Hello everybody! Thank you for your patience with me over the past few weeks; I'm sorry I haven't been responding to PM's quickly or reviewing much. I've been very busy with life, some of it exciting other bits not so much. Regardless, I've finally managed to finish writing the first part of this chapter.
I'm going to try to respond to PM's and drop some reviews a little later tonight and tomorrow, so if you've sent me a PM and I haven't gotten back, I should be doing so shortly.
On that note, I hope you enjoy this 16k word behemoth! :)
-=Amazing Grace=-
Jeremy and Grace sat in one of the many dining stalls that lined the front wall of Franklin's Diner and Eatery, otherwise known simply as Franklin's; the booth gave them a clear view of Main Street, letting them observe the people of Twinsport go along their merry way at a leisurely pace. While the dining space could seat four it looked more suitable for a party of two. Grace occupied one side of the booth and Jeremy the other, both seated on the aged, red faux leather benches. The teen watched as his friend fiddled with a glass of water in front of her, lazily stirring the ice cubes with her straw.
"You know, we can just order from another waitress; it doesn't have to be Ashley," Grace moaned as she withdrew her hand from the red bendy straw that sat in her glass, resting the appendage on the table in an apathetic motion. "Really, it's not a big deal." The Pokémon looked slightly annoyed; any outside observer could see this. Her large cherry red eyes made it difficult to hide how she felt; as one could imagine, this was often a blessing and a curse.
"You're that hungry, huh?" Jeremy asked with a raised eyebrow. The Gardevoir remained silent as she lifted a hand to resume playing with her straw. Grace's eyes lazily watched as the ice inside the glass swirled around the artificial whirlpool she created. If Jeremy had to guess, he would say that the Pokemon was more annoyed by his insistence on waiting for Ashley because of how hungry he was, not how hungry she was. It wasn't a big deal for him, however; he could wait a bit. The waitress who seated and served them their water claimed Ashley would be out on the floor in no more than ten minutes. That was about ten minute ago on the spot.
Grace and Jeremy had walked down into town after the Gardevoir's incident in the park, intent on filling their empty stomachs with food and a glass or two of orange juice. The walk from the park to the diner had been rather pleasant for the two, even more so than usual. Grace no longer attempted to distance herself from Jeremy and instead opted to walk in close proximity to the teen, even closer than normal, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by several passersby. Every once in a while she would skip ahead, audibly humming a nameless tune while merrily stating Jeremy was going too slow. It was a drastic change in mood from just moments prior when the emotional vortex of grief that had been building in the Pokémon was unleashed in an instant.
The grief that Grace had shown left a mark on Jeremy, an imprint of sort. It was a strange sensation that he couldn't quite describe. If the teen had to think of an analogy for the feeling, it would be like having a lasting bad taste on one's tongue, even after spitting out the offending food or drink. This 'bad taste' was the result of the negative emotions that had manifested in Grace's outcry. Even after the two had settled things and the Gardevoir had come to peace with the situation, the feeling persisted. Grace's cheerful attitude acted as a sweet elixir, slowing causing the imprint to fade away.
"Ah, Jeremy! Grace! How are you guys?" A chipper voice cut through the air. Both people in question turned their attention in the direction of the voice to see a woman who appeared to be in her mid twenties walking towards them. She wore a pair of denim jeans and a plain, yellow shirt; a black apron hung from her neck and was tightly tied around her waist, displaying the young woman's petite, hourglass form. Her hazel eyes had a proverbial sparkle in them, a testament to her high spirits.
"We're doing good. How're thing going, Ashley?" Jeremy asked as his neighbor came to a halt in front of their booth. Ashley started working at Franklin's several years prior when Jeremy first started going to high school; the cheerful girl was one of the most popular servers employed by the restaurant. Her genuinely friendly personality won over many of the establishment's patrons as well as the staff. She also occasionally got Jeremy a milkshake or treat on the house; it was nice having friends in 'high places'.
"I'm good, although a bit curious as to why you're in town for breakfast. Was your refrigerator empty or something?" the girl laughed. The mental image of Claire and David fighting over a solitary toaster pastry formed in his head, causing the teen to chuckle briefly while shrugging his shoulders in amusement.
"Well, it's something like that. I'm actually down her to celebrate with Grace," Jeremy informed Ashley. This comment caught the waitress's attention, causing her gaze to rapidly dart between the two in front of her as if she was trying to figure out what exactly he meant by the statement.
"Celebrate what? Your birthday isn't for another few months, and Grace's was back in June. Did something happen? What are you hiding from me, Squirt?" Jeremy couldn't help but smile at how well the girl knew his family and occasions such as birthdays. He supposed that was only natural considering how frequently she had involved herself with him growing up. Heck, she had once vacationed with the Benpers, although there was a very specific set of circumstances surrounding that situation. Of course, Jeremy didn't mind this and wouldn't have had it any other way.
"No, nothing quite like that. Do you remember me telling you about that Pokémon Sanctuary up in Goldenrod?" Ashley nodded her head, signaling him to continue with a wave of her hand. "I got a call from Professor Oak this morning. He offered me a position there." The brief expression of shock the girl displayed was quickly replaced by a broad smile as Jeremy relayed the good news.
"Congratulations, Jeremy!" Ashley shouted enthusiastically as she bent over to pull Jeremy into a hug, although their awkward positions made this difficult. The action drew the attention of several diners and employees, something the teen hated. He was all for hugs and congratulation, but detested being in any sort of 'spotlight'. "Way to hit it big; even I know who Professor Oak is and I don't know the first thing about Pokémon! I always knew you'd be successful!" Grace audibly laughed as she watched Jeremy uncomfortably look around, embarrassed by the attention he was receiving. He was a modest person by nature, and often times didn't know how to react to praises and congratulations.
"Uh, T-Thanks, Ashley," Jeremy stuttered as the girl released him, regaining her posture. Letting out a breath, he continued, saying, "This is really big for me. I'm pretty excited, but kind of nervous as well." The waitress giggled lightly and nodded in understanding.
"It's a big opportunity, that's for certain, but I'm sure you'll be fine!" Ashley turned her gaze away from her neighbor and looked around the open atmosphere of the diner, eyes darting from sever to server. After a few seconds, her gaze returned to the teen as she asked, "Say, has somebody helped you guys out yet? I didn't see any orders in the back that looked like anything you'd two eat, unless you guys now prefer grits and dry white toast?" Grace shook her head, laughing at the humorous suggestion.
"No, we still haven't ordered. We got here about ten minutes ago; One of the other waitresses told us you'd be here in a little bit," the Gardevoir explained, breaking her silence. Ashley turned to face Grace and looked a little surprised by the information. Jeremy cleared his throat in an effort to grab his neighbor's attention so he could explain.
"Hey, with such big news, I wanted to wait until you showed up to place our orders. I've gone the whole morning without food, I can go another ten minutes." Jeremy's explanation was only partly honest; in truth, while he preferred to have Ashley as a server, Jeremy would have been just fine with anybody else. The teen was positive she'd find her way over to his and Grace's booth regardless of who had taken his order.
The real reason why Jeremy waiting for Ashley to arrive was for Grace's sake. Being a Gardevoir, Grace had the ability to utilize telepathy to communicate with those around her. The Gardevoir managed to pick up a little human speech over the years, but not nearly enough to place an order or carry a conversation. She was confined to single words and phrases such as "yes", "no", and "thank you". These small tidbits of speech often came out sounding awkward, causing Grace to use them sparingly. The only reason the Gardevoir could speak at all was because she grew up surrounded by human language. Grace had tried as a Kirlia to learn to talk, but most of her attempts ended in utter failure. This wasn't surprising considering there were fewer than five documented cases of Pokémon that could talk through verbal means.
One might think that since her speech was fluent through telepathy Grace wouldn't have a need to learn, or at least attempt to learn, a human language; such was not the case.
There was a small issue with her unconventional means of communication. While it was true that Grace could make her emotions known to anybody in close proximity, in order to fully communicate with somebody, that is to say speak with somebody, she needed to know the person on a more intimate level. While the Gardevoir's bond with Ashley wasn't nearly as strong as the one she shared with Jeremy, it was strong enough to allow for speech. Even though Grace didn't make an issue out of her inability to talk with just anybody, the teen had a strong feeling that the Pokémon felt deeply about the matter. He could at times sense Grace's frustration when she couldn't place an order or ask somebody a simple question. It made him sad, and he wasn't nearly as good as Grace when it came to hiding his negative emotions. These emotions soured the atmosphere, so Jeremy found the best way to combat this was to stay around people who the Gardevoir could speak with. It was a crude but effective solution to the problem.
Gardevoir telepathy was a difficult thing to explain to people not well versed with Pokémon, specifically psychic types; many people assumed that all psychic types could use telepathy with anyone, but this was not the case. In truth, not even all psychic types could utilize telepathy to communicate, let alone speak like Grace. It was the bonds that Ralts, Kirlias, Gallades, and Gardevoirs formed with those around them -usually their trainer- that allowed Pokémon such as Grace to speak to humans like Jeremy and Ashley; of course, these bond also took considerable time to take shape and there were many factors that went into determining how strong a bond was and whether or not it could handle speech. There had been some undocumented cases of members of the Ralts line speaking to strangers in times of emergency, but it was a rare occurrence and many doubted the validity of such reports. Nobody quite understood how the Pokémon or their bonds worked, but researches did agree on one thing: the bonds were real and a complete mystery.
