We didn’t break camp.
In fact Chansey, Arcanine and I went on a looong walk not too long after. Dragonite had apparently decided to test out her new body.
Milotic approved.
We came back to camp long after night fell. I cooked a large meal for everyone, getting a feel for Dragonites new tastes. I would probably need to find out her new nutritional needs as well. But that was it. Dragonite was tuckered out, and her and Milotic were all curled up together for the night.
The next day again I pushed back any thought of leaving.
"Drag, Dragonite!"
"Yeah it’s like this." I gesture showing a punch which she was watching and trying to replicate. It took a few tries before she had the basics of it down.
"Drag?"
"Punches are very strong, and they open up a lot of options, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Mega Punch. See you get a lot of options!" I told her ticking off my fingers, which utterly fascinated her for a moment as she realized she could do the same thing. Copying me cutely.
"Pree!" She sang out a laugh delighted in the simple act.
I mean wow. Could you imagine just not having hands, and then growing them? It must be utterly alien.
I guess I had been right. The frustration of not being able to grab something had pushed her evolution through. Did that mean anything really? Nope. I already knew Dragonair could just evolve normally in battle as well, all this had done was give me a pretty neat piece of info that wasn’t really useful for much.
Still cool though.
"Dragonite?"
"Yeah we will work on all of those! We can work on your basic punches, and then just change the element on the fly. I bet it will really help out in battles."
"Pree!" She sang pleased at the idea.
"Okay so we will finish some training today, break for lunch, but then we do need to hit a Pokemon Center. I need to make sure I have your nutritional requirements right." I tell her thinking about the nutrition chart I had put together with Chansey.
Unfortunately there were a lot of guesses involved. Hopefully Nurse Joy would have a more accurate one.
"Drago-Drag!"
"Of course I’ll make your food tasty! But we have to make sure it makes you strong too." I tell her at the unhappy noise she made about her food.
Silly Dragon.
With that I started packing up, which Dragonite slowly joined me, hesitating a bit but enjoying being able to help as she lifted things as I taught her how to pack up the camp.
It was so cute!
"Oh my God." I uttered awestruck as I realized how much of a fool I had been! A damned idiot! Moron! Idiot Sandwich!
"D-dragonite! Come here." I waved shakily at her as she looked at me curiously but did as I asked, once she drew close I settled her down opposite me and held out my hands. "Like this."
"Drag?"
"Yeah, just like that. Okay so follow along with me. Patty-cake, Patty-cake-"
—--
I could absolutely die happy. I was still grinning long after I returned everyone and rode Arcanine to the nearest town which ended up being Fuschia.
Being able to play Patty cake with a dragon! It was so cute, Dragonite was so utterly enthralled with the child hand eye coordination game! She was sooo cute!
I squealed as I rolled around on the Pokemon Centers bed. I couldn’t handle it! Oh!
Oh no! I’m a fool! Damned dirty fool!
"Noooo!" I couldn’t help but cry into my pillow.
I hadn’t bought a video recorder! Or even a Camera! I missed out on pictures of Dragonite being fucking adorable!
Failure! A complete failure as a Pokemon trainer! Take away my license! I cried into the pillow at my own foolishness!
But a knock interrupted my pity party. "Huh?" I chirped as I got up wiping my face to remove most of the tears.
"Hello-Ivy!"
"Vicky!"
We cheered as we met pulling each other into a hug. "I knew it was you! Someone said a girl riding an Arcanine went into the Pokemon center!"
"Yeah! Who else would it be?" I laughed, only to remember what I had just been crying about. "Ivy!" I cried as I surprise-grabbed the greenette pulling her into a tight hug as I started bawling into her shoulder. "I’m the woooooorst!"
"Wha-Vicky!? Are you crying!? Why are you crying!?"
"I’m dah woooooorst!" I cried out helplessly!
"What happened!? Vicky! Talk to me!"
