Kenya woke early in the morning, comforted by the sound of rain. She loved the rain. She stared at her ceiling, shifting around in the covers.
She got up slowly, pausing every now and then to doze. She got dressed and headed out into the museum. Hawes was standing by the entrance, speaking with a group of people.
"I'm sorry," Hawes said. "There will be no tours today." Groans and complaints came from the crowd.
"Why not?" A woman asked.
"My wife has lost a close relative," Hawes said. Kenya paused, standing a few feet away. Hawes led the people outside. He returned a few minutes later. Kenya approached him.
"What happened?" Kenya asked. Hawes frowned.
"I'm sorry," Was all he said. Kenya stared at him.
"What?" Kenya asked. "Sorry for what?" Lenora appeared from another room. She held a Pokeball in her hand.
"Your aunt Lauren," Lenora said. "She's passed away." Kenya blinked.
"Why?" Kenya asked. Lenora shook her head.
The rain had stopped as soon as they'd left the museum. As if any form of comfort was banned from Kenya's life.
The funeral service was near Village Bridge. It was Lenora and Lauren's hometown. They were born and raised there.
Lenora didn't say anything. Hawes wept. Kenya stared at the coffin as it was lowered into the ground. Gone.
She was gone.
Lenora, Kenya, and Hawes spent a few days on the Village Bridge. They stayed at Lenora's mother's home. Lenora sat outside all day, staring out at the sky. Hawes spent his time with Kenya's grandmother.
Kenya sat on the couch, thinking. It was the second day of their visit when The thought occurred to Kenya.
What about Druddigon?
She stepped out of the house, spotting Lenora on her chair.
"What will happen to Druddigon?"
"I'm going to keep it." Kenya hesitated, contemplating.
"Can I have it?"
"No." Kenya wanted to argue, fight for Druddigon. She backed down.
A few days later, they returned to Nacrene City. Lenora placed the Pokeball on her nightstand, where it remained for weeks.
Kenya spent her days wandering the museum. She'd linger at artifacts, gazing at them. She'd sit at benches, eyes drifting across the area. Sometimes she'd notice people staring at her. She'd ignore them.
At least once a day, Lenora would approach her.
"Get up," She'd say.
"Stop sulking," She'd say.
"You need to move on."
It was the last one that seemed to catch Kenya's ears. She snapped up, staring at Lenora.
"Have you moved on?" Kenya asked. Lenora frowned. She didn't answer. The next day, Kenya left. She packed up a bag full of items, mostly snacks, and clothes and headed out. Lenora saw her leaving but didn't intervene.
Kenya traveled out into Pinwheel forest. She was attacked by a pack of Venipede and saved by a pair of trainers. She made it to Skyarrow Bridge. She was amazed by the water below, the bird pokemon flying above.
Castelia city was busy. Kenya didn't stay there long. She pushed her way through crowds, avoided business people. She was out in the desert in no time. She wandered around, making her way to the Desert Resort.
She noticed the statues and approached them. A small red pokemon was lingering by one. It looked at her. It was a Darumaka. Kenya sat down against one of the statues and stared up into the sky. The hot sand shifted under her.
Darumaka stared at her.
"What do you want?" Kenya asked. "Just leave me alone." The Darumaka nudged a statue, tracing its hand along the giant fist. "Is that a pokemon?" She asked. Darumaka whimpered. Kenya sighed.
They sat there quietly, Kenya watched Darumaka poke at the statue. At some point, Kenya fell asleep.
It was late at night when she woke up. The first thing she noticed was Darumaka in her lap. She blinked at it a few times. It was sleeping.
"Who said I was your bed," Kenya muttered. She didn't bother Darumaka. She couldn't get back to sleep. She stayed up for the rest of the night.
"Cute Darumaka you have there," A man said. Kenya snapped to attention. A man was standing nearby.
"Oh. It's not mine," Kenya said. "It's wild." The man cocked his head. He offered her a Pokeball. Kenya stared at it.
"Well?" The man asked. Kenya took the Pokeball and tapped it against Darumaka's head. She watched as the Pokeball absorbed it. She'd caught it. "Is that your first pokemon?" The man asked. Kenya nodded. "Congrats!" He walked away without another word.
Kenya stared down at the Pokeball. She let Darumaka out. It looked up at her.
"Hi there," Kenya said. Darumaka stretched and yawned before sitting down in her lap. "I'm pretty tired too." Kenya leaned over resting her head on Darumaka. They seemed to remain there for a long time.
Eventually, Kenya and Darumaka got up. Darumaka stared up at her curiously. Kenya reached down to pick it up and grunted with effort.
"Wow! You're really heavy!" She let go, having hardly budged it. Darumaka snickered. "I think I've made up my mind." Kenya started walking. She traveled back through the desert, back through Castelia city, back across Skyarrow Bridge, and back through Pinwheel forest. She'd arrived in Nacrene City.
Kenya returned Darumaka before approaching the museum. The sun was coming up. Hawes was right outside. He noticed her.
"Kenya!" Hawes came running over to Kenya. He wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Hi, dad."
"Lenora said you'd left," Hawes said. "I've been worried sick!" He pulled away after a few moments, looking Kenya in the eye.
"Where's mom?" Kenya asked. Hawes led her into the museum. Lenora was waiting in her room. Kenya spotted the Pokeball on her nightstand.
"Welcome back." Lenora crossed her arms. "Where did you go?"
"I've been around," Kenya said. She walked over to the nightstand, inspecting the Pokeball.
"Listen to me," Lenora said. "You need to make a decision. What are you going to do…" She trailed off. Kenya picked up the Pokeball. Lenora narrowed her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Kenya ran out of the museum. Lenora's furious shouts and Hawes' worried cries fell behind her. Kenya ran out onto Route 3 and kept going. She didn't stop until she was in Accumula town.
The sun was starting to go down. She glanced down at the Pokeball in her hand. She considered letting Druddigon out but hesitated. A green head caught her eye. She approached the boy.
"Aren't you Andrew?"