Eleven: The Term's End

"Damn, the term flew by." Nemona said as she packed her suitcase. "You ready for Snowflake Day, 'Layna?" Nemona asked as Elaina sat on Allie's bed. Allie had flown out of Mesagoza the previous evening on her way back to Vermilion City. Elaina had packed her bag already, so she was ready to go, save for one important detail.

"I'm both excited and dreading seeing my family. If I get to see my dad at all." She muttered as Nemona stuffed her street clothes into her suitcase. Elaina hopped off the bed and bid Nemona farewell as she made her way to Dojo Hall.

Yo, I'm outside. You wanna let me in? She texted Penny.

Yeah, be down in a minute. Penny shot back

After a few minutes Penny opened the door to Dojo Hall and let Elaina in. "How is your packing going, 'Layna?" She wrapped her girlfriend in a tight hug and smiled. "I'm all packed and heading back to Motostoke, but not for a couple weeks. I have to stay here for a little bit."

Elaina's lips curled into a smile. "About that. Do you want to come home with me for Snowflake Day?" Elaina paused, and for a moment neither girl said anything., then Penny spoke.

"I would love to." She took Elaina's hand and grabbed her suitcase. "Nemona's mom is picking us up at 7:00 tonight. I'm so happy you're coming, Penny." Penny had her phone out already and was sending a text. Elaina got a text of her own, this one from Silver.

Yo, Kit. Kris and I are flying into Mesagoza in like 5 days.

The family seems like it will be together for Snowflake Day

Elaina quickly shot back a Smiling crying emoji and then turned back to Penny. "Looks like you get to meet my brother too. Silver is a trip, and his girl is awesome." Penny smiled wide as Elaina babbled happily.
"Your family is the first one I get to meet, 'Layna." Her statement made Elaina happy, but also deeply melancholic. She pulled Penny into her arms. "And I can't wait to meet them." Penny said as she kissed Elaina's forehead. Elaina felt her heart beating faster as she pulled Penny into a deep kiss. As the two separated, Elaina whispered "I love you, Penny." Into her girlfriend's ear.

"I love you too, 'Layna." Elaina grabbed Penny's suitcase as the two women headed over to Dragontongue Hall. The air was crisp as the snow fell lightly onto the ground. Elaina caught a couple of snowflakes and blew them into Penny's face as they walked. After a minute or two, Penny's hand found her way into Elaina's and the two walked along happily.

"Aww, cute." A guy yelled as him and three other guys stepped out from behind a pillar. Penny froze. Elaina pulled Penny behind her. "Are we going to have a problem?" Elaina asked as she raised an eyebrow. She found her way to Sprig's Pokéball on her belt as the guys got closer. "Nah, no problem, as long as you remember that girls are supposed to like guys. We'd be happy to show you if you wanted. Oh, hey there, Penny." Penny was visibly shaking as she took a couple steps back. Elaina tossed Sprig's Pokéball from her belt and the fully evolved Meowscarda burst forth. The lead guy chuckled. "Alright, go Machamp!" The fighting type Pokémon burst from its ball and Penny let out a sob.

"It's happening again…" She said through sobs.

"And this time it's gonna fucking work." The guy said as he leered at Penny. "Machamp, Close Combat. Kill the cat." Machamp jumped forward and began to pummel Sprigs, who let out a cry as Machamp stopped for breath. From a few paces away, the girls heard a shout. "Gengar, Shadow Ball!" The orb of spiritual energy struck Machamp square in the head and he tumbled backward, unconscious.

"Assholes, I do believe I have it on very good authority that you're not even supposed to be here." Mr. Vaughn stepped into view. "All of you will come with me or you'll wake up in a cell. Possibly both. Now." The four men turned to run, but suddenly they were locked into place as their shadows refused to move. "Geeennnnnggggaaarrrrr." One by one, Gengar rose from the men's shadows and put them to sleep with Hypnosis. Mr. Vaughn turned to Penny and Elaina. "You don't have to say shit. I got this. Take Penny to Miriam, she'll know what to do. I'll clean up the refuse." Mr. Vaughn tossed another Pokéball and out popped an Alakazam. Mr. Vaughn tapped a few buttons on his wrist tablet, and the stone in Alakazam's hand began to glow. Suddenly Alakazam grew larger, and its twin spoons became five as it floated into the air. Elaina shook her head in surprise. "What the hell?"

