FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Morning came and with it a dull sunlight that painted gray rays along the bed and the black and purple mass of pokemon laying there on it. Emily stirred slowly from the sounds of people working outside, leaving her eyes to slowly flutter open.

She was sprawled out on her bed with the covers haphazardly pulled up to her hips, the rest of her was covered by Noivern's wing protectively, like a blanket of membrane that kept her held snugly against him as he nuzzles into the top of her head, snoring in those little squeaky trills of his.

Her body felt heavy, like she had swam for hours without pause, her movements slow and careful, grunting as she shifted ever so slightly, pressing her face into the soft fluff along Noivern's neck.

Images of the night before danced in her memory making her grip onto the soft fluff tightly as a shiver ran up her spine and her sore insides clenched tightly.

That had happened, all of that had actually happened to her, between her and her pokemon, her partner she had sworn to look after and protect. The sounds that he had made, the raking of his claws against the tiled floor, the roll of his hips, his smell, his taste, the way he pinned her to the wall with his strength and gave her more elation than any man had ever managed to do in her entire life. Another shiver made her shake her head trying to fight off the memories as her aching insides clenched tight once more in defiance.

It had been on impulse, most if not all of it had all just been her winging it and seeing what would happen. She didn’t have a reason to believe that she was actually into pokemon, it was all born of just one fantasy, and yet now, her mind kept playing over the events of the shower, the look of pure bliss on her partners face, it sent a tingle through her that she had never experienced before, or rather never for pokemon up to that point, only fancy models and hunky boys she had seen in magazines as a teenager.

The pain in her back and her sides drew her from her contemplations, shifting her hand to feel along the purple bruising from Daisy’s bear hug she laid still once more.

A tired smile formed as she closed her eyes, chuckling softly into Noivern's chest fluff, a weak and tired almost cathartic giggle as she rolled out onto her back as her body groaned in protest, just laying there to look up at the ceiling with her arm draped outright across the rest of the bed in a lazy sprawl.

“Absolutly... fucking... worth it…” she chuckles, lifting a hand to rub over her face, blinking back tears as she forced herself to sit up, fighting against aching muscles as she pulled herself back to rest upright in bed with her back against the headboard leaving Noivern's face now nuzzled into her side amongst the pillows

Retrieving the remote from the end table beside the bed she turned on the T.V. keeping the volume low so as to not disturb her sleeping pokemon.

“-oss the region, we’re expecting the cloud coverage to clear up going into Friday afternoon-” Chuckling she looked at the remote, flicking through the channels idly before simply leaving it on an old pokemon movie she had seen a couple of times growing up.

Looking down at her pokemon she brought her arm around his ears, hugging his head gently into her side to pet and stroke over his cheek. “Continue to surprise me even after all this time… guess I never really saw that side of you until now huh?” she chuckles softly resting her head back against the wall.

Noivern’s deep breathing was replaced with a trilling purr as his eyes rolled in their sockets, heavy eyelids opening one after the other as he fought through the haze of sleep. Giving a wide yawn that curled that dastardly tongue of his, he looked around the room in a sleepy daze, feeling his wing over the bed and up Emily's bare form. Pausing he patted her chest with the red claws on his wings before he looked up at her, smiling softly as he leaned in for a sleepy nuzzle.

As he pressed his face to her cheek Emily smiles, petting over the back of his head. “Heheh well hello there sleepy head, glad to see I wasn’t the only one worn out after last night… mind being careful with those claws of yours on my tit? Their pretty sharp.”

Noivern pulled back enough to give her a confused look, blinking one eye after the other as he took her in for a moment, only to glance down as if he had just realized that she was completely bare beneath his wing with his claws resting right on top of her breasts.

A startled warbling-squeak ripped from him as he pulled his wing back, flailing back enough to topple out of the bed completely with a clatter of scales on the floor. Emily couldn’t help but laugh, grimacing as the jerking made the bruising along her sides ache. “Holy shit dude you ok?!”

Pressing himself up, Noivern peeked over the edge of bed, his face beaming with a dark blush as he took in her form, as if all the events that had happened yesterday were just now coming back to him.

“Heheh, I’m guessing it’s all coming back to you too now huh? No need to be embarrassed anymore about seeing me naked I guess.” she says, patting the bed beside her. “I wasn’t done snuggling yet by the way, get back up here.”

