AN: This chapter was updated/revised on February 28, 2020.
Keeping Busy
"I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
When's it gonna get me?"
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Day 63
Amber spent her second day alone at another campsite. Instead of renting a tent and pitching it, she hid herself in the forest. She figured that with all her Pokémon and those of Jay, she wouldn't have to worry about being attacked by a Bewear, and she could easily shelter and conceal herself under the enormous wings of her many flying-types. By now her phone was out of battery and the only way to charge it would be to go to a Pokémon Center and ask to borrow one of the chargers. She was also stuck eating berries and the Pokémon were starting to get worried about her physical and mental health; they knew she couldn't go on like this much longer.
She rose from her three-hour nap and gathered her scarce belongings. Then, without even an instant's warning, her eyes met with those that could belong to the universe's creepiest Pokémon.
"Mimimkyuuu," it hissed creepily.
Amber screamed and leaped backward. After falling on her back, she hastily and sloppily returned to her feet.
"W-hat the hell?" she stumbled, frightened but eager.
She didn't expect Mimikyu's voice to sound so demonic, or for it to approach her at all. When she was researching Alola Pokémon with her friends, not one website or Pokedex entry mentioned those eerie traits.
The Pokémon fluttered around her, hissing its name and surrounding her with a dark mist. She sidestepped the creature and took out her Pokédex to scan it.
"Mimikyu: the imitation Pokémon. Mimikyu is a lonely Pokémon who has trouble making friends. When Mimikyu sees someone it likes, it tries to become their friend," said the Pokédex.
'I don't want to be its friend, it's the creepiest thing I ever laid eyes on,' Amber thought.
Amber rescanned the Mimikyu so that the Pokédex would generate another factoid.
"Mimikyu's true appearance is unknown. A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock," it announced.
"That is some scary shit," she remarked. "Sweet."
"Miiiiiii," Mimikyu jeered.
Amber used her Pokédex to check the Mimikyu's level. It was 500. Amber's jaw dropped.
"Whoa! I thought the highest level a Pokémon could reach was 100," she gasped. "This is super rare."
"Pikachu Pika?" Pip asked it.
"Miiiiiiiku," Mimikyu groaned as it nodded its head.
"Does this mean that if I become your friend, you'll join my team?" Amber asked hopefully.
Mimikyu used its odd black appendage to tap one of her empty Pokéballs. Amber laid the red and white orb flat on her palm. Mimikyu disappeared inside. The Pokéball shook three times then clicked.
"Gotcha," she whispered excitedly.
"Piii," said Pip, pointing to the Pokéball's button.
"I was thinking the same thing. Let's let it out."
Mimikyu reappeared. It surveyed the area, then fixated on Amber.
"That was an easy catch," said Amber. "Thanks, friend."
Mimikyu teared up from the compliment and squeezed Amber and Pip into a group hug. Togekiss, Pidgeot, and Talonflame were soon sucked in.
"You use that black thing as your arms and hands," Amber choked. "That's pretty cool."
Mimikyu let go of Amber and the Pokémon and danced around some more, delighted by the compliment.
"I wonder what else you can do," she mused.
Mimikyu pointed to her Pokédex. Amber scrolled through all the information listed on Mimikyu. She sat down and leaned against her enormous bird-like Pokémon and absorbed the information.
"Your Pokédex entries are weird," said Amber. "I mean, this says that you can use something called an aka lele. Sounds familiar…but every Hawaiian word sounds the same to me."
"Mimikyuuu," it said darkly.
"Okay…I don't know much about you personally. I've never seen a Mimikyu before and I don't know anyone who has one on their team, though I remember one time Meowth told me that the first time Jessie had one. He said it cursed him, almost killed him a few times. It musta scared him shitless. How come you didn't do that to me?"
"Miiiiiii."
"Oh well, I can't understand you. One thing I noticed, one of these entries claim that according to an ancient legend, if you reach a high enough level, you gain unfathomable abilities that no other Pokémon possesses. I suppose that means that Ditto can't copy it and Mew and Mewtwo don't have that ability. Is that true?"
Mimikyu bobbed its head. Amber gasped aloud.
"Sweeeet! So, you gonna reveal this power?" she questioned.
"Mi mi miiiiiiiikyyyyyuu," it maundered.
"Ummm okay…I don't get what I'm supposed to do."
Mimikyu pointed to the Pokédex again. Amber groaned as she reopened it. She scrolled through different entries until she found her answer.
"You have to reveal your true form to me, and if I can handle seeing it without getting killed, you'll give me the ability to grant a wish," Amber summarized. "It says you need a brave heart to survive, but I don't know what that even means."
"Mi," it commented.
"That's a crappy deal."
Amber thought about the position she was in. She didn't want to die, but she felt this was a once in a lifetime chance. If this Mimikyu could grant her a wish, her life will be forever changed. She'd simply wish for endless wishes, and she would become the most fortunate person in the world. She could help everyone, including herself. But she would be risking her life.
