A Blond Ray of Sunshine

Chapter 33

As Ken had predicted, within a couple of days, the snow clouds dissipated for good. The residents of Goldenrod cheered the return of the summer sun. Cleanup and restoration to infrastructure all around the city kicked off as soon as possible. People and Pokémon trapped in their homes were tended to by rescue officials as well as neighbors and ordinary citizens. Life within the city slowly, but gradually returned to normalcy. Meteorologists across the world were all equally stumped as to the blizzard's sudden formation and dissipation. Ultimately, it was chalked up to a powerful Ice-type Pokémon, or group of Pokémon, that wreaked havoc upon the weather — intentionally or not.

The trees in the forests around Route 35, which were totally covered in white, began to thaw out. Snow sloughed off the limbs and leaves, onto the blanket of snow upon the ground where it soon melted. Everything soon returned to normal, lush green foliage. The group of four Pokémon-like young people had an incredibly far-reaching impact upon the environment than they ever considered they would have.

At the siblings' cabin, just after lunch, the two little Pichu, Poka and Chika, laughed as they played 'tag' in the grassy field. Latoshi smiled, watching over the pair who were finally able to enjoy the sunny outdoors.

"Whew," Antoshi remarked, walking outside with a glass of lemonade in hand. "Another scorcher, huh?" He and his brother grinned to each other as they stood together. The two were back to wearing comfortable tank tops in their own respective favorite colors, along with loose-fit shorts.

"Sure is," Latoshi replied, looking up at the clear, blue sky. "I'm never taking another summer day for granted."

"That's for sure," Antoshi said. Both of them chuckled. "So, how's the arm?"

Latoshi looked at his previously broken arm, flexing it around and rolling his shoulder. "It's great. Serenity's a miracle worker."

"I definitely know that from experience."

The two brothers smiled for a few moments, watching the pair of Pichu play as they reflected upon their experiences as of late.

"Hey," Latoshi spoke up, "I just wanted to apologize again for ... being a dick to you when I was fighting Celeste."

Antoshi smiled and shook his head. "No apology necessary. It's, ... you know, it's a learning process — for all of us. All three of us aren't used to having siblings, or living in the same house together all the time. ... I was selfish, too. When we were all learning that we were ... related, I was only focused on myself; how I felt about it, what I wanted. I never stopped to think about how you and Mitoshi felt, and what both of you wanted."

"Oh, yeah?" Latoshi asked, grinning in amusement. "You're telling me the infallible Antoshi can make mistakes, too?"

"I most certainly am saying that," Antoshi replied, grinning back at him. "But, still, I couldn't be any happier or any prouder to have you and Mitoshi as my siblings."

Latoshi's grin shifted into a warm, content smile. "Yeah, same here."

"Oh, man!" Fireball exclaimed, ecstatically, as he burst out the front door to join the two brothers. "Antoshi, you make the best waffles in the whole world! That's it — from now on, you're our personal waffle chef. What's that? 'What a great idea, Fireball'? I know it is. You can thank me later."

Antoshi grinned, scoffing as he rolled his eyes. "Come on, Fireball, it's just waffles. It's not that big of a deal."

"'Not that big of a deal'?!" Fireball exclaimed. "Antoshi, that's my favorite food in the whole world! And, you managed to perfect it!"

"He's got a point," Latoshi said, sticking his hands in his pockets. "They were pretty damn good waffles."

Antoshi laughed, looking at him in surprise. "Oh, were you just waiting for Fireball to mention it before you finally decided to say something?"

"Yes, actually," the sable-haired boy replied with a sly smirk. "Somehow, I had the weirdest feeling he was going to rave about them."

"Oh, you haven't started yet, have you?!" Mitoshi exclaimed, holding the door open for Bubbles as the Lapras slid herself out onto the porch. "Wait for us!"

"Yes, this is going to be quite exciting to watch," Bubbles chimed in, smiling. "Thank you very much, Miss Mitoshi."

"Ooh, I'm so excited," Mitoshi said, prancing in place next to her brothers. "Come on, come on!"

"Yeah, Latoshi," Antoshi added, "don't chicken out on us." The others chuckled softly.

Latoshi took a deep breath and sighed. His hand was trembling a bit with nervousness as he took something out of his pocket. He gazed down at his open palm, and the two, minimized Poké Balls he held.

