#cedric juniper

Chapter 3: Silly Stick In The Muds

"Where's Grandpa Cedric?" Hilda managed to speak while stuffing another helping of Spaghetti in her mouth. "He's totally missing out on this killer spread."

"Killer" was an understatement. To Hilda's left were bowls of a variety of pastas that Aurea cooked to perfection and the kind of Garlic Knots even a Vampire would consider nibbling. To her right were more junk food from all the frozen pizzas they saved for the special occasion to pastries bought from the General Store.

There were brownies and cookies freshly baked. Soda of every brand practically had Hilda burping just by looking at them all. Aurea was a real stickler for health so it would only take a day special like today kick veggies to the curb.

"Believe me, Dad wanted to at least stop by more than anything," Professor Juniper promised her goddaughter while sticking to the lemon-lime sodas.

"Sadly his meeting with the League dragged on longer than expected." She refrained from calling Hilda out on her table manners just this once but it was quite the endeavor to say the least.

"I'll make sure to save dessert for him," the young lady gladly promised before starting on her third brownie.

"He told me that four suits will be over tomorrow for a surprise inspection," Aurea continued while eating her portion of Rotini. "And it's not just to see if our labs passes the white glove test." She swallowed properly with a sip from her soda. "Dad was also arranging it so they could see you and Oshawott in action."

Hilda had to actively suppress herself from giving a classic spit take with her cola. "Why me?" she demanded to know after swallowing her soda. "I passed the written portion and demonstrated my practical skills with Minnie perfectly." Knowing there was more testing threatened to kill her appetite if not for the promise of ice cream.

"Believe me, we were both on your side," Aurea swore wearily. "But four 'impartial observers' are coming over to test you in battle so you allegedly didn't get by because we're your guardians." Her loud eating revealed her growing irritation. "Their words, not mine." She finally caved and took a chocolate-chip cookie to sweeten her souring mood.

Hilda was about to give out her very honest opinion about the Pokemon League's bureaucracy when she heard Oshawott audibly gulp. [I didn't hear anything about a test,] her Starter nervously claimed. Hilda looked to her left and down towards where Oshawott was eating out of his bowl next to Minnie against a wall. [Will... we be okay?] She could tell that he was caught off-guard just as much as she was.

"Let them come," Hilda declared, putting on a far more cocksure demeanor. "If those suits want us at our best, it'll be at their own peril." She pumped her fist in the air in a show of attitude.

"As they say in Sinnoh, there's no need to worry." When Aurea wasn't looking, Hilda opened her fist and let a cookie, a brownie and a Garlic Knot drop. She winked cheekily like a spoiling Grandmother.

[Of course, I'm not worried,] Oshawott insisted while putting on a more confident smile to mirror Hilda's. [What's one last battle before we tackle Unova?] Needless to say, this sudden news had his mind on high alert.

"We'll knock 'em dead," Hilda vowed before turning back to her buttered Ziti with salt before it can cool too much. "Literally if it comes to it..."

Once he saw his Trainer turn away and talk more with Aurea, Oshawott's smile sunk into his trademarked frown of anxiety. [More like they'll knock us dead...] he muttered to himself with a more quieter hard swallow.

The Sea Otter Pokemon sat before his bowl where it was half brown Poke-Bits Aurea approved of and half table food Hilda dropped down for her furry friends. However, Oshawott could feel growing anxieties muscle in on his appetite despite his best efforts.

What if he was too weak and cost Hilda her Trainer's license altogether?

What if they took him away from Hilda and gave her Snivy as a compensation?

What if... Hilda got too fed up and left him behind?

[Cookie for your thoughts?] Oshawott heard Minnie cheerfully ask. A chocolate chip cookie landing in his bowl managed to snap him out of his spiral of distress.

He looked up and found the Chinchilla Pokemon happily lugging a bounty of pastries in her paws alone. [Or perhaps you are more of a brownie type of Pokemon?] She dumped them all on the ground and seemed happy to make a mess this time around.

[Can't say,] Oshawott replied, trying to shake his earlier fears off of his face. [Never really tried one before.] He took the one he was offered and ate it if only to distract him however much. It proved to be more than just busy work as he found the delicious flavor wash over his tongue.

[Mmmmmm,] Oshawott moaned with a more genuine smile while chewing. [It's so tasty.] It actually seemed to alleviate his anxieties however minimal for the moment. [Thank you very much, Minnie.] The Sea Otter Pokemon bowed graciously.

[You are truly welcome,] Minnie cheerfully claimed while eating another brownie. [The Professor's pastries do have a knack for lifting one's spirits, don't they?] The Chinchilla Pokemon dropped a few more cookies into her friend's bowl.

[Am I really that on the nose?] Oshawott sighed in embarrassment, hanging his head.

[Every Starter Pokemon I have met working at the lab has the precise pre-Trainer jitters you feel,] Minnie reassured him while sitting next to him. [Rest assure when I tell that you have already won over Hilda's heart.] She offered him another cookie personally to help his mood along.

Oshawott knew Minnie was oversimplifying his anxieties but didn't feel comfortable divulging too much. He took the cookie and ate it if only to soothe his troubled heart. The Minccino's cordial demeanor made her seem approachable enough. With a hard swallow, the Sea Otter Pokemon decided to dip his toes as the humans often coined.

[I can tell Hilda liked me... now,] Oshawott ventured forth, the last part whispered to himself. [It's the inspection that has me worried.] He tried a brownie to keep himself for going down another spiral in front of Minnie. [I would hate to make her look bad.] It was nice but a tad... strong in flavor for his personal palette.

