She didn't pop over right away.. There had been a few things that she had wanted to get done first. Breakfast for her and her troupe of pokemon for one thing. And going over the schedule for her next gig and traveling to get there for another. But of course it wasn't long before she was teleporting to Miguel and Mika's neighborhood. She immediately felt that he wasn't at home. And she already knew Mika was at school. So she walked up to the house and sat on the front porch to wait with her bag of goodies.
She'd worn a simple plum t-shirt and Jean short overalls.
Aria was sort of staring off into space as she was pulling on the dress she had sent home for for this occasion. The smooth fabric moved through her fingers like water but she couldn’t focus on it.
‘You may take my arm.’ she’d told him. And those 5 words changed everything. She had been willing to give this Lord Osborn the benefit of the doubt. He was a guy used to having his way, he had a charming eloquent air, a mild mannered look about him with his clothing choices and facial features. And it was clear from the way his eyes lit up when he found out who she was that he was interested in her now. She was a beautiful woman who was a Co-Ruler of an entire country. And unwed. This was hardly a crime and she had dealt with this for a long time. Even Long ago before she had to be in charge of a whole country.
But her outlook on him changed when he did take her arm in his. A wave of disgust washed over her when he touched her that it was all she could do not to pull back from him. Not to curl her lip and show off the sharp teeth in a warning snarl when her arm was gently taken into the crook of his.
Aria felt the mess that he was on the inside. From how he felt about and treated his servants, the way he was feeling about her, and the aura of his plans for the near future. She wanted no part of it!
But she had to know why, through all of the sludge she felt from him, there was also that feeling about him that had her heart beating loudly in her own ears. Made her want to cry and sing with relief. And most startlingly, fly into his arms and never leave them. It bothered her how much it affected her. Her heart had never felt so alive in a thousand years. But why? The familiar presence she felt on him felt like it was attached.... but also not to him. It hung around him as tightly as a shadow.... but she was so confused. Her hands sifted through the few selections of jewelry she had also sent for along with her clothes. Choosing the ones that matched her gown choice best as she now sat in front of the mirror. Evainne was now helping her with her hair. Braiding and looping her long hair into a stunning arrangement. Like the Delphox’s mother had done once upon a time.
There was also the tang of a ghost type on him...
“You’re troubled Your Highness.” Evainne softly announced as she took Aria’s selection of tiara into her hands and came around to carefully place it on her head once Aria had put her formal eyepatch on.
“I am. This Lord Osborn troubles me.” Aria nodded her head and peered at her reflection in the mirror. Her aqua freckles were something she never hid with powder. But she did choose a lip-stain for the night.
“He tastes vile. If I may be so bold, I would not allow his attentions if it were me.”
“I would rather not myself but there is a puzzle about him that I Must solve. I cannot rest until I do.”
“I do not understand.” Evainne shook her head and stepped back as Aria stood and slowly twirled to get her gown and hair to settle into place.
@the-real-angry-bird
All the world was quiet but for the skitter of leaves being blown across the porch. She’d always woken up at this hour. Which is one of the reasons why she adapted to this life again so quickly. The other is that it was a familiar kind of life.
This was Sundog hour as she called it. When the sunrise was just at that point where the sun shining through the crystal prism in their window was casting rainbows of light on the walls and ceiling. She watched this play of light across the room from under the thick quilt for some moments. Till the unmistakable sound of the Rooster crowing cut through the quiet sunrise.
Mrs. Balia Kihell turned on her side, smiling at her husband beside her.
“Good morning Starshine. The Earth says Hello~!” she crooned and kissed his cheek, rubbing his arm through the blanket. A pair of canine noses poked out from under the blankets covering the dog beds near the heater. Tails wagged and fluffy bodies stretched their ways out of their beds.
“Time to wake up my Hot Chili Pepper. You wake up the boys, and I’ll get breakfast started.” she said, and kissed his cheek again. Not waiting to for him to open his eyes before she got to it. Turning back over and hoisting herself into a sitting position. This had been starting to get a little harder in the last month. The chill in the air from Fall starting to settle in didn’t help. It bit at her bare toes and arms. Making her shiver and be quick to reach for her warm robe and rubber soled slippers. But mostly because her baby bump was weighing on her a little heavier now. Stressing the muscles in her back and throwing her balance off.
