Filler space

Chapter 2 - A Heartfilled Loss

Logan's House – March 21st, 1999

Evening

It was around 6 PM when Logan entered the house. He walks in as he takes his shoes off at the door and placed them on the mat, with Chika resting on his shoulder so he can use his hands. He goes into the living room, and finds his mother resting on the couch. He walks over to her and light shakes her.

"Mom, I'm back." He said in a low voice, smiling softly.

"Mmm? Oh, hello sweetie...back already...?" She said groggily as she rubbed her eyes, and then looked at the clock.

"Oh! I been sleeping for a few hours! Thanks for waking me dear, I'll get dinner ready." She said as she stood up and stretched as she walked to the kitchen.

"How was your visit with Clair? Was she as thrilled to see Chika as you were when you got her?" His mother asked cheerfully.

He nods, smiling brightly, "You bet! She was very glad that I got my Pokémon, and is eager to start training next week."

His mother giggled, "Oh, typical Clair. She may be a couple years older than me, but I swear she still acts like as she did as a teenager sometimes. But, I'm glad that she is as eager as you are sweetie."

Logan talked about his afternoon with his mother as she got dinner ready. She listened as she cooks and laughed when he mentioned Chika being snuggled by several Dratini. She was happy that the Chikorita was able to make some friends during their day at the Dragon's Den.

Soon, the small family ate, as Chika was nibbling on some Berries and Poffins that his mother made for her, much to the Grass-type's delight.

"So what are you going to do after dinner, Logan?" His mother asked as she ate her side salad.

"Well, seeing as I got Chika, I figured I spend a bit of time reading up on Grass-types and figure out a strategy for when it comes time to train next week. If I had a Pokédex, it would be easier to know what her moveset consist of, as well the general information on the species as a whole." Logan explained after he swallowed his rosemary chicken.

"But, I figure that judging by her physically appearance, she would most likely know Tackle and Growl. That is usually typical for most Grass-type starters, like Bulbasaur." He added.

His mother just smiled. She knew that her son was very bright, and smarter than the average 8 year old boy, when it came to Pokémon. Logan took the time to study on Pokémon history, battle strategies and techniques, and basic Pokémon psychology. Though, she knew he didn't study all the time, as he often helped her out in the house, and like a typical child, he would play others and was a basic gamer, when it came to video games. But he knew to make time for everything, since he was trying to learn to become a great Pokémon Trainer.

After dinner, Logan helped his mother with the dishes and then took Chika upstairs to his room where he sat down on his bed and grabbed a big book that involved Pokémon types and basic battle information regarding those starting as a Trainer.

"Let's see...ah here we go." Logan said as he looked at a page involving Grass-types.

"Grass type Pokémon are generally aimed to be special attackers and decent defenders with an above average defense stat, depending on the Pokémon. While there are few physical Grass moves out there, it is important to know the type of Grass-type Pokémon you own and work out an overall strategy."

"Defensively, Grass-types have good and bad points. While weak to Fire, Ice, and Flying types, which are commonly used offensive types, other weaknesses that Grass-types are weak to are used rarely offensively. Most Grass-types share a secondary typing of Poison and Bug-type which eliminates these two weaknesses, but makes Flying and Fire types more of a threat. Grass-types, however, have a strong resistance to Electric, Water, Ground, and other Grass-types." Logan read aloud, as Chika listened.

"Hmm...well looking at you, you don't look part Poison, and don't look anything remote to being a bug, so I guess you are a pure Grass-type, huh?" Logan asked Chika, as she gave a simple nod.

"Right! Next up is..." Logan continued reading.

"Sometime ago, it was shown that certain asset of Grass-type Pokémon were immune to the move Leech Seed. However recently, it was discovered that all Grass-types are immune to Powder and spore based moves, such as Sleep Powder and Spore. As these moves are learned by most Grass Pokémon, this enables them to provide support to the rest of the team and can make them difficult to defeat. Because of this, they are good at defending against other Grass-types."

"Grass-types are also affected by the weather most than other Pokémon types. This is likely due to their relation with the natural environment. They can gain good and bad benefits from certain conditions, such as harsh sunlight and rain. For example, a Pokémon that knows Solar Beam would have to wait for the attack to charge by building up any light and convert it into solar energy, but should the weather conditions be harsh sunlight, which can be formed with the use of Sunny Day or a Pokémon with the ability Drought, the attack will instantly be ready for use without waiting."

"Offensively, while Grass-types are very effective against Water, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon, that have their disadvantages. Since Grass-type attacks are resisted by seven different types, which is also true for Bug, double resistances to Grass are extremely common, even more so than double weaknesses."

"Hmm, well that is something we can work on. Seeing as your a pure Grass Pokémon, everything would be out to get you that is effective...but if we can play our cards right, maybe we can do something with that..." Logan thought to himself.