[That is terribly considerate of you but nothing you need fret about,] Minnie promised while indulging in one more cookie and making a cheeky smile. [Hilda's perfectly capable of making herself look terrible alone.]

Oshawott could keep himself for giggling but managed to cover his mouth so his Trainer wouldn't hear. [Is that your expert opinion?] he logically but jokingly guessed, his laugh dying down. He silently appreciated Minnie's attempts at keeping him cheered up.

[I shall allow you be the judge,] the Minccino joked back while eating some of the Pokemon food in the bowl. [In all seriousness, I have seen Hilda work most of her life for this moment.] She exchanged a rather spunky grin with Oshawott to give some extra confidence. [Those stuffy suits are in for the scuffle of their lives if they believe she will go quietly.]

The Sea Otter Pokemon's anxieties still remained yet were alleviated by Minnie's infectious kindness. [I got the impression,] Oshawott began, snickering when he remembered Aurea's earlier phone call to Hilda. [Even so... I don't suppose you could battle in my place when the inspection begins.] He just thought of it and began to hope.

[I believe they want to see how you battle under her specifically,] Minnie promised uneasily, trying to let his friend down easily. [I can tell you now that they are most particular to a fault.] It was hard for her to see Oshawott's expression become dejected all over again. That is until a thought had struck her like lightening and made her smile once more.

[But I can still assist you,] Minnie exclaimed while pounding her right paw in her left palm, a gesture she'd seen Oshawott do.

Around that moment, Aurea yawned contently after feeling stuffed to the brim with food before feeling embarrassed by an accidental burp. She covered her mouth with her fingers with a blush before Hilda stiffed a snickering.

"And on that note, I'll turn in before I pass out," Aurea declared before standing up from her seat, collecting her empty plates. "You will leave enough for Dad tomorrow, right?" She gave a rather stern but knowing look at Hilda. The Professor caught the teen shamelessly snatching up a few more pastries in to a ziplock bag with an eager smile.

"Meal time is a battle unto itself," Hilda declared, smirking with her eyes closed. "Those who fail to strike first are destined to fail." Any attempt at sounding wise and thoughtful was undermined when she nibbled on yet another cookie.

"Right..." Aurea replied with a weary sigh. "Just head up to your room and have your lights out by ten." She stacked her plates before carrying them towards the sink. "Every second of shut-eye counts if we're going to get those League busybodies of our backs."

The Professor had just turned on the facet when she heard Minccino squeaking excitedly and assumed it was just pleading for more treats. However, Hilda's gasping in response was keen to indicated otherwise much to Aurea's bemusement.

"Great Dragon alive," Hilda exclaimed while almost shooting straight up out of her seat, slapping her palm on her forehead. "Literally how did I just forget until now?" She took out her Poke Ball and clicked the white button to unlock it via enlarging it.

"Return, Oshawott!" Hilda declared while aiming it squarely at her Starter Pokemon. The Sea Otter Pokemon had only just looked up from his bowl in confusion when the red beam made contact and pulled him back to the Ball in seconds.

"Okay, I'll bite," Aurea sighed wearily, smelling shenanigans from a mile away. "What are you up to this-" She had only just swung around and found Hilda holding out her Poke Ball with a rather determined grin. "-time?" The Professor found the expression rather... nostalgic.

"Aurea Juniper," Hilda began, fully invested in her dramatics, "I challenge you to a Pokemon Battle!" She even locked eyes with her Auntie Aurea to complete the classic cliche.

The Professor could only give her own battle-ready grin back in response. Now that was a face she couldn't say "No" to.

------

"Oshawott!" Hilda declared. "I choose you!"

Oshawott opened his eyes after feeling his body solidify again and shook his head slightly to clear his fuzzy vision. He was wondering what was going on when Minnie and Professor Juniper came into view, finding them about a yard across from him on the grass.

His confusion only grew when he looked to his left and found a big tree in front of what he could only assumed what Hilda's house from behind.

[Did I miss something?] Oshawott asked nobody in particular, still feeling disoriented from the impromptu recall.

"Just a little high note to end the day on," he heard Hilda jovially declared from behind him. "Namely: our very first battle together."

Oshawott turned around to find her kneeling down and grinning eagerly down at him. She had two black shoes on and a black vest for the outdoors but the Sea Otter Pokemon was too out of sorts to fully notice.

[Battle?!] Oshawott exclaimed, his confusion morphing to concern. [Right now?!] He turned back towards Minnie and Professor Juniper to find their faces each wore a confident smirk. An expression often made when accepting a challenge for Pokemon and humans alike. The kind that made him gulp hard.

[Oh... my...] Oshawott meekly muttered, his paws to his mouth.

"I know," Hilda squealed, mistaking her Starter's fear for a more tempered excitement. "It feels like a dream, doesn't it?" She stood sprung back up to be ready for anything.

More like a nightmare, Oshawott forced himself into thinking before putting on a more "appropriate" expression. [Feels a dream come true!] The Sea Otter Pokemon declared while showing Hilda a far more cocksure demeanor not unlike his Trainer's own. [Just give the word.]

A glance to his right led Oshawott to notice an encouraging wink from Minnie before he recalled her offering to help him out. The Sea Otter Pokemon only hoped that she knew what she was doing more than he could guess.

"Sure you wanna do this?" Aurea quipped with a confident smirk, her hands in her lab coat pockets to complete the image. "I'm not pulling a single punch with Minnie if I can help it." An evening breeze blew in as if to set the mood.

