#breaking for length

[aresite]

QFG:R: The Slumbering Wheld

The strange mist hung heavy in the air. It clung damply to Ares' clothes and hair and there was an uncomfortable 'feel' about it that Ares could not place. He felt like there was something out there - hidden in that strange mist and watching them.

Olli walked in front of him. The mist was so thick that all he could really see was the vague outline of the other boy. Erya walked beside him and held tightly onto his hand. She hovered by his side but she said nothing - if she was afraid, she kept it to herself.

He immediately regretted not bringing a lantern or anything that gave off light as they trudged through the dark path. Luckily though, the path looked like it had been freshly cleared. Despite Olli leading the way, the path was wide enough for all three of them - and even Ba'ul - to walk side-by-side if they wanted too. The ground beneath them felt both muddy and hard at the same time - like it had been recently packed down before the damp mist rolled in.

Ares felt like he could feel the hair on the back of his neck standing up, despite the fact that the damp air had slicked his hair down to the point his bangs were clinging to his forehead. That feeling of being 'watched' only grew more intensely the further they went in. He tried to look between Olli and Erya, but between the darkness and the mist, he couldn't make out any features on their faces, nevertheless an expression.

As if to answer his unspoken question though, Erya pipped up - her voice barely above a whisper, "M-maybe we should turn back?" Olli didn't even slow, "And what? Miss out on meeting Maid Marian? If yer scared, go back yerself and Ares and I will find Jack!" "I'm not scared!" Erya shot back, "But we can't see a thing! And the Elders always told us never to wander off the path in the Wheld!" "That's just an ol' wives tale to scare kids into not getting lost!" Olli scoffed.

He suddenly stopped suddenly in his tracks and looked around, "Did ya guys here that?" "If you're trying to scare us, that's not funny!" Erya snapped. "No really-" Olli slowly spun around and looked out at the trees.

Ares strained his ears but he didn't hear a thing, "Dude! Knock it off, it ain't funny!" Olli furrowed his brow, "I ain't bein' funny! I heard something howl! You guys didn't hear it? It sounded like a howl?"

Ares wanted to hit Olli, but before he could really react, Erya suddenly groaned and threw her arms up in the air, "That's it! I'm going back! You guys have fun getting yourselves lost or killed!" She put her hand on Ba'ul's back and turned back the way they had came.

"Fine! Be a Wimpod then!" Olli countered. He turned to look at Ares, "Are you gunna be a Wimpod too, or are you coming with me to find Jack?" "I'm not a Wimpod!" Ares shot back. Olli turned back around and started walking again, "Then lets go already!"

Ares groaned and turned to look at Erya, "I'm gunna make sure he doesn't get himself killed. Ba'ul, can you take Erya home?" Ba'ul grumbled, but turned back around to follow Erya.

Ares then turned and ran up to walk next to Olli. Walking beside him, he could see how tense Olli was, despite the boy trying to hide it so well. They didn't get too much further before Olli hesitated again. He turned to look at Ares, but in the darkness and the mist, Ares could not make out his expression.

"Did'ya hear that?" He asked. "Hear what?" Ares asked. "Nothin'." Olli muttered.

He then pushed past Ares and picked up the pace. Ares frowned and sped up to match him, and as he did he heard Olli mutter something about hearing another howl...

Ares tried to hear it as well... but he heard nothing. There was not even the sound of Bug Pokemon chirping in the woods... everything was deafly quiet.

They only walked a bit further before they finally saw something in the mist - a light. It was far off in the distance and hard to make out, but Ares was certain it was some sort of lamp - and it looked like there was more than one.

Olli immediately perked up, "That's Postwick! It's gotta be!"

Without waiting or stopping to think, he suddenly broke out into a run towards the lights.

"Hey wait!" Ares gasped, before he ran after the other boy.

[regalia-solvieg]

Changing the Past

Kida had been walking down the halls thinking. How long had it been since she returned to the past? A week now, wasn’t it? And unlike before... she was certain now that she had indeed, returned to the past and not dreamt it. Events around here had played out the same way they had when she was a child, minus a few details - like her Nanny being fired by Ulric this time, and replaced with a new one for example. 

