Chapter 109: Sora's Past
Sora met her husband on a winter night sixty years ago. They were both children, taking shelter from the snow in a stable. With them was a stray Skitty. Sora wanted to adopt the little Pokémon, but her strict family refused, even kicking her out of the house. Helpless, she ran into the boy again, who offered to adopt the Skitty himself so that she could visit it.
"I only found out later that he already had a little crush on me," Sora chuckled.
Seven or eight years passed. Their shared love for the Skitty brought them together, and they eventually married. They had a child and lived a happy, ordinary life for more than twenty years. But then, a great turmoil erupted across the Hoenn region.
Within a single month, Sora lost everyone she loved: her parents, her husband, her child. Even the Skitty was severely injured while protecting her. Confused and pained, she fled into the wilderness, where she was protected by the wild Pokémon of the forest.
She didn't know how long she stayed there. By the time she emerged, the Pokémon League had been established. She left her Skitty behind, as it had found a mate and started its own family. She didn't want to destroy its newfound happiness.
She returned home, sold her property, and established the Peaceful Nursery in a corner of Ever Grande City. Her life gradually stabilized.
Then, two years ago, a Breloom that had once saved her in the forest came to the nursery holding a pink egg. It was the child of her Skitty's daughter. Her Skitty had passed away from its old illness decades ago, but it had told its children about the kind human woman who had first taken it in.
"I didn't expect that child would still remember me," Sora said, tears welling in her eyes. "Our family owes him so much. I swore I would take good care of his granddaughter."
"Grandma Sora Skitty is back"
"Woof!"
"Meow~"
Officer Jenny's voice came from the front of the villa. Sora's spirits lifted, and she shuffled toward the door. "I'll get it," Ryu said, bouncing up to open the gate.
"I was wondering why the door opened so quickly. It turns out it's you, little glutton," Jenny laughed, scooping him up.
"You still have no sense of boundaries," Ryu complained, giving her a harmless 'Pound' before hopping to the ground and hiding behind Sora.
"Skitty," Sora said, her voice full of relief as she saw the little pink cat in Growlithe's mouth. The Skitty, however, broke free and ran over to sniff Ryu curiously.
"What are you looking at?!" he snapped.
"Meow..." The Skitty was taken aback by his fierce glare and shrank back, running to rub against Sora's legs and use Charm.
"Hey, you little guy, you're quite fierce!" Jenny said, gently tapping Ryu's head.
"Ow~" The tap wasn't hard, but his infant body was still fragile, and it hurt.
"You look well-behaved, but I didn't expect you to be so feisty. Come back to the station with me; I need to give you a good lecture."
"I don't want to! Grandma, save me!" Ryu yelped, squeezing past the Skitty and hiding behind Sora's legs.
"Wait, little Jenny. If this child wants to stay here, let him stay," Sora said, her heart softened by Ryu's earlier hug. "I think he's quite well-behaved, maybe just a bit shy."
"Since you said so, Grandma Sora, I'll let you off this time," Jenny said to Ryu. "But if there's a next time, I might just come and catch you."
"Nah nah nah~" Ryu stuck out his tongue.
[Inorin Note:
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