*BEEP BEEP BEEP BE-*

*slam*

“Josie, sweetie, it’s time to rise and shine and greet the day!”

“Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad, I know, just gimme a bit. I always do this…. And call me Spade please?”

“Yes… I know you do.” Jordy sighed in disbelief. How could his daughter, someone who worked so hard, manage to be addicted to that bed instead of train for the tournament. It was a foreign concept to him. But alas, the day started early every day for him, and so after waking his youngest daughter from her slumber, he through on his tan puffy sleeveless jacket, and made his way down the interior stairs to the kitchen.

It was a simple morning as usual. Three fried eggs over hard, along with Rawst Berry jam on toast. Jordy eat with a slow methodical demeanor. He was in for a long day today and he knew it. Looking at his Pokegear he saw the long list of challengers lined up ahead of him. He grunted as the list opened up with the names and faces of each challenger.

“Let’s see here… long list of people today... Terry Crate again, poor kid doesn’t know when to try fighting someone else.” He rubbed his forehead as he continued to read the list. He was used to the long list of trainers in a queue, he had been doing this for nearly 40 years after all, but even still, this list today was making him tired just looking at it.

The Maclomare Village was a small one, but it was situated in a particularly strategic area for visitors. Being just down the hill from Eridawnis City, along the same coastline as Regalatou City, and facing the Maclomare sea, visitors from all directions were able to access the small coastal town, many of which looking to get their final badge on their way to the Pokemon League challenge. Jordy was used to it. It gave him a reason to used his strongest Pokemon on a regular basis, and stonewall anyone who thought he’d be an easy stepping stone to the end. Of course this caused him some trouble with his less-experienced Pokemon, which therefore made him an easy mark for anyone still early on in their journey.

With a cough, Jordy silently and sternly continued to read the list. “Alyssa Patterson,  Hans Glass… and Evan Azelli it seems like today. Feh, another new-name kids… how many does he have?” Jordy tapped the boy’s name to check the badges. “Just Tessie and Margaret huh? Guess today’s not gonna end on a good note.” Jordy dreaded the third Gym fights, he never quite bonded with those lower level Pokemon the same way he did with the stronger ones. He wasn’t like his children, that’s for sure.

While he munched his toast, he watched his daughter Josie stumble up the wooden steps from the basement where she slept. The curtains on the upper floor were drawn to allow for as much natural sunlight to enter the room as possible, while a smaller window o nthe lower floor shone out upon the sea. Jordy had to smile upon seeing the sunlight hit his youngest daughter in the morning. She wasn’t home very often when she was she usually didn’t rise this early.

“Big queue today daddy?”

“Oh you know, nothing I haven’t done before.” He laughed with an affectionate look on his face as he spoke.

“See, I’m just glad I never had to fight you.”

“Worried I’d wipe the floor with you?”

“No,” the girl smiled to herself, “for your sake Daddy. You’d be out of a job after I stall you out with my Sableye.”

Jordy laughed, enjoying the banter with his daughter. “Shame there isn’t a Fairy-Fighting type for me to annihilate your Gemmy. Well Josie?”

“Cmon dad,” The girl frown, her black hair behind her black cap swinging around out of disdain for her own name. “You know I like to be known as Spade.”

“Your mother named you Josie, and I intend to honor her wishes.” The girl rolled her eyes and looked through the fridge. “Your friends can call you what you want them to call you, but as your father, I’ll be calling you by your name.”

“You know, if I win the Pokemon League challenge this year, you better be calling me ‘Spade’ when you give the interviews about the whole thing.”

“Fine, fine… I’ll do my best to restrain myself and not call you by your name.”

“You’re as stubborn as always dad.” Jordy laughed as his daughter incited her dry statement. She wasn’t kidding he could tell, though he had his doubt or whether or not this slacker would actually make it past the round of 32 this year. But his mind then began to wander about the fates of his other children.

“Josie, did you know that your brother managed to make the finals of the Pokemon League challenge?”

The girl in the black cap and the longer purple jacket turned around to face her father. “I remember going to Regalatou when I was like nine or so, but I didn’t really pay attention because I was too excited about getting a Pokemon within a few days.” She rolled her sleeves up as she began to pour a glass of Moomoo Milk into a glass.

“Well he’s been doing quite a bit of good for himself. Last I heard Damian was somewhere near Ambrette City in Kalos still challenging Gyms.”

“Doesn’t surprise me, mumbled Josie as she downed her drink. “He was always really competitive with Clara from what I remember.” The girl then picked up the carton and poured a second glass of the milk, careful to not overpour. “She’s doing well by the way, in case you didn’t know. Has her Elite Boards in a week or so.” Jordy nodded in response to hearing this.

“Yes, I’d heard. She’s done quite well for herself. You looking up to her?”

“What like a role model? Gimme a break” Josie laughed with an air of arrogance. “Normal types are incredibly boring and they can’t even touch like half of the Pokemon they fight.” Jordy couldn’t help but look down upon his daughter’s bashing of her sibling. She sighed, perhaps a bit resigned, and then spoke again.

“What about Harriet? Any word from her lately?”

Josie shrugged. “I think last I heard she was out somewhere living on an island on the Maclomare Sea. Who knows where though. She doesn’t use her PokeGear at all.”

Jordy wasn’t surprised by her words, but was still a little curious based on this information. “And, young lady, how would you know that?” He didn’t lift his head, but he could tell Josie had perhaps said something a little more than she meant to as she had stopped her slow glugging.

“O-oh, uh, she uses Wingull to send messages sometimes.”

