Chapter 5
I forgot to mention in the Author's note last chapter that Charles, Clay and Alder are not my characters. They are all in the actual games (Black/White). Charles is a heartbreaker, Alder is the champion and Clay is the Gym leader of Driftveil. I apologize for not mentioning it earlier. Also I have noticed an inconsistency. At first I hint at Sophie having short hair, but when I described her in detail, I gave her long hair. I have corrected it in my 'master' copy. When I finish the story completely I will post the 'master' copy as the final chapter—with only a short author's note at the end and hopefully with all the mistakes corrected. Which is part of the reason I want to have any typos or words that were mistakenly used pointed out to me. It will be appreciated!
"So how come your Braviary is such a higher level than all your other Pokémon?"
"Braveheart is my family's Pokémon. He went with my older sister, Maria, when she went on her journey. Be careful not to fall off now."
I held Avon securely as they carefully leaned over Braveheart's shoulder to see the land passing under us as we flew. Tim watched with an amused look as we experienced our first flight.
"This is incredible!" I continued talking as she watched the trees go by. A thought occurred when I glanced at Tim. "When was the last time you visited your home?"
"Hmm? Oh, when I left for my journey two years ago."
"TWO YEARS AGO? And you haven't been back since?"
Tim's expression became confused at my outburst. "Well I talk to them often over the phone."
"What about the holidays? You haven't even gone back for Christmas?" I am having trouble imagining not seeing my family for two years. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from Accumula town. I've spent hours on the phone with my family on their birthdays and on Christmas. I've even had presents sent to them." Tim is looking completely lost as to the reason for my outburst.
"Hey Braveheart! Can we change the course a little? You and Tim need to visit your home."
With a happy shriek of affirmation our flight changes direction, going a little more south than we had been.
"Wait! What do you mean we're heading to my home? And why did Brave automatically listen to you?"
"He listened because he misses his home and wants to visit. How often did Maria visit you guys when she was on her journey?"
Tim sat silently for a while.
Mommy? Brave says thank you.
Tell him I say you're welcome.
"Maria visited every chance she got. She wants to be a Pokémon ranger when she is old enough so she spent most of her journey working with the rangers in Pinwheel Forest. It will take us a couple of hours longer for us to reach Accumula than it would to reach Striation. Are you sure you want to go there? It will slow down your journey." When Tim finally speaks he is focused on the distant horizon.
"I had been hoping to get a few more battles in before I challenged the gym anyway, so walking from Accumula to Striation will help with that. And thanks to you letting me ride on Brave, my journey is already ahead of schedule by days."
"You have your journey scheduled?" The astonishment in his voice makes me grin.
"It was a loose schedule. But I had planned on walking from Driftveil to Striation and that would have taken a couple weeks at least. Not to mention the amount of time I would have spent being lost in Castelia City." I glance away from the passing scenery and look at Tim straight on.
He has a thoughtful look on his face as he considers me. "You've been planning this journey for awhile now, haven't you?"
A small smile forms on my face as memories flash through my mind. "Ever since my ninth birthday. I've been studying my father's map and asking my brother questions about his journey. I had planned on leaving soon after my birthday this year and then my family surprised me by getting everything ready for me. Now I might even be close enough to visit home around Christmas time. That is if I don't spend too much time being lost in Castelia."
"You're really worried about that aren't you?"
"Tim, this is the farthest I have ever been from the ranch. Before today, I had never gone farther than Driftveil. Unless there is somebody with me who has been there before, I am going to be lost. There is no question about it."
"Hmmmm."
We fall into a companionable silence, each of us contemplating the journeys ahead of us.
It is a couple of hours till sunset when we arrive at Accumula. Tim returns Brave to his poke ball and then leads us to a house on the edge of the town. Just as he is about to knock—it is his own house but he hasn't been back for two years and he forgot to call ahead—a pretty older woman opened the door while saying something over her shoulder. When she turned and caught sight of Tim, she stopped.
"You're late. We already ate all of your birthday cake. You call us on our birthdays and Christmas, but you haven't once called us on your own birthday." Her expression was amused as she looked at her son. "Why did you decide to finally visit now? And who's the little one standing behind you?"
