I'm alone with Elliot while Noivern flew on ahead, looking for any sign of civilization. I hope he finds it soon, because my ears are ringing, and not just from our unexpected journey.
Elliot is a sweet, loving boy—I can tell he'll grow into a wonderful person. However, he's also a motor mouthed child who seems to have 100 thoughts per second. It briefly reminds me of Skitty's little siblings—they were intense, but even the two of them together were nothing like this.
He got tired of walking a while ago, so now I'm carrying him. We're heading in the direction Noivern flew off to, although I honestly don't know if there's even going to be anything there. But sitting around waiting feels like a waste of time, so we're following. Despite being too tired to walk, I've noticed Elliot's got more than enough energy to continue talking.
"You can talk! Why?" He asks, evidently still shocked he can understand us. "I always could, but not in a way humans can understand." "Nuh-uh, you never talked before!" "You couldn't understand because you were a human. Now you're an impidimp." "I'm not impimimip…! I'm Elliot!" He says indignantly. He's squirming again, trying to make sure I'm absolutely certain he is, in fact, Elliot. "Don't wiggle too much! I don't want to drop you!" He's a lot smaller now than he was as a human, and I was already nervous enough handling him then—and of course his moms were usually around to keep him entertained.
I don't want to risk an accident—I carefully put him back on the ground, which starts a new wave of complaints. "No! Up, up!" He's reaching his little hands up and grabbing at the air. I just don't understand how a child so small can be so loud. I need a way to distract him, put him at ease, at least until Noivern gets back. What would Gwen do?
"Hey, why don't we…uh…play a game?" I coax, desperately hoping he takes the bait. "Ooh game! I-spy!" We go back and forth a few rounds of I-spy (more than one would imagine, being surrounded by trees and little else), until he starts to run out of steam again—he appears to be crossing over from hyper to cranky. When was the last time he took a nap?
"Up please." He says, and I carefully oblige. We continue onwards as he finally starts nodding off, before being awoken by Noivern dropping down in front of us.
"Guess what! I found a town!" He beams, not seeming to notice the now wailing child in my arms. There's no way he's going back to sleep anytime soon now. "Noivern! Look what you've done, he only just started falling asleep!" I'm furious; it's been hours since we woke up here, and the boy's not stopped for a moment until basically just now.
"Oof, sorry 'bout that," he looks down at Elliot "don't cry buddy, look!" He tries to make a funny face, which just seems to upset him further. Now, not only is he screaming, but he's also trying to climb out of my arms and onto my back. "Noivern!" I hiss, twisting while trying to get ahold of Elliot with my vines; somehow he's now dangling from my collar. "Oops…" Noivern says awkwardly. I finally get a solid grip on him, although he's still crying, "no no, it's ok, see? It's just Noivern, mommy's noivern, right?" I say, hoping he calms down. He sniffles, burying his face against my chest. It's enough for now—at least it's quiet.
"So uh…yeah! I found a town! It's about 45 minutes flight from here!" He resumes a little too brightly. That's good news at least, hopefully we can get a bit more oriented with the help of some other pokemon. Even though we've both been in this world before, it was Skitty who was always the guide—I have absolutely no idea where anything is, even if I knew where we are.
We continue ahead in silence as Elliot finally falls asleep. Noivern wanted to make small talk, but I quickly silenced him with a nasty look; if this child wakes up again before he's good and ready, I'm going to have a fit.
We eventually reach a town—it's reminiscent of the one where I first, without realizing it, ran into Gwen, although it's quite a bit larger. There are more buildings, with meticulously maintained plants interspersed between them. A fountain stands in the center, around which there appears to be some kind of celebration; tables and chairs have been set up, adorned with all kinds of food and decorations, and one is piled high with presents. Pokemon are ambling about wearing party hats and brightly beaded jewelry. The center of the focus appears to be a kirlia—using my expert skills of deduction (and the massive banner I've just noticed that reads 'Happy Birthday Kirlia!') I think it could very well be a birthday party.
"Maybe we could ask someone there…?" Noivern starts. "I don't think we should intrude…they might not take kindly to strangers invading on a little kids' party." Elliot starts shifting in my arms; it seems nap time is over—far too quickly, if you ask me.