In truth, Jeremy didn't know any of this because of personal research or schooling; the teen was just going off of what a nurse at the Pokécenter had told him when Grace first started speaking with him. At the time, he was just a young boy and Grace a Ralts. The nurse had not been so technical and simply told him, "She can talk with you because she likes you a lot!" Jeremy found it humorous as an adult how such a simple statement could be so true.
"Aw, you could have placed your order, it's not a big deal!" Ashley laughed, breaking Jeremy's wandering mind's train of thought. Reaching down, the girl grabbed a notepad that hung from one of her apron pockets. Reaching up to grab a pencil lodged between her ear and skull, the waitress readied herself to write down the two's orders. "Okay, what'll ya' have?" Jeremy looked down at the menu and began to read off his order.
"I'll have a Belgian waffle with a large glass of orange juice. I'll have strawberries for my fruit," Jeremy stated as he folded up his menu. Ashley scribbled some shorthand notes down on her pad of paper before looking up to pose yet another question. "And how about you, Grace? I don't think I really need to ask, but there's always hope!"
"Hehe! Sorry, but I'll have the pancakes and a large glass of orange juice as well," Grace politely told Ashley her order with a smile and light nod of her head. The waitress sighed in mock defeat while jotting down the Gardevoir's order. A small frown formed on Ashley's lips as she finished writing.
"I'll never get you, Grace. We have so many options to chose from -omelets, home fries, biscuits!-, yet you always get the same thing! Heck, half of the time you end up stealing Jeremy's food anyways!" Jeremy laughed at the two's exchange. It always made him happy to see Grace socialize with others in such a way. She always seemed so joyful during such conversations; it was different than when she was with himself or their siblings and parents.
"But the pancakes are so good! And besides, I only pick at what Jeremy won't eat," Grace exclaimed, her voice steadily rising in pitch while defending her actions. Ashley rolled her eyes and put the notepad with their orders into her apron pocket. To any outsider who could hear the conversation, the number of whom was very small, it would appear that both Ashley and Grace were serious; however, Jeremy knew this was their own way of playing around. It was all done out of a sense of friendship.
"Yeah, sure, sure..." Ashley put away her pen and turned to look at Jeremy. "So, should I just put the strawberries and whipped cream that come with your waffle on top of Grace's pancakes? It'll probably save you some trouble in the long run." The waitress couldn't hide a smirk that formed on her lips.
Jeremy didn't let it show how humorous he thought the question was. While he loved the freshly cut fruit and sweet whipped cream that topped Franklin's Belgian waffles, Grace had formed a devious habit of stealing them from his plate. The Gardevoir loved fruit and sweet delicacies even more than he did. To be able to put them on one of her favorite breakfast foods made her a tremendously happy Pokémon. Knowing he wouldn't be able to save his fruit, but not wanting to sound defeated, Jeremy shrugged his shoulders while saying nonchalantly, "That's up to her; if she wants them, then she can have them."
Ashley turned again to Grace to find the Gardevoir eagerly nodding her head, the Pokémon's petite mouth displaying a goofy grin as she did so. Stifling a laugh, the waitress smiled broadly while rolling her eyes. "I swear, both of your little antics... it's ridiculous! Okay then, I'll be out in a few seconds with your orange juice. Your food shouldn't take very long. Be back in a jiff!" The waitress quickly turned around and began to walk towards the kitchen of the small diner. When she had passed through the free swinging door, Grace turned her attention back towards Jeremy and let out a contented sigh.
"*Hmm* Ok... I'm glad we waited for Ashley," Grace admitted. "It's always nice to see her; I wish we got together more!" Jeremy reached out to grab his water, taking a sip as the Gardevoir continued talking. "I sometimes consider taking Ashley's advice and getting something different, but don't tell her that! Hehe!" This caught the teen's attention; Jeremy raised an eyebrow, curious as to why she remained stubborn with her breakfast order.
"Really? I mean, it wouldn't be the end of the world if you decided to get something different. In truth, I'm surprised you never get the crepes or French toast. Those are really good and come with loads of fruit," Jeremy told her. Grace only shrugged her shoulders in response.
"I suppose," she said with an airy smile. "I just really like their pancakes."
Jeremy knew his friend wasn't telling him the full truth. There was nothing extraordinarily special about Franklin's pancakes. They were soft and fluffy, but nothing to write home about. Grace's affinity for the breakfast food was rooted in something deeper than simple taste. They indirectly marked one of the most significant milestones in her life -or day to be specific-, a wonderful experience for certain. Said occurrence forever changed her life, and was deeply rooted in both Grace's and Jeremy's memory alike. It all began ten years ago on a cool, autumn morning.
-=Amazing Grace=-
Jeremy felt warm buried under his soft, down comforter and bed sheets. The cool air of late October made getting out of bed difficult for the ten year old, especially considering the only thing that awaited him was a long day at school and the inevitable pile of homework that would be awaiting his attention afterwards. Slowly opening his right eye, Jeremy peaked out from beneath his covers and looked at the dimly lit, red LCD display of his alarm clock. Its large, blocky numbers clearly displayed the time.
"Six twenty-eight..." the boy sighed. Two minutes, and his alarm would begin to sound. The screeching, electronic noise would undoubtedly awaken the bedroom's other occupant. Looking down towards his chest, Jeremy spotted the diminutive form of Grace hugging his abdomen, only her head remaining uncovered by his bedding. She was like a green and white teddy bear, only warmer. The Ralts' had changed little physically since her rescue three years ago, gaining only an inch or two in height. This was something that Jeremy couldn't claim for himself. He had grown much since that time and now measured close to five feet tall. The Ralts hadn't seemed to mind Jeremy's drastic change in size; in fact, Grace seemed to like Jeremy's gained stature. The Pokémon was now able to get free rides on the boy's shoulders, something she enjoyed immensely. Grace would often laugh like a child when Jeremy picked her up for a ride and would smile until he put her down.
"Ral... ralts..." Grace cooed softly as she felt Jeremy's body shift slightly. It was likely that the Pokémon was beginning to awaken; she often woke up when he did. Jeremy had to wonder if this was because she had grown used to his sleep pattern, or if she could somehow sense his awakening in her sleep. The psychic type Pokémon had many strange abilities, such as sharing her emotions, and he didn't rule out such a possibility.
The clock advanced; one minute until the alarm would ring.
Sighing in defeat, Jeremy reached out and flipped the alarm's small toggle switch to 'off'. There was no need to expose his ears to such a harsh tone if he was already awake. The movement caused Grace to stir slightly, her feet wriggling as she pressed her head more tightly against Jeremy's chest. The Pokémon reached out instinctively and grabbed hold of his nightshirt, her petite hands tightly clutching the soft cotton. The boy felt the shirt tighten around his back as the Ralts pulled it taut.
"Sorry Grace, it's time to get up," Jeremy whispered as he moved a hand to place on her head, patting it softly in an attempt to fully awaken the Pokémon. Grace's eye remained closed beneath her long, mint green hair, but her head responded positively towards Jeremy's hand, bobbing up and down with each pat. The Ralts moaned lightly at the disturbance, clearly not wanting to get up; Jeremy couldn't blame her considering how comfortable his bed was. "I don't want to get up anymore than you do... probably less since you don't have to go to school."
Grace didn't respond to this comment, not like the Ralts could if she wanted to. Several moments passed before the Pokémon's mouth opened in a muted yawn. Inhaling deeply, the Ralts' eyes finally opened as she tilted her head back, her ruby eyes locking with Jeremy's. Despite the fact that she had been awoken sooner than she'd like, Grace smiled broadly up at the boy and began to sing her name in greeting. "Ral! Ralts!"
"Heh, and good morning to you as well," Jeremy smiled as he slowly peeled back his bed sheets. The cool, autumn air rushed over his skin as the warm blanket that had insulated his body heat was pulled away. Grace shivered as the portion of blanket covering her was removed, eliciting a quiet cry. Jeremy felt guilty about waking her and softly said, "Sorry, you can go back to bed if you want. You don't have to get up with me."
Despite the offer, Jeremy knew full well that Grace would accompany him downstairs to greet the day. Very rarely would the small Pokémon ever stay in bed later than him. In truth, it made him happy that this was the case. Grace was like a small child that clung to her parent, although whether or not the Pokémon saw Jeremy as her parent was a mystery to him. He'd preferred to think that she saw him as her friend.
Getting out of bed, Jeremy felt as his feet made contact with the soft, blue rug that covered his floor. It was, admittedly, better than the cold, wooden floorboards beneath the seasonal throw. Turning around, Jeremy saw Grace standing expectantly on the edge of his mattress, arching her back in a stretch. Smirking, the boy rolled his eyes as he reached out to grab hold of the Pokémon, knowing exactly what she wanted. "Oh, alright. One of these days you'll have to learn to walk downstairs yourself though you know."
