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Nature's Story

Epilogue

A few weeks later

"So, d'ya think it was the right thing to do?"

Nature pressed his paws down a bit harder, rubbing them just above the Meowstic's shoulder blades. "What do you mean...?" He asked, after a short pause.

Sera turned his head, giving him a forced smile. "You know what I mean."

Nature looked up, his movements slowing.

They were in the massage area of Plaisir, up on the middle floor. It was a busy day - almost all of the massage tables were filled, and every few moments another attendee would pass them with a towel-wrapped customer in tow. There were a few humans here and there, as well as Pokémon amongst the ranks of the clientele. Above the hubbub and chatter of voices, soft music played calm and gentle notes.

The two of them were in a corner, away from the main group of massage tables, to which Nature had his back turned. On the other side of them was a large wall and lattice structure, covered in ivy, which carried a fresh scent into the air. Behind it was a small hot tub, which by the sounds of it, a few more customers were enjoying rather tremendously. Steam billowed through the gaps in the lattice, curling over the two of them as it dissipated in the air.

Beside them, segmented windows cast views across the Café's gardens. The afternoon sun illuminated the late autumn scene; on branches here and there, a few last, pale brown leaves held out in their futile battle against the coming cold months ahead.

"I... I'm surprised that you're asking the question, out of all people." Nature said eventually, looking back down. "I mean, you were harsher than I was...."

Sera was laying on his stomach, and pushed himself up onto his elbows to better look at the Lucario. He'd arrived at Plaisir the previous day, after travelling down from California. He'd told Nature of his plans a couple of months back, who'd been nervous about it ever since - but it seemed that, when on duty, the Lucario felt a little more relaxed. Well... until that question, anyway. Especially with how sudden it had been.

"Yes, well..." Sera replied, kicking his feet a little in an idle fashion. "That was my opinion. And that was months ago. I wonder how you feel about it now."

Nature's voice when quiet, so as not to be overheard. "I thought you'd assume that I'm glad I did..."

"I'd assume?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "So...?"

Nature chuckled nervously. His paws were barely massaging the Meowstic now. "This about your story...?"

Sera shrugged. "Writing's made me think. There are two sides to everything, and not every decision and choice stays set forever. Nothing in reality is as black and white as the print on a page." He waved his hindpaws again. "Anyway, you're avoiding the question."

Nature glanced away again for a moment, before resuming his massaging. "Well..."

...Was he glad he did?

He paused before he spoke. "It... was been a life-changing moment... possibly the biggest one I'll ever make. Bigger than most people would make. It flipped my world upside-down - everything that I had before just... changed. From utterly controlled to totally free. From no friends to friends everywhere I look. From family to... none, at least biological. From sadness and despair to... happiness.

"But... it might not have been that way. I... don't want to say... that it was the best choice."

"Why not?" Asked Sera, who frowned at him. He seemed genuinely curious.

Nature tried to find the right words. "Don't get me wrong... I really didn't like my life. I didn't like... how my father tried to control me. I didn't like how I was being treated, but... in response to that, and only just an adult, I ran away into a world I knew nothing about."

He rubbed the small of Sera's back, lost in thoughts. "I could have gone anywhere, done anything, and anything could have happened to me. But I came here... because Ceylon found me. And even this could have gone wrong...."

He giggled a little to himself. "All my life, I'd been taught that my feelings were wrong, that sex should never be discussed... and first thing I do as an adult is run away to a brothel to be a worker here..." He gave a wry smile, glancing over at Sera. His face was the same.

"So you're saying it was stupid?" Sera asked plainly. Nature's brow furrowed in thought.

"Well... yes... and no." He said, his shoulders slumping. "I mean, it's all worked out for me... I have so much here; friends that are close enough to be a family, safety, freedom-"

"Cocks." Sera added. Nature blushed.

"Y-yeah... but what if it hadn't? What if I'd been mugged, or fallen into a gang, or attacked? What if I couldn't find food or something..."

Sera gave a loud hum as Nature continued, and he rolled onto his side. "But none of that happened. You came here. There's no point worrying about what might have happened, because it didn't. And I doubt you're going to be doing it again, you know?"

"Yes, but... what about others?" Nature said, an ear flicking.

Sera paused, giving a sigh. "Ah... I see..."

Nature nodded. "I... know I can't have been the only one in something like that. There must be more people... out there, trapped, alone... and I worry about them too."

He pressed down on Sera's side, forcing himself to continue the massage. "What are they thinking? What are they doing? They can't all come here. They can't all know about here, or places nearby like it. H... I... I didn't even know my life _could_be better until you showed me..."

Sera gave a wink. "I try."

Nature smiled briefly. "I guess... what I'm saying is... I don't want to say it was a good thing for me to do, because... I was very, very lucky, and..."

Sera giggled suddenly, stopping Nature. "I get it." He said, and slowly sat up, dangling his legs off the side of the table and facing the Lucario. "You don't want to say it was a good thing, because then if someone else does it and it ends up a bad choice for them, you'll feel guilty."

Nature hesitated, and then nodded.

Sera smirked, and raised a leg - Nature took it almost without thinking, beginning to massage down it as the Meowstic continued. "So if you knew of someone, right now, who was in the position you were in a few months ago - what would you tell them?"

Nature shook his head, having a few false starts with this words. "I don't know... I suppose I should tell them to stay put..."

"With an abusive parent?"

"Well, no... I guess they should call the police or, or something, I, I-"

"Hey." Sera reached out, putting a paw on Nature's arm. Nature stopped in his words, swallowing nervously. He realised he was shaking.

"Sorry..." Sera continued softly. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Nature took a deep breath, continuing to massage Sera's leg. "I'm... so very grateful for what I've got... but sometimes, I wonder about them."

