Wanderlust - A Pokemon Story

Make Contact - Chapter 5

Iris nods and her parents both walk out of the garage. Her dad, also a Leafeon, and her mom, a Flareon, trot over to us with puzzled looks on their faces.

Iris' Dad: "Hey Iris, who's your friend?"

Iris' Mom: "Yeah, I don't remember ever meeting this one."

Iris: "Don't you guys remember... uhhh- Jesse! Do you remember him from when I was in elementary school?"

Iris' Dad: "Well I sure do, you're telling me this sylveon is Jesse?"

Fae: "Yup, it's me. It's been a while."

Iris' Mom: "Oh of course, I remember that face! You must've evolved, good for you!"

Fae: "I did, a few years ago."

Iris' Dad: "How's The Forest treating you?"

Fae: "It's alright, not a lot of drama, so it's quiet out there."

Iris' Dad: "That's good to hear."

Her dad walks over to my station wagon, inspecting it with a concerned look on his face.

Iris' Dad: "Quite the ride... Is this how you got here?"

Fae: "Yeah. It is. I drove it all the way here."

Iris' Dad: "No hard feelings kid, but it looks like it came straight out of an abandoned barn."

Fae: "Heheh- well... it kind of did."

He got to the side where I had hit the Pidgey and spun out the police car. He locks onto the blood and the black paint we traded.

Iris' Dad: "This stuff looks new though... You take a hit?"

Fae: "Yeah... It was rough trying to get to the In-Between from The Forest."

Iris' Dad: "Well I'll tell ya, they don't make em like they used to, this thing looks like it's been around since the humans were around. Judging by that old inspection sticker, it's definitely been sitting."

Fae: "I fixed it up to get it driving. I'm even surprised it made it all this way."

Iris' Mom: "That must mean you're crafty! It's a good thing to be talented with your hands."

Fae: "Thank you!"

Iris: "Mom, dad, can me and F- Jesse go inside now?"

Iris' Dad: "Sure, but Jesse, let me call a buddy of mine who's got a garage nearby. I'm sure he'll hook you up and help fix up this old thing."

Fae: "Cool, thanks!"

Iris' Dad: "'Least I could do, you're a good kid."

I smile and look at Iris, she nods and we go inside the house, walking upstairs to her bedroom.

Her bedroom is all nature themed, go figure huh? Leaves lining the ceiling and her curtains, flowers all around, and lots of green. She sits down on her bed and pats the space next to her, signaling me to sit next to her. I put my bag down on the floor and sat beside her.

Iris: "I'm shocked you got here so quickly... We were talking just last night!"

Fae: "Me too to be honest. I was expecting to be stuck out in the wild for a while."

Iris: "What's with that car? Did you seriously get it out of a barn?"

Fae: "An old shed I found behind my house. Just so happened to only need a few fixes. I got really lucky."

Iris: "The fact that you're here is great and all but... why?"

Fae: "Funny enough, remember how we were talking about the Fairy King looking for a partner?"

Iris nods.

Fae: "Well- I happened to run into him at dinner... literally."

Iris: "Like- you bumped into him?"

Fae: "Exactly! I wasn't paying attention and bumped into him. He started talking to me and asking me questions... Called me beautiful too..."

Iris: "Woah!"

Fae: "I know... but later in the day, I went down a rabbit hole researching how the king is actually a wild Pokemon-"

Iris: "Isn't that a conspiracy theory?"

Iris looks concerned.

Fae: "Hear me out- If you actually look at the evidence, it's way too obvious. I'll have to show you... anyway- I got a letter from the king, he wanted to meet me at his castle in the morning, but I didn't want to go. He probably doesn't know I'm trans... I was afraid of angering him. I ran off into the woods while I was upset and happened to find the shed with the car inside. My mind was made up and I decided to fix it. Come the morning, the guards were there for me, so I packed my things and got into the car, drove off, now I'm here."

I wiped my forehead. Iris is stunned.

Iris: "Wow... All in a night, huh? A lot can change at once..."

Fae: "Yeah... Just like when we were Eevees. My parents suddenly deciding to move... It wasn't easy."

Iris: "It wasn't easy for me either. I really missed you, Fae."

Fae: "I hope school at least got easier for you. Y'know, not having me around..."

Iris: "...Yeah, it did. I hate to say it, I really do, but not being stuck in the middle of all the conflict between you and almost everybody else made things easier. I actually started getting more friends and gained a lot of popularity... but it all never really mattered that much to me. I still missed you."

Fae: "I get it. Things got easier for me too. Especially after I came clean with myself and then came out to my parents. I was so scared, but oh I was so lucky to have them. They were so supportive of me."

Iris: "Did you leave them behind..?"

I start tearing up a bit.

Fae: "I did... I didn't want to, but I had no choice."

Iris was staring, deeply, there was some kind of intention behind her eyes that I couldn't shake. I didn't get a chance to think though, as her mom came into the room, surprised to see me.

Iris' Mom: "Oh! Hello, Jesse- uhh- Iris? Can we talk for a second?"

Iris breaks away from her stare.

Iris: "Yeah of course, momma."

They go outside and I hear quiet whispers, some a little intense. Doesn't last too long though as Iris comes back into the room.

Iris: "Well... You can't stay here unfortunately."

Fae: "In the house-?"

Iris: "No- of course you can stay in the house, you just can't stay in my room. I'll take you to the guest room!"

Fae: "Okay, that's cool."