Pokémon The Lilligant Sanctuary

[Naio_Jules]

Chapter One: A Heart’s Wish​

My earliest memory as Auria Watson was at a family gathering. It was some holiday, or perhaps a graduation, and my cousin walked up to my crib and dumped a Cinccino next to me. I still don’t know what exactly he was hoping to achieve, but his Cinccino was polite when I babbled out an ecstatic greeting.

One of the adults picked me up in a hurry and scolded my cousin. I, on the other hand, was preoccupied with the marvelous creature not five feet away from me. It was then that I said my first word as Auria.

“Pa-mon!”

In my previous life, one of my special interests was Pokémon. I memorized every single pocket monster, collected plushies and cards, watched playthroughs and even made cosplay. Since finding out my new life included actual, living Pokémon, I dedicated myself to learning about this familiar yet new world.

It was the year 2014 and the Watson family resided in the region of Unova. Team Plasma was a distant memory, Fairy types and Mega Evolution were discovered, and I was sure I didn’t end up in the worst version of this world. The population stayed steady, the Pokémon relatively docile even in the wild, and no manga threats in sight.

There was just one problem…

“So close yet so far…” I grumbled, staring at the home computer screen. The breeder’s price was higher than even those fancy coated cat and dog breeders on Earth. I knew Petilil and Lilligant were uncommon, but it seemed like the only people who had them were the wealthy or high class profiles like film companies and coordinators.

No serious trainer was in high demand of a Petilil when their cost outweighed the rewards. That led to my all-time favorite Pokémon being a little more than a trophy to brag about wealth.

I sighed. Even though I was only eight, my parents had agreed on me getting a Pokémon early for my birthday. I was responsible enough that they assumed I could handle it. My plan had been to have a Petilil as my starter. Then when I went on a Journey (at fifteen, not ten like they did in Kanto), I’d earn enough to sustain my team, buy a Sun Stone, and obtain a Lilligant.

It wasn’t the most concrete plan. I doubted my ability to actually be “one of the very best,” so I still needed to decide what to do after my brief stint as a traveling trainer. But that was what Journeys were for, to find yourself, so I could probably wait a bit before deciding on a career path.

Hello, procrastination my old friend. I smiled humorlessly.

“Auria! Sienna’s here!” My father’s voice boomed through the house. Ah, thinking of friends—

I leapt off the computer chair and ran downstairs. There in the living room was a scruffy looking boy and mousy little girl. “Sienna!” I greeted. Immediately the girl relaxed at my presence.

“Hi, Auria.” Sienna said softly.

“You’ve got perfect timing! I need to pick your brain for some ideas. Follow me.” I grabbed her hand and led her to my room. Right where I left it on my nightstand sat my Leafeon themed journal. I picked it up and flipped to an empty page.

“Right, so, you know you’re my best friend right?” I began. Sienna nodded with a small smile. “So you must know what I’d be good at! I dunno what I’ll do for most of my Journey, and I certainly don’t know what I’ll do after. Got any suggestions for me?”

Sienna blinked. “You’re not gonna try to be a Champion Level battler?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I don’t think I’m cut out for it. I mean, the fame and fortune sounds nice, but honestly I’d probably be terrible at battling.”

Sienna looked conflicted, like she didn’t want me to put myself down but was also relieved I wasn’t a battle maniac. For the longest time the other neighborhood kids would tease her for disliking Pokémon battling. She burst into tears any time a Pokémon got so much as a scrape in her vicinity. When I finally decided to take my worldly research outside and joined the youngsters, she got someone in her corner.

She’d been attached to me like a lost Lillipup ever since. Honestly, though she never said it out loud, I could easily see her as a Pokémon nurse. She even had a starter in mind that fit perfectly: Audino, almost as rare as my precious onion plant.

More than once Sienna would break out of her shell to ramble about how her older brother Adam had promised to get her an Audino once he was old enough for a Journey. So long as she was good, did her homework without a fuss, and didn’t bother him too much. So long as she proved she deserved to have such a coveted Pokémon.

It brought a sinking feeling to my stomach. I’d heard the neighborhood gossip. That Sienna and Adam’s parents were on the cupst of divorce. That Sienna was an accident and the Coopers only intended to spoil a single son. That the issues led to Sienna being constantly delegated to her older brother, who predictively thought her a nuisance that took away his free time.
Perhaps Sienna herself couldn’t see her family problems. I couldn’t really tell and I wasn’t going to ever bring it up if I could help it. What I could do was be her friend.

“Have you thought about being a ranger like your uncle?” Sienna asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m considering it. Uncle Luke said rangers do all sorts of dangerous stuff though, and sometimes they need to be good at battling. I don’t know if I can handle that.”

“Hmm. What about a breeder? Or, a rancher?”

I grabbed a pen and scribbled down the suggestions. “I have always wanted a ranch…” I muttered to myself. What girl didn’t romanticize living at a ranch or isolated cottage at some point in their life? Well, excluding those that knew the reality of how hardworking it was.

I flipped back to another page, this one filled with info on the Petilil line. For the umpteenth time, I lamented the absence of a job that catered to my specific obsession. I wasn’t a type specialist, an eeveelution enthusiast, or some expert researcher. I just wanted to spend time with Petilil for the unforeseeable future and not worry about being pressured by lack of income.

“I think Kalos has a type of coordinator where they don’t battle at all. You could try that?” Sienna suggested.