"If you can help it, you'll need more than a single," Hilda volleyed back with a determined grin of her own. "Me and Oshawott are about to over-water your lawn."

[But I'm weak to Grass-types,] Oshawott replied unironically once the quip flew over his head.

"I... had a stronger quip originally," Hilda admitted awkwardly. "We'll workshop battle one-liners later."

She saw her Auntie Aurea and Minnie cocking her head over her trash talk before pulling out her Pokedex. Aiming it at Oshawott, the device gave a read out of his stats as well as the precise moves that he had under his belt.

"Water Gun!" Hilda declared with gutso, thrusting out her hand. "Soak 'em to the bone!"

Jumping from how fast things were going, Oshawott still made haste to gather Water-type energy into his throat. He told himself to just follow Hilda's orders and not lose his cool before blasting pressurized water in a straight beam aimed squarely on Minnie.

Hilda could vividly see the Minccino wigging out over their stinky, wet fur and grinned over her easy win. Perhaps... too easy.

"Swift!" Aurea shouted at the exact moment Oshawott started blasting. "Deflection on the double!"

Minnie lived up to the attack's name as she charged her tail with Normal-type Energy and leaped into the air to perform a double somersault. Both flips each had her tail whip and fling multiple star-shaped projectiles squarely at the Water Gun.

The first volley struck the pressurized water and reduced its force before the second finished off what was left of the blast. Whatever projectiles made it past hit Oshawott's body all over and made him cry out from the stinging.

By the time Minnie landed, the water splashed onto the ground and soaked the soil. She wasn't one to battle for the thrill of it but even she couldn't help but smile with pride over pulling off such a maneuver.

"Hang in there," Hilda urged Oshawott, gritting her teeth at the sight of him still starting to wobble from the impact.

[I'll be okay,] the Sea Otter Pokemon promised, trying not to lose face. The pain died down soon but not fast enough for his liking.

Hilda felt bad hearing how he groaned in trying to tough it out but was also concerned by how Minnie's attack hit him hard with just the leftovers.

"Wow, nice work," Aurea laughed playfully with a smarmy look in her eye. "You literally over-watered the lawn." She found Hilda's peeved reaction to be priceless. "Now if only you did your chores this well..."

Hilda felt more than a little peeved once she figured out that Aurea was hoping she's rush in blindly and that it was working. She pulled out the Pokedex to refresh herself on Oshawott's set of moves and considered Tail Whip for a moment. However, Hilda was so keen to get in a hit that she overlooked it almost entirely in favor of the more offensive attacks.

Plus, it looked a tad too silly.

"Razor Shell!" Hilda declared to Oshawott. "Cut 'em down to size!"

The Sea Otter Pokemon was initially confused by his Trainer wanting to get in close range so soon but didn't want to come off as too scared. [Already on it,] Oshawott swore to Hilda with a firm glare while channeling his Water-type Energy throughout his body. Whatever his Trainer had in mind, he had to trust that it would work.

Oshawott took his Scalchop off of his bellybutton with both paws and made a dash towards Minnie. He channeled his Water-type Energy into his shell and created a glowing blue blade on it from the moisture in the air attracted by his power. The Sea Otter Pokemon's flippers splashed on the puddles left from his previous Water Gun and held his sword steadily by his right.

Aurea only briefly pondered why Hilda was attacking this boldly before realizing how close Oshawott was getting. "Minnie, dodge and counter with Tail Slap!" She was intrigued by what her protege would do next.

Oshawott got in close and tried to deliver a downward slash from his right to left. However, Minnie jumped to her left and narrowly avoided the Shell Blade while channeling Normal-type Energy into her tail.

"To your right!" Hilda warned quickly, knowing where the Minccino would jump to evade.

Within this split-second, Oshawott recovered fast enough to swing back to his right in hopes of at least grazing his foe. However, Minnie powered up her tail in time to spin around and swing it to slap the Shell Blade in an attempt to deflect it. The impact was strong enough to knock the Scalchop out of Oshawott's grip and sharply sting the Chinchilla Pokemon on the tail.

Minnie landed back on the ground and winced at the barely deflected strike. The blade in question spiraled in the air before stabbing the ground shell up. It was still stable with just enough energy leftover to Hilda's far left near the tree. However, that didn't concern her just then.

"Tackle her Oshawott!" Hilda urged during this very sliver of time. "Now's your chance."

It was rudimentary for Oshawott to channel Normal-type Energy throughout his body within a second's time and rush forward within the next. Aurea and Minnie alike had only just begun to consider countermeasures when the Sea Otter Pokemon rammed into his furry foe. The Minccino went flying and would've hit the fence if she hadn't first landing on the grass.

"A solid hit at last!" Hilda cheered. "Way to clean her clock, Oshawott!"

The Sea Otter Pokemon began to smile both from his Trainer's cheering and the rush of his successful attack. What seemed like embarrassment tailor made for klutzy Oshawott seemed more like a triumphant victory. He never knew his confidence could reach such heights.

"Nice follow through," Aurea commented to herself, hoping her proud smile didn't show too much. She kept an eye out for Minnie getting up and an ear out for Hilda's next move.

"Keep Minnie on the ropes!" her goddaughter urged Oshawott, eager to win. "Water Gun her down!"

[Consider her soaked to the bone,] the Sea Otter Pokemon declared, hoping to work on his own quips. Oshawott charged his throat with Water-type Energy and blasted another beam of pressurized water directly at Minnie. The way she seemed unsteady in getting back up made him believe that she was easy picking.

