Chapter 199: Granny Sola is Very Happy
Suddenly, a sharp meow echoed through the house.
"MEOW!!"
The Skitty had finally recognized Will. It turned and fled into the house, its four legs scrambling in every direction.
"MEOW-MEOW!! (The Great Demon King is back!!)"
"Meow?" Meowscarada frowned and looked at Will. She couldn't imagine what he had done to the Skitty to provoke such a massive reaction.
"Hehe, it looks like Meowscarada really likes you, Sceptile," Sola said.
"She does," they both smiled.
Meowscarada tilted her head in confusion. She suddenly couldn't tell who was the weird one.
"This child is called 'Meowscarada,' right? She's been in the newspaper, too. She seems like a child who's very attached to you," Sola said, reaching out to pat her head. But Meowscarada, having no bond with Sola, didn't want to be touched.
Will went to tweak the big cat's ear. Smack. But his hand was slapped away by Sola.
"Sceptile, don't be so violent with the child. You have to be patient."
Will was stunned. He hadn't expected that by bringing Meowscarada back, his own status in the family would drop a tier, allowing her to climb all over his head.
"Meow?" Meowscarada glanced at Sola, then at Will's reaction. She seemed to have discovered something very interesting. There was actually someone in this world who could boss Will around?!
"Come inside. Sceptile, you can come in through the backyard. You know the way, don't you?" Sola said.
"Meowscarada, you can push grandma inside."
"Meow."
Meowscarada nodded and began to push Sola's wheelchair.
Will, meanwhile, went around to the backyard. The Pokémon there had changed; it was a different group from ten years ago. But one thing was the same. Just like before, they were all Pokémon who needed a little extra care, or who didn't like to be alone. Their trainers had to go to work, so they would leave their Pokémon with Sola during the day. They didn't even need to be dropped off. Just like human children going to school, they would show up on their own every morning and wait for their trainers to pick them up in the evening.
"They're quite happy," Will smiled, shaking his head.
The house's back entrance was a set of large glass sliding doors, which he could fit through. But once inside, his head was already hitting the ceiling, and he could only walk in the hallway, unable to enter the rooms. So, he preferred to stay in the backyard. The yard was lush and spacious, a perfect "bedroom" for him. But he had already agreed, so he had to go inside.
To his surprise, the interior of the two-story house had been completely transformed. The entire second floor was gone. In its place, the first floor had been expanded, and the ceiling had been doubled in height. For Will, the house now felt like a normal-sized human house. But for a normal human, it would feel like a house built for a three or four-meter-tall giant.
"My legs aren't what they used to be, and going up and down stairs was too much effort. So, I had the house remodeled like this. As it happens, it's also more convenient for you to live here, Sceptile," Sola explained.
"What a coincidence," Will nodded.
"It's still early. You and Meowscarada can sit in the living room for a while. Grandma will go get the bedroom ready for you."
"Granny, you don't need to do that. You should rest. Meowscarada and I can do it ourselves," Will said, waving his hands. Making a ninety-year-old in a wheelchair clean a room? What kind of monster would do that? He and his cat weren't disabled.
Besides, he used to do these things all the time. From today on, he would teach Meowscarada how to do housework.
"Oh, right, Granny. Look what I brought back for you," Will suddenly remembered the jade flower and began to rummage through his bag.
"My goodness, child, why are you still carrying such a small bag? Take it off. I'll have someone make you a bigger one in a few days," Sola chuckled, but she was also very moved. The bag she had given him ten years ago was tattered and patched, yet he still carried it.
But a moment later, Sola's words caught in her throat. Her entire attention was fixed on the white flower Will had just taken out.
"Granny, for you."
"Ah? Sceptile, you brought such a beautiful flower for... wait, this card..."
Sola took the items, her eyes wide. And when she saw the handwriting on the card, and the name, the tears immediately began to fall. She clutched the jade flower, looking at it again and again.
"Meow?" Hearing Sola's sobs, the Skitty, who had been hiding under the living room table, immediately ran out. It jumped into Sola's lap, looking at her with worried eyes.
"It's okay," Sola said, stroking its head.
"Meowscarada, go get some tissues from the living room."
"Meow."