“The… Kalos Queen thingy, right. I don’t know if Unova has that but I’ll write it down.” I flipped the page back and did just that. “If all else fails, I could give being a UVid streamer a try.”

“A UVid streamer?” Sienna parroted.

“Those people online that make videos talking about random things. Who knows? I could become an activist for Lilligant. Then more people would care about their population.” I said.

“Everyone would get a Petilil then, so there might not be any left in the wild.”

“That's true. I’d just have to catch a bunch before I stop gatekeeping.” I smiled to myself.

Before Sienna could ask me what gatekeeping was, my father called both of us downstairs again. When we arrived, my father was rushing all over the place, grabbing papers and stuffing them into his workbag. Sienna’s brother Adam watched him with a barely concealed glare.

“Ah, Auria. Adam’s going to be looking after you for a bit; I got called in to fix something at work last minute.” My father explained.

I blinked. “I can look after myself.” I reminded him. Babysitters past the age of five didn’t work out for me. Once I was a fully motorized human, I got annoyed at people trying to dictate what I could do. My parents learned relatively quickly that I was an independent and mature child capable of making good judgment.

“Just think of it as a play date. All of you can go outside and enjoy the sun. Here, I’ll even give you some money for the ice cream truck.” My father dug into his pockets and handed me a few bucks.

I sighed. “I will accept this piece offering, on the condition that we have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Deal. Go get your shoes.” I was directed to the shoe rack at the entryway and slid on my sneakers. As I put my ice cream money in my sweater pocket, I heard my father thank Adam for taking me out on such short notice.

“It’s fine. What's one more kid?” Adam grumbled back.

Respectfully, I didn’t trust Adam Cooper as far as I could throw him.

——☘️——
​

I watched my father right away on his bicycle and pouted. Three hours I would have to pretend to be in Adam’s care. Three hours until my mother would get home from her job at the bakery.

To think, I could be researching how to care for a Lilligant’s flower…

Sienna and I followed Adam like Ducklett and he led us straight to the old skate park the local teenagers loitered at. It was nothing much, just pavement and trees, but who was I to judge? My favorite hangout spot was the local library.

Passing through the scattered crowd, I kept my eyes on the trees. Bug Pokémon may be more sapient than the bugs on Earth, but I couldn’t help but dread the thought of a Joltik or Sewaddle falling on my head. I spotted none but my keen eye did notice a stationed Ferroseed on a branch. I waved at it and it blinked at me.

“Hey! Try to keep up.” Adam scowled.

“Sorry Adam…” Sienna muttered beside me. It appeared we’d both stopped walking to greet the camouflaged Pokémon. I didn’t bother chiming in my own apology. The park wasn’t so crowded that we would lose Adam easily.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I followed the Cooper siblings towards three boys whispering in the shade of a tree. One of them, a bleached blonde in a baggy purple hoodie, noticed the three of us and frowned.

“Aw, babysitting duty again, Adam? Today?!”

Adam sighed. “It's not like I can say no.”

“Who’s that then?” Another boy gestured to me.

“Neighbor’s kid. I figured since my plans are already ruined, might as well get paid. Earn back the money.”

“Dude, we’ve been planning this for weeks. You’ve been looking forward to this.” Blonde Kid said.

“Yeah, I know, Peter, I know.” Adam rolled his eyes. “What do you suggest? I can’t just ditch ‘em.”

Peter shrugged. “Bring them along?”

“Are you insane.” The third boy stated flatly.

“Hey, who knows when he’ll get a chance like this again. What are they, like five?” Peter gestured to me and Sienna. “Give them a phone or something and they won’t even notice the show.”

“We’re eight.” I chimed in. “What are you even talking about?”

Peter crouched down to my level. “We’re going someplace fun. Only grown ups are allowed and we got tickets. Little ones like you two wouldn’t get it.”

“Yeah.” One of Adam’s friends added. “It’d probably be too much for you. Crybabies can't handle it.”

“We’re not crybabies!” Sienna whined. “We can go too!”

“Oh really? You won’t be able to back out.”

Sienna nodded. Peter gave her a smile then turned to me expectantly. Everything about this sounds dangerous and potentially illegal and I can’t believe I’m about to let myself be reverse psychologized because of my curiosity.

“Sure, I’ll go.” I said. My agreement was met with cheers from all four teens.

I’m already regretting this…

Adam, Peter, and their friends Sam and Damien led me and Sienna to the edge of the city where a bunch of run down stores replaced the nice houses of our neighborhood. I kept my eye on landmarks, just in case. This part of town was Caro Road, roughly half hour away from home.
We stopped in front of an unassuming door squeezed in between two dingy looking stores. The door was painted a dull orange and engraved with “146 Bliss.” Peter stepped up and knocked on the door. A bunch of locks could be heard clicking open before a scruffy, lanky man peered out.

“We’re here for the five o'clock.” Peter presented four crumpled pieces of paper I assumed were tickets.

The doorman glanced at each of us before stopping at me and Sienna. “Couldn’t get a nanny for the night?” He asked.

Damien shrugged. “You know how pushy parents can be. Why let our tickets go to waste?”

The doorman stayed silent for a moment. “…Five bucks.”

“What?”

“Best I can do. Not letting kiddies in for free.” The doorman said.

“Seriously? Anyone got cash?” Damien turned to the others.

“I've got a dollar.” Sam said.

“Very helpful. Anyone else?”

When all that happened next was a bunch of uncomfortable shuffling in place and avoiding eye contact, I stepped forward and spared us the embarrassment. “You owe me, Adam.” I said, taking my ice cream money out of my pocket and handing it to the doorman.

