Alone in the Night
"The little Abra having no one else to turn to then went off on his own adventure. His mother, a lovely Kadabra, had told him that sometimes in the winter the snow just wouldn't come. He would have to wait until next year. Abra didn't think he could though and he thought hard and long for an idea to get his winter wonderland. Finally he came up with an idea. He was sure if he could just talk with the beautiful snowy Articuno he could convince it to allow it to snow again. So he set off on his journey with his friend. Do you remember who that friend was?" The old woman looked down at the child at her feet smiling. The little girl was bouncing up and down her blonde pig-tails flopping with each excited bounce. Her small hands were twined in the fur of a sleeping Vulpix and she would caress the creature every now and again.
Her blue-gray eyes brightened as she called out the answer excitedly, "It was a Pidgey!" The grandmother nodded and watched her carefully as the child settled down by lying on the soft comforter and placing her head on the waiting pillow. She pulled the small fox Pokémon closer to her and then placed a hand on her soft flank. She yawned and her eyes were starting to droop. The woman smiled and shook her head slightly at the way children can do an abrupt 180 by being hyper one moment and the next on the verge of sleeping.
She nodded once again and tousled the little girl's hair for a moment before sitting back in her rocking chair. The fireplace was crackling merrily and the woman paused for a moment looking and the sparking flashes of red and orange. She continued softly, "That's right. It was a Pidgey and so after the little Abra had convinced his friend to go see Articuno they set off. Of course they left a note for their parents so they wouldn't worry and then while they were on the trip…" She trailed off as she saw the little girl was fast asleep. The old woman grinned at the sight of the child and the Vulpix sleeping peacefully and then she slowly leveled herself up with a couple of groans.
Walking to the kitchen she spoke to the two adults who had been sitting there, "Well, she is asleep now. If you two want to go home you can leave her here. I haven't seen Lisirra in such a long time." She added while glancing pointedly at her dark-haired son who had her blue-gray eyes. He flashed a smile and gave his mother a hug.
"Ah, well… you know how it goes."
"I suppose I do."
"You love us anyway."
"I suppose I do."
The conversation was always the same and the two smiled at each other before sitting down. The grandmother reached across the table to lay a gentle hand on her daughter-in-law, Angela. "How are things going all the way Pallet Town? Is the professor still bugging you about your findings on Spearow flocking?"
Angela laughed even as her husband, Ray, sighed exasperatedly, "I swear Mother, Professor Oak is just as annoying as you can be when he is in researcher mode." He was silent for a moment before he spoke again mischievously, "Perhaps it is his age."
The older woman laughed quietly, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Poisoning cookies to get rid of pesky sons these days just takes too long." The man glanced quickly at the tray where a couple of cookies sat innocently. Angela laughed again. "Oh you, don't be silly. Why would I poison my only son? Then I would definitely not see my Granddaughter."
Ray smiled but then playfully glared at her, "Oh, but you would. You are very sneaky mother dearest. You have of course recalled that you are supposed to be watching my child if anything should happen to me and my wife." The old woman glared at her son.
"Hush now. Don't you dare talk like that even in jest." The son shrugged good-naturedly.
"I didn't mean anything mother, I was only kidding."
A small voice broke through the adults' conversation, "Grandma?"
The woman turned quickly around, "Yes, Little One?" Lisirra rubbed her eyes and then glanced near the stove where several eggs were warming. Her grandmother was working on breeding and egg research at the moment and the little girl was simply fascinated. "May I turn the eggs?"
Ray smiled but looked at his watch, "Sorry Lis Dear, we have to be going now. Old grandmas shouldn't be staying up so late." Again the grandmother glared at her son even as she got up and trod on his foot. At his small exclamation of pain she spoke.
"Oops…guess in my old age I couldn't see where I was going. I should get some glasses." She smiled and then walked to the little girl and putting a hand on her shoulder walked over to where the eggs were sitting. "Sure, you can turn the eggs Lissy. Just be careful okay?"
Lisirra nodded sagely with wide blue eyes. Then she carefully touched each egg and turned it. She spoke under her breath as she did so, "A blue one, a brown one, a pretty white one, a green-spotted one, a red one, and finally a tiny little gray one!" She patted each egg carefully but her hand rested on the white egg for a fraction longer than all the others. She tugged on her grandmother's hand, "Hey, grandma? Do you know what Pokémon is in what egg?"
The grandmother smiled, "No, I don't. Maybe the little babies want it to be a surprise!"
Lisirra looked back at the eggs doubtfully, "Maybe."
The father stood up and again looked at his watch, scooping up his little girl he placed a light kiss on her cheek and then set her back down. Going to the coat closet he grabbed their belongings and then knelt down and began to dress his daughter in her coat, gloves, and boots.
Then he stood back up and helped his wife into her own coat. Ray smiled at his daughter and then spoke quietly, "How about you give your grandma a big hug and tell her we'll see her soon." He sent his mother a triumphant look. The little girl quickly obeyed, running to her grandmother and giving her a big hug.
Lisirra started a little when her grandma's silver pendent pressed against her cheek but reached up and gave her a kiss. Then she whirled about and ran into her father's waiting arms. The grandmother stood up and smiled at Lisirra and then looked at Ray and Angela. "How will you three be getting home?"
Ray shrugged, "Well we'll probably take a taxi home once we get near Pallet. Before that, well we'll fly of course." Ray and Angela had both been serious trainers in their youth and had amassed quite a collection of teams.
The grandmother nodded, "You be careful… there is a lot of hooligans out and about on Christmas Eve. A lot of drunks too…" she added on as a troubled look crossed her face, "Are you sure you don't want to stay here the night? It's really no trouble."
Ray laughed and hugged his little family to him, "We'll be fine mother and we'll see you bright and early tomorrow after Santa and his Stantlers have stopped by of course." Lisirra in his arms gasped in child-like delight. The old woman walked her little family to the door and saw them out.
"You be careful now! I love you all." She called as they disappeared into the night.
Lisirra called back, "Good night Grandma Willow. We'll see you tomorrow!"
Willow closed the door and sank back against it as her mind flashed to when Lis had left her hand a fraction longer on the pure white egg. She brought a shaking hand up to her throat and touched the silver-blue pendent that hung there. Was something going to happen or was she just an old woman with old fears resurfacing? She sighed as the flood of questions entered her mind and then continued through the kitchen into her room where she dozed fitfully the whole night.