12Well I figured it was about time I added the second chapter, especially since I recently got a nice review that encouraged me to continue the story from Luckybell.
As soon as the introductions were finished amongst the rest of the group Willow was swamped with admiration and questions.
"That was incredible Willow! I've never seen a Pokémon like that move like that!"
"How's about a battle Willow!"
"What do you feed your Pokémon? They're in incredible shape."
Scratching her head again a blush broke out across her cheeks at all the attention. "I uh… well…um." It seemed to be easiest to start with the last question and work her way backwards so she did. "I um, they all have their own specific kinds of food made especially for them. It was pretty hard finding something that suited their individual tastes while still having the optimal amount of nutrition for each of them."
Nodding sagely in agreeance with her, Brock rubbed his chin contemplatively, he'd have to ask her for some advice he'd been having trouble perfecting his ice-type pokéchow.
"I… sorry Ash but I can't battle you right now. My Pokémon have got to recuperate after the battle with Paul."
Ash's shoulder slumped once again as it looked like he wouldn't be getting that battle he'd wanted after all. Of course this made Willow feel horrible so she gave in. "Well I guess if you come back tomorrow we can have a battle then?"
"Really!?"
"Um yeah sure. They should be fine after a good night's rest and a good meal. So tomorrow should be fine." Smiling widely at the sheer happiness she'd instilled in the boy, Willow ignored the annoyed huff of her boyfriend. It would have made her feel bad, basically ignoring him on one of his rare visits in favor of battling a total stranger… but she mentally shrugged it off and decided she'd just try to get him to stay an extra day or so to make up for the time lost.
"Oh and um thanks Dawn. And I'm guessing you meant Croconaw right?"
"Heheh yeah, right… guess I should have been more specific huh?" Dawn sweatdropped at having made herself look so stupid in front of the other girl.
"It's fine. But really I'm glad you found him so impressive. In fact why don't you tell him yourself! He just loves the attention… though he doesn't always like strangers that much." At the slightly fearful look that came across Dawn's face as she pulled out the pokéball Willow paused for a moment.
"Don't worry Dawn shameless flattery will get you everywhere with him!" Grinning reassuringly Willow was glad to see that the younger girl looked a bit better about meeting the croc Pokémon. "Croconaw appear!"
And in a blue flash the three and a half foot Pokémon did just that. Looking around questioningly before turning to his trainer Croconaw smiled up at her as she petted him.
"This is Dawn, Croconaw." Looking from his trainer to the other girl Crconaw's expression shifted dramatically to one of distaste that caused Dawn to sweatdrop again and managed to get an amused snort from Paul as the boy walked over. "Don't be like that Croconaw! Dawn wanted to compliment you on your battle!"
"Croc?" the water Pokémon looked skeptical at best and crossed his arms, waiting.
"Uh… yeah um.." well if she hadn't felt like a total idiot before the look she was getting was definitely enough to accomplish that. Holding Piplup a bit tighter she trudged on, "That was pretty amazing what you did Croconaw…um that spin I mean. It was like something from a contest."
"Croc!" all smiles and good cheer now, Croconaw took a step forward and it was like he'd just made a new best friend.
"Told ya, flattery. He can never get enough." Shrugging her shoulders at her Pokémon's behavior Willow just dismissed it as an arm wound around her waist and rested at her hip. There wasn't anything she could do about it anyway.
As the bluenette seemed to feel a lot more comfortable with the 'friendly' Croconaw she relaxed and allowed the Pokémon in her arms to breathe again and began to sound more enthusiastic. "It was really great! Do you think you could give me and Piplup some pointers?" the little water-type nodded as well just as enthusiastically. "Piplup!"
"Croc! Croco-naw." Giving the girl a nod and a thumbs up he began giving what looked like very detailed instructions, hand motions and all. Although Dawn couldn't understand his words she and Piplup seemed to be paying rapt attention to every syllable.
"Giving out battling tips to losers now Willow?"
"Shut up Paul." Rolling her eyes she elbowed her boyfriend lightly in the side. As everyone else seemed to focused on Croconaw, Willow turned into his arms and grinned at him with such an all encompassing innocence that he couldn't help but to feel suspicious.
"What do you want now?" to any other person he would've sounded like his usual jerky self but lucky for him Willow spoke Paul-ese and knew he was only kidding.
"To see your Pokémon of course! I haven't seen them in forever and I've heard you've got some new additions!"
"You've already seen-" she cut him off there with a blank look. Rolling his eyes and giving a huffed sigh of feigned annoyance, Paul took a step back and released all of his current party.