Hesitantly Noivern slipped back into bed beside her, looking up at her with a nervous trill. Hugging a wing back around her he settled back in to lay there on his hip beside her, head perched just watching her with a worried look, eyes dancing over her features as if trying to find something.

“What’s up buddy? Why do you look so worried?” she asks, reaching out to pet his head down to his cheek. “No regrets right?”

Shaking his head slowly he leaned up to give an affectionate lick over her cheek, trilling as he looked her deep in the eyes.

“Wait me? Oh I’m ok buddy… a little confused still... But like I said last night I’ve got my answers now.” she says, shifting with a grimace. “I’m definitely gonna be out of it for a few days though, between you and Daisy I’m so sore that I’m just gonna take it easy and try to let everything settle in.”

Giving an almost distressful Whimper he pinned his ears back. “B-Breeer?”

“No no no sweetie it’s not that bad, like I’m sore but it’s in a good way ya know? I mean it’s only slightly uncomfortable yeah, but the reasons behind it are good, better than good actually.” she chuckles as she pats his cheek, reaching up to give his ear a diciplinary tug. “But we ‘are’ going to have a serious talk about your enthusiasm when you’ve got a lady damn near screaming in your arms. I loved every second of it but hot damn I’m pretty sure my coochie is gonna need some ice after the tongue lashing you gave her last night.”

Blushing deeply, Noivern whines in embarrassment, pressing his face into her chest with what she could only describe as an apology.

Hugging her arms around his head she chuckles. “You’re fine buddy… I appreciate you… like all jokes aside I really do appreciate you for everything.” she says as she pets his head.

Perking his ears he looked up at her with a confused sound, blinking as his golden eyes glowed in the low light of the room.

“We’ve been through a lot together you and I, and yeah I know you’re my pokemon… but you chose to do the things you do, you chose to stand here beside me for so long I… I don’t mean to sound overly sentimental but after last night… it made me realize just how much I’m indebted to you, like… all of you guys.”

Humming affectionately Noivern avoided her gaze, a bashful smile coming to him as he shuffled more over her, pressing his head against hers, just to hold it there as he purred deeply.

Bracing her hands gently along his jawline Emily smiles, pressing her head back against his. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me Noivern, I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to pay you back for all the battles you’ve won, times you saved my life, or just made me laugh being your sweet noble self, no matter how many treats or blowjobs I give you.” she chuckles as he grumbles in embarrassment. “But… I want you to know that I am deeply grateful for everything.”

Blushing all the more, Noivern gave her a heartfelt look and warble, lashing her face with a few licks of affection and happy purring trills in response. “Breewr”

“You know… if I could understand you I know I’d be touched.” she says as she pats his cheek. “That being said… how the hell do you fit all that penis in there anyways dude? Like I keep thinking back to it and I watched you push out a damn club down there.” she chuckles.

Noivern's head shifted to the side as he whined from embarrassment, giving her a roll of his eyes as he pressed his face back into her chest to avoid looking at her.

“Whaat? I was surprised! I mean damn man, I know you're a dragon type but I’m honestly impressed, really proud of my good boy and his huge ol dragon wiener.”

Grumbling aloud he swished his tail over the edge of the bed, clearly wanting her to stop talking.

“You should totally be proud of that dude! I’m proud ‘for’ you and I don’t even have one, also you taste pretty good too, props for keeping yourself clean down there.”

Pulling himself back, Noivern sat on the bed making it bow a little as he snorted, giving her an almost distressed look of embarrassment and a loud whine.

Giggling, she braced her hand on her side, grimacing as the soreness in her sides encouraged her to stop with all the jerking around. “Alright I’ll stop teasing you, but for real I am impressed, you know… we should get you tested, see what your genetics are like, pretty sure there's a market for a Noivern stud somewhere, put that volume of yours to good use and make some extra cash on the side.”

Giving her a flat look he poked his tongue from the side of his mouth.

Giving him a sly smile she pulled one leg up, letting it fall to the side lazily giving him an unobscured look at her, rubbing a hand down her body to feel over her overly sensitive folds. “Would also give me a reason to ‘collect’”

Noivern’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head looking at her lap and then back up at her, bashfully clicking the red claws of his wings together both in thought and embarrassment at such a suggestive display and offer.

“I mean you don’t have to give me an answer right now, buuut it’s something to think about.” she says, curling her legs under herself to sit up on the bed with a slow stretch, grunting as her back popped. “Mmph Damn… alright I’ve gotta get up and get to moving around, let me know what you think about that.” she says as she slowly presses herself up out of bed.