It was apparently enough for the doorman to shrug and usher us inside. The interior of 146 Bliss was a long cramped hallway dimly lit with harsh fluorescent light. At the end of the hallway was a steel door, looking as reinforced as it could be.

The doorman opened the steel door for us and it made a horrid screech as it moved. Past the door was a stairwell, steep and dusty and lit up solely by evenly spaced glowing Solosis floating above the stairs.
I regret leaving the house today.

“Enjoy the show.” The doorman grumbled and shut the door behind us. And there goes the exit.

I grabbed Adam’s sleeve and practically yanked his arm out of its socket. “What is this place and why the, why in the True Dragon’s name are we here?!” I hissed.

“Didn’t you hear earlier? It’s a once in a lifetime experience.” Peter answered me instead. “C’mon, don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little stairwell?”

I glared at him. “You've got to be joking. The ominous hallway leading to a reinforced door leading to the creepy stairs leading to a vague show? How am I not supposed to be concerned right now?”

Damien sighed. “Look, the show’s about to start so either stop asking questions or stay here. Either way I’m not missing this.”

With that, he descended the stairs, his friends quickly following. I glanced at Sienna, who fidgeted with her sleeves as she watched the older kids leave us behind. “I… I don’t wanna stay here.” She whispered.

I loathed to agree with that statement but being in the stairwell of a shady business site wasn’t a position I wanted to be in. I reached over and grabbed Sienna's hand. “Right. Let’s go.”

Despite our small legs, we caught up to Adam and the others easily. Soon we made it to the end of the stairwell and was greeted with another steel door. Sam tested the handle and found it open, albeit heavy to pull.

A sudden rush of noise greeted us, so loud that I flinched. I’ve never been to a concert but this sounded like how I figured one would be in person.

“Onward!” Peter exclaimed, becoming one with the crowd ahead.

Adam grabbed mine and Sienna’s shoulder and weaved us through the crowd. There didn’t appear to be actual seats, only rows of bleachers. The people sitting wore dark, unmemorable clothing and most of them had tall cans of beer or popcorn or hotdogs. It looked like we had stumbled across the world‘s most secretive ball game.

The large basement was dark, with the exception of what was past the bleachers: a wired gate with bright spotlights surrounding a concrete square. I could just barely see a Reuniclus floating above it, glowing a faint pink.

My stomach sank as Adam dropped us into an empty spot of a tall bleacher row. “We are not where I think we are.” I stated.
“Huh?” Sienna (oh my stars, Sienna was here) questioned beside me.

Adam had the gall to look disinterested. “Well… That depends—”

“Tell me we aren’t at a fighting ring!” I demanded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!” A man dressed in a black suit stood in front of the concrete square area (the battlefield, my mind whispered) with a booming microphone. “Hope you placed your bets early, ‘cause we’ve got three exciting free for alls planned for tonight! Are you ready?!”

The crowd roared around me like some feral animal. Some of them pumped their fists in the air. I heard the guy sitting in front of me brag about how “Fire Fangs” would definitely win.

“Well, let’s get on with it then, shall we?” The announcer grinned and held up a pokéball. “First up! Our up and coming firework, the fierce beast that burns his foes to ash: Fire Fang!”

The Pokémon was released inside the small arena and howled to the heavens. Even from far away I could see the Growlithe’s scars. He also seemed lean and smaller than what was normal. I couldn’t tell if he was a runt or actually too young to be battling, but he was without a doubt underfed.

“His opponent had been rising our ranks since he joined us, a real thorn in enemy sides. Give it up for the real underdog of this fight: Entry Hazard!”

Someone on the opposite side of the arena released a Pokémon into it. The Growlithe sized up the Ferroseed opposing him. A mix of excited shouts and boos elected from the crowd.

“Is this a Pokémon battle?” Sienna asked timidly.

“No,” Adam replied, not taking his eyes off the arena. “It’s a Pokémon fight.”

At some unheard signal, the two Pokémon rushed at each other. Entry Hazard the Ferroseed spun and lived up to its stage name. Spikes spread around the arena and caught in the Growlithe’s fur. Fire Fang the Growlithe cloaked his body in flame and charged. Somehow, the Ferroseed’s screams at the impact could be heard over the crowd’s cheers.

“No!” Sienna cried out. I made the executive decision to shield her from the violence by turning her my way and hiding her face in my shoulder. I covered her ears so the crowd would be muted and the fight barely audible.

Trying not to look at the arena was like knowing a train crash was about to happen; you couldn’t help but glance in anticipation occasionally. One moment the Growlithe’s fangs were digging into the Ferroseed’s flesh. The next, there were vines going through the Fire type. Spikes and embers wore the fighters down until there was only one left standing.

Scorched and cut up, Ferroseed leapt away from Growlithe’s still body. The crowd went wild, some outraged at losing an easy bet and some simply hyped up at the cruel display.

I didn’t watch the last two fights.

——☘️——​

We left 146 Bliss a while later. It was already evening, nearly time for dinner. The boys were chatting enthusiastically about the show while I tried to comfort Sienna and tune them out.

“—And that Druddigon! Man, I always thought they were kinda lame but the way it tore through that Swanna? Awesome.” Damien was saying.

“No!” Sienna exclaimed. We all paused near a street lamp. In the orange light I could see my friend’s red tear stricken face more clearly. “That-That was horrible! Pokémon shouldn’t be forced to fight like that. Someone should’ve stopped it!”