"Hi guys!" waving demurely at them all she gave a wide smile. It waned a bit, however, when she noticed some missing faces. "Wait Paul where's Elekid and Chimchar?"
"Eletabuzz is with Reggie."
"Oh, congratulations Paul! I didn't know he evolved already! And I see Murkrow has as well! Hello there, well aren't you just lovely!" Honchkrow immediately flew over to her and fluttered around her shoulders for a moment before settling on the ground. He was much too large to fit on her shoulder anymore and was quite a bit disheartened at this new discovery.
"Oh, it's okay love." Kneeling down, Willow petted the hat shaped feathers, "It's good to see you again too." Having already forgotten his previous disappointment Honchkrow cooed back at her contently, she was what had originally made him realize not all humans were like his trainer and he absolutely loved her for it!
"I bet Paul uses you in battles a lot more now huh?"
"Honch-Honchkrow!" feathers fluffing up as if they themselves were soaking in the attention, Honchkrow practically preened.
All the while this was happening the thoughts of Paul's other Pokémon who had never met her looked on slightly bewildered at the completely out of character bird. Surely Paul wouldn't stand for this kind of behavior for much longer right? What was Honchkrow thinking acting that way with some girl and in front of Paul no less. But as they all watched Paul continued to do nothing and they really began to get nervous, looking back and forth between the two humans.
Hopping over cautiously, Gliscor kept taking quick glances back at his trainer as he approached the girl, the other Pokémon held their breath. When he was close enough that his shadow hung over her she stopped what she was doing and glanced up at him. Honchkrow looked up as well but his irritated look was a far cry from the girl's own pleased one.
"Gli…scor?" head tilting in question he wondered how she was able to get away with being so… so nice without receiving some kind of snarky comment from his trainer. Surprised at her next action, Gliscor leaned away from the hand she outstretched it to him but as she kept it there, he leaned in to give it a closer look. What was she trying to pull? While he was within sniffing range the hand moved and fingers brushed against his cheek. Surprising even himself Gliscor relaxed into the hand and slouched to the ground.
Honchkrow huffed and glared in the other direction, indignant at the wasted attention. Still skeptical, Paul's other Pokémon murmured amongst themselves before Torterra just lumbered through not caring if he bumped into the others, this was getting ridiculous!
Turning a little from the two Pokémon before her, Willow opened her arms wide to the continent Pokémon approaching. Her arms wrapped around his head and he nuzzled her shoulder. "It's nice to see you again too Torterra." It came out half whispered as she focused wholly on him for a moment. Pulling back to arms length she grinned, breaking the near-somber moment, "Look at you! You've gotten so big!... you okay? Blaziken and Abomasnow did quite a number on you."
Shaking his head, a grin to match her own spread across his lips."Terra."
"Good! Either way though, we'll have you feeling as good as new after your stay here!" by now she'd attracted the attention of the other trainers and their Pokémon as well.
"Hey Willow, what do you mean by that?" Dawn's head tilted in question, was she just planning to borrow Torterra? As much of a jerk as Paul was she should at least ask him first right?
"Huh? Oh right, that." Pushing herself up from the ground, she dusted off her hands before standing up straight. "This," gesturing to the large expanse of land enclosed in the white fencing, "is a Pokémon daycare."
"WHAT! REALLY?" mouth hanging open Dawn couldn't believe she hadn't figured that out already.
"Yup!" smiling proudly with her hands on her hips, Willow found it only fair that she indulge in the attention, at least when it came to this particular topic.
"What did you losers think this was?" and Paul's snide comment snapped Dawn out of her shock. And she gave him an irritated scowl.
"How many do you look after at a time Willow?"
"Well Brock, I'd have to say…" glancing skyward she began counting on her fingers before just turning back to him and smiling again, "I don't really know. It's not my job to keep track of that. Plus we have a lot of room so there's never really any need to worry about that. After all not once have we even met capacity!"
"Well that makes sense." Looking over the grassy fields that seemed to reach for miles, the pokébreeder nodded contemplatively.
"But if it's not your job then whose is it?" Ash scratched at his cap covered head wonderingly.
"Huh?" was Willow's intelligent response. Of course Paul came to her 'rescue' or in other words essentially jumped on the chance to make his rival look like an idiot.
"Her parents own the daycare, she doesn't run it herself." He'd just barely avoided adding an extra 'idiot' at the end of that sentence, it sucked that he had to try and watch what he said in front of his own girlfriend but it was better than her actually getting mad at him.
"Oh, heheh that makes sense." Ash sheepishly averted his eyes and Paul was assured that his remark had had the desired effect.
