The next day, I was the first to awaken. It was a tad disorienting; there I was, surrounded by the pinkest, frilliest room you've ever seen, part of Skitty's tail in my mouth, when I catch a glimpse of the doorway.

I may need my eyes checked.

Waiting there, watching us sleep with curious expressions on their faces, are two little skitties.

"They're awake!" One yells, bounding into the room. The others start shifting beside me just before being pounced on by the pair. Activity erupts around us, questions fly from them as they run around poking and prodding us, questions fly from us in return; all the chaos directed to Skitty.

"Skooter! Skyla!" They stand to attention at the voice of their older sister, "What did we say about pouncing on guests?" "…it's not polite" they say in unison. Ah, so this is a regular occurrence. Seeing Skitty talk them down from their hyper state, I can see how she became so qualified to lead her own exploration team—no explorer could be as rambunctious as these two. "Oh Arceus, there's three of them," Serperior whispers to me as I stifle a laugh.

Delcatty appears in the doorway. "There you two are…" she says softly to the children. Her affect becomes stony again when she looks our way. "It's afternoon, but we saved you some lunch. You should eat before setting off." She declares before leaving tersely. Well, at least they're feeding us…I hadn't realized before, but I'm starving.

We head downstairs, flanked by the twins, Skyla and Skooter, who Skitty officially introduced amidst their flurry of chatter. They haven't stopped for even a moment since we left her bedroom. We settle around a table in their dining room while Skitty goes to the kitchen—throughout this the twins continue their barrage of questions.

"What's it like being an explorer?" "What do you explore?" "Have you been to the end of the world?" "How many members are in your team?" "What's the Exploration Center like?" "How many pokemon live there?" "When's your bedtime?" "Do you like having wings?" "What's it like having no legs?" "How do you make your fur float like that?" "What's the best mission you've been on?" "What's the coolest thing you ever found?" Etc etc. I'll note they don't actually wait for the answers, it seems letting us know they have questions is enough.

"Kiddos!" Skitty interrupts, returning with some food and water, "give us a chance to breath, huh?" "Ooh, go get the thing!" Skooter says, poking Skyla, who leaps up and runs back upstairs.

Ambipom ambles in, pulling Skitty aside. I hear snippets about him wanting to talk with her later, a warning about not filling the twin's heads with stories, and a reminder about how we should be out by tonight. I realize with horror that when he said 'one day,' he meant we were to spend the entire day following our night with them. At least we've slept most of the day away. While I do agree we're less likely to get caught if we travel at night, I think I'd rather take my chances with the Center than stay here any longer than necessary.

"You ok?" I ask Skitty as Ambipom leaves, she nods and sits beside me, "mmhmm, I just…really don't want to have to drag it out with them…" "I can come with you, if it would help," "thanks…but I think it's something I have to do alone." I don't think anyone should have to be with her parents alone, but it's her call, "ok, but if you change your mind, I'm here" I smile at her.

We start working on the sandwiches I'm assuming Delcatty made, when Skyla runs back into the kitchen clutching a piece of paper, which she splats onto the table. It features a sketch of Serperior, proclaiming that he is wanted by the Center and offering a reward for his capture (huh, I don't recall getting any compensation for catching the other two). My eyes go wide while Skitty let's out a snort.

"Mister Serperior, could you sign this please? Make it out to us! Skyla and Skooter!" "Skooter with a K!" Serperior looks like he wants to disappear, his face going pink. "Uhm…now listen…kids…" he starts, "this isn't um…What I'm trying to say is…ah…" "oh yes, mister Serperior, what are you trying to say?" Skitty smirks as Noibat glances between us nervously. Serperior tries to regain his composure, clears his throat "the things I was accused of are untrue, but I don't want you to think this kind of thing is…'cool', or something you want to get mixed up in."

The twins either haven't heard him or just don't care. It's clear they think this is the coolest thing ever. They're still thrusting a pen at him.

~that's going to be a problem, pokemon from your world don't live like they do here!~

A memory? Now?

~when I was younger I so wanted to be able to communicate with my pokemon. I knew they could understand me to an extent, but not being able to talk to them directly drove me crazier than most. But one day, I had a bright idea; if they can't physically talk to me, maybe they could learn how to write. Problem was, while they seemed to understand human speech, putting things in their own words…just didn't work. I hoped Snivy could learn some basics, but once we got past the challenge of teaching him how to properly hold a pencil…well, it didn't get much further than that. After trying on and off over several weeks, we begrudgingly accepted it wasn't to be~

I remember it so clearly. It was soon after we became partners, and we were still having trouble understanding each other. When I asked him about wanting to learn to write like a human so that I could understand him better, he looked really excited. I knew he was bright, but the intricacies of human language, the rules…all of it proved a little too confusing. Pokemon from my world really just…don't do that kind of thing.

