Chapter-2
You might all be wondering about the stunning lack of Pokémon previously, believe me when I say that I was more eager to see them than you guys but apparently my parents were under the opinion that it would not be appropriate for a newborn baby and their Pokémon to interact so soon and so suddenly, their idea was to let us slowly get used to each other's presence so that nothing dangerous happens like them scaring me or they might find me as a sudden stranger in their lives. So although I could see Dad's two Farfetche'd working to make charcoal in the yard out back as well as Mom's Poliwhirl and Cloyster occasionally I never saw them up close and personal.
It was a full month after I was born that I was allowed to interact with the Pokémon around the house and boy was it fun. Even the Pokémon were very excited to get to know me better, so on our first meeting they showed off some of their moves- Poliwhirl sprayed some bubbles in my direction, Cloyster made a beautiful light display with Aurora beam and the two Farfetch'd flew in formation then landed and started twirling their sticks like batons. It looks like they practised a lot for my sake so I made sure to wave my hands excitedly and laugh showing them that I really thought they were amazing, well they truly were awesome. Just when I thought I had seen it all, Mom decided to pull out all the stops seeing that my reaction to Pokémon was really good by releasing her Gyarados which let out a fierce roar on appearing. I was just gaping there for a moment in Dad's arms completely stunned before I started wriggling and making sounds like "Kya Kya wa uuuu bubu..." with more enthusiasm, all the Pokémon were simply amazing I even reached out to pat Gyarados when he leaned forward to have a better look at me, he surprisingly liked being patted by me as he closed his eyes and made low satisfied roars " Gyaa.. Gyaa..", Mom and Dad were shocked to see me interacting so well with the Pokémon and they sighed thinking that all their worries were unfounded.
Thus my interactions with Pokémon grew increasingly over time and I began to understand them better as I observed them, one of the very first things that surprised me that a Pokémon could learn a total of 6 that's right not 4 but 6 moves at a time, the concept of PP did not exist hell even the concept of levels didn't, then you might be wondering how one would determine their growth, well here a Pokémon would grow stronger the good old fashion way by honing their skills-moves under the guidance of their trainer. The worth of a Pokémon wasn't solely determined by numerical stats but by their connections with their trainers and how much a trainer could bring out in a Pokémon. I found out about this when I saw a mock battle between Mom and Dad, although Dad's Farfetch'd seemed weak the time he spent training with them in Ilex forest cutting down trees was way more than the time Mom spent with her Pokémon as she spent a lot of time on her research. So basically Mom didn't have a chance unless she used her Gyarados (it still was a narrow loss for Dad and he was fighting all three of Mom's Pokémon with just two of his), even her Cloyster which obviously had a type advantage was no match for Dad partnered with one of his Farfetch'd. If you personally saw the battle you might not think I'm being too farfetched (forgive the pun) but the way Dad battled was awesome, the Farfetche'd were like samurais wielding their katana, the power was simply amazing nowhere near like as shown in the game its damage could not be explained by just some numbers or damage value.
I began to grow really eager for my chance to battle, I was squealing and wiggling with excitement nonstop as I watched my parents having a Pokémon battle. I just can't wait for me to get my own Pokémon but first I needed to master my motor skills, I was going nowhere as I was now *sigh*. I really wish time would move faster, have you ever been stuck in a boring lecture and just couldn't wait for the end of class, well imagine that and change one hour of lecture to 10 insanity inducing months of being a prisoner in my own baby body. I started crying for joy so hard when I was able to crawl just a little that my parents were beside themselves with worry wondering what happened to me.
As I mentioned before I can now crawl which means my world just got a whole lot bigger (finally *sob* after so much suffering*sniff*), I now need to work on my stealth. For the most part I actively pull out all the books, news papers and magazines I can reach to read and fill up on information to sate my curiosity, I especially go for Mom's research material. When no one's looking I even try to sneak out of the house to take a look outside, hey I've been outside a few times before with my parents-we've gone on a couple of picnics and even attended the Slowpoke Festival before not to mention the many times they took me out for a stroll for fresh air and some sun-I know its dangerous outside and I'm being a really ungrateful brat to my parents but I just can't stand house arrest any more. Sure I get caught most of the time and Mom becomes especially upset which makes me feel very guilty and keeps me from trying that again anytime soon, but when I do manage to leave the house I never wander very far (not more than 20 feet from home) so as not to worry Mom and I always return soon before I get noticed. My speech still needs work, withal the slurring and lisping of words makes me wish that my skill had an auto correct feature.