If he had a Pokédex, he would be able to see Chika's stats and nature, and can likely try to work something with Chika. For now, he has to go off on written material until he can register Chika into a Pokédex, which will likely not happen until he receives one when he turns ten. With that, he continues reading.

"Most Grass-type attacks aren't very powerful, or can have several drawbacks, and the majority of Grass moves don't have a wide attack coverage. Despite this, Grass-types have above average Attack or Sp. Attack."

He goes through the book a bit more before he closes it, and thinks as he looks down at the Chikorita.

"Well Chika, I guess I would have to go off instinct and figure out what you could be good as. Now, you might have decent attack and special attack, but you might have better defense and special defense. If thats the case, I could have you act as a support Pokémon, as you might be able to take in a lot of hits, even from super-effective attacks. The best offensive is being defensive, as they say." He chuckled, as he rubs her back, to which she cooed cutely.

"Chiiiko~" She said, to which he just chuckled again.

For the next couple hours, he read some other material, and took the time to play with Chika. Soon though, it was getting late and his mother comes in.

"Okay you two, time for bed now." She said softly, with a gentle smile.

"Yes mom." Logan replied as he puts his books away and gets into bed, as Chika goes and lays down on top of him. His mother giggled.

"Okay dear, good night." She said, leaning over and kissing Logan's head.

"Night mom..." She smiled letting her. Chika looks up and smiled brightly.

"Chiko-chi!~" She chirped.

She giggled, "Good night to you as well Chika..." She goes and strokes her back softly and then leaves the two, as she turns the lights out and closes the door. Logan goes and holds Chika as he hugs her.

"Night Chika." He said quietly.

"Chiko..." She replied back, as she nuzzles him and then falls asleep, to which the former does the same, drifting off to a peaceful sleep.

Later that night, his mother was about to get ready for bed, when that weird feeling started to occur in her head again, only it started to hurt more. She winced, as she goes to the bathroom and takes out a bottle and takes two migraine relief pills. Hoping that would get rid of the pain, she goes to her bed and lays down and shuts the lights off and closes her eyes. It took time, but she was able to fall asleep. What she didn't know, it wasn't just a migraine that was causing this.

All was quiet then, nothing but the sound of night time Pokémon going about their evening. However, in the front yard of Logan's home, the same white Pokémon that followed him earlier sat there, looking up at the house, namely toward the window of his mother's room. Its as if it knows, it wasn't going to be a pleasant day tomorrow for the boy...

Ryuko Residence – March 22nd, 1999

Morning

It was around 8 in the morning and the sun was shining down over the mountain town. Logan was known to wanting to sleep in, but he suddenly began to stir awake. He yawns as he rubbed his eyes, tiredly and looks down and sees Chika just still asleep. He just smiled softly and quietly got out of bed, without waking her up. However, it proved fruitless as the sun shoned into the room, and onto the sleeping Leaf Pokémon. Chika suddenly felt the warmth and was feeling energized already, to which she got up and stretched and looked to Logan and smiled brightly.

"Chiii...!~" Chika greeted.

"Heh...good morning Chika. I guess your ready for the day already." Logan said as he chuckled. "Mom is likely up now, I'm gonna go down and get breakfast, so you can just continue sun bathing. After all, you are practically a plant."

Chika just nods as she laid back down and enjoyed the sun's beams. Logan shook his head at her adorableness and leaves the room. He walks downstairs, "Good morning mom."

However, when he got down, he saw nobody there. Usually mom is always the first one up and making breakfast at this point, but she wasn't in the kitchen. He goes and looks out the window, thinking she was outside, tending her garden, but to his surprise, she wasn't out there either. Her shoes were at the door so she didn't leave. Was she still in bed?

"Huh..." Logan thought as he goes back upstairs and sees the door to his mom's room closed still. He knocks on it.

"Mom...? Mom you still asleep? Its already 8." He said. However there was no response. He knocked again.

"Mom? Mom, are you there?" He said, sounding confused. Chika, who was in his room, heard him knocking on the door and decided to go see what was up.

"Chiko?" Chika tilts her head as Logan picks her up.

"I don't know Chika, mom must've really wanted to sleep in today... but she isn't answering. She is a light sleeper though..." He told her with concern.

Left with little options, he slowly opens the door, peering around. He then opens it slowly as he sees his mom laying their in bed, asleep still. He then goes over.

"Mom? Mom, time to wake up." Logan said as he shakes her shoulder, but she didn't respond.

"Come on mom, you can't be that deep asleep, your never this heavy..." He said chuckling, albeit nervously, but she didn't respond still.

Logan was getting worried, and bit scared. Chika noticed this and also was getting worried as she jumps down onto the bed and nudges her.

"Chiko, chi chi ko?" She said to the unconscious woman, but still nothing.

