Vulpix- LVL 18

Pokemon:

Kira's Pokemon Adventure:

Fun, Sun and Some Troublesome Squirtle!

Kids didn't always agree on everything. In fact, sometimes we disagreed with someone even if we really agreed with them. We're contrary like that. However, there's one thing that any sane kid would wholeheartedly agree with: Summer vacation was the best time of the year! No school, nice warm weather, family trips, no school, later curfews, longer days, lemonade stands and best of all: no school! For a whole month!

Don't get me wrong, school could be fun. Gym was best and I never got tired from learning about Pokémon or Science. Math was super boring but still useful, unlike Kantonese. I spoke Kantonese so why the heck did I need to learn all of the boring, useless things about it? No matter how fun school was though, a break was always good. The weekends were nice but there were only brief respite that went away too soon. Summer vacation was a hundred weekends all crammed together!

Every summer vacation, my family and I went on a trip outside of Saffron City and it was always a blast. Last year, we'd gone camping in Viridian Forest and I'd gotten to see a butterfree emerging from a metapod cocoon. It was awesome! The year before that, we'd visited the museum in Pewter City to look at all the cool fossils and space rocks. Dad bought me a kabutops doll as a souvenir and it dutifully guarded my toy chest.

This year was going to be even better than all my other years put together. Not only were we going to Fuchsia City to play at the beach, Dad had somehow managed to get tickets to visit the Safari Zone for free! All kinds of rare Pokémon could be found only at the Safari Zone so I was super excited to see them. These were look-only passes unfortunately, so I couldn't catch any of them even if I had gotten permission.

Pixie was still my only Pokémon but even Mom couldn't deny that I took very good care of her. Her coat was shiny from daily brushings, her body was strong from exercise and a good diet and her eyes radiated happiness. We went everywhere together, mostly with her outside of her pokeball but places like school (save for recess) or the pokemart required her to be inside of it. Every weekend Dad took us out for training and because of it, Pixie was a lot stronger than she used to be. None of the Pokémon around town could beat her one on one, save for the occasional poliwag or psyduck on Route 6 but they had a type advantage.

Outside of wild battles, our record was much like my soccer teams. We won some and we lost some. Despite our training, a lot of the trainers who visited were simply stronger than us or had a type advantage. My record against Koji was much more optimistic. Despite having added an ekans to his team, I still managed to hold in 8-6 win to loss over him. Sure, it was a close race but I was still in the lead and I wouldn't let him pass me. He got better with each battle, but that only made him a worthy rival. He'd never be better than me and Pixie.

With a smile on my face, I turned from my dresser and looked to my favorite Pokémon, who napped at the head of my bed. Her body rested right on a sun spot and I could tell from her face that she was loving the heat of it as much as I loved a hot bath after a good morning workout. Her silky smooth red fur glowed from a recent brushing. As I watched her sleep, her legs gave a twitch and she voiced a muffled vul. It sounded determined, so she must have been having a good dream. Maybe she was in a battle.

I left her to her dream and turned back to my dresser, where I was trying to choose between my usual skorts and proper shorts. Both were great for the summer but I only had enough room in my suitcase for three full outfits plus socks, undies, my swimsuit, a sun dress or two(to make mom happy) and my sandals. On the one hand, I could swim a lot easier in shorts, but swimming was what my swimsuit was for. A plus for my skorts was that I could forgo undies for that day, since I wore the skorts without them the same way I did for my swimsuits. I suppose, technically, that turned the shorts underneath into undies themselves but they were still okay to be seen because reasons.

In the end, I settled for two pairs of skorts and one pair of shorts, in case I wanted to go swimming while my suit was being washed. I thought it was a good choice as I laid the clothes out on my bed to complete the outfits that waited for them. Then I folded them all as tightly as I could and pressed them into my now full suitcase.

Almost as soon as I snapped the latches, my door opened up and Mom stepped in asking, "Are you finished packing, young lady? We're just about ready to go without you. Honestly, I told you a week ago to be ready for this morning."

Mom only ever called me young lady when I was in trouble or on the edge of being in trouble, so I gulped and replied, "Just got done now, Mommy. I'm sorry I put it off but I forgot exactly what day you said we were leaving. I thought it was tomorrow!"

