AN: This chapter takes place directly after the previous one.
Chapter Description: Jocelyn tells Silver and Rose about a defining moment in her and their lives. Narrated by Jocelyn.
The Journal
Chapter #36: Nine Days 'til 2033 (Extra #15)
I watched my Rose and several of the other kids stuff their faces with mini-tacos and tofu while the Pokémon and I took salad. There were over one-hundred Pokémon walking and about two-hundred trainers in the Oak's front yard.
"It's too loud here," Silver said as he tugged on my shirt.
"Do you want to go back to our house? It will take us five minutes to walk back," I replied.
"Yes."
I told Rose of our plans.
"Silly, are you okay?" Rose asked as she gave him a side-hug.
"I'm okay. I want a break, and I want to spend time with Jocy-sama."
"You make me feel good," I told Silver.
"G-good," he responded.
There was no one in our house. It made sense since I saw the other members of this household over at the lab. I put a pot of tea on the stove for us to share.
"I am happy Diablo is in our family," Silver said as he brushed the fusion and fed her treats. "She, Komala, and Wynaut make me feel happy."
"I am happy when Silly's happy," Rose said amiably.
No more arguing or sass. This is more like it.
The twins had more good days together than bad, so I felt relieved that the bickering had ended.
"Tell us about the day we were born," Silver requested.
"We heard this story before, remember?" Rose told Silver.
"I never heard her perspective," Silver persisted.
"That's right. I can talk about it if you like."
"Please," Silver pleaded.
"Okay," Rosie agreed.
"Let me take care of the tea. We can get out of these dirty clothes, and then we can get started."
XO
It was December 21, 2032. Though I was excited for you two to be born, I was devastated by Annastasia's condition. I remember crying:
"I feel so lost, Mama. Onesan is here but she can't even look at me."
She was even more upset than I was. This was one of those days where everyone, even the people who are usually happy, feel depressed and uneasy.
XO
"People were depressed on our birthday?" Rose asked anxiously.
"This was before we knew it would be your birthday, and this story starts the day before you were born," I explained.
XO
"Jocelyn, I want Annastasia back just as much as you do, but I can't make promises when I don't know," Mama whispered. "Go to sleep."
Mama got off my bed and shut my lamp. I was terrified. My big sister was passed out in the hospital—the equivalent of 'dead' in my seven-year-old brain—Jay was too busy crying into Amber, and Lily and Logan were just as clueless about the whole situation as I was. Where did my mentors go? Was Flaafy the only one who still cared about me?
I looked out my window. There was one big star in the middle. I looked down into the yard, and my sister's Pokémon were staring at the stars too. I wonder if they had the same wish as I did.
"I wish my family was here," I moaned.
"Flaaa," Flaafy baaed as he rested a hoof on my shoulder.
"I love you too, Flaafy. We'll always have each other, right? And when the twins are born, we'll have them too."
XO
"That is very nice, and true," Rose interrupted.
"Rosie, I want to listen to Jocy-sama," Silver replied.
"I do too. Sorry, Jocy-sama and Ampharos," Rose apologized.
"It's okay. Those were kind words, Rose. I appreciate it."
"Ampharros."
XO
The next day started out the same as the other days had been lately.
Step one:
Papa makes breakfast. He is tired and upset and doesn't talk much. He smiles at me and makes me special food that we don't get to eat all the time because it is too unhealthy, like waffles with whipped cream and pistachio biscuits.
Step two:
Papa asks if I want to go to the hospital with him or to stay behind. I opt to go.
Step three:
We get to the hospital. I see aunt Delia and Dr. Brock. This is a Pokémon hospital, not for humans, just Onesan. Onesan couldn't get to the one for humans in time, so she is sleeping here.
Step four:
I see Michio. I debate whether or not to call him Oniisan, and if my voice should be peppy or not. He smiles at me. He always smiles at me, even when he is not in the mood to smile, even when he has no one else to smile at because he can't see her when her blue-green eyes are closed.
