Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, but I do own my own OCs.
Ring, ring, ring! Phone call! Phone call! Ring, ring, ring! Phone call! Phone call!
"Now, who could that be?" Eirwen asked herself, making her way from her place in her sunroom to her adjacent office and answered the phone.
"Hello? Frost's residence."
"Alola!"
"S-Samson?!"
"Raichu are! How are you both these days? Is Cass still recovering?"
Eirwen rolled her eyes. "She is, but she isn't. She's been feeling down ever since that day. The Pokemon and I have been keeping her busy, to distract her; but, I know she wants to ride again."
"Absol-utely! I could send over one of the Ride Pokemon from the school."
"Samson Oak, I would not even know where to begin putting that contraption on Tauros!"
"Luka, where are you?! Bring the chair!" Cassandra yelled, crossing her arms impatiently.
Carver smirked and encased her in his psychic aura. She squealed in surprise, caught off guard by his mischievous behavior. He guided her out the door and into her vacant chair. Luka was nowhere to be found. She frowned, sighed, and unlocked her wheels. She glanced back at Carver and smiled her thanks.
"Growlithe, come."
"Growl!"
The pair glided down the hallway slowly as she pushed herself. The hallways were lined with beautiful photographs of Pokemon from various regions. The sunned poured in from the nearby open blinds. A peck on a window drew her attention from the portraits to the window. She wheeled herself over and opened the curtain, revealing a Pidgey. The little bird Pokemon sang a happy tune which brought a smile to the young girl's face. 'It's that Pidgey Grandma hatched! I thought it found a flock by now.' Pidgey was doing its best to put on a show, anything from dancing to singing tunes it had learned from the locals. She laughed and clapped.
"Growlithe, think you can open this window?" she asked curiously.
He shook his head as he hadn't been trained for that. She frowned and looked around, trying to find an opening for the little entertainer. She found none. Pidgey understood, took a bow, and took its leave for the time being. 'I guess I'll find Luka first then go outside and look for Pidgey.' She resumed her journey down the hallway and opened doors along the way. She grew more frustrated with each door reveal and hit her wheels to vent. Growlithe gently tugged on her clothing to stop the behavior and whined sympathetically. She sighed and gave him a scratch behind the ears which caused him to release her. She turned right and made her way to the staircase.
"Growlithe, harness." 'I guess Grandma forgot to put it on again.'
"Growl!"
She watched as he ran upstairs and disappear into her room. He looked in the usual places, but could not find it. He glanced towards Espeon's bed, pleased to find it taking a nap. He ran over and yipped, earning himself a small growl in annoyance for interrupting its sleep. He whimpered and explained the situation, causing the cat-like Pokemon to stretch and leave the bed. Espeon trotted over the closet, tugged on the attached rope, and opened it. It turned its gaze on the high shelf which housed the special harness. Using Psychic, it grabbed the harness and helped Growlithe get suited up for the day. The Puppy Pokemon wagged its tail in thanks before he ran out of the room. Espeon followed close behind.
Cassandra smiled while watching the pair trot down the stairs. Espeon leaped onto her lap, curled up, and fell asleep quickly. Growlithe took his place behind her chair and waited. She gripped the harness handle and clicked her tongue; Growlithe yipped while he moved forward, effortlessly pulling them forward. Cassandra glanced about while absentmindedly petting the sleeping Espeon. 'Just where did Luka go?' The girl's features twisted into a confused look as she craned her neck and glanced at a corridor they had passed.
"Stop."
"Growl?"
"Tug. Down the hallway."
"Growl!"
Cassandra released her grip on the harness and Growlithe quickly went behind her chair. He located a rope, which was attached to the wheelchair frame, and tugged backward until they were back in the hallway. He then resumed his place on the left side of her chair. She smiled and rubbed his ears in thanks before she grasped his harness handle.
"Forward."
He resumed his previous task while she continued to glance into the open rooms. She grew more frustrated with each door reveal, her grip tightening on the harness handle as a result. It did not take long to reach the end of the hallway at the rate Growlithe was pulling. She clicked her tongue and gestured to the room of the left to which he adjusted his course. As they entered, they could see a few sleeping Pokemon including a Cubone, a Sandshrew, a Meowth, and a male Nidoran. Cassandra released the handle and quietly wheeled over to a free bed. She used what she had learned from Carter and concentrated on Espeon. The purple feline was encased in blue light, brighter than it was previously. She grinned as her friend was gently levitated into the air and towards the bed.
"Cubone?"
"Eeep!"
Espeon landed on the floor with a hard thud, jolting the Pokemon awake along without everyone else in the room. iThe groggy Pokemon slowly rose to its feet, emitted a low growl of annoyance, and glared at the pair. Cassandra leaped out of her chair and landed with a thud in an attempt to drag herself over to Espeon. Growlithe ran over to her with the purple feline quickly in tow, having already forgiven the developing psychic.
