April Twenty-second

"Mother?" Magda meowed impatiently from her room. It was her birthday, but her mother had told her to stay in her room... for something, she had said. Some special surprise. But Magda was not one to sit around and do nothing; her friend Sorrel was waiting for her outside of the house probably at this very moment! Oh, she did not have time for this-

"Mother? Mother? Hello?" Magda meowed and hopped out of her bed to where she knew the doorway was. The door was closed, of course. When the door was closed, it was almost like it was part of the wall. It was frustrating, to be sure. Her mother did not seem to be in hearing range. Oh, this would not do.

Magda trotted hotly over to where she knew the window was, and with one of her ear-hands, opened the window. Whatever the window was for, it seemed to be rather useless. With a delicate, planned hop, she made it to the sill and out into the meadow. The wind smelled of spring, of new life- it made Magda sneeze. But there was no time for that- it was time to find Sorrel.

"Sorrel-" Magda hissed as she pushed through the familiar grasses. But then- yes, that was her scent! Slightly ill, that of a Cubchoo hybrid and a cat-like Pokemon. Magda trotted over to where the scent was coming from, and inquired, "Sorrel, what are you doing?"

"Ah- how did you find me??" Sorrel sniffled, and cried out in shock, apparently taking a few steps back judging by the sound of grass crunching.

"I'm not sure what you mean- sorry I couldn't play yesterday, mother didn't want me going outside for some reason." Magda shook her head, and apologized to her friend. Magda's mother tended to be a little fickle - like Magda herself - but that was fine, at least she still loved Magda.

"Eh, it isn't a problem, Mags." Sorrel replied, and said, "By the way, happy birthday! I- uh, I didn't get you anything, sorry- but we can at least play now that your mom's let you come outside!"

Magda paused. That was not quite... true. Alice had not said it was all right... oh, but it would be fine, she was certain. "Yes, yes, I'm glad she allowed me out too." Magda lied, but continued without hesitation, "We should play hide and seek!"

"But Mags, you always win hide and seek." Sorrel jokingly complained. Of course, it was not a joke; Sorrel was ridiculously easy to track, and for some reason, she could never quite find Magda. Apparently, Magda just had a gift for seeking!

"All right... cover your eyes and ears, and I'll hide. Count to twenty, give me time!" Sorrel sighed, and finally agreed to Magda's suggestion. Magda did not know what covering her eyes would do... but she did cover her ears as she began to count. The scent of the Cubchoo hybrid began to diminish as she went to hide, leaving Magda by her lonesome.

"Twenty-four... twenty-five... ready or not, here I come!" Magda chirped, and removed her paws from her ears. Magda took in a deep breath, and began to follow the sickness-laden scent of Sorrel through the meadow. It was pretty simple- except for having to  dodge around rocks in the path. They always tripped her up...

Soon, she found Sorrel. "Found you, Sorrel!" Magda purred, and tapped where Sorrel's sniffling breathing noises were coming from.

"Gah- ugh, fine, okay, you found me, cool." Sorrel suddenly sprang up, causing Magda to take several steps back. "Okay, now it's your turn to hide, and this time I'm gonna find you." she sounded irritated.

"Yes, of course, Sorrel." Magda purred happily, and said, "Count to twenty-five, and the come find me."

Sorrel grumbled something, and then began to count. Instantly, Magda was off, running through the grass and letting it whip against her face. She would hide close t

Suddenly, though, Magda ran into something- something warm, and rather fluffy. Another Pokemon, perhaps? She made a startled 'Mrr!' noise, and took several steps backwards. A scent came to her nose; this Pokemon was a Furfrou, but it was hard to tell with the amount of perfume she wore.

"Oh, good heavens!" the Pokemon cried out as Magda rammed into her.

"I-I-I'm sorry, ma'am- I d-didn't mean to-" Magda's ears fell as she started to apologize to the Pokemon- only to be cut off by a startled bark.

"What on Earth...? Doll, why were you running to fast through the- eugh..." the voice slowly went from surprised, to chastising... to something else.

"I-I was running to hide from my friend- w-we are playing hide and go seek, and I'm hiding- I didn't mean  to run into you, I promise-" Magda apologized with a dip of her head.

"My... what a repulsive youth you are." the Furfrou replied sourly, not listening to Magda's apologies. "Do you know how irresponsible it is to run through the meadow without looking where you are going? I would like to have a talk with your parents about your behavior." she continued, growing angrier and angrier with each word.