I certainly couldn't tell her that I'd put it off to get just a little more playtime with Pixie. She'd think I was willfully irresponsible instead of accidentally irresponsible. There was a big difference between the two.

She let out a sigh before she said, "As long as you're all packed. Next time you forget though, I'm going to take it upon myself to pack your clothes. You're a big girl now so I know you won't like it. Now then, let's get your things downstairs before your daddy explodes from impatience."

I nodded, called Pixie to my side and followed Mom out of my room with my suitcase. The last thing I wanted was for Mom to pick out my outfits like she did when I was much younger. I'd open my suitcase and find nothing but dresses and skirts instead of shorts and skorts. We had completely opposite fashion senses.

Mom loved girly clothes like the red dress she wore now. It went down to the middle of her shins and looked tight enough against her that I couldn't imagine her running in it. Not successfully at least. On her feet were red sandals in matching stockings.

I, on the other hand, was dressed much more sensibly for fun in the sun. My baggy blue shorts ensured that I could run, jump, spin and tumble as much as I wanted without a care and my red vulpix T shirt showed my love for my Pokémon. My sneakers would take me anywhere and my comfy socks would keep my feet from hurting for a long time. Even my suitcase, a pink roller with Pokémon stickers all over it, was a statement that said I was a true Pokémon lover.

The wheels were too small for the stairs so I had to carry it down to the living room, where dad was waiting with the rest of the suitcases. He'd traded his Dojo gi for an outfit much like mine, only instead of a T shirt he wore a white tank top that showed off his muscles. His feet were also bare, save for his white flip flops.

It always amazed me to see how strong dad was. At the Dojo, he could break bricks with his bare hands and when he tossed me into the air, I felt like a rocket ship leaving orbit. He towered above me at 5 feet 9 inches and although his head was shiny and bald, I knew he was still young. He turned 45 just last month. Had he had hair, I knew it would have been blonde because of his big, bushy mustache and his blue eyes were almost always loving and caring. He was strong, but he was also a big softie. Especially when I rubbed a few sparkles into my eyes.

Mom was immune to my charms, but that was probably because we're both girls. After all, attacks of the same type as a defender almost never worked well. Except for Dragons, but I was fairly sure mom wasn't a dragon. Well, at least 40% sure. She was the same height and age as dad, but where he was as hard as jagged as a boulder, she was smooth as water. Her body flowed with soft curves. Her long, smooth hair was red in her eyes were forest green.

Together, through an act I still didn't want to think about, their traits had combined to give me my own strawberry blonde hair and turquoise eyes. At least, that's how they told me I'd gotten them. We'd learned about genes and the Wendell square in science this year so I knew it was much more likely that one of my distant relations had the same hair and eyes and I've been lucky enough to get them. I probably got my height from that ancestor too, since I was still a pipsqueak who first graders thought of as a new kid all the time. Little did they know I was a third- no, I was a fourth grader now.

Once I hit nine in a few months, I'd also become a no grader. I'd be done with school so I'd have all the time in the world to be a full fledged in registered Pokémon trainer. The world would be my desk and experience would be my teacher. Assuming Mom and Dad gave their permission, of course. If they decided I wasn't ready for the wide world, there was nothing I could do until my parents changed their mind or I came of age.

I was pretty sure Dad was ready to give his OK even now, but Mom was the one that really held my tether. It was all up to her and I knew I had to show I could take care of myself. That way, when I turned nine, I could leave with her blessing. Without it, I couldn't leave the fields around Saffron without permission. If Officer Jenny or her sisters caught me outside the area without a Trainer's ID or my parents permission, I'd be in big trouble from all parties. Just the thought of what Dad would do then made me rub my butt anxiously.

As soon as I was in the living room, Dad lifted both me and my suitcase into his arms and asked, "All packed up, sweetie? We have a long way to go so if you've forgotten something, we won't be able to come back for it."

I hugged his neck and kissed his cheek before I replied, "I'm already to go! I've got my clothes, my sandals, my swimsuit. Everything I need."

With me still in his left arm, he popped my case open with his right and after only a moments glance, he asked, "Towel?"

Ah carp, I knew I'd forgotten something. Playing it off, I shrugged and said, "The sun will dry me at the beach and our hotel will have free towels, right?"