"Is there any other way to do this? I'll going to get really pissed if you murder me," Amber told the Pokémon.
Mimikyu shook its head. Amber gave another greatly frustrated sigh and crossed her arms.
"If we are going to do this, can you at least give me some pointers? Like, is there some way to increase my chances of making it?" she queried.
Mimikyu shook its head once again.
"I'm tired, hungry, and miserable, but I don't want to go just yet. I have a lot of things to accomplish," she announced as she proudly brandished her bow and her neatly arranged and sharpened arrows. "I will do it though."
Amber was surprised by her own words. Her brain told her to say something else, but her passion overtook it.
"Mimimii," it chanted happily, though it used the same eerie whisper of a voice to express itself.
Mimikyu floated a few steps back. Amber braced herself.
"It won't hurt, will it?" she asked.
Mimikyu didn't answer her question. It didn't say anything at all. Instead it looked through the small tears in its rag with its beady eyes and created more dark mist. Amber watched the rag float off the Pokémon, and before she could comment, her voice was gone.
XO
The group of Soledad, Tamaki, Anika, Tomoko, Carol, Flare, Tobie, Gracie, Mariana, and now Lucas returned to their original project of collecting the blue and green Morelull for Professor Rosedale. At 10:00 am on a cloudless morning, they finally succeeded in finding one.
"This is great. Now you can bring it to Professor Rosedale and move on," Tamaki said after Tomoko successfully captured it in her Ultra Ball.
"Not quite," she responded.
"We need to catch several more Morelull," Soledad reminded him. "Professor Rosedale wanted at least one male, one female, and a juvenile."
"What is this one?" Tamaki asked.
Tamaki poked the Pokéball. Tomoko released her catch. Mariana observed the annoyed Morelull carefully.
"This is a young male," she announced.
"Poor thing, he's probably lost," Anika sighed. "I feel bad now."
"Morelulllll Morelulllll," the Pokémon cried.
"If we catch his parents, then they can all be together while Professor Rosedale studies them. Then when they are ready to go back into the wild, they won't have to worry about finding one another again," said Tamaki. "Right, dudettes and dudes?"
"That's what I wanna do," said Anika.
"That is my plan as well," Tomoko agreed.
"Hey little one, can you lead us to your family?" Tamaki asked.
"Morrrr," Morelull replied, bobbing his head.
"Yay! Morelull is helping us," Gracie said as he started hopping northward. "He must not be sad that he got captured."
"Sometimes Pokémon like getting captured, sometimes they just don't know, very rarely do they hate it," Tobie replied.
"I heard that wild Pokémon are frequently envious of Pokémon with trainers," said Soledad.
"That is also true."
The Morelull led them through the woods, over a stream, into an open field, and to a series of caves. There, tunneled deep in the earth, they found an entirely colony of Morelull, some blue, some green, but also black, red, purple, and pink varieties. Tomoko excitedly snapped a photo of them while Anika, Soledad, Carol, and Flare took some notes. The small Morelull they had already captured talked to the others. They nodded their head in agreement and went up to greet the kids.
"Incredible! They're just agreeing to come along with us!" Anika squealed.
"Thanks so much you guys," Soledad told the Pokémon.
"You dudes are awesome," Tamaki added.
"Seems almost too good to be true, especially with our luck."
Tamaki playfully nudged her. "Let's soak up this victory."
"There's no such thing as an 'aka lele'," Tomoko added, peeved that her travel mates had returned to the subject. "It's a myth, and myths aren't facts."
"I suppose we'll find out how if that's true depending on how the next part of this mission goes," said Flare.
"Does this mean that you're done with the Morelull?" Lucas questioned.
"That would appear to be the case," Tomoko replied. "Now onto Mimikyu."
"That Pokémon is so frustrating. We must have studied every Pokédex entry and looked at every website and in every book, and no one seems to know where to find this legendary Mimikyu," Soledad complained.
"At least we got step one accomplished," said Carol. "This is what she really needed us to do."
"I think finding the Mimikyu she wants is more of a pipe dream," said Flare. "It'd be great if we can find it, but if we can't, at least we are still getting paid something."
"I suppose I really wanted to win at this, and the more time we spend out here, the less likely I feel we are to find it," Soledad responded glumly.
"We are doing our best, and I think that counts for a lot," Anika retorted.
"I know it does," Tamaki said warmly.
"Hmm," Soledad hummed, blushing and looking away from Tamaki.
Tomoko called Professor Rosedale.
The professor was studying a wild Cloyster when she got the call. An hour later she and Professor Ivy, as well as Gary Oak, who was currently in the area, were patiently waiting for their arrival.
The geo-catcher party was there by noon.
"Dad!" Soledad exclaimed as she entered the facility. "What are you doing here?"
