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>> Ito Belongs to @adragonsdreaming

>> Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

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Chapter 7.5

Exhaustion finally claimed Ravina, the adrenaline from the day's events and the warmth of Cinder officially becoming hers fading into bone-deep weariness. A quick shower, a change into comfortable clothes, and a final glance at her Pokégear completed her evening ritual before she pushed open her bedroom door, and froze.

Someone was sitting on her bed, small with vivid pink hair, barely taller sitting down than Cinder was standing. Several distinctly nonhuman eyes reflected the light from a handheld game console. And beside her, perfectly comfortable on Ravina's blankets, sat a Chikorita.

Ravina remained frozen in the doorway as Ito looked up from her game. "...Hi."

Ravina's gaze bounced from Ito to Chikorita and back again. "No."

Ito blinked. "No what?"

"I have had a very long day." Ravina began as Cinder peered around her leg.

His entire body went rigid. Chikorita spotted him instantly.

"Chiko!" She hopped off the bed to investigate.

Cinder stared, recognition and then confusion crossing his features as he looked up at Ravina as though expecting an explanation.

Ravina had none. She pointed toward the Grass-type. "So I'm going to ask this once."

Ito paused her game. "Okay."

"Why is Professor Elm's missing Chikorita in my bedroom?"

Ito looked down at Chikorita, who had already wandered over to greet Cinder with curious sniffs.

"Oh." Ito considered. "Her."

"Yes. Her."

"I found her."

Ravina's eye twitched. "Where?"

"At the professor place."

"The laboratory."

"Probably."

Ravina slowly covered her face as Cinder and Chikorita cautiously sniffed each other.

A cheerful chirp broke the silence, apparently neither Pokémon considered the situation especially alarming.

Ravina lowered her hands from her face, her expression flat. “You stole Professor Elm’s Chikorita.”

Ito’s nose wrinkled. “Stole is mean.”

“What word would you use?” Ravina pressed, her voice dangerously calm.

Ito tilted her head, considering. “Acquired?”

“No.”

“Found?”

“No.”

“Rescued?” Ito tried again, sounding hopeful.

“From what?” Ravina challenged.

Ito shrugged, attention drifting back to her game. “There was a red-haired boy breaking things.”

Ravina froze. “What?”

“He climbed in,” Ito mumbled, thumbs flying across the buttons.

“Silver?” Ravina’s voice sharpened.

“I don’t know.”

“Red hair? Angry face? Looks like smiling might physically injure him?”

Ito glanced up, considering. “Yes.”

Ravina stared, processing. “You saw him break into the lab?”

“Mhm.”

“And you didn’t stop him?” Ravina’s disbelief grew.

“No.”

“Why?” Ravina demanded, exasperated.

Ito looked genuinely confused by the question. “Why would I?”

Ravina’s mouth opened, then closed. She tried again. “Because he was stealing a Pokémon!”

Ito pointed a thumb toward Chikorita, who was now nudging Cinder curiously. “So was I.”

Ravina made a strangled noise. Cinder flinched at the sound while Chikorita chirped obliviously. Then another thought struck, and her eyes narrowed.

“…Wait.”

Ito looked up from her game.

“Why are you here?”

That earned a thoughtful pause. “I took a nap.” Ravina waited, her posture radiating impatience. “In a box.”

“…What box?”

“The one with blankets.”

Ravina’s eye twitched. “The linen box?”

“Maybe.”

“The linen box we packed before leaving home?” Ravina clarified slowly.

Ito nodded.

“And then?” Ravina prompted, fearing the answer.

“I woke up here.”

Ravina stared, utterly speechless. “That’s it?”

“It was a very good box.”

Ravina's gaze drifted upward, a slow, deliberate movement toward the ceiling. Two days, only two days since they'd arrived in Johto. The linen boxes had been among the last things unpacked, tucked away with their old world scents still clinging to the fabric. Ito must have slipped into one before shipment, curled up in the darkness, and slept through the entire journey, across worlds, unnoticed.

Ravina's shoulders slumped. She didn't have the emotional reserves for this tonight. Or this week. Or possibly this month.

"Fine."

Ito's smile bloomed, bright and triumphant. "Great."

"No. Not great." Ravina stepped forward, her voice dropping to a low warning tone. "Get up."

Ito blinked, all four eyes blinking in perfect sequence. "Why?"

"We're going to Professor Elm."

Ito's expression soured instantly, her bottom lip pushing forward in a pout. "No."

Ravina stopped dead. "What?"

"No."

"Ito."

"Ravina."

"You have his Pokémon."

Chikorita chirped beside her and Ito pointed, as if that settled everything. "She likes me."

"That isn't the point!"

"It seems important."

"It is important, but it's not the only point!"

Ito tilted her head, processing this complex statement while Ravina took a slow, steadying breath. "Come with me."

"Um..." Ito's gaze drifted toward the open window.

Ravina's eyes narrowed. "Don't."