Meowscarada, who was always obedient to Will, immediately found the living room and pulled a large wad of tissues from the box. When she brought them back, Sola praised her, calling her a good child, and even praised Will for being such a good father.
Skitty just looked at Will, then at the new cat, completely confused. What is going on? Is it this hard to be a Pokémon nowadays?
"I'm not sad, Granny is just very happy. I never thought I would receive this," Sola said, holding the jade flower, a blissful smile on her face. "And... having you all here with me... this feeling is so nice."
"Meow~" Skitty immediately wagged its tail, making its presence known. It wasn't about to let these two newcomers steal its place in the family.
"Yes, yes, Skitty is a good girl too. Sceptile, let me tell you, after you left, Skitty became so well-behaved. She even helps me carry the groceries," Sola said.
Her, with those short legs? More like dragging the groceries, Will thought, looking skeptically at Skitty's tiny limbs.
"Meow-meow!!" The Skitty was furious and lunged at Will, only to be suppressed by a single one of his fingers.
"Alright~ stop quarreling, you two. You're just the same as when you first met," Sola said, rescuing the Skitty. "You must be hungry after your journey. Push grandma to the market. We have to buy groceries, or I won't have enough to feed a big boy like you tonight."
"It's okay, we still have to clean the room," Will said, scratching his head.
"No! Your first meal back has to be a feast! And besides, I want everyone in Ever Grande City to see you," Sola insisted.
Will had no choice but to agree.
"Meowscarada, you push Granny. Skitty, are you coming?"
"Meow!" The Skitty nodded vigorously, hopping onto Sola's lap, with no intention of getting up. It wasn't that it minded walking; it just wanted to defy Will.
"Get down. You can walk yourself. You're probably the reason grandma's legs don't work, sitting on them all the time," Will said, picking up the cat and dropping it on the floor. He was demonstrating to Meowscarada that only those with strength have the right to rebel.
"Meow-meow!" The Skitty bared its fangs, but thinking about what Will had said, it didn't dare to jump back onto Sola's lap.
"Heh, your courage has grown," Will said, looking at the pink furball. The Skitty of the past had been a total coward. It seemed that in the past ten years, she had taken on the responsibility of protecting the family, which had made her braver.
...
Out on the street, the old woman in the wheelchair, surrounded by three Pokémon—one a rare Meowscarada from the southern hemisphere, the other an absurdly large and famous Sceptile—was turning heads 300% of the time.
Sola was a "celebrity" in Ever Grande City; she could chat with anyone she met. Each time, she would proudly introduce her companions, just like a mother or grandmother showing off a child who had gotten into a good school.
But as they neared the market, Sola suddenly pointed to a stone bollard on the street. "About seven years ago, I met a homeless man right here. He was three meters tall, you know."
"Oh? And then?" Will's ears perked up. There weren't many three-meter-tall men in the world. It had to be AZ.
"That poor child. So young, and already wandering. Couldn't speak, no family," Sola sighed.
"Meow-meow?" The Skitty, who was by the wheelchair, added that Granny Sola had given the man some of her macarons, and had even told him all about her family to cheer him up... including the story of a "little Treecko who set off on a journey north, all by himself, with just a small bag."
I see, Will nodded. He had been wondering why AZ had, for no reason, told him about Shadow Lugia. Now it seemed... it was to repay the kindness of a few macarons.
As they shopped, Sola chattered on, telling him all the stories of the past ten years. Her world seemed so small, revolving entirely around Ever Grande City. And yet, her world also seemed so large. Will realized that some of the people she had met were people he and Meowscarada had also encountered on their journey.
...
Back at home, Sola was a whirlwind of activity, despite her wheelchair, insisting on doing everything herself. Will began to worry. If he left Meowscarada here, would Sola just spoil her rotten and turn her into another "princess"?
Fortunately, in the days that followed, Sola gradually understood Will's intentions and wasn't as indulgent. But even so, her affection for Meowscarada was still in the "doting" category.
This was both a comfort and a headache for Will. He was happy they got along so well, and Sola was clearly much happier with her around. But he was also annoyed that Meowscarada had now found a way to rebel against him. The moment he tried to make her do anything, she would immediately run and cry to Granny Sola.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter