Chapter Two
Three days later
Whines, soft whimpers and purple glimmering in the air woke Celia, Mnemosyne having opened the tent flap, calling out to her trainer. Slightly chillier weather had the woman pause, fuzzy vision and questing hands locating cardigan, before she even thought of leaving. Quartz was sleeping, huffing pastel pink breath from her nostrils, warmth lingering, though tad inadequate, given nippy turn in weather conditions.
Shimmers of transparent energy burst into view, popping bursts of stars blinding woman for a moment. Getting up, checking Rotom phone, seeing that it was three am brought forth sighs, but Celia knew her Ralts wouldn't wake her, were it merely for something unnecessary, trivial.
She'd done it before, a day prior, but quietened down, not long after. Her typing meant the Pokemon regularly experienced nightmares. Celia assumed it that, opening sleeping bag, to let her sleep beside trainer.
At that moment, however, Mnemosyne wouldn't quiet, gesturing to hollow under tree, about a hundred yards away. Celia took off blanket, folding and placing it atop her pillow, woolly garment's arms slipped into, shoes slipped on, phone grabbed, makeshift torch.
Making her way outside, straining eyes to see, Nemo whimpered, gesturing to head, as if she'd fallen, hit it on something, though woman found nothing in near vicinity for the Pokemon to hurt herself with.
She wasn't clumsy enough to slip, she didn't run, or walk. She teleported, woman having to sprint to keep up...
Her Pokemon was fine. Evidently, something/someone nearby wasn't.
Approaching gap in thinning trunk, her partner cooed, sound something Celia hadn't heard prior. Curiously, (against better judgement) woman thrust phone into space, obscured by pitch-dark, quickly retreating upon snarls, cat-like hissing.
A shape, cowering, quivering lay, inside the tree, atop fallen leaves, branches prodding the poor creature. Its cries registered as familiar to woman, milliseconds of silence morphing into 'ah!," ping visceral, bulb in head bright enough to illuminate area.
Another Ralts? They are rare here...
She'd met Mnemosyne in Sinnoh, just outside Jublife City, easy to catch, the Pokemon seeming to recognise Celia's gift, honing in on it, with her horns.
Her horns were currently trained on this unknown Ralts, its eyes shooting up from its corner, dark magenta, usual green hue significantly paler than it should be. It was obvious it was unwell, and scrawny.
And tiny, for that matter. It looked newborn, torn from its Mother, which would have been there at all times, to protect her baby. No other energy lingered in the space.
A runt? Oh Arceus...
It picked up handful of soil, throwing it at Mnemosyne. She jumped back, Celia not needing to utter command. She'd learned to 'speak' with her partner Pokemon, knowing each, every movement, twitch, swish of limbs, direction of her horns.
Male? They are slightly smaller than females, but you are just...oh...I can't just leave you here.
Is that why Mnemosyne acted the way she did? A male, of the same species?
"Its alright," Celia reassured, "I won't go anywhere near you. I do want to get you some food, though, at least make you something. You don't look too well. Its alright, little one."
The Ralts growled, aiming ball of soil at her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you that."
Male whimpered, woman's heart yanked, pulled about harshly.
Rummaging around in bag, Celia pulled out Pink Lady apple, further delving to locate Swiss-army-knife to peel, cut and remove pips from fruit.
"Nemo loves sweets. I don't know if you do, but I'm going out on a limb here. I will leave this here, I won't come any closer. I am over there...," she pointed to her tent, "if you want to visit."
Placing apple down, Celia thanked her Dad for packing three blankets. One for her, one for her team, and the other a spare, just in case.
Dad logic, to the rescue...
Celia gave blanket to Nemo, seeing as she wasn't being 'cursed to Hell and back,' by the male Ralts. He eyed her, wary, but his gaze held less venom. It was as if he understood that she wasn't there to cause him distress, further injury.
Nemo took article, slowly passing it to Ralts. Bit by bit, he took it, and apple, snatching that before hiding, returning to spot furthest away from woman and her Pokemon?
She seemed to like this human, sticking by her side voluntarily? The only human he'd seen was the one who kicked him to the curb, born unwell, slight frame unstable, unsteady on feet.
He wasn't what the 'breeder' wanted, not 'up to par,' calibre 'worthless.'
"Good morning, everyone."
Woman yawned, raking hand through tatted hair, flipping it back, securing it with kirby grips. Opening pack, Celia took out sweet poffins, handing them to Mnemosyne, electric pink hue amusing, scent recalling memories of childhood visits to fairgrounds, circuses. She took two, curtsied (Celia hadn't taught her to do that, but it was adorable, nonetheless,) and sat, taking dainty bites.