"I- I-" Magda's fur was spiked up as she took a few more steps away from the Furfrou's harsh words. What was she going to do?

"Magda?? Magda!!" suddenly, Magda could hear her own name being called out from somewhere. It was her mother's voice! Oh- certainly she could help. "Mother!! Over here!!" she called to the voice. Soon, the soft sounds of her mother floating through the grass reached Magda's ears.

"Magda- good gracious, I told you not to leave the house until I was here, you gave me a frr-" Magda's mother began to worriedly scold her daughter- and then, she apparently realized that they were not alone here.

"...Nelda?" Alice's voice sounded shocked. Did she know this Furfrou...?

"Alice... why, it's been a long time. A decade? I seeya finally evolved, just like you wanted to." there was recognition in the Furfrou's voice as well. "I can't believe we haven't met by chance until now, doll- but, correct me if I'm wrong- do you know this small... hybrid?" there was something in that voice, something that Magda did not like.

For a few moments, Magda's mother was quiet. ...Then, without a word, Magda felt her mother's great hand pick her up and place her within her mother's long strands of hair. "Yes, Nelda. This is my daughter, Magda. She is a hybrid." her mother's words were slow and methodical.

"...I am sorry." the Furfrou apologized for something.

"No need to apologize. Magda is the pride and joy of my life." Alice's words were crisp and polite. Magda's heart glowed with warmth at her mother's kind words as she let out a rumbling purr.

"...You certainly have changed, Alice. Have fun with that... Magda... then." the Furfrou woofed- and then, judging by the sounds of the grasses, she began to lope off into the meadow.

For several moments, both mother and child were silent, as if they were both pondering the encounter. But the silence was broken when Magda's mother said, "All right, time to go home now." and began to float towards home.

"...Mother? What does 'repulsive' mean?" Magda asked meekly.

"Nothing important, I will teach you that word another day, but today is your birthday." Alice brushed off the question.

"...Am I-" Magda almost started.

"Now Magda." her mother cut her off.

Suddenly, there were rapid footsteps and a loud sniffle. "Mags!! Oh, hello Misses Mallon- uh, is the game over?" Sorrel called out to the two Pokemon.

"Yes, sorry Sorrelmask, Magda can come play in a bit, but I have a special gift for her." Alice apologized to the Cubchoo hybrid. Magda's heart skipped a beat; the special gift!

"Okay... I'll be by the big rock, you know it-" Sorrel called out, and then ran off once more. Ah, it was good to have a good friend.

Soon after that, Magda and Alice were home. "So what was this about a special gift?" Magda asked her mother as Alice let her out of the hair and onto a chair in the front room.

"Wait one moment." Magda's mother replied, and left for just a moment, before the sounds of quiet floating returned. "Happy birthday, Magda... this is a gift to you." Alice cooed, and handed Magda's tail-hand a small, stone object that slid around in her hand.

"What is it?" she asked her mother, letting it slide and click in her hand.

"It is a special hair ornament, it is very old, and it now belongs to you." Alice's voice was filled with emotion. "It's shaped like a Wimpod- and it is very important. Please, always keep it safe."

Magda inspected the ornament with her hand, feeling all of the tiny nooks and crannies in the stone. "It must have taken years to craft it so finely- where did you find it?" she asked.

"That's not important right now. What is, is that it is here to protect you, and you will protect it." Alice responded gently.

"May I put it in my hair?" Magda asked as she fumbled to put it in. Alice giggled, and gave Magda a hand. It was a little heavy... but after a few moments, it felt like it fit just right where Alice had fastened it.

"Thank you very much, mother!" Magda purred, and felt the hairpin with one of her ear-hands. "I promise to keep him safe, always and forever."

"Him?" Magda's mother echoed.

"Yes, I think Edgar is a good name for him. I'll always keep Edgar safe, mother." Magda purred, and rubbed her face against her mother's hand.

"...Thank you, Magda, that means more than you could ever know to me." the emotion returned to Alice's voice. "You are the joy of my life, Magda, always remember that."

"Yes, mother." Magda nodded, and made a smile. "May I show Edgar to Sorrel now, please?" she asked.

"Of course- but please, stay safe, and remember not to run into anyone." Alice replied with a slight bit of sternness.

"I promise!" Magda meowed, and hopped off of the chair towards the door. She would take care of Edgar, just like her mother had told her to, and she would always remember that her mother loved her. Today was going to be the best day ever!