Chapter Text
Moon was an odd case. Although the idea of being a trainer had always appealed to her, she never set out on a pokemon journey in childhood as most children did. Instead, she'd stayed home, taking care of her sickly grandfather. She wasn't bitter about it; he was a kind man who'd taken taken her in and raised her when her mother abandoned her at three years of age. She loved him dearly, and was more than happy to return the favor. Now, at the ripe old age of twenty-two, three months after his death, she had decided it was time for a new start.
Moon had always heard good things about Alola. She'd originally learned of the faraway isles as a child through pictures and a few documentaries at school, which spurred her on to read more about them in her own time nearly to the point of obsession. It was a popular vacation spot with beautiful scenery, but more than that, it was home to many rare and exotic pokemon. Everything was different there; even some of the pokemon she was familiar with in her own area had strange, regional variants with completely different appearances and typing. Having grown up in the perpetual cold of Snowpoint City, her circumstances not permitting even a visit until now, the prospect of actually getting to live there was beyond exciting.
Sinnoh didn't really have anything left holding her to it. Moon had plenty of acquaintances, but between her being a bit of an odd Ducklett and most of the snowy old town's population being several generations older than her, her grandfather was really the only human she could have called a friend. All of the other young residents, what few there were, left as children to start their own journeys, and few returned other than to visit their families on occasion, leaving her to a fairly lonely existence. Without him around to keep her company anymore, even after her initial grieving period passed, living there left the normally cheerful woman with a constant, vague sense of sorrow and emptiness.
"Swine!"
Moon was interrupted from her thoughts as a small, brown pokemon shuffled its way up her legs and into her lap.
"Hey, bud. What's wrong?"
Although she'd never officially become a trainer, Moon did still have one small companion in her house; a male Swinub she'd met years ago as a child while out walking in the pine-dotted outskirts of the city. She'd stopped to take a quick rest on a large rock, and was taking a snack break, when she heard some rustling.
"Hello?"
There was no answer, but the sounds continued.
"I think I legally have to warn you first, b-but I have a knife and I'm not afraid to use it!"
She tried her best to say it in an even tone, but it was a completely empty threat, and inside, Moon was all but having a panic attack at this point. Team Galactic had disbanded some time ago, but the result wasn't without negative consequences. Unsavory characters were still around, and now with nothing to do. Muggings and worse were not unheard of.
"Nuuub!"
Suddenly, a small pokemon poked its head out from behind the rock, glancing up at her with the beginnings of tears prickling the corners of its perpetually closed eyes and shivering.
Moon's posture instantly relaxed when she saw the small creature before cringing at her previous words.
"O-oh jeez, sorry! I thought you were a person! No, no, I won't hurt you! Wow, I can be really dumb sometimes," she admitted, flashing the pokemon an awkward grin as a bead of sweat formed on her face while rubbing the back of her head, embarrassed from her previous display.
The pokemon seemed to relax a bit, but still didn't move from its position, partially concealed from view as its nose twitched slightly.
Moon was feeling really bad, and increasingly awkward at this point. She had a huge soft spot for pokemon, and the idea that she'd upset one left her feeling exceedingly guilty.
"I really am sorry..."
She thought for a moment before her face lit up with an idea. Moon reached into her oversized backpack, the wild Swinub watching with increasing curiosity as she pulled out a generously-sized bag of trail mix and lowered it gently to the ground, putting as much distance between it and herself as her arms allowed.
"All yours! Consider it my apology."
To her surprise, a blur of brown shot out from the bushes the moment she finished her sentence. The pokemon dove nose-first into the offering, eating ravenously. Now in full view, she could see that it was young and a bit underweight looking.
"Jeez. Poor little guy. Must have been a while since you last ate, I'm guessing?"
"Nub!" was the muffled reply. The pig pokemon had its face deep in the bag now, and was blissfully gobbling down mouthful after mouthful of the mixed nuts and berries with impressive speed.
She smiled down at the cute display. "Well, I'm glad I could help. You keep the rest. I need to get going, though. Grandpa gets mad if I'm out too late."
Moon slid off the rock and began making her way back to Snowpoint. Unbeknownst to her, she was being followed.
"Nub!" Swinub motioned toward its currently empty food bowl.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry! Hang on just a second!"
Moon quickly got off the couch and made her way to the pantry, which upon inspection, was now empty.
"...Seriously? Crap. Well, looks like we're going shopping tonight."
Swinub snorted indignantly. Now fully grown and even a bit on the plump side, it had become quite the spoiled little snow pig. Its caretaker was a kindhearted woman, but often scatterbrained and not the most responsible person when it came to housekeeping. Without her grandfather around to badger her, empty plates, laundry, books and sewing supplies would often pile up for some time before it became too unsightly and she finally, begrudgingly, willed herself to clean. The same was true for shopping. After her grandfather passed, Moon was left with a modest inheritance. It was nothing extravagant, but enough to live fairly comfortably on.
Moon thew on a thick coat and grabbed her tote bag, making her way towards the door and stopping briefly at the mirror to give her hair a quick brush before heading out. The woman who greeted her in the reflection was on the short side with a curvy build. She had long, dark hair, and blue eyes that were currently underlined with faint circles from too many late nights reading, watching TV and tinkering with craft projects, somewhat accentuated by her very pale complexion. Satisfied, she turned to her small companion.
"Ready to go?"
Swinub was already at her ankles, and squealed jovially as it jumped into her bag.