The Ralts happily cried out as Jeremy's hands looped under her arms and secured her in their grasps; the boy lifted the lightweight Pokémon into the air with ease. In one quick motion, Jeremy placed Grace on his shoulders like one would a small child. Her tiny, white feet hung over his shoulders as she adjusted herself. "Ralts! Ralts!" Grace giggled happily; he couldn't help but smile as she did so.
"Alright, let's get ready for the day," Jeremy announced as he began to move. Grace's petite arms wrapped around the boy's head to help stabilize her. With one large step, Jeremy began to make his way through the dim corridors of his home. The sun had yet to fully rise beyond the horizon, dawn remaining elusive. Grace clutched tightly to Jeremy's head as he sauntered down the staircase and to the ground floor of their home. The boy lazily carried himself through the house, each exaggerated step looking like it could be his last, until the boy found himself in the kitchen. John and Rosa were already awake and conversing at the kitchen table. Neither one had any food in front of them, but both had a mug of hot coffee. As many adults could attest to, the bitter, black liquid was arguably more important than solid sustenance in the morning. Jeremy didn't understand how or why somebody would start drinking coffee in the first place; maybe it was an acquired taste?
John was the first to notice his son's entry into the room and turned his attention away from his wife for a brief moment to greet him. "Hey there, Jeremy," Jeremy's father greeted his son with a friendly wave of his hand. Rosa turned her shoulders to get a clear view of her son and greeted him as well.
"Good morning. Sleep well?" the woman asked. Jeremy and Grace yawned in tandem, answering their question without words. Knowing this wouldn't suffice, however, Jeremy verbally replied as he reached up to grab Grace from his shoulders; it was a ritual he'd performed many times before.
"I slept okay, I guess," Jeremy replied, his voice sounding tired. With Grace in the boy's grasp, Jeremy lifted her high into the air before gently placing the Pokémon on the ground next to him. Grace seemed disappointed by her dismount, but quickly overcame this and began to walk towards the table. She reached one of the chairs that surrounded the table and began to climb up the rungs to reach the seat. "Getting up always stinks when it's cold outside. We should go somewhere warm when it gets cold." Walking over to one of the many cabinets in the kitchen, Jeremy opened a hinged door and stared into their pantry. Dozens of cereals lined the shelves, their colorful graphics popping out in the otherwise dark space.
"Oh, it's not that bad. Just wait until snow begins to fall," John chuckled. Jeremy shivered at that thought. It wasn't that he disliked winter or the snow, he just hated being cold. He was perfectly content sitting in front of the television with a blanket wrapped around him and a mug of hot coco in his hands while blizzards raged outside; the idealistic scene almost made the boy long for winter's harsh weather to arrive even sooner than he expected. There was something to be said about feeling safe and warm within the walls of one's home during the bitter cold months of winter.
Jeremy began to turn around to respond to his father's comment but was stopped short by an unexpected noise; the telephone began to ring, breaking the quietness of the ambient space. The loud, sharp electronic ringing caused the boy's gaze to darted over to the phone. Who could be calling so early in the morning? It wasn't even seven o' clock yet! Before he could make any attempt to answer the call, Rosa got up from her seat and walked over the to the wall where the phone was mounted.
Lifting the phone off its receiver, the woman put it to her ear and answered, "Benper residence." Her voice was friendly and polite although it definitely carried with it a hint of curiosity; afterall, just who would call so early in the morning? Jeremy watched rapt with interest as his mother listened to whoever was on the other end of the phone, trying to pick up on any clues as to who could be calling. Even from across the room, the boy could hear an indiscernible voice coming from the earpiece of the phone. "Oh, is that so? Thank you for calling, Jeremy will be thrilled." That line certainly peaked the boy's interest. Whoever was on the other end of the phone was talking about him! Who could it possibly be? "Well, I won't hold you up, I'm sure you have many more people to call." Another brief period of silence followed before Rosa bid farewell to whoever was on the other end of the call. "Okay, have a good day."
Putting the phone back in its cradle, Rosa turned to look at Jeremy. She seemed amused by his obvious curiosity. "Well, aren't you the lucky one, Jeremy," Rosa stated with a smile. "That was Mrs. Peters. It seems a small electrical fire set off the sprinklers at school this morning; classes are canceled for the day."
It took but a second for the news to sink into the mind of the boy. Jeremy's eyes grew wide in excitement as he jumped in a celebratory fashion. "Yes!" he shouted excitedly into the air, "No school today!" This display of delight caught Grace's attention; she stared at Jeremy from her seat at the kitchen table, the Pokémon's hidden ruby eyes displaying her trademark curiosity. There was no doubt that Grace could understand the entire conversation, although she might not have grasped how significant it was for Jeremy, at least at first.
Despite her child like appearance, the Pokémon repeatedly displayed signs of high intelligence and comprehension since her rescue three years ago. Many physicians were amazed at how quickly she picked up on human speech; some theorized that it was because she was able to use her psychic abilities to learn new concepts, such as language, at rapid speeds. Regardless, even if Grace couldn't understand what Jeremy was saying, she could still feel how happy he was; this, in turn, made her happy.
"Hah, so it seems! Well, what are you going to do now? I'm sure your bed is still warm," John chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee. Jeremy considered the notion, but quickly shook his head at the idea in response to his father's suggestion. The boy was already awake, and he would make the most of this free day off school. Going back to bed would only serve to waste his precious free time; besides, in truth, he wasn't very tired anymore. "Well then, I have an idea. Your mother and I still haven't eaten breakfast, and your brother and sister should be getting up in a bit. How about we go out and get something to eat?"
That was an appealing idea for certain! Eating out was a rarity for the Benper family. Everybody's chaotic schedules all but ensured that the possibility of a meal downtown was impossible. Since the birth of Claire and David, they'd only eaten out a handful of times. Another reason why the family didn't eat out often was the fact that Claire and David had only just turned three this year. Up until recently, the twins only left the house to visit family or close friends of John and Rosa. The reasoning behind this wasn't so much that their parents were afraid that something might happen to young Benpers, but that it wasn't pragmatic to haul the two energetic bundles around town while going about their daily business. After all, grocery shopping or eating out was much more difficult with two young toddlers to take care of.
"Go out to eat? Really?" Jeremy asked excitedly. John nodded his head and smiled in confirmation.
"Sure! I can't even think of the last time we went out to eat as a family. I'm not working today, and your siblings are getting old enough to get out of the house for more than visiting friends and family," John told his son. "If you want to get ready, then we can leave in a little bit."
Jeremy didn't even have to think about accepting the offer. As much as he loved the sugar filled breakfast cereal they had at home, it didn't come close to the prospect of eating out. "I'll go and get ready!" Jeremy shouted as he turned to run out of the kitchen. Grace, seeming to get the gist of what was going on, jumped down from her chair and frantically followed in the boy's wake, calling out as she did so. It was a humorous site for John and Rosa to watch the Ralts scurry away with only her short legs to carry her.
It didn't take long for Jeremy to race upstairs to get ready for the family outing; the boy grabbed a change of clothing and quickly ran towards the bathroom to shower. Being ten years old had its advantages at time; Jeremy didn't have to worry about shaving or any sort of intensive preparations for the day. All the boy had to do was wash himself, dry off, and get dressed. All things considered, it took him no more than fifteen minutes to get ready. If he was as motivated for school as he was for going out to eat, then he wouldn't always have to wake up at six-thirty in the morning for the former!
Grace, Claire, and David all had taken baths the previous night and didn't need to bathe in the morning because of this; this made getting ready for them to be an easy task. When Jeremy finished his shower, his younger siblings were already dressed and ready to go thanks to his mother. The boy entered the main foyer to see Grace playing cheerfully with them as they waited for him; it was truly astonishing how easily she fit into their family. Even after three years of kinship, the joy that Jeremy felt at such sights never diminished.
"Jerry!" Claire cried out as she saw her big brother enter the room; the nickname was the result of the young Benper's still developing speech skill. Both Claire and David often shortened or substituted words in order to make talking easier; this was common for many toddlers their age. Running over to him, the small girl wrapped her arms around Jeremy's legs, hugging him while shouting, "Good morning!"
"Good morning right back!" Jeremy returned the greeting with a smile. "Ready to eat?" Claire and David nodded eagerly, readily displaying their excitement. "Me too!" Jeremy was about to speak again when Rosa and John entered the foyer. Rosa wore a long, deep blue coat that fell to her knees. Large, white buttons and a matching blue belt held the front of the attire closed, protecting the woman from the cool autumn air. John, on the other hand, wore a an aged, dark gray overcoat. The old piece of clothing looked to be from another time in history, giving the man an aura of respect uncommon amongst the majority of the population. As he walked into the room, Jeremy picked up the scent of his cologne; it wasn't overbearing, but had a definite presence.
"Well then, it looks like we're all set," John stated as he eyed the room's occupants. "Let's get going before the rest of your classmates get the same idea." The tone in John's voice was lighthearted and joking. He was one of the most, if not the most, significant role model in Jeremy's life. The boy idolized his father and his friendly nature. He hoped to one day grow up to be just like him.
"I bet Mrs. Peters was going in alphabetical order when she was calling her students this morning, so I was probably first; we have a head start!" Jeremy noted with a grin. Rosa approached her son and laughed lightly.
