The sun shone onto a sleeping sawsbuck, the gold sunlight glowing on her mahogany pelt, her silver leaves topping her antlers swaying to the wind.
Cherrygrove woke up, blinking before raising her head to a windowsill and resting on the flat wood planks staring into the bright golden sky.
She looked back into the room, the floors paved with smooth stone yet the walls were slightly rocky, filled with soft, vibrant moss. Near her were other Pokemon sitting in nests, some seemingly old, but others surrounded by children of their own.
It was quite a calm morning, there wasn't any loud whining from newborns or crashes from fallen construction. Usually the days would be infested with noise yet it was peaceful. Cherrygrove didn't think much of it, another peaceful day means another great day overall, especially not being forced awake late at night by an accidental log drop near the nursery or a baby just happened to get a little upset.
She never held a grudge, but she always felt cranky for a short while in the morning. She couldn't help it, she's already aching from being in labor and the nursery was loud, it was just too much to control.
Cherrygrove yawned, lowering her snout into the basket of fruits to chew through as her face droops in drowsiness.
Then from the corner of her ear, a soft friendly voice greeted her.
"Good morning Miss Cherrygrove,"
Cherrygrove looked over to a short cradily with a smile.
"You don't have to do all of that darling, just call me Cherrygrove," She replied softly.
The cradily nodded,
"We're in the final two months aren't we, erm, Cherrygrove?"
"Yeah,"
"That's great, a couple of months until it's over, no more pain, and the surprise of your own kid,"
"That'll be a day to cherish,"
The two fell silent, the cradily shoving a small bucket of water near Cherrygrove who began to ponder in worry.
"Caly," Cherrygrove said.
"Hm?" The cradily replied.
Cherrygrove cleared her throat,
"Are you sure she'll do fine—the fawn?"
Calycanthus rolled her eyes,
"What do you mean if she will do fine—your daughter will do great, she'll be one of the few to save our world, remember?" She exclaimed.
Cherrygrove stared at her stomach before looking back.
"I guess that'll be a sight to see,"
Caly nodded,
"Anyways, there should be an announcement today, it'll be in relation to the siege 7 lunes ago,"
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, we wouldn't have been as undamaged as we were after the event without the allies,"
"I guess so,"
Calycanthus frowned.
"The situation is weird however, we call for help of any faction member yet the only help was got was from the psychics, maybe they—"
Suddenly a pokemon across the room called for Calycanthus' name, prompting her to cut off to listen.
"Well, got to go, and I'm pretty sure you'll be able to move now, the berries should've reduced the pain,"
Cherrygrove nodded.
She slowly rose, stretching her legs before trotting through the curtain of woven leaves. She stepped out into the kingdom surrounded by autumn leaves raining down as a soft drizzle filled the sky. She walked down the sandy paths, smelling the air filled with scents of tea and honey as lanes were filled with hut-like houses and merchant stands selling goods.
Pokemon covered the rural roads, adults buying from merchants, some attempting to haggle with no avail and others leaving gleefully with filled bags, children playing after a day of school running into each other or passing around a coconut, and elders basking in the sunlight laying on their backs and sipping bowls of berry juice.
Most were grass types, however a few bug, psychic and fairy types lingered about talking to other fellow citizens near them.
Cherrygrove sighed at the view, standing outside to take a relaxed glance at the scenery.
Suddenly, a tiny Deerling rammed into Cherrygrove's legs, falling over immediately, astonished as they looked up at her. Or at least, what appeared to be a Deerling.
"Ouch, you okay darling?" Cherrygrove asked, lifting the fawn back on his feet with her snout.
She got a closer look at the child. He had a large, messy juniper and maroon coat hanging to his knees with two small horns and a lush green mane around his neck.
Cherrygrove squinted.
"Aren't you—"
"My son? Maybe, you probably wouldn't know," A sawsbuck jokes.
Cherrygrove laughed.
"In the name of Arceus it's Clove, what are you doing up so early?"
"Early? Have you forgotten? I have 3 children to walk from school, Parsley, as you see, is already enough of a hassle to keep from running into 'mons, and Nutmeg—"
Clove looked around frantically,
"Where's Nutmeg!"
Cherrygrove's face turned white, searching with Clove. She then crouched, looking over to Parsley softening her voice.
"Parsley—Have you seen your sister?"
Parsley looked up with gleaming eyes,
"Mint is home, home with momma,"
"Yes, what about Meggy?"
Parsley gazed mindlessly before his face glowed up with recollection.
"Meggy gone,"
Cherrygrove's throat dried.
"Gone where?"
Parsley fell silent, his hooves kicking up against the dirt.
"Parsley, where did you last see Nutmeg?"
"She went to the forest near school, we lost our ball—she said she would find it—"
"And you left her?!" Clove intervened.
Parsley winced.
"Go easy on him," Cherrygrove replied, moving her attention to Parsley, "When did she leave?"
"A couple minutes ago,"
"Alright, Dad and I will find Meggy—"
"No, I'll find her, you can watch over Parsley," Clove said.
Cherrygrove frowned.
"I won't get hurt, I promise,"
"You may or may not, we can't risk it,"
Cherrygrove opened her mouth, but shook her head.
"Alright, but you better come back alive,"
Clove chuckled,
"Sis' have you not known me for several years, you know I won't let a mon touch me or my family without consequences,"
"True, alright,"
She watched as Clove walked down the streets towards the school quickly, Pokemon moving out of the way with mixed responses.
Cherrygrove sighed.
"Come on," She nudged Parsley softly.
Parsley followed behind solemnly. Cherrygrove nestled his snout, a smile forming on Parsley's face kicking up his mood as he skipped along.
They wandered through the streets, Cherrygrove checking out at a merchant selling baskets of pastries, until Pokemon began heading towards the center. By the time she turned to face the crowd, a shout echoed across the sky.
"All citizens, please meet at the auditorium,"