Peter waved her off. “Aw, where’s the fun in that? Battling is so restrictive: people crave to witness an all out fight between monsters, not playfighting.”

I’m certainly a witness alright. And you do know even fighting rings have precautions to prevent the audience from being killed, don’t you?

I decided to not say that out loud.

Adam sighed, as if his little sister being in distress was a bother to him. “Listen, you’re not going to mention this to anyone, understand, Sienna? I won’t get you that Pokémon you wanted if you do.”

“B-But you said you would! You promised!” Sienna wailed.

“I will. As long as you promise to keep this a secret, got it?” Sienna nodded hurriedly, sniffling. Adam then turned to me. “You can keep a secret can’t you? You’re not a tattletale?”

I crossed my arms. I would not be manipulated by childish insults for the second time today. “I can keep a secret.” I replied neutrally. “But why should I?”

Adam frowned. “What do you want?”

“I dunno. What can you offer me?”

“I can get you a Pokémon. Any one you want.”

How predictable. It’s almost like that’s the only thing valuable about you.

I opened my mouth to decline before pausing. Yes, I didn’t need anyone to get me a Pokémon. I was perfectly okay with waiting a few years. And if anyone did get me a Pokémon, it wouldn’t be Adam. No Pokémon of mine would ever have the displeasure of being in his care even temporarily.

But. If I didn’t agree to the predictable bribe, I’d have to make something else up. No way was I going home without Adam and the others feeling like they were safe from consequences. They probably wouldn’t kill me, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

“Fine then. This never happened.” I conceded. Maybe it was my tone, or maybe it was the fact that I wasn’t a sobbing mess like Sienna, but the dumb teenager seemed to actually believe me.

The group went separate ways once we left Caro Road. It was just me and the Cooper siblings once again. It felt like this afternoon happened a lifetime ago. I was just wondering how to align my love for the Petilil line with my future. If only I could make having to care for Petilil my job…

I blinked. Wait… Caring for them. Like a rescue worker. When rangers bust fighting rings and poachers and things like that, the Pokémon become rescues. If I could do that, rehabilitate Petilil… There’s surely a bunch of them in that system, Lilligant whose flowers aren’t properly tended to. Petilil in the wild brushed aside by trainers. If I opened a rescue or, or a sanctuary for Petilil and Lilligant, then I could do both. Care for my favorite Pokémon and have a serious job.

That would be my dream job.

I smiled. I had a goal. I knew what to work towards for my Journey. To start up a sanctuary for my favorite Pokémon.

It would be a challenge; I didn’t know much about rescue work. Of course I would need a base of operations, staff, probably some battle Pokémon to defend the place. There would be bad people in any universe, as I just saw. I needed to make sure the sanctuary stayed a sanctuary.

“Home sweet home…” Adam’s muttering brought me out of my brainstorming. We were indeed in front of the Cooper household and subsequently next to the Watson’s.

I turned to Sienna, who still looked solemn. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”

Sienna nodded. “Goodnight…” She mumbled. My heart broke for her. Even though she barely saw any of the fights, she shouldn’t have been there in the first place. I had a feeling this would only fuel her dislike for Pokémon battling.

I embraced her tightly. “Goodnight, Sienna.”

Sienna didn’t let go until at least fifteen seconds passed. Without even a glance in Adam’s direction, I ran back to my own house. The door was unlocked, like it always was before bedtime, so I let myself in. I made a mental note that, for my own sanity, the sanctuary would have locks 24/7. Although Unova wasn’t so much like New York, I couldn’t shake the past life instinct to be hyper aware of danger and wary of strangers at the door.

“I’m back…” I called half heartedly.
“In the kitchen, darling!” My mother called. I quickly put away my shoes and went to see my mother preparing dinner. She smiled at me tentatively. “Your father’s still at the office but he should be home in time for dinner. He told me you were with the little Coopers next door. Did you have fun?”

I shrugged. “Not really…” I replied in a muted voice. “What’s for dinner?”

“We’re having cheeseburgers.”

I hummed. “That sounds good. May I borrow your phone please?”

“Sure. Gonna play Puzzle Plants?” My mother handed me her phone, obviously assuming I would be playing the Candy Crush like Grass type themed mobile game I usually did.

Not that I would be dissuading her otherwise. She would ask questions if she knew what I really needed the phone for.

“Yup! Thanks, Mom!” I chirped and retreated upstairs.

My room was as welcoming as it always was. My journal lay abandoned at my desk. My moss like blanket on my mushroom themed bed called to me. The fake ivy on my walls was a comforting sight. I’d themed my room like a whimsical forest. Everything about it screamed “if this person was a Pokémon, they’d be Fairy and Grass type.”

I pounced on my bed and reached for my Snivy pokédoll for emotional support. This would be a very precarious conversation. I had to find a middle ground between mature and innocently oblivious.

With a deep breath, I dialed my uncle.
“Hello?”

“Hey, Uncle Luke.” I greeted softly, not as cheery as I usually did. The thing about wanting to talk but not without incentive was to drop subtle hints. The faux lowering of a guard to ensnare the question:
“What’s wrong, Auria? You don’t sound too good.” There it was, the opening.

I sighed. “Well, I didn’t really have a good day…”

“Oh? What happened?”

“Well, first it was going okay. Kinda. I did find out that getting a Petilil egg would be more trouble than it’s worth. Honestly, I think I might just wait ‘till my Journey to catch one.”