"I'll teach you in 352. Get to the nurse's office. Alakazam, use telekinesis on these shits-for-brains." The Pokémon effortlessly picked up the group of men and Alakazam carried them out of sight alongside Mr. Vaughn and Gengar. Elaina took Penny, now nearly catatonic, and led her to the nurse's office. As she knocked on the door, nurse Miriam took one look at Penny and gave a horrified, "Oh, no." before leading the two girls in. She was able to sit Penny down in an examination chair and pulled out a yellow rod.

"Penny, listen to me. We're going to do the same thing we did before. Are you ready?" Penny nodded ever so slightly. Nurse Miriam began moving the yellow rod back and forth like a metronome, while Penny followed the end with her eyes. After a few minutes, nurse Miriam spoke. "You're safe, Penny. Everything is alright. You're unharmed, and the woman who loves you is right next to you. Elaina, if you would be so kind."

"You are safe, you are loved, and you are not alone, my love. I'm here. You're safe." As she spoke, Penny kept following the yellow rod. Eventually Penny repeated Elaina's statements to herself, and Nurse Miriam put the yellow rod away. "You feel better, honey?" Nurse Miriam asked. Penny nodded and for the first time since their encounter, she spoke. "I feel much better. Thanks, Nurse Miriam, and thank you too, 'Layna." Penny took Elaina's hand, and the two girls stood. Nurse Miriam pulled out her phone and proceeded to make a call.

"Markus, I've got Penny and Elaina. Do you know what happened?" Markus panned his camera around to reveal five guys in cuffs sitting in the Director's office. Clavell and the chief of campus PD were signing forms. "Yeah, I'm aware, and I have it handled on the logistics end. Thanks for taking care of the girls, Mirri." Nurse Miriam blushed.

"Markus, they're right here." She muttered as Markus took a pause. "Sorry, Miriam." He said as he assured her again that the matter was settled and hung up the phone. After a moment, Gengar floated through the nurse's office door. "Geeennngggaaaarrrr." Miriam nodded. "It looks like Gengar is here to take you back to Dragontongue. Best be going, girls." Penny picked up her suitcase and took Elaina's hand as Gengar led the way back to Dragontongue Hall. Penny seemed in surprisingly good spirits as the two of them walked across campus. She squeezed Elaina's hand as Dragontongue came into view. Gengar saw the girls into the building, gave a greeting to the staff member at the front desk, then floated away back out into campus.

"I don't really get it; how Mr. Vaughn can handle a ghost type Pokémon as his partner, I mean." Penny said as the two made their way up the stairs. "Like I know Gengar isn't out to hurt anyone, but sometimes her eyes just get to me, you know?" They had arrived at Elaina and Nemona's suite to find Nemona looking ghastly pale. As she caught sight of Penny and Elaina, she charged forward and pulled the two into a hug. "Are you two ok? I heard some wicked shit happened, and Sprigs got beat up." Penny tapped Nemona's shoulder.

"We're alright, Nemona. By the way, does your mom have a spare seatbelt? I've been invited to spend Snowflake Day with my special someone." Nemona chuckled. "Yeah, we have seats for seven so you're good." Elaina looked at the time on her phone. "What are we doing for the next hour? I vote for cheap cocoa and a stupid internet video." Elaina said as the three walked into Elaina's room. Nemona and Penny both voiced their assent, then Nemona got a text from Arven. "I'll go grab our token man." She said as she headed out of the suite. Penny snuggled up to Elaina. "Thank Sprigs for me, ok? He took a beating for me, after all." The two settled into a comfortable silence as Nemona, Arven, and Trish reappeared.

"Trish, I thought you were on your way back to Fortree City." Elaina mused as Trish wrapped herself in her blanket and took a mug of cocoa. "I like running water and electricity too much to go back just yet, besides, I wanted to watch a stupid internet video with my people." Nemona passed out the mugs of cocoa as the five of them sat and watched a parody video of the Stoutland Snowflake Holiday Special. Trish sobbed after a while.

"I'm gonna miss you, everyone. I really don't have much going for me back in booty-ass city." Nemona gave Trish a hug. "Can I stay with you again this year, 'Mona?" Nemona looked to Trish like a best friend and smiled. She voiced her assent and informed the room that she and Elaina were next-door neighbors, so the four of them would be together for the holiday.

"Oy, I live in the lighthouse on Poco Path. I can walk my happy ass down to your places, 'Layna and Nemona. I'm not spending this Snowflake Day alone. I'm cooking and I need someone to feed." The five friends laughed as they sipped their cocoa. Nemona's phone began to ring after a short time, and the five all filed down to where Nemona's mother had parked at the base of the Great Staircase.

"See ya, Uva. We'll be back in the spring!" Elaina shouted as the five descended the stairs and piled into Nemona's mother's van.