"Oh, um, you remember who Tristan Stone is right?" Tim seems to be stumbling over his words.
"I do, but I always thought he would be taller. Also that he would be a BOY." Her emphasis on the word boy sent me into a fit of giggles.
"This is his little sister!" Tim extremely embarrassed.
"Hello. I'm Sophie." I quickly introduce myself because Tim seems to be in a state of almost mortification.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Sophie. I'm Tiana. Howard, my husband, is out looking for inspiration for his music. I was just going out to get him for supper. MARIA! Your brother has finally deigned to return and he brought a friend!"
Tim winced at the last bit and watched the stairs with some trepidation. His mother gave me one last smile before leaving the house just as the sound of running feet reached the stairs. A young woman appeared at the foot of the stairs and had to grab the railing to keep from continuing forward and crashing into us. She looked almost identical to Tim. They both looked remarkably like their mother, except their faces are different. Maria and Tiana have rounder jaw lines while Tim's jaw is more square. Maria stood at the stairs for a moment longer before launching herself at her little brother and giving him what seemed to be two years worth of hugs.
After she finally let Tim go she turned to me, a welcoming smile on her face. As she looked me over her smile grew.
"I'm Maria. This idiot's older sister." A noise of complaint escapes Tim, but Maria ignores it. "You guys are staying for supper right? I'll go set two more places on the table."
Almost as quickly as she had appeared, Maria disappears. A few moments later the clatter of dishes can be heard. Tim stands nervously in the hallway, obviously not sure what he should be doing. Suddenly the door opens and a man stands there looking both of us over. It is obvious that he is Howard, Tim's dad. With the square jaw and the vibrant green eyes that are as sharp as a Liepard's claws, he radiates an intimidating atmosphere.
I tilt my head to the side and look right back at him. "You're a musician?" After he simply nods his head, I continue with a smile. "Cool."
A small smile appears on his face. "Let's go sit down. We can talk more then."
Tiana, who had been behind Howard, shakes her head as she leads us to the dining room. Once we are all seated, Maria decides to start an interrogation.
"First off, who are you?"
"Saphronia Stone, but please call me Sophie."
"Okay, Sophie, how old are you?"
"I am ten. I may be small, but I am ten."
Silence for a few moments while Maria stares at me and I am able to eat some of the delicious food Tiana had placed on my plate while we talked.
"Definitely glad I asked that question. Next: how did you meet Tim?" Maria finally continued.
"He was going to visit my older brother just when I started my journey. We met on the path leading to my house and had a battle."
Suddenly the whole family is staring at Tim with looks of disapproval on their faces. Tim looks at me and we both share a smile realizing what they are thinking.
"If you think that I then proceeded to destroy her in battle, you're wrong. She whupped me. Then her brother showed up and proceeded to convince me to give her a ride on Brave since we were heading to the same place. She was also the one who changed our destination from Striation to Accumula."
"No one should go two years without seeing their family if they can help it." I explain when they glance my way. "And I probably would have lost if he had his regular team with him. By the way, are you planning to use Yamask against Alder?"
"I'm not sure. Why?" Tim gives me his full attention.
"Because it won't make it past Grimsley."
The family returns their stares to me, considering what I just said. I continue eating, waiting to hear Tim's reply, until a thought occurs to me.
"Oh, can I let my Pokémon out? I need to get them some food."
When the reply came, both Tim and I snorted.
"May I ask what is so funny about 'as long as they aren't too big'?" Howard asked with a raised brow.
In reply I simply released my three Pokémon. When everyone saw tiny Dawn they smiled in understanding. Then Maria smirked.
"Tim? You lost to these adorable, SMALL Pokémon?"
"Yes, yes I did. Sophie, do you think you could help me put together a team that would stand a chance against the Elite 4 and Alder?"
I look at Tim. "I will not tell you what Pokémon they have."
As I am going to get food for the Eevees, Tiana brings some over for them.