Step five:
I see Jay and Amber. I feel bad for my big brother and my siblings' best friend.
Step six:
A blur. At some point I eat, shower, do my exercises, do my reading for the tutor, feed Flaafy, get dressed, and go to bed. I don't ever remember the details.
Step one on December 22 was different. It was a call early in the morning. A call from Meowth.
"Hey, Jocelyn, girl do I have news fere you!"
"Uncle Meowth? What news?" I asked.
"Come and see. I'll be waitin' fere ya here in dis stinky, borin' hospital. Get yere brotha and his girlfriend too."
Jay was still asleep. He sleeps extra-long when he's depressed. I kicked his door a bunch of times. A few moments later, Flaafy and I forced the door open. He and Amber were there, stretching and yawning after their sleepover.
"What's the matter?" Jay asked tiredly.
"Meowth said that we need to go to the hospital now."
"Oh no, it's happened," Jay said, his face suddenly white. "Oh no! She's gone!"
Jay started crying. Amber rubbed his shoulders while also rolling her eyes at me.
"She's not dead, this might not even be about her. Now change your underwear and let's get going," she lectured.
"You heard the woman! Get moving Jay!" I exclaimed.
"Flaaafy feeee!"
After we rushed to get dressed, the three of us stumbled into the teleporter and frantically hit the button that would take us to Aunt Delia's Pokémon hospital. I had butterflies in my stomach. Did my wish come true? Was this the day Onesan looked at me again?
Jay, Amber, our Pokémon, and I ran down the halls until we got to Onesan's room. Maya, Lily, Logan, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Meowth, Aunt Rumika, and our parents were there. I heard her voice. We rushed through the door.
"You're alive!" Jay and I cried together.
Jay and I nearly crushed her. Amber and Pip took a seat in one of the chairs the nurses had brought into the room. Jay and I made ourselves as comfortable as possible in her hospital bed.
"So, how have you been?" Jay asked as he played with Onesan's hair.
"I missed you so much, Onesan!" I squealed as I hugged her around her neck.
"I missed you too. I thought about you every day I was away," she responded.
Onesan's voice was different. It was raspier, older sounding. Papa, Aunt Rumika, and Aunt Lucy encouraged Jay and me to give her space. We got up and then sat down next to Amber.
"She woke up about an hour and a half ago. They have been testing her vision, hearing, and mobility," said Papa. "And so far, so good."
"You're normal! Thank goodness!" Jay exclaimed as he hugged her more.
I asked Onesan about her mission. She told me about how cold it was, how scared she felt, and so happy she was to be back. I was so happy that I don't even remember what she said, but I do remember this:
"And surprisingly, I wouldn't have made it without Michio. I would have been toast. I still can't believe he pulled through like that. I should have had extra faith in him. Even though I didn't expect him to be involved in all of this, I should have at least known that he'd try."
"I WAS RIGHT, Michio DID save you! OH, MY GOD!" I yelled. "I can't wait to tell everyone!"
Looking back, I realize that everyone wanted me to shut-up. I couldn't help it. I felt like everything in the world had suddenly improved by a million degrees.
Onesan had to go through a few more tests. They wanted to make sure her brain wasn't damaged. They told us after each test that so far, they could see her making a full or almost-full recovery.
Then, with perfect timing, I spotted Michio in the hall.
"Oniisan!" I shrieked.
I took Michio's arms and dragged him inside. He was embarrassed. Mama was laughing at him.
"Annastasia…" he started.
He was cut off by my mother. She went on about something relating to Onesan while Michio and my sister waited for their turn to speak.
"My doctors say that I can come home today," Onesan told Michio. "They just tested me, and so far, so good."
"I told her what you did Michio! I told her how you saved her like a prince!" I exclaimed, too loud for their comfort.
"Flaaaaafeeee!"
Michio turned red and looked down. Onesan smiled and Mama laughed wickedly.
