Scrunchie sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the manor's main hall. Her small figure was dwarfed by the enormous room, the tall ceilings and dark velvet curtains making her look like a tiny queen among her papers. Sheets of strategies, battle notes, and Pokémon techniques were scattered around her. Some she stacked neatly beside her, others she pinned to pillars, and a few lay in messy piles at her feet.
A soft breeze lifted a few papers into the air. They twirled like leaves before drifting back down. Scrunchie reached out and caught one mid-spin, holding it up to inspect it with a critical eyes and whispered out sharply. "Who the f*ck wrote this?" she whispered sharply.
"You… cannot swear like that, little lady," came a calm voice from the shadows. The old caretaker was beside the heavy door.
Scrunchie glanced at him briefly, her lips twitching with a hint of mischief."'Sorry''!_
''Huh! Why did you come here during your day off?"
He hesitated, then nodded, a small smile breaking through his nervousness. "Of course. I was worried about you. I couldn't leave you here alone. It's been a long ."
The old man, the manor's caretaker, stepped inside cautiously, his brow damp with sweat. His eyes darted nervously around the hall, as if he sensed something lurking in the shadows.
Scrunchie's smile widened and ran towards him.
She perched in his chair before he could sit on, leaning back on her hands, swinging her legs lazily. "Still not getting used to ghost?" she teased. "Relax. There's nothing here but us. Besides… It's my home. No one stays until I say so."
He swallowed hard, glancing around as if the shadows might move.
Scrunchie waved a hand dismissively. "You worry too much than my parents. ''
So, you're here now … did you bring—?"
"Oh!" The old man remembered and reached into his big coat pocket. Scrunchie's eyes lit up, only to dim as he carefully held out a small wrapped chocolate.
"I meant to ask about your Pokémon… Macho?" she said casually with warmth. Before he could answer, she snatched the chocolate, unwrapped it with quick fingers, and popped it into her mouth.
"You ask about Macho," he said nervously, "but your hands move faster than your words."
"I can multitask," she replied calmly, leaning back, swinging her legs, and nudging a stray paper. "So… where is he?"
"He's helping deliver packages to the neighbor," the caretaker said cautiously, as if the shadows themselves might grab him.
Scrunchie frowned. "You sent him again?"
"He insisted," he said quietly.
"Macho doesn't insist," she countered, finishing her chocolate. "He obeys."
The old man swallowed, shivering slightly. "You've been thinking about him again, haven't you?"
Scrunchie smirked, brushing chocolate from her fingers. "Yes! I always did. But you… made him work while I was training the others." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of fellow Pokémon… isn't it time to train them? Let's go see them."
With that, she ran toward the huge doors, leaving the caretaker speechless. Shadows seemed to creep closer, like they wanted to swallow him whole.
"Little miss, don't run off like that," he called, voice trembling. "I'm… afraid. I'm scared to stay alone in the manor."
Scrunchie glanced back, smirking. "If you want to come, then hurry up. Pokémon are waiting in the garden."
-----
Sunlight spilled across the manor garden as Scrunchie stepped barefoot onto the soft grass, her face glowing with a smile that matched the morning.
"Hello! Everyone! Finally, I'm done with my work! Come out, " she called, running from bush to fountain, peeking under flowerbeds, her excitement bubbling over.
The old man hurried behind her, slightly out of breath, trying to catch up. "Miss, remember… Pokémon usually stay in their own habitats. They might not come right away," he said gently. "Maybe… you should rest a little. You might be having nightmares from yesterday."
"I'm fine! Perfectly fine!" Scrunchie said, still scanning the garden with sparkling eyes, refusing to sit.
Her gaze drifted toward the forest a little way off. The old man's voice faltered. "Miss… don't go there. Your father will be angry, like last time."
Scrunchie clenched her fists but forced herself to obey. She sank onto a long, white bench, sitting silently, her legs dangling as she stared at the soft morning light. Hours passed. Dawn crept across the sky, painting it pale gold, while she remained on the bench, lost in thought. The old man sat nearby, defeated, sipping tea with a small plate of uneaten dessert.
Crows cawed above, breaking the silence. Scrunchie finally rose from the bench, stretching, brushing the dew from her bare feet. The old man looked up, placing his cup down. "They might come tomorrow," he said, trying to comfort her.
Scrunchie stopped mid-step. "It's been… a month," she murmured, her voice low, almost sad. "A whole month since they've visited me."
The old man froze, guilt washing over him as the Pokémon didn't come right after somedays, he left for a day off.
Before she could turn back inside, a faint, playful sound caught her attention—a soft jiggle, like water spilling from a pipe. Her eyes darted to the fountain, and her heart leapt. There, glistening in the morning sun, Ditto splashed happily, sending arcs of water into the air.
The little Pokémon paused and looked directly at her, its tiny face bright and curious. For a moment, it seemed as if the garden itself held its breath. Scrunchie's eyes sparkled like stars, and a giggle escaped her lips.
"Ditto…" she whispered, almost in disbelief.
His hands trembled, and to Scrunchie's surprise, his eyes filled with tears.
"Ditto… it's really Ditto…" he said, voice shaking. "Miss… do you understand? This valley doesn't have this Pokémon… people travel region to get one. You… you are very lucky, ma'am."
His voice cracked with emotion.
Scrunchie smiled fade away and didn't respond.
The old man wiped his tears, smiling in relief as he turned back toward her— And froze.
Scrunchie was tiptoeing toward the fountain with a steel bowl in her hand. I