This chapter was updated/revised on October 22, 2019.
The Little Things
"You've carried on so long
You couldn't stop if you tried it
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
But I'm gonna try."
Labrinth
Day 3
Annastasia, Michio, and Logan visited the Oak Laboratory to help the two Professor Oaks sort out a problem in the terrarium. A flock of Doduo and Dodrio had been antagonizing some of the new additions. According to Logan, the other Pokémon in the lab were stressed and wanted the fighting 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 vast artificial landscape. They covered ears and continued to walk inside.
"Can you understand what they are saying?" Gary asked the Purrloin.
Logan had his paws clamped over his ears, but he still managed to hear Gary over all the noise. "They're arguing about water…. I think…it's hard to tell."
"This is the most horrible sound ever. No wonder these other Pokémon complained," said Annastasia, although no one other than the Purrloin and Michio could hear her.
Logan asked a Nidorina where she last saw the Doduo and Dodrio, and she pointed to the back left side of the terrarium. They headed in that direction.
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. When they didn't stop, she turned to the Sandshrew. "What did you do to them?!"
"Nothing offensive," 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.
"Apparently the fusions are untrustworthy because they can't speak properly. Fusion Pokémon aren't clear speakers, remember?"
"Got it," Annastasia replied.
"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," it explained.
The Dodrio and Doduo squawked, honked, and shrieked louder than before. Annastasia closed her eyes, searching for peace. The Pokémon quieted and watched her.
"How did you do that?" Gary asked as she opened her eyes. "Did you use the power of aura to calm them?"
"It was just a headache," she responded. "These Pokémon need a mediator."
Professor Oak Sr knelt between the group of fusions and the angry Dodrio and Doduo.
"What is the matter?" he asked. "The fusion Pokémon have been here a while now and they never once hurt you."
"Do do drrrrrro. Drio," one of the Dodrio responded.
"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, so that's irrelevant."
"Dodrio Do dri dro, doo, doo!" several replied.
"They say that the fusions have all been keeping their distance, except recently they starting use their watering hole," Logan explained.
"Our Bulbasaur ambassador explained to you that some Pokémon are very territorial and don't like it when unfamiliar Pokémon enter their favorite spots," Gary told the fusions. "Remember I said that to you too when you first got here?"
The Pokémon looked away sheepishly.
"Stick to your side of the terrarium for now on."
Unlike Annastasia, Gary couldn't read Pokémon auras, but he his understand the monz better than any other researcher could.
"Still, there's a problem to fix," said Annastasia.
"Growldeeeeee growl Growldeen," said the Growldeen.
"There is an issue with the watering hole on their side," Logan translated. "At least I think that is what it's saying…"
"Maybe the hose isn't running properly,' Annastasia mused. "Or the pool has a crack and the water is leaking. We'll check it out."
"Come with us."
When they got to the pool, they noticed that it was indeed cracked; water was saturating the ground instead of collecting in the medium-sized artificial pond.
"I can get it from here. Thanks for your help," Gary told Logan, Annastasia, Michio, Lil-G, and Bleu.
"No problem," Annastasia responded.
"Anytime," said Logan.
"I didn't help, but okay," Michio added.
The trio walked back through the terrarium, through the lab, and towards 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?" Michio said when it finally caught up with them.
"You used to be their leader, sorta, before your life fell apart basically," Logan added.
Sandshrew crossed its arms indignantly. "What I accomplished was honorable; Rather than allow myself to die a respectable death, I relinquished my powerful form and saved the life of this young female human."
Logan, Michio, and Annastasia raised their eyebrows.
"My version of that story is that you endeavored to take over the world but failed because the rest of Team Rocket and I stopped you before you killed both of us," Annastasia retorted.
Sandshrew acted as if she 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, Michio. Logan, Lil-G, and Bleu laughed at it. "Right, and I forced you to became a Sandshrew."
"I am serious!"
"I know, I know. I'm doing what you want, which is to use my wealth to help Pokémon, which was my plan anyway, but regardless, you owe me, not the other way around."
"I demand you work harder."
Michio was going to interject in her defense, but as was typical, Annastasia kept the reins.
"We just helped Professor Gary solve an issue in his terrarium. Relax; ensuring justice for Pokémon everywhere is going to take a lifetime…we don't even have justice for humans yet, or animals, or anything regarding nature in general…on a brighter note, in less than 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 gotta look after the kiddos, 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," Logan responded. "I'm pumped UP!"
"Well, we still gotta watch the kiddos, but leave that to me."
