Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Everything is written by me with some assistance on grammar and such.

Please PM me if something confuses you or you notice an error. I am human and I do not have a degree in Literature so please do not expect perfection.


January 17, 2015

The message runs through Steven's head one last time before he closes his right hand around the letter. Slowly, he grabs the Pokéball and exits the room leaving the door ajar. He walks as quietly as possible down the steel staircase and into the living room. Steven then goes to the couch and touches his thumb against the pokéball's center to enlarge it.

"Beldum, don't scare this Pokémon when it gets out, okay?" He asks the steel/psychic-type Pokémon.

With the Pokéball in hand, he throws it into the air, waiting for the ball to release the being held inside. The ball opens from the center and releases a flash of white light. It collects on the ground in a ball before quickly fading out. In the same place now stands a Pokémon that he immediately recognizes. After catching the returning Pokéball, Steven makes his way over to the Pokémon and squats down. He comes face to face with a blue furred seal that has a cream colored stomach with two little flippers. He slowly reaches into his back pocket with his left hand to retrieve his Pokédex.

"Pokédex, scan this Spheal pleas," he says sternly. The Pokédex beeps indicating that it is beginning its search.

Steven carefully sits down and crosses his leg. Casually, he places his hands to the sides of Spheal. Already knowing its behavior, he rolls the ball Pokémon between his hands. The gentle purr lets Steven know it is enjoying the little game.

"The Clap Pokémon," the Pokédex begins announcing its findings. "Spheal always travel by rolling around on its ball-like body. When the season for ice floes arrives, this Pokémon can be seen rolling about on ice and crossing the sea. This Spheal is of the female gender and currently knows the attacks Powder Snow, Growl, and Water Gun."

Steven stops their little game and gently lifts the Pokémon to eye level. "Okay Spheal listen up," the Spheal immediately stops its wiggling, "your trainer is still young okay? So no playing with your attacks until he grows up. And you will have to wait until tomorrow before you get to meet him."

The ball opens her mouth and lets out a flurry of snow, Powder Snow to be exact, in Steven's face. With a quiet yelp of surprise, he places the Pokémon down and gets up to wipe his face. Spheal rolls away towards the closet door. He returns back to the living room to see Spheal blowing snow into the closet thoroughly freezing all of his coats.

"C'mon Spheal, it's time for bed," Steven says as he lifts the Pokémon into his arm.

Once again, he makes the trip back up the stairs only this time he has a spheal in his arms. Steven walks down the hall and enters the door on the left. He grabs the Pokéball and aims at Spheal to return her. A red light beams out of the ball and quickly returns the Pokémon to its original place. After placing the ball down on the nightstand near the bed, he goes into his closet in order to get ready to sleep.

Steven lays in bed thinking about what the future may hold. Will this child grow like every other one? How will he break the news to him that his parents are gone and all they left is an energetic Spheal? These questions haunt his dreams throughout the night.


Steven wakes up at four in the morning to the sound of a child screaming and crying. He quickly opens the door and runs to the other side of the hall. Placing his hand on the door knob, he turns it and heaves the door open. Inside he finds Aslan awake, crying and reaching his little hands out in search of some parental warmth. Sadly, there are no parents in sight to help this child. They have crossed the sea in the direction of Lilycove City, probably nearing the very city itself as of now.

Steven slowly makes his way towards the bed, hesitating about what he should do. Lay down next to the child? Comfort him from afar? He can't think properly with Aslan's screams. Steven's hands run a path from his forehead to the crown of his head and then slamming down against his legs. Where is the answer? How can he help? One of Aslan's flailing arms swipe across the nightstand, knocking down a small alarm clock. He sees the object roll on the floor for a few seconds. Then a thought crosses his mind. . . Spheal. Maybe she can help.

Steven quickly makes his way back to his room in search for the Pokéball that holds the answer. He spots it on the nightstand where he had left it and makes a grab for it. With the cold Pokéball in hand, he returns to Aslan's room.

"Please let this work," Steven prays to whatever being that can help. "Spheal, come on out!" The ball is tossed once again into the air, releasing a familiar beam of light.

The Spheal makes a squeak of appreciation before turning towards the now weeping child. Slowly, she rolls her way into Aslan's arms. Aslan seems to feel the Pokémon as his hands reach around to hold her. The Pokémon wiggles a bit to find a more comfortable place in who she assumes is her trainer. Aslan's cries soften to a whimper, and he holds Spheal closer to his body.

A sigh of relief leaves Steven's lips as he backs into the wall and slides his way down to a sitting position. The quiet night resumes its place. He checks the fallen alarm clock that reads 4:23 AM. Another sigh and he begins the struggle of getting back up. He looks at the pair who are now fast asleep. Spheal snoring happily against a new face. Aslan on the other hand, has a flushed face from crying.

"Aslan is getting a bit too much for me to be saying. How about 'Lan'? Yeah, that sounds better. Okay Lan, I guess you're my responsibility now." Steven whispers to Lan.

He silently exits and closes the door. Who knew acting like a parent was tough? Being an actual parent must be even harder. Knowing he won't be able to get some sleep, he continues down the hall into the lounge area and takes a seat. In a few hours, Lan should be awake. In a few hours, Lan would start asking questions. In a few hours, Lan will scream and shout at the poor Spheal who came to his rescue just thirty minutes ago.

Steven releases another sigh. Sighing is all he's been doing lately. Barely the age of 20 and he is already acting as a parent. A final sigh leaves his mouth. With nothing more to do, he decides on making coffee for himself.

