Happy 2020 everyone! I still think that sounds like a fake year.

I've really been enjoying sharing my Pokemon Summer Camp story with you all (shameless self plug) but I still have a couple of other one shots I want to share as well!

This is one that I wrote a bit more recently, after seeing a few scenes from Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution and being reminded of Ash's dramatic tendencies when he gets hungry...

Aiden: 4 years old


The Hunger Games

Misty could handle being on her own with her two young children just fine. Especially when they were just hanging out around the house. The fact that no strangers were watching her and the twins' every move made her much less anxious, especially if Aiden or Michelle were having a bad day. Fortunately, today had gone very well, and there had been little to no fussing or complaining from the little ones.

"Mommy!"

Until now.

Misty sighed and looked up from the counter, where she'd been sorting through the recently delivered mail. Aiden had ambled into the kitchen, a near miserable look on his face.

"What is it, baby?" Misty asked.

"I'm hungry," Aiden murmured.

"Hungry?" Misty repeated. Aiden's frown deepened as he nodded his head. "Seriously?"

"Soooo hungry," Aiden groaned, throwing his head back. "I'm starving!"

Misty blinked before turning back to the mail. "You're probably just thinking about food too much. I think you can wait until dinner, don't you?"

"Nuh uh…I'm gonna die cause I'm so hungry!"

"Aiden, you just ate lunch two hours ago."

The boy, who had the same flair for mellow dramatics as his father, grumbled and sunk down, sprawling himself out on the floor. When her son never responded to her, Misty looked over her shoulder and grimaced. "Will you get off the floor?"

"I can't, Mommy. I'm dead."

"Dead people don't talk," Misty quipped, turning back around. "Come on, get up!"

Aiden pouted as he dragged himself back up to his knees. "It's not my fault! I can't help it that I'm so hungry all the time!"

"You're right, it's probably mine," Misty sighed. "I guess I shouldn't have fed you so often as a baby. Silly me, I thought you'd outgrow that pace of eating."

"Nope!" Aiden chirped.

At that, Misty couldn't help but to smirk. Her son's exuberance certainly made it hard to remain stern with him.

"If you're really that hungry, you can have a little snack," Misty decided, earning a whoop of joy from the boy. "But a healthy one! No cookies or candy."

"Is an apple healthy?" Aiden asked, tilting his head.

"Yes," Misty giggled, nodding her head. "It's a fruit."

"Fruit, fruit," Aiden repeated under his breath in a sing-song manner. His mother had heard it, however, which only further heightened her amusement. The boy, in turn, looked up at his mother and grinned. He did like making her laugh! He liked making everyone laugh, but for some reason, his mother was his favorite person to get to do that. Even more, in fact, than his father (although, in fairness, Ash was a very close second). Finally getting back to his feet, Aiden scurried over to the fridge, standing on his tippy toes to try and reach the door handle. "Come -ere, apple! I want to eat you!"

Misty looked over her shoulder again and sighed when she saw what Aiden was doing. "Alright, hang on, little guy!"

She walked over to the fridge and opened it herself, retrieving an apple from one of the drawers. Aiden was now hopping up and down, reaching for the fruit, but Misty snickered and closed the door before returning to the sink, apple in hand. Aiden frowned and followed after his mother, wrapping his arms around her legs.

"Mommy, where's my apple?" He whined.

"I have to wash it before you can eat it," Misty explained.

"Why's my apple need a bath?" Aiden grumbled.

Instead of outright answering Aiden's second question, Misty started laughing all over again. "You sure are being silly today!"

"I'm silly?" Aiden asked.

"You are," Misty confirmed whimsically, grabbing a dish towel and drying off the apple. "Is that just because you're hungry?"

"Maaaaybe," Aiden drawled, looking up at his mother and smirking. "Is my apple clean now?"

"It is," Misty replied.

Aiden reached up towards her and started making grabby hands. "Yay! Thanks!"

"Don't you want me to cut it up for you?" Misty asked.

"No, I'ma bite it!" Aiden cried. "Like Daddy does!"

Though she still seemed unsure, Misty finally handed the fruit over to her son, who immediately grabbed and bit into it without any problems.

"Huh," Misty marveled. "You really can do that now."

Aiden giggled, and after swallowing the bite, crowed, "it's good!"

"I'm glad!" Misty replied with a smile. "Hopefully that will hold you over until dinner."

"Mommy, can you play with me and Shelly?" Aiden asked before continuing to gnaw on his apple.

"Of course, I can!" Misty chirped, unphased by the boy's sudden change in topic. "Is she hungry too?"

"Nuh uh," Aiden murmured. "She said I was crazy cause I was!"

Misty smirked. "Normally I might agree, but you're not any average boy."

"No," Aiden refuted. "I'm special! That's what you say, Mommy."

At this, Misty's grin widened. "You're right; I do!"

Aiden grinned as well and took another bite of his apple. "Come on, let's go play!"

Before his mother could respond, Aiden ran right out of the kitchen, apple still in hand. She laughed awkwardly to herself, muttering, "still better than being out in public during a temper tantrum!"

And with that, she walked off in the same direction as her son, wondering just what would be awaiting her next.