She slowed to a stop and looked around. Somehow she had wandered towards her Father’s Study. Why had she wandered here of all places? She felt mentally drained from all the thinking she’d been doing and maybe her body just took her someplace familiar and comforting? Who knows... 

Either way, Kida was about to turn away when she heard voices behind the door. 

“It’s for the best, Ulric.“ - It was her Mother’s voice,  “I know - it’s just... I mean, a week ago I would’ve agreed and sent’cha on yer way but...” - The second voice was her Father’s.

Kida walked up and peeped through the keyhole on the door. Both Ulric and the Queen were there. Ulric was seated in his large, overstuffed chair behind his desk, and Chiyo was standing in front of it with her hands on her hips. She was at an angle that Kida couldn’t see her Mother’s face, but she could still see past her to Ulric.

“Ulric...” Her Mother sounded exasperated, “That man said he’d be back for Kida upon her eighteenth birthday. I don’t feel safe knowing he knows where she is. She’d be much safer in the Empire. The Castle I had built for her is nearly complete, and besides - she will be Empress one day, not a Queen here. It’s about time we move her to the Empire so she starts learning the Imperial ways.” “Don’t lecture me on things I already know.” Ulric gruffed, “I just don’t like the idea of you two going somewhere where I can’t de-” “Defend us?” The Queen interrupted. She put her hands on the desk, “Ulric, you and I both know what we’re up against here.”

Ulric went red in the face and a look of annoyance momentarily crossed his face. If anyone other than his Queen dared talk to him like that, he would have their tongues cut out - but since it was his Queen, he fought back his anger and his face returned to a normal shade as he let out a sigh.

“I say let the Princess decide for herself.” Ulric tried to sound as dismissive as he could, but Kida could still hear the annoyance in his tone, “Give her the choice whether or not she’d rather leave for the Empire or stay here.”  “Ulric, she’s a child. She can’t-“ Chiyo argued...

Right... this was right before she left for the Empire. She remembered that they had given her the choice... and annoyed with her Nanny here, and both bored and annoyed by the Castle Staff’s just-deserved behavior towards her, and the promise of moving to her very own Castle built just for her... she had left without a second thought... and the next time she returned to Galar was after Ulric had died...

Footsteps caught Kida’s attention and she quickly sensed someone approaching. She quickly stepped back away from the door and tried not to look guilty as she looked up to see who it was. A shiver of fear washed down her spine as she saw none other than Grandmaster Bryce walking up while being tailed closely by Raintree...

[regalia-solvieg]

Back Again

It felt so surreal walking down the halls towards the Dining Hall. Everything felt so familiar... yet so wrong. How long had it been since she walked down to Breakfast with her family like this? It felt like it was only yesterday that she was being dragged up these halls by guards on her way to her own execution...

A laugh froze her in her tracks. It was a deep belly laugh that reverberated down the halls. She tensed up at the sound and looked down the hall in surprise. 

“Then BAM! Right through that bastard’s chest! Ha! You should have seen the blood! Fwoosh! It was a literal fountain! Hahahaha!“ “Oh my Gods, Ulric please. Not at the table or in front of Youta.“ “But Mooooooooooom!“  “You don’t need to be hearing war stories this early in the morning - or at all really.“

Kida’s shoulders shook, and without even realizing it... she broke into a run. She barely heard the Nanny call after her as she ran down the hall and burst into the Dining Hall. She threw the double doors open, took a step inside, and froze again.

It was just how she remembered it - long rows of wooden tables lined the hall and led up to a raised platform where a more elegant table rested... and sitting at that table was a young family. Kida’s eyes fell on her mother first - she looked younger than Kida remembered. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a bun and her elegant red gown flowed down beneath the table. She had quickly turned towards Kida with a startled look when she had burst in, but the expression softened. Her eyes then drifted to the two people sitting next to her...

King Ulric was a beast of a man - a monster of muscle and hair. He sat tall in his seat and had been turned towards the attendant he had been telling his story too, but had quickly turned to look at Kida as well. Even though it had been so long since he had died... she still remembered his lean, scarred face that was mostly covered by a thick, curly black beard. His massive forearms were resting on the table and were holding cutlery over an equally massive plate of food. 