“You sure? I can always just drop by Pinwheel Forest and see if I can nab one.” My uncle suggested.

“No, no, it’s fine. That wasn’t even the worst part!” I exclaimed, getting back on track. “Dad had to go to work, even though today was supposed to be his day off! So I had to hang out with the Cooper kids.”

“The kids next door? Aren’t you friends with them?”

“Only Sienna, she’s my age. Her brother Adam’s like, thirteen I think? Him and his friends are really pushy.” Here we go…

“Really? What’d you guys do?”

I squeezed my Snivy plush. “We went to this… Uh, it was this place, on Caro Road. An orange door with “146 Bliss” engraved on it. It was kinda scary. There was a crowd of people inside.”

“Oh? Were they all… bigger kids?” I could tell from Uncle Luke’s tone that he was getting concerned but still trying to wheedle information out of me.

“No, I think we were the only kids there. Peter, ah, one of Adam’s friends, said that it was a place for grownups. I think everyone there came to see Pokémon fights.”

“People were battling in there?!”

“No, not everyone. Peter said it was a show and Adam said it was a Pokémon fight, not a Pokémon battle.” I clarified. “There was a small arena and the announcer guy said there would be three free for alls. Me and Sienna didn’t really watch them but the first fight was between a Growlithe and a Ferroseed. The, uh, the Ferroseed won.”

Uncle Luke exhaled sharply. “You went to a fighting ring…”

“Yeah. Aren’t those illegal?” I asked.

Uncle Luke chuckled humorlessly. “Very. Where did you say this was?”

“Caro Road. The orange door that has “146 Bliss” on it. It’s about… thirty five minutes from home?”

“I see. So the Cooper boy and his friends wanted to see “real” Pokémon battling… Could you tell me the others’ names, Auria?”

“Peter, Damien, and Sam. All boys. I dunno their last names, is that okay?”

“That’s fine, sprout.” Uncle Luke said softly. “You’re very brave, telling me about such a scary thing.”

“Adam made me promise to keep it a secret.”

“Ah. Thank you for telling me then. Sometimes secrets can be dangerous.”

“Yup! Oh, I didn’t even tell you the worst part!”

“What?”

“The doorman! I had to give him my ice cream money because he didn't want to let me and Sienna in for free. It was complete, complete extortion!” I huffed at the injustice of it all.

“Oh. Tell you what: I’ll come over tomorrow with some ice cream and you can tell me about any new things you learned about Petilil.”

I gasped. “That’s a great idea! And! I can tell you what I’ve decided to do in person.”

“What you decided to do?” Uncle Luke parroted.

“My goal. What I’ll chase after on my Journey. I realized today what that’ll be.” My heart pounded faster as I thought about it. It was a breakthrough, knowing exactly what future to grasp for.

“Well then, I can’t wait to hear it.” I could tell Uncle Luke knew this too, from the smile in his voice.

We talked for a few more minutes, Uncle Luke regaling a quick tale on helping a lost Ducklett reunite with its mother before he had to go “make a few calls.” I ended the call satisfied that the fighting ring would soon be raided and the boys potentially getting in trouble. I suppose I had Adam to thank for making me realize my goal, but that was just the half of it.

I needed to know everything about opening a sanctuary.

——☘️——​

By the time I was called down for dinner, I had filled two whole pages in my journal with notes dedicated to founding and running The Lilligant Sanctuary. The main thing was the basics all living creatures needed: shelter, water, and food. Grass types rarely ate actual food, instead needing to photosynthesize everyday. So I needed land with enough space for sunbathing and a large building to comfortably house the Lilligant indoors.

The majority of food costs would be replaced with flower care products. Tending to a Lilligant’s flower required special growth oils that were a pretty penny. I still needed to figure out how to get consistent funding to even consider hiring staff. Perhaps volunteers were an option…

Of course beyond basic needs I needed enrichment. Since I would be caring for Pokémon with decently high intelligence, my options for mental stimulation were vast. Along with toys, I could provide books, movies, puzzles. Maybe I could even host a baking class if my wards were interested. And daily, well, perhaps weekly, walks around town!

All the planning made me hungry so I was practically scarfing down cheeseburgers at the dinner table. My parents fussed over me throughout the meal; apparently in between rallying his coworkers for the job I gave him, Uncle Luke had taken the time to ring my father to simultaneously scold and inform him of how bad he was at choosing babysitters.

Needless to say, those were definitely a thing of the past now.

I woke up the next morning to my father having made a whole pancake buffet as an apology. Plain, banana, peanut butter, cinnamon swirl, chocolate chip. I even had both maple and strawberry syrup available as a topping.

I indulged as much as I could and packed one of each drizzled with maple syrup in a tupperware for Sienna before departing for school. The Coopers didn’t bother with family meals so my friend would often have toast for breakfast. Just toast, everyday before school, until we became friends and I began bringing her my breakfast leftovers like she was a stray Purrloin.

We met up in front of our classroom door like always. Sienna looked relieved to see me and even more upbeat when I handed her her actual breakfast for the day. “Morning, Auria. Thanks for the food.”

“No problem. Hey, I didn’t get the chance to ask you yesterday, but do you have any idea what you’ll aim for on your Journey?” I asked.

Sienna chewed a cinnamon swirl pancake thoughtfully. “Hmm… Well, I don’t wanna battle. I do want to travel the world though.”

“All over? Not just Unova?”

“Maybe. I… don’t really know if I can.”

“What do you mean?”