As her bare feet hit the floor her legs buckled almost instantly, leaving her falling face first towards the ground. Noivern's tail lashed out and wrapped tight around her stomach, tugging her back upright and onto the bed as he gave a startled and worried chirp.

Laying there on her back Emily groans, looking down to her legs as she tries to stretch them out and move them around. “Fuck dude… my legs still don't want to work… This is absolutely and entirely your fault!” she says as she pointed up at him.

Giving a warbled laughter he blepped his tongue out at her, making a show of stretching it all the way out to lick over his fangs.

“Yeah, yeah keep laughing it up smart ass.” she says, giving his leg a swat, pressing herself up slowly to try and stand again.

It was already around mid day, and the added soreness took her nearly thirty minutes to get herself stabilized enough to walk around, to get herself properly stretched out and a fresh change of clothes on before recalling Noivern to his ball to start her day.

Pulling the door open she held her hand up to shield her eyes from the dull light of the day. It was still sprinkling outside of course cause why wouldn’t it be? The daycare was active in full force with help running around taking care of the pokemon a little more fervent than normal.

Making her way across the grounds Emily pressed the door to the main building open, looking around as she went inside. “No annoying little brats flaunting their Serperiors this time?” she mutters to herself as she looks around to the surprising amount of people there.

Slipping past the crowd in the lobby Emily sighs, rubbing her side as she hums. “More people here than usual today, wonder what's going on.”

As she pondered to herself Mr Shelby would gasp as he saw her, hurrying over to her. “There you are dear! Been looking all over for you.” he says with a stressed look about himself. “I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

“Hey Mr Shelby, I’m here to find Redgie and Daisy, get paid, and get on out of here.” she says as she motioned around the room. “Whats going on around here? Seems like business is booming today.”

“Ahh well… i-it is actually, one of the reasons why I was hoping to catch you, I-I was gonna ask if you wanted to work here for a few more days, the pageants being held in the National park in a week and most of the contestants just showed up, works going to be really busy.”

Folding her arms Emily perked a brow as she looked him over. “I was only covering for last night cause you hadn’t gotten any sleep, I’m not here to work for ya Mr Shelby, I’m gonna have to pass on it this time, I still have to plan a trip to Hoenn to get my other two pokemon from Professor Elm, on top of that I’ve got contractors coming out when the weathers cleared up, people are coming out to get my internet installed and I need to be there for both of those.”

Clasping his hands together Mr Shelby chuckled lightly. “W-Well… that’s not the only reason I need your help here… you remember that one young man that you battled here yesterday?”

Frustration swelled in her chest just at the thought of that little prick. “Yeah, what about him? Is he stirring up shit again? cause I’d be glad to knock him around some more if that’s the case.”

Tensing Mr Shelby quickly waved his hands about. “Oh no, god no please don’t do that! His father is coming and I don’t… know exactly how he’s going to react about the news regarding his son.”

“About what? The ass kicking I gave him for ‘assaulting’ me?” she asks, holding up the bruise on the back of her hand. “You have camera’s Mr Shelby, and I ain’t above filing a lawsuit against a 12 year old prick if daddy has some issues with me.”

“Emily please just listen to me for a moment.” he says, pulling her to the side to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “Mr Lanchester is one of the Philanthropists helping to fund the Daycare during the Pageantries and contests this time of year.”

Scowling Emily tilted her head to the side with a shrug. “Big deal, what does that have to do with me? His son is a spoiled little asshole who needs to treat people better.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose Mr Shelby took a deep breath. “Ok… so Everyone who is working here this week is going to be receiving a sizeable bonus as a gift from Mr Lanchester for all of their hard work, if you’re here for that it makes you eligible, I know you just dropped a fair amount of your savings on a house, landscaping, and insurance and if you are retiring you’ll need a job and some sort of stable income, I just figured that it would help give you more time before you have to make those sorts of decisions… what with everything going on.”

Perking up Emily pinched her chin between the bind of her index finger and her thumb, humming in thought. “That… makes more sense actually… not to be a nose about but how much are we talking about?”

Looking around Mr Shelby leaned in closer. “Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone… but two hundred and fifty.” he says with a broad smile and a nod.

Emily held a flat look as she looked him over. “Two hunderd… and fifty bucks?” she asks, shaking her head with a sigh. “Ok yeah no fuck that. I’m just gonna find Redgie and get on out of here.”

