at her, unaffected by the conversation between her mother and the gym leader. She had no idea what they were discussing. None of it mattered to her.
''I can't leave them with a nanny, Mist! Not for now.'' May whined.
''Forget the nanny. Why don't you get Kaylin enrolled for some Kids program? Not only will that help her separate from you, if you find it really helpful, you can also get Chris and Carol to join. Not only that, they'll also learn new activities! They'll have so much fun and make new friends and won't even realize you're there or not!'' Misty exclaimed.
''Do you think it would be really helpful?'' May glanced back down at the toddler and wondered if she would really be comfortable by making Kaylin join the program, who by now had her head resting against May's chest with thumb in her mouth, sucking on it.
''Yeah. Actually I joined one right when I was 2. And it was conducted by my mother in our own Gym. That's how I learned swimming at a very young age. Trust me May, it could really work. I just got Brooke enrolled for one. They teach Gymnastics and Ballet.'' Misty ensured the worried mother.
Suddenly May quickly brightened up to the idea, ''Oh Mist, you're impossible! Why didn't you specify that before!''
XXX
''Wow, Koko, look at all of this cool stuff!'' Misty crooned at her lil goddaughter.
The toddler held tightly her mother's hand as they walked into the massive, ball room. It was a huge space equipped for the dancers to learn and rehearse. The whole room was brightly painted in soft pink, lavender and peach. The walls were also covered in large mirrors that let the dancers watch themselves perform. Many pictures of famous ballet dancers and inspirational quotes were framed as well as old dance costumes , especially those of special performances were hanging on the other side of the richly decorated walls that inspired the classy ballet dancers within. The Matlay flooring was so exceptionally clean and shiny, they could almost see their reflection in it. It was such a smooth covering, known for tap dancing. The room was filled with various ballet apparatuses, the wall art any aspiring ballet dancer would desire to have in their room, the neatly wrought iron silhouettes that added a lot more dimension to the room, the bells and pointed ballet shoes hanging from the ceiling, and the music instruments placed on the walls…it was almost a dream come true for the little girl.
But then she saw something that piqued her interest. Kaylin began tugging at her mother's arm, trying to pull her towards it. May hummed and looked down at the toddler, who was stomping on the floor as she pulled.
''What is it, baby girl?'' May cooed. ''Do you want to go to the loo?''
''No!'' Kaylin growled, but then grew a smile once again, as she pointed up ahead, ''Dat!''
May's eyes traveled to look where her daughter's fingers were pointing and they stopped upon a giant piano, right in the middle of the room. Being commonly used to accompany ballet and tap dance, May and Misty blushed sheepishly for not noticing it.
''Oh, you like the piano,'' May giggled. ''Wanna see it?''
Kaylin excitedly nodded her head, as May led the little girl over there, causing Misty to smile as she followed after the two. When they reached the piano, Kaylin stepped up onto the 1 foot square like platform on which the piano rested. Shuffling closer to the piano and just within inches of the musical instrument, Kaylin apprehensively glanced at her mother, who smiled encouragingly at the preschooler.
''It's alright, give it a try!'' May prodded.
With that assured, Kaylin conquered the stool, in front of the acoustic piano and began to run her fingers through the keys, spending a few moments trying to play something, simultaneously figuring which song she would like to play. Once she did, she took a deep breath and extended her fingers forward and touched the keys of ivory white and smaller keys of charcoal black that decorated the magical object she was playing, from which the sweet sound emitted. The piano was like an elegant beast, sent to life by the girl's petite and talented fingers. Both Misty and May were awed at the scene in front of them, marveled and proud as their mouth shaped into small ''o''.
''Wow, Koko, I never knew you could play it! Look you are doing it so well!'' May cheered.
Kaylin laughed excitedly, as she stopped to bounce up and down on the stool. Feeling even more confident, she placed a contemplative finger against her lips, searching for the next song in her mind. Quickly recalling another nursery rhyme, Kaylin spent the next two minutes rhythmically playing it on the huge instrument without any error.
''How beautiful, Koko!'' May flattered the child.
Looking towards her mother, Kaylin cheered and threw her hands up in the air as she jumped off the stool, landing in her mother's arms.
''YaY!'' Kaylin squealed, her entire face brightly lightened up.
''You did it!'' May giggled, holding the child above her head, ''Mommy is so happy! Let Daddy know about this. He'll be so proud too!''
''Alright, it's time.'' Misty pointed, looking at her watch.
May peered over her shoulder to look at the Gym Leader, ''Time for what?''
The answer to May's question was sudden opening of the doors to the room, followed by screaming, crying and laughter was heard for the first five minutes as the younger, less experienced children excitedly barged into the hall. Brooke was the first one to spot her mother and May as she sprinted towards the elder ladies wearing the huge frilled skirt called 'tutu', with laces and feathers. It was standard for all the dancers to wear flesh tights and ballet pointe shoes and had her fiery red hair neatly tied in bun.