"Do you think I could look at your clothes? I don't think I recognize the stitch and as a seamstress, I am always looking for stronger stitches." She sets the food down and my three little ones start to eat hungrily.
I reach for my bag again. "I think that my parents packed an identical outfit to this one. Let me check."
Maria comes over and looks at my bag. "Isn't that bag to heavy for you to carry?"
"I think my brother put around twenty Float Stones in it to make it lighter. Yep. Here's one and here's the other outfit."
As Tiana pours over the fabric, Maria examines the stone. "This? This is handy. Are they very common?"
"Clay, the Driftveil Gym Leader, finds them all the time when he's mining. He's given quite a few to my parents, for all the help they have given him."
"I wonder if the rangers could work out a deal with him to get some of these. We would be able to help more Pokémon if we were able to carry more supplies."
"Alright, it's getting late. No doubt Sophie and Tim will want to get an early start. This means that Tim will have to go clear off his bed before he can get some sleep." Howard has a mysterious smile on his face as he talks.
"Wait, why would I have to clear off my bed? Have you guys put something on it?" Tim has a wary expression on his face as he asks.
"Hey, Sophie! Want to see Tim's room?" Before I get a chance to answer her, Maria has grabbed my hand and practically dragged me up the stairs.
With Tim following close behind in an attempt to stop Maria, I am taken up the stairs to a room that is obviously Tim's.
"To be honest," I say as I look around, "I was kind of expecting more pictures of my brother."
Tim blushes a deep red as I look around his room. It is simple, with a brown and green color scheme. Only one poster is on the walls and it is one from when Tristan had just been made Champion. I glance over at the bed and grin, turning to talk to Maria and see how long it takes for Tim to notice his bed.
"You know, I have been wondering why Tim is so impressed with Tristan and not Alder. Alder has held the title for ten years. Tristan only held it for five."
"Yes, Alder has held it longer, but he was an adult by the time he got the title. Tristan was younger than me and held it for five years. That is why I am so inspired by your brother. He—"
When Tim stops talking I know that he has spotted the pile of presents on his bed. Two years worth of birthday and Christmas gifts make a very impressive pile.
"Um, excuse me. I, um." Tim stutters to a stop, completely shocked.
"You know, it is going to take you awhile to open all those so why don't we leave you to it?" Maria tossed over her shoulder as she guided me out of the room. "Sophie do you mind sleeping in my room? We can chat some more."
"Not at all. Um, do you have any idea why Tim hasn't come home for the past two years?"
"Oh, I think you'll find out in the morning. Now let's go gossip about my brother."
Giggling, I follow Maria into another bedroom, my little Eevees bouncing around our feet.
In the morning, as Tim and I are getting ready to leave, Tim loaded down with new gear that had been waiting for him in his pile of gifts; Tiana comes up and gives her son a serious look.
"Tim, you really should come visit us more often. No, wait till I'm done. When you started your journey, you said you wouldn't return until you became champion. That does not mean that you cannot visit. As long as you are not giving up then it is okay to come home. Keep pursuing your dream. Just come see us more often. Please."
Howard has come up behind his wife, a soft smile on his face. "Sophie, you are also welcome to come visit us. I think traveling together will help the both of you grow. Be safe."
"I'll- I'll come visit for Christmas!" Tim says before running out of the house.
"I think you guys have embarrassed your son. It was a pleasure to meet you and I thank you for the invitation. Goodbye!" I quickly run out of the house to catch up to Tim.
Mommy, I liked them. Avon stated.
I liked them too. They were kind and the music that man played was beautiful. Dusk commented sleepily from my arms.
That girl was fun! Can we go see them again? Dawn bounced around the path ahead of us.
"I think we will. Hey Tim! Slow down!"
Hey, an extra long chapter for a Christmas present to all my awesome readers! So, Tim's family is not going to have a huge role in the story, but they will be mentioned. I wanted you guys to have a sense of who they are. Also, I REALLY wanted to work Christmas and presents into this chapter somehow, cause, HEY! It's Christmas! So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! A review would be the perfect Christmas gift for me! As always, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M DOING!