"Either that or she's calling her biggest trouble makers first," the woman teased as she raised a hand to ruffle her son's dirty blonde hair. Jeremy huffed slightly at the tease, but didn't take the comment personally. If he took offense so easily, he'd have a much harder time dealing with his lively family.
"Mhph, whatever! I'm hungry, so let's get going!" Jeremy cried out as he marched towards the door in a commanding fashion. John and Rosa could only stifle their laughter as Jeremy opened the door and walked outside. Grace darted from her position next to David and followed close behind Jeremy.
"Well, come on now guys. We wouldn't want your brother leaving us behind," Rosa smiled as she prompted her two youngest children towards the door. David and Claire happily responded and swiftly moved outside. When everybody was out of the house, John locked the door with an audible 'click' and shut it behind them. It seemed unnecessary given where they lived, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Any initial distance between members of the Benper family quickly dissipated as they clustered together. Claire had a tendency to stay by Rosa's side and David John's. The two twins would occasionally run ahead for a bit, but quickly fell 'back in line', in a matter of speaking.
Grace, meanwhile, found a ride on her favorite mode of transportation, that is to say Jeremy's shoulders. John and Rosa didn't know why she was so fond of the rides she got from their son, but if one thing was for certain it was that Jeremy didn't mind giving them. Her white legs hung idly on either side of Jeremy's neck as her arms clutched lightly to his head. Grace herself rest in the hood of the boy's bright red hoodie, treating it like a pouch of a Kangaskhan. Jeremy's mouth ceased to be still as he continuously talked to his passenger, not caring that she couldn't reply to any of his questions or statements.
The sun had peaked over the hilly, eastern hills of Twinsport while Jeremy and his family were getting ready for the day. The hilly terrain made for quick sunrises and quick sunsets. The warmth of the sun began to heat the cool air that the previous night brought, making for a comfortable ambient temperature. It was just right for a coat or hoodie.
The Benpers passed several of their neighbors as they made the short trek from their house to downtown. Many seemed surprised and delighted to see the family in such wholeness, holding brief conversations with John or Rosa before letting them go back along their way. Several neighbors made comments about how big Claire and David were getting; these same people also addressed Grace and told her she looked to be growing as well. Whether it was just a formality or not, Grace seemed to enjoy the attention and radiated happiness when such compliments and comments were directed at her.
By the time Jeremy and his family arrived in downtown Twinsport, nearly a half hour had passed. More signs of life began to show as the day grew in age; stores began to flip their 'closed' signs to 'open', citizens walked down main street as they went about their daily lives, and the foghorns of ship in the small town's harbor began to sound. For Jeremy, the ideal scene mixed with the wonderful scents of autumn made for a great atmosphere.
"So, where do you guys want to eat?" John asked as the six of them walked down the wide sidewalk of main street. "Let's see... we have the Sunrise Cafe... Jessica's Place... how about Franklin's? They serve a good breakfast," the man stated while trying to remember the various restaurants of downtown. "Better yet, they serve a nice cup of coffee."
Jeremy didn't have a preference on where they went, and neither of his younger siblings had any idea of where they'd like to go. This meant making the decision was fairly easy. "I don't care, I'm just getting hungry," Jeremy stated while looking down at his stomach, a light grumble sounding from it.
"I'm fine with Franklin's. It's been a while since I've been there," Rosa added her thoughts to the conversation. John nodded his head and spoke up again.
"Franklin's it is. It's just one more block away and across the street." Jeremy's father raised his hand and pointed to one of the old, two story brick buildings that lined the road. The building itself sat on the corner of the block. A large white sign with the word 'Franklin's' written in bold, black letters could be seen jutting out from the face of the old building. Looking down the street both ways, the elder man said, "Let's cross here."
Following his father's instructions, Jeremy looked both ways before crossing the street. The family moved across the street in one large cluster and quickly found themselves in front of the diner after a short walk. Up close, the building showed its age, even more so than at a distance. This was not to say that the building was in poor shape; quite the contrary, Franklin's diner was in quite good shape. The wooden window frames had a fresh coat of white paint, and the glass windows and doors were without grime. The owner of the restaurant put a large amount of effort in maintaining this clean look.
Reaching out, John opened the door and held it for his wife and children. Jeremy reached up to gently lift Grace off of his shoulders. Placing her on the ground, the Ralts walked by the boy's side as he walked into the restaurant. The six Benpers siphoned into the building, John entering only once everybody else had done so. A young, friendly looking girl approached them as they entered.
"Hello, welcome to Franklin's! How many are in your party?" she asked. The girl's eye were bright blue and her hair a deep auburn. She wore a plain, teal t-shirt and khaki pants. Her smile was as white as Grace's skin, and she seemed to radiate joy.
"Hello, there's six of us this morning," Rosa answered with a smile of her own. Jeremy watched as the waitress silently counted the members of their family. Her eyes paused upon seeing Grace and stayed there for the briefest of moments before she nodded her head in understanding. Reaching for a shelf mounted on the wall, the waitress pulled six menus from a pile and tucked them under her arm.
"Okay, follow me. We just have to combine a couple of tables," the girl noted as she turned to lead them into the restaurant. Jeremy looked around and noticed the business was mostly empty. Several elderly people sat at different tables, quietly talking amongst themselves and a lone person or two sat at the counter, but all things considered it felt like he and his family were the only ones there.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mixing with the scents of breakfast foods such as bacon and waffles coming from the kitchen. It was an intoxicating smell for one as hungry as Jeremy; even the coffee, whose taste Jeremy hated, smelled absolutely delicious!
Arriving at their destination, the waitress quickly pushed aside some chairs and made way for another table. The girl moved quickly and efficiently as she joined two of the tables in order to accommodate the large family. "Okay, here we go!" she stated with a smile. Jeremy and his family took this as their cue to take their seats; each person grabbed a chair and sat down. Jeremy helped Grace onto her seat, a task which would have been difficult otherwise. Grace just barely was able to reach the tabletop; at home, she often sat atop a pile of books during meals. Noticing this apparent issue, the girl who seated them fetched a small, wooden box to act as a boost for the short Pokémon. Once everyone was seated, the waitress cleared her throat and began to speak again. "Well, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Kirsten, and I'll be your server this morning! Can I start you guys off with a drink? Water? Orange juice maybe? Coffee?"
The rapid fire questions came out fast, eluding to just how familiar Kristen was with her job. Speaking first, John answered, "Yes, that'll be great. I'll have a cup of coffee and a large water with no ice." Getting out a pen and pad of paper, Kristen wrote down the order and promptly moved her attention to Rosa next.
"The same please, although I'd like ice in my water," the woman said politely. Kirsten moved down the line, taking Claire and David's order next. The twins ordered the same thing, a small water and glass of chocolate milk. Rosa had given each of them a very motherly look when they'd ordered the chocolate milk, but decided to let it slide. They were out to have a good time as a family; why spoil it?
"And how about you? What'll you have?" the waitress asked Jeremy. The boy briefly glanced over the menu before placing his order.
"I'll have a water and glass of orange juice please," Jeremy smiled. Kristen laughed lightly at his friendliness and cheerful attitude; with his order written down, she moved onto the table's final occupant, Grace.
"Okay then cutie, what'll you have?" she asked sweetly but with awkwardness evident in her voice. She did not know how to ask the Pokémon for its order considering she couldn't talk. Grace was quiet at first, also at a loss for how to proceed, but slowly started speaking in a language incomprehensible by humans.
"Ral... Ralts..." she weakly spoke, apparently distressed by the situation. Jeremy could feel sadness and embarrassment coming from the small creature. It made his heart twist and a frown to form on his lips.
Seeing she was going about taking the Ralts' order the wrong way, Kristen quickly began to speak in a chipper manner and as though the apparent awkwardness ceased to exist. "You know, how about this. Would you like water?" she asked. Grace slowly nodded her head, unsure of where the conversation was headed. "Okay, good!" Walking over to the Pokémon, Kristen leaned over and pointed to the list of drinks. "We really don't have that many drinks to chose from, so just stop me when you hear something you like, okay?"
Jeremy was amazed by the waitress's methods of dealing with Grace's 'muteness'. Often times, people would talk to Grace without expecting any sort of interaction back; she was, after all, a Pokémon incapable of speech. This girl was using a very different method to communicate with his friend; she was resolute in her efforts, and this made Jeremy happy.
Grace seemed happy by this idea as well, and merrily sung her name a few times in apparent agreement, causing Kristen to giggle before speaking again. "Aw, you're just a cute one, aren't you? Okay, like I said, just stop me when you hear something you like. We have milk, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade, orange juice -"
"Ralts!" Grace cried out. Kristen looked up from the menu and at the Pokémon.
"You want orange juice?" Kristen asked. The Ralts nodded her head, signaling that the waitress was correct. "Okay, that sounds great, I'll be back in a little bit. Just have a look at our menu so I can take your order when I get back!" With a brief nod of her head, the auburn headed girl turned around and walked away. Jeremy's attention turned towards Grace, who was happily swinging her tiny feet off the edge of her chair. She must have felt great.
No, he knew she felt great.