At first.

"Evasive maneuvers, Minnie!" Aurea ordered just when Oshawott fired away. "Zig-zag!" She saw Minnie's pained expression shift to something more confident as she'd expected.

The Chinchilla Pokemon dodged the Water Gun by jumping forth to her left and scurried back towards her right when the beam followed. All the while, Oshawott kept his blast trained on Minnie's tail intently and hoped to catch her once she came in range. He believed she was getting in close to get him with a proper Tail Slap and that he could wash her away at the right distance. Minnie indeed came within a foot of him... just when his Water Gun dried up.

["Not now!"] Hilda and Oshawott exclaimed together in that very second, even sharing the same slacked jaws of shock.

The Sea Otter Pokemon expected one hell of a smack across the face when Minnie jumped up and somersaulted over him. "Grab him from behind!" Oshawott heard Professor Juniper order when his shock became confusion. He was slow to turn around and allowed the Minccino to swiftly latch onto his back. Her stubby arms quickly proved to be surprisingly firm in holding onto his sides.

[What is this?] Oshawott demanded to know, feeling cautious yet baffled all at once. He struggled to shake Minnie off but she kept hold of him and didn't let him budge an inch.

"T-that position..." Hilda exclaimed with bated breath and fear growing in her eyes. "Let him go, Minnie!" She had prayed that the Professor had the decency to make it a last resort. "It's too soon for that move!"

Aurea sharply looked at Hilda with a rather cold glare. "I warned you, didn't I?" the Professor reminded her goddaughter firmly. "That I wouldn't pull a single punch." She sighed deeply in knowing what's to come. "Take this to heart, Hilda: pick your battles wisely or they'll pick you off."

[W-w-w-wait a minute,] Oshawott stammered in growing dread. [What's happening?] Minnie's devious giggling behind him sent chills down his spine.

[I apologize for my... overindulgence,] the Minccino answered villanously before bringing her tail around. [I so often get carried away once the ball gets rolling.] With sadistic glee, she began brushing Oshawott's bare belly and sneered a toothy grin. [And right now... we're going down a terribly steep slope.]

The Sea Otter Pokemon immediately burst out laughing from the ticklish sensation and wriggled about crazily in Minnie's hold. [Ple-he-he-he-he-hease,] Oshawott begged with the biggest smile in his partial enjoyment while shutting his eyes in embarrassment. [It's... too... mu-hu-hu-hu-huch.]

Oshawott could feel his body weakening in composure and dropping in basic Defense. Part of him was worried that he'd be too shaken up to brace himself for a Swift let alone a Tail Slap. Another part of him was too busy laughing happily in tears.

"Forgive me, Oshawott..." Hilda melodramatically begged with clenched teeth and fists. "I never thought this would end so... so... " She shut her eyes and tried to look away in shame. Not just for putting her Starter through this. "...so... adorably..." Rather for delighting in how cute his plight was.

Aurea was a bit more open about enjoying Minnie's going to Tickle Town on Oshawott while looking at her X-Transceiver. "Almost thirty seconds," she remarked to herself, deciding to not let the Minccino's sadism get out of hand. "I'm not that big of a monster." The Professor figured that she'd end it quickly with a Tail Slap as a show of some modicum of mercy.

All the while, Oshawott still struggled with Minnie's grip and tickling. [You're a special one, aren't you?] he heard the Minccino slyly taunted. [Not even Hilda would last this long.] The Sea Otter Pokemon couldn't help but be reminded of how Snivy toyed with him if in more cold-blooded manner. Beneath his laughing smile, he was beginning to feel just as helpless and even worthless.

At this rate, Oshawott managed to think through the tickles, Hilda won't want a pathetic thing like me.

However, the thought of surrendering verbally only began to occur to him when he felt the soil beneath him soften. Both Oshawott and Minnie slipped backwards all of a sudden in their struggling when the dirt suddenly became mud.

[WHOA!] they both cried before the Minccino took the brunt of it, landing on her back. Oshawott felt Minnie let go of her grip and rolled off onto the ground from the forceful fall.

"Whoa, plot twist!" both Hilda and Aurea exclaimed in their surprised.

It doesn't take long for them to notice puddles on the grass glistening in the setting sun. Hilda's quicker to remember how Minnie's Swift splashed Oshawott's Water Gun and scattered the liquid like a sprinkler. In the corner of her eye, she sees Oshawott's Scalchop in a particularly damp spot.

"Clever boy!" Hilda muttered to herself in growing pride while taking out her Pokedex. "Oshawott, end this with Razor Shell!" She grinned more and more once she'd read up on the attack's other applications.

Oshawott still felt shaken and stirred by Minnie's tail but spotted his Scalchop just before the big tree ahead. [I can still do it...] he whispered in disbelief. The Sea Otter Pokemon rose back up and raced forth with a more determined look on his face. [I can still win this!]

"No, no, no," Aurea cried in frustration, seeing Oshawott rushing towards his shell. "Minnie, what are you-?"

The Professor got her answer in the form of the Minccino squeaking in distress and darted towards her Pokemon in fright. There was Minnie looking all over the mud covering her body. An expression of pure discomfort covered her face from cheek to cheek.

[My evening grooming...] Minnie shakily croaked out, cringing over the icky grime that would slime her to the bone. [It was innocent...]

"Time and place, neat freak!" Aurea barked irritably. She thankfully missed Hilda's triumphant grin at that moment.