I'm hit with a realization. Before coming here, we had never got to have a direct conversation where I could actually 100% understand him. For us to get here, to have that opportunity, just for me not to even remember anything about myself or him—any of them…I feel my chest tighten.

The other realization is that he's sitting there, a fully grown pokemon holding a pen awkwardly in one hand and the paper in another, and he doesn't have the faintest idea how to write.

"Um, well you see…I really don't…" "pleeeeease!" They singsong in unison. I'm sure it's a tactic that's always got them exactly what they wanted. His face somehow goes an even deeper shade of pink, "I don't actually…know how…how to write…" the twins don't seem to follow, but Skitty literally spits her water across the table. "What? C'mon, just do it! Look at their widdle baby faces," Skitty pinches one of Skyla's cheeks as she complains. He's leveling a glare at her, "Where Gwen, Noibat, and I are from" he emphasizes, "it's not something we're…expected to know." "What, so only the humans can write?" she blurts out, quickly clapping a paw over her mouth.

"Humans!?" The twins say. If the questions were bad before, they're unstoppable now. I can barely make anything out as they talk over each other. We're trying to quieten them before—

"What's with all this noise!?"

That. Ambipom is in the doorway. And if looks could kill? Ough.

"Kids, why don't you go on up and play in your room for now?" He suggests, deathly calm. They say bye to us in turn and bolt up the stairs, passing the word 'human' back and forth.

He comes in, staring daggers at us in turn, before his eyes finally land on Skitty.

"I thought I told you not to fill their HEADS WITH STORIES!" he started quiet but progressed to a shout. "And then I overhear…what? Exactly? They know you're CRIMINALS?! And you're telling them about HUMANS!? The LAST thing I want is for them to…to want to get into exploring like you!" He's almost foaming at the mouth, absolutely livid. "Dad, I—" "I don't WANT to hear you're EXCUSES! I knew letting you and these…" he gestures in our direction, like we're the trash he forgot to take out "characters into our home was a mistake! I should have known you'd be the same irresponsible, untrustable child as ever!"

Skitty's looking down, trembling slightly. Her eyes are screwed shit and I see her start to cry.

That's it.

I don't care if he's her father or the king of the world or Arceus themself. No one makes Skitty feel as terrible as she does now.

"Ambipom!" I snarl. "You're angry because you think the twins have been exposed to the harsh realities of the world? Well guess what? The harsh realities will come for them, whether they know about them or not! And when they do, has it occurred to you it's best they be prepared!?"

He turns to me, eyes searching mine, "is that a threat?" Ohoho I'd love to do more than threaten him right now, but it's not the time, nor the place.

"By no means, but in your attempt to protect some of your children, you've tried to completely destroy another." I'm breathing heavily. "Anyone who can come from parents like you as full of light and joy and goodness as Skitty is a good, strong person, stronger than you'll ever be!"

I'm aware everyone is staring at me now in different stages of disbelief. Delcatty's appeared in the doorway, her eyes are wet.

"Get out" he breathes. "Get out of my house, get out of our LIVES! You!" He turns to Skitty, "you are no daughter of mine. OUT!" She stands tall, through her tears she says "being your daughter was a curse. I hope Skyla and Skooter see you for who you are some day." "OUT!"

I gather my bag and we silently leave the table as Ambipom watches, fuming. The sun has started to set as we leave the house. How a place so charming on the outside can be filled with such horrible people is just surreal. Delcatty follows us a moment later—is it time for round two already? I'm already feeling wiped from my outburst, but I could always find a little reserve energy if needed.

"Skitty…" she says sadly. "You're father and I…well, you know we didn't want you to become an explorer, and…how he likes to be in control. He thought you becoming an explorer would make him lose that…and it scares him." Skitty considers this for a moment. "Then he'll just have to be scared. But I can't not live my life because of it." Delcatty closed her eyes, and I'm surprised to see her nod slowly. "Yes, and it will take time, but…but you're always welcome here…you'll always be our daughter." She says, opening now tear-filled eyes. "Thank you" she says, gingerly rubbing her head against her mom's chest. "We should go, before the Center comes," Skitty says, pulling away. "Of course. Stay safe, all of you," she regards each of us, but keeps her eyes locked on mine for the longest. "I know you'll keep her safe," she whispers. "You have my word," I promise.

And with that, we're on our way to a cabin in the Frosty Woods to release a couple of scared, confused pokemon we wrongfully arrested.

All in all, better than being here.