"Don't you got other business?"
"I do; I'm prepared to meet Michio's family on a personal, not just a professional, basis. That'll be nice."
"You'll be starkly disappointed in my lineage," Michio mumbled.
"Not a correct use of the work 'starkly'."
"Who do you think you are, Jezz?"
"Oh, don't get me started on him…"
When their house came into view, Annastasia was the first to notice one new car in the driveway.
"Oh, it's gorgeous," Annastasia commented. She hastened to the vehicle as if it was a newborn and hugged it dearly. "This can only mean one thing."
"That your family purchased another form of pollution?" Sandshrew guessed, mocking her as usual.
"Okay it means two things: I got an eco-friendly fuel-hog AND that Michio is prepared to become my chauffeur." Annastasia squeezed Michio's hand. "You're gonna learn to drive. I'm so proud!"
Michio coughed nervously. "I didn't learn yet…"
"You will. I'll help. It'll be beautiful for you to even try."
"'Beautiful', huh, Annie?"
"Uhhh, don't do this around me," Logan mumbled as he shook his head in mild disgust.
"The fact that humans are monogamous creatures is a tragedy," Sandshrew ranted.
"I don't speak for all, but my parents have been married for roughly 17 years and the worst argument they had was about which flavor mochi is the best," Annastasia retorted. "My dad was right by the way: Big Nut Supreme. It has the best name too."
"My mom scratched my dad once," said Logan. That's it…I think…"
"How can a human as old as he not know how to drive?" Sandshrew continued in its contemptuous diatribe. "The younger one with the plum hair and ebony earrings knows how."
"Not to advocate for the devil…since its advocating for itself…but I thought Michio woulda gotten his license years ago since he's your age, A."
"Jay's hair isn't 'plum'," Annastasia started. "Jay knows how because he took lessons from Papa and I. Michio never got his license because in Alola he didn't need to. Everyone walks everywhere, and if he wanted to go someplace further away, he had a chauffeur."
"Now, ironically, he's becoming your show-furr."
"Not literally though; I don't plan on paying him for it."
"What is so great about driving? It is a waste of planetary resources. You have Pokémon that use Teleport. I don't see why you can't just do that," Sandshrew continued.
"This conversation gets more annoying the longer it goes on," Michio sighed, but everyone ignored him.
"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," Annastasia countered. "Also, it tires many Pokémon out 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. Do you want me to say more?"
"No; you've given me a headache," it retorted.
Michio stepped away to take a call. The others walked to the entrance.
"I want to help you teach Michio how to drive," Logan told Annastasia.
"We'll see. Too many people will be distracting, and I don't know how nervous he is going to be," she whispered. "Besides…you can't drive. You can't even reach the gas petal."
"No one really has to be able to do something in order to teach it."
"But they should."
Annastasia opened the front door. 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're back," Annastasia announced. "Most of us. Happy Birthday, June. Eleven, eleven, eleven! You are just…damn, I remember when you were born…When did you all get here?"
"Thank you! I arrived a few minutes ago. I had no idea you all were planning surprise party for me," June happily replied. "I spent all week texting Jay, Amber, and Soledad and no one said anything about it."
"Hence the surprise," said Soledad. She 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. "I just wished we didn't miss your entrance."
"It's fine!" June assured them. "It's not like you owed me, and it was an emergency. Soledad said the birds were so loud that she could almost hear 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."
Annastasia and Logan introduced herself to the six new children 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 sooo sic," said Lily. "I'll sock him hard if he crashes it."
"Onēsan, if you don't have your license, how can you teach Michio how to drive?" asked Jocelyn.
"I technically have a license, I'm just not supposed to use it," Annastasia responded. "Not yet, anyway, but hopefully soon."
"What did you do to have your license taken away?" asked Takeshi. "I can't imagine you breaking any rules."
"It's 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'm 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. Wow, A, sometimes it's like…so much has changed and other times, not so much."
"A true philosopher you are," Amber remarked.
"Really? I am?"
"No."
Annastasia got a text from Michio explaining that they left June's gift in the hotel room they shared at the Pallet House across the street. He was going to get it while Annastasia caught up with her friends and learned more about the others.
Then half an hour went by and still no Michio.
"I'm just gonna get Michio. Brb," Annastasia announced. "Okay?"
"Okay!" the others replied.
"Need backup?" Amber inquired.
"No thanks."
"Why didn't she just wait until he came back?" one of June's friends asked after she left.
