Chapter Text
Bridget was uncharacteristically quiet on the way home. Allister held her hand and had her rest her head on his shoulder. He hated seeing her so sad and zombie like. Hyde had offered to record the last trial for them, and Bridget didn't even say anything. As soon as the cab landed, Bridget threw a treat to the Coviknight and ran towards her home.
The bakery was closed, and that was not a good sign to them. Allister followed her up the stairs to her home and saw his mum comforting Bridget's parents.
"We're home. Have you heard any more news about Abuelito?" questioned Bridget.
Her father motioned for her to come sit on his lap. "Papá is okay, but the stroke took its toll."
"Will Abuelito and Abuelita come live with us?" asked Bridget.
Bridget's mum knelt down in front of her and held her hands.
"We're going to have to go to Paldea to settle things about the family's business. Your abuelita can't do it on her own, and your abuelito will need professional care." said Maeve.
Allister connected the dots in his head, "You're moving to Paldea..."
"How long would we be there?" asked Bridget quietly.
"Depends on paperwork and how Papá is feeling. It could be a couple of months or maybe a year." said Bridget's papa.
"May I be excused?" she asked quietly.
She got off her papa lap and grabbed Allister's hand to pull him into her room. Once there, she called out all her Pokémon and started crying.
"I don't want to move away even for a little while," she said as she sat on her bed.
"I don't want you to leave either. What would I do without my best human mate?" said Allister as he tried in vain not to cry with his mask, making his tears trail out in ghostly vapors.
They both cried together and talked about possible plans that ranged from running away to writing each other every day. Dandelion, the ribombee, offered the children pollen puffs to feel better.
They thanked the little fairy and ate the offered puffs. Allister had taken off his mask to eat the puff and kept it off while he and Bridget calmed down.
"I'm glad that Paldea isn't that far away, so we can visit each other rather easily," said Allister, trying to look on the bright side.
The plane ride to the other region was less than 3 hours, and he would be willing to take the plane to not be alone in Galar without Bridget. He was telling the truth when he said she was his best mate, Bea was more like a big sister, and the majority of the other gym leaders were like extended family.
"I hate this. I hate leaving you alone with stupid blokes that might bully you. I hate that I'm going to have to wear boots because my family lives in Montenevera, which is the coldest place in Paldea," complained Bridget as she lay in her bed.
Allister offered Bridget to sleep over his house so they could spend more time together
Over the next couple of days, the two friends were attached at the hip. Allister accompanied Bridget to Glimwood Tangle so she could say her goodbyes to her wild Pokémon friends. During her rounds, they found two very lost travelers with their Kantonian Meowth. They were being put to sleep by the mischievous morelul and shiinoticin of the forest.
"Behave you guys, they are foreigners from the looks of it," admonished Bridget.
The Pokémon looked disappointed but stopped what they were doing. Bridget passed out some treats, and they went on their way.
"Are you okay?" she asked in Uni since she was sure they wouldn't know Galarian.
The two travlers nodded and got up on shaky legs, still fighting off the effects of the sleep powder.
"My name is Bridget, and his name is Allister," said Bridget as she made a quick scan of the travelers to make sure they weren't injured.
The travelers introduced themselves as Musashi and Kojiro from Kanto.
Bridget offered to take them to Ballonlea or to Stow-on-the-Side since the couple were clearly lost.
Kojiro thanked her and told her they were on the way to Bellonlea to see the theater there but got lost.
"May I pet your Meowth? I never saw a Kantonian Meowth in real life, and the ones here can be mean," asked Bridget as she expertly led them through the forest.
The Meowth looked annoyed but let her pet him. "That's the spot," he said when Bridget scratched him behind the ear.
"...Meowth talked...!" said Allister.
Musashi and Kojiro were shocked that Bridget didn't seem fazed and just kept petting Meowth.
"Oh, everyone understood that? I didn't realize he was speaking Uni," said Bridget when she looked up at the shocked faces.
She patted the dirt off her dress and casually mentioned to the Kantonian couple that she could talk to Pokémon.
"Off we go then," said Bridget.
The Kantonian couple looked at each other and shrugged. They had seen weirder things.
"If you ever decide to settle down, I recommend Ballonlea because we all look out for each other here," said Bridget, "Congratulations, by the way." She added, looking at Musashi's stomach.
"Wha?" said Kojiro confusedly.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to spoil anything." replied Bridget.
She quickly started apologizing and explained that her Riombee showed her how to see auras, and she sensed a budding aura from Musashi.
Kojiro hugged Musashi and twirled her around. "I guess that moves up our timetable," said Kojiro.
"I didn't want to say anything until I knew for certain," said Musashi.
The rest of the day was spent setting up the couple with a place to stay and Bridget listing places that were currently hiring. She hoped they decided to stay in Ballonlea so she would have a new neighbor when she comes back from Paldea. She got Bede to promise to look out for the couple and keep her updated.
As the day of the move came closer, Bridget's mum was able to get approval from the Paldean government to allow Bridget to bring all of her Pokémon to the country, even her purrloin and ponyta. The family was going to take care of the bakery while they were gone, and Bede promised to give treats to the Pokémon of the forest in her stead.
The night before the move, Allister and Bridget were sitting on her bed for their last sleepover, Allister hugged her tightly and then handed a necklace to her.
"Is this your gym badge?" Bridget asked.
"I asked my mum to fashion it into a necklace. That way, you won't forget about me when you are at Paldea," replied Allister as he fastened the necklace on her.
"Don't be daft, I could never forget you. I didn't get you anything, though." She said sadly.
Their pokemon were all scattered in the room, and at that moment, Cheshire the Gengar and Coco the Alchremie approached their trainers. Coco went up to Allister and handed him a Pokémon egg.
"Coco, where did that egg come from," asked Bridget.
Coco and Cheshire both blushed and looked away from their trainers.
"Honestly, I didn't think you liked Cheshire in that way. You are always reprimanding him," said Bridget.
Allister looked at both of the Pokémon confused.
"How did you two make an egg? Coco is so much smaller than you, Cheshire." said Allister as he tried to figure out how it was possible.
Neither Pokémon were willing to explain to their trainers how they made an egg, so Allister and Bridget chalked it up to the mysteries of Pokémon breeding.
Allister hugged the egg and promised to keep the baby safe. He and Bridget both wondered whether it would hatch a gastly or a milcery. They both went to bed early since Bridget had to catch an early flight.
Allister and his mum accompanied her family to the aeroport. Bridget and Allister both cried when they arrived there. They hugged each other and promised to write and call each other every day. As they hugged, Cinnamon, the Eevee, came out of her ball.
"Cinnamon, you have to stay in your ball when we get in the aeroplane." said Bridget.
The eevee jumped on her shoulder and used one paw to tap Allister and started glowing.
She jumped off of Bridget's shoulder as the glow intensified and happily hopped in place.
"Sylveon!" She exclaimed as she wrapped her ribbons around Allister's and Bridget's hands.
"Thank you for your comfort, Cinnamon. Don't worry, we will all see each other again. That's a promise." said Bridget.
The adventure in Galar may be over for now, but more will come in the horizon for the pair of friends.