“Trainers travel cross region. People who battle, or at least are comfortable with battling. I don’t if I can be that kind of trainer. If a trainer like me can really travel.” Sienna looked at her pancakes wistfully.

“I’m sure there’s a way. Not everyone’s Journey is the same. There must be hundreds of ways to go about it and not wanting to battle probably isn’t that outlandish.” I reassured her.

“You think so?”

“Yup! You’re one in a…few hundred, I guess. I bet non-battlers aren’t that rare.”

Sienna smiled. “Thanks, Auria.”

At that point our teacher arrived and class began. Neither me nor Sienna mentioned The Big Secret from yesterday and I definitely didn’t mention that I’d already snitched to the authorities. All in all, it was a pretty average day.

——☘️——​

“I’m here!” I announced.

“Emomo!” A black and white blur turned the corner to the entryway and landed on my forehead.

I squeaked in surprise. “Splenda!”

The Emolga moved from my head to my shoulder, trying her best to hug me with her short arms. “Monga!”

I scooped her into my arms with a smile. “Nice to see you again, Splenda.”

This particular Emolga held a special place in my heart. Uncle Luke had rescued her as an injured kit and nursed her back to health. This was back when he was a lower ranked ranger with more free time, so every time he visited (which was often), he had a clingy baby Emolga in tow. With my fondness for “Pikaclones,” I befriended her immediately. When she decided to join my uncle as his ranger partner, I got the honor of nicknaming her.

No one understood my genius of nicknaming the only sugar glider like Pokémon “Splenda,” but she liked it so it stuck.

“Auria! Living room!” My mother called.

I quickly kicked off my shoes and went to meet my family. For some reason my heart began picking up like I was in trouble, which was completely irrational seeing as how it wasn’t my fault I was dragged someplace illegal.

Well, it was kind of my fault for going along with Peter’s baiting but no one can blame me for being curious. How was I supposed to know we would be going to a fighting ring?!

In the living room sat my parents and uncle with mugs of coffee, looking jittery from more than caffeine. My own galaxy painted mug was on the coffee table, filled with my favorite brand of tea. Beside it was my Snivy pokédoll. Did they get it for my comfort?

“Momo~!” Splenda waved from my secure hold on her.

Uncle Luke smiled. “Thanks for getting her, Splen.”

“Hi, Uncle Luke!” I sat next to him on the couch.

“Hi, Auria. How are you feeling?” My uncle gave me a solemn look.

“Good. Did you get the ice cream?” I asked.

Uncle Luke nodded. “I did, I did. You can have some later. Can I… Can we talk more about what happened yesterday?”

“At the fighting ring?” I clarified, receiving a wince from all three adults. I refrained from wincing myself at my bluntness.

“Yes. At that place.” My father sighed. “Auria, I’m sorry. You should have never been there.”

“The local rangers raided it late last night. And the police should be visiting the homes of those boys soon. They’ll likely be restricted from anything involving the wellbeing of Pokémon, at least for a bit. Now though, they’ve shown to not care for the law or show empathy with how they not only planned to go to a fighting ring, but also brought you and your young friend along.” Uncle Luke said.

“Hmm.” I nodded. So, I made it so Adam and the others wouldn’t get to do their Journey on time, if ever. I wasn’t so distraught about that but I had a feeling Sienna would be devastated. Adam had been promising her an Audino since before we met. It was a bribe he hung over her head every chance he got.

I reached for my mug and took a cautious sip. The tea was soothingly warm and calming. “…How’s the Ferroseed?” I found myself asking.

Uncle Luke blinked. “He’s doing alright last I heard. Recovering from some injuries.”

“And… the Druddigon?” I continued, remembering Damien commenting on its ruthlessness.

“She's doing fine as well. A real rascal, that one. She’s already causing trouble for the guys back at HQ.” Uncle Luke grinned. “It’s nice of you to think of the Pokémon, sprout. You’ll be a good trainer one day.”

“Thanks.”

“Speaking of which,” My mother interjected. “You said you were going to tell us your Journey Goal when Luke was here.”

I suddenly remembered my rambling at dinner last night. In between stuffing my face with cheeseburgers, I told my parents I had a goal in mind that I was waiting to share with Uncle Luke in person.

“Oh yeah. It’s perfect for me! I’ve decided to look after Petilil! And Lilligant! I’m gonna open up a sanctuary for them.” I declared.

“Oh? A sanctuary… for just one evolutionary line?” Uncle Luke questioned.

“They’re my speciality.” I nodded. “I was also thinking about doing some activism. Raising awareness for their small population, encouraging trainers to consider them in battle… You know, Lilligant are actually decent battle Pokémon with the right trainer; it’s all to do with Quiver Dance I believe.”

“Ah, I see… So, you’re thinking of rescue work. But just for select Pokémon.”

I took another sip of my tea. “Um, yes?” Now that I’ve said it, it does sound a little… selfish. I’m pretty sure rescue workers don’t discriminate when they get their wards. But surely there’s a difference between turning away Pokémon I dislike personally and simply specializing in certain Pokémon care. People don't fault a baker for sticking to bread and cakes when they could make pizza. No one would force a Fairy Specialist to take in a dragon.

Uncle Luke nodded. “I’m sure there’s some rescue workers that specialize in certain types. You might want to get some experience early with this sort of thing. Start volunteering at the local shelter.” He suggested.

I smiled. “Alright. Oh! I also had another idea, but I dunno if it’s possible.”

“And what’s that?”