“No No No Emily.” Mr Shelby grabbed her arm and pulled her in until they were shoulder to shoulder, leaning over to whisper under his breath. "Two hundred and fifty thousand.” he said looking over his shoulder as he spoke quietly. “Apparently there are going to be a lot of rich folk here and have weighed in on the donations. Even after the bonuses go out we will be entirely set here at the Daycare for the rest of next year, this is retirement money for me and the wife were talking about here.”

A tight cold swell formed in her chest before dropping into her guts leaving Emily to look over her shoulder as well. “Fucking hell dude who all is coming to this thing!?”

“Well you saw the Typhlosion that was here yesterday, more extremely rare, endangered, even legendary pokemon have been coming through here this morning alone. I’m not exactly sure what it is but it’s big.” he says as he pats her shoulder, moving to stand in front of her. “Listen to me, I know I’ve asked for help at inopportune times in the past, but this can help me make it up to you, and this can also give you an opportunity to rub elbows with some of the upperclass, being a Johto Champion and all your name is widely recognised here. Maybe even find someone looking for a strong trainer like yourself for security, or make friends and get you and your pokemon set up for life!”

Biting the inside of her cheek Emily rolled her eyes, looking up at the ceiling as she thought about it. “Fuck… You know you really know how to put a girl on the spot gramps.”

“I know but it would look good for both of us to have you here! I already have the contract written up for your payment so even if Mr Lanchester tries to exclude you due to ‘unforeseen reasons’, you technically fall under my employment and at that point he doesn’t really have a say in the matter.”

“Ok… so this is also a sneaky way to get me on your payroll too huh?” she asks, perking a brow as she looks back at him.

“Come now Emily it isn’t like that. I am simply trying to help you, if you don’t want to work here at the end of the week then you can retire, if anything it will help you find another job for when you do need to settle down so you don’t have a blank resume and work history to go on.” Loosely folding his arms over his chest he offers her a smile. “And besides you’re really good at what you do, very attentive to detail when you’re cleaning pokemon. You’ll still have free access to the room you’re staging in now, get three meals a day, I’m practically handing you the keys to my car here.”

“Damn.” Emily sighs, closing her eyes in thought, she was kicking herself internally cause holy shit was that a good deal for just one week of work for $250,000?! On top of a free room and food, and all she had to do was work at the daycare, rub elbows with rich folk and keep her nose clean… all for just one week. “Look I’m pretty busted up right now so that’s gonna be really hard for me to do.”

“‘Busted up?’ Emily dear I don’t mean to insult you but if you’re going to let a little thing like a bruise on the arm and wrist stop you than-”

“No, not this!” she scoffs looking over her hand. “I sort of got… crushed yesterday… Daisy had her-” The words froze in Emily’s throat as she nearly just began spouting off about some seriously personal shit making her hesitate as her cheeks flushed.

“Daisy? Daisy.. Daisy... Oooh yes, I actually heard about that from the nurse regarding Redgie’s Flygon during the procedure. I heard you had quite the… uncomfortable experience as I was told. I’m sorry to hear about that happening to you.”

“Uhh y-yeah… well tell that to my ribs and my back, I’ve got purple bruises from getting hugged so hard and I’m pretty sure my back is clawed up from it too.” she says as she sighs, not even wanting to try and explain why her pussy ached and her legs were wobbly. “So… even if I wanted to help I’m sort of damaged goods right now.”

“Oh nonsense dear! There is plenty of work to be done around here, and I don’t mind writing you up your own list of work that helps cater to your predicament. No heavy lifting or anything like that, mainly just grooming the pokemon that comes through here, the occasional spray down, brushing, sweeping up fur and scales from the process, easy work… perhaps some more security details at night too so no one thinks I’m trying to play favorites with you?” he asks with an encouraging smile and a nod.

Giving him an unamused look Emily scoffs a chuckle. “Only because you’re too lazy to stay up long enough to do them yourself.”

“I’m getting old! It’s hard to stay up late like I used to, these old bones ain't what they used to be you know, that’s why we’re retiring next year after this pageant goes through... hopefully without a hitch.” He says as he looks her over. “What do you think? Would you mind lending me a hand for the week? It’s just five days and after that you’re free to stay or go as you please.”

Furrowing her brow Emily sighs, reaching up to scratch at the back of her head in frustration. “That’s actually a killer deal and I hate you so much for offering it to me... I have to call mom and see if she doesn't mind meeting with the folks when they come by my house… Guuh fine, fuck it.” she sighs, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I keep letting you talk me into stuff like this.”

