And this would be the last chapter. Thanks for reading everyone and thanks again to all who chose to review.
The young Pokémon slowly opened her eyes as they adjusted to the light of the outside world. At first it was all too blurry to make anything out but as things started to clear up she saw a creature looking down at her. She cocked her head slightly just staring right back at the odd creature, but it wasn't long before her ears caught other sounds coming from behind her. Trying to twist her head to see what those new sounds were, she let out a soft "vee" in surprise as her entire body unexpectedly followed. Shaking her head after the odd experience, the young Pokémon could feel her feet touch down on something soft. Wobbling slightly, she got to her feet after a few tries and looked out across the room.
But to her complete surprise she only saw four more creatures staring at her, even several others of what she assumed to be her own kind, all of which were looking down onto her. Instinctively she dropped down to her stomach, wondering what all these creatures wanted. As they all started to make noise it only scared her even further as they inched forward. But it all seemed to pause slightly as some of that noise began to sound familiar. Without even thinking she quickly turned around and shot up towards the sound, only calming down when she found a dark spot around the creature that was making it. Satisfied that she was now safe from all of those other creatures the young Pokémon cuddled into her new spot, enjoying the warmth that the creature was giving off and at the same time taking in the unique scent that filled her nostrils. There was already something comforting about this spot, as if she knew that this was hers.
"Hey!" Sarah giggled. "Eevee stop that! It tickles!"
Sarah couldn't help but squirm a bit as the newborn's soft fur was tickling her stomach while the young Pokémon tried to make herself comfortable. After rushing to find cover, the Evolution Pokémon had found her way into the brunette's shirt, and the only thing the other family members could see was a lump moving around under the fabric.
"Come on Sarah pull it out so we can see it," Alex pleaded with her younger sister.
"Yeah, I barely even remember when Umbreon was that small," Jake added in. "I wanna see it too."
"No I think that it's best to leave Eevee be for now," Ash told his kids. "She was just born and she'll probably want to be close to Sarah for a little while longer. Seeing so many new things more than likely scared her and that's why she hid under Sarah's shirt."
"How do you know she's a girl Daddy?" Sarah asked, looking up from her new partner.
"Umm," the trainer couldn't help but stutter a bit. "I'll tell you that some other time. Now time for bed everyone. If Eevee is ready to meet everyone tomorrow we can do that then, but we will be doing it at her pace."
After pouting for only a few moments the two twins got up and gave their grandma a big hug before they and their Pokémon headed upstairs.
"And you are both sleeping on the floor!" He yelled up after them. "Neither will get the bed! Understand?"
Even without any answer he knew that they had heard. Although they may not like the idea of it, it was simply to keep them from fighting over the single bed.
"Alright honey, time for you to go to bed as well," Ash said as he turned back to his other daughter.
"Kay! But what about Eevee?"
"I think I have an idea."
The young girl let out a quick squeal as Ash picked her up bridal style. Sarah giggled slightly as she grabbed on to her father, but was quick to realize why he chose this way; even after picking her up, Eevee was still laying comfortably on her stomach.
"Now say goodnight to Grandma."
Waving from her new position, Sarah quickly grabbed back onto her father as her body started to wobble slightly.
"Goodnight Grandma!"
Smiling back at her granddaughter, Delia walked up and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight dear, sleep tight. And make sure you're careful of Eevee tonight as well. She'll be relying on you a lot in the coming days, so you need to take very good care of her."
"Kay!"
"Alright my little princess, let's go."
Carrying her up the stairs, Ash put her softly down on the queen sized bed in the house's guest room and went off to prepare for the night as well.
After coming back, the trainer couldn't help but laugh a little as he caught the sight of the little lump in Sarah's shirt make its way up her body until the Pokémon's head poked its way up out of the collar.
"Hello again," Sarah giggled as she began to scratch her new Pokémon between the ears. "My name is Sarah; I hope that we can become the best of friends."
Just stopping at the door, Ash waited and watched as Sarah started to talk to her new Pokémon.
"What are you doing out here?"
Turning around Ash saw his wife coming up the stairs, followed closely by Raichu, Espeon, and Ninetales. He quickly held a finger to his lips before motioning her to come closer.