''Mommy!'' the girl, the same age as Kaylin, stopped in front of her mother, and jabbed her arms in the air.
''Hey, sweetie? How's practice going on?'' Misty caroled.
''G-ud! Teacher mafing us leawn first posifion to-day!'' the lil red head answered.
''I take it, you are pretty much thrilled about ballet, aren't you, Brooke?'' May questioned.
''Yup! Teacher says I leawn fast!'' Brooke replied.
''Well, that's good. And look who's here to join you!'' May crooned as she let Kaylin down on the floor, to play with Brooke.
''KoKo!'' the girl chirped as they both clasped hands and bounced up and down, delighted to meet each other, causing the two women to look at each other and smile.
''Oh there she is!'' Misty's voice piped up, gaining May's attention as they turned to look at a relatively young woman wearing pink tights and a tutu, blonde ponytail swinging behind her, entering the hall, followed by a few more lil children, all of whom appeared to be Kaylin and Brooke's age. May shrieked as Misty grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the woman, who was busying herself with the kids right now.
''Come on, May. Naomi is very good with kids of all ages,'' Misty informed her unsure friend, ''Just watch, KoKo wouldn't even miss you the time she's here!''
Looking down at the toddler, busy playing with Brooke, May simply sighed, ''Let's hope so.''
Approaching the woman who was currently leaning down to fix one of her student's tutus, Misty cleared her voice before tapping the woman on the back of her shoulder, ''Naomi?''
The blonde stood up to her full height and turned around to face the two women, smiling at them all along the way, ''Hello, Mrs. Sketchit,'' she humbly bowed to Misty before turning at May and bowed in curtsy to her as well ,''I believe you must be Mrs. May Ketchum. I am Naomi. We talked on the phone about your daughter's interest in ballet.'' she introduced herself politely.
''Yes, I am May, and this is my daughter Kaylin,'' May addressed, looking down at her child.
''Ooh! What a cutie pie!'' Naomi exclaimed in an overly happy manner as she leaned down to converse with the little girl, ''Hi Kaylin! I am Naomi!''
''Hi...'' Kaylin quavered softly.
''So, I hear you like to dance. Do you know anything about Ballet?'' Naomi interviewed.
''Actually no. This will be her first time,'' May spoke up for the little kid.
''Oh that sounds lovely. You are gonna have so much fun in here. Come, let's get you all dressed up for your first lesson,'' Naomi held out her hand towards Kaylin as she gladly took it.
''She's very cute,'' Naomi remarked, flattering May as they began to walk towards the changing room, before Kaylin turned around and blew a flying Kiss to her mother.
A few minutes later, Kaylin stepped out hand-in-hand along with Naomi, flaunting her diaphanous bright pink 3-Layer Tulle Tutu on a neon pink Bow-Back Camisole Leotard with a heart made of purple and red sequins on the front, below was ankle length black leggings and on her feet, she was wearing a pair of while colored leather Pointe Ballet Shoes and her hair, which had a toddler fineness to it, was neatly tied into a bun, behind her head. Wobbling, as she wasn't very much used to the new kinda footwear, she somehow reached her mother, smiling brightly at May.
''Aw, My baby looks so cute, I can't wait till Ash sees this!'' May squealed, as she quickly pulled out her phone, taking a quick picture of Kaylin as she posed in the costume, beaming at how adorable her daughter was. Once she set the picture as her lock screen wallpaper, she put her phone back where she took it from.
''Wow, you look like a real princess, Koko!'' Misty cooed with delight.
May's eyes sparkled with emotion, as she kneeled down, staying in that position so she could look at the toddler in the eyes. ''KoKo, you're going to stay here for a while and play and learn with some other kids while Misty and I will watch you from the waiting room.'' May pointed at the small room for the parents, just outside the hall, visible through clear plexiglass walls. ''I'll be watching you the whole time, okay?''
Kaylin bobbed her head up and down, her lips pursed and her eyes shot up. May knew what that meant; her daughter was nervous.
''Don't worry, sweetheart,'' May reiterated. ''But you will be very much engrossed in dancing that you don't have to worry about me, K?''
Knowing that it was time for Kaylin to go, as soon as Naomi signaled her, May was the one who had to make the move to go. May held her daughter's face in both of her hands and kissed both of the toddler's cheek. As she pulled away with a little smile, May got back to her feet, and reluctantly turned around, walking away from her little child. Misty waved goodbye to Kaylin as well as Brooke before following after May, with a huge smile on her face.
''See?'' Misty crowed. ''I told you it wouldn't be that hard.''
''Let's see how this turns out,'' May sighed, sounding a lot upset.
''KoKo doesn't seem to be terrified at all,'' Misty assured the wary mother.