"I didn’t taaaaake Pictuahhhhhhhs!" I cried out helplessly. Dragonites cute little confusion about dealing with hands! I missed it forever!
—---
"So all of this is because you didn’t take pictures of your Dragona-Nite. Your Dragonite learning about her hands?"
"It was so cute Ivy! The most precious thing I ever saw! I missed it!"
"Vicky... Why are you like this?" Ivy asked with a sigh sounding quite put out.
But I simply shrugged. I guess it was pretty bad crying all over her, but she just didn’t understand the cuteness level. It was like a million. A million cuteness. I could have recorded it and just played the video in contests and won every Pokemon Contest forever.
Forever.
"Anyway..." Ivy attempted her best to change the subject looking uncomfortable with my cuteness overload. "I’m glad I caught up with you again. I got split off from Ash and his group, and I haven’t seen them in a while... Have you seen them?"
"Nope." I shrugged. "They are probably lost in a forest somewhere or something. It happens."
"Oh." Ivy looked a little downtrodden then but I smiled.
"I did run into Zelos though."
"Oh! How is she?"
"Well her Snivy is a Serperior now. Which is awesome, but more importantly. I had to teach her how to cook."
Ivy blinked trying to process that as I waited for her reaction, my mouth struggling not to burst into a smile.
"You taught her how to cook?"
"She was completely incompetent at it!"
"No I refuse to believe Zelos the coolest girl in our year-"
"Hey, what about me? I’m cool!"
"-Doesn’t know how to cook...Vicky. No one thinks you’re cool. You just have cool Pokemon."
"Wha! They are my team that makes me cool!"
I saw Ivy’s lips twitch as she struggled not to laugh at my whining. "Afraid not. I think you have to be a little taller to be cool."
My mouth dropped! How dare she make fun of my perfectly normal height! I mean I was below the average but that was normal too! For an average to exist some people had to be below it! Just because I was well below it didn’t matter! Details! Unimportant!
"Oooh that’s it! Ivy! I challenge you to a Pokemon Battle!" I said with an evil grin as she went from teasing to an ’oh shit’ look on her face.
"No way!"
"Hehehe! When two trainers eyes meet a challenge happens!"
"That isn’t true at all!"
"It’s the law!"
"What? No it isn’t!" Ivy yelled lunging for me to either strangle me or smack me.
I yelped falling backwards off my bed ending up with an angry Greenette following me down.
Man I missed having people with me!
—-
After Ivy spent a few minutes fixing her hair which I didn’t bother with, we left my room and headed to the cantina. The basic meals the Pokemon center offered were nice so we settled down with some tasty meals as we talked about adventure so far.
"So Ash and his group got tickets for the S. S. Anne, I didn’t, so we ended up splitting up. I was a little sad, I wanted to go on a cruise ship too. But well. I think you’re right. I hadn’t really had my own adventure. So I waved to them goodbye and set out of Vermillion city."
She took a deep breath as she exhaled.
"It was really scary at first. I ended up cuddling with Ivysaur that first night."
"I see no problem with this, I cuddle one of my Pokemon every night." I assure her earning a snort.
"That’s because you’re weird. People don’t usually travel with their Pokemon out, or hug them all the time like you do."
"That’s just a Kanto thing actually. There are lots of places all over that it’s normal to walk around with your Pokemon. Kanto is just being weird." I tell her with a firm nod as I stuff a burger into my mouth.
"I think it’s just the polite thing to do Vicky."
"Sounds like a tradition to me!" I tell her pointing with my burger.
"Gross. Don’t speak with your mouth full."
"Welcome to the Ferrous Clan compound." She offered directing me down the old style path that ran straight between a row of old style Kantonian houses.
It wouldn’t have been out of place in some old Hisuian Isekai adventure. Just with everything being stone or concrete, and better kept. It was a mix of old and new.
It was quaint.
But seriously guys. I think this may be too many cats. Like... Even I’m saying that?
