Running with Rapidash [Chapter Two]
Hey there, it's me again. ^^ Here is Chapter Two to Running with Rapidash.
Thank you for reading and comments and criticism are always appreciated.
Previous chapter(s)
Chapter One
A few miles outside of Hearthome City, Eliza stopped alongside a river to give Nova a chance to rest. Even though they still had several more miles to cover, they were well ahead of schedule due to Nova’s natural speed, and now that she was out of the house and away from all her work (as much as she loved it), she found herself enjoying the beautiful day. Past Solaceon Town and closer to the waters of Route 209, their rapid gallop gradually dropped down to an easy canter, then a steady trot, and then finally a gentle walk and an eventual stop.
The long stretch of road known as Route 209 was considered one of the more idyllic locations in the area. Docks and grassy banks surrounded the long river that ran through the path as did large grassy fields containing a variety of wild Pokémon. The location served as a common gathering place for fishermen and young trainers as well as people wishing to get away from the busy city. Many Pokémon played with each other in the grassy fields and along the banks of the river under the careful supervision of their trainers-though the younger trainers were just as happy to sit back and talk with new friends.
Eliza led Nova near the water and removed the bridle and sat down on the grassy bank to peel off her boots and socks as Nova dipped her muzzle into the river to drink up the cool water. As she massaged her feet, she watched the children and Pokémon play in the water and surround the local fishermen to ooh and aah over their catch of the day. It seemed to be a good day for fishing as most of the fishermen seemed to have not only a Magikarp or two secured in their Poké Balls, but several to sell at the market. Eliza entertained the idea of stopping by the market to pick up some fresh fish for her Pokémon as Nova gave a small stomp on the ground to signal she was ready. Slipping Nova’s bridle back on and climbing onto her back with the help of a large rock, the two took off once more.
The remaining ride to Hearthome City was taken at an easy canter and then an easy walk within the city walls. A friendly city for Pokémon and people alike, no one thought anything of a rider and her Rapidash calmly walking down the street; because it served as the host town for Pokémon contests in the Sinnoh region, there were always Pokémon out and about.
With such a focus on Pokémon and their appearance in the city, it was unsurprising there were so many Pokémon grooming parlors and salons around with an entire section rivaling that of Scissor Street in Celadon City. Many of her clients casually hinted at the financial boon a grooming parlor in the heart of Hearthome would provide whenever they pulled up in their fancy cars and carriages, lifting up their fur coats and skirts between ring-clad fingers to prevent from dragging their ever so expensive clothing across the dusty ground of the natural dirt road. But Eliza knew better; her clients were not encouraging her to open a parlor to increase the money flowing into her accounts, but so they could walk down-or ride in their fancy carriages-the street and enter a pristine parlor without any worry of dust dirtying their precious and oh-so-expensive clothing.
Thus, she felt little guilt running a ranch off in the hills that would require a bit of a walk (or drive or flight depending on the transportation method of choice), but offered what a grooming parlor within the city limits could not provide:
Wide-open fields where Pokémon could run and enjoy themselves.
While a parlor for grooming only was perfectly fine within the city, she needed the large spreads of land to raise her Pokémon, Rapidash especially. Natural born runners, they needed the wide open spaces to run and be free, impossibilities within a packed city of concrete.
Even if Hearthome was a city for Pokémon and lacked the usual feeling of confinement felt in other large cities, even if the streets were wide enough to let an assortment of people and Pokémon pass through without being crammed together, and even if there was the bonus of a large park for people and their Pokémon to stroll in (though Eliza grumbled bitterly about the small selection of Pokémon allowed into the peaceful area), she felt it was not a place she could operate to the best of her abilities. The other Pokémon breeders could have their buildings and shops; she wanted nothing more than a ranch that spread over acres of open land.
As she passed into the quieter residential area of the city, Eliza listened to the soft clip-clop of Nova’s hooves against the ground. Her mother’s house was at the end of the street. A small, one-story house with a picket fence around the front yard and a nice garden in the back, it was a quaint, peaceful little house, the perfect place for a retired police officer and her Pokémon to live.