"Well, she's certainly nice," Rosa complimented Kristen as she walked away. "I can only imagine what type of a mother she'd be." John agreed with a nod of his head. David looked at Grace, his eyes overflowing with curiosity, and voiced a question.
"Mom, Dad, will Grace ever be able to talk like the rest of us?" the youngest male of the family asked. The question was pure in its intent, as the child did not fully understand Pokémon. Being raised alongside one had helped the young Benper develop a unique perspective in regards to the creatures. As far as David was concerned, Grace -and Pokémon like her- was just like him and his twin, she just hadn't learned to talk yet.
Regardless of the question's intent, Grace's mood shifted radically. A dark feeling came over the table, and was felt by everybody in immediate proximity of its source. Jeremy turned to look at his friend and saw her head bowed, trying to further hide her already concealed face. The question had hurt Grace, more than David could have known.
Rosa, being a mother, picked up on this as soon as the words left David's lips; she didn't even need to feel the pressing weight of Grace's emotions to know what type of impact the words had on the Ralts. "David, we don't know. Grace has surprised us many times, so we can't rule anything out." Turning to look at Grace, Rosa immediately went into damage control mode; her face was soft and eyes caring as the words flowed from her mouth. "Grace, sweetie, you can already do something even deeper than speech, you can show us how you feel. That's one of the most special abilities I know of."
Grace remained still as the tenderly spoken words left the lips of the mother. "All of us, every member of this family, are different; we each have things that make us special. You're no exception!"
John took this moment to speak up, taking the reins from his wife. "Your mom's is correct, Grace. Why, I stuttered until I was nearly twenty! Most people thought I was a mute until I graduated high school I spoke so little!" A hearty laugh filled the air, its sound eliciting a feeling in stark contrast to Grace's grief and sorrow. "I know firsthand you don't need to speak to be happy; there'll be times when it gets frustrating, but you have to persevere and be better than the world."
Jeremy watched in awe as his parents delivered what could amount to a motivational speech and life lesson. He silently gave thanks that the building was so empty, lest Grace feel even more embarrassed and distraught by the attention of others. Still, these points aside, Jeremy couldn't help but feel a growing warmth come from his core as his parents continued to comfort and encourage their adopted daughter.
"You're a member of this family," Rosa said, voice resolute; this fact was not up for debate. "You're my daughter, and whether or not you talk won't change that. You shouldn't try to be like the rest of us; you should try to be you."
The words were filled with pure, honest emotions. Grace needn't look farther than the positive aura that surrounded her foster parents and siblings. John and Rosa loved Grace like they loved David, Claire, and Jeremy. To hear it from her parent's mouth and to feel the raw, unadulterated love flow from the people who she perceived as her family was something else entirely.
Looking up, Grace revealed her deep cherry red eyes, lightly misted over, but glowing with understanding. The comment had struck a chord with the emotional Pokémon; nobody, not even Jeremy, could comprehend just how deeply she wished to be able to communicate with others. To live in such a world but be held back by something as simple as speech mentally weighed on the Pokémon. She was, after all, intelligent and very social. It's not like she was a slow witted Psyduck or Slowpoke.
"What your mom said is true; don't you ever think otherwise," John said while staring intently at the Ralts seated across from him. Like Rosa, Grace could feel just how truthful he was being. It caused a flux in her emotions yet again. Despite not being able to talk, she was loved. Not only was she loved, but she was loved unconditionally by those who viewed her as kin. While she would never doubt the sincerity of the love exhibited by the Benpers, it was always nice to have a reminder of it. The powerful, positive feeling that resulted from this reminder quickly doused any negative emotions that had surfaced as a result of David's question.
"Ra Ralts...!" Grace cried into the air. The dark feeling that encompassed the area was lifted like a veil; in its place was quite the opposite sensation, joy. Jeremy sighed as a smile crept upon his face. He had long since gotten used to being around a person such as Grace who could alter the very atmosphere of an area based on emotion alone, yet he still found the sensation amazing.
"Yeah, you don't have to talk to be accepted by us! We're family, so if you need something, let us help you! We'll be your voice when you want!" Jeremy told her with a grin. Grace turned to face him and nodded happily. As the situation began to settle, Kristen returned holding a tray of drinks.
"And, here we are! ...hmm, did they turn up the thermostat?" she asked aloud as she stopped at their table. Jeremy couldn't help but chuckle at the comment; the waitress was undoubtedly feeling the latent effect of Grace's emotional flux.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. Here, let me give you these..." the waitress droned as she placed each drink in front of its respective consumer. When all of the drinks were passed out, the girl took out a notepad and pencil. "Well, if you're ready, I can take your order. Or, if you need more time I can come back in a bit."
Everybody glanced around the table, trying to gauge if they were ready to order or not. They hadn't had much time to go over the menu thanks to David's comment, but the general consensus was that they were ready. It was breakfast, how hard could ordering be?
"I think we can manage," John answered with a laugh."I'll have a cheese and ham omelet please with an order of biscuits." Kristen was quick to write down his order and moved her gaze to Rosa, the next person down the line.
"And for you?" the waitress asked.
"Hmm... I'll have the fruit and cream cheese filled crepes please," Rosa stated while handing her menu to John. "Would it be possible to get a side of fruit as well?"
The waitress nodded her head while writing down the order. "Definitely. The fruit of the day is blackberries; a shipment of them arrived in town from the Hoenn region just this morning. They're really fresh!" Looking at the two toddlers seated next to one another, she smiled while readying herself for another order. "Okay guys, what'll it be?"
"Eggs and biscuits!" David shouted happily.
Claire followed in suit, exclaiming, "French toast!" Kristen laughed at the enthusiasm displayed by the two young children and wrote down their two simple orders. Jeremy was next as he looked over the menu one last time before ordering.
"I'll have the pancakes please," the boy said. Looking over at Grace, he felt his stomach twist in anticipation of the Pokémon placing her order. Would it be a repeat of last time? Even after their small talk, Jeremy knew of how emotional Grace was.
"Okay... got it! Last but not least, how about you, sweetie?" The question was, of course, directed at Grace. The Ralts looked down at her menu, able to understand some of it but unable to speak. Instead of trying to get their waitress to read off different items or find a way communicate what she wanted, Grace did something entirely different and unexpected. Reaching out, the Ralts tugged on Jeremy's sleeve.
Jeremy looked down to see Grace smiling up at him. What did she want? Was he supposed to know, or was it something else? It only took a moment for a possibility to dawn on him. "Grace... do you want me to order for you?" he asked. Grace nodded her head and said her name a few times, all but confirming his hunch. Well, that was certainly one way to deal with the issue Jeremy had to admit. "Okay... what do you want?"
This seemed to defeat the entire purpose of him ordering for her; how could Jeremy order if he didn't know what she wanted? They were right back to where they were just moments ago. Strangely, however, Grace made no attempt to point to what she wanted on the menu; instead, she just stared at Jeremy with a broad smile. Seconds ticked by, the awkwardness of the moment growing exponentially with each passing moment. Her behavior almost suggested...
"Wait, do you want me to choose?" Jeremy asked. Grace cried out her name, seemingly happy that he understood what she wanted. Suddenly, words he had spoken just moments before rang through his head. "Yeah, you don't have to talk to be accepted by us! We're family, so if you need something, let us help you! We'll be your voice when you want!" Grace wanted help and was asking him for it, both in placing her order and deciding what to get! Realizing this, Jeremy cleared his throat and managed to say, "Ah! Um, okay!"
Looking down at the menu, Jeremy felt pressured as he now had to place yet another order. It seemed silly to be pressured over something as simple as placing an order at a restaurant, but this realization never occurred to the boy. The menu seemed to be in an undecipherable language as he tried to quickly find something to order. Panicking, Jeremy did the only thing he could think of. "Grace will have an order of pancakes as well, please."
Kristen made no comments about the scene that unfolded in front of her; she didn't even appear phased. This was a testament to her character and professionalism. "That's a good choice; our pancakes are really tasty! Okay, I'll put this order and your food should be out in no more than fifteen minutes. Is there anything else I can get for you?" When no response was given, the waitress nodded her head and walked away, saying, "Okay, just let me know if you need anything!"
"Well then, that was interesting!" John laughed as he grabbed two sugar packets from the small holder in the center of the table. Ripping them open and dumping them into his coffee, the older man joked, "Grace, I think you made a mistake. If you wanted somebody to order you good food, you should have picked me. I have the best taste!" A laugh was shared by all members of the table, even Claire and David who only had a vague understanding of how significant the prior moment was.
"Hey, who doesn't like pancakes?" Jeremy defended himself. Grace seemed amused by the boy's behavior and began giggling profusely. "You're not helping, Grace!" Jeremy whined. His complaints, although fake, only helped to further the fits of laughter that Grace tried to withhold.
"You guys," Rosa sighed while taking a sip of her coffee. Placing the mug down, the woman turned to look at her son and asked, "So, what do you plan on doing today? I know your room is an absolute mess, how about you clean that up?" The comment, while lighthearted, definitely carried a suggestive tone. Jeremy sighed and frowned at the suggestion.