"Enough of that, let's get out of here," Mama announced. "We have decorating to do before the last few guests arrive, and everyone but Annastasia has to help."
"I second that!" I said as I gave Onesan another hug. "Will you talk with me later?"
"Fla?"
"Of course, Jocelyn," she said as she swept the hair out of my eyes. "There is so much I want to tell you."
Everyone left while Onesan changed out of her hospital gown and into comfy clothes. When she stood for the first time (technically it was the second, as she had to prove that she could walk on her own before being cleared to go home) everyone noticed how different her stride was. She had trouble keeping her balance, and her new clothes hung loosely on her body. She couldn't move very fast either.
"It's going to be a while until I have enough energy to move around more," she sighed.
"I'll help you walk," Jay said as he held her elbow.
"Flaafy and I will too," I said.
"I'll make sure ya don't fall," Amber added as she stepped behind Onesan.
Annastasia was wobbly, and I became worried. Our sister was always so fit. She exercised and had lean muscle and could run, jump, and lift better than anyone I knew. But after Toka, she was skinnier than usual. She looked starved. I hadn't seen her like that in a long time.
XO
"What do you mean by that?" Silver asked, his voice so low I could barely hear it. "You said she used to look starved."
"Because she was sick when she was born, Onesan was skinny growing up. It's harder to tell now because she looks more normal, but she didn't always look so normal. I was worried because I thought she was going to be too sick to get out of bed again. When I was five that happened. I didn't understand it at all."
"It won't happen ever again, will it?" Silver inquired.
"I don't think so."
XO
When we got back to our house in Pallet, everyone else was there, ready to greet her.
"Stay back," Mama said as we entered the house.
Mama seemed to want Michio to stay away, but I'm not sure. Our house was filled with guests for the holidays, for it was the day of our special Christmas party, the one we have hosted every year since before Jay and I were born.
"Michio, you aren't going to stay away from Annastasia, are you?" I asked as several people started talking to Onesan.
"Not unless she wants me to," he answered.
"She won't ever want that."
"Welcome home," Dawn said as she hugged my sister. "It's amazing that you pulled through. You're a true heroine."
"Annastasia, we are so happy you are back in time for Christmas. Now we can all celebrate together," said Soledad. "Just like we do every year."
"I am really looking forward to it…though I might pass on playing in the snow for a while," she replied as she looked out the window.
There was a blizzard out there. I swear it was the snowiest day of the year.
"Yeah, me too," said Michio.
"I meant to ask before, what happened to those Illumise and Volbeat that were with me? Are they okay?" Annastasia asked Papa.
XO
"Illumise and Volbeat?" said Sil.
"You remember them, don't you?" I asked.
"They are the firefly Pokémon, the ones that led Onesan to the base in Toka. They helped Onesan get back home," said Rose.
"That's right."
XO
"They are all doing super. All twenty-four of them," Dad answered. "The ones that were with you were very beat up, but Brock and all his assistants gave them excellent care. They made a great recovery and left the hospital a few days ago and have been hanging out at the Oak Lab ever since then. Gary recently renovated it so that the terrarium section designed to accommodate tropical Pokémon was larger. It was perfect timing. They are enjoying the warm weather in there."
"Thank goodness. They really deserve it. Those Pokémon saved my life," said Onesan.
"I think they saved some of ours too."
I remember wondering what he meant by that. Later, I learned that our parents would have been so devastated if Annastasia died, that they wouldn't know how to live anymore. That thought scares me.
"You know about the monster fusion, right?" Amber asked.
"I do," Onesan sighed.
"It insists on being called Sandshrew," said June added.
"I understand. Jay told me all about it, and its conditions," she replied.
XO
"Conditions?" Sil queried.
"Sil, don't you ever pay attention the first time?" Rose complained. "We talked about this a bazillion times."
"But he doesn't remember, and that is why we are going over it again," I told Rose.