Eliza let herself through the gate and slid off her Pokémon’s back to remove her bridle and give her a pat on the back. Nova gave a gentle whicker as she walked off to munch on a patch of unmowed grass. A loud bark came from within the house as a Growlithe appeared in the window, fluffy tail wagging in joy. He tore away from the window as Eliza approached the door, his barks ringing clearing from within. Though the door was always unlocked and the Growlithe’s barks provided a good warning to anyone within the house, Eliza still rapped her knuckles against the door before she entered the house.
The Growlithe immediately barreled into her and gleefully thumped his paws against her knees and thighs before he sat down on the ground, tail swishing against the hardwood floor and body quivering with excitement. Eliza knelt down to give the tiger-striped dog an affectionate hug and scratch his ears as her mother stepped out of the kitchen.
“’Lo, Deuce, are you takin’ good care of Mom?” Eliza asked as the canine gave a happy bark and stood up to lick her face. Eliza placed a small kiss on his damp nose before she stood up to smile at her mother. “And are you takin’ good care of Deuce, Mom?”
With a shake of her head, Terri Cotton laughed as she embraced her daughter. Deuce barked happily at the reunion between mother and daughter and ran circles around their legs. “Pokémon always came first with you, Eliza. I bet you’ve been so busy taking care of your ranch, you haven’t eaten yet.”
Before Eliza could say anything otherwise, her stomach grumbled in agreement and she smiled sheepishly as she was pulled into the kitchen by her mother.
As her mother pushed her into one of the chairs at the small kitchen table, she removed her hat and set it down as she looked around. While neat and organized like her kitchen, the difference came in the abundance of plants. A few clay pots contained flowers beginning to blossom, but the majority held herbs or small vegetables perfect for cooking.
What covered the refrigerator was also different. Instead of notes and reminders on upcoming appointments and events, it was covered with photographs, drawings, memos, and other memories from throughout the years, all held up with assorted Pokémon magnets. She reached over and removed one picture to study. It was a picture of her younger sister Whitney, their father, and herself in the backyard of their old home in Pastoria City, a group of Growlithe puppies around them.
Eliza placed the picture under a Growlithe magnet and picked out another picture, one of her mother and father in their police uniforms and their Growlithe partners at their side. She glanced over at her mother, busy cutting meat and cheese for sandwiches next to the sink, and gave a sad smile as she returned the picture to its proper place and reached down to scratch Deuce behind the ears.
“So how have you been, Mom?”
Terri gave a thoughtful hum as she carried over a small tray of sandwiches to the table. Deuce instantly hopped onto one of the chairs to sniff at the food, turning his head to grin at Eliza. Eliza took a sandwich, tore it in half, and held it out to him. Deuce quickly gobbled it up as he strained for the second half of the sandwich. Eliza obliged as her mother returned with two glasses and a pitcher of lemonade and sat down.
“Oh, I’ve been doing well. The weather has been nice so I’ve been doing a bit of gardening. The berry trees are beginning to bloom again, you should come by later when they’re ripe.”
Eliza took another sandwich and a glass of lemonade as she looked out the kitchen window. Nova had wandered into the backyard to graze on the patches of grass her mother purposely left unmowed, careful to not alight any bushes or trees on fire with her flaming mane and tail. Though a small yard, it held a nice serviceable garden with an assortment of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The aforementioned berry trees were beginning to blossom brightly colored flowers in the small line of loamy soil along the fence, promising a bountiful yield within a few weeks. She studied the plants, recognizing each tree by the uniquely shaped trunks and leaf and blossom colors.
“That’s nice to hear. Let me know when they’re in bloom? I could use more Bluk Berries.” At another insistent growl from her stomach, Eliza finally took a bite out of the sandwich she held in her hand. “This is delicious, Mom,” she said as she scoffed down the rest of the sandwich and drank half of the glass of lemonade in one go.