As they reached the door to the waiting room, May turned over to look at her daughter once again. The toddler was still standing there, eyes locked on her mother with her finger by her mouth. Naomi who was trying to get the scrambling kids all into one place, walked up to Kaylin and knelt down before the girl, softly speaking to her. Kaylin turned her eyes from May and stared at the woman. With a smile, Naomi gently held onto Kaylin's shoulders and guided her towards the rest of the children, who were all standing in a small circle. The child was walking behind the coach but her eyes were set on May. Overcome with emotion, May groaned and opened the door to the waiting room and sauntered in, Misty following behind her,
''Come on, sit right here while I go get some coffee,'' Misty suggested, motioning towards the chairs that were pushed right up against the glass. May immediately threw herself down into one of the chairs in the first row, crossing her left leg over her right, leaning far forward that her face was just inches away from being pressed against the glass. As Misty left to bring back some coffee, May eyed her daughter. The toddler, who had no clue but was standing along with the other kids in a circle, watching Naomi who was in the center of the circle, who was instructing the children what May assumed to be a series of warm-up exercises and the basics of ballet that included a lot of stretching and twirling. Those who already knew the basics were using the barre. It worked to varying degrees of success with the kids, and Kaylin seemed to do great, in fact, she learned very quickly, left feeling sensational. Once she realized that, she looked over her shoulder, eyes occasionally shifting around the gym, yet continuing to do the stretches perfectly. She so badly wanted her mother to have knowledge of how good she was getting, but she couldn't seem to find her mother anywhere.
''Oh baby, I hope you'll be alright without me.'' May thought aloud, and rested her head in her hands. She just kept watching as Naomi now seemed finished leading the kids in their warm-ups. Once those were complete, she gathered them all up and led them to their first activity: the first position.
Now, the children very bursting with enthusiasm. The air was full of excitement and anticipation, like the feeling you get on Christmas Eve. As soon as Naomi declared that, Kaylin got intrigued by that and started to whip her head around, looking all over the place. A sense of dread filled May's chest, and she pulled her shoulders back so Kaylin couldn't see her. It was tough for her too. Believing her mother was still around; the three year old chose to observe Naomi's movements instead.
''Alright, children, now for the first position!'' Naomi announced as she moved on as the class began their centre work. ''Now, do exactly as I do, ok?''
First, Naomi placed her legs in such a way that her feet were facing in the opposite directions and her heels were touching together. The class followed her actions, as Naomi proceeded to the next four positions. Soon, Misty too returned with the coffee, and the mother duo spent an entire hour watching their daughters enjoy themselves, drowned in laughter and merry.
''Wow, Kaylin looks so happy,'' May laughed, resting her head in her clasped hands, rubbing them together.
''Yeah, look at that sweetie pie. Oh, she looks a pro at this!'' Misty smiled, admiring the little girl through the glass.
As the end of the class approached, the children began to perform their last exercise beautifully, which involved them to gracefully move across the floor to the centre where they needed to turn into pink flamingo's standing elegantly on one leg. Some students found the balancing come naturally easy to them like a Ducklett to water, while others found it challenging, and they looked like a jelly wobbling on a plate. And unfortunately Kaylin was one of them. She was too young to stand on one foot for more than a couple of minutes, and thus, lost her balance, and tumbled over on the wooden floor. When she got back up, she began to sniff, and burst into tears, wailing loudly as her entire face turned red. Naomi, as well as the other kids got distracted by the crying and adjusted themselves back on two feet. Brooke, who realized it, was Kaylin making all that noise, looked positively mortified. May on the other hand, was horrified. As she watched her daughter sob and panic, she realized that the little girl was calling out to her repeatedly in the middle of her fervent wails:
''Ma! Mama!''
Before any second could tick, May pushed herself out of her seat and hurried back into the hall, dashing straight towards her daughter. Arceus bless Naomi, to her credit, was trying to soothe the little girl. She was kneeling down beside the little girl, softly encouraging her and assuring that everything was okay. None of that was working, though. Kaylin was far too upset to even hear what Naomi was saying.
''I'm so sorry!'' May apologized over her daughter's wails, kneeling by the girl's other side.
''Oh, it's alright!'' Naomi assured, ''It's harder for some kids than others. No big deal!''
May lifted Kaylin into her arms, holding the toddler close, looking at her in the eyes that were still flooding with tears. Once Kaylin made the eye contact, through her tear filled eyes, she stopped sobbing, dissolved to nothing more than occasional hiccups and sniffles. Showing Naomi one more apologetic smile, May stood up and carried Kaylin back towards the waiting room, to stable the child for the time-being.
''Mommy's so sorry about that, KoKo,'' May hummed softly in Kaylin's ear. ''You don't need to do it again, not until you are ready, pumpkin.''
May re-entered the waiting room, where Misty was staring up at her with wide worried eyes.
''May-''
''Misty, give it a rest please. Mommy in distress here.''
After a few minutes of silence, Misty said something to Kaylin that was enough to piss May off, ''So KoKo, can't wait to come back and do it all again next week, huh?''
You dont wanna flare May up, Misty :P