Dad laughed and ruffled my hair, "True enough, but I'll get you a towel all the same. Since we'll be at the beach, I think the krabby towel will suit just fine."

I agreed and Dad set me down to go collect the krabby towel from the linen closet. Once it was packed, I snapped my suitcase shut one last time and followed my parents out the door. As we walked down our street, I couldn't help but passing glance over to Koji's house. He and his folks were spending the summer at the Sevii Islands and while I wouldn't miss him one bit, I couldn't help but wish I could see him in Fuchsia City for one more battle. His growlithe would have loved the beach just as much as Pixie.

On our way through the city we greeted our friends when they passed by and when we walked past the store that still sold a traveling pack that had caught my eye a while ago, I dropped some very subtle hints about loving a new backpack for my birthday. One with a lot of compartments. They gave the usual noncommittal we'll see's but I saw in Dads eye at least that he took note of the store. That was a good start.

My birthday was two months away, at the tail end of summer. If Mom did give her permission to let me be an independent trainer, I would need a good backpack to hold not only clothes, but food, camping gear, Pokémon items and who knew what else. Sure, a good bunch of it could be condensed within item balls but even they could fill up space quickly. I needed to think hard about how I was going to manage all of my inventory.

I would think about it, too. Just not during this month of fun and leisure. Once summer vacation was over with, I would have another whole month to think about inventories, registrations and setting up a trainer bank account. During the six months since I had been given Pixie, my many battles (minus the losses) had given me a healthy nest egg with which to buy potions and pokeballs on my big day. At the moment all those pokedollars sat in a joint savings account held by my parents and I but once I become a registered trainer, I could transfer all that money into an account of my own.

I also had to go to the doctor to get a trainers physical to prove I was fit enough to go off on my own, but I knew I would pass that was flying colors. Thanks to my regular exercise routine, I was as strong as a tauros and could run like a doduo. I could see like a pidgeot and hear as well as a persian. That physical was nothing to worry about.

We left Saffron City behind us through the south gate and when the gate guard asked casually where we were going, we all said that we were going on vacation. He told us to have fun but held back his usual caution about the wild Pokémon on route 6. I'd long since become a regular for the route and all of the guards knew that Dad and his Pokémon were forced to be reckoned with. The warning would have been wasted on us.

Normally the road to Vermillion city was uneventful, save for a few encounters with wild Pokémon. I knew from my own experiences that we didn't have anything to worry about on that front. Pixie could blast away the normal and grass types common to the route and if a water type poliwag or psyduck decided to make an appearance, dads machoke would punch them into orbit. Thankfully, water types typically didn't come onto land so I could train without worry.

The three of us had been on the road for about an hour when I noticed a pair of girls around my age waiting on the opposite side. The two looked at us, conversed for a second and then nodded simultaneously before coming our way. They look like twins, especially since the girls wore matching dresses and ribbons. Up close, I couldn't tell the two apart.

While holding hands with their twin, the girl on my left asked, "Excuse us for asking, but…"

The other picked up without missing a beat, "Are any of you Pokémon trainer's? Were looking for someone who will…"

They ended together, "Play with us in a double battle!"

Ugh, if that was how they talked all of the time then I couldn't imagine their parents needed any form of persuading to let them go off to be trainers. Quirks aside though, they'd still set down a challenge that I was more than happy to take on. There was just one problem. Double battles were two versus two. I only had Pixie.

I looked to them, "I only have one Pokémon but… Daddy, could you give me a hand? Think of it like a training opportunity."

Dad looked down to me and smiled, "I'll be happy to, sweetie. You don't have any objections right dear?"

Thankfully, Mom shook her head, "You four have fun. Our ferry doesn't leave until three so we still have plenty of time."

Us kids cheered happily while Dad thanked Mom with a kiss. Then, we got down to business and set the ground rules. Each of us was allowed only one Pokémon out at a time and since only my dad had more than one Pokémon, he agreed not to switch. Whichever Pokémon he picked, machoke or graveller, he had to stick with.

As I took Pixie's pokeball from my belt, I felt my excitement grow. This was my first double battle ever and on top of that, Dad was my partner. I had to do my best to make him proud of me in the work I'd put in with Pixie.

The twins cast out first, in their twinly manner, "I'm Amy, eight years old... I'm May, eight years old... And here's our team!"