Terri watched her daughter eat with calm amusement. While she made sure her two daughters always had regular meals as they were growing up, she could only assume her eldest daughter’s eating habits became the way they were during her Pokémon journey as a teenager. Though she really could not hold any fault in it; Eliza had always put Pokémon first.
She pushed the plate of sandwiches closer to Eliza as she picked up a sandwich and tore it in two, feeding one half to Deuce and eating the other half. The Growlithe happily gobbled it up before he sauntered off to lay on the couch in the living room and keep an eye on the window incase any other guests arrived. “Of course I will, dear. Tell me, how is the ranch doing?”
“The ranch is doing well. A Delcatty just gave birth to a healthy litter, so we’ve been up to our ankles in Skitty. Cute little bundles, might see if I can keep one for myself. Oh, and Celesta is due in two months. Dustin’s panicking at the prospect of fatherhood, but he’ll be fine.”
Pokémon first, of course. Terri laughed lightly at the news and filled her daughter’s glass with more lemonade. “The little pitter-patter of Skitty feet. They must be precious little dears. And send my regards and congratulations over to Celesta and Dustin. They’re such a dear couple and I’m sure they’ll be good parents.”
“I’ll pass that on. How are Whitney and Elijah doing?”
“They’re doing quite well. They just returned from their honeymoon in Lavaridge Town and they’ll be around a little longer before moving to Saffron City.”
Eliza gave a small smile as she scratched her head. While she loved Pokémon as much as the rest of the family, Whitney never took to the roaming life of a trainer or the busy and demanding schedule of a breeder. And even though she participated in a few Pokémon Contests, her interest was ultimately in fashion and design and in designing outfits for people and Pokémon. Her marriage to a Pokémon coordinator was perfect as it gave her the chance to create matching outfits for him and his Pokémon.
“Saffron City? It’ll be a good place for her to try and break into the fashion world and she always did like cities. When is she leaving?”
“In two weeks. Elijah has friends in Saffron, so they’ll be staying with them until they can find a place to live, but they still need to finish all their packing.”
“I’ll have to say goodbye to her before she leaves then.”
Terri gave a small nod and a smile. Despite their opposite interests, the two daughters had always been close. “Of course. So, how are things with you and Jordan?”
There came a small pause as Eliza looked down at her glass of lemonade, listening to the ice clink together as she gently spun the glass in small circles. She took a small sip and set her glass down on the table as she leaned back and laced her fingers together in her lap, an expression of resolution crossing her face.
“We decided to go our separate ways. It’s for the best really; I’m busy working on the ranch and he’s busy training his Pokémon. Besides, he… he treats like Pokémon like tools and nothing else.”
She gave a small shrug and a laugh. “He’s heading off to Kanto to challenge the league there, so he wouldn’t be around anyway. But we parted on good terms and we’ll try to keep in touch. I’ll miss his Vaporeon though; he was gorgeous.”
A second pause came as Terri stared at her daughter. Though by no means shy, Eliza always had an easier time forming relationships with Pokémon than people, perhaps a result of traveling alone with them for so long, though more likely due to her rigid belief on how Pokémon should be treated. She was critical of people, trainers especially, who did not treat their Pokémon in a respectful manner, and while a reasonable belief, it did give her a bias against trainers and cause her to dismiss people before giving them a proper chance. While she did not expect her to go out and marry the first person that came along, Terri did wish her daughter would not be so…picky.
“Eliza, you know people treat their Pokémon differently and just because they don’t show as much love and dedication as you do, it doesn’t mean they care any less. And you can’t discount him just because he’s a trainer.”
“We really weren’t meant to be together. We’re just too different. And I know everyone treats their Pokémon differently, it’s just…” She shook her head and slumped back in her chair. “It’s not that he’s a trainer or anything. He’s not my type.”
“Then what is your type?”
Eliza frowned and gave an exasperated sigh. “Do we always have to bring this up?”
“Eliza, you know I’m just worried about you. You just haven’t been the same since-“
A dark look crossed the breeder’s face as she grabbed her hat and placed it back on her head. “That has nothing to do with anything. And I haven’t changed.”