I told him my idea. I had thought of it this morning, while I was talking to Sienna. It would be difficult only because it was uncommon, and perhaps the Coopers would have a problem with it but this wasn’t about them. It was… making an investment in a promising future!

“So, can we do it?” I asked.

“Well it’s certainly unconventional, but I think it can be done.” Uncle Luke replied.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Auria?” My mother asked.

“Of course. Sienna’s my best friend and she needs this more than me.” I said. “I’ve decided I’m okay with waiting.”

“If you're sure…” My father said. “It’s very kind of you to do this, Auria. Even if it might not work out, you should always strive to help others. Like you want to help your favorite Pokémon.”

I took another sip of my tea to hide my blushing face. Of course I would try to help Sienna any way I could. Not only was she my friend, I had broken my vow to not snitch and she would be unintentionally affected. The least I could do was use my nepotism to soften the blow.

It would be fine. My Journey plans could take the hit.

——☘️——​

The next few days were a blur. Every free second I had was spent on improving my Journey plans, and every other second was spent fussing over Sienna. My friend had been having a rough time ever since the police visited the Cooper household. Adam had a black mark put on his record that meant he couldn’t become a trainer until he passed some sort of safety evaluation that proved he wouldn’t be liable to abuse his team.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were also being investigated for child endangerment, which didn’t really surprise me. The neighborhood rumor mill ran rampant with theories, so much so that no one really focused on Sam and Peter’s families being investigated as well, or Damien and his guardian getting arrested for something possibly related to Pokémon crime.

Sienna was predictably distraught by everything. I considered the pros and cons of telling the truth, that I had told the rangers everything, but decided to keep it to myself. It would do nothing but fray our friendship and Sienna needed that more than my honesty.

“Do you think Adam’s friends said anything?” Sienna asked. She’d been coming over more and more lately to listen to me ramble about healthcare for Grass types and stay for lunch.

I paused my writing on the berry essay we were assigned for homework. “Maybe…” I shrugged. “Or someone saw us and decided to turn over a new leaf. I mean, it was no place for children.”

Sienna pouted into her cup of hot chocolate. I reached over to the plate of peanut butter cookies we were sharing and plucked one from the pile, dipping it in my own drink. “Try not to think about it, Sienna.” I continued. “You’ll drive yourself crazy.”

“I know, it’s just… Mom’s really upset. She wanted Adam to be a Champion Level trainer and now he’ll have to wait longer. Dad’s been out of the house more often… And Adam can’t catch an Audino for me!” Sienna snatched up a cookie and chomped on it aggressively.

I took a long drink of my hot chocolate while I debated on what to say. “…Well, there are other ways to get a Pokémon you want. Audino aren’t that rare; Even if you have to wait a bit, you’ll definitely be able to get one.”

Sienna didn’t reply, seemingly in deep thought about something. I so desperately wanted to blurt out the surprise, to reassure her that everything should be okay. But I didn’t want to get her hopes up if it didn’t work out. Adam had done that enough.

“Did you finish Mrs. Sinclair’s essay yet?” I said instead.

Sienna groaned. “No… I still know what a bluk berry does!” She complained, now thoroughly distracted.

“Those are one of the ones that do nothing in pure form, but are ingredients for nutritional pokéblocks.” I explained.

“Oh. And tamato berries?”

“…Those are spicy? I think they’re used in pokéblocks too…” I replied more hesitantly.

“Lum berry?”

I perked up. “I know that one for sure! It cures all status conditions. And, it looks like a Petilil’s head!”

Sienna sighed. “If only everything related back to Petilil. I’d never forget stuff with you ro remind me about it.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Did you know Petilil leaves are medicinal and good in soup?”

Sienna’s laughter seemed to chase away the burden on her shoulders.

——☘️——​

Uncle Luke did it. He actually managed to get what I needed.

The pokéball was cold and smooth. I couldn’t stop turning it in my hands whenever I had the chance. A real pokéball, with a real Pokémon inside. I let her out when I could, to eat and chat and such, but she was comfortable staying in her ball most of the time.

I took the pokéball everywhere, waiting for the perfect chance. I sensed a turning point approaching, like pressure from every passing week building up to an explosion.

In the end, it was small and anticlimactic.

Sienna and I sat in my mossy nest of a bed watching a university level seminar on the benefits of Grass types in the medical field on my tv. Y’know, like normal eight year olds with a healthy obsession in their interests. We were just getting into how the super regenerative abilities of a plant type biology were used to perfect the Ditto cell infused medicine engineered in the 1990s when there was a knock on my door.

“Girls? Could you come downstairs?” My mother called from the other side.

Something about her tone made me nervous. Sienna and I glanced at each other and went to comply. I caught my mother’s eye as we passed and she looked at me with a somber expression.

Downstairs, sitting at the dinner table, was a stranger in a brown coat. The woman nodded at Sienna, who paused in her tracks at the sight of her. “Hello, Miss Sienna. I was worried when I couldn’t find you.”

“Did-Did my parents send you?” Sienna asked meekly.

“…No.” The woman hesitated. “No, they didn’t. Sienna, why are you over at your neighbor’s house?”

“Auria is my friend. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are kind enough to let me stay over after school.” Sienna replied.

“I see. So, you haven’t seen your parents since this morning?”

Sienna shook her head. “Father left, two days ago. My mom… I heard my mom talking about visiting my aunt in Galar yesterday.”

“Hmm, okay… I’m going to be honest with you, okay, kiddo? Your parents have been deemed unfit for you and your brother.”

