Chapter 3

"Ro-to-to-to..."

"Ro-to-to-to…."

"Ro-to-to—"

"Ughhhh…."

Millie's hand reached for her phone, which happened to be under her covers with her.

Light filtered the room as she slowly began to wake up, her rotom-phone disturbing her from her peaceful slumber.

"Is it already morning…?" She mumbles to herself, trying to get herself to get up. She stretches her limbs from under the covers, making a popping sound with each movement. She lets out a soft huff in response to this, finally reaching for her phone successfully.

"Ah, there you are, ya lil' bugger." She sits up some more as she checks her recents. She had shut off her ringer by accident with the press of a button, but now she actually needed to see who had called her since she didn't really have a need for an alarm.

As she stared at her recents, Director Clavell's name pops up at the top of the list. Her eyes widened.

"Shoot!" She sits up straight now, pressing the contact icon on the screen.

"I need to call him back so he doesn't think I'm ignoring him-"

She holds the phone to her ear, still trying to wake herself up a little bit. Eventually, Clavell's voice could be heard clearly through the other end of the receiver.

"Good morning, Miss Millie!" He greets her warmly. Well, that was a relief. Millie greets him in kind, shaking her leg as she sits on the side of her bed.

"Good morning, sir! I apologize for not answering right away!"

"No need for apologies, Millie." His voice rasps, carrying the age and wisdom that he possessed.

"I had assumed you'd overslept—your trip to Kitakami was quite the learning-experience, I assume?" He asks. Millie should have expected this, considering she had gone in Uva's name.

"Yes sir…at least, I think so?" Millie stood up, feeling the initiative to get ready. Clavell could tell she was still waking up, laughing softly.

"You seem to still be groggy, Miss Millie. Why not we continue this conversation in my office once you arrive at Uva?" He asks, the patience clear in his voice. Millie was thankful he was so understanding, but she couldn't help but feel guilty for responding with such confusion.

"R-Right, sorry-!" She huffs, beginning to get ready for her shower as she still has the phone to her ear, taking off her socks.

"That would be splendid. I will let you get to it, then." He informs her, Millie doing her best to multitask by getting her shower ready and talk to him at the same time.

"Thank you so, so much!" Millie exclaims "I promise I won't take long!"

"Please, take as much time as you need, so long as you aren't late to class. Farewell, Millie." And with that, the call turns off. Millie sighs, her rotom-phone floating over to her bed.

"Well, what an odd start to the morning!" Millie put her hands on her hips for a moment, just trying to absorb the situation while she was still waking up.

"So Clavell wants to see me in his office…? I'm sure it has to do with Kitakami since he brought it up-" Millie murmured, walking into the bathroom. She could feel the sleep weighing on her muscles.

"I hope it isn't anything bad…" she murmured, preparing her hot shower. She always worried about anything worse that could happen, despite knowing she was on her best behavior during the trip.

Finally she turns the nozzle, the shower finally coming on. She waits until the water gets nice and warm before she steps in, the heat from the water relaxing her muscles.

"Aaaaah…" Millie sighs, looking up.

"The best part of a morning, no matter the situation…"

Anyone could agree, she was sure. She waited a good bit before getting ready in the shower, the water doing what it could to stimulate her muscles before she finally felt energized. This gave her plenty of time to think about what Clavell wanted to speak about, and she had an inkling it was going to be about.

"Clavell is always looking for ways to incentivize younger trainers near and afar…I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to find ways to drum up attention from both Academies…"

As she ran her hands through her hair, she hummed.

"Wouldn't be surprised if it was a test from the both of them," She closed her eyes, sudsing her hair up with shampoo.

"As much as Clavell trusts me here, I'm sure he also needed to see how I fared across the world, for whatever reason. Then again, Ms. Briar wanted to see how useful I was for the sake of Area Zero…" She sighed. She remembered what that Taxi-driver had insinuated with the word use. As much as she didn't like it, that was just part of being a budding Champion, she guessed.

"I wonder if he's just going to bring up what I learned or found out. Besides, what other reason was I pulled from Uva to go to Kitakami…? Sure it was a lucky draw but I can't help but feel like fate was at play here…"

She sighs again as she places her head under the water for a moment, making sure to get all the suds from her hair. Sometimes her hair made things complicated due to its thickness, so she had to make EXTRA sure she was being as thorough as possible. Finally she finished, turning off the water, which was the saddest part for her.