As much as she hated to leave things on a sour note, Terri knew better than to press her daughter when she was in no mood to talk. With a quiet sigh she stood up and gave her a small pat on the shoulder as she picked up the plate of sandwiches and pitcher of lemonade. “…You always were like your father. I’ll pack these up.”
Eliza remained stewed over her words in her seat as her mother began to pack up the food. Too stubborn to apologize, even if one was in order, Eliza turned her chair around to look at the pictures on the fridge once more. She pulled a picture of a Rapidash soaring over a fence and studied the picture before she held it up. “…Can I take this picture?”
Terri nodded, her mother’s intuition telling her what picture had been selected. With the sandwiched tightly sealed in plastic bags and the remaining lemonade poured into a thermos, she packed everything into a drawstring bag and added some apples for good measure. With a smile, she turned around and held it out. “There. Sandwiches, lemonade, and fresh fruit. Be sure to share some with Nefra, Nocturne, and Bast.”
Eliza tucked the picture into her back pocket and took the bag and slung it over an arm. They stared at each other for a bit before Eliza broke the stillness with a wave. “All right. Thanks. Take care Mom.”
Terri watched her eldest daughter leave. Deuce padded out from the other room and walked to the door to Eliza off with a few barks before he padded into the kitchen and sat down at his owner’s feet, his head gently tilting from side to side.
Terri knelt down and gave his head an affectionate rub as she remarked, “Eliza always was like that, always running on her own path.”
Deuce gave a quiet whimper as he stood up to lick her face. Terri laughed gently and hugged him. “Yes, I know, I’m just fretting once more. Why don’t we go on a walk?”
Terri watched him shoot off into the other room as she released him, his tail swishing against the ground as he sat by the door. As she walked after him, she stopped in front of the refrigerator and looked at the amassment of pictures and reached out to glide her fingers over the amassment of pictures. With a sigh, she paused at a bare patch on the refrigerator where a picture once resided.
“…My poor daughter,” she remarked as she left the kitchen and opened the door for Deuce. As she stepped outside with her Pokémon, she watched a dot of red, yellow, and orange fade in the distance and gave another slow shake of her head.
Thank you for reading and comments and criticism are always appreciated.
Previous chapter(s)
Chapter One
A few miles outside of Hearthome City, Eliza stopped alongside a river to give Nova a chance to rest. Even though they still had several more miles to cover, they were well ahead of schedule due to Nova’s natural speed, and now that she was out of the house and away from all her work (as much as she loved it), she found herself enjoying the beautiful day. Past Solaceon Town and closer to the waters of Route 209, their rapid gallop gradually dropped down to an easy canter, then a steady trot, and then finally a gentle walk and an eventual stop.
The long stretch of road known as Route 209 was considered one of the more idyllic locations in the area. Docks and grassy banks surrounded the long river that ran through the path as did large grassy fields containing a variety of wild Pokémon. The location served as a common gathering place for fishermen and young trainers as well as people wishing to get away from the busy city. Many Pokémon played with each other in the grassy fields and along the banks of the river under the careful supervision of their trainers-though the younger trainers were just as happy to sit back and talk with new friends.
Eliza led Nova near the water and removed the bridle and sat down on the grassy bank to peel off her boots and socks as Nova dipped her muzzle into the river to drink up the cool water. As she massaged her feet, she watched the children and Pokémon play in the water and surround the local fishermen to ooh and aah over their catch of the day. It seemed to be a good day for fishing as most of the fishermen seemed to have not only a Magikarp or two secured in their Poké Balls, but several to sell at the market. Eliza entertained the idea of stopping by the market to pick up some fresh fish for her Pokémon as Nova gave a small stomp on the ground to signal she was ready. Slipping Nova’s bridle back on and climbing onto her back with the help of a large rock, the two took off once more.
The remaining ride to Hearthome City was taken at an easy canter and then an easy walk within the city walls. A friendly city for Pokémon and people alike, no one thought anything of a rider and her Rapidash calmly walking down the street; because it served as the host town for Pokémon contests in the Sinnoh region, there were always Pokémon out and about.