Chuckling aloud Mr Shelpy offers a pleased smile and a clap of his hands. “Eh-he, I’ve still got it in me. I promise I’ll do right by you Emily… but before you agree there is actually one more slight… detail.”

“That puts my decision back on the table old man, it better not be something weird like helping out the nurse with what I had to deal with yesterday.”

“Oh heavens no, you have to have a medical degree and a license to do that sort of stuff no… actually this pertains to a ‘who is gonna be there’ rather than a ‘what are you gonna do around here.’”

“Ok so who the fuck is gonna be there that I need to worry about? Like I’m not scared of people gramps. I’ve dealt with hundreds of weirdos and wacko’s while traveling all over the different regions ” She says looking mildly confused.

“Well the Ceremony in the park will be held by some of the biggest names in Johto, there will also be appearances from the Pokemon league like the Elite four members and… that being said ehh… Lance will be there overseeing things as well.”

A hot bolt of anger shot up her spine making her jaw tighten. “Yeah ok no, Fuck that, not even for a million fucking dollars.” she says, holding her hands up. “I’m out.”

“Emily dear, come now! It will only be for one week and he won’t even be here at the daycare for anything to my knowledge.”

“No, No No, Fuck no” she says through grit teeth under her breath. “I’d rather shovel shit with my face every day for the next ten years than be anywhere near that fucking piece of shit!”

Looking her over for a moment Mr Shelby moved to rest a hand on her shoulder. “Emily this would be a fantastic opportunity for you to finally set things straight with the man. I mean come now it's not that big of a dea-”

“I Said No!” she nearly shouted, quieting the crowd in the daycare for a brief moment and grabbing the attention of a few passing workers. “I’m Not-” Pausing she took a deep breath trying to calm the seething hatred boiling in the back of her throat. “That… is not a good idea… after everything that happened.”

Mr Shelby watched her for a moment with a worried look, offering apologetic little smiles and waves as the onlookers continued on their way. Moving to rest a hand on her shoulder he sighs.“Emily…” Giving her a moment to calm herself he shook his head “It was an accident, a freak accident.”

“Dont!” she snapped, slapping his hand from her shoulder and pointed a finger in his face, gritting her teeth she shook her head. “Don’t… Ty nearly fucking died… that piece of shit didn’t even come to check on him when we were getting airlifted to Celadon… so fucking… don’t.” she says, pulling back from him as he holds his hands up.

“A-Alright… it’s still very raw… I-I’m sorry for overstepping.” he says moving to hold her hand gently in his. “Despite all of that… I still want you here this week, it will help you financially and I owe you that and more for helping us out over the years.” he says, letting her pull her hand from his. “I won’t breathe a word of you being here to anyone, especially to him, and if I or any of the staff so much as see him here around the daycare we’ll give you a call so you can either leave or make yourself scarce.”

Taking deep breaths Emily tried to relax her gritted teeth, looking out the daycare windows with an aggravated scowl, rolling her jaw as rather viscous thoughts of aggression painted vividly in her mind as she tried to calm herself down. She was shaking at the mere though of him being anywhere near her.

“Look… I’ll get the paperwork started at least, take some time to think it over, you don’t have to give me an answer today, but I’ll have to have one by Monday, otherwise I can’t in good concious of the others working here make the same offer.”

Hanging her head Emily shook it slowly. “That’s a really fucking shitty curveball to throw into the mix old man.”

“I-I wasn’t trying to upset you dear, but I’ve seen anger like this before, it’s cancerous and can…” his words trailed off seeing her tense up. “I worry about you, you just completely disappeared after everything happened... no one around here knew where you went for months, I won’t lecture you on how to act, you’re an adult now and can make your own decisions… just try not to let them destroy you in the process.”

Taking a deep breath Emilly finally met his gaze, her own still sharp and full of rage, though slowly she nodded. “Don’t worry about me, I’m just fine… so long as I don’t see that fuck again.” she says, turning to face the window. “I’ll do the work… but if I see him even once I’m gone… got it?”

Nodding his head Mr Shelby sighs. “Begrugingly… but yes, I understand. Take some time to calm down first if you wouldn’t mind, I don’t want you getting started while still so upset.”

“Yeah… I’m gonna go do that… take a walk or something, look at the ocean…” she mutters to herself. “I’ll be back.” Turning she began to walk, making her way towards the door, maybe pushing it open a little bit harder than she really intended too.

