A moment.
Such a delicate word.
It theoretically could be anything from the analytical limit of negative infinity to the increasingly long computable exponential functions that supercomputers are left to labor with. It scientifically was anything from the most accurate measurement of a picosecond to the large grander of time since the big bang. It rhetorically was something that could be as short as a pensive flash of light and electricity, like an input of a circuit to the output of a light, to something as large and expansive as the universe.
But that's all jargon to most people.
In experience, a moment could be so cold and short that it comes and goes without a care or notice from the hustle and bustle of the more practical people in the world. Yet at the same time it could be so long and heavy that the air turns to nothing as the weight of a thousand suns holds down the two entities that stare across at one another in a cosmic battle of relief, realization, and awkwardness.
So in this case, let's not worry about defining a moment, and just call it: a moment.
This very moment passed between Elesa and Ash.
A look at the door swinging back and forth metronomically from the dust stirred up by the previous creatures running out the door.
A look back at each other.
A look at the door.
A moment.
This is what happens after the rescue and before the dimuendo. The part no one talks about. The very part that is most crucial in development in any story.
So silence comes as persistence goes. Ash was the first to break it.
"Well it's a good thing that side of you didn't come out in our battle."
And at this point Elesa couldn't help but giggle.
As a lazy morning passes in a relaxing café, their servers come from behind (apparently soundproof) doors and lay a simple cup of Passhocino in front of Ash. Pikachu joined in on the newfound light and jovial attitude passed along with the steaming dessert drink in front of his trainer. He picks up his tipped cup of Leppa, and spins it around to down whatever was left of his cup of joy.
Ash then gives the Look of Joy, and leans back and relaxes.
Like nothing ever happened.
So with graceful elegance, Elesa sweeps across the polished floor and gathers up her goods, returning back to join in on Ash's day right next to him.
So with a well-timed delayed reply, she kindly speaks, "Yes, I guess it is."
The dingling of a little silver bell ringing behind the trainer and leader was such a beautiful thing.
Ash spoke to it, "Such an old-fashioned thing in such a high-tech city. Makes the already perfect city even more…well perfect."
"Piika!" Pikachu agreed.
Elesa giggled at his unaware compliment. Thanks for that Ash.
Ash continued onto a tangential topic, "I can't believe how good a solid Frappuccino can be."
Elesa smiled and looked on, putting her hands behind her back in a soft and lady-like way, elbows akimbo.
"I KNOW right?" she followed.
"It's actually funny…I used to hate the idea of them," Ash chuckled.
Elesa raised her eyebrow, smile unwavering. "Really? And why is that?"
"I used to think they were made out of coffee."
The girl with lemon hair got a kick out of that.
"You're kidding! What would make you think that?"
"Well…since they were always in coffee shops I just assumed…"
This was too good for Elesa.
"And you never stopped to wonder how pink and orange coffee was invented?"
Ash was wimpering. "Well with all the artificial stuff these days…"
"Answer this: If they advertised artificial coffee would that be a benefit or detriment to their business?"
"Errr…well I just don't like coffee and I thought…"
"Huh. For someone who's such a genius against Nimbasa's best, you sure don't use that head much do ya?" Elsea teased.
"But…but…OKAY maybe I'm stupid!" Ash squinted his eyes and let the words slip out like they were made of acid.
Elesa threw here head back and laughed. Ash and Pikachu joined in soon took light of the situation.
"But this guy..." he stroked the underside of his buddy's chin, who was carefully perched on his shoulder, "THIS guy has always loved anything made out of Chilan or Leppa. It's a tough life having to live with a Pokemon who loves your worst drink."
Elesa laughed. "Yeah. It must suck to be you."
Ash joined in on the laugh. He continued to stroke Pikachu's chin, and moved to his ears. Pikachu just had a nice and warm "Chaaaa!" to respond to that.
A boy with a milkman's hat passed them on his Acro, smile planted on his face. His eyes contacted the two walking on the sidewalk, and waved to them. They waved back.
To their left across the street a vendor was selling fruits. He caught their eyes too. He waved them over hastily. Ash and Elesa smiled and shrugged.
"Why not?" They seemed to say in unison.
They walked over.
He boomed with a warm and loud accent: "Fresh Seetriss Berries for de leedur and shampyun of Neembahsah?"
Ash blinked a couple of times while Elesa laughed and responded, "Oh no need to treat us any different. Just give ours to whoever wants them." She turned around and winked at the moms and children standing in line, bright smiles of life everywhere.
The portly vendor laughed and winked. "Aye. I should half known! Well, gued day tuh yuh twosies!"
Again Ash was confused and scratched his head. "Uh…"
Elesa sighed to herself. Must I do everything?
