Chapter- 8 Growing Pains

Chapter 8

Its been two years since Alice entered the world of Pokémon, and what a time it has been. The Blake family knew that Alice would be special, but the level of special Alice displayed left her family gob smacked. At the tender age of 4 months, Alice spoke her first word. As her dotting elder brother, Calvin was ecstatic to be the first name his sister spoke, he and his new partner Charmander had just returned home from their morning training in the forest nearby. As he walked into the house, an adorably gurgled baby voice called out to him from the hallway. "Calvy!" Calvin turned around to see his baby sister in her high chair calling out for him with a smile as she stretched her arms for him awaiting his embrace. Amelia who was in the kitchen cooking lunch with the child froze as she watched her baby speak her first words. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

That was but the first of many surprises the devious little baby had plotted. Alice had long been able to speak. She had spent many nights practicing in her crib, attempting to enunciate every word she could think of. She figured after speaking a couple words with her gurgled voice, she would gain the full attention of her family to slowly start speaking words out to her to progress her speech. With her plan right on the money, her first words sparked the rivalry in the remainder of her family. Each wanting to hear themselves being called by her. And eager to not disappoint she continued. First calling her Father "Dada" during their family dinner, she then went on to call her Mother "Meme!" wanting to set the prerequisites of giving her mother a nick name, and finally calling her eldest brother "Corn" to his dismay as he carried her to the kitchen the following morning.

From then on, to her family's awareness, her speech progressed at a rapid pace. By the end of the following month, she was already speaking full sentences with the occasional stutter and lisp. Four months after, she made her first steps to her father as they played in the lawn. Calum cried as he lifted her from the ground before she could fall on her bottom. Raising her into the air as he grinned at his genius of a daughter. Being the only one to see, he got her to walk again after the family ate dinner.

At a year-old Alice experienced her first heart break of her new life as she said goodbye to her brother Calvin. Having postponed his debut as a trainer to bond with his sister, Calvin was now leaving to start his Pokémon adventure. He hadn't realized how hard it would be to leave until now, as his sweet little Alice hung onto his leg for dear life. "Don't weave Calvy!" she exclaimed as her beautiful sapphire blue teared eyes searched into his corresponding green. Alice, clearly having chosen her favorite in the family refused to release him.

Out of her entire family, Calvin was the closest to her. Being a young child with no job, Calvin had the freest time to spend with little Alice. He did everything with her. He fed her, played with her and to her embarrassment, even bathed her a few times. She was with him when he captured his first Pokémon in the park near their house. The little Caterpie completely intrigued by Alice's Spirit couldn't leave her alone as it followed her everywhere around the playground. Unfortunately for it, Alice hated bugs. With her screaming and running for dear life, Calvin did battle with his partner Charmander and captured the little green bug, to Alice's dismay.

Seeing her little man struggle to leave her princess, Amelia stepped forward to grab her. Lifting her from the ground into a frontward koala carry Alice's legs wrapper around her mother, arms squeezing tight around her neck as Amelia patted her back. "You have to let him go sweetie" she whispered into the child's ear. "Its time, he will be back soon ok?"

After spend a few moments attempting to calm down, Alice turned her tear-stricken gaze to face her brother. "Pwomise?!" she replied sincerely. Calvin looked up into her expecting gaze as he wiped his eyes against his sleeve. "I promise!" he said with a smile. Seeing the determination in his eyes Alice stopped her crying as she smiled at him wishing him a safe journey. After receiving his pack and Pokedex from his brother, and a tight hug from his mother and father, Calvin set off.

Now, one year after Calvin's departure, two-year-old Alice is currently sitting in the lobby of the town Pokémon Center, Espeon at her side, as she waits for her mother. Amelia having been called in as a Specialist was currently in Surgery operating on a Noctowls wing that received a critical injury during a Pokémon raid from the now rerising Team Rocket three days ago.

Seeing the clear worry from the injured Pokémon's trainer seated before her, Alice spoke. "Don't worry Miss, my mommy will make your birdy feel much better." She said with a charming smile on her face. Realizing the child before her was Dr. Blake's daughter, she smiled in thanks.

As Alice sat in the oversized chair awaiting her mother, her eyes searched the lobby as she watched trainer and Pokémon alike enter and exit the building. This last year she hadn't been the least bit idle. Using every minute she had, she searched for the destined Pokémon that would awaken her other abilities. This very activeness' caused her parents great worry. Watching as their tiny little girl chased after every Pokémon in site as she grew. After the fiasco she pulled at the local Pokémon park three weeks ago (Riding atop the head of a curios Gyarados…SMH) Amelia made sure Alice was always being watched. With her current sitter being the loving Espeon to her side and Nurse Joy who continued her work across the room.

'Any hits on any new Pokémon in my vicinity Mira?' Alice asked. After the last year of tireless search, Alice learned that Mira had a map function that could work like a Pokémon radar, with it being able to list out all Pokémon to her in a ten-mile radius. As great as it sounded, it had its limits. It could only provide information on Pokémon she has encountered before. If it where to be a new Pokémon, the map function would show the Pokémon as a question mark.

*Unfortunately, not master. There are no unlisted Pokémon within your circumference. *

'Well that bites' she thought as she continued to watch the entrance of the Pokémon center. 'Too bad you can't scan trainers Pokéballs. Maybe I will luck out at the gym when Dad comes to get me.' And right on cue, Alice watched as her father entered the Pokémon Center.

After spotting his ever-patient daughter Calum walked over to her and lifter her into his embrace for A tight hug. "Did you miss me?" he asked a giant grin upon his face.

"Always!" Alice replied with the same energy. "Are there any gym challenges today? I want to see Daddy battle again!" she finished.

Calum squeezed his little angels' cheek. "Then you are in luck, Daddy's got one more challenge today, then we can go home."

"Yaay!" Alice replied in excitement. Unknown to her, Alice's memories of her previous life were slowly but surely leaving her, bringing a new sense of innocence to her. She still contained her maturity and wit, but on occasion, Alice showed a very innocent child like quality about herself. A quality that entranced all that gazed upon her.

After making their way to the Viridian City Gym, Alice was placed in the center-most seats above the gothic gladiator setting of the battle arena. Having Made his way to his battle position across from the challenging trainer, he smiled at his little girl giving her a thumbs up, as Brody called out the battle parameters.

"This is a battle between Challenger Wesley from Blackthorn City, and Gym Leader Calum. This will be a full Six on Six battle. The challenger may switch out Pokémon at any time. The challenge will end after all, of either trainers Pokémon have lot consciousness. "LET THE MATCH BEGIN!"

Alice watched in abated excitement. 'Make sure to watch for any Dragon and Water type Pokémon Mira!'

*Affirmative Master! *

"Let's Start with a blast, Shiftry Blow them away!" Calum roared as his Ultra ball flew forward releasing a menacing looking Pokémon with long white hair. "Shiftry!" it responded as it struck an aggressive pose.

With a condescending smirk Wesley followed up. "Reduce all Creation to Ash Magmortar!" as the Pokéballs released the blazing Pokémon, the temperature of the room skyrocketed as Alice stared deadpanned at the Challenger.

"Who the hell is this reject Yamamoto!"

(Chessur: Thought she might like that! Hahahahahaaa)