“Harriet, the girl who doesn’t believe in using Pokemon for Human purposes, uses Wingull to send mail?” Jordy had caught his youngest in a lie, she hadn’t changed since she was barely able to walk.”You know, I’m not going to punish you for lying about it. I get it, she doesn't want me in her life.”

“Well, it’s not just that dad. It’s… well, it’s more like she doesn’t want anyone in her life.” Josie looked down at the counter and proceeded to rinse her glass. “She told me that when I went to visit before coming home. She didn’t want me to tell you about it, but you know me. Can’t keep a secret to save my life, hah…”

“Well which island is she on? Does she have enough to get by? I should try and fin-”

“No!” the words were quick and slapped Jordy with a shock. “That’s the whole reason she told me not to tell you, because you’ll try to do something stupid with her. No offense dad, but there's a reason she doesn’t want see you anymore.” Jordy slumped into his chair and sighed. While he had a piece of toast still left on his plate, he had lost his appetite. Today would be a long day at work, especially with the crappy battles he was bound to have.Unless, of course, he could find a way to maybe make his day moderately more enjoyable with his daughter around.

“Josie…” The words were slow, but warm. “What are you up to today?”

The girl shook her head and cracked her knuckles. “Oh, you know, the usual, training with the Mons. Gotta get Cleft and Scum to higher levels of skill so that we’re ready for the League challenge, even if it’s not for a while. I figured we’d run up and down the hill a bunch and fight whoever we saw.”

“I’ve got a better idea if you want to face off against some people.” Jordy smiled, with a fatherly expression. “How’d you like to Shadow me today? You’d just take fights before they fight me, as if you were a Gym Trainer. I can’t just relinquish my Leader duties to you for the day, but this is the next best thing. Additionally you might get the edge on any future trainers you find later in the league.” It was a long shot, but if it gave him a better chance to let him see his youngest, it would be all worth it. Watching her fight was one of the most exciting things in his life, it was a shame she was only around for a few more days before going Westward.

“Wait, really? You mean I’d basically just fight people all day long?” She looked at him, suspiciously eyeing his hands to see if there were any possible catch.

“That’s right. Plenty of battles, as many as you want, in fact. All day long.” The girl’s indigo eyes lit up with joy. She didn’t mean to show as much excitement as she did, but Jordy knew what the girl liked. He had tried to do his best to raise her to be as motivated as possible.

“Uh, yes. Yes. Definitely yes! This is just what I need to get that conditioning going so my Pokemon all stay in shape!” She was a Zheauliette alright. Confident, energetic and eager to prove herself; Jordy liked to think it was from his side of the family, even though he knew that wasn’t really the case.

He stood himself up from his chair, and cleared his place at the table, and made his way down the stairs for the back door. Given that it was a Monday, he knew he had some other business to attend to before hitting the gym. Peering out the small window, he looked out upon the sea. His oldest daughter was out there somewhere, hiding from him. Hiding from the rest of society. Would he ever get to see that face of hers again, a face that reminded him of Karta?

“You finish up here,” he called up to Josie. “I’ve got some business to attend to. He tossed the keys up to his youngest daughter and shouted, “Make sure you open up for Marco. He hates having to wait outside and won’t give advice to challengers if he’s in a sour mood.”

“Right! See you soon daddy!”

Jordy smiled, nodded, and made his way out the back door and walked out onto the balcony. The space he had entered was built into the cliff that faced the Maclomare Sea. The wood, which had been reenforced with Ariados webbing, was a little creaky today, but it wasn’t anything that warranted repair by any means. Jordy turned to his left and walked along the raised boardwalk towards a small set of stairs leading up to a spire. The coastal shelf had eroded plenty of the area around the Maclomare Sea, but the cliffs and this spire managed to be immune to the eroding effects of time. He slowly but surely climbed the wooden steps that spiraled the pillar of stone to the very top plateau. The surrounded area held a small flower bed with bright pink flowers, and a modest monument, which today was a resting space for a few restless Ducklett.

He shooed away the blue bird and looked down at the stone marker. It was a simple elliptical stone carving with a few simple words:

Here lies Karta Reyna Reynolds-Zheauliette

Wife of Jordy Rodger Zheauliette

Mother of Damian, Harriet, Clara and Josie

Loved by many, forgotten by none

Jordy remembered carving those words with his Machamp all those years ago. It had been eighteen years only a few weeks ago, but it still felt like yesterday that he had seen her smile. He sat there, as he did every monday, and listened to the sea breeze. The overcast day wasn’t anything special, but the weather didn’t allow Jordy to deter from his feelings.

“Hello dear, I’m back again. Some good news from Josie, err I guess ehs goes by Spade these days or something… anyways, news about today. Clara’s about to take her Elite Boards soon. She’s going to do what I never could and really make a name for herself. She might even be the Champion some day. You’d be so proud of her.” His smile was as wide as his own visage as he spoke. “And Josie’s home too! She came on Friday night and has spent the weekend here so far. I know she won’t be staying long, but it’s nice to have her home.”

The wind slowed down after his sentenced, and Jordy knew he would have to tell his wife what was really on his mind. It’s what she would’ve wanted him to do. She’d have been mad had she been there if he never bothered telling her what he was thinking.

With a remorseful sigh, he spoke once again, quieter this time. “Josie knows where she went to Karta. Josie saw her a few days ago. She has to be close, right? She’s still alive after all…” He paused again, swallowing hard. “I wish you had been here to help with her. You always knew how to deal with the ones I couldn’t handle.”

The sea breeze picked up once again, signalling to Jordy that he had other responsibilities to tend to.

“I love you dear, I’m headed off to the Gym today. Lots of trainers, lots of new faces too. I’ll let you know how the week goes later.” And with those words, he turned towards the wooden stairs, back down the spire.