Chapter 5

Oreburgh City -Dawn

With the darkness of the evening falling upon the city, the girls had finally reached their destination with little hardship. No battles, no wild pokemon troubles and no wandering baby got in their way.

"So this is the mining town! Not as hard on the eyes and lungs as my father used to say," Azula spoke, "He had a few contracts with the workers over here if you must know."

Miracle, holding the baby gave her an apathetic smile, "Actually I'm not at all surprised. This town had a huge problem with drug trafficking through the mines. And that just screams of your father."

"On top of that, it was the Gym leader Roark who was finally able to clear out the mines of all the corruption, well him and his father Byron." Saki said.

"He passed away not too long ago if I remember correctly." Azula asked.

"Yeah, the days and nights in the old polluted mines finally took its toll on him, Roark's clean air policy was too late to save his father." Saki replied.

"What do they get out of this place?" Miracle asked Azula.

"The main export out of these mines are iron ore, but they also pull gems, jewels and even fossils every once and a while."

"That would be Shieldon and Crainidos if I'm not mistaken," Miracle added.

Saki nodded, "Mostly, but deeper down they have located fossils from all around the world."

The girls continued their trek into the city, it had a look that reminded Miracle of her Uncle Brock's hometown of Pewter City, lots of stone and brick homes. The people looked like they were all getting ready to settle in for the evening and most shops were closed for the night.

"There is just something about a very earthen environment," Miracle chuckled.

"Whats that?" Azula asked.

"The simplistic nature, the thought of being a hearty people, a hard working people," Miracle chuckled, "My mom used to say the same thing."

Harmony at this moment began to awaken from her brief nap, and began to struggle in Miracle's arms. Mira rotated her to a shoulder and held her tighter then before. The littlest Ketchum was about to fall back to sleep when something caught her eye, "Mama?"

"What is it baby?" Harmony pointed behind her mothers, getting them all to look back. Two massive dust clouds were storming their way, and Miracle was barely able to pass Harmony to Azula before the pair of clouds descended upon her. This caused a small explosion and enveloped Mira in it.

"MIRACLE!" Saki screamed.

As the dust pushed by, Azula and Sakinah could see Miracle was in an awkward position. All her muscles were flexed as she was pushing aback on two extremely large pokemon.

"Strong mama!" Harmony cheered. Miracle flexed out her second set of arms and used them to subdue the pair of pokemon.

"What are a pair of Rampardos doing running down the streets at night." Saki said. The pair of fossil pokemon were off colored, one red and the other black, while also seeming to sit a few feet taller then the standard bearers for their breeds.

"I don't know, but I nearly dislocated my elbows stopping them," Mira said.

"Where did they come from?" Azula asked as a cheering Harmony jumped around in her arms.

"Is everyone okay," A slight feminine voice shouted from the distance.

"It seems that way," Azula snarled, "These pokemon belong to you?"

"Uhh, they belong to my boys." The woman was tall, probably six foot two, and she had dark rimmed glasses that allowed her dark red hair to pop.

"Well tell them to keep them under control," Azula was fuming, "They nearly trampled our little girl."

"Oh, gosh I am so sorry. They have been acting up since their mother passed." She sighed, "Always acting out." The girls saw the pain on this woman's face, making it look like her partner hasn't been gone all that long.

"Why don't you let us have a talk with them," Saki asked, as she placed a caring hand on the womans shoulder, "And by us, I mean our daughters angry moms, and not her grounded mom." She said pointing over her shoulder.

"That seems fair, my name is Rocca," She tried to smile.

"Im Sakinah, and those two are Azula and Miracle."

Something sparked in Rocca's head, "Miracle...As in Ketchum?"

"Yeah, is there a problem?" Miracle asked.

"No, none what so ever. But you do understand, who the gym leader you're looking for is don'tcha?"

"Is it not Roark anymore?" Saki asked.

Rocca physically cringed at that name, then took a second to shake it off, "Im sorry to say that Roark stepped down a year ago, but his replacement is a dangerous person none the less. Now if you'll follow me, you may all stay with me and mine while you're in town." She returned the pair of pokemon and they all walked behind her.

Miracle could see the almost hate Rocca had in her eyes when Roark was mentioned, Saki picked up on it as well. Azula seemed to already have an idea about the whispery older woman. When they got to Rocca's house, Miracle easily noticed the gym next door.

"Okay, either you or one of your boys is the new gym leader. I'm a little antsy to find out who." Mira said out loud.

The house opened up and a pair of boys, around the age of fifteen came running out, "Did you get them! How far did they get this time?" They were energetic, more then most kids their age.

"What did I tell you about running Bash and Bang through the middle of town!" Rocca.

"Why do you care, its not like anyone got hurt," One boy said.

"Yeah, no one was injured," The other added.

Rocca reached out and snagged both boys ears in her fingers, "They nearly trampled Mrs. Ketchum and her daughter you brats."

"Our statement still holds weight, no one got hurt." They said in unison.

"Okay, I see this isn't going anywhere," Saki spoke, "Boys if you have any sense in those heads I would shut up before you piss my wives off. You endangered our little girl, and they do not take that lightly."

"Id listen to your mother boys," Azula said, "We tend to get angry when our little girl is harmed."

"First off, that thing isn't our mother." The one boy spoke.

"He, is our father!" The other added.

The room went silent for a few moments, then something snapped in Miracle's head, "Oh shit, you're Roark!"

"Wait, what!" Saki said.

"I am not Roark, I was once him yes, but not anymore," Rocca said.

"So your kids nearly killed my wife and daughter, because they are mad you are their mother and not their father," Saki questioned.

"Its not natural," One said.

"He's the reason our real mother died."