They tossed their pokeballs into the air and in a flash of white light, a pair of meowths appeared before their trainers. Those two certainly took their twinness to high levels, matching both their clothes and their Pokémon. It didn't seem like an act either. They really did like being twins.

I'd faced meowth before on this very route but these ones were visibly stronger. I'd have to be careful.

Taking the twins introductions to heart, I tossed Pixies ball up and said, "I'm Kira, also eight, and here's Pixie!"

With the sparkle in his eyes, my dad joined in by saying, "I'm Kenjiro, forty-five years old, and here's machoke!"

His machoke appeared next to my Pixie and struck a muscley pose in time with my dad. It was both intimidating and embarrassing at the same time, which I suppose was pretty impressive. Maybe.

The twins didn't look like they knew it but I knew the fighting type machoke had a huge type advantage over the normal type meowths. As long as he kept up a strong offensive, Dad could have won on his own. I wouldn't let him have all of the fun or credit, of course. We would beat these twins together as a team. Anything else was simply unacceptable. In fact, I decided to take the first attack.

I pointed to the rightmost meowth and called, "Pixie, quick attack the meowth on the right!"

Pixie responded by dashing forward and in the blink of an eye, the red fox slammed into the cat. He got right back up though, and following the calls of their trainer, both meowths attacked our team with a pair of fury swipes. Pixie got hit twice by the cat's claws but she was tough enough to brave through it. Machoke blocked his own attacker with his arms before dad had him counter with a crippling low kick that sent the poor meowth back to its trainer with heavy damage.

The first round definitely went in our favor but I didn't want to get cocky. They could still gang up on Pixie and take us out of the game. To keep that from happening, I needed to weed out the twins' numbers.

With that in mind, I called out, "Hit the left meowth with an ember!"

Flames vented from Pixie's muzzle before she opened her mouth to launch a fireball at the injured meowth.

Amy (or was it May?) cried out for her meowth to avoid it but it was May(?)'s meowth that pushed its wounded friend out of the way and got a burned paw for its efforts. Both were still up though, and one meowth tried to bite machoke while the other made a slash for Pixie. The former attack connected to little effect while Pixie jumped back to avoid the latter's claws.

Next to me, Dad grinned and asked, "What do you say we finish things now? It looks about that time."

I smiled back, "Right. Let's win this one."

I pointed to May's meowth and called out, "Let's end this, Pixie! Faint attack!"

At the same time, dad ordered, "Finish that meowth off with a seismic toss!"

Pixie faded into invisibility for a moment before reappearing at full speed to slam into the side of May's meowth while machoke wrapped Amy's meowth in a bear hug before leaping into the air. While both ascending and descending, machoke spun like a top and just before impact, he threw the meowth down and landed without injury. The same couldn't be said of either meowths. Both were down for the count.

As the twins rushed to their Pokémon, Mom came over and scolded Dad, "Couldn't you have taken it a little easy on them? It's not like you're in the Dojo right now."

Dad crossed his arms and grunted, "Whether I'd used machoke or graveller, all of their attacks are strong against normal types. There was no helping it. Plus, they'd challenged us so it would have been disrespectful to hold back. If they're true trainers, they'll take this loss to heart and use it to grow stronger."

He was right and I was certainly proud of my first double battle win. Sure, I'd had a tiny handicap with Dad on my side but I still showered Pixie with praise, as if she'd won all on her own. One potion later, she was back to full strength and she trotted by my side as I went over to Amy and May.

With a smile, I said, "That was fun. I'd never fought a double battle before so it was really new."

Amy (or was it may?) looked up from her meowth and said with a forced smile, "Yeah, they can be really fun. They're not so fun when we lose, though."

I giggled and replied, "Nah, losses are never fun. Sorry my Dad's an overpowered battle maniac. Maybe if we meet each other again I can take you on with two Pokémon on my side. That probably won't be for a few months, though."

Amy (?) sniffed and rubbed a tear from her eye before she agreed, "T- that might be fun. I have a feeling you're a lot closer to our level than your dad is. Wanna trade pokegear numbers?"

I was all too happy to share my number with them, so I took my pokegear off of my belt and entered their info. Then they gave us our reward money, which I happily pocketed. With a few more wins, I could afford that travel pack all on my own, though I still hoped mom or dad bought it instead. Free gifts were always welcome.

