Find my courage (Pokemon fanfiction)

~18 The Deep End

Somehow, Zyra convinced me to stay with her for the rest of the day. She wanted to get to know me, so Jake and Milly left to explore Granite Cave while my aunt and I moved outside to speak. Gardenia still translated for me, with the exception of a few times here and there when I used my blackboard. My aunt seemed to enjoy talking about my mum and dad, telling me the things they liked - music, food, places and that kind of things - I found I had much in common with my mother actually. We both liked pasta dishes the best but hated bland tasting food and porridge - the the latter for me was more because that's pretty much all I'd eaten for almost seven years. Both out favourite colours were blue and we both liked the beach. I couldn't help but find it a little funny that I had so much in common with someone I'd never get to meet.

Zyra had much more in common wit my father then I did. They both liked classic music, spicy food and the beach, like my mother and I. I also found out both my father and Zyra were allergic to peanuts, but I wasn't. My father had looked after Zyra most her life and the two had traveled together for several years until my mother and father met. From there my aunt got an apprenticeship as a Fighting Type Gym Leader under Brawly, the previous Gym Leader while my parents stayed in Unova where I was born. Over and over again throughout the entire evening Zyra apologised for leaving me, telling me how horrible she felt for letting what happened to me happen at all.

I told her each time that although I wasn't happy with it, I was okay. If she hadn't given me up, although I never would have been kidnapped when I was seven, I also wouldn't have Samurai and Gardenia or N either. I could never be completely sure if I'd change the way my life ended if I could. I loved Samurai and Gardenia dearly, even now when Samurai was mad with me, I still loved them both more then anything. If I'd grown up here with Zyra, I wouldn't have them - something I couldn't even imagine. Regardless, I couldn't change it so it was useless dwelling on such topics for too long.

Despite my initial hesitance to coming here, I enjoyed spending the day with Zyra. I got to learn much about my parents and my aunt, had questions answered I didn't even know I had. She looked down at me, her blue eyes shining. "Hey Paige?" Zyra questioned, turning back towards the sunset.

I looked back up at her, cocking my head to the side.

"You are still an orphan right, no one's adopted you right?"

With a small sigh, I shook my head no. Not many families out there want to adopt teenagers so I'd pretty much given up hope.

Zyra swallowed hard, closing her eyes for a few moments before opening. "You know I regret giving you up right, that I would have done anything I could too keep you...?"

I nodded my head, she'd made the point quite clear.

"How would you feel if... if I adopted you Paige?" She looked down and smiled softly. "I have the income to support us both easily and you could still travel with your friends and your Pokémon are more then welcome here as well... The only difference would be that when your done with your travels... you would have a home to come back to."

It took me a few minutes to overcome my initial shock. Me, actually getting adopted? The thought felt too surreal to be true. I'd given up years ago on ever having a home but now that it could happen, I didn't know how to react. I numbly nodded my head, feeling like I would soon burst into tears.

Zyra beamed, hugging me blindly. I still didn't know what to do and simply embraced her back, which felt right. "Thank you thank you thank you!" I could tell she was crying. "Thank you for giving me a chance Paige."