Prince Youta sat beside him. The Prince was young and still baby-faced. He had a large grin on his face and was partially leaning over the table to hear his Father’s story. Unlike Ulric, Youta was small and slim. He had no facial hair, and had a more blue-black hair colour compared to Ulric’s jet black hair. 

“Hey Kida!“ Youta cheered.

Kida felt her bottom jaw tremble for a second... and then she broke into a run again. Within seconds she was across the Dining Hall and around the table. She threw herself on the King and did her best to hug him tightly - which was harder than you’d think since her arms barely reached the middle of his midsection...

“What’s this then?!“ Ulric let out another loud belly laugh, and he twisted around to pick Kida up from under the arms and pulled her onto his lap, “You aren’t usually so affectionate!“ He looked like he was about to make a joke, but then he saw the look on her face, “What’s wrong?“

Instead of answering... Kida started to cry. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Ulric’s neck and hugged him as she sobbed into his shoulder.

He really was alive. He really was here... so was Youta and her Mom... it was almost too much!

Her reaction startled her Mother, and the Queen lept out of her seat to put a hand on Kida’s back, “Oh sweetie, are you okay?”

The Nanny then ran in. She was red in the face and looked horrified when she saw Kida crying in the King’s arms, and quickly bowed. The King’s black eyes locked on the Nanny and a scowl crossed his face, “Why is she crying?” 

The Nanny looked even more terrified and dropped to her hands and knees, “Greetings oh great Shield of Galar! I-I... the Princess appears to have had a nightmare. She dreamt that you had died and that Galar was being destroyed.”

“Dad? Died? Ha!“ Youta had looked worried until he heard that, and then he thrust his knife in the air, “Don’t worry Kida! If anyone dared threaten Dad or Galar, I’d protect him! So don’t cry, okay?“  “Ha! That’s right, my boy!” He pulled Kida back down onto his lap and looked her in the red, puffy face. He looked confused on what to do... and Kida was not surprised on why.

Kida had never been affectionate - not even to her own family. While she loved them, she had never been the type of person to go to them for comfort nor allow them to see her cry. She prided herself on being the pinnacle of perfection at all times - the perfect photogenic Princess with perfect manners and posture. Even at a young age - displaying emotions in public was not on the table.

Ulric snapped her from her thoughts by twisting her around on his lap to face the table, and handed her his fork, “How about some breakfast? That’ll make you feel better! Ha!”  “With the utmost respect-“ The Nanny suddenly pipped up - sounding rather horrified once more as she did, “T-the amount of meat on your plate... it is far too rich for the Princess’s palate. Shall I ring to have a more... appropriate breakfast brought for the Princess?“ “What’s wrong with meat? Look at her! She could use some more proteins to put some meat on her own bones!“ Ulric laughed. 

Kida hesitated. Even as an adult she would never eat steak for breakfast. She looked up at her Father for a moment, and then over at her Brother who was tearing into his own steak and suddenly... she realized how much she had missed this. In the past she probably would have stared at her Brother’s table manners in disgust and made a sarcastic comment about losing her apatite and leaving... but right now that was the furthest thing from her mind. 

She hesitated again for only an instant... and then cut off a piece of the near rare steak, closed her eyes, and shoved it in her mouth. It was the first time eating a slightly raw piece of steak and the juices caught her off guard in a surprisingly pleasant way. 

Kida felt like this all had to be the dream. Maybe she had died after all and this was some sort of purgatory? She suddenly felt like she could wake up at any moment and discover that she was still falling to her death.

[regalia-solvieg]

Back Again

Kida awoke to feeling of warmth on her face and a bright light shining through her eyelids. She felt oddly warm and comfortable. She slowly opened her eyes and saw herself staring up at a silk canopy. 

For a moment she just sat there and stared... but then the memories washed back over her and she shot upright. Wasn’t she just falling?! What as she doing in bed?! Did she somehow survive?! What about Galar?!