Time passes slowly, dreadfully slowly like Slowpoke in slow motion (gaaah... its driving me insane). I am now 3 years old and can now run around on my two feet quite well (and without any running shoes to boot, well what do you know), so after much pleading and begging to my parents (especially Mom) I'm now allowed to occasionally go out for a walk around the neighbourhood provided one of their Pokémon accompanies me as a chaperone. As I go around the neighbourhood this fine sunny morning I converse politely with all the people I come across-I greet Grandpa George who owns an orchard that grows some fruit and produces some sweet syrup, Mrs. Mathews who runs a small inn and cafe with her husband and big sister Clair who works at the local Poke mart-I've become a friends with a lot of people (hey when you're a toddler you've got to make the most of your charm). I also gaze longingly at some of the wild and caught Pokémon I come across wishing I could have one of my own, "Poli?..Poliwhirl." Poliwhirl enquires after me seeing my strange expression and I hurriedly recover saying "I'm alright Tess, its nothing." as I shake my arms "Poliwhirl" Tess doesn't seem to believe me. Well getting a Pokémon for myself will have to wait but for now I just make do by playing with my parent's Pokémon, I've even given them all names and they seem to like it oddly enough, what surprised me most is how easily I am able to interact with Pokémon, not to brag or anything but usually any Pokémon wild or even trained will keep a certain amount of distance from strangers even their trainer's closest friends and family at first but I seem to be able to get close to even wild Pokémon without alarming them let alone becoming best buds with my parent's Pokémon from the get go. As I mentioned before I even gave them names (after informing my parents of course, they were their Pokémon after all) I call the male Farfetche'd Charlie, the female one Charlotte, Cloyster as Jack, Gyarados as Chester and Poliwhirl as Tess. At one point my parents even believed that it had something to do with my innate skill like Mom's that helped strengthen relations but when I did tell them about my skill, although they were extremely shocked and excited, they just attributed my good relations with Pokémon as the result of my sincerity.
As we were walking we soon arrived near the out skirts of town, the only family which lived in this part of town were the Campbell's, its a family of four people but perhaps you would understand better if I say it was Kurt's family. When I get close to the house I see a small young girl about my age struggling to carry a basket full of what appears to be apricorns. "Hey, need any help there?" I ask politely as I get closer. "*Humph* I don't need your help so go away." She replies, this is Heart Campbell by the way, daughter of Davis and Sarah Campbell, granddaughter of Kurt Campbell. She looks so cute with her small face flushed from the effort to carry the basket in her small hands that I can't help myself as I move forward to hold one end of the basket up to help (*ahem* I am not a paedophile, I am doing this out of the goodness of my heart...really I am), "Go away I didn't ask for help." She says again fiercely just as her mother arrives through the door "What's all that noise Heart, that's not how a young lady should behave." Sarah admonishes, "Good morning Mrs. Campbell." I greet her trying to get her attention away from scolding Heart. "Oh good morning Sage, out for a morning walk I see." She replies. Well my relation with the Campbell family can only be described as strange, you see my Mom, Professor Ivy and Kurt Campbell have a sort of rivalry going on between them and it gets really tense sometimes when they run into each other but on the other hand my Dad and Heart's parents are childhood friends so yeah things get really weird when I interact with the Campbell family. Given the closeness of Heart's relationship with her grandfather her view of me is not favourable to say the least but I still try to maintain good relations with her and her family regardless.
"Now Heart, say thank you to Sage for helping you out." -Her mom tells her.
" Nnnn.." she sticks her tongue out at me and runs into the house, "Heart.." her mom calls after her, she then sighs and says to me "Oh don't mind her dear she spends way too much time with her grandfather and you know old people they specialize in carrying grudges especially this one."
"I heard that, and I do not hold any grudges I just don't like that woman's attitude. What are you doing here you brat, you hitting on my sweet little granddaughter *humph* over my dead body." Kurt rants as he comes out the door followed by Heart who's hiding behind his legs.
"Father.." Sarah starts off but I decide to run off not wanting to get caught up in this drama by saying "I better get going Mrs. Campbell my parents are probably waiting for me."
"But Sage... *sigh*" she soon relents. I soon take my leave as Sarah bids me farewell and Kurt and Heart throw one more glance my way before returning to the house.
I soon make my way back home while wondering if there was any way to fix my relationship with the Campbell's and also get Mom and Kurt to reconcile. There'd be lots of benefits to being on good terms with Kurt but honestly I also really support my Mom.
When I reach home and step through the front door I hear my parents discussing something, when I reach the dining room I see Mom holding an opened letter as she talks to Dad in a sort of strained voice. I get really worried and ask "Mom, Dad what's the matter?"
"Sage honey, come here." Mom calls for me and pulls me into a tight embrace.
I get really worried and ask "Is everything okay, did something bad happen, no one's hurt right."
"No no its just that your Mom got a letter from back at her lab in the Orange Islands requesting her to come back, they really need her help over there but she seems like she doesn't want to leave us just yet is all."Dad explains.
Mom is nearly at the edge of breaking into tears at this point, I try my best to console her "Its okay Mom, I understand, Mom is really important and the work she does is amazing so.. so you shouldn't worry too much *sniff*... go and come back really soon *hic* I'll call every day." I can barely keep it together myself, I knew that this day would come eventually and Mom would have to go away on work again but that didn't make it any easier to say good bye.
Mom couldn't take it and hugs me tightly while sobbing "Really you don't mind,*sniff* Sage honey I'll miss you so much, its so far away. Promise me you'll call me every day, both of you." Dad joins in as well and we embrace in a tight family hug for sometime (this is so nice, its awesome to have a family). We then help Mom pack for her trip as she'll be leaving the next day.
At the air port we have another teary farewell as Mom promises to come by for a visit gain in three months and reminds us to call her every day. *sigh* Looks like it'll be just Dad and me for a while, but I look at it positively as an opportunity for some Father-Son bonding time. To keep me from getting bored, to go out and explore more and to spend more time with Dad I brainwash him... *ahem* convince him to let me accompany him into Ilex Forest when he goes to collect wood every day.