"Michio probably would get uncomfortable if he came back and discovered that the house reached near maximum capacity since he left," June explained. "He's an introvert."
"A super introvert," Takeshi added. "A worse-than-me introvert."
"Oh," June's friend replied.
Annastasia and her Pokémon crossed the street and climbed to the third floor of the now-five-story hotel. They stopped in front of room 315 and knocked on the door twice.
"Plu, uh?" a small voice asked.
"Mi!" said another.
"H…Hold on a sec," said a third.
A moment later the door swung open. Plusle and Minun jumped on the bed and did tricks while a lazy Liepard groomed herself on the corner loveseat. Michio was frazzled.
"So, what's up?" he asked as Annastasia entered the room.
"Are you throwing your own party in here?" she asked winsomely.
"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," he vented.
"Here." Annastasia opened the drawer under one of the room's two desks. "And while we are in here alone…I think I should…we should…"
"…we should do what?"
"Text your parents and thank them for the car."
"No, thank you."
She shrugged. "Then I'll do it."
As she texted, Michio looked over her shoulder at the message. She sent it excluding his name.
"You didn't mention me in it," I remarked.
She shrugged again. "I wasn't going to lie to them."
"I appreciate the car…it's their existence as a whole I don't appreciate…I'm just so relieved you like it because I love it too. There's no way I'm going to want to return it…unless I total it…"
"That is not going to happen; I'm bringing an emergency break with me." Annastasia looked over to the two electric rats playing on their bed. "Did Plusle and Minun 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."
"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?"
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. 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. Fuck."
"Did you at least lock it to something?"
"Possibly…I can get you a new one if someone stole it…Don't worry about it."
"But I had that bike since I was four. It used to have training wheels on it."
"That explains the Jigglypuff bell…"
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," said Michio. "Please…don't be mad."
"I'm not mad. We are just going to go get it," Annastasia replied.
"Now?"
"Yes, now! Every second we wait is a second that someone else can be riding away on it. She tugged his arm. "Let's go."
Plusle, Minun, Peruva, Bleu, and Lil-G followed them down the stairs and out the back door.
"I don't think anyone is going to want to drive us. It will take about half an hour to get there and back," said Michio.
"I know. I'll drive," Annastasia answered. She looked up at the sky. "Oh, it's drizzling now, and it looks like it's going to pour any second. We better hurry or it will get rusted!" She dug into one of Michio's pockets while they were walking and pulled out a key.
"You can't drive," Michio said as he attempted to swipe them back. "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." Annastasia climbed into the driver's seat of the new car. "You coming?"
"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."
Annastasia kept her eyes on the road and sped faster.
"This is partly Rita's fault," he continued. "She drove me back and should've made sure I had everything before we left the pier."
"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty," Annastasia sighed. "It's just that this is an emotionally 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."
"I just thought it was an old bike you had sitting in your garage. I didn't think it was important."
She slowed to the speed limit and wrapped one hand around his. "Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are not as different as they seem."
"Meaning?"
"I got my vices too."
XO
When Annastasia, Michio, and their MVPokémon got to the pier, the bike was not where Michio said he left it.
"Are you sure you left it here?" Annastasia asked as she looked around frenetically.
"Positive," he assured her. "It's weird; It's been less than on hour since I was here. I didn't think it would get stolen so quickly. I'm so sorry."
Annastasia closed her eyes and sat down on the edge of the dock. Peruva sighed and rested her head onto her lap. Annastasia buried her face in Peruva's soft fur. Bleu, Lil-G, and—with hesitation—Michio, joined them.
"Is there any way I can make it up to you?" he queried.
Annastasia scratched Peruva ears while she silently contemplated.
"I can get Jocelyn her own bike," she eventually responded. "It's just an object. On the bright side, we got a car. I'd say that's an above-decent trade-off."
Annastasia rested her head on Michio's shoulder. Neither of them felt like going back home, even though they were supposed to be at June's birthday party and it looked like it was about to pour 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".
XO
In the Next Chapter:
- Jezz and Annastasia talk
- The Hales enter
- Jessie, James, and Michio squabble
XO
Trivia:
- I tried out using some number symbolism in this fic (I did in some previous stories, but not much). Did you notice? One has to do with the number room Annastasia and Michio picked at The Pallet House '310'. Guess in a review if you're up to it. :)
- The lyrics at the beginning of this chapter are from the Labrinth song 'Beneath Your Beautiful'. This song reminds me a lot of The Journal (specifically my Jezz ship) and in this fic, it reminds me of Pistachio.
AN: As always, review if you can please.