"I was in town these past few days, doing somewhat of an internship with Professor Rosedale," he told her. "She is conducting some interesting research and I wanted to observe."
"And he has contributed as well," Professor Rosedale added. "Professor Oak has been working on a few super-potions as well, but I am sure you already knew that."
"I did, but I don't know the details," Soledad replied.
"Can you please tell us about it?" Gracie asked the professors.
"Certainly," Professor Rosedale responded. "Professor Oak has been working on a potion that is gentle enough for human use, yet strong enough to have a positive effect on Pokémon both big and small. Never before has such a potion existed. The formula isn't quite perfected, but Professor Ivy and Professor Oak have studied these Morelull and they believe that they can be the key to solving all of these problems."
"What are the problems?" asked Carol.
"The taste," Oak and Rosedale said together.
"The potion tastes like spoilt Shuckle juice and rancid Kabuto oil," said Gary Oak.
"Ewwwww," the children replied, most of them shuddering and/or gagging.
"My colleagues have been working to make the potion more desirable," said Rosedale.
"Is that it? Just the taste is a problem?" Anika asked. "Seems like no big deal."
"Just a spoonful of sugar should do the trick," said Gracie.
"Or stevia for us diabetics," said Tobie.
"Few Pokémon and no human yet to try can stomach enough of a dose for it to be effective," Professor Rosedale replied. "If it cannot be consumed, its efficacy is compromised. Unfortunately, adding sweeteners did nothing to solve the dilemma."
"Professors Rosedale and Ivy have discovered a way to not only make the formula taste better, but also a way to condense them so that they can be taken in capsules, which is easier for some people and Pokémon to swallow and doesn't have as heavy of an aftertaste," Gary explained. "Thanks to these women we are well on our way to making what could be the biggest medical breakthrough of the decade."
"Thanks for the flattery," said Professor Ivy.
"You are too kind," Rosedale said as the ladies bowed. "Soledad, your father was an excellent intern."
"I loved being a part of this because I don't typically focus much of my research on precisely human-Pokémon relations. It was a beneficial change that was well worth my time and effort," Gary replied.
"I'm happy for you," Soledad told her dad.
"And I'm happy for you. You and your friends got the Morelull for us. That was some important work you just did there."
"Your daughter and her friends also did an excellent job of find these Morelull in a timely matter," Professor Rosedale praised. "And I am sure when we are done using the Morelull they will be happy to return them to their forested domain."
"Oh course. Give us a call and we will get here as soon as possible," Tomoko responded.
"It was nice seeing you," Soledad said as she hugged her father. "I've missed you and mom."
"This is sweet," he replied, quirking an eyebrow. Preteen Soledad was still kid Soledad not-so-deep-down inside. "You made my day. But why so quick to say goodbye? Where are you going now?"
"Lunch as we discuss future jobs."
"Like how to get that Mimikyu," Flare mumbled.
"Oi," Carol sighed, not looking forward to the exertion required.
"But we know we can do it," said Tomoko, giving the others a sharp look.
Gary turned to Professors Rosedale and Ivy. "You decided to tell the children about Mimikyu after all."
"I'm not the kind to withhold information," said Rosedale.
"And I figured if they didn't hear about it from us, then they'd hear it from some street punk," said Ivy. "Kids, you can count on us to not perpetuate any rumors."
"But the whole thing is a myth," said Tomoko, nervous that she could be wrong. "Right, professors?"
"All myths have some basis in reality, or else they wouldn't be called myths," Rosedale replied. She turned to Gary, still surprised yet pleased that she shared the information. "I want to find this evasive Pokémon and I figured the most skilled set of catchers I know could provide the most honorable level of assistance. Rumors and myths claim that the Mimikyu that we want only shows itself off to brave, misfortunate, or pure hearts, and so I believe that children are out gateway, and these children seem perfect for the job."
"I think they've proven already that they each got what it takes," Ivy added.
Gary bowed. "I'm pleased you think so highly of Soledad and her companions."
"It is an honor," said Tomoko, also bowing.
"You have some very high expectations…" Tobie murmured, unsure if he should. "I can't speak for the others, but you're making me nervous."
Most of the catchers agreed with his statement.
"I aim high," Rosedale shrugged. "Don't get upset if you don't find it. In fact, I suggested that you go to Professor Willowood in the meantime. She needs assistance and I already recommended you to her. You can take that job and make some extra cash, and as long as you keep an eye out for my Mimikyu I will be very appreciative."
"That's perfect," said Tomoko. "Thank you."
"We always welcome recommendations," said Carol. "Thank you so much."
"Anytime," said Ivy.
"We were happy too," Rosedale smiled.
Gary watched Soledad longingly. She had grown, her features sharpened, and her eyes grew ablaze with more than her archetypical curiosity. She was savvy, tenacious, and dauntless; she had advanced to young adulthood without him and with erudition he did not have at her age.