"Thanks Mister! Have a good day as well." She beamed and grabbed Ash by the hand and led him away like they were going to tackle a Salsa routine.
The city was spacious and large, and even though it had it's fair share of large edifices and larger-than-life complexes, there was always room for road, sidewalk, and flora wherever possible. Perhaps a statue or painting here and there. Maybe a directory. But somehow no matter where you were in the city you never felt cramped, while at the same time having the feeling that you could never conquer the entire city no matter how hard you tried that urban areas gave you.
But Ash and Elesa had strolled into the park of Nimbasa. They were on the wing where all the hustle and bustle was, with all the vendors and street performers. A breakdancer over there. A juggler right here. A guitarist with a stack of albums right next to her strumming a happy tune about moving on with life. Based on the tip hat right in front of her, she seemed to be attracting a lot of attention. Ash even bought her single, using his natural charm to shmoo the performer into blushing.
He sure is good at looking good. Maybe he doesn't need to act for it. Elesa thought with a bright smile.
The girl with lemon hair's unique hairstyle was especially flattering in the bright sun, even more so around all the people. Her height was helping her considerably, making her an easy target to spot out of everyone in the crowd. Even without her heels, she looked so mature.
And even Ash at this moment, looked years beyond his age.
He cocked his head toward Elesa and asked, "How did you understand that guy?"
Elesa smiled. "Nimbasa is such a welcoming place. It has become so cosmopolitan that the gym leader should be expected to understand a variety of accents."
"Yeah but…are you sure that guy was speaking an actual language?" Ash actually sounded serious.
They both laughed.
The road they were following curved into a smooth and decorated cobblestone driveway. It cut through a gate that functioned more of an aesthetic device than an actual protective barrier. There were cleanly cut shrubs and daftly planted flowers littered around a perfectly paved pool of water. A simple bridge swept over the water. Inside were multiple species of fish Pokemon, flying in the water without a care in the world.
Here Ash had forgotten he was walking. "This is just…wow. This is just wow."
Elesa smiled and let her aura of thanks be her response.
The city designer pulled out a remote of some device and opened her door. It led into the house, so contemporary in its mechanics yet so rustic in its look.
Ash remarked, "Feels like I just walked into a future version of a log cabin."
Elesa smiled. "Thanks for coming home with me Ash."
"Are you kidding me? It's my honor! Considering how incredible you are at everything you do? AND how you just saved my butt!? I owe ya one."
Elesa blushed at those words. But Ash didn't take notice. He was too busy being Ash. Ya know, gawking at any edifice that wasn't made of mud, and being the most incredibly dense thing every to exist on the planet.
Elesa shook her head out of it and switched gears into a pleasant speech.
"Hey Ash, watch this."
Sparkling ocean eyes already painted on the girl seemingly glowed a neon cyan, as if a star was illuminating inside them, as the tall supermodel pulled out her graceful hand. She curled it into a funky shape and brought it to her face.
What came next was a whistle so beautiful it seemed to capture the attention of the flowers sitting next to her.
At first nothing happened.
Then a stampede came down the steps.
A second later Elesa was buried by her precious. All of them.
What followed was simply a fit of laughter and squeals and giggles. As the owner of the Pokemon was currently being greeted home with a large dogpile of every single one of the creatures in question. She was stuck in the bottom laughing hysterically, unable to contain the happiness and joy.
Eventually Elesa's Pokemon let go. It executed in such a well-coordinated manner it appeared like a daily ritual as they backed off and smiled down at the crumpled leader on the ground.
Ash wasn't too aware of that. "ELESA! Are you okay?"
"…huff…huff….hehe…"
"ELESA?!"
"…hehehehe-COUGHCOUGH-hehe-….hehe…"
Ash could just stare with his jaw agape as Elesa lay on the floor, giggling, coughing, sputtering, recovering.
The boy and his Pikachu were starting to get worried when Elesa suddenly leaped up gracefully and did a twirl. When she was done she gazed over her shoulder and winked at Ash. Stunned, Ketchum just stood anchored to the floor like it was made of gum. Elesa giggled and walked forward.
"You comin'?"
"Derrr…uhhhh…yeah?" Ash finally decided.
The girl in lemon hair just chuckled and shook her head, the Pokemon following suit.
"You'll get used to it Ash." And she left it that. She started heading to the living room.
Then a sudden realization hit Elesa as she rounded the corner.
If he has the chance to do that.
People say time flies when you're having fun.
Liers.
It freaking timewarps to the next year… Elesa thought aggravatingly.
She was busy fixing up fresh Iapapa coated bread. It was sort of her thing. The sweet and sour pulpiness of the berry somehow juiced up the bread and made it elegantly delectable.