After everything was said and done, Mom offered our help to escort the twins back to Vermillion City so they could get to the Pokecenter and heal their meowths to fighting strength again. They accepted, so I had a lot of fun talking with them as we went down the road. We naturally talked about Pokémon, but we also chatted about school and laughed over how dumb boys were. Especially boys named Koji. I learned that the twins had been trainers since they were seven, but since they wanted to stay in school they didn't stray too far from their home in Vermilion. I could kind of understand, but I still wanted to take on the Pokémon League.

All too soon, we spotted the gatehouse leading to Vermillion City and the sea beyond. No other trainers had challenged us and the wild Pokémon kept their distance as well. My reputation must have preceded me.

Vermillion City wasn't as big as Saffron but it made up for it with all of the boats and ships that could take you across the ocean to lands like Johto, Houen or the Sevii Isles. There were beaches here too, but none of them compared to the beach below Fuchsia. There was a Pokémon Gym here as well, but I couldn't challenge Lt. Surge just yet. I knew I was far from ready. Dad's graveller could probably cream the lieutenants electric types but Dad wasn't interested in badges. He would challenge him just to show the strength of his team. Last but not least was the headquarters for the Pokémon Fan Club. Naturally, I was a member of this prestigious group and though I've never actually met the president in person, he did write to me, thanking me personally for joining. I still had that letter to prove it.

After wishing them good luck in their future battles, we left Amy and May at the Pokémon Center and headed to the docks, where we presented our ferry ticket to the Ticketmaster. As expected, our ferry was waiting patiently for us and the rest of its charges to board and as soon as we were on the boat, I ran to the guard rails with Pixie and looked at the water and other boats and ships. Unfortunately, the legendary trainers ship S.S. Anne was out but there were still a bunch of other ships to see. There were sailboats big and small, barges hauling their cargo and motorboats just having fun.

The water was crystal clear to the point that I could see all the way to the bottom without trouble. Fish of all colors swam with magikarps and goldeens, while krabbies scuttled along the sand with staryus. There were so many Pokémon it was a wonder that the boats could move at all. I didn't see any tentacools, but they tended to prefer deeper water. I'd likely see them after the boat shoved off.

Dad stood at the rails next to me and said with a cheeky grin, "Don't lean too far, sweetie. If you go overboard all have to take off my shirt to save you and then I'll have to fight off all the ladies that become smitten by my body."

That mental image made me burst out laughing and it was a full 10 seconds before I could retort, "Don't worry about that, Daddy. Even if you take off your shirt, you'll still blind them with the glare off your head."

Dad looks stunned and then angry as he caught me in a bear hug and said, "You cheeky little brat! I'll have you know that sophisticated women love a chrome dome!"

I squealed happily as Dad tossed me around in his arms. If I didn't tease him every now and then, his ego would get big enough to make his head explode, so it was up to me to deflate him. Mom helped too, but I had the most fun from it. I loved Dad as much as possible, but it was still my job to keep him humble.

Even when he sat me down, I snuggled into his side and watched the water bubbling ripple as we got underway. Through a set of speakers along the top of the ferry, the captain of the S.S. Lapras told us that we would arrive at Fuchsia in four hours and along the way we would see all kinds of water type Pokémon, as well as pass under the largest bridge in the Kanto region. It wasn't fancy but it was a Pokémon Trainers paradise since a lot of trainers gathered on the bridge to battle any and all challengers. I definitely wanted to visit it once I had a good team put together. Nugget bridge was also a must visit.

As Vermillion City vanished over the horizon, I made it my duty to explore as much of the ferry as I was allowed. It was a small ferry so there wasn't much to explore but the captain did let me into his room. There were all kinds of switches and knobs along his control panel and I didn't need mom or dad to tell me to keep my fingers to myself. The last thing I wanted to do was be responsible for capsizing the boat. To my delight, I did get to pull on the horn rope, which sounded a lot like one of dad's farts. I made the boat toot twice more before I gave it a break.