Cassandra smiled. "I'm ok; I was more worried about you, Espeon. I'm sorry I dropped you. Cubone woke up and spooked me."
"Cubone…"
"I'm not mad."
"Cubone!"
The small Pokemon ran over to hug her and the others soon followed. The child giggled while she returned the group hug. She glanced at Espeon and nodded. The feline smiled and used Psychic to return her to her wheelchair.
"Has anyone seen Luka?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"What about Grandma?"
The Pokemon glanced at each other suspiciously.
"You guys know! Tell me please!"
The Pokemon glanced at each other once more, as if having a silent conversation between themselves. Growlithe emitted a low whimper and nuzzled Cassandra's leg to comfort her; she, in turn, gently rubbed his jawline. Out of the corner of her eye, the male Nidoran stepped forward.
"Nido!"
Cassandra glanced at him. "Spike?"
The poison type Pokemon ran out the door with the other Pokemon trailing behind, protesting his decision. The girl's face twisted into a confused frown while she reached for Growlithe's harness.
"Follow Spike, Growlithe."
"Growl!'
He set a quick pace as he exited the room. The Pokemon chattering was loud and overlapping one another. The more Cassandra listened, the more confused she became.
"Supposed to keep away…"
"She wants Gran!"
"Not the time…"
"She's upset!"
"Lead her away…"
Cassandra released the harness handle and gripped her head, groaning as she curled into a ball. She began to hum in hopes of tuning out the noise. Growlithe barked and the Pokemon fell silent. They turned to face their young friend, a wave of concern washed over them as Spike broke away from the group and bolted off down a nearby hallway. Growlithe wasted no time as he fell into a routine. He nudged her and whined, hoping to get a response.
"Too much… too much…" She muttered.
The small Pokemon doubled his efforts while the rest of the Pokemon ran after Spike. Growlithe slowly uncurled her and climbed into her lap, cuddling the upset child. She returned his affections, gently squeezing him closer.
"I can't Bayleef Cassandra has gotten so big! She'll soon start off on her journey."
"I hope she'll be ok when the time comes."
"You worry too much. She'll do well."
"I hope you're-"
"Nido!"
The pair could hear the sounds of running and screaming along with the padding of many paws. Eirwen leaped from her chair, hurried over to her office door, and opened it. All the Pokemon present immediately started chattering at one, leaving Eirwen with a mild headache.
"Nido!"
"Don't mind me, Eirwen. I'll be here. See what is wrong." Sampson called out over the Pokemon.
"What's wrong, Spike? Show me."
He took off and Eirwen, along with the rest of the Pokemon, followed close behind. It didn't take them long to rejoin Cassandra and Growlithe. Eirwen came up to the pair and saw Cassandra was slowly rocking back and forth. She appeared to be muttering something yet the old woman was unable to hear it. Eirwen took in a deep breath and exhaled then took out her phone to send a text.
Eirwen: "Can we push back our appointment a couple of hours? Cass is having a minor set back."
?: "I hope she is alright. Of course! Let me know when we can visit."
Eirwen smiled while she put her phone away. She clicked her tongue in hopes of getting a response from Cassandra. The young girl cuddled Growlithe closer in reply. She walked behind her and grabbed the wheelchair's handles, eyeing the Pokemon as she did so.
"Espeon, be a dear and tell Carver to fix her favorite snacks. Spike, please stay with Cassandra. The rest of you, find Pidgey and tell her Cass needs her. Move out!" Eirwen barked out to which the Pokemon hurried to obey.
Eirwen quietly wheeled the pair back to her office with Spike in two. Sampson could be seen smiling silently as he waited patiently to be noticed. Growlithe nudged Cassandra's chin gently as he attempted to loosen her grip. She made a sound of recognition and released him while turning her gaze to the floor. Growlithe licked her face which earned him a smile and a giggle. Both adults smiled as they saw she was slowly working through it.
Pecks on glass was soon heard before happy coos as Pidgey flew in from an open window. The small bird Pokemon immediately took her place upon Growlithe's head, much to his annoyance. She nibbled on the girl's hair in an effort to make her look up. When this didn't work, she sang a tune she had recently learned. That worked. The young girl gave a big smile and cuddled the bird gently after she had raised her head. Happy coos could be heard as Pidgey settled in, enjoying the attention Cassandra gave as she petted her feathers.
"Well now, that was Onix-pected. Better now? Deep breaths, CassCass."
"Sammy!"
"Alola. Would you like another lesson?"
"Not till next week?"
"Yes, our lesson is not till next week but Wynaut?"
Cassandra giggled. Sampson gave Eirwen a nod to which she smiled and left the room.
"Let's begin with Regional Variants."