"Yeah," Sil affirmed.
"Whatever," Rose groaned.
"The monster fusion said that if Annastasia and Michio worked together to help save Pokémon, it would give up some of its energy so that it could heal our sister. Because it gave up all that energy, it had to shrink and lost most of its power. That is why it became Sandshrew."
"Why a Sandshrew? Of all the Pokémon it could have picked…"
"Michio told him Sandshrew were rare, and it believed him. It was never the smartest monster fusion."
XO
"How do you feel about this? Aren't you angry? Why do you seem so calm?" Michio kept asking.
"I don't see the point in anger. Everything is a choice, right? But that doesn't mean we can choose what choices we have, and sometimes all the choices suck. Sometimes you wonder what was forced on you, what you were born to do, and what you chose to do. And in the end, does it even matter?"
"I think it does, A," Jay responded. "It didn't have to hurt Scarlett."
"I know. Some things are difficult to forgive. But that creature was scared and alone, and we were threats. And we all should move on now. I accept its conditions. I am glad Michio made that choice for me," she explained.
"Does this mean you are going to move away to go help Pokémon in need?" I asked. "I don't want you to move out yet."
Onesan helped me climb onto her lap. She braided my hair as she spoke. "I am not moving out. I can help Pokémon wherever I am. Besides, I don't even have a house to move into."
Papa was sitting on the floor a few feet away, brushing Growly, and Mama had just walked by as Annastasia said that last sentence. Mama and Papa shared an anxious look, which Lily picked up on.
"Okay, you two!" Lily exclaimed as she pointed to our parents. "Tell Annastasia! Tell her!"
"Tell me what?" Annastasia inquired.
"That is the third hint. Annastasia does have a place of her own, doesn't she?" Lily questioned.
"What are you talking about?" Annastasia, Jay, and I asked in unison.
"Lily, that's none of your business," said Mama. "I don't know how you found out, but we kept that a secret for a reason."
Papa got up off the ground and sat next to Annastasia and me on the couch. Mama joined us on the other side after she forced Michio out of the way. He wanted to be close to her for this too.
"Can I hear too?" I asked.
"Flaafy?"
"Yes. It's not that big of a deal, well it is actually…." Papa started.
He took a deep breath. Then Mama took over.
"Nanny and Pop-pop left everything for you in their will."
So that is where all the goodies are going. Jay and I had been wondering about that. This wasn't very fair. What about me, Jay, and the babies?
"Me? Why me?" Onesan asked.
"They didn't leave us anything at all? I knew she was the favorite," I grumbled. "Does this mean that Annastasia has to move there?"
"No, not exactly princess," Papa replied. "You see, it's not that Annastasia is the favorite, it's that…well, we really don't know to be honest."
"We thought maybe it was because Annastasia had shown great interest in caring for all the sick Pokémon that go there for help, and she really enjoys spending time in the forest," said Mama. "She is also the oldest, and now she is officially an adult."
"I can't believe that. I don't know what to do. Who has been taking care of the property and the Pokémon since they've been gone?" Onesan questioned.
"Their servants. We have been paying them. Many of them have lived there for years already and so we couldn't just kick them out even if we wanted to," Papa answered.
"It is my dream home. Ever since I was a small child I had wanted to live there," said Onesan. "But it will make me sad that Nanny and Pop-pop will no longer be there when I return."
"If anyone can turn that house into a home, it's you, A," Jay responded. "But I agree with Jocelyn. I don't want you to leave yet."
"I never said anything about leaving. I am not going anywhere anytime soon. After all, mom and papa are going to need help with that baby, and by the looks of it, it's it going to be a big one," Annastasia said as she stared at Mama's belly. "Mom, when are you even due?"
"Today," she answered calmly.
"You are due today?" James, Jay, Annastasia, and me asked in unison.
"Everyone who has kids knows that babies always come either late or early, never on the day they are actually due," Mama responded.
