Chapter Two

Kalin waited to express his feelings on the unusual situation until he and Radley were getting into the van for the short trip to Main Street.

"How do you think this even happened?" he wondered. "All of those Eevees under Scotch's bed. . . ."

"It's pretty wild," Radley said. "But Eevees can't walk through walls. There's probably a window open or unlocked somewhere in the house. They'd better find it and fix it. Eevees coming through is all well and good, but other visitors would be a lot less welcome."

Kalin nodded. "Maybe they'll be so occupied with Eevees they'll forget."

"We'll take care of it if they haven't," Radley said. "But let's get this stuff first."

The drive only took about five minutes and then they were pulling into the general store's parking area. Heading in, they swiftly found the way to the pet section. They had been there before for the other Eevees and practically had the path memorized.

"Maybe this bed?" Kalin pointed at a circular one with a fleece lining.

Radley nodded, pleased. "This will be nice and warm for them."

Kalin put it in the basket, which soon acquired most of the rest of Robert's list. When they came to the toys, Kalin frowned in a bit of confusion.

". . . Do you think catnip is good for Eevees?"

"Well, Isla sure loves it," Radley said. "But if we're trying to keep them from romping all over everywhere, it's probably a bad choice. I'm not sure babies should have it anyway."

Kalin opted to be safe and added some non-catnip toys. "I wonder if keeping all five of them will really work out for them," he remarked. "I don't know how we'd manage to suddenly have a whole family when we already have four."

"I hope it'll work out," Radley said. "Scotch was just ecstatic. Biff is worried, but I know he hopes it'll work out too."

Kalin nodded. "It's a huge adjustment for them. Do you think taking care of them will be as difficult as kittens or puppies?"

"I'm hoping it'll be easier, especially with the mommy teaching them to use the litter box," Radley remarked. "And she'll probably teach them to leave everybody's belongings alone. But as far as keeping them from getting hurt, it'll probably be just as adventurous. I'm sure they'll try to get into everything. Hopefully Robert is teaching Scotch and Biff how to Eevee-proof the house."

"They've probably already done some of that for Isla," Kalin said.

Radley chuckled. "Probably." He looked over everything in the cart. "It looks like we've got it all. Let's buy it and head back."

Kalin nodded. "Yeah."

xxxx

The house was in an adorable uproar when they got back. Evie was rocking back and forth in front of the babies, singing in Eevee talk to them and apparently trying to teach them how to sing. They were all chorusing with her, some on-key and some not. Isla was climbing a bookcase. Heidi looked very interested in following suit. Penny warbled, telling her No.

Biff was relieved to see Kalin and Radley. "You're back! Did you get the stuff?"

"Yeah," Radley said with a smile. "And it looks like some distractions are needed." He took out a couple of balls and rolled them across the floor. Heidi pounced. Soon all the other babies started to as well. Isla came down from the bookcase to join in.

Kalin added the remaining balls. Evan went over to him, rubbed him, and started to play too. It didn't take long and almost every Eevee was engaging in the game. Penny sat and watched until her kids and Evie all begged her to play too. Scotch gushed over the cuteness.

Biff looked a bit overwhelmed by this chaos as well, although he was relieved they were all fascinated by balls instead of the furniture. "I still wonder how we're gonna manage," he said.

"It looks like it'll be an adventure," Radley said with a sympathetic smile.

"And I wonder where the father is," Robert remarked. "Pokemon don't lay eggs unless they have a positive bond with each other. Four at once is unusual for Eevees. The parents must love each other very much."

Scotch looked worried at that. "What if he's hurt or something?!"

Radley gave him a kind smile. "Penny doesn't seem sad or worried. He must be okay."

Penny chirped in the affirmative.

"Where is he?" Evie asked.

"He's with his person," Penny said. "We weren't allowed to stay together because his person only likes pedigree Pokemon. But we bonded together and had our beautiful children."

"That's so sad!" Evie exclaimed. "Does he live nearby?"

"He's in the big city," Penny said.

Evie's eyes went wide. "You walked all through the desert to get here?!"

"Oh no," Penny assured her. "We caught a ride on a big truck delivering packages here."

Evie relaxed. "I'm glad."

"Can your husband use a computer?" Isla asked. "I could put you in touch with him through video chat!"

Penny perked up. "Yes, he can! Oh, that would be wonderful! I really want him to see the children more, and they him! . . . And I want to see him too, of course. . . ."