"...Nah." Ito rose with fluid grace, setting aside her game console. "I'm on vacation now."

"What?"

"I wanna have fun."

"Ito."

"See things."

"Ito."

"Eat weird food."

"Ito!"

Chikorita trotted back and Ito scooped her up with surprising ease. "I'll see you later, kay?"

Then she stepped onto the windowsill. Ravina's stomach plummeted as she watched. "Do not!"

Ito grinned and dropped from sight.

"ITO!" Ravina lunged, but she was too late. Through the window, she saw Ito land softly on the awning below, cross onto the garden fence, and vanish over the hedge with Chikorita tucked securely against her.

Chikorita's cheerful "Chiko!" echoed back for a moment before they disappeared completely.

Ravina remained halfway out the window, frozen. Cinder padded up behind her, his small head peering out into the darkness. He looked outside, then at her, then outside again.

Ravina pulled herself back inside, sinking heavily onto the bed. "My familiar just told me no."

Cinder chirped questioningly.

"She's never done that." Another chirp, this one more concerned. "Not literally," Ravina added as he settled against her thigh.

She stared at the open window, the familiar contract between them feeling like a frayed thread. Back home, it had been a constant presence at the edge of her senses. Here, it was distant, weak, like hearing someone through several walls. Ito had clearly noticed too. Her response? Declare herself on vacation and commit Pokémon theft.

Ravina flopped backward onto the mattress. "Mum is going to kill me."

Cinder nuzzled closer.

"...Probably."

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Chapter 7.6

Nostus didn't kill her, but the morning after felt close enough. Ravina slouched at the dining table across from her mother, whose coffee mug seemed to be the only thing holding her together. Cinder made himself comfortable in Ravina's lap, his presence the only thing keeping her grounded.

Daphne had arrived earlier with documents for Nostus, but had stayed just long enough to overhear the tale of Ito's arrival and departure.

Nostus dragged both hands down her face. "Let me see if I understand this correctly."

Ravina braced herself.

"Your familiar stowed away in our linen shipment and traveled across worlds without anyone noticing..."

"Basically."

"...because she decided to take a nap."

"Yes."

"For several days."

"Probably."

Nostus lowered her hands, her expression unreadable. "She then witnessed the theft at Professor Elm's laboratory."

"Yes."

"And chose not to intervene or report it."

"Correct."

"Instead, she 'acquired' the other starter."

Ravina nodded. "She did."

Daphne made a valiant effort to suppress her amusement, her shoulders shaking. Nostus shot her a look. "Please don't encourage this."

"I'm sorry," Daphne said, though her smile betrayed her. "I truly am."

"You're laughing."

"I can't help it."

Ravina sank deeper into her chair as Nostus's attention returned to her. "And where is your wayward familiar now?"

Ravina stared at the grain of the table. "On vacation."

Silence descended, broken only by Daphne's failed attempt to contain a burst of laughter.

Nostus closed her eyes, so Ravina spoke quickly. “Chikorita looked happy.”

One of Nostus's eyes opened. “That is currently the only thing preventing this from becoming substantially worse.”

“She really did.”

“I believe you.”

“And Ito isn’t dangerous.”

Nostus gave her a look, so Ravina reconsidered. “…Intentionally.”

“That qualifier is doing heroic work.”

Daphne laughed again. Nostus sighed again. “Wonderful.”

Ravina looked cautiously at her. “You’re taking this well.”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“I am calculating paperwork.”

Ravina’s ears lowered. “Oh no.”

“Yes.”

Nostus began counting on her fingers. “I have a magically contracted fae family member who does not currently possess citizenship, a recognized regional identity or a League registration.”

Daphne’s smile faded slightly. “That could be complicated.”

“Extremely.”

Nostus continued. “She is now travelling unsupervised with a Pokémon registered to Professor Elm.”

Ravina raised one finger. “Technically…”

“No.”

She lowered it as Nostus continued. “If Chikorita genuinely chooses to remain with Ito, Elm can authorize a transfer.”

Daphne nodded. “He probably will, if she’s safe.”

“Which still requires Ito to exist on paper.”

Ravina blinked. “She exists.”

“Not legally.”

“Oh.”

“Therefore I need to establish enough documentation that the League can recognize her as a member of our household.”

Another pause.

“Without explaining magic.”

Ravina smiled weakly. “You’re good at paperwork?”

Nostus stared. “Dont butter me up right now...”

“…Fair.”

Daphne reached for the coffee pot. “You’re going to need more of this.”

Nostus looked toward her. “That may be the kindest thing anyone has said to me this morning.”

Daphne poured her another cup. Their hands brushed briefly over the handle. Neither seemed particularly hurried to move.

Ravina noticed, she looked at Daphne, then Nostus, then the coffee. Interesting.

Nostus’s eyes shifted toward her and Ravina immediately became fascinated by Cinder. Not her problem…Probably.