We were all shocked for the millionth time that day because no one other than our mom knew that the babies were coming that day. I felt dread and excitement at the same time.
"I totally forgot to ask you about the due date," Papa sighed.
"It doesn't matter, James. I am fine," Mama replied.
"That's not the only thing you forgot," Lily sniggered. "We never told Annastasia about the other one."
"The other one?" Annastasia repeated.
"Twins," Mama and Papa said together.
"Oh, wow. How do you forget something like that? Do you know the sexes?"
"A boy and a girl," Mama answered.
"I really missed a lot. At least I won't miss this," Annastasia replied.
"I wonder what it is going to be like, no longer being the baby of the family," I commented.
"You are going to be just as loved after they are born as you were before," Papa responded. "There is plenty to go around."
I listened to my family talk, but I focused my eyes on Michio. He was holding Onesan's hand, squeezing it a little, and rubbing the top of it with his thumb. 'That's a sign of love' I thought to myself. It made me like Michio even more than before.
At one point, he slipped away. Onesan kept talking with us. She told us more details about what happened in the mountains, and we told her about the adventures we had in Kanto after she left. Eventually, she ended the conversation and stood up.
"I'll be back," she told us. "I need to take a break for a while."
"You are going to go talk to your new man," Mama replied.
"Sorta," she said as she walked away.
I returned our house guests, who were growing in number. I wanted to follow her, but I didn't. Onesan needed privacy with him.
Not long after she left, Mama started having issues. Breathing issues. Walking issues. Pain issues.
Lily poked me, Logan, Jay, and Maya.
"It's happening. They're coming out," she whispered.
"Lily, don't joke around," Jay replied.
"Really Lily? Do you think that is true?" I asked, my voice shaky.
I looked over to Mama. She didn't look well. I believed Lily was right.
"What do we do?!" Jay asked in a panicked voice.
"I don't know," Lily replied. "I usually leave the vicinity when a new human is born."
"Act natural, like we have no idea what is happening," Logan suggested.
"I second that," Jay gulped.
After he said that, it became more obvious that my mom was having the babies right this second. She didn't yell, but something happened, and no one was 'acting natural' the way they probably should have. I was upset. I wanted to know what was happening to Mama. I tried to look for Papa, but he was hard to find. Then I realized everyone was crowding around my mom and asking her questions.
Then there was more chaos as something else happened. Jay said her 'water broke' but neither of us knew what that meant, we just heard someone else say it on TV once. Papa told Jay and me to get towels, ice, coffee, pillows, slippers, and my sister.
"Can I help too? I want to go with Mommy," I told Papa.
"Help us get the stuff she needs, and that will be the best way to help."
I was almost finished filling up a bag of ice when I noticed that Michio returned from wherever he had gone to take his break. I ran up to him.
"Michio!" I exclaimed. "Aren't you excited?"
"Flaafy?"
"For what? I was out for a walk and I missed what happened. Is someone hurt?" he asked.
"No silly! My mommy is having the babies now," I explained.
"Oh," Michio said as he looked around. "That makes sense now."
"I am really excited. They lied though. She said the babies weren't coming for a while. But it's good. Now we can have Christmas together!"
"Yeah. Isn't she going to go to the hospital?"
"She told us it was too late. And she doesn't like hospitals anyway, and she says that she doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to and that no one could force her."
"Okay. So, are you going to stay down here?"
"Yeah. They kicked me out, even though Annastasia was my age when Jay was born, and she got to help."
"I don't think it's something you want to see anyway."
"How come?"
"Um…Annastasia will explain that one."
"Okay. Do you want to play Monopoly?"
"Right now?"
"I have to bring this ice upstairs, then I'll be ready," I said as I zipped up the bag. "Go to the basement and get the board off the shelf."
Michio gave me this weird look and then went to go get the game. With Onesan busy and everyone freaking out, I needed something to distract me. Flaafy and I have been meaning to play a game for a while now, but it's always been hard finding a third player, and playing with two people is too easy. Michio was the last person I played with. And I beat him.