Hours pass and he finally hears the sound of movement in the guest room. The first challenge of the day begins now. He makes his way out of the kitchen leaving behind an empty mug on the counter near the sink. Steven hears the faint sound of a boy talking to someone.

"Aslan, are you awake?" He asks quickly hoping for a response.

". . . Hello," the boy responds in a soft voice.

Steven hears the boy shifting on the bed most likely attempting to get to the ground safely. He continues down the hall and enters the room on the right. He can't help but let out a chuckle from seeing Spheal trying to catch the boy as he slowly moves his legs off the bed.

"Hold on Aslan, I'll get you," he moves past the doorway and carefully places the child on the floor. "You could have asked for help if you knew I was awake."

Aslan nods in understanding.

"And Aslan, do you mind if I just start calling you by Lan from now on?" he inquires the young boy.

The newly nicknamed Lan lifts his head and gives a brief nod. Okay, so that covers two out of the endless list of things to do today. He lowers his hand towards Lan as a gesture for him to grab. Lan manages to hold onto two fingers as his hands have yet to develop. They both take the silence as approval to continue on with their lives.

Before Steven can lead them anywhere, Lan grabs a hold of Spheal and tugs on Steven's hand to let him know that they can start going now. Steven nods and walks down the hall towards the stair case. With permission, he takes Lan, along with his Pokémon, into his arms and descends the stairs a step at a time. He slowly places the pair down on the ground.

"Hey mister, what's your name? Who is this ball? Is it mine? Can I have it?" It is one question after another from Lan and Steven is beginning to feel overwhelmed.

"Hold on there, let's go sit down first," He motions towards the couch with his head.

They take a seat on opposite ends of the couch. Lan with his legs crossed on the couch with Spheal sitting on his legs. Steven is leaned back against the arm of the couch and has a leg propped up against the knee of the other.

"Okay Lan," Steven begins, "My name is Steven Stone. That ball you have next to you is a Pokémon named Spheal and you can keep her because she was left to you by your Mom and Dad." He ends his answer but, he immediately regrets it as soon as he sees the look of confusion start to set in Lan's face.

Before he can clarify, Lan opens his mouth, "Where are they?"

Steven already had planned on telling him in the future, he just hoped it wouldn't be the next day.

"Lan, your parents left. They aren't," he pauses, "they aren't here anymore."

With the truth finally out, Steven lets out yet another sigh. Lan stares at Steven in the eyes before his lips begin to pout. Steven stands up quickly hoping to stop Lan before he makes another commotion. He walks over to Lan's side of the couch and takes another seat.

"Listen, Lan," he attempts to smooth over the situation, "they're alright, okay? They just ran into a few problems and had to leave you with me. Everything's going to be okay, alright?" He comforts the child, hoping that it will placate Lan's worries.

Lan brings his head down and looks at Spheal. She had turned in her spot to face Lan. Noticing the change in his face, she uses Powder Snow and lets out a flurry of snow aim toward the child's face. Steven worries skyrocket, only to settle down when he hears a hearty giggle coming from Lan.

Steven closes his eyes in relief and leans back against the cushion. Yet again, Lan's Spheal has come to the rescue. A loud rumble erupts between the two, causing a silence. Lan begins to laugh at the sound his stomach made.

"Steven, can I have some food now?"

Steven doesn't respond. He just gets up and walks towards the kitchen trying to think of something to cook for an intelligent boy who is only four years old. He opens the fridge and crouches down to get a better look inside. He quickly scans its contents in search of something edible. Milk. Yogurt. Fruit. Vegies. Apple sauce.

"Pick, apple sauce or yogurt with fruit," He turns and looks at Lan.

Lan scrunches his face and begins to think of which sounds more appealing at the moment. He turns to look at Spheal.

"Spheal, what do you think?" He asks softly. The Spheal hops once. "Steven, can I have some apple sauce please?"

Steven nods and turns back to reach for the jar. After closing the fridge, he side steps to reach into the cabinets above for a bowl. Next, he turns around to grab a spoon from the drawer and serves Lan a small helping of the puréed fruit.

Lan and Spheal make their way into the kitchen and sit at the table. Once seated, Lan reaches down for Spheal and moves her onto his lap. It is obvious that he will go nowhere without her. With a spoon in hand, Lan takes of spoonful of apple sauce and begins to eat.

The day, in Steven's perspective, was stressful. In Lan's eyes, it was sad, happy, sadder, and then it was fun being with Spheal.

Steven lays in bed again at the end of the night, thinking of when he should tell Lan that he is going on a trip, away from Mossdeep City, to look for a new type of stone that has surfaced in the Kalos region, a land far from Hoenn. He won't be leaving for another eight years, but still, he has to tell him before the day comes.


A week later and Steven and Lan have a routine set;

At six, Steven wakes up and goes down the stairs to make coffee.

At eight, Lan wakes up with Spheal at his side and walks down the stairs one step at a time.

Breakfast begins at 8:30 AM even if Lan doesn't wake up.

At noon, the trio make their way to the coast and look for rocks, it's not like a child coming into his life will distract him from the love of his life.

Lunch begins at around two at the Café in the Space Center.

The group returns to the coast for another adventure after lunch. Only this time, it is for leisure.

The clock strikes 5:00 PM and the man with silver hair and the boy with a Spheal return home.


Stay tuned for the next chap.

I will be publishing new chapters for the next few days, but next week i will be updating on Wednesday and Sunday (hopefully).

- Tyson