Sera's ear swivelled. "About you family?"

Nature nodded. "I wonder how they're doing. What they thought when they read my note, what my mother thought when she found hers - _if_she found hers. What they're doing now."

Sera glanced out at the gardens. "You know you could look them up, right? On your computer? I mean, there might be something on there..."

"There is." Nature said, not making eye contact. "Ceylon told me. I was reported missing the very next day. Apparently, something about a few hunts for me nearby, but by then I was hundreds of miles away. And now here I am..."

"The Café doesn't know, huh?"

"No. I... I wanted to put that life behind me." He licked his lips nervously. "If I'd have told them, then they'd have to tell the authorities, and if word gets to my parents then... well, yeah. I'm thankful Ceylon isn't telling anyone, and Minka as well, whom he confided in. More thanks to owe..."

He paused before continuing. "So... I know there's stuff out there. Probably something recent. But I haven't looked, I don't really want to, but..."

"Still that curiosity, eh?" Sera grinned. "Don't have to tell me what that's like."

Nature nodded, forcing a smile. "I... I just hope they're doing okay."

Sera paused, watching him. Nature had stopped massaging a while ago.

"I guess, one day..." The Lucario continued after the temporary silence, "I... I might do it. Look them up. See if they're okay for myself, rather than have someone tell me. But, for now..."

"Nature." Sera said. Nature looked up into his eyes - his vision was slightly blurred with a thin film of tears.

The Meowstic's smile was warm, and the feline took Nature's paws in his. The blue-grey fur was soft to the touch. It felt good.

"What happened to you was terrible. No-one should have to live through what you did." Sera shifted, holding Nature's paws tighter. "Yes, the day may come when you'll want to find out about your family, to see where they are now, but you don't have to. Don't feel bad for not wanting that right now. That's entirely your decision, and no-one is going to tell you otherwise."

Nature shuffled his feet. "And what about others? In the same place..."

"Others? Well... that's more difficult. But I guess... the online world is just growing. There are so many experiences out there and places of help that can be found digitally, and behind each one is someone who wants to help. If someone needs it... all they have to do is ask. And you know what?"

Nature blinked. His eyes were wet again.

"You'll be there." Sera said. "And so will I. And Ceylon. And so many others. People who've heard of it, people who know others... people who've been through it. And we can help them as much as we can. Alright?"

Nature squeezed the Meowstic's paws. He coughed, clearing away the lump that had formed in his throat. A tear fell down his cheek as he responded. "It gets better."

Sera grinned. "It gets so much better. And I know you'll make sure of that."

Nature sniffed, squeezing the Meowstic's paws. A moment later and they were hugging. For once, Nature was the bigger one of the two - almost twice Sera's height. He held the smaller Pokémon tightly, and the feline squeezed back, easily able to wrap his paws around the Lucario's thin waist.

"Hey." Sera said after a few moments. Nature drew back to look at him. Sera cocked an eyebrow. "Kiss me."

Nature frowned. "But... I thought you were straight..."

"I am." He responded. "But I still want you to kiss me. I can pay, if that counts as extra..."

Nature giggled, glancing away nervously. He looked back at the Meowstic. "I can't tell if you're even joking now..."

"I'm not, sheesh...!" He responded, laughing. "Here."

Nature found his lips against Sera's. It was a simple kiss, mouths closed, at first. Within moments, their muzzles were wrapped around each other; Nature slid felt the Meowstic's rough, feline tongue with his own, tasted his saliva, heard that soft moan. It seemed... genuine.

They drew back eventually, still hugging. Sera giggled. "Wow... you're good..."

"I've had a bit of practice..." Nature replied, blushing profusely. He could feel his grin stretching across his face.

"Hey, any female Lucarios in this place? Apart from you, I mean."

Nature giggled at the comment, warmth swirling in his chest. He thought for a moment. "Well... there's Ebony... she should be on the next shift, I think..."

"Aw. Nice name. I prefer yours though."

Nature said nothing, but shook his head, giving another brief giggle. Then he took a deep breath, and rubbed his forehead against Sera's. "Thank you."

"Hey, you chose the name. Not my fault you got good taste."

"No, not that, I mean-"

"I know." Sera looked up at him with large eyes. They swam with understanding.

There were another few moments of enjoying the embrace before the Meowstic gave him a quick squeeze. "Alright. C'mon. I haven't had the rest of my massage yet."

"Going to go find Ebony after...?" Nature asked, pulling away and watching Sera lie back down.

"Maybe. Unless you wanna come with, point out someone I may like more."

Nature smiled. "I have a few ideas."

Sera closed his eyes, smiling. "Sounds like a plan. Now come on... back to work."

The Lucario nodded. He leant over, pressing his paws into the Meowstic's back and resuming the massage. His digits wandered across that blue-grey fur, up and down the feline's small, soft body.

Nature's mind wandered off into thought.

* * *

What shapes who we are today?

Is it the family that raises us? The friends that entertain us? Or is it the self, the soul, that forges on? Perhaps it's merely the freedom, to live and to grow...

Isn't it obvious?

It's all of them. Everything we are, everything we become, is a culmination of every last moment in our past. All the loves and losses, the kindness and the selfishness, all the happiness and all the despair; they all come together to form who we are, right now.

We can't always control what happens to us. Everyone will go through dark times and times of worry, times we think we'll never get out of... and even if we do, we wonder how we could ever be the person we want to be.

But even the darkest times can teach us, mould us, shape us. We learn from those times as with any. Every hardship you will deal with, you can be sure of the fact that through it, you will become stronger, greater, a better person than who you were before.

And always remember...

It gets better.