With such a focus on Pokémon and their appearance in the city, it was unsurprising there were so many Pokémon grooming parlors and salons around with an entire section rivaling that of Scissor Street in Celadon City. Many of her clients casually hinted at the financial boon a grooming parlor in the heart of Hearthome would provide whenever they pulled up in their fancy cars and carriages, lifting up their fur coats and skirts between ring-clad fingers to prevent from dragging their ever so expensive clothing across the dusty ground of the natural dirt road. But Eliza knew better; her clients were not encouraging her to open a parlor to increase the money flowing into her accounts, but so they could walk down-or ride in their fancy carriages-the street and enter a pristine parlor without any worry of dust dirtying their precious and oh-so-expensive clothing.
Thus, she felt little guilt running a ranch off in the hills that would require a bit of a walk (or drive or flight depending on the transportation method of choice), but offered what a grooming parlor within the city limits could not provide:
Wide-open fields where Pokémon could run and enjoy themselves.
While a parlor for grooming only was perfectly fine within the city, she needed the large spreads of land to raise her Pokémon, Rapidash especially. Natural born runners, they needed the wide open spaces to run and be free, impossibilities within a packed city of concrete.
Even if Hearthome was a city for Pokémon and lacked the usual feeling of confinement felt in other large cities, even if the streets were wide enough to let an assortment of people and Pokémon pass through without being crammed together, and even if there was the bonus of a large park for people and their Pokémon to stroll in (though Eliza grumbled bitterly about the small selection of Pokémon allowed into the peaceful area), she felt it was not a place she could operate to the best of her abilities. The other Pokémon breeders could have their buildings and shops; she wanted nothing more than a ranch that spread over acres of open land.
As she passed into the quieter residential area of the city, Eliza listened to the soft clip-clop of Nova’s hooves against the ground. Her mother’s house was at the end of the street. A small, one-story house with a picket fence around the front yard and a nice garden in the back, it was a quaint, peaceful little house, the perfect place for a retired police officer and her Pokémon to live.
Eliza let herself through the gate and slid off her Pokémon’s back to remove her bridle and give her a pat on the back. Nova gave a gentle whicker as she walked off to munch on a patch of unmowed grass. A loud bark came from within the house as a Growlithe appeared in the window, fluffy tail wagging in joy. He tore away from the window as Eliza approached the door, his barks ringing clearing from within. Though the door was always unlocked and the Growlithe’s barks provided a good warning to anyone within the house, Eliza still rapped her knuckles against the door before she entered the house.
The Growlithe immediately barreled into her and gleefully thumped his paws against her knees and thighs before he sat down on the ground, tail swishing against the hardwood floor and body quivering with excitement. Eliza knelt down to give the tiger-striped dog an affectionate hug and scratch his ears as her mother stepped out of the kitchen.
“’Lo, Deuce, are you takin’ good care of Mom?” Eliza asked as the canine gave a happy bark and stood up to lick her face. Eliza placed a small kiss on his damp nose before she stood up to smile at her mother. “And are you takin’ good care of Deuce, Mom?”
With a shake of her head, Terri Cotton laughed as she embraced her daughter. Deuce barked happily at the reunion between mother and daughter and ran circles around their legs. “Pokémon always came first with you, Eliza. I bet you’ve been so busy taking care of your ranch, you haven’t eaten yet.”
Before Eliza could say anything otherwise, her stomach grumbled in agreement and she smiled sheepishly as she was pulled into the kitchen by her mother.
As her mother pushed her into one of the chairs at the small kitchen table, she removed her hat and set it down as she looked around. While neat and organized like her kitchen, the difference came in the abundance of plants. A few clay pots contained flowers beginning to blossom, but the majority held herbs or small vegetables perfect for cooking.
What covered the refrigerator was also different. Instead of notes and reminders on upcoming appointments and events, it was covered with photographs, drawings, memos, and other memories from throughout the years, all held up with assorted Pokémon magnets. She reached over and removed one picture to study. It was a picture of her younger sister Whitney, their father, and herself in the backyard of their old home in Pastoria City, a group of Growlithe puppies around them.