Everywhere I looked a cat Pokemon was hanging out. Persian and Meowth were the most common, although I did see a few Purrloin as well. Which impressed me. Someone must have traveled to Unova.
"I think I’m starting to see why my Papa catching a Growlithe was such a big deal..." I muttered vividly imagining Papa coming home with Growly for the first time.
Man talk about a ’cat’astrophe.
Giggling to myself I followed after Elizabeth, waving to people as I passed. Many of them had at least one feature I recognized from my own. Although none were Blonde, or blue eyed. Those were traits I picked up from Mama after all.
I did stick out a bit being the only blonde in a sea of Black hair.
But I was kind of surprised at how many people there were. Men, women, old grannies, and old Grandpa’s. Kids as well. Plenty of them were looking curiously at me from beside Meowths that were obviously attached to them.
Cute!
But Elizabeth didn’t stop and no one stopped her. A few bows in her direction as she walked which she returned and on we went, down the road that was wide enough for cars but felt much smaller with all the homes having large porches full of sleeping cats, or kids playing in the middle.
Honestly? I kinda get the whole living in a Compound now. It seemed really fun and cute.
Unfortunately there weren’t enough Berry Trees. So that’s a no from me. Where would Milotic climb? What would I gather in the morning to feed Arcanine a treat? I hadn’t been at home long enough for Dragonite to slot into the berry tree formula, but I went to Dragonite island. I saw those lazy dragons sitting under a berry tree and literally just shaking it with one arm until berries fell on them.
There at the end of the street was a mansion. It really was. Larger by a full story over every other home on the street. Three stories instead of two at most. It loomed large at the end of the street.
It even had little Persian statues on each side of the steps leading up. Those were usually Arcanine, but I guess my extended family was a little cat crazy.
"Come inside. The elders are waiting for you." Elizabeth called pulling me away from taking in the sights. I hurried forward catching up to her at the large front doors which she pushed open.
A fucking maid was there. I blinked. As she gave a little bow. "Welcome home Miss Ferrous. Your Father and the elders are awaiting you in the meeting hall."
"Excellent. Come along Vicky."
"Weird. Thank you." I tell the maid as we walk past The house was in an older style, but it was new. I could see signs of modern touches everywhere. As we walked through the house, I could practically see the Meowth watching me glowing eyes in the dark spaces.
Jokes on them, if they try anything I’ll pull out a heckin’ big doggo that would love to play with them.
The thought put a smile on my lips once again as I followed Elizabeth through the warm halls and into a large room. A long floor table resided in the middle but to my surprise there were seating all around the edges of the room. Like it was meant for lots of people to gather together.
"Elders. Father. I have returned."
"You brought the girl." Uncle Leopold said simply informing the room.
The chairs along the outskirts of the room were empty, but along the large flat table on comfortable looking cushions sat an array of old men and women.
"Excellent. Come in come in." One of the older men called out waving me inside. So I stepped forward. If they thought I would act like a normal ten year old they were about to be mistaken.
"Hiya. I’m Vicky. Nice to meet all of you!" I chirped out as I walked over to the table and promptly plopped into an empty seat.
I studiously ran my eyes over the crowd watching the emotions play over their face.
Some immediately grew angry at my faux pas some amused.
I made a note of all of them. The amused ones could be fun.
"Niece... It is impolite to sit before you have been invited." Uncle Leopold spoke chidingly, but to my amusement he only said that after he swallowed back the anger my action had caused.
"Sorry about that." I answered simply, but certainly didn’t make any move to actually get up. That earned a few frowns, but the elder that called me in simply continued.
"I believe as this is the first time our young Grandchild of the Clan has joined us, we should be polite. I am your Grand Uncle, Your Grandmother is my elder sister. Feel free to call me Grandpa Roy. Many of the youngins do." He offered with a grin that literally looked like the one Papa would often give me
I returned it happily.
The other Elders all introduced themselves, some with more cheer than others.
When it was finished I decided to get to the heart of the matter.