"Let me know if you want me to take you and your friends out later for dinner," Gary told Soledad.
"We will," Soledad responded. "Bye for now."
XO
Day 64
Annastasia and Michio made their way to Rita's hospital room in the early morn. They brought their Pokémon and homemade mochi from the Pallet House.
Michio was hesitant to come along, still not entirely sure if he should. Right before Acorn and Aliyah teleported them to Pa'a Island, Annastasia noticed the anxious look on his face.
"You know we are going to see Rita, right? She's not the big bad wolf," she remarked.
"Annie…" Michio groaned. "You're ferociously missing the point."
"From what I understand she is recovering fine. It's not like she is on her deathbed and it's up to us to grant her last wish." She took his hand. "She wants you there."
"No way she said that."
"She didn't say it; I could tell though."
"Lilli," said Lil-G, nudging him.
"Plusssle!" Plusle said as she gave him a sparky hug.
Michio took out his emergency comb and redid his bun.
"You look very handsome," Annastasia giggled. "A little frizzy, but aren't we all?"
"At least you are," he retorted, offering his comb.
Lil-G, Plusle, Minun, Peruva, and Mienshao were met with and Aliyah. Plusle and Minun, eager to play, tried out their newly attained Swift assault on the masquerading Mew. The Eevee shook them off and deterred future ambushes with two instructional Thunderwave attacks. Annastasia healed the paralyzed pair with a Cheri berry, then it was back to business.
"You two are supposed to be with Jocelyn," Annastasia told the electric troublemakers. "She wanted to prepare you for the next contest."
The Pokémon pouted. Annastasia was unmoved.
"There's another contest soon?" Michio inquired.
"In Allamanda City, next Monday at 9:00 am."
"You remembered an exact date and time. Impressive."
"Ikr?"
"I suppose it's good they want to get back out there."
"I told Jocelyn that by next Monday we expect everything will be back to normal," Annastasia explained.
"You lied? Oh my, Annie, my heart."
"Sarcasm aside, I'm serious. I am determined to find them, and if it makes Jocelyn feel better and get back out there, then I think it will do more than harm."
"Okay, okay. Learn anything new about the case of the vanishing children since we last spoke?"
"They must be purposely avoiding us. There's no other way they have been able to coincidentally dodge the thousands of people out looking for them. I mean, even if they disguised themselves…my point is that by the time Monday rolls around, it is very likely they would have come to their senses."
"Plussss," said Plusle, drawing the humans' attention to her and Minun.
Annastasia sighed. "I suppose you can come with us."
The Pokémon cheered and jumped onto each of their shoulders. Due to Acorn and Aliyah's teleportation, they were in front of the hospital within seconds. After finding Rita's room, Annastasia decided to go in first, mochi in hand.
"Hey," she said quietly, knocking on the glass door. Once Rita noticed her, Annastasia pushed it open. "I made you these."
"Tarrri!" Bleu sang when he saw Annastasia.
He rubbed his head against her and hit her with Heal Bell.
"I see I was missed by at least one of you," Annastasia remarked as she placed the mochi on one of the counters. "Thanks for helping Rita, Bleu."
"Tata," Bleu chirped, giving her more Heal Bell power.
Zorua and the other small Pokémon tried to position themselves as close to the desserts as possible. As they squabbled, Rita took the tray and began helping herself to the confections.
"Mmm. This is good. What's up with you?" she asked Annastasia.
"Not much, the same I suppose," Annastasia replied.
She hated omitting the truth to Rita, but Rita was powerless at the moment. She would only get anxious if she knew about Jezz and the others. She knew that her bond with Jezz was much deeper than she had previously thought. She knew Rita would easily put herself at risk for danger if she knew it would help the people she cared about.
"They said I should be able to leave sometime tomorrow," said Rita.
"That's wonderful—but why do you look so sad about it?" Annastasia replied.
"I'm not sad."
"Yes, you are. I can tell you were crying. I can feel it on you too."
"It's no big deal."
Annastasia crossed her arms.
"I'll tell you later," Rita decided. "Where's Grumpypants?"
"In the hall," Annastasia replied, gesturing to the doorway. "I said I wanted to go in first."
"I'm not really in the mood for visitors."
"You want me to leave."
"No, don't go yet, I…oh never mind."
"You're sick of being here."
"More than even your empathetic heart can understand."
"What happened to Ralph? Mariana and Lucas said the only reason they moved on was because he said he was going to stay."
Rita was silent for a few moments. "He left me."
"Oh. Oh, Rita, that's…is that why you're upset?"
"What do you think?"
It wasn't like Rita to get upset about a guy leaving her. "What exactly do you mean by 'he left'?"
"He decided I was too much of a bitch to be his partner anymore, so he left. Yesterday. Now he's gone."