"I can do that when it's cold and rainy outside; I want to be outside today, when it's nice," Jeremy said while pointing towards the diner's windows. The beauty of the day's weather was clear to see. "It's supposed to get crummy this weekend, how about I do it then? I promise."
Rosa looked unconvinced by her son's word, knowing full well the boy had a tendency to 'forget' certain promises he made. "Like I haven't heard that before," she said with an exasperated sigh. Waiting several seconds, she continued by saying, "But, all things considered, it is a nice day outside... it would be a shame to be cooped up inside the house when the weather is so lovely."
Jeremy brightened upon hearing his mother's words. Rosa seemed to notice this and raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh, but you can be sure that I'll hold you to your promise. I don't care what Matt or Scott have planned this weekend; you won't be going over either of their houses until your room is spotless. Of that you can be certain!"
Jeremy eagerly nodded his head, saying, "For sure! I promise!"
"Good to hear," Rosa laughed with a smile, seemingly pleased by his words. She was a loving but fair mother; Jeremy didn't know just how blessed he was to be born into such a family. Reaching for her mug, Rosa took a sip of her coffee and let out a content sigh. "Mmm, I love Franklin's coffee. I wish they sold it in stores."
"I second that; I love the flavor. Maybe it's the way they roast it?" John agreed while taking a sip of his own coffee. Jeremy watched in disgust as his parents consumed the black liquid.
"Yuck! How can you guys drink that?" the boy asked, his face contorting as he imagined the taste. John put his mug down and shrugged his shoulders.
"You know, I thought the same thing when I was your age. Just wait until you start growing up; this stuff got me through college," the boy's father said with a grin. Laughing lightly, Rosa nodded her head and placed her own mug down as well.
"It also helped us survive you kids when you were babies. Just wait until you grow up have children of your own. Up all night to the sounds of crying... ah, I'm glad you're all past that." Jeremy looked unconvinced as his parents reminisced over their past with the bitter drink.
"I still think it's gross," the boy said in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"Fair enough. Like I said though, I bet you'll think otherwise in ten years," John stated with a wry grin.
The next ten minutes passed fairly quickly as the six Benpers made small talk with one another. Jeremy could smell as their meals were being prepared in the kitchen. The scent was heavenly for the hungry boy; each second became more agonizing as his hunger continued to grow, his stomach growling in discontent. Jeremy grew excited as he watched their waitress walk through the free swinging kitchen door with a tray of food. More specifically, it was their food.
Approaching the table, Kristen looked about as though to remember who ordered what. "Okay, I've got a lot of good food here! Let's see if I can put food and face together." Grabbing a plate of French toast, the girl placed it in front of Claire while asking, "If I remember correctly, you ordered the French toast?" Claire giggled and nodded her head.
"Yep!"
"Okay, and you ordered the ham and cheese omelet," the waitress stated as she turned her attention towards John. Grabbing a plate from the tray, the girl placed it in front of the eldest man. "And here's your side of biscuits."
"Thank you," John said politely as a smaller plate with two biscuits was placed in front of him.
"Let's see, you had the eggs and biscuits... and you had the crepes with a side of fruit," Kristen said to David and Rosa respectively. Once again, the waitress put the appropriate food in front of each person. With only Jeremy and Grace left, the girl looked down to see two order of pancakes left on the tray. "Ah, and of course! You two have easy orders!"
"Ra, Ralts!" Grace giggled at the waitresses words and excitedly nodded in anticipation. The Ralts' eyes grew wide as she watched the girl place an enormous plate before her. The pancakes were huge, gargantuan even for somebody such as Grace. The golden-brown breakfast cakes were stacked three high and produced a wonderful aroma. The warmth of the pancakes mixed with the cool air, producing a hazy steam that steadily rose from the food. Grace felt her mouth begin to water as the smell filled her nose, all but forgetting about the size of her order.
Jeremy licked his lips as his own stack of pancakes was placed before him. Like Grace, he was very hungry and his mouth began to salivate at the smell. Some may say that people eat with their eyes first and mouth second; Jeremy had to disagree. He ate with his eyes first, nose second, and mouth third. He watched as a large slab of butter atop the pancakes slowly melted from the heat they gave off; it began to slide down the gently sloping top, making its way towards the stack's edge.
"Hehe, you both certainly look hungry!" Kristen smiled as she placed a small container of syrup in the middle of the table. "Well, I think that's about everything. If you guys think of something, just call me over and let me know. Enjoy your breakfast!" With a slight bow, the waitress turned and walked away to greet some new arrivals. The restaurant was beginning to fill as the day grew later.
"Wow, that's a lot of food," Rosa commented as she watched Grace clumsily pick up a fork. Her petite hands made using silverware difficult, but not impossible. At home, she preferred to eat things that didn't require utensils, such as sandwiches and berries.
"Yeah, it kind of is," Jeremy agreed like looking at his own stack of pancakes. "I don't think I'll be able to eat them all..." Grace seemed to be of the same mind and briefly voiced her agreement. Reaching out to grab the small bottle of syrup, Jeremy opened the lid and began to pour the contents over his pancakes. The sticky, amber liquid clung to his food and began to soak into the airy breakfast cakes. Looking over at Grace, Jeremy held out the bottle towards her plate and asked, "Want me to pour some on yours?"
"Ral!" Grace nodded her head. Jeremy began to pour the contents of the container onto the food until the Ralts signaled that he had poured enough. The boy closed the lid on the bottle and set in the middle of the table.
"Okay, let's eat!" Jeremy exclaimed as he raised his fork and knife from the table. Claire and David were already well underway with their meals, and John had just begun digging into his omelet. Rosa had already cut into her crepes and was enjoying the sweet, cream cheese filled dish. Using the sharp edge of his knife, Jeremy sliced a small square into the edge of his pancakes. Using his fork, the boy raised the food to his mouth and savored the moment of his first bite. The soft, spongy texture was soaked with butter and syrup, making him hum in delight. His hunger flared up as he tasted the delicious food; his body wanted more, and he wasn't going to deny its wants.
Grace watched, amused, as Jeremy began to scarf down his food. He certainly was enjoying his meal; she didn't even need her psychic abilities to realize this. Feeling her hunger grow, Grace decided not to be left behind. Forgoing the use of her knife, Grace used the side of her fork to cut through the soft pancakes. With a small slice cut out, the Ralts used the oversized utensil to jab the food and raise it to her mouth. Biting down, Grace's palate was met with the delicious flavors of the buttermilk pancakes. She closed her eyes in joy as she chewed her food, savoring every moment. This was the meal that her friend had ordered for her; she would enjoy every bite.
"Grace looks really happy!" David exclaimed from across the table. The Ralts' eyes opened as she looked towards the young boy. He displayed a toothy smile as he looked at her.
"She certainly does; enjoying the food, Grace?" John asked with a smile of his own. Grace nodded her head and sung her name into the air; this was undoubtedly a 'yes'. "Well, I guess Jeremy isn't all that bad at ordering for people after all."
Jeremy shot his father a faux dirty look and said, "See, I told you! Who doesn't like pancakes?" The boy's younger siblings got a kick out of their brother and father's 'argument' and began to giggle happily.
It was a wonderful moment for the family. The warmth and affection they showed one another was a true testament to just how close they were. Of course, sometimes they fought or bothered each other, but in the end, these petty quarrels always lost out to the deep and powerful bonds they shared. They were a true family who loved each other dearly.
The rest of the meal was filled with laughter, smiles, and a healthy helping of food. Nobody save for John had finished their entire meal. "I'm stuffed full!" Jeremy exclaimed while pushing his plate away. A little less than a quarter of his pancakes remained, but he couldn't bring himself to eat another bite. Claire and David barely managed to down half of their food, while Rosa's plate still had one full crepe.
"I think we all are; it's been a while since I've enjoyed a meal like this," Rosa stated as she too pushed her plate away. The twins mimicked their older brother and mother and did the same. John chuckled as he watched his youngest children mimic the actions of their mother and brother.
"Ah, you guys look like you've enjoyed your meals!" The voice of their waitress rang through the air as she approached their table. Stopping in front of the family, the girl glanced around and asked, "So, are you guys finished?"
John looked over the table briefly before nodding his head. "I don't think any of us could eat another bite."
"Okay then, I can take you guys up at the counter. Just go there when you're ready to pay," the waitress said while grabbing several of their used plates. "I'll be up there in just a second!" The girl once again walked away, leaving the now satisfied family at their table.
"I don't want to move..." Jeremy moaned as he looked towards the checkout counter. He watched as his father pushed his seat out and stood up, stretching as he did so; the man reached for his wallet and pulled out several bills, placing them on the table as a tip. Jeremy's mother and siblings were quick to follow and rose from their seats as well.
"Oh, come on. Maybe you shouldn't eat so much next time," Rosa chided her son as he lazily began to rise to his feet. Jeremy let out a groan as he left the comfort of his chair and stood on the tiled floor. Looking over at Grace, he saw her standing expectantly on the edge of her seat. "Seriously?" Grace giggled as she nodded her head and reached up towards the towering boy. Jeremy sighed, knowing full well he' be unable to resist his friend's request. Reaching down, the boy performed an action he had done countless times before and raised his petite friends over his head and onto his shoulders.