Without thinking she threw the comforter off her and and raced for the balcony. She whipped the balcony doors open and ran out to find that the red sky and deep purple clouds were gone. Instead, it was a bright, sunny day. Bird Pokemon were chirping, Bug Pokemon were buzzing, and there was not even a cloud in the sky.

“What...?“ She began to ask, but then a voice came from behind her and startled her nearly out of her mind. 

“Zamazenta bless us, dear Princess! Whatever are you doing out there in your nightgown?!“ 

Kida whirled around and stared at the voice. It sounded so familiar and yet she knew it couldn’t be so... but it was. When Kida turned around she saw her old, childhood Nanny running towards her with a dressing gown. She quickly wrapped Kida up in it, “You know it is indecent for a Lady to be seen in her nightgown!”

Kida stared at the Nanny. The woman was a kind looking woman with chestnut brown hair and bright green eyes. She was a rather kind, but overbearing woman that did not get upset easily, and in her youth, Kida had despised her for it. The Nanny had been her only servant who didn’t bow her head and avoid Kida’s eyes or give in to her every whim... and as a child there was nothing Kida hated more. As soon as she had made her debute into High Society she had fired the woman and banned her from the Castle... an action that looking back... Kida was ashamed of. But here she was...

The Nanny led her back inside the Sleeping Chamber to help her get dressed... and only then did Kida recognize the room - it was her old childhood bedroom. The white and gold furniture - the canopy bed with the pink blankets and stuffed animals... the marble fireplace against the far wall... it was the room she grew up in when she was still living at Motostoke Castle - before she had followed her Mother back to the Empire.

“But... I was falling?“ Kida murmured.  “What is that dear?“ The Nanny asked as she helped untie Kida’s nightdress, “I was falling.“ Kida said more assuredly. She turned around and looked at the Nanny, “A-and the sky was red with purple clouds, and the city - no the entire Kingdom was being destroyed by giant Pokemon and-“  “Shh,“ The Nanny hushed Kida with a gentle finger to her lips, “Calm yourself, Princess. Worrying like this will only give you wrinkles before your time. It was just a dream. Galar is not being destroyed, and there are no Giant Pokemon.“ “A dream?“ Kida murmured, “But it felt so real...“

The pain, the fear... everything. But wait... if she was here... then... 

Kida looked down at her hands and saw that they looked much smaller... much less worn down. Panic set in as the Nanny finished dressing her, and as soon as the Nanny stopped fussing, she broke away and ran to the closest mirror she could find... and what she saw both shocked her and yet, was somehow not surprising - the face looking back at her was her own... but from years ago. 

She reached up and touched her face. Her cheeks were soft and unmarred. Her hair was messy from sleep but not from all the abuse she had taken since leaving home. It was like everything that had happened really was a dream...

“Then my Father...“ She said softly.  “The King is waiting for you to join him in the Dining Hall along with the Queen and your Brother.“ The Nanny sighed rather exasperatedly, “That must have been quite the dream you had. Now come, let me brush your hair and make you presentable for the King.“

Kida hesitated. Her Father was... in the Dining Hall? He was alive? She was in Motostoke before Bryce took over? Before she had even left for the Empire with her Mother?! Had everything that happened really been a dream? No... it was too real. There was too many memories and too much time between then and now for it to have simply been a dream. Had she somehow gone back in time instead? There was only one way to find out...

[regalia-solvieg]

Behemoth’s Shield

Kida had no idea how long she had been locked up in this tower. It felt like she had been locked up here for weeks, but it could have only been days. At first they tied her hands above her head and secured to a tall wooden beam and she was unable to move. They told her nothing. Not once did anyone come to talk to her or tell her what they planned to do with her - no matter how loudly or firmly she shouted and demanded to speak to Bryce. No one would even tell her why - not even after she’d screamed her voice course. 

The tower that Theudis had locked her up in had to have been one of the highest points as she had been dragged quite away up before locked in here. It was cold, and a chill wind blew threw the windows. The room she was in was stone and only had one exit out, and that was through a thick iron door. There was nothing else in the room other than a bucket in one corner and a bed of straw on the floor. And what was worse - it stank. The tower smelt like rot and fecal matter and she hated it.