The woman, obviously some kind of social worker, stated. “We tried to visit your house earlier and no one was home. Phone calls go straight to voicemail. I knocked on some neighbors’ doors to see if they knew what had happened and find you here.”

“Oh.” Sienna looked down as the realization hit her. “They…left me behind, didn’t they?”

The woman pursed her lips. “Listen. I’m sorry to have to ruin your evening but you’re going to need to be placed in an approved caretaker’s hands. I need you to grab your things.” She said not unkindly.

Sienna nodded and turned without a word. I wanted to step in and volunteer my own parents to look after my friend, but I highly doubted that’s how it worked.

I suppose now’s the time…

I followed Sienna back to my room and watched her pack her sweater and school things in her bag. My heart beat rapidly in my chest as I struggled to think of what to say. Unfortunately I had social anxiety in this life as well, only being able to shove it aside when I was on a tangent about the Petilil line or anything remotely related to it.

“I! I have a birthday present for you!” I exclaimed and ran to my drawers. Inside the second drawer was a pink crocheted crossbody bag I made myself. Technically it wasn’t for Sienna’s birthday, just a present I wanted to give her as a friend and in a secret apology, but it was unlikely that I’d be able to see her in the next few months when her actual birthday came around so…yes, early birthday gift.

I grabbed the bag and took out the much more exciting surprise from inside. It’s now or never.

“Here.” I all but shoved the pristine pokéball into Sienna’s hands. “This too.”

“What’s…?” Sienna blinked down at the sudden pokéball she cradled with both hands, confusion evident on her face.

“An Audino.”

Sienna whipped her head up to gawk at me. “Wha-? How?!”

I grinned. “Well, you know how my uncle said he would get me a Pokémon a while ago? I told him to get you an Audino instead.”

“But… But why?! You’ve been wanting a Petilil for so long! You, you talk about them all the time…”

I shook my head. “I’ve decided to catch my own on my Journey. It’s not a big deal. I’m not ready for a Pokémon now. But you, Sienna, you need one.”

Sienna blinked back tears. “I… Are you sure?”

“I already told Audino all about you and she’s looking forward to being your starter. You don’t want me to just have gotten her hopes up for nothing, do you?” I crossed my arms.

Sienna giggled. “She’s a girl?” She asked.
I nodded. “I didn’t nickname her; figured you’d like to do the honors.”

Sienna looked at the pokéball, her pokéball, and aimed it next to us before pressing the button to release her Audino.

Sienna’s starter manifested in a burst of light. The Audino blinked and adjusted herself to the physical world before noticing both of us. Sienna waved shyly, a beaming smile on her face.

“Hi. I’m Sienna.”

“Aud? Audi!” Audino smiled back as she realized she was finally meeting her trainer, the girl I’d talked so highly of whenever we interacted.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Sienna said. “Would you like a name?”

“Dino!” Audino nodded.

“Okay. How about… Would you like the name Aster?” Sienna suggested.

“Audi…” The Pokémon seemed to think on it before nodding. “Audino, dino!”

“You would? That’s great! And, you really want to be my partner, Aster?”

Aster the Audino smiled softly and took one of Sienna’s hands in her paws. “Audi. Dino.” She replied in a hushed voice.
Sienna wiped her eyes with her free hand and turned to me. “Thank you, Auria. You’re a really good friend.”

“Don’t mention it. You’re my best friend; if I couldn’t help you with this then, then I’d be pretty selfish.” My mind wandered briefly to my goal of only helping my favorite Pokémon species. Perhaps it was selfish of me to not aim to help all Pokémon, but it’s not like I’d be unkind in other aspects. “You deserve someone in your corner, Sienna. Especially now.”

A flurry of emotions passed through Sienna’s face as she remembered her life was about to change drastically. In the end, she settled on eying me with determination.

“I may never see you again, but I want you to know, Auria. I’m going to become a Pokémon nurse. Me and Aster, we’re going to heal Pokémon together.” She announced. The way she said it, so confidently, so unlike her usual speech, filled me with excitement.

“And I’m going to start up a sanctuary for Petilil and Lilligant. I’ll make sure no one dismisses them. I'll take care of every single one I come across!”

This mutual declaration—it was important. It was the first time we’d said our dreams in such blunt terms to each other. It was acknowledgement that we were serious, put into three simple sentences.

One day we might meet again, as sanctuary founder and well respected nurse. For now, Sienna and Aster each gave me a hug goodbye and I bid them good luck on their travels. Aster was returned to her pokéball, which was then tucked back into Sienna’s new bag, hidden until further notice.

“Best wishes, Auria.” Sienna smiled bravely as she left my room.

“Yeah. Best wishes, Sienna.” I repeated the Unovan phrase that was made to lift the spirits of people parting ways for an indeterminate amount of time.

I watched my only friend disappear down the stairs, starting her own personal journey. There was a heavy weight in my chest concocted of sorrow and pride. This must be what it’s like for parents sending their kid off into the world.

Sienna would do great things. She had the passion and drive hidden behind her timidness, and it would only be a matter of time for her to become someone great.
I’m not going to sit idle either.

I went and grabbed my trusty research journal, flipping to the page where I had written down the local Pokémon shelters. I couldn’t volunteer or get a job yet due to my age but I had my plans—gain rescue work experience, learn battle strategies, research the best Pokémon to defend the sanctuary, and figure out just how to acquire the property I needed to shelter my future wards.

It would be hard work, but it would be all the more worth it when I had my very own field of Petilil and Lilligant.
///