"Curve your Shell Blade, Oshawott," the rookie ordered excitedly, imagining Unovan football for this next maneuver. "Go long!"

By this time, Oshawott had reached his Scalchop while channeling Water-type Energy throughout his body and grabbed it. With a bit of finesse, he created a new Shell Blade out of the water in the dirt and had it curve out of its side.

The Sea Otter Pokemon swung around to focus on Minnie while she was still out of sorts from her mud bath. Finding the precise angle, Oshawott threw the Shell Blade like a Frisbee and had it spin in the air just like one.

"Duck, Minnie!" Aurea cried out in time.

Minnie snapped out of her spiral of disgust in time to gasp upon seeing the spinning Shell Blade heading straight for her. She bowed her head down fast and felt it whoosh over her, avoiding her by just half a centimeter.

[Whew!] Minnie sighed in relief. [That was a near thing.]

["More than you think,"] Hilda and Oshawott quipped together in a synchronized moment of confidence.

Minnie found herself thrown off by their retort before the Shell Blade boomerangs around and comes up behind her. It doesn't slice or pierce the Chinchilla Pokemon's torso but the sharp slash is painful and strong enough to knock her back down. This time, the Minccino's face goes splat in even grimier mud. She was so weakened that she didn't have the strength to wig out properly.

Oshawott, on the other hand, jumped up a tad to catch his Scalchop with his right paw once the Shell Blade had dwindled down. [I... I did it...] he muttered in increasing bewilderment after landing. [I really won...] The Sea Otter Pokemon looked down at his shell while catching his breath and began to smile softly.

Oshawott's meditation over his victory was sharply disrupted first by the sound of Hilda's unbridled laughter and her sudden hold on his torso. "Victory toss!" his Trainer declared while actually tossing the Sea Otter Pokemon into air. He wailed in fright while getting his Scalchop back onto his bellybutton before he can lose it again.

Hilda reached out her arms to catch Oshawott perfectly and held him up to her right cheek, giggling giddily. "It's official!" she declared while nuzzling her cheek against her Pokemon friend's. "You're the best Starter a girl could've asked for!"

Oshawott felt his initial shock wear off and give way to delight over the infectious affection that Hilda was showering him. He gave a nuzzle to his Trainer while laughing himself over his unlikely victory. The Sea Otter Pokemon almost felt like he was dreaming after all of Snivy's put-downs since hatching.

"Forget those suits," Hilda cheered before holding up Oshawott to her soft chest in a hug. "Might as well go straight to the Champion while we're at it." She twirled around while still riding the high of her narrow victory before stepping in a soft patch of mud.

Both Pokemon and Trainer alike yelped comically before Hilda landed butt first onto the still soggy grounds, bracing with her elbows. Oshawott landed safely back first on her chest after she'd let him go in the moment. However, their pratfall wasn't enough to sour their mood as they looked at each other with a mutual grin and another giggle.

All the while, Minnie had gotten back up with a mud facial and spat out some that got in her mud. [One reaps what they sow...] she sighed in utter resignation, looking at all the mud on her paws alone. [It's nothing short of karmic after my... shameless display.] The Minccino could only hang her head and cringe when remembering how overboard she went in Tickling Oshawott.

"Sorry to make things mucky, Minnie," Aurea apologized while coming over and squatting down. "I actually didn't think that Hilda and Oshawott could pull off that boomerang maneuver right out the gate." She brought out a Super Potion and sprayed it all over Minnie to help her with that Critical Hit. "So much for humbling the rookies..."

However, neither Professor nor Pokemon could help looking over and smiling mutually over Hilda's happy fall in the mud with Oshawott. Part of them were glad to have lost. Even Minnie didn't mind her uncleanliness. Outwardly, of course.

After getting back inside, Hilda had thrown her muddy clothes in the bathroom's laundry bin and stepped into the tub for a thorough shower. She knew that Minnie wouldn't allow anything less after their little tumble in the mud.

Surprisingly, the Chinchilla Pokemon had offered to go second if only as an apology for her excessive tickling. Hilda could only imagine the amount of self-control she was burning through by the second while she turned the knob.

[Do I really need a shower too?] Oshawott bellyached while his Trainer held him in her right arm. [I didn't get too dirty, did I?] He winced the second that the shower head sprayed him with the initial cold water and tried to keep it out of his eyes.

"Any 'dirty' is 'too dirty' in Minnie's book," Hilda assured Oshawott, amused that even Water-types hated bath time. "Trust me, I've have plenty of romp in the mud to figure that out." She squirted out a bit of bath lotion from a bottle of Pokemon Fur Wash and began to lather the back of her Starter's head.

"Speaking of the old grime, I don't think I thanked you properly," Hilda added while letting the suds wash off.

[What for?] Oshawott asked in confusion, raising his arm so his Trainer could lather his sides.

"For that brilliant turnaround you pulled off, duh!" Hilda exuberantly praised while digging into her Pokemon's fur. "You felt the ground softening below you and figured that it was just muddy enough to make Minnie slip with you." She giggled as the moment replayed in her mind.

[I did?] Oshawott asked before quickly course correcting. [I mean... I, uh, didn't realize it was so obvious.] He tried to sound more confident even while Hilda started to scrub his muddy flippers with a little tickle.

"Aren't you just the model of modesty tonight?" his Trainer sassed back playfully, endeared by Oshawott trying to play it cool. She even gave him a peck on the noggin if only to see him blush.

After a thorough drying, Hilda flopped backwards onto her bed after a change into her pink pajamas. "Trust the best day ever to run me ragged," she sighed deeply while letting her limbs sprawl all over nearly listlessly. "Time to hit the hay, Oshawott."