"Mmm…party?" He says, noticing the festivities. I quickly turn away, hoping he doesn't realize it's there, but it's too late. "Look lookit! A party! Let's go!" "Sorry…buddy, but we really need to find mommy, ok?" His expression sours and he starts flailing his limbs. For Arceus' sake, he's lost in a strange world, separated from his parents! How can he be so…difficult? With that thought, I briefly remember the first memory Gwen had of me following the accident—one where I got upset and nearly made her late to an appointment because she had to put me in my pokeball to board a train. I think I finally have an idea of how she may have felt then—call it karma, if you will.
"But Noivy's going…" he sniffles. I turn around, and sure enough he's gone over there, probably to ask for directions.
He's been a whole load of trouble since we got here. I might have to kill him.
"Ok…let's go get him…" I sigh. "Yay! Party!" Elliot thrashes in my arms. As I approach, I hear him talking to a gardevoir and gallade about the Exploration Center. "Really a marvelous place, that," Gallade says, "I was an explorer there myself until I married this beautiful lady," he says, reaching for Gardevoir's hand as she giggles. Ugh, they're just like a couple from one of those cheesy romance films Stephanie loves so much. I bet Gallade left exploring because Gardevoir taught him the true meaning of Christmas or something.
"Noivy!" Elliot cries, interrupting my admittedly unkind thoughts. "Oh, there you are!" Noivern says, smiling like we've run into old friends on a casual, non-emergency-based day out. "Let me introduce you to Madame Gardevoir and Sir Gallade," "a pleasure," I say quickly, bowing my head slightly, "alright Noivern, we should—" "Oh, and this must be little Elliot! Isn't he adorable!" Gardevoir coos, considering the squirming mass in my arms. He buries his face into my front, shyly.
"Aww, don't be scared! Say, how would you like to join my son to celebrate his birthday?" She singsongs, motioning to the kirlia running around with other small pokemon. I instinctively hold him tighter. Absolutely not, we need to get going. "Oh, we really can't—" "Yeah! Down, down!" He starts thrashing all over again. I get the sense I'm losing this battle. I also realize they're all looking at me curiously, probably wondering why I'm making such a fuss about letting a kid join a birthday party. I put him down—the moment he touches the ground, he's off.
"Such a darling," Gardevoir smiles, then looks between Noivern and I. "So, adopted or…?" A beat later I get her meaning and feel myself choke. I care for Noivern as a teammate, but the idea of…whatever Gardevoir is insinuating? It makes my skin crawl.
"Oh my, are you alright?" She says as Gallade starts slapping my back to help me clear my airway. "Yeah, he's adopted, but we can't imagine life without him, the little scamp," Noivern says, smiling proudly, the lie coming naturally. I eventually regain my composure, and stare daggers at him, but he doesn't seem to notice.
They continue making small talk about the joys of children as I realize Gallade is talking to me. "Yes, exploring is an awfully demanding career…but worth giving it up for the family. Tell me, what do you do?" Other than stand around like an idiot, you mean? What do I do…honestly…I travel between dimensions against my will, babysit my trainer's children and her other pokemon, and, at least when traveling, I was known to battle. But none of that sounds quite right somehow, so I just go with: "Oh, you know…looking after the little one…" I say through gritted teeth.
I don't have to dwell on the awkwardness for long, because a scream pierces through the otherwise joyful atmosphere. We rush over, and to my horror, Elliot is…is biting Kirlia. Actually, I think he's using the move Bite.
"Get your filthy brat off my son!" Gallade roars the same moment I see Gardevoir wind up for a move of her own. If she hits Elliot…
Before I can think, I find myself diving between them, aiming a Leaf Blade at Gardevoir. It lands, sending her staggering backwards, and a moment later I've got Elliot in my vines. "Noivern! Let's go!" I can't see him, so I'm just yelling to nowhere in particular. A moment later I feel a move hit me, hard. My vision goes funny, then I realize I've fallen to the ground. I absentmindedly curse my low defense stat as noise erupts around me and I slowly lose consciousness. Elliot is crying, Gallade and Gardevoir are frantically taking to someone, Noivern is trying to get my attention, and the last thing I hear is that I'm being arrested.