"You can do it, Latoshi," Fireball cheered, quietly.

"I'm really nervous," Latoshi admitted with a soft laugh. "What if ... what if they don't want to be with me?"

Antoshi placed a reassuring hand on Latoshi's shoulder. "It's like they say: 'you don't choose a Pokémon; a Pokémon chooses you.' Those two Pichu love you to pieces. I think it's time to make it official."

Latoshi swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding in agreement. "Hey, Poka! Chika!" he called out, bringing the pair's play to a sudden halt as they looked over at him. "Come on over here!"

The Pichu siblings laughed happily as they scampered over to him, heading up the porch steps.

"What is it?" Chika asked in excitement as they looked up at him with shining faces. Latoshi smiled warmly, kneeling down in front of them. The pair of Pichu loved him to pieces, and he knew he loved them back just the same. He was ready and certain about the lifelong commitment he was about to undertake.

"Well, you know," Latoshi started, "I really ... enjoy having the two of you around. Even though you've barely spent any time here, you both already feel like part of our family. So, I just wanted to ask: ... would you like to stay here ... with us? ... With me?"

Poka and Chika were surprised at first as he held out his hand to show them the Poké Balls he held. They looked at each other, as though conferring mentally. They had always seen those devices as nothing more than imprisonment; a way for humans to enslave Pokémon and act as their masters. The pair held a dour opinion of humans for so long. Being with Latoshi, learning how much fun and how good it felt to be with him, and becoming part of a family with Fireball and the others certainly changed their outlook. Latoshi had been so kind, caring, and thoughtful toward them. The sable-haired boy literally saved their lives.

The Pichu twins needed just a moment to think it over before turning and nodding to him in unison, both of them grinning. Latoshi sighed in relief, swallowing yet another lump in his throat.

"Well, then," he said, pressing the buttons on the Poké Balls to expand them to their normal size. He placed them down on the ground in front of the twins. "Welcome home."

"All right!" the two of them exclaimed just before they both pressed down on the buttons of the Poké Balls. The balls opened suddenly, reducing the two to flashes of light and pulled them inside their own respective accommodations before snapping shut. The buttons blinked red as the devices wiggled around for a couple moments. Once the commotion died down and the blinking ceased, the two were officially set in their new Poké Balls, under Latoshi's care. Latoshi had an omnipresent smile upon his face while the others cheered.

"Congratulations, Latoshi," Antoshi said as his brother stood up, "you're a Pokémon Trainer now."

Latoshi smiled, gazing down at the pair of Poké Balls in his hand. "You know, I never thought much about these things. They never seemed ... all that special to me. ... Suddenly, I have a whole new respect for them and what they represent. These little trinkets that I always considered nothing more than 'toy balls that kids throw around', ... they're an important part of my life now. It's like ... they're a symbol of my bond with Poka and Chika."

"Well put, Latoshi," Mitoshi remarked, grinning happily. "I couldn't agree more. I'll never forget that moment when Bubbles was set into her Poké Ball." She laughed in amusement. "It's almost like her second home now!"

Bubbles held her head down, blushing as she grinned coyly.

"Yep," Antoshi said, putting an arm around Fireball, who smiled at him, "being a Pokémon Trainer is a big responsibility. You sure you're ready to handle it?"

"You bet," Latoshi replied, smirking confidently, as he prepared to throw the Poké Balls into the field.

"Wait!" Fireball exclaimed. The large Typhlosion headed out into the grass on all fours before standing upright. "Okay, now!"

Latoshi scoffed in amusement, shaking his head, tossing out the balls without incident this time. They snapped open, releasing the tiny Electric-types from their confines. The pair giggled and instantly started to chase Fireball around in the grass, as if nothing had happened.

"So, then," Antoshi said, walking down the porch steps before turning to his siblings, "how's about a little training?"

Latoshi scoffed, following behind his brother. "Like you even have to ask."

Mitoshi hopped down to the grass, giggling in excitement. "How about ... first one to give up has to do the dishes tonight?"

"Looks like Latoshi is doing the dishes, then," Antoshi teased. Latoshi's eyes lit up, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, are you seriously laying down a challenge?" Latoshi replied, laughing as the three of them casually began to spar.