This chapter was updated/revised on May 6, 2020
Part Four
I normally slept with Misty's Pokémon and/or Rattata, but tonight I wanted to be alone.
I climbed up a tree and fell asleep on one of the high branches. It turns out I wasn't the only Meowth in the forest that night.
"Hey, you!" A human voice called out to me.
I froze immediately. It had to be a dream because that was Lily's voice. I shut my eyes harder.
"HEY YOU!" she called louder.
A few seconds later someone was poking me. I opened my eyes. Lily was right next to me.
"NYYY!" I screamed.
I fell out of the tree. Lily climbed down and met me on the forest floor.
"I didn't think you'd react like that," she remarked. "Sorry, kid."
"Um, why are you yelling at me?" I asked quietly.
"Why are you stalking me?"
"You know I was watching you…"
I was overheating and hoping it was too dark for her to notice my redness.
"I was um…hoping to talk to you…I suppose. But I got nervous," I confessed.
"You're friends with the Rattata who hangs around the Cerulean Gym,: she stated. "He told me to look for you here."
'I should have known he'd do this,' I thought.
"He says you want to be like me, that you are considering asking for lessons on how to speak human."
"Yes, I am," I replied.
"My group and I are leaving in two weeks. I'm helping my cousins out with their training. They want to become Pokémon masters or some shit like that. They are my family, so I am traveling with them. You can come along if you want."
"Cousins?"
"My dad was part of this Team Rocket trio. He is this talking Meowth, kinda famous. Anyway, the other two members of the trio are like my aunt and uncle, and their kids are like my cousins. So, even though we aren't blood-related, we kinda go with that. And the dipshit shiny Purrloin is my brother. We're twins. My mom's a Purrloin."
"Twins…wow. Do you still know your parents?"
"Unfortunately…"
"Hm?"
"I'm kidding. I like living with them. We usually stay together but now we don't since we are traveling. But hell, we'll be together again soon."
"That is awesome. I am so jealous. I lost my family."
"I hear that happens to a lot of Pokémon. That's too bad."
I told Lily about my past. She seemed more impressed than sympathetic, which made me confident.
"You're cool," she said. "You've been through some tough shit, but here you are. You wanna hang out with me and my group tomorrow?"
"You think I'm cool?" I asked. Then a wave of sadness washed over me. "But I can't hang out with you. I am too afraid of humans. I am too…I don't know."
"It's okay if you're too busy."
She smirked, which made me feel as though she understood that something else was going on.
"I am not too busy. I'm just shy around people. And nervous. I am afraid they might catch me," I explained.
"I'll tell them not to," Lily replied. "They're good trainers, not like the ones you told me encountered in the past."
"I just need some time. But I want to see you again."
"You will. For sure. And hey, I'm not doing anything right now. Wanna do something fun?"
It felt like a dream come true. I wonder if Lily could understand how terrified yet happy I was at that moment.
"Yes," I said.
The next few nights Lily and I spent alone. We told each other stories about our pasts and played games. She taught me some good fishing techniques, things my mother never had time to show me since there were no big lakes near the forest in which I grew up, and I recited to her some of the poems I wrote. At the end of every date, we curled up together and slept under the stars. She assured me that no one from her group even knew she was gone.
One night we were down by the pond catching ladybugs when I noticed Lily had stopped to stare at me for longer than usual.
"I have to leave with my group soon," she said. "We're moving on tomorrow."
Then my heart sank. I knew this was coming.
"I know," I murmured. "Will I get to see you again?"
Lily sat down next to me. "Please come with me. Trust me. I know you haven't gotten to seem my whole family yet and a lot has been going on lately. But I know they will like you and not do anything to hurt you. I don't want to leave you behind. You're special. I don't want to move on unless you come with me."
"Then... I'll come with you."
"I don't want you to do it just because of me. I want you to think about it. It has to be what you want."
"I don't want to stay in this city forever. I want to stay with you."
Lily hugged me and kissed my face playfully. I pushed her away and told her that I needed to find my Rattata friend. I still saw him daily, when I was not around Lily, and he still had my empty Pokéball.
"Find him," she said. "I'll be with my family. See ya later tonight."
"I'll meet you at our spot," I said before we parted.
I found Rattata near his favorite dumpster, picking at half-eaten croissants.
"What's up?" he asked. "You have that determined look in your eyes."