May couldn't help but smile as well as she saw the interaction between the two. Eevee even finally got out of her Sarah's shirt to curl up on her lap, giving a large yawn in the process.
"She's taking to it like a fish to water," May whispered. "I don't think that we'll have to worry about how she raises her Pokémon."
"Just like her mother."
"You mean just like her father," the brunette couldn't help but correct. "Remember you were always the one who had a special bond with your Pokémon. It's because of you that I'm not only confident around my Pokémon but also that we can talk to Raichu."
"I don't think that I deserve that much credit," he replied sheepishly.
"Oh don't be modest," she told him with a kiss on the cheek. "You know it's true. Now I'll be joining you in just a bit."
Nodding, Ash finally walked back into the room. Sarah was still calmly petting her baby Pokémon, nearly not noticing her father entering.
"You aren't disappointed in your new friend are you?" Ash couldn't help but joke as he sat down on the bed. As per their usual Raichu and Espeon jumped up onto the bed themselves while the Fire-Type made herself comfortable on the floor.
"Of course not!" The brunette quickly covered her mouth as she said it a bit too enthusiastically. "I just hope that we can become friends, just like you have always told me."
"That's my girl." Turning toward the other two Pokémon on the bed Ash motioned for them to move closer as well. "You two have done us another great favor by allowing Sarah to care for one of your kids. I think that now is as good as any time to finally see her close up. She is yours after all."
Without much hesitation, Espeon was the first one to get up closer. It may have been her child but for at least a little while it would see Sarah as its mother more than her. Of course that didn't mean that she wouldn't keep an eye on her as well, but she trusted both her trainer and her trainer's mate knowing that they wouldn't put her new baby at any risk. Rubbing her cheek against the sleeping Eevee, she couldn't have been more proud. Just to see Sarah that happy was enough for her, and she knew that the pain and discomfort was well worth it.
Raichu on the other hand just watched over the two of them. For one, there wasn't enough room for him to get in there as well, but he was also worried that his electricity could harm the young one. Even if he was quite competent in his control over it and was still rather low from the battle earlier, he didn't want to take any chances with its tiny body.
Just as May walked into the room the two Pokémon walked off of the bed and curled up on the floor. Between Sarah and Eevee being in the bed along with it only being a queen instead of the king that Ash and May had back in Hoenn, it would have been a little cramped for space if they stayed up there.
"Alright everyone, time to go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow and everyone needs their rest," May announced as she turned off the lights.
Pulling back the covers, Sarah slipped in between her two parents while putting Eevee on her pillow for safety.
"Thanks Mommy, thanks Daddy," she said to them both, along with a big hug, seemingly out of the blue.
"What was that for?"
"For giving me Eevee's egg. I know that I shouldn't have one but I already know that she'll be a great partner and I can't wait til' we can start battling together."
"You're welcome sweetie, now get some sleep," Ash told her as she curled up into him.
"But I'm not all that tired," she nearly sighed as her breathing slowed. It wasn't long before she was out just like her new Pokémon.
"You too May," Ash insisted. "You never did like seeing them leave like that so you need your sleep as well."
"And you're one to talk," she grinned. "You hate seeing it as much as I do, you just don't show it."
"Guilty as charged," he said with a big yawn. "Goodnight May."
"Goodnight Ash."
"Jake don't steal the last piece of bacon!"
"What, I'm still hungry and you still have some on your plate anyways!"
"But you've eaten most of it already! You don't need anymore!"
"What have we told you about arguing at the table?"
Looking up from their meal, the twins saw their mother walk into the kitchen, showered and ready for the day.
"Not to mention I'm surprised that you two are up this early," shaking her head May just put it aside. "Never mind, just finish eating. Did you need any help Delia?"
"No I'm fine May, you just sit down and eat as well," the lady insisted. "I was up even before those two and knew that everyone would be hungry when they got up."
"You spoil us just like you spoiled Ash," the brunette joked as she grabbed some pancakes from the center of the table.