We played for about three hours. Then the anxiety got to Michio, so we stopped. I was losing so I didn't mind. We went up to my parents' room together. Annastasia was in the hall, drinking some of the Tapu Cocoa Delia had made.
"We came to check the status," Michio said as we got closer.
"She's a drama queen, you know. We can be here a while," Onesan shrugged.
"Is Mommy in pain?" I asked.
"A little bit, but not a lot. You don't have to worry about her."
"I am scared though."
"There is nothing to worry about. I never lie, and I promise you that this is true. You really have nothing to worry about."
"Okay."
Onesan kissed my cheek, touched Michio's hand, and then went back into the room. There was no yelling or cursing, so whatever was happening in there couldn't have been too terrible.
Michio and I walked down the hall together.
"Can you hang out with me in my room?" I asked.
"Sure," he shrugged.
I led Michio to my bedroom. I showed him my dollhouse.
"Papa, Uncle Meowth, Onesan, and I made this together two years ago. I painted it all by myself," I announced. "And I painted these."
I showed him my paintings. He tried to guess which each of them were. He was right about half of them.
"Are you and my sister going to get married and have babies?" I asked.
"I feel like you and I have had this discussion before."
"I want to know."
"Don't pout. I don't think so, Jocelyn. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you should marry them."
"That is what that means! Do you really love her?"
"Yes."
"Yesss!"
"Stop yelling."
"I'm excited! I like you a lot and I don't want you to go away. You aren't going away, are you?"
"I don't know what is going to happen in the future. I don't think I belong in Alola, but I don't feel like I belong here, either. It's too complicated for a little kid to understand."
"I don't want you to leave."
"I am glad you like me so much. Just so you know, I am not a good person, Jocelyn. There is a lot about me that you don't know, so stop…stop making it seem like I am the perfect match for your sister. She deserves the best, and it's up to her whether she goes for it."
"You are the best though."
"I used to think so too."
"What did you do that was so bad? Did you kill someone?"
"No, I said that I am 'not a good person'. I didn't say I was evil."
I changed the subject to Flaafy's training, and we talked about that for a while, got snacks, and played Scrabble. It was 8:00 pm when Annastasia came to tell us that the babies have been born.
"They are here. Come meet them," she told us.
"Onesan, is Mommy okay?" I asked.
"She is well, and happy."
"I'm so excited!"
We got there the same time as Jay, Aunt Rumika, Lily, Logan, Annastasia, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Meowth, and some of our Pokémon.
"They are so cute!" Lily squealed the moment she laid eyes on them. "I thought they would be bigger. They are smaller than I imagined."
"I like their noses," Logan commented. "They're cool, I dunno."
"Can hold one?" I asked. "Pleeeeeaasssseeee?"
"Sure princess," Mama said as she passed the boy to Papa.
Papa passed the baby to me. He was wrapped up in one of my old blankies.
"But don't let Flaafy touch him," he said. "He might get shocked by accident."
"I won't I swear," I promised.
"Fla fee fee," Flaafy agreed.
He hadn't opened his eyes yet, so I stared at his closed lids. Then he lifted them and stared directly into my eyes.
"He has green eyes! Just like me!" I exclaimed.
"Uh oh, Jocelyn. That is the first time he opened his eyes. You are the first person he saw. You know what that means," said Mama.
"What, what does it mean?"
"It means that he is going to think you are his mom."
XO
"What is that supposed to mean?" Rose asked.
"I didn't know what it meant at the time either, but later I realized that when Pokémon hatch out of their eggs, the first sight they are supposed to see is their mother. If they see someone who isn't the mother, then the Pokémon thinks that the person it saw first is its mother anyway."
"It would be funny if you raised us," Silver laughed.
"We'd get to do whatever we wanted," Rose said dreamily.
"I was two months away from being eight years old when this happened," I reminded them.