"Lily is leaving tomorrow and I am going with her," I stated. "I need my Pokéball."
"Well, look at you. Maya, I'm so proud of you. Finally, you're leaving this old rat behind for a real adventure."
He rolled the Pokéball to me. I clutched it in my paws.
"Leaving you behind? What are you talking about?" I asked. "You don't want to come with us?"
"I like it here. I like it a lot. You're young, but you don't need an old rat like me around tellin you what to do."
"But you're not just any old rat, you're my friend!" I started to cry. "I thought you cared about me!"
"I do kid, but look: you're all grown up. You must be at least sixteen years old by now. You don't need me around. You need to be around people your own age and make your own life."
"Don't you want to be part of it?"
"I already am. What, are you planning on forgetting me?"
"I could never forget you."
"Just cuz you can't see me, it doesn't mean I ain't there. As long as you remember me, we're still friends. I'm done travelin for now. And I know we will meet again someday, even if I'm not sure how or when."
"I am going to miss you so much. You've helped me get through a lot."
"Don't cry. Be happy. You have Lily now. She told me she loves you."
"She said that to you? You aren't trying to trick me, are you?"
"Now you know I would never do that. Not about somethin like this. I want this to be a happy thing. This is what you have wanted for a long time. Lily and you can be a family."
"And you will always be a part of it too. I hope to see you again."
"I think you will. But even if you don't, don't worry about it. I can take care of myself, and so can you. You've grown so much since I first met you. You're ready."
"Goodbye, then."
I gave him a hug. I realized this was the first time I ever willingly said goodbye to a loved one; every other goodbye was forced.
"Goodbye, Maya. Be happy," he said as he returned the hug.
I put the Pokéball in my mouth and left to meet Lily by the stand of trees that had become our meeting spot.
When she showed up, the first thing she commented on was the Pokéball resting in my lap.
"Why do you have that?" she asked.
"Because this is how I am going to travel with you," I responded.
"I don't understand."
I explained how I wanted her to carry me in the Pokeball. Lily had this yellow satchel that was big enough to accommodate the Pokéball without anyone noticing it was there. I would stay in there all day then at night I would come out to be with her. Lily was hesitant, but she decided to go with it. We both realized this was better than me staying behind entirely.
"I will do it even though I really want you to be with my friends and family," she decided. "Because I love you and I know they will love you too."
"You really love me?" I asked.
My head was spinning. I started to wonder if I had just imagined her saying that.
"I do," she replied. "The thing is, I have always been a romantic, but not with guys, you know? And I liked a few girls, but I never found anyone I liked as much as I like you. I think you and I could be something great. You are the most amazing Pokémon I have ever met, and I want you to be mine."
"But I am just an average street Meowth, and you are so perfect. How could you think such nice things about me?"
"Maya you have to have some more self-respect."
"I know...I just really like you too. I think it was love at first sight. And you were just a dream. I never thought you would say those things to me."
"You're the best. I hope you become more confident. But take your time. Let me know how I can help."
Traveling with Lily was my greatest adventure.
I came out of my ball often. Sometimes during the day, Lily would sneak away from the group and let me know when it was clear to come out. I would hang out with her for a while and we would talk and play. At night we often sleep together after a hunting session. She also started to teach me how to talk like a human. We decided to start with reading first and to work on speech later. So many things happened, and every day I got closer and closer to revealing myself to her family and friends.
Then one day I did.
XO
I was walking outside with Lily when I heard two familiar voices chatting. It was two teenagers from the group. Lily and I were both surprised to see them together, as they usually were verbally sparring with one another. They were lying in the grass with their Pikachu, Lillipup, and Altaria.
"So, when was your first kiss?" Annastasia—the blond teenager—asked Michio—the quiet Alolan guy.
"Random again," he responded.
"Not really."
"Thirty seconds ago, we were talking about cars."
"They're somewhat related."
Lily burst into a muffled laugh. I turned to look at her.
"I like them," I whispered. "But I thought they didn't like each other."
"Nah, they have a thing. I knew it," Lily replied.
"Oh, okay."
We went back to eavesdropping.
"No one ever kissed me before," Michio told Annastasia.
"How come?" she asked.
"What kind of question bullshit question is that?"
"I mean, did anyone ever try?"
"…Sorta. I wasn't into it. And I might've made out with this one person when I was wasted this one time, but I really don't remember."