Her toes barely touched the ground from where she was hung so her arms were aching and her mouth was dry by the time someone finally came into the room. They cut her down and gave her some dry bread and ale, but they still did not tell her anything - and there she remained. 

The first thing she did was run to the window and look out... and she was dismayed to find out that she was right. She was above a cloud layer and could not see the city below... the tower she had been locked up in was the tallest tower in the Castle. Despair filled her heart then, and she turned away. She sat on the ground beneath the window, wrapped her arms around her legs, and wept. Were they just going to keep her locked up in here forever? And what about Ares? He was the only one who knew she was here... Her heart despaired more at the thought. They would kill him, she thought. Surely they had already... and it was all her fault.  The thought made her cry harder and she chastised herself bitterly at it, but it didn’t help. She still continued to cry until she felt like she had no tears left. 

What a pathetic mess she must have looked. She hated the thought more than the predicament she was currently in, and tried to wipe her face on her sleeves. No one could see her like this. She absolutely refused to let Theudis or Bryce see any weakness in her. If they were going to kill her, then she’d walk proudly to their blades. 

No one came for what felt like days, and by then she had managed to calm herself into a near emotionless state. Every time someone came to drop off food and ale she just demanded to speak to Bryce - every time they did not reply and left. She was just preparing to demand to speak to Bryce again when she heard the lock on the door click open... but to her surprise, this time it actually was Bryce that entered. 

Kida almost didn’t recognize him. He seemed to have grown in stature and had a smug look on his face as he entered. He had grown a thick beard since the last time she had seen him, and his eyes were cold and calculating. It made her flinch inwardly to see such a change in a man she had known all her life. 

She refused to back down though, and came to her feet in a proud stance of her own, “Bryce.” She marched towards him with a sudden fiery rage, “How dare you keep me locked up like this! You have three seconds to tell me what is going on here! Where is my Father? Where is my Brother?! What have you done to them?”

[regalia-solvieg]

Altar of the Gods

Kida felt like her legs could barely support her as she stumbled along behind the Zweilous. It was all she could do to just put one foot in front of the other. She had no idea what to do... she felt lost. 

The mist around her was so thick she could barely see her feet, and the darkness of the night around her didn’t help matters. The strange blue-tinted mist clung to her legs as she forced herself on. She snuffled and stumbled. She felt her ankle roll over the wet stones and she fell to her knees. She fought back the urge to cry and tried to push herself back up again... but her strength gave out again and she fell back into the river rocks.

Dante and Diego apparently heard the clatter of the rocks as she fell, because they paused and looked over their shoulders.

“Oh!“ Dante gasped. Deigo whirled them around without a word and waddled back towards her. His angular eyes looked down at her with worry, “Hey! C’mon Miss! It’s not far now!”  “Oh hush. Can’t you see the girl is exhausted?“ Dante chastised - earning himself a grumpy glare from Deigo. “Exhausted or not, you remain in the muck girl, and you’ll freeze to death!“ Deigo huffed.

Being the stronger side of the two, he pulled them over next to Kida, and pushed against her side, “Now up you go! Come on! It’s not that much further. You want to find your friend, right? You can’t find him if you give up now.” 

Kida bit her bottom lip. She knew he was right... but she couldn’t find the strength in her. Her body was shaking too much to support itself.

Dante whirled them in front of her, and he gently bumped her chin with his head until she was looking up at them, “What my brother is so ruefully means is that you can’t give up. Even when it seems hopeless, we got to keep moving.”  “That is literally what I said you blockhead!“ Deigo snorted. “I’m not finished!“ Dante shot back.

Kida couldn’t help but smile at the two of them. She watched the two heads bicker among themselves. Of course she couldn’t give up. No matter how tired and lost she felt... she was a Princess. A Daughter of the greatest Empire in he world, and a Solvieg. ‘Giving up’ was not in her vocabulary, and she felt inwardly ashamed that she had briefly felt like it. 

A sudden ray of light hit her eyes and she flinched back. The sun was rising over the horizon. The rays of the early morning son shot through the trees in thick rays. Kida gasped and shielded her eyes against the sudden light. For a brief moment, it looked like the ray of light had cut through the mist and brushed it aside to leave a clear path in front of them. 