"While I am enjoying meeting all of you, and seeing the Compound which is super homey. Why did you ask me to be here, or I guess I should say why did you try and order me to show up? Papa was excommunicated so I’m sorta in a weird spot."
"Indeed. That is true. Your fathers choices forced our hands in his Clan status. But it seems times have changed." Grandpa Roy offered with a stroke of his beard. "Much to the chagrin of our current Clan Head. Me. I am an old man Victoria. Your fathers excommunication was done as a necessity at the time. At least that is what I thought." He sighed looking a little ashamed. "Victor Ferrous has made something of himself in the last few years. That is without even considering the Milotic."
"You are talking about Arcany."
"Arcany? His Arcanines Nickname?"
"Yep! He used to be Growly. I don’t even think he would respond to a normal Growlithe call. I mean. Papa works with Growlithe all day, so saying Growly was a good way to get his partners attention. It just sorta stuck." I say with a shrug, but only Grandpa Roy seemed interested. The others had a polite disinterest. Or a very obvious disinterest in Uncle Leopold.
"How nice. Now of course our interest in your fathers improvement is between us and him. But that does leave you in an interesting spot. We have very rarely ever excommunicated anyone from the Clan before. Usually for great crimes, in the past. Your father was the first to be done because of... A failure of duty."
"I get the feeling I’m being propositioned to rejoin the clan." I offer a little dryly, earning a chuckle from Grandpa Roy and a scowl that was failing to remain hidden from Uncle Leopold.
"That’s correct. While we have excommunicated people before, this is the first time we have had to consider children involved. You of course were not raised within the Clan. Either the Viridian old home that Sister Mel keeps up, or here our new Compound that the distant families have begun gathering at once again."
"That’s right this whole place is new."
"Yes. The family used to be much more spread out... Unfortunately the loss of our unique Meowths caused a splinter in the family that is only now being restored."
"Interesting. But I still don’t really get why you brought me here... Especially without one of my parents here."
"You are ten, and on your Journey. You are an adult in the eyes of Kanto." Uncle Leopold surprisingly answered. "A Journey is the path to adulthood. To see how well you can handle the real world... You trained an Arcanine. I don’t believe many would consider you still a child."
"Okay. So that explains why you wouldn’t think to mention this to say Gram Gram.. Ah Grandma Melaney." I answered since I doubted most would know who I was speaking to. "I doubt she would be okay with not being here... Or telling me about it." I say pointedly looking at Uncle Leopold.
"The Clan felt a more personal meeting between us and you was needed." Grandpa Roy offered instead.
"So you wanted me alone so you all could pressure me into giving up my Milotic flock." I say sharply, straight through the atmosphere of faux kindness. "I’m not feeling very re-assured."
"Hah! I told you this wouldn’t work as you thought. The girl is obviously still wary." One of the Elder woman spoke then a biting grin that reminded me of a cat.
Well it reminded me of Gram Grams smile too.
"We are not here to entrap the girl." Grandpa Roy spoke instantly in a sharp tone looking straight at Uncle Leopold. He sighed then turning to me. "Yes Victoria. We wanted to get a measure of you. And offer you to become a member of the Clan as you should have been in truth. And yes. We are concerned about the Milotic. As you know my elder Sister used our Clan contacts to set up the investments in your name. The returns on which are quite astounding."
"Yeah Gram Gram showed me the books when I asked."
"Then you should know that it is the largest investment the Clan has seen since our Meowths stopped being born as Galarian variants. Much of the family has been returning, we have seen a massive increase in our unity and growth. This Compound wasn’t nearly as nice even just a few years ago."
"Okay, but the Flock are doing fine."
"We thought the same during the last War. We lost family members then." Uncle Leopold said. "Mother is too stubborn to ever leave the Viridian home, even when many of the Clan left during the start of the last war. It was the first home of our family. She grew up there and won’t leave. But Viridian is close to Johto. If a war flares up again. Viridian is in the red zone... Close enough to the border it will likely be struck full force before a response could be gathered."
