The New Candidate
#8 of Someone's PC
So, what we have here is a bit of true fanfic-ception. Fanfiction of art inspired by fanfiction. When Dark Violet originally showed off this picture to us, he mentioned a little bit of his head canon behind it, which was inspired by a story from BRNQuil found here. I was immediately inspired by DV's description--and of course the picture itself! Plus, I mean, c'mon, it's Suicune. I simply had to write a little something. So, here's that something. :3
This image was originally released as a Master tier bonus request on our Patreon! Want to see more like this? Want to request pictures and stories? Come check us out!
The New Candidate
"It's time."
Keldeo raised his head, blinking at the abrupt change in light caused by the striking figure standing in illuminated profile at the cave's entrance. Taller than him by nearly half his own height, the canid form's upper edges were alive with half-seen flowing motion, lending it an otherworldly air that was as eerie as it was elegant.
Stretching and rising to his hooves, he tossed his own mane. "Time for what? You still haven't told me." Perhaps the edge of defiance in his tone was unwise, given who it was he was dealing with. But, he'd never been one for following the rules all that well.
A low, melodious chuckle bounced off the walls of the cave, reminding him of the flirtatious breezes which came at the end of autumn, promising winter. "Patience, young god-blood, is a virtue. One I hope to instill within you in greater quantities. Come." The shadowed speaker turned, prancing back out into the mid-morning light, leaving Keldeo with two choices. Follow, or sulk.
He'd never been big on sulking. Or following. Snorting, he opted for sating his curiosity over his pride, his hooves ringing on stone as he trotted from the cave. Patience, she said? He had plenty of patience! He'd waited in the cave overnight at her request, hadn't he?!
The mountainside stretching below the cave was sparse, dotted with scrub and the odd, scrawny tree, before giving way to the larger expanse of pine lower down. Up here, the breeze coursed brisk through his short fur, making him shiver before his natural typing kicked in, acclimatizing him to the chill. Where had she gone?
"Up here."
He almost jumped, stemming the urge before turning to face her standing on a ledge next to the cave mouth. Amusement flickered across her crimson eyes for an instant, quickly smoothing as he glared at her. Suicune's mane and ribbons rippled at odds with the breeze, and the sunlight glinting off her crystalline crest seemed to suggest divinity. Every inch of her lithe form suggested strength--an overwhelming tide which could wash him away in an instant--yet...
Trod on it, he wanted answers!
"Climb with me, and we will talk," she said. Assuming he would follow once more, she began walking up the steep slope, her elegant steps finding invisible holds in the rock and dust.
Grumbling, he once again chose to follow, hopping up onto the ledge recently vacated by the legendary dog. One of his back hooves slipped, leaving him in a precarious moment of nearly slipping back and smacking his chin, before he managed to rebalance and firm his footing. Had she seen? She wasn't looking back, but... No way to tell exactly what she could sense. He scrambled to catch up. How in blasted winter did she move so smoothly and quickly with so little effort?
"Planning on giving a hint anytime soon?" he asked, matching her pace with the odd bound and double-trot. "I only agreed to wait for you because I was bored. I don't need to be here."
"You don't," she agreed. "I am sure you have many other important things you could be doing."
"Plenty." He nodded. At that exact moment, a small patch of scree gave way beneath his foreleg, nearly planting him on his face. "I left the Justice trio by choice, you know."
"I do. I also know you have been wandering the world ever since. A young god-blood, still seeking his path." A flicker of motion--she was looking at him from the corner of her eye, amusement and calculation both in that all-too-knowing gaze. "You are unique, Keldeo, and that intrigued me."
"I'm honoured to have caught your attention," he muttered. This was exactly what had driven him crazy about the other legends. Riddles for answers, leaving you spending half the time wondering which way was up, and the other unsure if they reallyknew more than they said, or if it was all an act. Still, an... invitation, as it were, from one of this region's elemental trio was not one to be ignored lightly.
So, he climbed.
"Indulge me, if you will." She paused for an instant, a ribbon fluttering out as though on an errant breeze, stroking across his cheek and sending a shiver down his spine. "I am sure you are aware that We have various... tasks to attend." As if it had been a trick of the eye, she was moving again, leaving him hopping to keep up.
"Of these, one of our duties is to... assist those greater than us. The higher powers of this region. Do you know of whom I speak?"
He had a vague idea, thanks to his education at the hands of the Justice trio. "Ho-oh. Lugia."
"Indeed. Annually, we seek charges for them to take under their wing--pardon the pun. It is both for their benefit, and for that of the chosen candidate."
"And you think I would be one of these candidates." He didn't quite manage to keep the scorn from his tone. "Why?"