"But how will he know to get on the chat with us?" Kiryu wondered.

"He uses it already to talk to other friends," Penny said. "We can find him with his user name!"

Isla was intrigued. "I just use Scotch's account," she said. "I didn't think of making my own."

"Scotch is really nice, though," Evie said. "This other person sounds so mean! I wouldn't want to use their account."

"Does that mean your husband also has an email address?" Isla asked. "Those are usually needed to make accounts anywhere."

"He does," Penny smiled. "I guess he's so tech-savvy because his person is a computer programmer for KaibaCorp."

"That would be a fun job!" Isla had to admit.

"Do you think there's any chance we could make them understand they should let all of you be there too?" Lily finally spoke up. She had been so happy when her sister Ruby had come and had been accepted by everyone. There had been no question that she would be adopted by Radley and Kalin so she could be with Lily.

Penny sighed. "They've been awfully strict about the pedigree rule," she said. "They're entering him in Pokemon Contests and Shows."

"Yeah, and Scotch would be so sad for all of you to go away!" Evie said. "If only there was a way everyone could be together, like with Isla's people!"

"I don't think that would work in this case," Isla said.

"I guess not," Evie sighed. But she didn't look ready to give up.

"Does his person really love him?" Evan had to wonder. "Or do they just care about having a purebred Eevee?" From his expression, the situation angered him a great deal.

"I think there's real love there," Penny said. "They just want what they think is best for him." She sighed.

Evan didn't look as sure, but he said, "As long as it's that and not that they see him as a prize instead of a living being."

"Maybe the daddy will show up here sometime too!" Scotch said, of course unable to hear the conversation's translation.

Penny sighed and shook her head. "Eevee. . . ."

"No, huh?" Radley frowned. "So he's okay but he can't come?"

"Vee," Penny nodded.

"Why can't he come?" Scotch wondered. "He should be here!"

Penny wasn't sure how to convey the answer, so she just began rounding up her children to try to get them to the new bed.

"It could be that he already has an owner," Robert mused. "Perhaps the owner wouldn't take Penny too, for some reason."

Penny looked up and nodded vigorously. "Eevee-Eevee!"

"That's so sad!" Scotch exclaimed. "Why wouldn't they want her?!"

"There's a whole host of possible reasons," Robert said. "They might not have the means for more than one, let alone five more. Maybe someone else in the household doesn't want more. Maybe the owner themself doesn't."

"Vee," Penny said softly.

Scotch petted her in sorrow and confusion. "They'd have to be crazy not to want you!" he cried. "Especially if they know their Eevee loves you!"

Penny sat down, letting herself be petted. After a moment she nuzzled Scotch's hand. She had come here seeking a good home for herself and her children, and she had found it. She would be happy here, even though she knew she couldn't be with her husband.

"You're so sweet, girl," Scotch said. "They're totally missing out!" He frowned. "If we just knew who the owner is, maybe we could set up visits or even try to see if they'd sell him to us!"

Penny shook her head. "Eevee!"

"You don't think that would work, huh?" Scotch sighed.

"Hopefully he's with someone who loves him," Radley said. "If he is, we wouldn't wanna take him away from them, would we?"

"Eevee," Penny nodded.

"No," Scotch conceded. "I just feel bad for them, that's all."

"Penny came here," Radley said with a kind smile. "She must have known what she wanted. She probably wanted a nice home for her babies. Let's focus on that, okay?"

"Yeah. . . . Hey, what's this?" Scotch blinked as he pulled a pink ribbon charm out of Penny's fur.

"Cute," Radley said.

Robert was staring. "That looks like a badge from a Pokemon Contest," he said.

Scotch looked to Penny in confusion. "Did you win a Contest, Penny?!"

Penny shook her head. "Eevee."

"I wonder how she'd get it," Scotch said.

"She probably just picked it up from the street," Kalin grunted.

"No, you don't understand," Robert told him. "A Pokemon Contest is a very prestigious event. No one would throw their badge away! It's not only the mark of their victory, but it's part of the key to entering bigger Contests. You need several of them to qualify for that."

Radley blinked. "Oh wow. So someone's probably looking for this. Is there any way to trace the owner?"

"Not that I know of," Robert said.

"How did you get it?" Evie asked, her eyes wide.

"He gave it to me," Penny said. "It was from his first Contest. His owner had already used it to enter that bigger event, so it had just been on display at home. He felt it was his and he gave it to me to remember him by when we had to leave."

"That's so sad," Evie said. "What's his name?"

