Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . .
.


Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for
the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I
finish this already. 
As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated!  And so would
suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever.  I kinda got writers
block on that one.



Ketchum: The Journey Continues
Season 2

Surprise! 
Chapter 27


~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~

I suppose I understood why he forfeited the match.  Satoshi's much more
like my kin than I thought, he strives to accomplish and he's stubborn. 
But also like my kin he values his freedom.  He's not ready for a
Pokemon Master's responsibilities to be placed on his shoulders yet.
Besides, we train for the next 2 years and we'll come back to kick tail.
The league won't know what hit them.
Once Satoshi explained to the others why he forfeited, they understood.  
"Satoshi!"
Musashi ran in and barrelled into Satoshi, sending them both to the floor
in a tangle of limbs.  I rolled my eyes and gagged.

~~~Flashback~~~

*You've got some explaining to do Satoshi!  We've all worked so hard! 
Why did you forfeit?*  Ramona asked, seriously ticked. 
"I'm sorry . . ."
*Sorry isn't good enough!* I snapped.
"I couldn't do it, I couldn't fight anymore.  You were all getting hurt . . .
through this whole journey you've all been seriously hurt at least once . . .
what if the next time, what if I lose one of you?"  He shook his head.  "I
don't know what I'd do if I did.  You're all really special to me.  I'm not
ready for this, neither are all of you.  If we train until the next League
games then I hope we'll be ready.  But not now."
Satoshi closed his eyes, waiting for our judgement.
We all looked at each other, the impact of what he'd told us slowly
sinking in.
*We understand Satoshi.  And I suppose it's true.  We were all caught up
in the fame and glory that neither of us thought about the
responsibilities.* Rare Beauty murmured as she nuzzled his hair, knocking
off his hat.
"Thanks everyone."  He smiled.  We all grinned in return.

~~~End Flashback~~~

"Julie!  Bastet!  We're back!"
"Musashi, Satoshi!  Who won?!"  
*Satoshi!* Bastet cried out in happiness as she launched her full 9 lb body
into him.  She purred as he scratched her.
"Musashi's the Pokemon Master!  She won!"
Julie squealed and hugged Musashi.  Satoshi just smiled and began a quiet
conversation with Bastet.  Julie, noticing this, broke off the hug and
watched anxiously.
"So, did Julie take good care of you?"
*I suppose.  But I missed you.*
"You suppose?  Do you think Julie is good enough to care for her own
Meowth?"
Bastet gave her one of those unwavering gazes that felines were so good
at and sometimes unnerved people.
*Prrrrrrr . . . Any Meowth besides me would be happy to have herrrrr as
an ownerrrrr.*
"What's your number Julie?  I'll call your parents and recommend you."
Julie was ecstatic to say the least.
"You two will never believe what I heard while I was in the waiting
room!  I heard that there's a pokemon more powerful than Mewtwo!"
"Tauros dung!"  Satoshi muttered crossly.  I admit I was sceptical that
this 'Mewtwo' existed.  And even if it did then there was no way any
pokemon could be more powerful than it.
The five of us walked outside and said goodbye to Julie as she hopped on
the bus home.
Satoshi called out Paradox and Musashi called out her Pidgeot.
"We're going home Paradox.  Inferno, Bastet return."
I got recalled into my pokeball.

It was dark out when I was let out in Satoshi's room.  He was just leaving
the room, saying that Misty wanted to talk to him.  I shrugged and 
looked out the window over looking the back yard and saw Draco,
Shellder, Rare Beauty, Zeus and Raptor romping in the huge pool.  I
wondered where Satoshi was?
"INFEERRRNOOOO!!!  EMBRANA'S GOT A FEW THINGS TO
SHOW YOU!"  I heard Satoshi holler from downstairs before breaking
into gales of laughter.
I was worried now, he'd used the tone of voice that said 'you're gonna
get the shock of your life when you see this'.
And frankly, that tone scared me the most.
As I walked down the stairs I reassured myself.  

