Pokémon Mars

Chapter 79: The Bond

Tents were pitched all over the ranch. Alastor left his room so Alec and Megara could sleep there, but they wanted to sleep outside, where they could look up at the starry sky like they used to with Joshua.

'One day,' Alec said, 'I'm gonna go back to space and I'm gonna be cool, like Mr. Abram.'

Megara began to snuffle again as she looked up at the stars. She never got Bulbasaur back.

'I wanna look after Pokémon...'

Almost everyone who endured the long journey was so exhausted that they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows. The ringing doorbell woke Nyx. She recalled hearing it over a video call and that, of all things, revealing how homesick she was. She smiled, breathing in the smell of the floral detergent that clung to her Togepi-print pillowcase. When she sat up, Zoroark opened the curtains, like it always did. She looked around as the sun's first rays crept over the horizon to fall through the latticed windows. The resident Pokémon kept her room clean. All of the photos and posters on the walls were still in place: photos of Pokémon, her Gym Challenge, of loved ones and posters of cars, skaters and planets. Her first pair of rollerskates still dangled from the rafters. Nyx tried to step quietly over Mercury, Sonnet and Plectrude, who were asleep on the floor, but she woke Sonnet regardless.

'Sorry.'

'Oh, don't worry. All this gravity is still bothering me.'

He sat up and stretched. 'I can also smell some delicious food, so at risk of sounding like the creature who wasn't actually my father, it seems it's time to get up.'

'Go for it! My dad makes the best breakfasts.'

Firmino and Feraligatr woke up. Jolteon was already awake, running around outside. Mercury, Plectrude and their Pokémon stayed fast asleep, even as Nyx unzipped her bag and began to stick her new photos on the walls. She woke them before all the vegan omelettes disappeared. The doorbell ringer was Joshua's brother, who knew the secret of the omelettes and shared a pile of them with Alec and Megara, while Volo told the story of failing his driving test 27 times. An old friend, who was on the flight to Orre from Gharab, grabbed his hand and forced it back to his side when he started wagging his finger. That used to leave him looking deflated. He smiled now.

'It's good to be home.'

Footsteps thudded down the stairs. Pluto and his Pokémon were about to take the remaining omelettes to the tents outside. As usual, Styx slept in, but she didn't want to miss out.

'Oi! Wait for me!'

'I didn't realise my omelettes were so popular... I'd better make some more...'

Firmino was glad to hear that, since Feraligatr gulped down his omelette in one go as soon as he turned his head. The Indeedee and Audino that once belonged to Volo's wife washed the pan and prepared the ingredients. The small things were the ones that made Nyx so happy she could cry.

Eden must have woken Jin. They came to eat with their friends. Perry flew to Laztaz Town to find pizza, but even Jin didn't want any.

'I like pizza, but if you don't want the food here, you're crazy.'

'Whatever...'

Thalassa and her parents went with Callerya and Praise to her family's home in Obsidian City. Aurelia was yet to beat Tansy. She gave up and climbed Mt. Battle instead, but the Mt. Battle Master, Damson's big sister Avalon, was a World Champion and stronger than anyone Aurelia had ever battled. Callerya and Thalassa usually wanted to tell her not to be such a sore loser, but they were so relieved to be home that they let her talk until she ran out of things to say. Praise was fascinated. His memories of his father's World Championships battles were vague, but they came rushing back when Aurelia rambled on about Mt. Battle.