"We worry about the source of our family’s wealth. We simply want to ensure that a surprise accident can’t send us once more spiraling." Grandpa Roy offered.
"I’m not sure I can help you." I tell them. "My Flock lives at my home. Where they are happy. I’m happy there too. And I honestly don’t really know if I want to join a Clan." I answer with a shrug. "I’ve never been in a Clan, never needed one before."
"Understandable." Grandpa Roy spoke up instantly, silencing a few of the group who looked like they were going to say something. "As I said Victoria, this wasn’t meant to trap you. Know that you are welcome here in the Compound. That we are family. Even if you don’t wish to rejoin the Clan you are still family, and this compound was built to house family." He offered with a smile.
I felt my back untensing a bit. I had been worried about how they would react to a negative.
"I’m glad you didn’t start yelling or something." I couldn’t help but admit, earning a chuckle from the old man.
"I don’t yell much anymore. Now in my youth, I tanned your fathers hide more than once." He offered with a wink which I couldn’t help but laugh at that reveal.
"Papa is pretty reliable, so that surprises me."
"Oh he may be reliable now. But he was a troublemaker as a child. Should I bring up the Krabby incident Leopold?" The old man offered with an utter shit eating grin, as Uncle Leopold went instantly red looking quite unhappy at that reminder.
"I doubt ancient history needs to be brought up right now Elder." He nearly hissed before turning to me. "Let me be blunt then, since the Elders wish to remain gentle. What will it take to have the Milotic brought to Fuchsia?"
"Last time I thought you said you refused to work with Papa’s Spawn?"
He twitched a little before nodding. "The Clans’ future is more important than my pride. The income stream must be protected... I spoke out of anger, last time. There is many years of history between your Father and I. Things you are assuredly not aware of. I do not hate you Victoria. You are simply attached to someone that I retain only bad memories of."
Huh. That was actually surprisingly reasonable. But then again Gram Gram wasn’t here. So I guess it wasn’t as bad.
I groaned a little as I rubbed my forehead. I hated this sort of stuff. Reasonable people worrying about reasonable problems.
But especially when I just... Didn’t want to do it. I wanted my comfy farm life. With poking Milotic out of Berry trees, and river races.
"I can’t give you any satisfactory answer right now." I say sitting back up straight. "I can understand your worries. Even if, bluntly, it isn’t really my problem. But you are family, and I’m not entirely unsympathetic to your concerns." I stand up startling most of the room.
"I will have to talk to my parents, and think about what you brought up."
"Then please take all the time you need. Move at the speed you are comfortable with Victoria." Grandpa Roy offered kindly. "But do remember, regardless, you are welcome to come home. To this home. I am sure we can find a place for you if you would like a room as well."
"I’ll think about it. Thank you." I told him before deciding I didn’t want to be here anymore.
It was making me anxious. I would have to apologize to Ivy I decided as I headed just outside the main house between the two Persian statues. I really wasn’t in the mood for hanging around. So I grabbed a Pokeball.
"Dragon! Dragonite!" She called out to me as she stretched a bit looking around curiously at the people and Pokemon around her.
All of whom were looking at her in shock and surprise.
"Hey Dragonite. I need to get home. Do you want to fly to Viridian city with me?" I ask only for her to jerk towards me and practically dance on her new legs.
"Great. So it will be that waaaaa-" I was cut off as my Dragon happily reached over and grabbed me in a slightly too tight grip still and burst into the air.
I am pretty sure she even burst into Extreme Speed there for a moment before the next thing I could see was the beautiful sky.
And then she was off. Luckily I kept my goggles around my forehead for emergency Arcanine runs whenever she had the zoomies.
So I slipped them down and was able to see.
The sky was so beautiful up here. The ground was disappearing beneath us as she raced towards home. I only had to help her adjust her course a few times on the way home.