"I'm sorry. But you aren't a bitch, he is a jerk for saying that. I'd say he wasn't worth your time," Annastasia responded. "Why would he say such a thing, do you even know? He seemed to really like you; he treated you with a lot of respect."
"He found out about the other guys I have been sleeping with and got jealous I suppose."
"Were you dating him exclusively?"
"No, bu—hmm."
"But, what?"
"…But I suppose we were closer than all the other partners I had before. He was the divergent. But I never said I was going to change my ways for him, and I figured he knew what kind of girl I was."
"You should've been clear," Annastasia replied. "You tend to be ambiguous."
"It's my nomadic way…but yeah, I should've been clearer than I was with him."
She had responded bitterly. Annastasia felt her pain, despite having never been in a situation close to hers before.
"You liked him a lot more than every other person you've ever been with, right?" Annastasia inquired.
"Since when are you my therapist?" Rita muttered.
"Ever since you started needing one."
Rita let out a small laugh. "So, doctor, what should I do?"
"Apologize, obviously. And if you think he's worth it then you will have to make a few small changes. Such as not cheating."
"I didn't cheat before; we weren't in a relationship…"
"Kinda seems like you were."
"If he thought so then it at least wasn't a real one, anyway. Bu—hmm."
"—But you don't want to make it clear that you don't want to be exclusive because you don't think he'd accept that AND you don't think you want it for yourself, either.."
"...Yeah...something like that."
"It seems like that is the only way."
"Yeah, yeah."
"There are a thousand things to like about you but that doesn't mean you'll get everything you want forever."
"I don't know if that is what I want to do. Maybe it is. I feel strange around him."
"Like how?"
"Like an excite yet mature kid."
"Like butterflies in your stomach? Thinking about him when he's away, wanting to learn more about him, watching him and sorta wanting him to know but also not to know because then it would be almost creepy?"
"Don't get cheesy on me, A; you're the only one I can count on to not do that."
"I'm not wrong, right?"
"Right."
"What else?"
"I never cared this much before. I mean, I did—do—about you, but I can accept that we aren't compatible like that, cuz you're not compatible with anyone in that way. I almost feel like if he didn't want me anymore. I hate the idea of him moving on and forgetting about me."
"Zoooo," her Pokémon cooed sympathetically.
"I think the best thing to do is to reach out to him. Call him and talk. Explain yourself," Annastasia advised. "I feel you would have an impact if you say what you just told me."
"You're a relationship expert too now?" Rita teased.
"Sometimes having the bird's eye view gives you an advantage."
"You no longer have a bird's eye view; you have you 'SO'."
"But our relationship is different from yours. We talk a lot, several hours a day at times. How much do you tell him?"
"Not as much as I tell you."
"Ralph might need more than that. He wants to know you, all the parts of you, not only what he can see. It hurts to want to know someone's heart but are also doubtful that it will ever happen."
"I am not the one to beg."
"You aren't the one to fall in love either."
"I am not romantically in love with him. I just want him for myself. I mean how would you feel if that Haku and her band of sluts took Michio away?"
"I'd be more worried for him than for myself."
"That is what I mean. Ralph and I aren't romantic, and you and Michio aren't romantic…but you still care and…I don't know what to do. I don't even know what romance is or why it is important."
"Romance is a social construction. It still exists, but it is not something that everyone feels or wants to feel. If he wants romance and you are certain that you do not, then your relationship isn't going to succeed unless you reach a compromise."
"He wants all or nothing. I'm starting to believe that I want that too."
Annastasia laid her hand on top of Rita's. "Nothing wrong with that."
"But I don't think he wants me anymore. I'm a bitch, remember?"
"You aren't a bitch, Rita. You're jst rough. There is an enormous difference. Don't let that keep you from trying."
"You know I'm a bitch."
"Not deep down inside. I bet Ralph knows that too, but he is too hurt at the moment to process it."
"Or he already showed up at headquarters and picked up a new pretty face."
"Then I'll go to headquarters tomorrow and find out."
"You have bigger things on your plate. I hear you have been extra stressed out lately. Don't worry about me, I can help myself, I suppose I only needed to vent to a friend. I'll be up and at it again hopefully within the next few days."
"Rita, you broke ten bones, you have a concussion, and you can hardly breathe. Even if you do go back, you know Delia won't let you do anything too complicated, strenuous, or exciting to do."
"Professor Gary Oak, Professor Ivy, and Professor Rosedale created a potion that heals broken bones in a matter of days. I will get to leave early because I already took it and although I am not completely healed from the most serious breaks, the potion is helping me. And as for the concussion, they have been giving me plenty of stuff to help me sleep longer than usual. I have been getting nearly twenty hours of high-quality deep sleep for the past few days. Turns out that is all I needed to recover. As long as I get at least ten hours daily for the next few weeks, I'll be set for anything."
There was still sadness in her voice, and Annastasia acknowledged it silently as she stared into her friend's darkening eyes.