"Mom...mom please wake up. This is not funny!" He shouted, worried now. Nothing.

He was beginning to breath heavily. She couldn't be...could she? He then did placed his hand over her chest. His heart sunk, as he didn't feel her heartbeat, or see her breath at all.

"...M-mother...?" His eyes widen to the realization, and slowly stepped back. He felt tears beginning to come out. He then picks up Chika and runs out of the room and downstairs to the phone and called 911.

"This is Blackthorn City Police, whats is your emergency?" The dispatcher asked.

Logan held back his tears, he wanted to stay strong, "H...hello? I need someone to come here right away...my m-mom...she isn't waking up..."

"Your mother isn't waking up? Like she isn't responding to you or anything?" The dispatcher asked calmly, realizing it was a child.

"N-no, me and my Chikorita tried to get her to get up, but she...she isn't breathing...her heart isn't beating...I...I'm scared." He said shakily, finding it hard to hold back the tears as they began to come down his cheeks.

"Okay sweetie, I want you to remain calm. I'll send an ambulance over. What's your address?" She asked.

"230 Dracion Drive..." He replied.

"Okay, someone will come right away. Stay on the phone with me until they come okay?" She asked in a kind voice.

"O-okay..." Logan said, calming down slightly.

Soon it got out when the ambulance arrived at the house. The neighbors came out or people who walked in the mornings saw the scene and began talking among themselves. When they saw a stretcher with what looked like a body on it being lifted to the ambulance, and the sight of a small child holding a Chikorita, they knew then that poor child lost his mother.

Clair then arrived, after Logan asked if Clair would come, and when she heard the news, she left the Gym immedately as she came to the house and saw him sitting there on the doorstep, quiet, as Chika tried to get him to say something. The Dragon Tamer could do nothing but feel pity and sadness.

"Logan...?" Clair asked as she kneels down to the boy, with worry and concern.

"...Clair...?" Logan just asked as he looks to her.

Clair then just embraced him tightly, Logan took a few seconds before slowly embracing back. She can hear sobs from the boy, and knew there was nothing they could do. He lost his mother, she lost her family friend and now her son was an orphan. This was something an eight year old boy could not go through, especially early in this lifetime.

"Come on...your going to stay with me for now. I can't leave you here all alone..." Clair said as she wipes his tears. Logan could just nod.

She had him get dressed and grab his belongings, namely his books, Game Boy, and of course Chika. She felt very sad and hurt that her master just lost his meema, what Pokémon refer to as the mother when they are young, and Chika was still rather young. She just snuggles in his arms as he walks away from his home, realizing that his life was forever changed that morning, with Clair. In the distance, as the crowd began to die down, the white Pokémon watched and could do nothing, but feel pity for that boy. It bowed its head down, closing its eyes, before looking back up to where the two humans were walking and darts back off into the wilderness.

A few days later...

It was a rough few days afterward. As it turned out, the cause of his mother's death was due to something no one would have expected: A brain tumor. Judging by it, she likely had this tumor going on for several months, but never came in to have it checked. She more than likely didn't think much of it, but if she did, it was likely out of the love of her son, and not to worry him, given it would have been hard for Logan to take in the fact she was going to likely pass away. And yet, she was always smiling, always happy and cheerful, just for Logan. And she kept that up to her last day. Her funeral took place the following week, a couple days before training started for the new Tamers. Many people showed up, as they knew that she was a kind and gentle soul, and felt remorse for Logan who was now without a parent. He never knew his father, and when he asked his mom about it, she never explained about him. If he was still around out there, would he even come back? More likely not...

Logan was staying with Clair, and decided to take him in as his legal guardian, until he was old enough to start his journey in two years. Logan was sitting in his room, with Chika resting on the bed, as he was reading. He heard Clair walking by, and then he called for her.

"Clair?" Logan asked. Clair stopped as he looked at him.

"Hmm? What is it, Logan?" Clair asked.

"You know how you asked me, after the funeral, that if I didn't want to start training because of what happened, I didn't have to if this was going to be hard on me mentally?" Logan asked. Clair nodded.

"...I've been thinking." He closed his book as he looked at her in the eyes, with a look of seriousness.

"I want to go through with training. I can't...grief for mom forever. I know it hurts...it hurts me so much, that I lost her...but she wouldn't want me to give up on my dream, no matter what! I'm gonna make her proud, she would have wanted that." Logan explained, with a bit of vigor.

Clair was surprised. She didn't think Logan would have wanted to continue and start training, even after what happened to him. But he had a point, he wanted to make his mother proud, even after death, and knows that she wouldn't want to see him give up on his dream. She then smiled and nods.

"Alright then Logan. If that is what you want to do, then be ready tomorrow. We begin at dawn, at the Den." Clair said to him, to which he nods.

He knew, this was gonna be a long two years.