"You are such an idiot!" the Pikachu scolded him.
"Am not."
"He can understand Pokémon too?" I asked Lily. "He must be an Aura Guardian like Ash!"
"I don't think so. He just spends a lot of time with her. And Annastasia is an Aura Guardian, and…well, It's like this: remember you told me that it seemed as though Misty could understand you too?"
"Yes."
"That's because sometimes when you are close with someone, you can transfer some of that ability over subconsciously. Being around Ash influences people, especially her, because she's like, married to him. And now it's happening with them. At least that is what Annastasia's Lucario mentor told me."
"Oh, so that is why Lucario is following us; he is her mentor."
Lucario seemed to be stalking the group as well, and no one but Lily, me, Scarlett, and Annastasia seemed to have noticed.
"That is so cool," I added. "I want to talk to that Pikachu."
"Scarlett is cool. She's weird, but so are we, so I have a feeling we all would get along," said Lily.
We turned our attention back to our spying.
"Well that doesn't count," said Annastasia.
She scratched Scarlett under the chin. She squeaked a thank-you.
"She is starting to like you as much as I do," Michio commented. "I mean, Scarlett is starting to like you as much as she likes me."
"I know you like me, Michio," Annastasia responded. "But you don't have to admit it."
"You aren't half bad. I'll admit that."
"Just half? Not even a third?"
"Fine, you're not a third of the way bad."
"Neither are you."
She stood yawned. Her Pokémon did the same.
"I'm going to bed," she announced.
"You aren't going to stay out here tonight?" he asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"If you want to…"
"Okay, I'll be right back. I need to brush my teeth and shower first. Unlike you, I didn't get a chance to wash up before I came out here."
The Altaria name Bleu and the Lillipup named Lil-G followed her back to the camp. Scarlett stayed with Michio.
"Lily is nearby, and she is with someone I don't recognize but seems familiar," she told Michio in her Pikachu language.
"Um…okay," he replied.
He didn't seem to be able to understand her as well as I thought.
"I'll be right back," she said.
Scarlett trotted in our direction. She stopped for a moment, closed her eyes, and then proceeded to run towards us. Part of me wanted to flee, but Lily wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't all that worried until I noticed her trainer came running after her.
"Lily! He'll see us!" I whispered urgently. I tugged on her arm, but she didn't move. I felt like crying. "And he is the one with the attitude!"
"It's okay," she replied. "Just chill. I'll talk to him. Besides, even if we do run, Scarlett will just come find us. She's oddly overprotective of those two and too stubborn to just stop chasing us."
"I'm not that stubborn," Scarlett said as she approached.
She sat down in front of us.
"Yes you are," Lily replied, speaking like a human.
Scarlett's trainer came up behind her. He glared at Lily.
"Are you spying on me?" he asked.
"Please. I have better things to do," she retorted.
"Like what?"
"None of your business."
I slinked behind Lily, though I knew it was pointless because oth Scarlett and Michio knew I was there.
"Who's that?" Michio asked, poking his head around.
"You sure ask a lot of questions for someone who supposedly doesn't care much about me," Lily replied.
"He does care. He is just a bitch about it most times," said Scarlett.
"Trust me, I know."
"Scarlett, I thought you were on my side," said Michio. "Don't talk to Lily about me."
"I am on your side," she replied. "I like talking about you."
I wondered if Michio actually understood the 'Pii ka, pi chu' she uttered, or if it was just his intuition. To this day I still don't know.
"She is a secret. So don't tell anyone about her or I will hurt you," Lily told Michio.
"Why are you so defensive?" he asked. "Is she your secret girlfriend?"
"Yes, she is."
"As I said, I don't see the point in sharing that information."
I thought for sure he would give us issues, but I was wrong.
I was also surprised by Lily's announcement. She thought of me as a girlfriend. Though I suppose I had already figured out that I was, considering all we had been through so far, I never heard her say it out loud before. Not in human speech nor in Pokémon language.
"Go away," Lily told Michio.
"I will if you stop spying on me. I'll know because I have her," he responded, pointing to Scarlett.
"We won't give away your secret you if you don't spy on us," Scarlett wagered.
"Sure," Lily responded.
We parted; Michio and Scarlett to the spot beneath the shimmering sky and me and Lily to the cozy clandestine canopies.
AN: This fic is almost over. Thank you for reading and please review if you can:)