I nodded, I'm sure Satoshi was exaggerating.  I entered the kitchen and
looked around at everyone assembled.
Or maybe not.
Lifting a curious eyebrow at giggling Musashi, Jessie and Misty.  Meowth
almost looked insane the way he was laughing and rubbing his paws
together.  Bastet smirking.  A chortling James, a snickering Satoshi
holding a camera ready, and the worst one.  Embrana had her arms
crossed and was smirking at me.  The perpetually happy Nodoka sat on
her shoulders clapping happily as I eyed everyone in the kitchen,
obviously waiting for Embrana to pop something on me.
I got a feeling I don't think I've ever gotten in my whole life, the feeling
of wanting to run out of there as quickly as possible without looking
back.  Survival instincts were screaming at me to do just that.
*What's the big deal?* I finally asked.
I wish I hadn't.
Embrana said nothing and as she stepped aside and I laid my eyes on the
centre of the table.  The last thing I was aware of was the sound of a
camera shutter.


~~~~~~Embrana's POV~~~~~~

Thunk.
That was the sound Inferno made as he hit the floor in a dead faint.
What?  Were you expecting him to jump up and down in joy at his
impending fatherhood?  Come on, he's just a mere male.  
Then again, I had been expecting him to run screaming out the door.
*I want a copy of the look on his face when you get that picture
developed!* I told an almost maniacally grinning Satoshi.  Everyone
nodded in agreement, they all wanted a copy of that.  I couldn't blame
them, that photo would be priceless!
"We might as well wake him up."  Satoshi said as he turned to the
window.  "LULLABY!  We need you for a minute!"
*What?* Then she saw Inferno. *Let me guess, you told him.* It was a
statement, not a question by the way she said it.
"Meowth ya got it.  Poor lizard neva stood a chance."
"Lullaby, Double Slap until he wakes up."
Lullaby began her dreaded Double Slap attack.  When five minutes of this
failed to give a reaction Satoshi just dumped a bucket full of icy water on
him.  That woke him up.  Before he could do anything rash and that he'd
regret later on I dragged him by a horn over to the table to meet his soon
to hatch offspring.
I felt Satoshi pluck a giggling Nodoka from my shoulders, she
immediately began laughing.
"Man, Doka-chan's gained weight!"  I heard him grunt as he settled her in
his arms.  Pirow finally decided to flutter into the kitchen and perch on
Satoshi's head, adding to his load.
Inferno had a glassy look in his eyes as he looked at the eggs.
"Alright Satoshi, I've registered you in school.  You start tomorrow. 
Musashi, I've talked to Jessie and James, you'll be attending school with
Satoshi."
"Moooom!"  Satoshi whined.  Musashi gave a disgruntled look.  Probably
because the love birds knew they wouldn't be in the same classes. 
Musashi in grade 9 and Satoshi in grade 8 since he was a year younger
than Musashi.
"Oh, and one more thing.  Would you two be dears and drop off Nodoka
in daycare on your way to school tomorrow?  I have the early shift at the
Pokemon Centre."
"Sure."  They sighed.
"Ring ring ring, phone call phone call. Ring ring ring, phone call phone
call."
"I'll get it!"  Misty said as she ran for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Misty!"
"Brock!  How are you?"
"I'm doing great!  I've got a girlfriend!"
Satoshi, Inferno, Musashi and I looked at each other.  A Jenny or Joy had
actually agreed to go out with him?
"That's wonderful!  Who is it?"
"Sabrina!"
"Whaaaaa??!!"  We all gasped as we did a massive face fault.
"Sabrina?  Saffron City's Sabrina?  The Sabrina that turned us into
DOLLS Sabrina?!"  Misty shrieked.
He gave a lovesick grin.
"Yeah, isn't she gorgeous?"
"Dis is gettin' wierd, Meowth's outta here!"
"Wait for us Meowth!"  Satoshi and Musashi shouted as they bolted into
the back yard, followed by Bastet, Inferno, and myself.  He was right,
Brock getting a girlfriend was too weird for my taste.

  
~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~

I winced as Doka-chan gave my hair another yank.  I'd tried to get her to
let go but she was in 'the baby death grip' phase in her life.
For those unfamiliar of the baby death grip I'll tell you.  When babies
reach a certain age of a year or so, they like to grip things in their tiny
fists.  The grip is so strong not even an adult can loosen it.
Now you know.
<"Even I've got to admit, your sister's cute.">

He coughed.
<"Yes, well . . . there's something strange about her . . .">

There was a low growl and a sigh before he went silent.  Great, he's
sulking.
"Satoshi, Musashi, Bedtime!  Musashi you can sleep in the guest room."
"Okay."  We both shouted back.  I turned to the pokemon still in the back
yard.
"You guys going to sleep anytime soon?"
Raptor zoomed up to my room, followed by Inferno and Bastet. 
Everyone else nodded and I recalled them.

<"Understandable.">
In Doka-chan's room I put her in her crib and pulled out my clarinet.  It
had been awhile since I played so I did a quick scale before launching into
a lullaby.
She watched me with wide cobalt eyes and soon, in mid-song she yawned
and I began playing a little softer.  Soon she was fast asleep.
"Night Doka-chan."  I murmured as gave her a little peck on her chubby
cheek.  "See you in the morning."  I whispered as I tip-toed from the
room and walked to mine.
I paused at the door to my room, Inferno, Raptor and Bastet were all
arguing over who gets the prime spot.
I stepped between them all and glared.  They shut their mouths.  
Yawning I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed.  Inferno
settled beside the bed and Raptor came up beside me.  Bastet went for the
warmest spot, the small space between me and Raptor.


~~~~~~Raptor's POV~~~~~~

It was about 1 am in the morning when I woke up with the sense of
another person in the room.
I peeled open one eye and saw Father's sister standing on Inferno's
stomach, trying to climb up.  Teleporting Bastet to the spot beside
Father's head I gently wrapped my tail around her waist and placed her in
the still warm spot Bastet had previously occupied.
She curled up in a ball and began sucking her thumb, wide awake.  I used
Hypnosis to get her back to sleep.  
I joined her in slumberland soon after.

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