"Ral, ralts!" Grace exclaimed as she positioned herself on the boy's shoulders. Jeremy half-heartedly rolled his eyes as he felt the Pokémon get comfortable.
"Well I'm glad at least you're comfortable," he huffed in mock annoyance. This only caused his friend to laugh, causing his facade of annoyance to be stripped away in favor of a smile. "Gosh, I wish I had a ride after a meal like that. You know, you better enjoy these while they last. One day, you'll grow up to be big and tall, and I won't be able to give you rides like these anymore." The only response he got was in the form of Grace's small hands playfully drumming on his head. "Fine, I'll hurry up!"
The six people moved from their table to the front of the restaurant. Their waitress was waiting for them at the checkout counter and smiled as they approached. "I can take you over here," she said and motioned towards the register. John stepped forward and handed the girl a credit card. It didn't take long for the transaction to take place and soon enough, the Benpers were ready to leave.
The high pitch whirling of motors filled the air as a small printer printed out their receipt. "And that's it! Have a wonderful day, and please come back!" Claire and David, both looking tired, waved goodbye to their friendly host as they were led out the door, prompting the girl to do the same.
Once outside, Jeremy sighed contently as the cool air washed over him. The feeling of the autumn air on his skin always made him happy. Grace seemed to feel the same, as he felt her body relax slightly as they exited the building.
"Well then, I'm glad we went out this morning," Rosa stated as they all gathered on the sidewalk outside of Franklin's. Looking down at the twins, the mother seemed to notice their tiredness. "It seems like you two are ready to head home, huh?" Claire and David nodded sluggishly; the large breakfast had brought their seemingly endless energy to a halt. "Well, I suppose we'll head home then."
"Do I have to head home too? I want to do something outside today," Jeremy said. Rosa shook her head in response.
"It's your free day, remember? Just be safe and don't do anything dangerous," Rosa told him, her voice exhibiting a tone only a mother could have. Turning her gaze slightly upwards, she noticed Grace resting snugly upon her son's shoulders. "How about you, Grace? Do you want to head home with the rest of us?" Grace was quick to respond, shaking her head side to side. "Heh, okay then. Don't let him do anything stupid, you hear me? He's your responsibility" The Ralts nodded her head and happily voiced her name in response.
"Don't worry mom; I'm always safe, especially with Grace," Jeremy grumbled while rolling his eyes. Rosa just smiled and shook her head, not wanting to point out how he'd met the Pokémon in the first place. It was his own adventurous spirit and disregard for his personal safety that led to Grace's adoption into their family in the first place.
"I know, I know. I wouldn't be a mother if I didn't say something though," Rosa laughed. "Just have a good one, and be home before supper."
Jeremy watched as his parents took their leave, taking his younger siblings with them. The boy turned his head to catch a brief glimpse of Grace in his peripheral vision before saying, "Well, we have the entire day. What do you want to do?"
"Ralts, Ralts!"
Jeremy suppressed a small amount of sadness that surfaced within him; this morning had displayed his best friend's vulnerability, one of the only things that could cause her grief and sadness. Her muteness was something he'd grown accustomed to and while he thought nothing of it, he'd begun to think about what life would be like for Grace growing up without the ability to truly communicate with others. He cared deeply for his friend; Jeremy's deepest wish was to be able to talk with her. Oh, how he wished to be able to hold a conversation with the Pokémon, to get a response when he asks her a question.
That wasn't how life was, however, and he'd make the most with what he was given.
"How about we go for a hike? The forest should be really pretty with all of the changing leafs," Jeremy stated while staring at the colorful canopy of the distant forest. Many paths had been built in the surrounding forest; hiking was a popular activity for many people of the area, especially in the fall. The schools of Twinsport even organized a 'Fall Hiking Spree' for P.E. during the autumn in favor of more traditional activities.
"Ral, Ra Ralts!" Grace seemed to agree. Jeremy laughed as he felt her sink into his hood.
"You know, when we get to the forest you'll have to walk too, otherwise it's not hiking!" Once again, Grace playfully hit the back of his head with her small hand in response. Jeremy feigned annoyance and began to walk towards the edge of town where the park system was.
Twinsport was abuzz with activity as children who would normally be in school ran around the streets playing games or having fun. Jeremy wasn't alone in wanting to make the most out of his free day off. The further he got from town, however, the fewer people he saw. It wasn't long before he was at the edge of the forest in solitude.
"Alright, I think I've earned a little rest," Jeremy stated while plucking Grace from his shoulders. Squeaking in surprise, the Ralts was lifted high into the air before being placed gently on the ground next to the boy. "What do you say, ready for a little hike?"
"Ralts!"
"Hah, sounds good!" On that note, the two entered the forest. The soft crunching of leafs beneath their feet filled the air as Jeremy and Grace walked through the wooded area. An abundant amount of sun shone through the canopy of the forest; this was because the majority of trees had shed their leafs as winter approached. Still, a few trees held onto their brightly color leafs, the sun only helping to highlight their presence against the deep blue sky above. Both Jeremy and Grace walked in silence, taking in the serene beauty of the area. The scent of decaying leaves filled the air; oddly enough, it was not an unpleasant smell. The aroma was distinctly 'autumn'.
After several minutes of walking, Jeremy broke their silence and began to talk.
"You know, Grace, have I ever told you that you're my best friend?" Jeremy asked aloud, almost surprised by his own words. Both continued to walk, but Grace turned to look up at him, her large eyes wide at hearing the words. Looking down, the boy saw he had the Pokémon's attention and continued. "It's true. Even though I like hanging out with my other friends, I don't feel the same when it comes to you."
"Ra..." Grace quietly mumbled. Jeremy didn't know what she meant by this, but decided to continue talking.
"This morning in the restaurant, I could feel that you were sad, really sad. That makes me sad; I want to see you happy," Jeremy admitted; again, the boy was shocked at his own words. Why was he saying these things? Every word was true, but never before did he feel the need to say them. Jeremy could feel as a mixture of emotions began to well up in Grace. They were all there: sadness, embarrassment, grief. There was, however, one emotion he faintly picked up on, one that surprised him greatly: joy. Pushing past the feelings, Jeremy cleared his voice and continued.
"I love you Grace, just like I love mom, dad, Claire, and David. So... heh, I don't even know where I'm going with this." Coming to a halt, Jeremy turned to face his friend and knelt down to be closer to her level. "I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't like when you're troubled. I said it in the restaurant and I'll say it again; if you ever need anything, know that we'll all -that I'll- be there for you."
Grace's eyes began to water up as a surge of emotions flowed through her. Grace lunged forward and embraced Jeremy in a hug. Jeremy was a bit taken aback by the hug, but quickly relaxed and wrapped his arms around the small creature. The two remained like this for a while, only breaking the embrace after Jeremy was certain Grace was finished.
"Hah, well... I'm glad you feel the same way," Jeremy sniffled, somewhat surprised by his own emotions. "Listen, how about we just have fun for the next few hours? No talk about stuff like this, just plain fun?"
"Ralts!" Grace sniffled in agreement. Jeremy smiled and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Good."
True to Jeremy's words, the two walked for hours, enjoying one another's company and having fun in the process. Occasionally, Grace would race ahead and hide behind a tree or disappear from sight. Jeremy would laugh and rush off to find her. It usually didn't take long, as Grace couldn't conceal her own laughter while hiding. She was terrible at hide-and-go-seek. Jeremy wasn't concerned about a repeat occurrence of what happened when he was younger. The parks were very safe and void of almost all wild Pokémon; they were a far cry from the untamed woods where Jeremy had first met Grace.
The sun was high in the sky when Grace again ran off into the woods, her small feet carrying her faster than Jeremy though possible. Deciding to humor her, the boy did not pursue at first and slowed his pace to give the Pokémon a head start. Several minutes had passed before Jeremy decided to attempt to find the Ralts.
"Okay Grace, get ready because here I come!" Deviating from the path slightly, Jeremy walked through the relatively open woods in search of his friend. Her bright white and green colors stood out from the gray and brown ground; the few times Grace managed to withhold her laughter, the bright colors of the Pokémon's skin and hair gave her away. Several minutes passed, yet there were no signs of Grace. Jeremy let out a short laugh and looked around even more keenly than before. "Okay Grace, you're getting better at this!"
The boy continued to look for Grace, but couldn't find a trace of her anywhere. "Wow, she really disappeared. I wonder where she is?" Pausing for a moment, Jeremy stood completely still in an effort to pick up any sound that might lead him to Grace. Moments passed with the only sound being Jeremy's quiet breathing and the occasional falling leaf.
The silence was deafening.
Worry beginning to set in, Jeremy held his hands up to his mouth in the shape of a loudspeaker. "Okay Grace, you win! You can come out now!" The only response Jeremy got to his call was silence. His heart began to beat faster and more violently, pounding against his chest. "This isn't funny, Grace! Come out!"
Again silence.
Jeremy's eyes darted from tree to tree, trying desperately to locate his companion. Nothing moved, however, and the only sounds he could hear was the wind and rustling of leaves. He was about to call out again when he finally heard something; the sound made his blood run cold.
"Ral!"