Eliza placed the picture under a Growlithe magnet and picked out another picture, one of her mother and father in their police uniforms and their Growlithe partners at their side. She glanced over at her mother, busy cutting meat and cheese for sandwiches next to the sink, and gave a sad smile as she returned the picture to its proper place and reached down to scratch Deuce behind the ears.
“So how have you been, Mom?”
Terri gave a thoughtful hum as she carried over a small tray of sandwiches to the table. Deuce instantly hopped onto one of the chairs to sniff at the food, turning his head to grin at Eliza. Eliza took a sandwich, tore it in half, and held it out to him. Deuce quickly gobbled it up as he strained for the second half of the sandwich. Eliza obliged as her mother returned with two glasses and a pitcher of lemonade and sat down.
“Oh, I’ve been doing well. The weather has been nice so I’ve been doing a bit of gardening. The berry trees are beginning to bloom again, you should come by later when they’re ripe.”
Eliza took another sandwich and a glass of lemonade as she looked out the kitchen window. Nova had wandered into the backyard to graze on the patches of grass her mother purposely left unmowed, careful to not alight any bushes or trees on fire with her flaming mane and tail. Though a small yard, it held a nice serviceable garden with an assortment of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The aforementioned berry trees were beginning to blossom brightly colored flowers in the small line of loamy soil along the fence, promising a bountiful yield within a few weeks. She studied the plants, recognizing each tree by the uniquely shaped trunks and leaf and blossom colors.
“That’s nice to hear. Let me know when they’re in bloom? I could use more Bluk Berries.” At another insistent growl from her stomach, Eliza finally took a bite out of the sandwich she held in her hand. “This is delicious, Mom,” she said as she scoffed down the rest of the sandwich and drank half of the glass of lemonade in one go.
Terri watched her daughter eat with calm amusement. While she made sure her two daughters always had regular meals as they were growing up, she could only assume her eldest daughter’s eating habits became the way they were during her Pokémon journey as a teenager. Though she really could not hold any fault in it; Eliza had always put Pokémon first.
She pushed the plate of sandwiches closer to Eliza as she picked up a sandwich and tore it in two, feeding one half to Deuce and eating the other half. The Growlithe happily gobbled it up before he sauntered off to lay on the couch in the living room and keep an eye on the window incase any other guests arrived. “Of course I will, dear. Tell me, how is the ranch doing?”
“The ranch is doing well. A Delcatty just gave birth to a healthy litter, so we’ve been up to our ankles in Skitty. Cute little bundles, might see if I can keep one for myself. Oh, and Celesta is due in two months. Dustin’s panicking at the prospect of fatherhood, but he’ll be fine.”
Pokémon first, of course. Terri laughed lightly at the news and filled her daughter’s glass with more lemonade. “The little pitter-patter of Skitty feet. They must be precious little dears. And send my regards and congratulations over to Celesta and Dustin. They’re such a dear couple and I’m sure they’ll be good parents.”
“I’ll pass that on. How are Whitney and Elijah doing?”
“They’re doing quite well. They just returned from their honeymoon in Lavaridge Town and they’ll be around a little longer before moving to Saffron City.”
Eliza gave a small smile as she scratched her head. While she loved Pokémon as much as the rest of the family, Whitney never took to the roaming life of a trainer or the busy and demanding schedule of a breeder. And even though she participated in a few Pokémon Contests, her interest was ultimately in fashion and design and in designing outfits for people and Pokémon. Her marriage to a Pokémon coordinator was perfect as it gave her the chance to create matching outfits for him and his Pokémon.
“Saffron City? It’ll be a good place for her to try and break into the fashion world and she always did like cities. When is she leaving?”
“In two weeks. Elijah has friends in Saffron, so they’ll be staying with them until they can find a place to live, but they still need to finish all their packing.”
“I’ll have to say goodbye to her before she leaves then.”
Terri gave a small nod and a smile. Despite their opposite interests, the two daughters had always been close. “Of course. So, how are things with you and Jordan?”