"So where are Sarah and Dad?" Alex asked as she grabbed for some more waffles, just barely before her brother. "I want to see Eevee once more before I leave."
"Last I saw your sister was still sleeping and your father should just have gotten out of the shower. Don't worry, you'll see Eevee soon enough."
After a few minutes the creaking of steps gave way to two more coming into the kitchen. Ash was dressed and ready for the day but Sarah was still rubbing her eyes and yawning. Yet even still she carefully carried a fully awake Eevee in her arms.
"Aww come on Jake, you woke me up from a good dream," the brunette complained as she sat down at the table, putting Eevee on her lap. "Couldn't you fight with Alex a little quieter?"
"Me? But Alex was just as loud!"
"Oh that's enough," Ash scolded as he sat down as well. "Just eat your breakfast. You'll be leaving in only a couple hours and you don't want to leave on an empty stomach do you?"
Grumbling something about always being the one who was blamed he returned to his plate.
"Hey someone took my eggs!"
"You were having such a wonderful conversation I thought that you were done eating," Alex sarcastically stated as she took one last fork-full of the food into her mouth. "Besides that was for my bacon that you ate."
"What do you mean your…"
Both quieted both real fast after a sharp word from their father, but even still they continued to glare at each other for the rest of the meal.
After breakfast the two twins washed up as well and spent the remaining time trying to play with Eevee. But much to their dismay the little Pokémon never was willing to go too far from Sarah.
As the hour for them to leave approached, Alex and Jake changed one last time into their new traveling clothes and met the rest of their family and Pokémon outside.
"You look exactly like your mother when I first met her back in Littleroot all those years ago," Ash told his daughter as she walked out of the house. "But then again she did have a different hair style; and now that I think about it, I probably could have fallen for her even faster if she had that look on."
Letting out a small whimper as May elbowed him in the gut, he still couldn't help but laugh.
"What about me Mom?" Jake asked as he opened the jacket some. "Do I look like Dad did when you met him?"
"Not quite dear, when I met your father your grandmother had already made him a different outfit, so I never really saw those except in pictures. But even still I'd have to say that it was pretty close to what I've seen."
Both children beamed at the compliments before running up and hugging their parents.
"Now, that aside I think that you guys know the drill," Ash said firmly. "Call us when you get to Viridian and at least once a week after that. Watch out for each other and…"
"Yeah, yeah; we know Dad," Alex interrupted him. "You told us this the last time we left."
"And by the time that you come back to prepare for the tournaments you'll probably get to meet your new baby brother or sister," May added while rubbing her stomach a bit.
"I really do hope that it's a boy," Jake muttered. "I don't need a third sister teaming up on me."
"Okay then, did you remember everything?" Their father asked after Jake stopped. "Pokémon, spare Pokéballs, your new data units, clothes…"
"Yep, yep, yep, and yep."
"Then it sounds as if you two are ready then." Walking up and hugging them both, Ash and May stepped back a bit to look upon their not-so-young children again.
"Mommy, Daddy, I want to go with them."
Looking back down at their youngest, Sarah's comment surprised both of them.
"You want to go with them Sarah?" Ash asked. "What made you think of this?"
"Well they get to go on all these great adventures and I wanna too."
Ash and May couldn't help but hold back some of their surprise as to how Sarah was characterizing their travels.
"Besides, Uncle Max went with you so why can't I?"
"Well for one Uncle Max was still a year older than you," May stated. "Not to mention I couldn't take all my children leaving at this point," she added quietly.
Smiling a bit after hearing what May said, Ash finished it off for her. "And Uncle Max also didn't have a baby Pokémon to take care of. That is the biggest reason as to why we have to say no. It wouldn't be fair to Eevee to all of a sudden bring her along like that when you don't even know what to expect."
"I guess…" She replied while looking at the happy bundle of fur in her arms.
"We'll see about next year though."
"Really?!"
"Yep."
Catching his wife's death glare, Ash quickly added at least another condition.
"But I can't promise that you will be able to, it all depends on a lot of other things."
"Thanks Daddy!"
"As for you two, I think you should start heading out. If you're lucky you can reach Viridian by nightfall."