Captain Morray was really cool. After I'd had my fun with the horn, he invited me to sit on his lap while he told me stories of his experiences at sea. One time while going to Cinnabar Island, his boat was attacked by a wild tentacruel! He made the story really come to life by wrapping me up in his arms and his hands mimicked the Pokémon's suction cups on my chest. Then, in another story, he'd been pinched by a krabby right in the leg. He couldn't show me the scar because of my age but he did trace where it was on my leg, which was right along the line where the leg met the body. I got goosebumps from imagining that. Pokémon were really dangerous! Thankfully I had Pixie to keep me safe.

He was about to tell me what happened when an errant tentacle met his wife while swimming but Mom called me down to the rail to see some horseas that were swimming alongside the boat. I really wanted to hear the story but I wanted to see the horseas even more. I hopped out of the captains lap and after saying I'd love to hear it later, I hurried across the ferry to Mom's side. It might have been me, but the captain seemed a little relieved for some reason. Had I been underfoot without knowing? Story or not, I decided to give him his space.

There really were horseas swimming with the boat! Four of them, in fact. There were keeping pace with the boat and every now and then one of them bobbed above the surface and let loose a stream of water out of what was either its mouth or its nose, I couldn't tell which. Maybe it was both. I wanted to pet one, just to feel if their skin was as smooth as it looked. Getting on my hands and knees, I reached out to one that was just bobbing up when, just as Mom started a warning, another horsea behind the one I was gonna pet rose up and sprayed water right at me. It was like being sprayed by a good powered garden hose, not painful but within seconds I was thoroughly soaked. I scrambled away from the ledge with a cry while Mom and Dad had a laugh at my expense. I would have laughed too if I hadn't been so embarrassed.

Mom helped me up and as I took off my shirt and wrung it out, she asked, "So, what have we learned about trying to pet wild Pokémon?"

I grinned cheekily and replied, "If it's a water type, wear a rain coat. Rubber gloves if it's an electric type."

She ruffled my hair and shook her head, "How about don't do it again or you'll go over my lap. Now put your shirt back on. You might have a boys chest but you're still a girl. Honestly, I blame your father for your lack of modesty."

I frowned, but didn't respond until I'd put my shirt back on, "I don't see what the big deal is. What's so bad about being a girl that we have to hide our chests even when there's nothing there?"

Mom side, "It's not that there is anything bad about it. It's just immodest and not done. Besides, just because you don't have a chest now doesn't mean you won't in a few years. You're a growing girl after all."

I look down at my chest appraisingly, "I hope it doesn't get too big. I can't imagine running with big boobs. Talk about awkward."

Dad laughed and said, "Awkward for all parties! Well sweetie, if you drink less milk and keep up your exercises I can almost guarantee that you'll keep a washboard chest."

Mom was probably dismayed by the happy reception I gave that advice. I couldn't help it. I just didn't want a big chest getting in the way of my exercise or play. Throwing anything would be tough too. Sure, all of the pretty princesses in the fairy tales I'd read had big boobs but they were also helpless damsels in distress. I was anything but.

Thankfully, our conversation drifted away from my chest to all of the Pokémon we were likely to find at the beach. At the mention of krabbies in tentacools, I told my parents the story that captain Morray had told me and though they said they'd sounded exciting, they were also probably just spun yarn. I didn't think they were, but I didn't say anything to that point. Instead, I decided to let them think what they wanted to and watched the water for anymore Pokémon.

Eventually, we passed under the Bicycle Road Bridge, which really was as big as the captain had said it was. I couldn't see anybody from my vantage point but I could just imagine all of the Pokémon battles that must have been going on up there. I was a little dismayed to hear that the bridge was bikes only (those things were a million pokedollars each!) but nothing kept me from at least hoping that a bike would find its way to me someday. Maybe I could win the lottery!

An hour later, I like to believe I was a one to spot the small harbor south of Fuchsia first. I called a 'land, ho!' and Captain Morray steered us towards the docks. Nearby, I could see the pristine beaches and beach shops that sold everything from swimsuits to suntan lotion and water floaties. I didn't need any floaties of course. I was a natural swimmer and could beat Koji from one side of his too big pool to the other before he could even finish saying go.

Unfortunately, swimming wasn't on tonight's agenda. It was getting late and I was starving for some food. Thankfully, Mom told me that there were plenty of restaurants to eat at around the hotel we were booked to stay in. First, we'd check into our hotel and set our baggage down and then we'd hunt for some food. I was in the mood for seafood and Dad (as always) wanted steak. Mom took my side, but she also thought she knew a place that would serve both of us. Hopefully she remembered right!