"Ramon," Penny said.

Evie's ears shot up. "Really?! But that's Radley's family's name! That's so amazing!"

"It's just a coincidence," Evan said.

"But it's a sign! He belongs with us!" Evie exclaimed.

Evan sighed, smiled sadly, and nuzzled his innocent friend. "Life doesn't work that way," he said, as gently as possible.

"You can say that after all the amazing happiness we've had?" Evie stared up at him.

"Ramon has a person," Evan said. "There's no way for him to come to us."

Evie sighed too. "There must be a way," she said softly as she stared at the badge.

"I wish there was," Penny said. "But I can't think how."

"Maybe we'll see him on the telly sometime," Isla suggested. "You could point him out to us and to the humans and then at least they'll know him and who his person is. We could take it from there."

"I'll do that," Penny smiled. "I hope we will see him sometime. I want our children to see their father, even if we can't be together."

"I wonder what they're so excited about," Radley chuckled as they listened to the adorable trills and chirps.

"She's probably telling them about the badge!" Scotch said. "Man, if only Prinna was here to translate everything!"

"Unfortunately, I doubt we'll ever know about the badge," Robert said. "Hopefully no one will think we've stolen it."

". . . Hey, if they're really so sought-after, maybe we could post an ad in the paper about finding it," Radley suggested. ". . . Or would that bring out a lot of kooks pretending it's theirs?"

"It might bring a few," Robert said. "There are those who steal badges or even forge them to try to get into the bigger events."

"It was really deep in Penny's ruff, too," Scotch said. "She must really want it herself. . . ."

"Eevee," Penny said in agreement.

Radley pondered that. ". . . Is there any chance it's from the father?"

Penny jumped up and stood on two legs with a thrilled warble.

"I'd say that's a Yes," Radley chuckled, reaching to pet her head.

"So the father is a show Pokemon," Robert mused. "That could explain it. The owner might not want strays around if theirs is a purebred."

Penny's ears drooped. "Eevee," she agreed.

Radley frowned. "I know that's the attitude about show dogs and cats," he said. "Somehow I didn't think it would be the same with Pokemon."

"Oh yes, sadly," Robert said. "There are a lot like that."

"That's just wrong!" Scotch exclaimed. "This adorable family has to be broke up for a dumb reason like that?!"

"At least it brought them to you, Scotch," Biff said. "Think about that."

"Yeah . . . I do," Scotch said. "But . . . Penny loves him so much and she can't even be with him. . . . It's not right."

Penny climbed up into his lap and snuggled him. What was, was. She had accepted it. And she knew she and the children would be much happier here than with Ramon's owner.

Radley smiled. "It's not right, but Penny looks pretty happy," he said. "She wants to be with you, Scotch. She deliberately chose this house and your bed."

Scotch hugged her close. "I'll take good care of all of you!" he promised. "We all will!"

Penny started to purr. She had full confidence in that.

"Are we letting her keep the badge?" Biff wondered.

"Well, it doesn't look like we have any real way to return it to the owner," Radley said. "If her husband gave it to her, she should probably be allowed to keep it, at least for now. After all, it should belong to him as much as the person, shouldn't it? If not more."

"Yeah, I guess," Biff said. "What if the owner finds us somehow, though?"

"I would doubt it, but we'll deal with that if it happens," Radley said.

By now the babies were finally tiring out and were heading over to Penny. She hopped down and led them to the bed, then stood by and waited for all of them to get in.

Scotch started recording again. "This is so cute!" he exclaimed as they all hopped, skipped, and jumped into the bed. Satisfied, Penny climbed in after them and they snuggled close.

"It really is," Radley said. "Oh, did you ever find what window was open?"

"The living room window was unlocked," Robert said. "It looked like Penny pushed it open it for them and then shut it after they were all through. We couldn't find any other possible sign of entry."

"Huh. Interesting." Radley smiled at the sweet family. "Eevees really are resourceful."

Penny closed her eyes with a blissful smile.

xxxx

Evie was talking a mile a minute when Radley and Kalin finally took her and their other Eevees and went home. Radley had to chuckle.

"You're really excited about all the new friends, aren't you, pretty girl?" he said.

"Eevee-vee!" Evie squealed.

"It is pretty exciting," Radley said. "That would be an amazing thing to come home to."

"Do you think it really will work out for them?" Kalin wondered.

"I hope so," Radley said. "Scotch is so thrilled. And Biff really wants it to work out. He knows Scotch can't get enough of cute animals."