Rocca's jaw dropped, and so did the other brother's, "What did you say?" Rocca asked, "Spit it out Teran!"

"You! You are the reason mom finally passed away, you killed her!" He screamed and ran away.

The other boy went to chase after his brother, but Miracle held him back, "I don't think its a good idea for you to go after him. You and your mother need to have a small talk. Zula you mind if I take baby girl and go boy hunting."

"Sure, but be careful." She handed Harmony over and Miracle took off after the boy.

"What is she going to do?" Rocca asked.

"Nothing more then teach him a valuable lesson," Saki smiled.

"Now its time for you to tell your story. Why do you have these thoughts about your mother?" Azula demanded.

"Grandpa Byron."

OUTSIDE

Miracle took the chance to release Froslass, and ordered it to follow Teran. She then harnessed Harmony to her and took off into the air herself.

"Okay baby girl, just you and me up here. Can you keep an eye out for the bad man."

"Him!" She cheered pointing at the exact person Miracle was looking for.

"Harmony you are way too smart for your mommies," Miracle chuckled, "Oh looks like Froslass found him to."

"What the heck, let me pass you stupid pokemon." Teran yelled, but was pushed back by Froslass' icy attacks.

"She's my pokemon, she wont listen to you," Miracle told him.

"She will if I make her, Solrock come out and use flamethrower." Teran yelled.

"Froslass use shadow ball and then draining kiss." Miracle said. The ice pokemon collected shadow energy and dissipated the flamethrower. She then appeared next to Solrock and planted a kiss on his rock face, and in mere seconds the pokemon fell to the ground unconscious.

"What, how is that thing stronger then my Solrock!" Teran growled.

"Because I'm a better trainer. Isn't that right Harmony?" She asked her little girl.

"Mommy super strong!"

"Screw you, my Lunatone will take care of you," Again her pokemon appeared and began to attack, "Use ice beam."

"Really you're using an ice attack against an ice type. I thought you were inexperienced, not stupid." Miracle sighed, "Froslass charge in and use crunch!" Her pokemon took the attack and only seemed to enjoy the cold strike, when she got close enough her jaw unhinged and she chomped down on Lunatone. Again a one hit knock out ensued, "Okay, are you done now?"

"Ive never been beaten so soundly, how the hell are you so strong!"

"If you would open your eyes and look at who you're facing," She said, Teran angrily stared her down, still not getting who she truly was, "My name is Miracle Ketchum, and I am not an ordinary trainer."

Teran's eyes almost exploded, "Mi..Miracle Ketchum! Oh man, I stood no chance." He fell to the ground in disbelief, "What the hell is wrong with me thinking I could beat you."

"Because you are so blind to what goes on around you that you feel its easier to fight the truth then to admit it," Miracle said, "Starting with your mother."

"I told you, my mother is dead."

"Yes, but you do have another. And I think you've been a bit of a shit head to her."

"Mean man," Harmony added.

"He was supposed to be my father, not my mother. Grandpa Byron said he is a disgrace to the human race."

"Do you think I'm a disgrace since I'm in a lesbian relationship. Let alone with two separate women, and that we have a daughter."

"Yes! I mean...I don't know, I just want my dad back." The kid was now openly crying in the middle of the street.

"But he didn't go anywhere. You still have him."

"Its not the same, he wears girly things and,"

"And is still one of the eight gym leaders of this region, a master in the rock type, and an incredible engineer and provider. He is still the same person, but SHE is just wrapped up in a different package then before."

Mira placed her hand on the crying kid, and he nodded his head, "I guess you're right. He has still been there for me the entire time."

Harmony was cheering the whole time and she eventually copied her mother and placed a hand on the crying boys shoulder, "Be Happy!" The second she laid her hand on him she released an aromatic aroma that enveloped his senses, this immediately calmed him down and seemed to ease his pain.

Miracle didn't realize the attack at first, but soon came to the consensus that her little girl had used Aromatherapy on Teran, "Okay this is new." She said under her breath, "Teran I think its time to get you back to your mom."

With a smile now on his face he got up and nodded, "I think I'd like that."

Miracle sent him on ahead. She then turned her little girl to face her, "You are dead set on getting me in trouble, aren't you little one."

"Feel better momma," She cheered.

Miracle spun Harmony around and pulled her into a hug, "Whenever I'm with you I do. Okay Froslass, lets head back to Rocca's."

Back at Gym

The girls all sat and listened to Rocca's eldest son recount all the tirades her bigoted father went on. The man was not a reasonable individual, but he was charismatic, and he hooked his grandsons into his ways.

"Garret your grandfather was a lot of things, but a kind and caring man he was not. He was mean, demeaning and controlling, and was someone who will always tell you how he feels." Rocca spoke, "Ive been like this since I was younger then you, my mother was a saint and let me dress up, but your grandfather... I took beatings because of how I dressed."

"He never told us that."

"People like that never do kid," Azula spoke, "Trust me I know."

"If you want the truth about me and your mom I will tell you. Its rather simple, I met her at a gay bar dressed similarly to what I'm wearing now. And she loved me for being me."

"Is that really true," It was Teran, who spoke running through the front door.

"Yes, more then anything. She wanted me to be happy, but I didn't feel right letting you boys go through the stigmas at such an early age. But when your mother was dieing...she told me to be me, made me promise to be the real me, and you know I could never tell her no."The three of them were holding one another, so Azula and Sakinah decided to let them have their moment, and walked out the door.

"That was way more emotion then I wanted to deal with today," Azula sighed in exasperation.

"I agree, but at least they can start the healing," Saki added.

"Thats not all that happened," Miracle said, as she walked up holding their little girl at arms length. Harmony was holding what seemed to be a dark orb of fire in her hands, "Our little girl is more special then we thought."

tbc