Quartz was given two apples. She wanted sugar cubes, something woman had to stop purchasing, given how persistent Pokemon could be. She ate one whole...
Amethyst sprawled on back, relishing morning rays. Celia placed dry poffins beside her. She'd eat them in her own time.
"Should I make a snack run whilst you eat?" Her team eagerly nodding made her giggle. "I'll be ten minutes."
Taking coat, phone and wallet, Celia made way towards Motostoke's main gate, heading to her favourite natural food shop, stocking up on nuts, dried fruits and some honey, treat going down a storm.
Upon return to her camp, unexpected guest gave woman pause. The male Ralts swayed, peaky, unfocused eyes wanting to roll back. He had kept blanket, that cushioning his fainting spells, third in eight hours.
Woman kept gaze on him, as she grabbed gloves, waste bags and scoop, having her Pokemon's toilet routines down-pat.
Cleaning up, binning contents, wavy lines shifted into patterns, energy signature off-centre, male Ralts the cause. The lines were watery, shapes blurred.
Collapsing, Mnemosyne screeched, alerting trainer, who sprinted back to him.
Celia packed things away hastily, she returned her team to their balls reluctantly. She didn't want them making mad dash through streets of city, possibly bumping into pedestrians.
Nemo refused, point-blank giving woman 'death glare.'
Picking him up, cradling precious baby, Celia rushed to gate, partner following, pace fast, consternation storming through her, like stampeding herd of Tauros...
"Mornin'."
Celia tried to sound chipper.
"Good morning." Surrounds looked familiar to man. "Currently sat in Motostoke's Pokemon Centre."
"Oh? Everythin' okay?"
"Listen."
Ralts cries filled space, other trainers looking Celia's way.
"I take it that's not Nemo..."
Turning on camera, Nemo popped up, beside trainer, fretted nerves obvious. She was shaking, Celia doing her best to soothe, cuddling partner. The sight was sweet, moment not.
"Male Ralts. I found him just outside Motostoke. No idea why he was there, but I couldn't leave him. Camped here for Quartz, so she has plenty of space to run. Needs plenty of exercise, see. Amethyst enjoys it, too. My Eevee bathes in the sun, just lays flat out, on her belly and soaks it up. Guess she wants to be an Espeon..."
They chuckled, though, it felt wrong to change topic, as if there wasn't a starving Pokemon in the infirmary in front of woman. Celia coughed.
"He passed out in my camp, clutching tartan blanket I gave him. Damn near broke my heart...Nurse Joy is tending to him. I swear though, Nemo has prodded him more than her..."
"It'll be alrigh'. You did the right thing. Listen..."
Woman looking dour worried man. He felt he need to, at least, try to alleviate anxiety.
"Since we didn't get 'round to doin' a propa interview, maybe it'll take your mind off this?"
"I...I like that idea. Brilliant! Right." Straightening herself up, giving herself once over, Celia grunted, 'interview' beginning.
"Birthday?"
"Eighth of July, 2002, at one-thirty-two in the afternoon precisely. You can thank Dad for that..."
That made her a year older than him, why he pondered on that plaguing him. He tried to throw that off.
"Wha', the specifics or pedantry?"
"Both..." Snorting, woman shrugged. "You?"
"Ninth o' August, 2003. Shouldn't I be askin' the questions?"
"Curiosity killed the Purrloin?"
"More o' a dog person, meself. Wouldn't advocate hurtin' anyone, anythin' though."
"Of course not. You know what I meant..."
Sticking out tongue, Piers huffed, mockingly rolling blues.
"I didn't get your full name."
"Celia Amarie Dean."
He wrote that down, as woman spelled it out for him, smile growing on their faces.
"Where ya from?"
"Ballonlea. I visit my Mum a few times a year, in Kalos. Dendemille Town. Mum and Dad aren't together, haven't been since I was six months old."
"That's real young."
Piers made face.
"I 'ave no righ' inquirin'."
"Its fine. With you?"
"Noticed lack of adults here, to deal with us ruffians, eh?"
"Well, I wouldn't call you that. Slightly impish, reminiscent of the glint in a Morgrem's eye. Sure?"
Piers nodded, his truth would emerge soon. Celia knew he wasn't prying, nor would he. If she willingly confessed her story, he would his.
In due course.
"Mum isn't maternal, would rather the attention be on her. Having me took that away. They were nineteen, not ready, money was tight. Dad was thrilled, it spurred him on to find job, train, better himself. Mum wasn't. Dad did all he could to help, gave her everything he had. They tried, but Mum didn't love him. He adored her, and their upcoming arrival, anticipating fatherhood. Mum gave birth, handed me over, and didn't want a thing to do with us. They lived separate lives in the same house. She walked out. Dad heard me crying, Mum wasn't there, so he checked on me, went to get me a bottle, and noticed all her things were gone. No note. We know why, she hasn't ever really explained herself. Dad told me, but reiterated that it wasn't my, or his fault. He dislikes blaming her, still, to this day..."