"They probably shouldn't come to the diner so young, not unless they're constantly supervised," Kalin said.

"Oh, I quite agree," Radley said. "We can't have them walking on counters or all over the kitchen. And some of them could so easily escape. For now they should really just stay at the house. Penny will look after them well."

"Alone? Maybe a human should always be around too," Kalin said.

"Yeah, Scotch, Biff, and Robert should probably talk about taking shifts," Radley said. "And we should probably try to pitch in too, when we can."

"Eevee-vee!" Evie exclaimed, raising a paw in the air.

Radley laughed. "You'd like baby-sitting, huh?"

"Vee!" Evie declared.

Kalin had to smile. "How would you feel?" he asked Evan.

"Eevee," said Evan. He wouldn't mind.

Ruby also seemed pleased by the idea. Lily, as usual, looked hesitant but willing.

Radley petted them all. "I'm sure we can work something out so we're all comfortable," he said, smiling at Lily.

"Eevee!" Lily beamed, nuzzling him.

"I still wonder about the father," Kalin said. "Do you know anything about Pokemon Contests?"

"Not much, as you could probably tell," Radley said. "But Pokemon being around again is still a pretty new thing. If we figure on the husband not being too far away, like in the City, we could probably bring up a list of everyone there who both owns an Eevee and enters them in Contests."

"Eeveeee!" Evie said in delight.

"You wanna find him too?" Radley smiled.

"Vee-vee-vee!" Evie squealed.

"Even if we can, it's no guarantee things'll work out happy," Radley warned her. "We don't wanna take him away from his owner if he's happy and the owner loves him. And Scotch would be really sad without Penny and the kids. I think they'd be sad too. Penny chose him to be the adopted daddy."

"Eevee," Evie said.

"But we can still try, as long as we keep all of that in mind," Radley said.

"Can you keep it in mind?" Lily wondered. "You're wishing so much the family could be together."

"Yeah, but I don't want anyone to be apart!" Evie said. "I wish Ramon would come here. The owner too, if the owner really loves him."

"I really don't think they'd come," Evan said, trying to speak kindly despite his anger over the unfairness of the owner.

"I can still wish!" Evie said.

Evan sighed but smiled. "Of course." He licked Evie's ear.

"So when are we going to try this?" Kalin asked.

"Tomorrow, if we can wait that long," Radley chuckled. "We should try to get some sleep."

"I agree." Kalin headed for the basement stairs. "I'm going to shower."

"Me too." Radley petted all the Eevees and started down the ground floor hall.

"If we used the computer, we could figure it out ourselves, tonight!" Ruby said.

Evie blinked. "But what if we break the computer? Isla's the one who knows how to do things. . . ."

"I know how too!" Ruby insisted. "That's how I found Lily, by watching videos on YouTube!"

"Yay!" Evie jumped up and down. "We can help!"

Evan looked worried. "I think Kalin and Radley have some special way of doing things because they're police. We can't sign in to their accounts on police websites or anything like that."

"No, but we could do some regular Internet searches about Eevees from New Domino City in Contests!" Ruby said. "There might be articles and videos about it!"

"Well, if that's all you're going to do," Evan said slowly.

Ruby was already turning on Radley's computer. "Yeah!"

Lily sat down to watch. Ruby had always been fascinated by technology. It didn't surprise her that Ruby would want to go ahead and do this herself. And she believed Ruby could do it.

Soon Ruby had the Internet browser open and was very carefully hunting and pecking keys with a paw. When she had typed the search term she wanted, she hit Enter and waited. Within seconds she was exclaiming in glee. "Here's an article about the first Pokemon Contest to be in New Domino City!"

Evie jumped on two legs. "What does it say?!"

Ruby clicked the article and scrolled through it. "It's going to be held in two weeks! I'm sure Ramon will be there!"

Evie danced around in joy. "We can take Penny and the babies there and they can see him!"

Evan wasn't as sure it would work. But he had to smile, seeing Evie's excitement.

"I'll leave this page up so Kalin and Radley can see it when they come back," Ruby said. "I'm sure they'll think the same thing!" She hopped down from the chair.

"They will! I know it!" Evie beamed.

Lily looked to Evan. "Will it really work?" she quietly asked.

"I don't know," Evan admitted. He looked to Evie, twirling around in exuberance. "But for everyone's sakes . . . I hope so."

He wouldn't see Evie crushed for the world.