Balia waddled her way out of their bedroom. The dogs making a mad dash for the kitchen side-door. The coffee pot was turned on for her husband and then she was out the kitchen door with the dogs. Basket of cuttings of fruits and vegetables saved from yesterday in her arms. The chickens were already out and scratching at the ground in their pen and the rooster was sitting perched on the gangplank of their coop when Balia went into their pen.
“Good morning Wooster. Good morning Ladies.” she said. Bending down a little to pat the roosters’ feathers before dumping the food in the low tray for the chickens. The dogs barked and went after some crows that had landed on the scarecrow in the garden as she went and fetched the eggs. They had 12 hens, all laying 1-3 eggs most days so her basket was always full when she went back into the house through the Kitchen. Two pans, with sausage in one of them was on the stove and warming up. And then she was getting the things out to womp up some pancake batter.
"Have you ever thought about... you know....getting back into training and gyms and things?" Balia looked up at Miguel as she picked up the stick she'd brought and stuck it in the side of the Snowman she was building. Now that it was done she stood up, but she had a handful of snow in her pink be-mittened hands.
It was strange. She couldn't feel the cold through her mittens as she worked the snow into a ball.
"I was thinking about it. That as soon as Mika left I would too. I just had the Viridian Badge left you know." Miguel put his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. "I don't know though... I don't know if I should just leave...."
Balia felt his emotions turn towards his dad and she guessed.
"You mean leave your dad?" she offered in a soft voice. He glanced up at her. She always wondered if he found it spooky how accurate her guesses could be. She tried not to show how much people revealed through their emotions. Balia dropped the snowball she had been planning on tossing at him in the face of the emotions rolling off of him. They'd been dating for a while. Almost a year ago was it? That he first asked her out? Wow. But anyway they had talked a little here and there about hard things. Including a little about their respective parents. Not a lot. But enough.
"Yeah... he can't take care of himself anymore." He let out a tired puff of a breath. Balia felt frustration and anger rise in her on his behalf. She went over and gently took his hand. She should have felt the warmth of it through his gloves.
"I.... haven't expressed my feelings much about your Dad. Because he's your Dad and I have some... intense feelings about Dads not acting like... Dad's should. Given... my own blood father... But I'm going to say this now... I think he could take care of himself, he really wanted to. Losing someone you love is too painful for words. But so is being let down time and again by someone who you're supposed to be able to count on. His pain, doesn't justify him giving up on you and Mika. And that's what he did. He gave up on everything and everyone. And just because you're used to this doesn't make it okay. There's a point at which you have to realize that his choices, are not your fault. They're his. And choosing to do something good for yourself is not bad. Your wishes and needs are just as important as anyone else's." She watched his eyes watch her's. As if searching for something. As much as her empathic powers could help her guess things. People's thoughts were something she refused to read.
"Where... do you learn this stuff from? That nice Step-dad of yours?" Balia smiled a little, going up on tiptoe. She could smell the hint of smoke on him and the cologne as she leaned in to kiss him.
"No. I just pull this out of my ass." that got him to chuckle, and she thought it must have been somewhat because he never heard her swear. It was just so unlike her. But seeing Miguel smile was well worth it. She didn't think she'd ever feel this way about anyone again. It made her wonder... should she tell him now? She was an honest creature. And not telling him would be lying. It was... just hard to find the right time and the right words. And it was kind of dangerous for anyone to know.
"Okay. I'm ready to get out of this cold.. are you? We've got time before I have to-"
"Balia? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, why?"
"Because you're crying."
"What? Why would I be crying I'm not-" there was a click. And then a sound that shattered her heart in pieces. The sound of muffled gasps and screams. Of crunching snow as someone hurriedly ran off. And another as Miguel sunk to the snow below them and Balia herself dropped to the ground beside him.
"Upset..?" Miguel's eyes were frantic and his face was pale. But not from the cold. There was blood in the snow and on his jacket. Blood on her hands as she tried to keep pressure on his wound. But it wasn't helping.
There were people standing around. Just standing there watching her struggle and scream on the inside. Someone was even recording with their phone, she heard someone snapping pictures. She screamed at someone to call for help. Get an ambulance, Anything! She wasn't a nurse.