"Oh yeah," Silver replied.
"We know, Jocy-sama," said Rose. "We were kidding you."
XO
"I can't be his mom!" I gasped.
"She's kidding," said Aunt Lucy.
"Oh. Well, I suppose that wouldn't be so bad though."
"Can I hold one?" Jay asked as I passed him to Mama.
"Boy or girl?" Papa asked.
"Ummm…the girl," Jay decided.
I looked over Jay's shoulder in order to get a good look at the girl. She was already looking around the room. Her eyes were a bluish-green, not really one or the other, just like Onesan's.
"You are no longer that unique," Jay told Onesan. "She has the same eyes as you."
"I'm still the only blond," she pointed out.
"Not anymore," said Papa. "He looks like he is going to have blond hair too."
Mommy took off the boy's little yellow hat to reveal a patch of messy golden hair.
"Where does that come from anyway?" Aunt Rumika asked. "I don't think it is from our side of the family, Jess."
"My grandparents on my father's side both had blond hair," James answered. "You know, before it turned grey."
"Speaking of which, we have names to share," Mama announced.
They had been strict about not telling us what they planned on naming you two. They gave us hints, but no one knew what the names would be until this moment.
"Does this mean you are going to name them after Nanny and Pop-pop?" Annastasia asked. "Because Jay's middle name is already Paul, and you said no more 'L's, which means ' Linda' must be out."
"We were thinking about Nanny and Pop-pop's middle names, and using those as their first names," Papa explained.
"I thought you planned this separately," said Aunt Rumika.
"We did, but we happened to have had the same idea," Mama replied.
"So, what are the names?" Logan asked.
"This is Rose," Mama answered, gesturing towards the girl. "And this is Silver."
"Those are perfect yous two. I'm glad weeze didn't go with rhymes," Uncle Meowth told them. "Now when do I gets to hold dem?"
"Not until everyone else goes," Papa replied.
"Hey!"
"Just kidding," Papa said as he handed Rose to Meowth.
"There, Rosie, say 'hi' to your Uncle Meowth," he cooed.
"Yee yee," said Rose.
"That's the same noise Anna-chan used to make when she was an infant. The 'yee' noise," said Papa.
"Jay made a different noise. His was more like a 'gahhh'."
Everyone laughed, even you two, I think.
"What about me?" I asked.
"You were a little 'gahhh' but you also squeaked occasionally," said Papa.
"Especially after you ate," Mama laughed.
"Or drank water," Onesan added.
After a while, Annastasia got up to let the others inside. They were listening at the door, and even their hushed tones did not escape Maya and Michio's excellent hearing. When Amber saw the babies, her face scrunched up immediately.
"No offense, but they don't even look like babies," she remarked.
This time Jay was the one to flick her in the center of the head. Mama and Papa laughed.
"Your dad said that when he saw Annastasia for the first time," Mom told Amber. "All twerps are the same."
"This one sorta looks like you. Is this Rose?" Michio asked.
"Yes, that's Rose," said Onesan. "I'm guessing you all were listening at the door."
"Of course," Maya answered.
"Hi Rosie," said Michio.
Rose looked at him curiously and then blinked a few times.
"They have the same birthday as you," said Onesan.
"Today is your birthday?" Jay and I asked in unison.
"Yeah," he confessed.
"Happy birthday!" everyone in the room chanted together.
"Thanks…"
"This happened so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was wondering whether I was ever going to see any of you ever again. Now here we all are. With two new family members as well," said Onesan. "This is better than I ever could have imagined."
"I feel like we finally get to relax. Now all we have to worry about is the Pokémon League," said Jay. "And the first events don't start for another few months."
"Well there is the Poke-Olympics in a few weeks, and you know I plan on winning the Grand Title in Archery," Amber reminded us. "And want you all to come, especially you, A."
"I will be there. You can count on me," Onesan responded.