Sheepishly, Piers gazed at ground, stage lights flickering on and off behind him, painting him different colours, revealing range of responses playing on face.
"Dad raised me, along with his Mum. Grandmother lives in Ballonlea, I stay with her often. She's good friends with Mrs Opal. Lovely, if not slightly eccentric lady."
"Opal is fantastic, givin' she was only suppose'd to be a substitute gym leader, whilst the committee found a replacement."
Piers perked up, older lady very much like extended family. She saw him as he was, without pretence, the 'I must be retiring, almost anti-social' artist shtick wasn't something she ascribed too, tolerated very well.
"And you've been given stellar praise, to be considered for gym leader. I bet Mrs Opal did that. She helped train me up, wanted me to join her gym, at least become a gym challenger." She clicked her tongue. "I couldn't even touch you, though. Dark type indeed..."
Musing, Celia thumbed chin.
"Oh, I don't know. The male Ralts? Don't they learn fightin' type moves?"
"When they evolve into Gallade, yes. Why? Are you giving me tips on how to defeat you?!" Feigning shock, woman felt weight lift, man's company delightful. "I say...I don't know whether to be flattered or concerned."
"Concerned, givin' that you need a stone, to evolve tha' Ralts. 'hat may take some time..."
"To evolve Kirlia...Someone's sneaky." She let anxiety out in single stream of breath. "Ta, Piers. I find myself a lot less tense, distracted."
Moving, Piers walked into his home, heading straight for his kitchen, rumbling stomach getting to him. He placed phone on worktop, Celia getting view of his chin, her laughter reverberating through small space.
"Mental note, 'bring razors' next we meet."
"Ta? You're startin' to sound like me."
He grabbed bowl and cereal, calling to Marnie, inquiring as to whether she wanted some. She shook her head.
Morpeko nodded enthusiastically, bouncing around energetically.
Brother put some cereal into 'his' bowl, leaving it dry, handing it to sister, grabbing yet another bowl.
"Celia?"
Celia fumbled, all but dropping phone on table, standing too quickly. Nemo jumped onto floor, right next to the infirmary door. Woman apologised wordlessly, tugging on collar.
"Nurse Joy." Flustered, woman checked device was still working, call still connected. "Is he going to be okay?"
Woman smiled, ringlets swinging with head moving up and down.
"Yes. He was dehydrated, hence peaky tone, fainting spells. He's had some fluids, is keeping food down, but doesn't like being left alone. He whines. My lab tech is in there with him."
"I should have given him a drink."
"Its not your fault."
Crunching came from device, garnering bewildered gazes.
"It isn't." Joy agreed. "However, given his behaviour, I would advise caution. He needs to be among his own kind."
Nemo squeaked, male Ralts replying...
"Well, there's my answer. I wasn't planning on gaining another team member. Nemo seems, smitten? Little Miss Nemo, are we?"
"Little Miss. Aw."
Manly snorts erupted from video call.
"I'll need a few days to adjust. Erm, did I ask why you called, Piers? I sound ungrateful for it. I'm not. It supported me when I wanted to crumple."
"I wanted to ask you to join my 'little band of misfits.' I can't pay you much, and I won't promise anythin'. O' course you need time. Take all you need."
"Thank you. Suppose I ought to think up a name for this mysterious Ralts. To the library?"
She took phone, purse, and walked into room, mauve eyes meeting gold, Pokemon's head lifting.
"We ought to keep him here for the day, just to be sure he's well. Do you have anywhere to stay?"
"My tent. We have food, treats, equipment. I can always grab dinner, clean up in a bathroom. I may smell tomorrow, better I warn you now..."
"Since Nemo is fond of the little one, I feel it prudent to call him something Greek. Also prudent to find somewhere to wash. I wonder if I can grab a shower in the leisure centre? I want to be close to them, you know?"
Piers sat down, his Linoone, Pitch draping itself over his shoulders, like scarf. Onyx sat on his lap, man needing to move bowl, milk terrible for Pokemon's digestion...
Marnie perched next to him, chubby partner unable to pull herself up, onto couch.
"We know exactly what you mean. They are family too. I'll leave you too it."
"I'll let you know when I'll be coming up next. With a new arrival, perhaps? Alright. Bye Marnie, Mepo, Onyx, I am not sure what your name is, Linoone, and Piers."
"Pitch!"
Marnie responded. Celia grinned.
"Thank you. Bye, Pitch."