Dante and Diego stopped bickering and turned around with a smile, “The Lady summons us!” They said in an eerie unison. Both of them turned to help Kida to her feet, and this time she welcomed it. 

Back on her feet in the growing morning light... Kida suddenly felt more energized than she had before. It was like the light washed away all the stress and weariness of the following day Suddenly... she too felt like something was calling her. 

Dante and Deigo hurried ahead of her - waddling with all their might towards the dawn. Kida sucked in a deep, steadying breath... and followed after them.

Behind her, unseen in the mist, a Jirachi poked its head out from behind a tree with a soft frown before it started to trail after them...

[deathyless]

Another Life

Mika, Eevee, and Ao were nearly running as they hurried back home. It was mid-autumn, and the leaves were falling all around them in different shades of reds, oranges, and golds. Viridian City seemed alive with colour. There were Halloween Decorations decorating every other house down the street, and the air was chilly and crisp. 

Neither child seemed to stop to take in the beauty though as they raced down the sidewalk. Neither of them even slowed down at all until they reached a small, well-manicured home that rested near the middle of a small cul de sac. The lawn was nicely groomed, and the leaves had all been raked up and put in large orange bags with jack-o-lanturn faces on the front as decorations. The sides of the house were nicely painted, and there was a strong, homely feel to the house.

The house was nothing like the neighbors. The run down, old-fashioned house next door with the over-grown yard that was covered in leaves made the two houses look like a terrible ‘before and after’ image. 

But these kids knew these houses well. The Kihell Family and the Ueno Family had been neighbors for many years. Both Mika and Ao’s Mom’s were good friends. Mika had known Mrs. Ueno longer than he had known his Mom, and she was like a Mother to him now. The Ueno’s had been looking after him after school for as long as he could remember, and today was no different. 

The two kids and the Pokemon were panting as they hurried to the front door. Without hesitation, Ao threw the door inwards and stampeded in. 

“Hurry Mika, or we’re gunna miss it!“ She cheered as she kicked her boots off. 

Mika didn’t need to be told twice. He had his sneakers off before the last words were out of her mouth. Both kids dropped their bags by the door and rushed to the living room. 

The inside of the Ueno Residence was just as suburban and upkept as the outside. The furniture looked lived on and comfy, but wasn’t worn out. It was warm, and friendly, and there were Pokemon laying about everywhere. 

A happy-looking Growlithe trotted up towards them as they both climbed up onto the couch, but neither of them seemed to notice him in their hurry, so he opted to jump up on the couch between them as Ao turned on the tv. 

Immediately a familiar anthem lit up the room, followed by the voice of an announcer. Good! They hadn’t missed it! 

“Aozora? Mika?“ A kind-sounding voice came from the hallway, “Are you home sweetie? How was school?“ 

“Hi Mom!“ “Hi Mrs. Ueno!“ 

Mrs. Ueno peeked her head into the living room with a curious look... but the moment she saw what was on the tv, a smile crossed her face. She walked across the room and folded her arms on the back of the couch, “Oh! There’s a match today?” “Yeah! Lance is playing today!“ Ao cheered. “Well then, I better go get you some snacks.“ Mrs. Ueno laughed. She leaned down to peck Ao on the forehead, “But as soon as the match ends, I want you two to start your homework. Deal?“ “Deal!“ They both said, without turning their attention away from the TV.

Mrs. Ueno laughed and turned away. Both kids were too transfixed to notice her leaving. 

Without turning his attention away from the tv, Mika grinned brightly. He crossed his legs on the couch and leaned forward, “This is gunna be us some day!” “Next year!“ Ao cheered, “But no crying when I beat you!”  “As if! Eevee and I’re gunna be the next Champions!“ Mika replied.

The announcer finished, and the music pumped louder, attracting their attention fully back to the TV. 

Mika could feel his heart racing in his chest as Lance stepped out into the arena. He never wanted anything more badly in his entire life! He couldn’t wait to become a Pokemon Trainer and go on adventures, collect badges, and capture Pokemon! It was so close he could taste it!

