Pokemon Regression

Chapter 6: Watchful Mother

I sat upright on my knees at the centre of the living room. The grey-brown carpet complimented the beige walls, and there were several pieces of furniture and decoration that felt almost antique to me-since they'd been in style about 15 years ago. I particularly felt that the strangely carved wooden flowerpot resting on the table by the reclining chair was a bit tacky. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care about interior design, I was just looking for any excuse to direct my gaze away from my mother's glare of justified righteous fury. 

My mother, Cerulean Hughs, was a tall woman in her thirties with thick deep blue hair cut to a short ponytail. Her eyes were a bright amber yellow, the same as my own, and she was wearing the same combo of grey sweater and blue jeans that she wore in nearly every memory I had of her.

She was also wearing a rather nasty scowl at the moment, but I was trying not to let that bother me too much. 

"So." She finally spoke, her words frosty like the morning snow at the top of silver. "Would you care to explain where you two were, Cyan?" Her voice was hollow, with barely a hint of genuine interest. She already knew where I'd been, she just wanted me to admit it.

"I was in the woods..." I began quietly. 

"You were in the woods." She cut me off like a quick claw Ice beam to a defenceless Pidgey. "Pray tell, which woods were these?"

"The woods you told me not to-"

"The woods I EXPLICITLY told you NOT to go to?"

"...Yes mother."

The silence was deafening as I avoided meeting my mother's eyes like a Tropius averting it's gaze in the depths of a blizzard to protect itself. 

Finally, my mother let out a deep sigh. 

"All boys leave home some day, it said so on TV." She started slowly. "But not yet, you're not ready for the world outside..."

I let my gaze drift up, finally letting myself take in the expression plastered on my mother's face. My eyes met hers, and I could tell that more than anything, she was concerned about me. She was biting her lip and averting her own gaze, but she genuinely cared for me. 

"You... You've really been interested in battling lately, haven't you?" She continued, voice wavering slightly.

"That's right." I answered stiffly. "I need to train with Yeller, to get stronger."

My mother closed her eyes, for a moment, an expression I could only read as frustration crossing her face, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a motherly smile. "I never wanted the life of a Battler for you... But if you're this determined, I can find you some training partners in the village, okay? You don't need to be sneaking away at night..."

I stayed quiet. 

"Cyan. I need you to promise you won't run away anymore."

I nodded quietly. "...Alright, I promise."

My mother let out a heavy sigh, then waved a hand to dismiss me. "Alright, you can go to bed now. I'll sort some training partners in the morning..."

I escaped from the tense living room atmosphere to the relaxing ambience of my bedroom, where a small Rattata was waiting for me, looking a bit sheepish. ...How did it go? His eyes asked, looking a tiny bit sorry. 

"It went fine, but don't run out on me next time." I answered, jokingly chopping the mammal on it's furry yellow head. 

I flopped down on the bed, letting my gaze drift over to the window I'd been using to escape from my mother's notice. It was now locked with a padlock, preventing me from opening it far enough to get outside. It probably wouldn't be impossible to pick or break the lock and continue using it as an escape route, but...