"Uh-huh…" only paying half of her attention to the conversation for a second she remembered something that had slipped her mind. "Hey Paul, so where is Chimchar anyway?"
Paul froze, so much for avoiding a fight, she'd flip when he told her what he'd done.
"I mean is he with Reggie too or-"
"I released him."
"Wait… you what?"
"I said I released him."
"Why'd you do that?"
Not willing to look at her while he said it he averted his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. "He was useless so I got rid of him."
"You WHAT!" all of his Pokémon took a step back from her at that instant. But who could blame them? Pokémon were naturally sensitive to oncoming natural disasters.
Repeating himself would just mean digging his grave all the deeper so he kept quite, he did, however, hazard a glace in her direction and instantly regretted it when he saw the look she was giving him. It was rare, rare to the point that most of the time it was thought impossible for Willow to actually lose her temper but unfortunately this wasn't the first time Paul had incurred her wrath.
"HOW could you just ABANDON him! And I bet it was no where even remotely NEAR where you caught him! What's he supposed to do by himself in unfamiliar territory! Paul you-"
"Um… Willow?"
"WhatAsh?" she hadn't intended to spread her anger to the other let alone do something like this in front of total strangers but despite trying to, she couldn't help how the words came out hissed.
"You mean this Chimchar?" holding up the pokéball that held the aforementioned Chimchar the Pokémon was released in a flash of red light.
Looking up at his trainer and the rest of his friends Chimchar stood there confused for a moment. Ash hadn't called him out for battle and it didn't look like lunch time… so then why…? Turning, Chimchar flinched back at seeing Paul but when something, or rather someone stepped into his line of sight his eyes trailed up till he could see their face. "Chim-Char!" launching himself at the girl he actually burst out crying. She'd been the only thing Chimchar had actually lost when Paul had abandoned him and he'd been seriously afraid he'd never see her again!
"Chi-chi-chimchaaaaaar!"
"It's okay Chimchar. I've got you." Rocking back and forth on her heels she rubbed the small chimp Pokémon's back. Giving her boyfriend a quick glare over her shoulder she returned her attention to Ash. "Thanks so much for taking him in Ash. I know it probably doesn't mean much coming from someone you don't know but I really appreciate it." She said it with such sincerity that Ash actually blushed.
"In fact to show you how grateful I am why don't you guys stay here for the night? Our beds are way more comfortable than the ones at the Pokécenter."
Waving her hands in front of her as if it would dissipate the idea like waving away a smog attack, Dawn spoke up, "We couldn't do that! We wouldn't want to intrude."
"No way! It's fine I promise. We usually take in travelers if the Pokécenter reaches capacity so we have a few extra rooms."
"Hold on Willow, what would your parents say." It was either brave or stupid of him to speak to her right now but he'd risk it if it meant those losers wouldn't be saying with them too. The cold narrow eyed look she gave him actually made him flinch visibly so he decided that speaking up against this wasn't such a good idea after all.
"For your information, my parents have been gone for the past few days and won't be back till the end of the weekend."
Two days. Those were two days he could have spent with his girlfriend without her parents there. He could barely even remember how long he'd wished for the chance… and now it was ruined. There was still hope though she'd only said they could stay for one night.
"It's fine Willow. We'll probably be in town for a couple days anyway to restock our supplies and do some training." Brock added, though that was only part of it. He hardly wanted it rubbed in his face that even a jerk like Paul could get a girlfriend but he couldn't.
"I insist. You guys can stay as long as you need to." And so Paul's last hope was shot down… on the bright side Willow was smiling again so maybe her bad mood wouldn't return.
"Well… okay then." They all murmured. None of them could really give a good enough reason to not stay and to tell the truth they all had their own reasons to stay anyway.
Looking around again at the vast fields and huge barn Dawn noticed that things seemed pretty barren and way too quiet for a Pokémon daycare. "Hey Willow?"
"Yeah Dawn?"
"Where are all the Pokémon? Are you not looking after any since your parents aren't here or…" trailing off she didn't really have an 'or' statement to follow that.
"Oh, right! They're all over the place."
"But I don't see any."
"Huh?" looking around at her home Willow could clearly see what the other girl meant. It was awfully quite wasn't it? "Oh then they're probably in the barn or the house maybe… either way they're around here somewhere."
Taking a step back in the direction of the gate, Willow, carefully adjusted her grip on Chimchar as she gestured for the others to follow. "C'mon, I'll show you guys inside. We'll get you set up in some rooms and I can introduce you to the other Pokémon."
Here's a new chapter for the new year. But it doesn't feel done quite yet so I might still add another chapter at some point.
Tell me what you think.