"That's great news, Rita," Annastasia replied. "I know injuries have never really stopped you in the past, and I am glad that someone found a way to help your recovery."
"Um, speaking of needing a lot of sleep…"
"Zoooo," Zorua yawned.
"Right, I'll get going," Annastasia said as she got up to leave. "Bleu, can you stay here and continue to help Rita?"
"Alta," he agreed.
"Thanks for the mochi," Rita said before she had gone out the door. "And the Altaria."
"Taa!"
"He's an awesome mon."
"Zo!" Zorua exclaimed, seeming offended.
"And you are too."
"Bleu was glad to do it," Annastasia replied, passing her beloved Pokémon a Sitrus berry. "As for the mochi, Jocelyn and June made it together. They've been doing a lot of baking lately. Have a good rest. I'll call you tomorrow. You too, Bleu."
"Tarrria," Bleu replied, giving her some Heal Bell.
"Pupupup," Lil-G said as she licked Rita's face.
"Yeah, talk to you later," Rita sighed.
Out in the hall, Michio was waiting by the door.
"She didn't want me to come in?" Michio questioned. "Figures."
"It's not like that," Annastasia insisted. "She likes you, but right now she is exhausted and upset."
"Upset about getting hurt?"
Even Michio didn't believe that.
"Upset because Ralph left her," Annastasia clarified with a whisper.
"Oh, um…wow, okay," he stumbled.
"It's sorta a long and personal story. She wouldn't want me to spread it around, and since she really needs to sleep, I figured we should return to the bungalow. I feel like today I should take the time to be with my siblings, especially Jocelyn. You've been a big help watching them. Rumor has it Rose started calling you 'dadadada', and she calls Jocelyn 'mamama'."
"I told Jocelyn to not tell you that…"
"Don't be embarrassed."
"I'm not embarrassed…"
"Your face is red and your voice lingering." She took his arm and pulled him behind her. "But that's okay. I like it."
"Okay."
"Let's scram."
As they headed down the hall, Annastasia looked ahead while Michio studied the walls. Among the posters reminding people to get their flu shots, cruets of holy water, abstract artwork, and gonfalons bearing the facility's motto and crest, there was a chilling aura. Michio shuddered.
"This place gives you the creeps," she said without looking back.
Michio halted, causing Annastasia to nearly fall on her face. He grabbed her waist before she did.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "How did you know?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah, you're magic," he said, saying the last part slowly and sardonically.
"I'm perceptive," she corrected. "At least when it comes to anything relating to aura."
"I've never been here before."
"But we've been in enough hospitals to know that they all start to look the same after a while."
It wasn't matter of fact, the way she said it, because Annastasia wasn't the type to get flat. But she was indicating something. Within a moments' time, but without more conversation, they both understood.
"That plus the art," Annastasia remarked. "Noticed some black-shadowy paintings. It's like your aka lele thing you insist exists."
"And that you insist doesn't," he bantered.
"I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm saying…idk. What were we discussing?"
"You glanced into my soul and somehow accessed my…memories? No, it's something else…"
"Fear chamber."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
She tapped his chest. "It's the place in your heart where you store all your fears."
He touched the place where her soft palm met his torso. He rubbed it, then coughed and put down his hand.
"We all have one," she added.
"A heart or a 'fear chamber'?" he mumbled.
"Both."
"Okay."
They resumed walking; this time slower.
"It's cute," Annastasia said randomly.
"Now what are you talking about?" Michio queried.
"I like that you're spending quality time with my siblings. You're bonding with them. And it's funny. Rose calls my mom 'dadadada' and my dad is the 'mamama'. I wonder if Silver will do the same thing. I kinda hope he does. It would be funny."
"It's pretty cute to listen to and watch them. Until they do something gross. I don't know why people have kids without servants. If I had to change all those diapers, wipe their noses, clean up their puke…it wouldn't happen."
"You mean to say that your offspring would be exceptional human beings. They wouldn't dare to use diapers or spit up. Boogers—nonexistent in your house."
"What I mean to say is that I couldn't do it."
"I bet you could. You would need to let your heart thaw out first, but once that's over, it'd be cake for you. But I see where you are coming from: infants are gross, all those fluids all over the place—"
"—Uhh, stop! I hate when you say the 'f' word."
'Fluids' was Michio's least favorite word. She admitted to having said it on purpose, just to see if he reacted the same as he normally did. And he did. She laughed at this just as they reached the hospital's exit.
"Acorn, Aliyah, please take us back to the bungalow," Michio begged.
Annastasia also found this funny. Michio never begged. The twin Mew listened to him, and they were whisked to the bungalow. Everyone was gone from the house except for Jessie, James, the twins, and Sandshrew. Annastasia had to use the key to open the door because no one was hearing the doorbell.
"Anyone here?" she called as she pushed open the door. She turned to Michio. "I wonder why no one answered the door."