The best part was that Emo hated it, so she never had to worry about her complaining.
Talking with Ash proved to be more and more entertaining every time he opened his mouth. The way he talks just swallows you up and never gives your brain a chance to let go. Mostly because he had stories with substories and substories to those substories and subtopics to those substories with different takes and points and ideas to each subpoint to the subtopics that correlating to different substories and connected to other subpoints and related back to the one main substory which was part of a grander scheme of one main story. Each one lasted at absolute bare minimum an hour.
Subtopics that is.
So basically if he started talking now, he couldn't finish before the end of the year, even if he flew by and skipped the boring parts.
"…so yeah. It really was a blast."
…
"Oh and I guess I kinda had to walk with every toe broken for another month or so. But that's the boring part."
…Yeah. His boring parts.
…
…
…"Ummmm…Elesa?"
She looked up, her eyes shimmering. "Hmmm?"
Ash leaned back in the pure shiny Swanna (apparently shiny was softer) down couch. He crossed his arms and pouted. "It was boring wasn't it? I knew that was a stupid story. Maybe I shouldn't be here, I'm just wasting your time…humpf…"
Electricity surged up through Elesa's back. She closed her eyes and shouted "WHAT? NONONO!"
Not losing him! I just now got him here Not losing him! I won't Not losing him! I Not losing him!
She peeked open to see Ash confused and raising an eyebrow at her.
Cue the blushing. At least Elesa knew how to hide it. According to Rule XVI Letter XLI of the NMA (National Model's Association) guide, a great model needs to look as chilled and blushless as possible.
Elesa's mouth filled back up with fluid and she took a breath. Giggling, she meekly mentioned, "Sorry Ash, it's just that it was a very entertaining story. Please, stay as long as you want."
Realizing what she had said, it felt wrong in her mouth. Her jaws uncontrollably yet discreetly moved up and down ever so slightly to hide the lack of voice filling in the void of self-achieved awkwardness.
Well that makes it sound like I'm only letting him stay for the story.
Ash just smiled and sat up. "Oh good that's a relief. This reminds me of a time when this one trainer…"
Elesa just smiled and continued to juice the berries.
A warm afternoon sun leaked across the sky and tickled the world with heat. It signified a dimuendo, a time of peace and quiet as Pokemon hustled to their dens for protection, as people started coming home from work, as trainers started setting up shop for the night on the road.
The time when Ash had to leave Elesa's.
Ash you really should stay! I have a nice HD TV, a beautiful garden, a cool fun room, a nice Jacuzzi… Elesa wanted to say this.
And she probably would have asked his permission to invite him to stay at her house if she didn't blush at the thought of the Jacuzzi.
But regardless all she let out was a graceful, "Ash, thanks for stopping by." The irises of her eyes twinkled like little speckles of a polished floor. Eyes do tell a hidden story, you know.
It's funny. She had the most gorgeous house in the most gorgeous city and all Ash experienced in those seven or eight hours (or about 10 minutes as Elesa felt) was the entrance, dining room, and the smaller living room (admittedly, Elesa did have multiple living rooms).
Ash shook his head to ruffle his wildly neat hair smooth out to its normal organized chaos before he slipped his hat back on. He looked back and smiled, exhorting his experience in one word.
"Fabulous."
And with that he winked at her and set out for the Pokemon Center.
Elesa giggled and waved goodbye.
Her memories of today flooded her mind. It felt like the greatest day in a long time.
Elesa's hair turned a strawberry blonde under the setting sun, and it looked gorgeous. It gave a sight of a welcoming teenage girl mature beyond her years.
Then that wretched bridge caught her eye.
…
It was being tested for functionality.
…
The contemporary bright halves of the modernized bridge were moving peacefully and fluidly to one another in the distance
…
And it worked. Flawlessly. Elesa made the bridge specifically to be simple to fix and consistent to work.
…
Her own ingenious was biting her in the neck here.
…
Biting her in the neck…
…
Something was actually biting her in the neck.
"OW!" Elesa shrieked in surprise and swatted away the perpetrator.
A whimper came out from behind her, and she craned her neck to see what it came from.
A small and adorable Pokemon with black and white, lightning-shaped stripes running across it's body was attacking Elesa with the most lethal Lillipup eyes ever. It was her own little Blitzle nipping at her neck. It must be time for its bath.
The Blitzle itself couldn't hurt a flower if it tried.
And oh boy did it try sometimes. The flowers in Elesa's upstairs garden were still too much to handle for the newborn.
Sighing, she smiled and rubbed his head.
"Alright girl let's get goin."
The 3 month-old always brought her mood up.
After all, it went through a lot to end up where it is now.
And right now, Elesa needed all the motivational determination she could get.