[I don't know what that means,] the Sea Otter Pokemon admitted by the side of Hilda's bed, [but I don't feel sleepy at all.] His Trainer extended her right arm down to let him hold onto and lifted him up.

"Neither do I but we need every bit of shut-eye we can get," Hilda conceded while putting Oshawott on the bed beside her. "The better to kick those suits in the butt with." She gave him a good pat on the head to get him smiling.

"Never thought I'd see the day," the pair heard Aurea's voice from the doorway, finding her poking her head in. "Hilda herself actually exercising some modicum of restraint as a Trainer?" The sassy look in her eyes spoke volumes alone.

"It's more likely than you think," Hilda retorted with cheek, blowing a raspberry. Oshawott tried to imitate his Trainer but only wiggled his tongue with a little spittle.

"So was our battle everything you hoped for?" Aurea then asked with a more softer demeanor.

"Everything and more," Hilda promised happily, lifting herself up to sit and smile back. "You... think she'd be proud?" Oshawott couldn't help but not a slight melancholy in his Trainer's voice.

"Always has been," Aurea replied sincerely. "And I know she always will." Oshawott also noticed a slight tear in her eye.

[Do hurry, Professor!] Minnie cried from the bathroom, interrupting the tender moment. [It has begun hardening... entombing me in eternal filth...] Aurea didn't need Hilda to know how melodramatic she was being. [Great Dragon alive, save me!]

"Wish me luck," Aurea sighed before closing the door. "Or a miracle..."

Hilda and Oshawott snickered considerably once the Professor was clearly out of earshot. [I wish today didn't have to end so soon,] Oshawott sighed before plopping down on his bottom.

"Who says it has to?" Hilda cheekily claimed with a mischievous grin. She took out her Personal Computer and tapped it to release an item from her Inventory.

Multiple bags of dinner leftover scattered across the mattress much to Oshawott's surprise. He walked across the matresss to find that there were brownies, cookies and even some Garlic Knots. By the smell of things, they were still fresh and warm. The Sea Otter Pokemon gave a bright smile of hopefulness back at his Trainer.

"Auntie Aurea said to turn in but nothing about going to sleep just yet," Hilda declared while opening a zip-lock bag of chocolate-chip cookies. "Let's say that we're... practicing your speed and timing." She had her thump flip a cookie like tossing a coin while each one of her own.

From the other half of the bed, Oshawott was quick to move left in order to catch the treat in his mouth. He chewed on it lovingly and swallowed it just when he saw Hilda flick over a brownie. The Sea Otter Pokemon dove to his right and let it land on his tongue.

[Yeah,] Oshawott giggled with his mouth full, winking back knowingly. [Wouldn't want to slack off now, would we?]

It was the perfect end to a perfect first day. They'd never have known how good they had it then...

So let's start with the Anderson sisters, aka Sylvia and Denise's moms!

(reference images made using Picrew and Love Nikki)

Martha Goldwood

Gender: female (she/her)

Orientation: pansexual

Birthday: June 25th

Height: 5'7

Hair color: light blonde

Eye color: green

Color scheme: wide variety but purples, greens, and blues are most common

Ethnicity: Unovan

Interests: Pokemon battling, traveling, skiing, photography, baking, gardening/botany, swimming*, boating

Fashion sense is similar to her daughters'—romantic and feminine but not overly elaborate or impractical. Almost always wears at least 1 clothing garment/accessory that has flowers or floral patterns

Born in Icirrus City to parents Rosemary and Henry Anderson; lived there until leaving to become a Pokemon Trainer in her late teens due to dissatisfaction with her quiet life at home

Met her husband Roger Goldwood (a musician and aspiring composer) while visiting Driftveil City and convinces him to take a journey of his own. The two travel to many regions together and grow quite close as a result

Married Roger at age 26 and moved with him to Nuvema Town; their daughter Sylvia was born when she was 27

When they were both 28 her husband passes away due to drowning in the Abyssal Ruins in search of clues pertaining to the Mythical Pokemon Meloetta. His partner Samurott swims back home from Undella Bay to bring his body to Martha, then passes away from grief a few days after. Martha is quite grief-stricken herself and traumatized to the point that she can no longer bring herself to swim in the sea anymore, but she doesn't want her daughter to grow up fearing the ocean he loved. She continues to take Sylvia to Nuvema's shoreline to swim and go on boating trips as he once dreamed of doing with her, but she keeps Roger's true cause of death hidden from her to shield her daughter from experiencing trauma where her father wanted her to experience joy. Sylvia spends two decades believing her father died when she was very young of a "mysterious illness."

Becomes a florist after her husband's passing after receiving many sympathy flowers from friends/neighbors and gaining an appreciation for how floral arrangements can convey emotion and meaning

Noticed Sylvia's interest in music at an early age and fostered it by signing her up for music lessons, initially piano and singing but this eventually expanded to multiple other instruments. She encouraged her musical development after she noticed how performing onstage helped her daughter become less shy and more confident, and was overjoyed that Roger's "little songbird" inherited his gift.

As Sylvia started to develop burnout from music Martha suggested she take a Pokemon journey for a change of pace, as she once did when she was her age, but not before much deliberation as raising Sylvia was one of her biggest solaces after losing her husband. Even though she expected it, she has to fight to suppress the rising wave of grief when her daughter chooses Oshawott as her first Pokemon.