Rose abruptly broke into tears. Then Silver started crying too. Our parents took you back while the rest of us covered our ears.
"I think that is a sign that we should get going," said Aunt Rumika.
"I agree," said Onesan. "I will see you later, Mom. Let me know if you need anything."
"Just take care of yourself for now", said Mama. "And get a good night's sleep; I have a feeling your father and I aren't."
There were a lot of guests downstairs in the lobby. They asked us a whole bunch of questions.
"How is Jessie feeling?"
"Are the twins okay?"
"Are they identical?"
"What are their names?"
"When will we get to see them?"
I spent most of the rest of the day answering those questions while also enjoying the party. Onesan and Michio went to bed early, but I stayed up passed midnight. Jay and I got to hold you both and we helped Mama feed you. It was the first time I ever held a baby bottle. Luckily, they didn't make us change the diaper.
And we all lived happily ever after.
XO
"Wow, Jocy-sama, you told it just like Jay did! Except Jay didn't know that you spent so much time with Michio. Is it really the first time you ever fed a baby?" Rosie queried.
"Yep. It was Silver. Jay fed Rose. Papa helped me, and Mama helped Jay. I was so proud of myself," I responded.
Silver nodded thoughtfully and then looked down at Komala, Diablo, and Wynaut, who were all asleep.
"I miss Red," he said.
"You always miss Red," Rose argued.
"Because I love him."
"You'll see Red tomorrow. We'll teleport to his house," I told Silver.
"You are such a clingy friend," Rose told Silver. "And if you keep hogging his attention, he is never going to notice me!"
"Do you have a crush on Red?" I asked.
"Yes," she sighed.
"I'm afraid to talk about that with Red," said Silver.
"And I don't want Silver to say anything because he might accidentally make me look bad," Rose responded.
"You are nine years old and you have more drama in your life than I have in mine," I remarked.
I don't know much about Red, except that he is currently Silver's special friend. They are like brothers. Whenever we cannot find Silver, we can assume he's doing something with Red. The fact that Red had to leave the Poke-premier on Gary's lawn early was unusual. Silver said Red had a doctor's appointment. Any other reason, I am sure Silver would have taken priority.
"I don't like drama," said Rose.
"Me neither," said Silver.
"Then let's end it. Let's watch a movie instead," I suggested.
"Okay!"
"Let's get our pillows and blankies first so that we can be comfortable."
We all went to our bedrooms and grabbed our stuff. My room hasn't changed much since I was little. The walls are still pink, my paintings still hung on the wall, and my handmade dollhouse sat in the corner of the room.
Ampharos lied on the bed.
"Remember how we both used to fit in here together?" I asked the Pokémon.
"Pharrros," he laughed.
The Monopoly and Scrabble games I used to play with my family—and Michio—were on my shelves. I took one down. After the movie, I wanted to play a game with Rose and Silver, the way Annastasia and Michio did with me. It's my turn now.
XO
+Inspiration and aesthetic for this chapter is Chapter 52 of Heroine, the last 'real' chapter before the multi-part epilog. Most of the dialogue from Jocelyn's retelling is directly from that chapter.
+ Next chapter is back to the main storyline. Jezz and allies investigate the mysterious attacks.
For a list of characters, places, and other quick facts introduced in this chapter, check below the cut.
OCs:
- The Illumise and Volbeat that helped Annastasia when she was lost in Toka.
Canonical Characters:
- Brock – now a Pokémon doctor
- Dawn – now a professional coordinator
- Growly, James' Growlithe
Original Locations:
- Delia's Pokémon Hospital – once the Morgan's Estate (a canon location).
Canonical Locations:
- N/A
Miscellaneous/Other:
- Silver and Rose were born on December 22, the same day as Michio, though eighteen years apart.
- The monster fusion became a Sandshrew specifically because of Michio's lie.
- Annastasia's great-grandparents left her almost everything they owned, including their house, in their will. This house later becomes The Grange.