[deathyless]

Another Time

beep beep beep

Slowly, a hand slipped out from beneath the covers and reached over for an old phone. With a groan, a young man leaned up and groaned wearily, before silencing his alarm. He propped himself up on his elbows for a moment and rubbed his eyes wearily, and then he reached over for a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that sat upon an old fashioned nighttable. 

The young man fully sat up, sung his legs over the side of the bed, and put his glasses on. The mid-autumn morning chill that had settled in the room sent a shiver down his spine, and he wrapped the comforter around him tighter and looked down at his phone. 

6:52.

He fought the urge to go back to sleep for another ten minutes, and sighed heavily. He forced himself from the warmth of the bed, and quickly got dressed in the usual orange uniform top and black slacks. He quickly ran a brush through his long, shaggy black hair that was in desperate need of a haircut, and drowsily left the room.

Still half asleep, Miguel walked straight downstairs to the kitchen - where a pot of coffee was already auto-perking. He always made sure, no matter how tired he was the night before, to set it up so it was ready in the morning. The smell lit up the kitchen and helped to chase some of his weariness away.

It would be the normal morning routine. He would have enough time to sit at the kitchen table and scroll through his notifications while he drank his first cup of coffee, and had his first cigarette of the day, and then at 7 o’clock, he would go back upstairs. 

Miguel quickly poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down. The kitchen about him was rather cluttered - dishes from the night before were still piled in the sink, and there was a faint smell of garbage seeping out from the corner - a clear sign it was time to take that out. There was a pile of unopened bills on the table, and there was a sweater or two draped over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Almost everything was in a state of disrepair - the dishwasher didn’t clean quite right. The fridge was old and noisy. And one of the burners on the stove didn’t heat up. None of the plates and cutlery matched anymore, and some of the pots in the sink were starting to loose their non-stick coating. The yellow light coming down from the ceiling fan in the center of the kitchen did little to hide this. It bothered Miguel a bit... but there was little he could do about it, so once again he pushed it from his mind and tried to focus on his phone. 

Nothing seemed to interest him much though, and he found himself endlessly until his 7 o’clock alarm went off. He sighed, and reluctantly pushed himself from the table and headed back towards the stairs. 

The house was old and the floorboards creaked underfoot. It had been built in the 60′s and the wallpaper that still lined the walls clearly displayed that. It was a simple, two-story dwelling, with three small bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and a kitchen, living room, and a small bathroom downstairs. 

Miguel’s room was the first room on the right, and the door was open. Through the crack in the door, he could see a Jolteon still curled up at the foot of his bed, and was still snoring slightly. The room was plain and wasn’t elaborately decorated. The room across the hall from his though was a whole other story. This door was closed - but the door itself was covered in magazine pages of Pokemon Battles and competitions. There was a giant painted name plate hanging from the center of the door that read ‘Mikado’.

Miguel knocked on the door lightly, but heard no response. So instead, he opened the door a crack, and flicked on the light. Unlike his room, the room that suddenly lit up was much more cluttered. Old toys and dirty laundry littered the floor, and there was much more furniture. 

There was a sleeping hump on the bed - curled up beneath a mountain of blankets and pillows. Miguel called out, but he got no response. 

“Mika.“ He said again - this time louder.  “Hmm...“ A soft groan replied.  “Mika - get up. It’s time to get ready for school.“ Miguel replied. 

This time, Miguel saw Mika roll over. The nine year old’s face peeked out from under the blankets with a mess of shaggy black hair that was similar to Miguel’s, only somehow even more messy, and a pair of black, sleepy looking eyes fluttered open, “Five more minutes...” He whined.  “Nope. Get up or you’ll miss breakfast!“ Miguel replied. 

At the mention of ‘breakfast’ a pair of long, brown ears poked up from beneath the sheets, followed by a fluffy head. Eevee trilled and squirmed free and ran towards Miguel. He let her escape the room, before looking back up at Mika, “Better be up in five minutes!”  He just got a groan in response. 

Sighing, Miguel closed Mika’s door, and turned to walk back downstairs. At the mention of breakfast, even Jolteon had gotten up, and he was followed back down by not only Eevee, but Jolteon as well.