The voice belonged to Grace. However, she did not shout in a playful or cheerful manner like she had been doing all afternoon. He recognized the tone from three years ago.
Grace was terrified.
Turning to face the direction of the cry, Jeremy ran as fast as he could. His legs burned as he pushed them to their limits. Dozens of thoughts ran through his head. What could would cause Grace to elicit such a cry? Was it a wild Pokémon? Was she hurt?
All of these possibilities were proven false when Jeremy entered a clearing and located his friend. What he saw caused nothing short of pure, unadulterated horror to run through his veins.
Grace was pinned to the ground; above her, a Persian loomed menacingly. The cat Pokémon's eyes were narrow; it almost seemed like it was enjoying the moment. But that didn't make any sense! Persian weren't native to the area! It was only moments later that Jeremy head a voice call out.
"Great job Persian! Get ready to move so I can capture it!"
Jeremy looked up and saw a boy who looked to be about sixteen approaching the cat Pokémon and Grace. In his hand was a Poké Ball. It took all but a second for Jeremy to figure out what was going on. The Persian belong to that boy, and that boy was a trainer.
The trainer was going to try to capture Grace.
Jeremy didn't think as he ran forward, screaming in an almost bestial manner. Grace was a member of his family; she was a Benper. She wasn't some wild Pokémon; they had adopted her three years ago after he saved her from death. Grace was his best friend; he would not allow her to be captured.
"NO!" Jeremy shrieked as he closed in on the Persian. The trainer looked up in shock to see the younger boy charging his Pokémon. Before the trainer or the Persian could even react, Jeremy made contact with the cat and tackled it to the ground, freeing Grace. "I won't let you catch Grace!"
The Persian, so caught up in holding down its prey, didn't even see Jeremy coming. Not long after it was knocked down, however, did it realize what was happening. Using its raw power, the cat threw Jeremy off of its body and onto the ground. Jeremy winced as he made contact and quickly opened his eyes to see the Persian standing over him; it's speed was phenomenal. He wanted to scream, but no words came to his mouth.
"Persian, come back!"
To the surprise of Jeremy, the cat listened to the voice and jumped backwards. The boy rolled over and quickly got to his knees, turning to face the direction of the voice. Standing in front of him was the trainer he'd seen before and the Persian who had held down Grace. The trainer's face had a mixture of confusion and anger as he looked down at Jeremy.
"What do you think you were doing attacking my Persian?" the trainer asked, his voice steady. It carried with it a hit of anger, but it wasn't overbearing.
"You were going to capture Grace... I won't let you capture her," Jeremy said, his voice firm and unyielding. The trainer's face shifted in confusion as he heard Jeremy's words. Suddenly, the trainer's eyes shifted away from Jeremy and to his side. Jeremy followed his gaze and saw the person who he was most concerned with running right towards him.
"Ral, Ral!" Grace cried as she ran towards Jeremy's side. Jeremy reached out and grabbed Grace, pulling her close to his side. His face was firm as he turned to once again look into the eyes of Grace's assailant.
Much to Jeremy's surprise, however, the trainer no longer looked confused or angry; he almost seemed... apologetic? "She's not a wild?" the trainer asked, confounded. Jeremy shook his head adamantly.
"She's a member of my family!" Jeremy shouted as he held Grace close. The boy recoiled as the trainer took several steps forward; Grace buried herself into Jeremy's hoodie in a defensive manner, trying her hardest to hide from the other person.
"Ah shoot... I didn't know," the trainer said as he knelt down in front of Jeremy. The younger of the two boys watched suspiciously as the other reached around to pull something out of an open pocket on his backpack. "Listen, I thought she was a wild since I didn't see a trainer with her. Here, give her this; it will help with any injuries," the trainer said as he handed Jeremy a strange shaped bottle. Looking down, Jeremy read the label, 'Pokémon Painkiller and Healing Remedy'.
"Wait, you aren't mad that I tackled your Pokémon?" Jeremy asked, shocked by the apparent act of kindness. Just thirty seconds ago, this boy was trying to capture Grace, now he was giving her medicine? To his surprise, the trainer just laughed and shook his head.
"Well, admittedly I'm not too fond when anybody hurts Persian, but I'd act the same way if somebody was trying to steal my Pokémon," the trainer explained. "My name's Zach. I'm from the Kanto region looking for Pokémon. Your friend over there was the first one I've seen in this area." Jeremy was taken aback by the introduction. Just a minute ago, this person was about to capture his best friend, now they were talking like nothing had happened.
"I'm... I'm Jeremy. This is Grace," Jeremy motioned to the hiding Ralts. "You aren't going to find many wild Pokémon here; this is a park. Wild Pokémon are kept away by the park keepers." This explanation caused Zach to let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head while raising a hand to the bridge of his nose.
"Ah, so that's it! I was wondering why I wasn't seeing any Pokémon," Zach exclaimed. All of this seemed so weird. Jeremy didn't know what to make of the situation. The trainer seemed to pick up on this and spoke, saying, "Listen, I can tell you aren't a trainer, right?" Jeremy nodded his head cautiously, unsure of where the conversation was going. "Capturing Pokémon... it's just what trainers do. I wasn't trying to steal Grace away from you. I'm not evil like Team Rocket, it was just a misunderstanding."
Jeremy understood what Zach was saying; he was right, it was what trainers did. Still, the boy had a hard time swallowing the fact that this trainer, Zach, had nearly done so to his best friend.
"O-Okay," Jeremy managed to say. Zach let out a short, humored sigh and nodded his head.
"I've got to say though, for a little thing, she really put up a fight. She hit my Persian with a confusion so powerful I thought I'd have to recall him." Jeremy looked down at Grace, surprised to hear such a thing. He never thought of Grace as a fighter; in fact, he'd never even see her fight.
"Is that so?" Jeremy asked. Zach nodded his head while standing up. Jeremy did the same, making sure to hold Grace in his arms while doing so. The small creature had her arms wrapped around his neck and her head buried in his chest; she was still afraid and crying lightly.
"It is," the trainer confirmed. Looking at the frightened Ralts, Zach frowned slightly and raised his gaze to meet Jeremy's. "Listen, I really am sorry. I can see that your Pokémon is still afraid. I'll get going now if it'll help, but you might want to take her to a Pokécenter to make sure she's okay."
"I will," Jeremy answered. The trainer nodded his head before sighing lightly.
"I hope we can meet again, Jeremy, and under better circumstances," Zach said while outstretching his hand. Jeremy looked at it for a moment before doing the same, gripping Zach's hand and shaking it firmly. "Have a good one, and be safe."
With those words, the trainer turned around and began walking away and into the woods with his Persian. Just like that, the confrontation was over.
Grace was safe.
Jeremy looked down at Grace and began to stroke her hair gently. She was shivering in fear, still shaken up by the encounter. "Shh... it's okay Grace, everything's fine," Jeremy cooed. Grace only buried her head deeper into Jeremy's chest and pulled his neck closer to her. He could feel the dark emotions swirling around the atmosphere. They were invisible but all too present. "You're safe now. I'll never let anybody take you away from me; I'll die first."
'I'll die first'. The words were strong and resolute. Though said to comfort the trembling Pokémon, there wasn't a hint of dishonesty them.
Jeremy continued to stroke Grace's mint green hair, trying his best to comfort her. They stayed like this for several minutes, Jeremy uttering soft words of comfort in an effort to try to calm his friend down.
"Thank you..."
Jeremy's head snapped up as he heard the words echo in his head. He looked around, trying to identify the source of the voice. Was somebody watching them? Was somebody there?
"Thank you... thank you..."
The voice kept repeating those same words over and over again. The voice was soft, gentle, and clearly feminine in nature, but it didn't seem to come from any direction; it almost seemed like the voice was coming from within his head, like a thought. Grace shivered and let out a choked sobbed as she pulled her face out of his chest and looked up towards him. Her large, crimson eyes locked with his, their gazes unwavering.
"Thank you...!"
It was then, Jeremy understood. The voice he was hearing wasn't coming from a hidden observer or even from another human.
This voice, was Grace.
"Grace...?" Jeremy asked quietly. Unspoken words flowed between them, their eyes acting like gateways into one another's minds. Grace's eyes widened as she realized what was happening.
Could it be...?
"Jeremy?" Grace asked. Her voice was crackly and unstable, but the words were definite.
"Yeah... I-that's... Grace?" Jeremy asked again in disbelief. In an instant, Jeremy felt the fear that blanketed Grace lift like a veil, only for it to be replaced with the most pure joy he'd ever experienced. His vision blurred slightly as the sensation took hold of his body, his senses merging together to create a feeling he'd never experienced before; it was wonderful.
"Jeremy!" Grace cried out as she lunged upwards, embracing him in a hug. Jeremy hugged her right back, wrapping his thin arms around her frail frame. The boy had no idea what was happening; he didn't care. For this moment was the moment he'd been waiting for since he first met Grace all those years ago. "I'm so happy!"
And so was Jeremy, and Grace knew this. From that moment forward, Jeremy and Grace's relationship was never the same. It was a beautiful thing for certain.
Thank you all for reading. Like always, feedback of any sorts is appreciated! Have a great one, people!
:-)