Alolan Rapidash stared at the cardboard boxes that lined his bedroom walls, each one filled with the remnants of his life. He had spent 32 years in this cramped Bushwick apartment, and now, finally, he was preparing to leave. The thought should have filled him with excitement, but instead, it was weighed down by the anxiety and guilt that had been a constant in his life, thanks to his toxic mother, Nidoqueen.

Nidoqueen wasn’t just a nickname; it was who she was—commanding, overbearing, and impossible to please. She had a way of turning every situation to her advantage, twisting her words like a knife until Alolan Rapidash doubted everything he did. “You’re too weak to live on your own,” she’d say, her voice sharp and biting. “You’ll never make it out there. The city will chew you up and spit you out.”

Her words had held him back for years, chaining him to a life of fear and self-doubt. But Alolan Rapidash wasn’t alone in this struggle. His friends, Lucario, Vaporeon, and Gholdengo, had stood by him through it all, providing the support and encouragement he so desperately needed. They were his lifeline, helping him navigate the emotional minefield that was life with Nidoqueen.

Lucario was the first to suggest therapy, recognizing that Alolan Rapidash needed more than just friendly advice to escape his mother’s grip. “You deserve to be happy,” Lucario had told him one evening, their voices quiet in the dim light of a Brooklyn café. “You deserve a life that’s yours, not hers.”

It was this push that led Alolan Rapidash to Gardevoir, a therapist who understood the complexities of his situation. Gardevoir’s office became a sanctuary, a place where he could finally voice the fears and frustrations that had been bottled up inside for so long. She helped him see that Nidoqueen’s manipulations weren’t his fault, that he was allowed to want more for himself. “You are not your mother’s keeper,” Gardevoir would remind him gently. “You are allowed to live your own life.”

The idea of leaving had always terrified him, but with each session, the fear started to loosen its grip. Alolan Rapidash began to see a future where he wasn’t constantly walking on eggshells, where he could breathe without the weight of his mother’s expectations on his shoulders. He started saving money from his job as a graphic designer, cutting back on non-essentials, and looking for apartments that he could afford on his own.

It was Vaporeon who found the place—a small, sunlit studio in Queens. “It’s perfect for you,” she had said with a smile, her voice filled with excitement. “A fresh start, somewhere that’s all yours.”

Gholdengo had been the practical one, helping him sort through the logistics of moving. “We’ll help you every step of the way,” he had promised, his tone steady and reassuring. “You’re not doing this alone.”

When the day finally came, Alolan Rapidash felt a mixture of relief and fear. Nidoqueen had been eerily silent in the days leading up to the move, her disapproval hanging in the air like a dark cloud. But this time, he didn’t let it stop him. With Lucario, Vaporeon, and Gholdengo by his side, he packed up his life and stepped out of the apartment that had been both a home and a prison.

Arriving at the new apartment, Alolan Rapidash felt a wave of emotions—fear of the unknown, but also a deep sense of relief. The space was small, just one room with a view of the bustling streets below, but it was his. Lucario and Vaporeon helped him unpack, their laughter filling the empty room with warmth, while Gholdengo made sure everything was in order, his meticulous nature putting Alolan Rapidash at ease.

As the evening turned to night, they stood together by the window, looking out at the city that was now his home. The journey ahead wouldn’t be easy—there would be moments of doubt, nights when the loneliness crept back in—but for the first time in his life, Alolan Rapidash felt like he was truly living.

He wasn’t alone. He had his friends, his therapist, and most importantly, he had himself. And as the city lights flickered on, casting a warm glow over his new home, Alolan Rapidash knew that this was just the beginning of a life he was finally ready to claim as his own.

Douglas Sheppard

DESIGNECOLOGIST

Marino Linic

🔮🌊💜✨

Ana Martinuzzi

A Fairy Pokémon set Free

From living in to moving out

Alolan Rapidash stared at the cardboard boxes that lined his bedroom walls, each one filled with the remnants of his life. He had spent 32 years in this cramped Bushwick apartment, and now, finally, he was preparing to leave. The thought should have filled him with excitement, but instead, it was weighed down by the anxiety and guilt that had been a constant in his life, thanks to his toxic mother, Nidoqueen.



A Fairy Pokémon set Free

From living in to moving out

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The Witching Hour Mishap

A Fairy Pokémon set Free

From living in to moving out

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The Witching Hour Mishap

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of The Kind Quill