"Thanks again for everything Mom and Dad," Jake said as he gave one last hug to his parents. "I promise to do better this time around."
"Yeah, thanks again," Alex said as she repeated her brother's actions.
"You two just make sure to stay safe," May told them.
"And make sure to win all those badges and ribbons. Your mother and I have already opened up a space in the study for them next to your first ones. I always did want to see two sets of Kanto badges in there."
"Bye Sarah," Alex said as she gave her sister a hug, remembering to be careful of Eevee. "You make sure to take real good care of her, okay?"
"Kay!"
"See ya in a few months little monster," Jake added to his little sister as he started to walk off, with Umbreon right behind. "Just remember that I'll beat you next time we battle."
"I'm not a monster!" The brunette yelled back at him while stamping her foot on the ground.
"Okay then, how about demon?"
"Daddy!"
Laughing, Jake quickly began to sprint away as Alex said goodbye to her grandmother before jogged after her brother to catch up to him, her own Espeon following as always.
"Bye grandma! Thanks for the food!" Jake called back as he picked up the pace. "See ya in a few months!"
"Bye everyone!" Alex yelled one last time before turning north again. "Jake wait up! You don't need to run right after we leave!"
"And there they go again," May sighed as they got further and further away. "Once again on their own and slowly moving even further away from us."
"Now you know that this would happen," her husband comforted her after putting an arm on her shoulder. "They'll be back, it's only a matter of time."
"I know."
Hearing a large yawn everyone looked down at the young Eevee, already starting to curl back up into Sarah's arms to fall asleep.
"Come with me Sarah," Delia told her. "We can find a place for her to sleep and then I can show you how to make a blanket to keep her warm."
Nodding the young girl followed her back into the house, leaving just Ash, May, and their three Pokémon.
"Now Ash what was that about letting Sarah leave with those two next year?"
Ash couldn't help but gulp a little and start to pull away from his wife. He knew that tone all too well by this point. The very thought of it brought back rather vivid memories that sent shivers down his spine. At least this time she didn't have any knives on hand.
"It was just a thought," he tried to defend himself as he backed away slowly. As any smart husband knows, there is always something to fear above all else at times, your wife. Ash just had a few more reasons than most men did. Even the great Arena Master knew when he was facing a battle he could never win.
"I had a hard enough time seeing two of my children leave! I don't want my only other one to leave as…where do you think you're going?!"
"Um, I'm going to see if Mom or Sarah need any help," he quickly lied, bolting for the house.
"Ash Ketchum you get back here when I'm talking to you!"
"Is it too much to wish for the next six months to go by a little faster?" He asked himself before closing the door behind him. "But either way I'm still going to get it tonight, there's no denying that. I hate it when she puts me into these no-win situations."
But seeing Sarah happily lying on her stomach on the couch while watching Eevee sleep brought a smile back to his face.
"Then again it is worth it in the end. I have three wonderful kids, and a currently furious wife, but at least for the moment I can't complain. That particular moment will come a little later, when May finally catches me. Let's just hope that I can survive long enough to see the reason for this all."
And that would be the end. I can guess that many of you would have assumed that I was going to continue into the twins' journey through Kanto but my reason is rather simple. I'm not confident enough to be able to come up with enough new material that is different enough from what the anime has already done to keep my readers interested while keeping up with the standards that I have set for myself. This same reason has caused me to have to break a promise with a friend from this site a while back so it's not something that pertains to just this story. I would rather have you guys be disappointed in me for not continuing instead of you getting bored by ranting off random encounters all the way through Kanto.
That being said, considering the fact that apparently many of you enjoy my characterization of the Ketchum family there is the possibility of doing a short one involving the twins in the future. I can't vow for this but I enjoy the characters and would like to expand on a few areas that I wasn't able to in this one. Considering the amount of new characters that I had to define as well as redefine old ones, there were many of them that had to take the back seat for this story. Namely the Pokémon, and in particular May's Espeon and the twins' Eeveelutions.
Might as well end it here before I rant on too long. Thank you to all who read this and more thanks to those who reviewed. I'm not sure when my next one will come out but I doubt I can stop writing these just yet. Til' next time.