"Oh well, too much to think about right now," she continued from her last thought "I'll have a quick breakfast with Ma before I head to Uva, then we'll see what Clavell really wants to see me for."

She steps out, drying her hair and body with the towel before heading back into her room. She threw together her new outfit she had gotten before the Kitakami trip, it being an Autumn Outfit that was an open-bust, purple zip-up jacket. She wore a yellow polo underneath, a purple tie donning the collar. She puts on her dark-gray shorts and pulls up her shin-highs of the same color, finally putting on her pink shoes.

She stands in front of her mirror, brushing her hair. She did it just enough to where it would be fluffy, the shampoo doing its magic as her hair looked and felt fluffier.

"There we go!" She says as she poses in front of the mirror. She was actually feeling herself! With that, she heads downstairs, and gets ready for breakfast.

"Good morning, Millie." Millie's mother calls, a lot calmer than last night. Millie beams right back at her. "Mornin', Ma!" She waves before heading to the kitchen, her mother watching TV in the living room.

"Do we have anything to eat?" Millie asks as she leans into the fridge.

"I bought some of those quick pancake-sandwiches you like the other day. I was craving some." Her mom responds. Millie pumps a fist into the air.

"Yes!"

She eventually finds what her mother was talking about, opening them and sliding them into the microwave. As she waits, Axl walks up to her and licks her hand, causing her to look down at him.

"Why good mornin', handsome!" She giggles, petting his head. He begins panting, his pointed-tail wagging.

"Looks like someone else is happy to see you."

"I should hope so! It'd be a bad morning if not!" Millie lifts Axl's head, giving her a couple of licks, causing her to scrunch up her face.

As Millie mused she began to stand up, the microwave beeping before she had fully got to her feet.

"Looks like breakfast is served~!" She takes out the pancake-sandwiches from the microwave, taking them over to the table. Axl follows her, to which she wiggles her finger in his face.

"No sir-ee! These are for me and me only! I deserve them after the long trip, dontcha think?" She teases him, poking his nose gently with her finger. He lets out a gruff noise before turning away and back over to Millie's mother.

"Speaking of your trip, where exactly did you go?" She asks, Millie indulged her mother's curiosity as she waited for her food to cool.

"Err…Kitakami! Have you ever heard of it?"

"No, I haven't. Where is that?"

"The more northern hemisphere." Millie replies.

"You know that narrows it down by little, right?" Her mother grunts, Millie sighs.

"Yeahhh…but it was a 13-hour flight from Paldea! I'm surprised that I was able to have such energy to travel that far-" Millie rubs the back of her neck.

"No kidding! What does Uva want with something so far away?!"

"Oh come off it, ma! It ain't like we haven't traveled from Unova to here in a lengthier amount of time!" Millie snorts, waving her hand dismissively.

"Well yes but what exactly did they want you to do in Kitakami? Seems like a ways away for just a few days' trip." Which…her mother had a point. Millie had to think about it…

Other than what she already knew, what was Kitakami for?

Millie scratches her head. "I dunno, maybe somethin' to do with Blueberry Academy, I guess." She bites into one of the sandwiches, savoring the warmth. It melts into her mouth, the sweetness mixed with meatiness being a perfect combination and just what she needs to start her morning. Sure, it wasn't anything like a sandwich with an Herba Mystica as the ingredient, but it had its own little charm.

"Blueberry, huh?" She smirks, tilting her head playfully "I see. I should have just sent you to there if that was the ca-"

"Don't start it, ma." Millie warned after swallowing, wiping her mouth.

"Either way I probably would have ended up going even if my departure was from a lucky draw. To be honest? I think you would have liked it. Reminded me of back home." She bit into the food again, her mother scoffing.

"If I wanted to go back I'd just visit your brother. I am not traveling 13 hours to a place I've never even heard of, Millie. You're gonna tell me you made friends there, too?" She said this in a half-tease, despite the remark sounding rude if one didn't know her.

"Surprisingly, yes!" She remarks as she nodded "They're both a lot like me and my brother, too. At least, when we were younger." She keeps it vague, not wanting her mom to prod into the last few days with them. As much as she didn't mind her mother's banter, it did sting sometimes, admittedly. If she found out that she was unsure of the status between one of them she would NOT hear the end of it. Her mother lay her head back on the head of the couch.

