yarn

[the_very_best]

Bella leaves in due time. She calls Sherlock a week later with one of her father's Pokémon on the other end of the line; it is learned that being boxed is sort of like having almost fallen asleep or woken up but not quite, a drowsy half-conscious state with little attention to the passage of time. It is not unpleasant, at least in this 'mon's opinion.

Three weeks later, Bella flies to Lake Acuity again.

Comments

[bitofafiction]

Hug!

"Pory," says the Umbrygon, and Sherlock cracks up.

[the_very_best]

"I'm gonna take a picture," giggles Bella, "unless you object."

[bitofafiction]

"Go right ahead," giggles Sherlock.

[the_very_best]

"Smile!"

[bitofafiction]

He grins.

[the_very_best]

Picture taken! It is adorable. She shows him and the Umbrygon.

[bitofafiction]

"Gongon," says the Umbrygon. Sherlock puts it down, and it trundles away.

[the_very_best]

"So now I understand all the odd remarks you made about your house," says Bella, patting the Umbrygon as it goes but not impeding its progress.

[bitofafiction]

"Yes."

[the_very_best]

"It's really amazing. And I bet it makes living all the way out here less lonely."

[bitofafiction]

"It does," he agrees.

The Umbrygon is gone. Sherlock is thoughtful.

[the_very_best]

"Something on your mind?"

[bitofafiction]

"Do you remember," he says, "when we were discussing my ability to understand Pokemon speech, and I joked that I might be a Ditto in disguise?"

[the_very_best]

"Yes."

[bitofafiction]

"And have you observed that I don't appear in any existing records of Tony's childhood?"

[the_very_best]

"I did notice that. I remarked on it."

[bitofafiction]

"I don't appear in records of Tony's childhood because I did not exist at the time," he says. "I am three and a half years old, and I am not Tony's twin; I am his clone. Patched with a little bit of Ditto DNA."

[the_very_best]

Bella opens her mouth.

Bella closes her mouth.

Bella says, "Today is Fantastic Revelation Day, is it?"

[bitofafiction]

He quirks a smile. "Apparently so."

[the_very_best]

"You're very tall for a three year old. Tall and also articulate."

[bitofafiction]

"I had the normal amount of childhood in an abnormal amount of time, and caught up to Tony about when he turned fourteen."

[the_very_best]

"Is it the patching DNA that lets you understand Pokémon? - Is it rude to ask questions about this?"

[bitofafiction]

"That's my best theory, yes. And no, at least so far it is not."

[the_very_best]

"Does it do anything besides that?"

[bitofafiction]

"Oh, no, not a thing," he says, in an exact copy of Bella's voice.