Personality: introverted as a child/adolescent but grew up to be more ambiverted as an adult, nurturing, secretive, loyal to loved ones to the point of self-detriment

Notable Pokemon: Serperior, Florges

Jennifer Anderson-Hitoki

Gender: female (she/her)

Orientation: bisexual

Birthday: August 9th

Height: 5'5

Hair color: blonde

Eye color: green

Color scheme: mostly pinks, whites, and yellows with occasional oranges and reds

Ethnicity: Unovan

Interests: Pokemon nutrition and hygiene, traveling, hiking, biking, skiing, baking, mythology, teaching

Fashion is practical and upbeat, professional but with a bit of a sporty touch. Shares her daughter's distaste for unneeded flourish unless it's for a deliberate purpose

Born 4 years after Martha and raised in Icirrus City along with her; spent a lot of time at the local Pokemon Fan Club where she fell in love with the art of raising Pokemon. Left home at age 10 to become a professional Pokemon Breeder

Despite some setbacks she was quite successful and traveled the world competing in various events for Pokemon Breeders at the regional, national, and even worldwide level. Her biggest rival was Ryuji Hitoki from Goldenrod City, who outcompeted her every time they met until she finally triumphed over him in a competition known as the Pokemon Breeders' World Cup

Despite their rivalry Jen has a lot of respect for Ryu and vice versa; they fell in love slowly but surely and moved to Ecruteak City after their engagement. Jen was 23 on her wedding day and 25 when her daughter Denise was born

Retained influence in the Pokemon Breeder scene even after leaving the world stage—she opened a store to sell her original blend of Pokemon food and other care products, and does occasional traveling to give seminars to aspiring Trainers/Breeders

Her marriage grew unstable throughout Denise's childhood, initially due to differing opinions on how to raise her/her future (particularly whether she would follow in her parents' footsteps), but the arguments escalated and started to extend to other things as well. Eventually Ryuji had enough and left on another journey without a word, effectively abandoning his wife and daughter. 35 year-old Jen is heartbroken, confused and angry but tries to keep up a cheerful facade for her daughter's sake (and because she blames her temperamental side for driving her husband away). Unfortunately this only serves to infuriate Denise, then 10 years old, because she perceives it as her mother lying to her/denying reality, is biased toward Ryu because he was her primary caregiver and thus she won't blame him (well. not yet at least) and is also too young and hurt to blame herself. Jen spends the next 3 years struggling to navigate a strained relationship with her daughter and the new challenges of single motherhood while desperately trying to manage her own grief.

After giving up hope for Ryu's return she decides to move to Aspertia City to start a new life without him and to be a little closer to her older sister and niece, taking her daughter with her. Denise is once again furious because she sprung this on her without warning and views it as her mother taking her away from her friends/home for her own selfish reasons. Jen initially tries to rectify things but due to repeatedly trying and failing to effectively communicate with her daughter, she instead decides it's best to give Denise the space she needs to adjust and hope she eventually comes around (even if it means she spends 5 years barely leaving her room and basically only leaving the house to go to the library). They only interact when necessary, and when they do it usually ends with Denise getting angry and Jen feeling guilty and doubting her capabilities as a parent. This pattern continues up until Denise leaves on her own journey after turning 18.

After moving to Aspertia City she gets a job teaching at the city's Pokemon Trainers' School. Teaching the young students about Pokemon and helping them grow was a large source of comfort for her in the wake of her rather bleak family situation.

Personality: charmingly extroverted, tenacious, impatient, very blunt about her likes and dislikes

Notable Pokemon: Ninetales, Zebstrika

Random fun facts/lore

Due to Icirrus' City's close proximity to Dragonspiral Tower, a place of great importance in Unovan myth, Martha and Jennifer grew up listening to their parents retelling stories of the legendary Reshiram and Zekrom and the twin heroes that wielded their power; whenever they return to their hometown for holidays/festivals their daughters hear the same tales. As such all four have at least a mild interest in mythology; Jen loved Ecruteak because its reverence for its legendary Pokemon felt familiar to her and the myths surrounding them piqued her interest.

I shorten Jennifer to "Jen" a lot because it's convenient it's the name she asks most people call her; however, Martha and Martha alone has the privilege of calling her little sister "Jenny." Jen calls her older sister "Marthie."

Cedric Juniper was neighbors with Rosemary and Henry, and he was the one who gave the Anderson sisters their starter Pokemon. His daughter Aurea was also very good friends with the girls; Martha and Roger moved to Nuvema partly because it was just after she had established her laboratory there as Unova's new Pokemon Professor (the other reason was that Roger wanted to move somewhere near the ocean so he could have easy access to his father's old boat). Aurea was also the one who suggested to Jen that Denise go on a Pokemon journey to ease her depression and get to know Unova a little better.

Martha met her Florges—then a Flabébé—a few weeks after she started working at Nuvema's flower shop, where she walked to work one day to find a Pokemon she had never seen before admiring the store's outdoor floral displays. The Pokemon came back to visit multiple times before Martha eventually befriended and caught her; she's now her partner who keeps all her flowers vibrant and healthy. Flabébé took a shine to baby Sylvia and grew up alongside her, and it was through their relationship that Martha taught Sylvia how to look after Pokemon. Little Sylvia also loved to visit them at work and often bombarded her mom with questions about plants, which Martha always thought was adorable (though a little distracting).