"Miguel! Miguel stay with me! Please stay with me!" she begged. Balia could feel his life force slipping away, and yet she couldn't do anything! She had the power to make it all go away. To heal his wounds in an instant and save his life, but then her secret would be revealed. And she would never be able to have a normal life again. He might revile her and cast her off.
"Please! Please keep fighting! Mika needs you still Miguel! And I love you. I want to see you succeed! I want to help you and cheer you on as you live and thrive in your own life. I want to be a part of it- Please?" there was so much blood. So many people. Too many people. Too many emotions. She was fighting not to freak out and expose herself a different way.
His eyes were turning glossy. There was a rushing in her ears. His mouth was moving, but she couldn't hear what he was trying to say.
His eyes rolled back in his head and his breathe rushed out of his lungs. She didn't just cry, she keened. Trying to hold herself in as much as she could as her new hopes and dreams shattered around her in a million pieces. Though clouds were gathering and the people watching her were starting to burst into tears. Though they didn't know why. Didn’t know they were caused by the intense grief that a Goddess right in front of them was feeling.
Morganna was there. With her paw on her shoulder. Miguel's Pokémon were too. Balia'd failed them. She'd failed everyone. Mika, but most of all Miguel. She pulled his cold hand up to her tear streaked cheek
"Miguel... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I could have... I know I could have saved you..."
Balia awoke in her bed. There was the light on her nightstand. On like it always was. There was a folded up scarf next to it with a sunflower locket that needed a new chain. And there was Morganna in the doorway of her room. Rain was rapping on the windows and roof vigorously and Aragh was snoring at the foot of her bed.
[Bad dreams again?] Morganna asked as Balia got out of bed and reached for her robe.
“Yes... but also a memory.” she said, tone somber as she wiped at the tears on her face.
The smell of bacon and sausage was wafting up the stairs, and in a few moments the smell of the baking Dutch babies would be intermingling as well. Balia left her more than capable Delphox to watch over the food for a moment while she went skipping back up the stairs to start waking everyone up.
Balia was delightfully dressed in her most festive Dress, a rich pine green with glittery gold snowflakes and her mistletoe and holly apron on. With her hair done up in a ponytail with a belled bow. So she jingled wherever she went. She stood in the hallway for a moment, considering whom to wake first and then trounced to Esaia and Celia’s room door. She gave a knock and then cracked the door to peek in.
“Merry Christmas! Breakfast is almost ready!” she called out. Not loud, but definitely in a singsong voice. She didn’t stay super long, just long enough to feel he was awake and registered what she said before she closed the door. She moved to do the same with Celia next door to Esaias. And then she moved to the master bedroom. Her and Miguel’s room. She’d slipped out about an hour and a half ago without waking her love to start things going. Now she was sneaking back in. She started crooning the classic ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ at him as she went. Laying across the bed to kiss his forehead and rub his arm to wake him up.
Balia comes out of the bathroom after cleaning herself up from being sick after eating all those mushrooms. She goes to find Miguel where he is around the house. She's going to climb into his lap if she can.
A very conspicuous mushroom has popped up in the floor in the middle of Balia's living room. Where did it come from? No clue. But trying to pluck it or burn it only seems to make two grow in its place.
Lucky for Balia she doesn't mind carefully pulling up a floorboard to investigate and Dig up the Mushroom(s) that has sprouted in the middle of her floor.
"I know who TF this is from. Miguel! Come see this!"
Balia was walking down the sidewalk headed for the local school. She was all bundled up against the freezing cold wind and the snow in her favorite baby pink heavy coat and her aqua gloves and crocheted hat. With her arms laden with a couple bags hanging off her arms.
She took off her glove to pull her phone out of her pocket and check the time on it. As well as the text conversation she’d had with Miguel about that night. Asking if she’d pick up Mika and Ao since he still had a few hours of work, and the Ueno’s had an appointment they couldn’t postpone. Then she checked on her notes to make sure she had the right address for it. Making sure once again she was on the right street.
The sound of a school bell going off just ahead of her told her she was right on time. And as she stopped in front of the fences she looked around for Mika.