When the ferry tied up at the dock, we disembarked in an orderly fashion and I thanked the captain for telling me his stories. To my amazement, he said he had a bunch more to share and if we ended up on his ferry for the return trip, he'd happily told me them all. I really hope we met again! We were staying in Fuchsia City for a whole week but we could have good luck bring us back to the right ferry.

From the docks, it was just a hop and a skip into Fuchsia City proper. It was a smaller city than Saffron but it still had a ton of things to do that made any trip worthwhile. Besides the beaches, the Safari Zone was a must see to catch a glimpse of rare Pokémon. Trainers could also test their mettle against the local gym, run by the ninja Koga. His poison types were sure to give Pixie trouble on her own, so I needed to have a good team before I challenged him. There were also pokemarts, hotels, gift shops and restaurants, all of which I hoped we stopped at some time during this trip. I wanted a new pokedoll for my room!

Mom knew the city like the back of her hand, which made sense since she'd been born here. Dad and I were Saffron born and raised but Mom was from this city. Her parents had moved in retired to Cinnabar Island but we did pass by Moms old house on the way to the hotel. It looked cozy, but I liked our house better. Maybe I was biased.

We checked into the hotel shortly after and though we had a really big room, I knew we wouldn't be in it too often. There was too much to do to spend lots of time in the room. It was kind of like a miniature house, with the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom all tucked into an area the size of our living room. Well, maybe it was a little bit bigger than our living room but not by much. Best of all, we had a TV so I could catch my favorite morning cartoons before we left for the day.

The room also had a small closet, which I parked my suitcase into before I claimed the smaller bed for myself. I knew full well that it was already mine but some things had to be claimed, just in case. Mom and Dad certainly didn't dispute my claim. They set their bags down beside their bed and together we left to find a good place to eat. Thankfully, mom's memory served her well and it only took ten minutes before we were seated at a nice restaurant that seemed to offer everything under the sun.

I ordered a seafood platter with synthetic shrimp, crab, lobster and fish while a Dad ordered a large steak and fries. Mom had a fish filet with shrimp on the side. When my meal arrived it looked just like the picture ans was absolutely delicious! Mom was a really good cook but this was something else entirely. I wanted to share some with Pixie but unfortunately the place wasn't Pokémon friendly. Dad also told me I shouldn't give Pokémon people food since it wasn't good for their tummies. Pixie really missed out on good food. I'd secretly tried a bite of Pokémon food before and though Dad assured me it was healthy and nutritious for Pokémon, it was bland and tasteless. Maybe they had sensitive tongues or something.

I cleaned my plate and washed it down with a big glass of chocolate milk. Then, with permission, I had a slice of apple pie for dessert. It was really good too and by the time I finished it, I was stuffed.

As I leaned back and happily patted my belly, I said, "That was great! I hope all that food doesn't keep me from swimming tomorrow. Right now I think I'd drop like a rock in the water."

Dad laughed and replied, "Don't worry, sweetie. Knowing you, you'll wake up in the morning complaining that you're hungry."

I pouted, "I don't complain. I just inform."

Mom smirked and said, "Ri-ight. Well, if you are hungry in the morning, I know a great place to get breakfast before we go to the beach."

I didn't think I would be hungry at all but on the tiny chance that they were right, I tucked Mom's offer into my mental 'remember this' box. Then, after mom and dad finished their own meals, we paid up and headed back to the hotel slowly in order to enjoy the cooling air and darkening sky. When we finally did reach the hotel, I called dibs on the first shower and took a nice, steamy one with Pixie. After I was squeaky clean, I dried us off, brushed my hair and Pixies fur and slipped one of my sundresses on in place of my pajamas. I knew I'd forgotten something. Oh well.

I brushed my teeth and used the toilet (washing my hands afterwards) before I passed the bathroom over to Dad and slipped into the covers of my bed. Pixie laid down right next to me and as I snuggled with her, I wished Mom and Dad a good night. The sooner I could get to sleep, the sooner I could get to the beach tomorrow. I closed my eyes and let the sound of Pixies steady heartbeat lead me to my dreams.