Sandshrew came waddling out of the kitchen. It had brownies, cookies, some wine, cheese, and grapes all stacked on a single plate.
"Where did everyone go?" Annastasia inquired.
"Your parents are with the smallest children in the last room on the left," it answered.
Michio took a brownie off the top of its plate. "You are gonna get fatter eating all this garbage all the time. You already are pretty fat. You better be careful."
"She gained weight too."
Sandshrew pointed to Annastasia.
"Well yeah, a little bit, but not from eating crap," Michio retorted.
"You are also eating this 'crap'."
"Because I can pull it off."
"I would also like to point out that when I returned from Toka, I was underweight, so I need to gain weight. And I like it because I am warmer now. It's going to come in handy when we go up to the mountains to look for those Alonian Vulpix and Sandshrew."
"You mean Roko and Sando."
"Well, in Kanto we call them Alolan Vulpix and Alolan Sandshrew. It makes it easier for the kids to remember."
"It is indecent of you to argue over a Pokémon's name without their consent," Sandshrew lectured.
Annastasia sighed. "We aren't arguing. We have too many other things occupying our brains right now."
Sandshrew, Michio, Annastasia, and their Pokémon walked to the nursery. Jessie and Rose were asleep on the couch, and Silver was asleep in James' arms. He waved to them as they entered the room.
"Hey, Anna-chan," James whispered. "Back so soon?"
"Rita needed to rest," Annastasia softly responded.
"I imagine that she is feeling better though."
Annastasia shifted onto the couch and lifted sleeping Rose, careful not to wake her mother or the infant. Michio watched them, a grin forming on his otherwise troubled face.
"Rita's doing fine," Annastasia told her father. "They gave her a powerful new medicine that will accelerate her recovery, and Bleu's healing abilities seems to have stopped at least most of her pain."
"That's amazing," James said in awe.
"It is just science. I don't find it amazing at all," Sandshrew commented as it continued to stuff its face with the stolen food. "You humans are very ignorant of this world."
"I don't see your species inventing anything useful," Michio jeered.
"We are perfect as we are and thus have no need for invention."
The group decided to collectively ignore Sandshrew for the time being.
"Your mom and I decided to stay here today," said James. "We haven't even held the twins since Saturday morning, unless it was to hand them to someone else. This whole incident has been so unfortunate. I wonder why this is happening again."
"Again? You mean this happened before?"
"When you were gone, dear, do you think we just went about our daily business? We were terrified for you. I just never thought Jay would…"
His voice trailed off.
"You never thought Jay would leave without telling anyone," she finished for him.
"Yes, that," he replied. "Or that he'd be gone for so long."
"I never thought he would either."
"It's the aka lele," Michio whispered into Annastasia's ear.
She grimaced.
"What was that?" James asked.
"Michio is convinced that all our bad luck is the work of an 'aka lele'," she answered, using air quotes and rolling her eyes. "It's a curse—and an Alolan myth."
"This isn't the first time it struck," Michio mumbled defensively.
"It's not real."
"It sure would explain things," James murmured.
"If the aka lele is real, then where is the harbinger? You are the only one who saw it," siad Annastasia, turning to Michio. "It could've been something else you saw in the sky: a blimp, flying-type Pokémon, frogs from the book 'Tuesday'—"
"—I'm not the only one who witnessed it. Ask the Illumise and Volbeat, or Plusle and Minun. They saw it."
The way he spoke, with his feet firmly on the ground and the side of his mouth trembling proved that he truly and believed in—and is disturbed by this aka lele concept. He felt guilty for teasing him about it. Yet, she was stubborn. She didn't like how Michio was so insistent that it was real despite having no evidence to back his claim. That alone is what made it difficult or her to let it go.
"Okay, well… what do you think that the harbinger was trying to warn us about anyway?" she inquired.
"I don't know. A great flood, raging fire, zombie apocalypse…" Michio listed. "Worldwide chaos, destruction, death. It could be anything at all I suppose."
"Your optimism is motivating."
Jessie woke and rubbed her eyes. "Hey Princess," she yawned, smiling broadly at Annastasia, then turning to frown at Michio. "What time is it?"
"Ten," she and Michio answered together.
Jessie got up and stretched. Annastasia placed Rose in her bassinet. Then she took Silver from James.
"Today Jay is not my favorite son," Jessie told the baby in a cutesy voice.
Silver opened his eyes to gaze at her. Satisfied and content, he closed his lids and promptly resumed his slumber.
"Has Silver started talking yet?" Michio whispered to Annastasia.
Annastasia snorted. "It's too early for that. They are still at the 'just making noises' stage."
"Anna-chan didn't talk in full sentences until she was five," said James.
"She also had five brain surgeries before she was five, so it wouldn't make sense to use her as a gage," said Jessie.
"Nonetheless, they are intelligent; I can see it in her eyes," said Annastasia.
"They're mine, so of course they're intelligent."