Emily walked in silence along the route leading back to Goldenrod, looking out over the waters of route 40 and the expansive stretch of islands in the far distance. Scowling she kicked a rock hard, pinging it off the guard rail. “Fucking prick.” she grumbled under her breath, pausing to lean against the railing overlooking the sea.

Listening to the waves washing up along the rocks below Emily thought long and hard. Was any of this even a good idea if ‘he’ was going to be around? So long as she didn’t have to see his stupid fucking face everything would be fine. Her thoughts lingered on Mr Shelby's words as she stared out over the surface of the water.

Admittedly she didn’t want to move, she wanted to stand there all day, looking out over the water and watching the bird pokemon fly along the horizon. She stood there and let the cold breeze flow past her, ruffling her hair in her face and over her clothes, zoning out to the world as she took in the view and just let everything else bleed away.

Eventually after some time had passed there was a wiggle from the pokeball on her hip, leaving a flash of light to pop from it as Gardevoir released herself with a little glow, fanning out her dress like gown. “Emily?” she spoke with a touch of worry in her tone, slowly moving to stand beside her trainer, looking out over the view. “You’ve been standing here for nearly an hour… it’s cold and wet, you’ll catch a cold”

Emily didn’t look at her, she held her gaze on the horizon as a group of Lappris could be seen surfacing, playing with one another. “I got an offer today… just a little while ago actually.” Her voice came out flat, distant even as she looked over the bruising on the back of her hand. “From Mr Shelby. There's a Pokemon pageant at the national park next week. Some rich types are donating a looot of money, so much so he’s giving out bonuses to everyone who works that week. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

She let the number hang there like a dead weight, more than enough for her a new car, more than enough to fully pay off her property, and yet it still felt like just dead weight to her at that moment.

“He wants me there. Says I’ve earned it, after all the years of helping out when I was a kid. Says it’s only right.” Tapping her fingers against the metal railing Emily shook her head slowly. “All I have to do is show up. Work for a week. Collect the money… just that simple.”

Gardevoir shifted closer, her gown swaying along with the breeze, making her shiver a little from the cold. She stood beside Emily, regarding her tone and her expression as she rested her hands on the guard rail as well. “But… there’s something else.” She says, not asking a question, but an invitation for her to explain.

Hatred swelled in her chest as she nodded. “Lance will be there.” she said flatly

Gardevoir’s eyes flickered with an almost knowing look, beginning to reach out to touch Emily’s hand, she paused as Emily shifted her hand away, a silent and subtle rejection. She had felt Emily’s emotions spike with heat and rage at the mere mention of the name for months now, and yet this time seemed to be different, far worse than it had been before.

"The self-proclaimed Dragon Master." Emily continued, her voice developing an edge. "He'll be at the ceremonies at National Park most likely... Shaking hands. Smiling for the cameras. Being celebrated..."

She finally turned to look at Gardevoir, and her eyes were hard in a way that made the Pokémon's heart ache.

"Do you know what I see when I look at him?"

Gardevoir remained quiet. This was the kind of question that didn't require an answer, just space to exist.

"I see nothing… nothing worth mentioning at all" Her words were sharp. “He used to be my goal… everything I aspired to be… but after our battle… my victory… he means nothing to me… less than nothing.”

The silence that followed stretched uncomfortably long. Gardevoir endured it, patient as she had always been. Emily had never spoken about the match, not really, not like this. There had been brief mentions, quick summaries, but always with the distance of someone describing a news article rather than living through it.

"You can tell me." Gardevoir said gently. "Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to carry it alone."

Emily laughed, a short, sharp sound that didn't reach anywhere near the burning look in her eyes. "That's rich, coming from someone who didn't know where I was for three fucking months."

The words landed harder than Emily had intended. She saw Gardevoir flinch, a small thing, barely perceptible, but was still there, and immediately she felt a deep twist of guilt.

"I-I'm sorry" Emily said quickly, letting her head hang. "I didn't mean for it to-"

"No…" Gardevoir interrupted, her voice was soft but firm and understanding. "You're right. You disappeared. You sent all of us away… me, the team, everyone who cared about you… and for three months, we knew nothing. I felt you, sometimes. I felt your grief, your exhaustion. But when I reached out, there was only silence."

She moved closer now, finally crossing that invisible boundary she had been maintaining. Her long, slender fingers touched Emily's chin, tilting her face upward so their eyes met.