There came a small pause as Eliza looked down at her glass of lemonade, listening to the ice clink together as she gently spun the glass in small circles. She took a small sip and set her glass down on the table as she leaned back and laced her fingers together in her lap, an expression of resolution crossing her face.
“We decided to go our separate ways. It’s for the best really; I’m busy working on the ranch and he’s busy training his Pokémon. Besides, he… he treats like Pokémon like tools and nothing else.”
She gave a small shrug and a laugh. “He’s heading off to Kanto to challenge the league there, so he wouldn’t be around anyway. But we parted on good terms and we’ll try to keep in touch. I’ll miss his Vaporeon though; he was gorgeous.”
A second pause came as Terri stared at her daughter. Though by no means shy, Eliza always had an easier time forming relationships with Pokémon than people, perhaps a result of traveling alone with them for so long, though more likely due to her rigid belief on how Pokémon should be treated. She was critical of people, trainers especially, who did not treat their Pokémon in a respectful manner, and while a reasonable belief, it did give her a bias against trainers and cause her to dismiss people before giving them a proper chance. While she did not expect her to go out and marry the first person that came along, Terri did wish her daughter would not be so…picky.
“Eliza, you know people treat their Pokémon differently and just because they don’t show as much love and dedication as you do, it doesn’t mean they care any less. And you can’t discount him just because he’s a trainer.”
“We really weren’t meant to be together. We’re just too different. And I know everyone treats their Pokémon differently, it’s just…” She shook her head and slumped back in her chair. “It’s not that he’s a trainer or anything. He’s not my type.”
“Then what is your type?”
Eliza frowned and gave an exasperated sigh. “Do we always have to bring this up?”
“Eliza, you know I’m just worried about you. You just haven’t been the same since-“
A dark look crossed the breeder’s face as she grabbed her hat and placed it back on her head. “That has nothing to do with anything. And I haven’t changed.”
As much as she hated to leave things on a sour note, Terri knew better than to press her daughter when she was in no mood to talk. With a quiet sigh she stood up and gave her a small pat on the shoulder as she picked up the plate of sandwiches and pitcher of lemonade. “…You always were like your father. I’ll pack these up.”
Eliza remained stewed over her words in her seat as her mother began to pack up the food. Too stubborn to apologize, even if one was in order, Eliza turned her chair around to look at the pictures on the fridge once more. She pulled a picture of a Rapidash soaring over a fence and studied the picture before she held it up. “…Can I take this picture?”
Terri nodded, her mother’s intuition telling her what picture had been selected. With the sandwiched tightly sealed in plastic bags and the remaining lemonade poured into a thermos, she packed everything into a drawstring bag and added some apples for good measure. With a smile, she turned around and held it out. “There. Sandwiches, lemonade, and fresh fruit. Be sure to share some with Nefra, Nocturne, and Bast.”
Eliza tucked the picture into her back pocket and took the bag and slung it over an arm. They stared at each other for a bit before Eliza broke the stillness with a wave. “All right. Thanks. Take care Mom.”
Terri watched her eldest daughter leave. Deuce padded out from the other room and walked to the door to Eliza off with a few barks before he padded into the kitchen and sat down at his owner’s feet, his head gently tilting from side to side.
Terri knelt down and gave his head an affectionate rub as she remarked, “Eliza always was like that, always running on her own path.”
Deuce gave a quiet whimper as he stood up to lick her face. Terri laughed gently and hugged him. “Yes, I know, I’m just fretting once more. Why don’t we go on a walk?”
Terri watched him shoot off into the other room as she released him, his tail swishing against the ground as he sat by the door. As she walked after him, she stopped in front of the refrigerator and looked at the amassment of pictures and reached out to glide her fingers over the amassment of pictures. With a sigh, she paused at a bare patch on the refrigerator where a picture once resided.
“…My poor daughter,” she remarked as she left the kitchen and opened the door for Deuce. As she stepped outside with her Pokémon, she watched a dot of red, yellow, and orange fade in the distance and gave another slow shake of her head.