"Intelligence does have nothing to do with how quickly they hit the milestones," said James. "Anna-chan you were behind in everything, and you are one of the smartest people I know."
"I know," she sighed. "And thanks. Where's everyone else?"
"Mewtwo, Lucario, Lily, Maya, and some of your other Pokémon took the kids to the ocean."
"I bet it was Star's idea; she loves the ocean."
Michio appeared surprised.
"Why she's an Espeon and not a Vaporeon is a long story that I'll tell you later," she supplied. "I bet they wanted to try and catch some Pokémon, get their minds off things and prepare for the contest in Allamanda City. Did our feline family members go with them?"
"Not sure," said James.
"Wobb-a!" Jessie's Wobbuffet announced as he hobbled into the room. He handed Annastasia a brown bag.
"What's this?" she questioned.
"Coconut macaroons," James responded. "I know you aren't one for sweets, but these are really good and are made with high quality ingredients."
"My version of 'high-quality' or your version of it?"
"Your version."
"Thanks." Annastasia patted her stomach. "I'll put these to good use."
Annastasia wrote her name on the bag and stuck the dessert in the far back of the fridge. Both Michio and her parents noticed her delicate steps and the careful manner in which she moved.
"Did you get hurt recently?" her mother asked as she inspected her arms.
Annastasia took back her arm.
"It's fine, Mama, I only feel tired," she replied, stifling a yawn.
They glared at her doubtfully. She groaned.
"I fell," she clipped. "Don't give me that look."
"If you're still having seizures, then something's wrong," said James. "You should rest."
"I'm not doing anything wrong."
"That's not what he said," Michio murmured. "Don't take it personally. You should rest and you know it."
"I just—"
"—don't like being told what to do."
She audibly groaned with a grumpy yet loveable pout upon her face, then she headed to her bedroom.
"I'll see you later," she sighed.
And Michio followed her.
XO
Nearly two months into the Battle Frontier, Tyler and Brodie decided to leave Lucas, Jake, Nolan, Lexi, and Viviana in favor of returning to work. Three weeks after they left, Jake and Viviana decided to give up as well, leaving only Nolan, Lexi, and Rita's little brother Lucas to complete the Battle Frontier.
The three of them were now breaking in a Viridian café.
"Am I being a third wheel?" Lucas asked as he watched Lexi and Nolan share a cup of tea.
"Everyone always asks us that," Lexi responded. "The thing is, we are dirt poor and a daily cup of tea is a whole lot cheaper when you only have to buy half of it."
"Team Rocket must not be paying you much."
"Not yet. We have to finish training, then we can start getting paid above the minimal wage. It's harder than I thought. Advanced TR agents have my respect," said Nolan.
"At least we now only have two more locations to go before we reach our goal," said Lexi.
"We are pretty good at this stuff," Lucas responded. "I didn't think I'd do this well."
"You did go to the best school in Kalos, Sinnoh, and Unova combined…"
"I am wondering what I'll do after this thing. This might sound dumb, but I don't get what the point of the Battle Frontier is. At least in the leagues you get fame and money."
"You get placed in the Hall of Fame and get a fifty-percent discount on all Pokémon related costs for a lifetime," Nolan explained. "It might not pay off now, but it will later."
"I know, I know. But I need more."
"More what?"
"Money."
"So that's what this is about," Lexi smiled.
"Maybe I should get a job. My old man has just always paid for everything. That isn't going to last much longer."
"You can join Team Rocket," Nolan suggested.
"Not for me. I want something with regular hours."
"Your sister can tell you about all the openings. Not everyone is a field agent; a lot of people there have regular hours," Lexi explained.
"I suppose…also thinking about getting a job as a geo-catcher; Mariana seems to love it."
"We won't able to travel together if you're taking a stationary job," said Nolan.
"Me neither, but I think I am going to put the Battle Frontier on pause. I can save my symbols and then finish later this year or next year. Is that cool with you?"
"You do what you want, and don't worry about us," Lexi replied. "Have you already started looking for a job?"
"Professor Oak Sr. said he could give me a paying project. I'd be working with two other people my age. He said they were family friends of his. Or I can join Tomoko, Carol, and Flare's group. I can learn on the go the same way Anika, Soledad, and Mariana did."
"If you want to do something, don't hold back. What you propose sounds exciting. And you did go to prep school. You're perfectly suited for that type of work."
"I feel bad kind of leaving you—both of you."
"Don't feel bad. Things change, we're cool about it."
"For sure," Nolan added.
"Then I suppose I should start the application. I can pick it up the next time we head over to a Pokémon Center. They put them all over the place now, hoping more graduates would consider going into the research field."
"Let us know if you need anything," Lexi replied.
"I'm good for now, but I'll keep that in mind."
XO
In The Next Chapter:
- Amber has never been more confused in her entire life
- A journal and a Jess
- Sad news