"Oh Arceus, just what we needed!" She comments at Millie's comparison to her new friends. Millie stands up, taking her plate and chucking it in the trash before washing her hands, laughing it off.

"Haha, I know, right?!" She muses before walking into the living room, checking the time.

"Oh shoot, I need to get to Uva before it's too late! Clavell wanted to speak to me-" She turned off her rotom-phone and met with her mother's gaze. For a moment it looked somber, as if her mother was longing for her to stay, but it changed to an understanding one.

"Alright, just don't get into any trouble, okay?" Her mother asks, Millie headed over toward the entrance of their home.

"And be on your best behavior! Don't even let your little boyfriend distract you." That one was a half-warning, hidden behind a teasing-tone. Millie snorts, leaning close.

"You know I wouldn't let Arven distract me, ma. He's a good guy and you know it."

"Oh, he is! But I wouldn't be surprised if I caught wind of you failing a class because you wouldn't stop daydreaming about him!" She retorts, making Millie groan.

"Maaaaaa," she leans in, "Just gimme a hug…I don't got time!!!"

Her mother hesitates before wrapping her arms around her, pulling her in. For a few moments she rubs her back, sighing.

"I'm sorry. I just miss you a lot." Her voice is softer now, a more caring tone in it than before, especially compared to last night. Millie softens her voice as she responds.

"I know you do, ma. I miss you, too. It's why I came by. I hate being so busy but you wouldn't be able to rest like this if I wasn't, yeah?" She laughs softly, trying to keep the situation lighthearted. Her mother smiles in response.

"I guess so, kiddo. I guess so."

And for a moment, they stay there. Embracing one another silently. It was a beautiful moment between mother and daughter, and not a moment they shared that often. Her mother never meant to be cold, but she just had her moments, plus the way she thought was something she couldn't always help, which Millie still was learning to understand. Millie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for being in a rush—she just wished she could stay inside with her mother all day now!

As they pulled away, she looked down at her mom, a sad gaze in her eyes. Her mother took her hand, adjusting her bangs and smiling sadly.

"Hey, don't frown, okay? I know you're not ignoring me on purpose, baby."

"I know, but I don't want you to be alone! I should he with you more and spend more time with you and—"

"I know, but I also have Axl! We can also text each other, even if it's not the same. You're my little Champion now, and I remember that always being a dream for you." She recalls softly, caressing Millie's cheek. For Millie, it was as if time itself stood still for a moment as she leaned into her mother's touch, eyes sad like a Mabosstiff's.

"Ma…." Was all Millie could say in response as she stared into her mother's eyes. Another moment of silence passed between them before her mother patted her cheek twice, a smile on her face.

"Now, go talk to Clavell. Don't keep your own director waiting, okay?"

Millie hesitates for a moment before nodding, a sad smile on her face. Her mother shakes her head.

"Don't feel bad, baby. I'm always here, okay? Come by often; me and Axl will snuggle you and your pokémon up until you're all rested, and that's a promise!" She means it semi-jokingly, but Millie's mother would do anything for her. In truth, she's proud of Millie, despite the small argument they had last night. At the end of the day, she really did want what was best for Millie, even if she couldn't be around to see it all the time. Millie smiles at the idea of what she had said, nodding.

"I definitely will then, ma. I love you so much." Millie said as she kissed her mom on the forehead, turning around to leave.

"Bye, baby! Be safe, okay? Stay out of trouble like I said and tell Arven I said hi!" She smiles toward Millie and waves, Millie laughing and nodding as she returns the gesture.

"Yes ma'am! You stay safe as well! Love you too, and keep me updated on anything you'd like me to know!"

And with that, the two parted ways. Millie closed the door behind her, a pang of sadness in her chest. Is this what her mom felt like whenever she used to leave for work? She hated this feeling…but she knew she also had the entirety of Paldea on her shoulders, along with her mother.

"And I'm not gonna let either of them down." She says as she hops onto her Miraidon, it roars as she cranks it's handle.

"Not ever."

AN: Hey y'all! I know I said I was gonna get this fic done BEFORE Indigo Disk came out, but I just don't think that's possible with my living situation; among other things. Also, Millie and her mother have an ODD relationship, if that wasn't obvious enough lmao

I know y'all prolly wanna go ahead an' get to the juicy stuff but we gotta build up! Chapter 4 is gonna be a long one, tho! Stay tuned!