"Because of who you are. Because of where you have come from. Because of what you could learn." A soft chuckle. "Because I think he would like you."
The urge to halt in his tracks and stomp was nearly overwhelming. "You think I want to be some... pet for a god?"
"Ah, that fearsome pride... Virizion did mention that to me. It's part of what intrigued me so--you share traits of both god and mortal. Do not throw this opportunity aside so lightly, young one. You stand to learn much should you be chosen--much even if you are not." She tilted her head, a playful gleam in her eye as she stepped gracefully over a rock. "Of course, you would first need to prove your worth to even be considered."
Riddles and half-answers again. This was getting old fast. "Perhaps I might think about it, if you'd actually tell me what I'd be signing up for."
"But of course." Her body arched, and for a shocking instant, he was treated to a view of her rump, pleasantly curved and toned, the icy blues of her outer fur blending to a creamy white of underbelly, and where those haunches met--
Smoothly, she was bounding away and upward, leaving him flustered and not quite convinced the sight of her nether areas had been accidental. A scent lingered on the air, clean, with the barest hint of brine, and unmistakably female. He wasn't naive, but it seemed odd--even vulgar--to think of a being like Suicune in such a context... Despite accidentally intruding on Cobalion and Virizion sharing the pleasures of their bodies more than once.
"You would be my protege for a year." Her voice was slightly faded, and Keldeo scrambled to catch up, bounding over a withered bush and drawing apace of his companion once more. "Mine, as well as Entei's and Raikou's, but mine first and foremost. I would train you in the arts I know best, and in turn, you would be a companion to me in my work, and my concubine when we take our ease."
Keldeo's heart skipped. "Excuse me, your what?"
She continued as if he hadn't spoken. "When the allotted time is up, the three of us choose, from among our three proteges, which best to move on to the side of Lugia or Ho-oh. The selected one will then serve for one year, in the same capacity as they have us."
"That's..." Keldeo sputtered, and nearly tripped on a rock. "You think I..."
"We're here." With a graceful bound, Suicune dropped over a short ledge to a small plateau, which overlooked the river valley unfurling below them. She stepped to the center and stood, regality defined, her amethyst mane billowed out across her back, glancing at him with the hint of a canine grin on her muzzle. "Quite the view, isn't it?"
Her double meaning wasn't lost on him. For the moment, while he stood on the ledge, their height was equal, but he still felt small by the sheer weight of her presence. He had no interest in fooling himself. He hopped down to join her on the overlook, trotting to her side as close as he dared.
"See, it's not that I'm not flattered--" he started.
"Oh, flattery has nothing to do with it," she said, cutting him off. "Much like you, this offer is unique."
"But you said--"
"Annually, yes, but you... One such as you does not come along every time." A heavy paw reached up, rested gently on his shoulder, slid down his chest. "The potential for one such as you is unmatched. Even if you are not chosen to accompany one of the Great Ones, I can teach you much." A ribbon coiled down, stroking his mane, twisting across his neck. "Of knowledge..." Her forepaw flexed, digging into the dust. "Strength..." A bead of water fell from the clear sky, landing on the bridge of his nose and making him start. "Control..." She was suddenly close, her nose inches from his, her breath of sweet winter mingling with his own. "Yes, even of pleasure. Mmm, I believe we can accomplish much in that area especially." A tinkling laugh, but there was another quality to it, her mirth belied by the intensity in her ruby stare.
"I do not make this offer lightly, Keldeo. Most that we choose are but fleeting companions. You could be more, much more. Consider well."
A whirl of chill air, leaving him shivering and drawing a shuddering breath, and she was gone, stalking several paces away, her elusive scent lingering in his nose. It seemed almost as though she'd forgotten him entirely to gaze off over the landscape below, seating herself on her haunches, her ribbons furled. Yet he knew even without seeing it that she held him in the corner of her eye.
He already knew he was going to say yes. He'd be a fool not to. None of the Justice trio shared water as an element, and to be tutored by the mistress of water herself? That alone was an offer he couldn't ignore. As far as Lugia or Ho-Oh were concerned, he couldn't fathom what either of the legendary birds might teach him, but surely it would be worth the shot?
Not to mention, there was that teasing glimpse she had oh-so-purposefully given him; that sliver of feminine pinkness parting soft cream fur, the memory of which incited a distinct stirring in his loins.
So much for being bored.
Clearing his throat--he didn't want to seem too eager--he said, "You mentioned a 'test'. What do I have to do?"
Suicine's head turned, her gaze meeting his once more with a single-minded focus that made him quiver. Her muzzle parted, showing the faintest hint of fangs, the threat tempered by her gracious nod.
"Something I think you will enjoy very much..."