Sylvia believing Roger died of a "mysterious illness" is actually a holdover from before I had figured out his true cause of death lmao. I wasn't nearly as meticulous with details about the girls' parents as I am now (they're a lot more interesting to me now that I'm older), but I knew I wanted him out of the picture for the Drama™ so I just made up an easy explanation and called it a day haha

Ninetales is Jennifer’s most prized and recognizable Pokemon, and the one that led her to victory in the Pokemon Breeders’ World Cup. She’s known Denise since she was born and has always been very close with her; Denise often stims by running her fingers through Ninetales’ fur. During Denise’s depressive period, Ninetales keeps her company up in her room and comforts her after she has fights with her mom. Jen's design and character is also loosely inspired by Ninetales with the pigtails and her "fiery" temperament.

Out of all the girls' parents Martha in her prime was the strongest Trainer, though Ryuji eventually reaches her level while being a deadbeat training to gain the strength to seek out Legendary Pokemon. She's strong enough to hold her own even against her daughter and niece and would be a strong contender for a Gym Leader if she battled more consistently, but she doesn't have much interest in doing so.

Jen is incredibly lucky that Team Plasma wasn't as prominent when she was a child because she would have been VERY susceptible to their propaganda—she loved Pokemon but used to hate Pokemon battles, as she couldn't stand seeing Pokemon in pain and with their fur all dirty from being repeatedly hit by moves. Even after she had Pokemon of her own, it took her quite a long time to accept that battling can be a source of joy and enrichment for them, and it's her responsibility as a Breeder to engage them with the activities they enjoy in order to raise them to be happy and healthy. She does come around eventually though, and she especially loves seeing a Pokemon's happy smile after winning a match.

Denise was in a very precarious position mental health-wise after her confrontation with Team Plasma (re: almost being frozen to death twice and developing PTSD after the Opelucid City attack), and she spent a few months back home to stabilize a little before resuming her travels. Jen put in a lot of effort to help her get back on her feet; she did lots of searching to help her daughter find a therapist she liked, particularly one who could help her repair her relationship with her Glaceon (who evolved in Opelucid City due to the freezing energy of the indestructible ice and Dena couldn't even look at her without suffering painful flashbacks). Their mother-daughter relationship was starting to heal by this point but Jen called Martha for backup just in case. She visited Aspertia City for a few weeks to help look after her niece while her sister was at work, and was someone Denise could talk to about things she didn't feel comfortable telling her mom yet. They had many conversations about grief, depression, and feeling overshadowed by family members (Jen was more spoiled than her older sister and grew up to be quite successful, while Sylvia was a musical prodigy who became Unova's hero and Denise has mixed feelings on being compared to her so often; she adores Syl but wants to be recognized as her own person rather than "Sylvia's cousin" or someone who reminds people of "that Trainer from two years ago"). Denise was very grateful for Martha's guidance/support and gave her a Shiny Stone as thanks, which is how she was able to evolve her Floette into Florges.

The scenario for how Ryu re-enters Jen and Denise's life keeps getting reworked because his character has evolved a lot over the years and I am an indecisive bitch so idk exactly how he returns, but I can say that Jennifer is rightfully furious with him for how his leaving nearly drove a permanent wedge between her and her daughter, and how much he hurt both of them (especially Denise). Jen wouldn't cut him off completely because Denise, despite her own anger (which is a whole other can of worms but that's another post for another day), just wants to heal her broken family for the sake of the little girl who wanted her dad back, but she would make it quite clear that she wants to file for divorce because she can't love him the same way after what he's done. She'd likely also change her last name back to just "Anderson."

Speaking of things that are a work in progress, sometime post-BW2 arc Martha gets remarried to a woman named Laurel Gropius, who's N's long-lost mother and a new-ish OC of mine (she's also briefly mentioned in what is currently the only fic on my AO3 which can be found here). The funny thing though is that since N is also Sylvia's love interest in my canon, Laurel is technically both her stepmom AND mother in law but don't worry about it (this family tree is far from the weirdest in fiction but it has some pretty funny quirks to it. Like Ghetsis being N's Actual Biological Father due to an incredibly Specific and Convoluted and Altogether Fucked Up Series Of Events but again. Another post)

Currently Jen does not have any other romantic partners after divorcing Ryu in the canon timeline, but in my Paldea AU she has a bit of a Situationship with Raifort. I really really want it to end wholesomely because the idea of Raifort as Denise's stepmom brings me SO much joy but I'm also addicted to the Toxic Yuri of it all soooo. Inconclusive but I do have a little ramble about them here for those interested.

Official Cedric Juniper Cards from the Pokémon TCG

Oh Arceus, that would be so hectic. Alexis and Emmet are bascically joltik magnets. Alexis natural affinity towards electric types, plus Emmet's Emmetiness = literally being covered in head to toe in a sea of Joltiks. It might get a bit dangerous, since they're often in Chargestone cave, so the electricity is a bit more particular here, but the little Joltiks are more occupied cuddling with Alexis and Emmet to really do any harm.

Like literally. The minute they step into the cave BAM. Joltiks. Everywhere. Emmets having the time of his life. Alexis probably expected this to happen. Cedric can't tell if he's glad to have so many Joltiks to help him with his own research, or terrified of the sheer power these two have over them. It doesn't help that they both have Galvantula's on their teams, so ofc the little Joltiks are gonna latch onto them. Emmet would definitely try to take all the Joltiks home ( poor Ingo). Some of the Joltiks would just latch onto Alexis cause of course they would. Alexis doesn't fight it,he accepted his fate. ( Lol imagine Alexis floating in a sea of Joltiks like 😑. Hgbgvcffvhb his time at the daycare prepared him for this very moment).