"I never pressed. I told myself you needed time. I told myself you would come back when you were ready. That you would tell me everything when you were ready. But I think... I think I was also afraid. Afraid of what you would say if I pushed. Afraid of what I would find out when you returned."

Emily's eyes burned, but she didn't pull away.

"Why did you send us away?" Gardevoir asked. "I’ve wondered all this time, trying to understand why when you needed us the most you would send us away. I know you must have had your reasons, and I never wanted to try and force an answer from you… but now I think I want- no, I ‘need’ to know."

She was quiet, looking into her pokemon's eyes before she let out a shaky sigh, reaching up to gently grip her pokemon's hand, guiding it from her chin as she turned to look back out over the water.

"Ty's injury was worse than anyone knew…" Emily said. Her voice had gone thin, reedy, like she was speaking around something lodged in her throat. "Worse than the announcers said. Worse than the newspapers reported it was. Worse than-" She stopped, swallowing hard. "Worse than I let myself admit it was."

She gripped the fence, knuckles going white against the weathered metal.

"When Dragonite's thunder attack merged with that lightning strike... I didn't understand what had happened at first, I didn't even know it had been struck by lightning... I saw fire and electricity clash... I saw Dragonite colapse and the beter was ruled in our favor... I didn't even wait for the call, when I saw Ty fall, I ran to him, and he looked up at me with this smile… that stupid… brave smile he’s always had, like he was trying to tell me everything was fine. I thought he was just exhausted. That match ran on for so long, after all the other fights leading up to it, who could blame him, we were all exhausted."

Her voice broke a little as she held up her hands.

“There was… so much blood… I can still… feel it… I can still smell it.” she says rubbing her fingers together as they trembled, balling them into fists so tight her knuckles popped. “That lightning carved through him… like a fucking knife.”

Gardevoir regarded her quietly, taking in the tension with a look of worry etched in her own expression. “E-Emily... If it’s too much we don’t-”

"The doctors didn't think he would survive the first night. They did surgery after surgery... trying to repair what they could, trying to stabilize him. I-I sat there… in that fucking waiting room for thirty-two hours before they let me even see him... he died.. four times on the table..."

Emily's gaze went distant, seeing something Gardevoir couldn't, tears forming in her eyes as she shook her head

"He was unconscious when I walked in. There were wires… a-and tubes everywhere, sticking out of his chest, his mouth, his arms he… I-I thought he was… h-he already looked…” Her voice quivered as the tears rolled down her cheeks. “He looked so small.” she says letting herself sink. “Smaller than when he was just my… my tiny little Cyndaquill… smaller than.” Gritting her teeth she squeezed the railing tight.

Gardevoir’s look softened, hesitantly reaching for her before stopping. “You… didn’t want us seeing him like that… did you?”

"Would you have wanted to?" Emily turned to look at Gardevoir directly, her eyes red, and yet somehow they still burned with anger. "Would you have wanted to see him that way? Hooked up to machines that were the only things keeping him alive? Not knowing if he would ever open his eyes again?"

Gardevoir's expression shifted, her large eyes reflecting a complex mix of sorrow and understanding, and hurt. “I… would have wanted to have been there for him… for you.”

“I know… but I couldn’t let you… any of you…” Pulling from the railing she turned, leaning back against it as she hugged her arms around herself. "When he finally woke up… the doctors said it was nothing short of a miracle. They'd been preparing me for the possibility that he might never regain consciousness, or that if he did, there would probably be brain damage, nerve damage… if he could even walk again. They actually even suggested that having him put down… that it might be the most humane thing to do for him.”

Scoffing Emily shook her head, glaring along the path leading into the city. “The fucking nerve of those pricks… to even suggest such a thing… The very next day he opened his eyes… he looked at me with that stupid smile of his, even around a tube it was… I was so relieved.”

Turning Gardevoir leaned against the railing beside her, reaching to hold onto one of Emily’s hands.

"He had to learn to walk again." Emily's voice had gone quiet, barely above a whisper. "The damage to his shoulder and back had affected his nervous system. The signals from his brain weren't reaching his legs properly… like h-he could feel them, but he couldn't make ‘em move the way he wanted to. For two months, he couldn't even stand without help. I-I had to help him to the bathroom. I had to carry him when the physical therapy sessions were over and he was too exhausted to walk back to his room."

The tears were falling faster now, but Emily's expression remained strangely flat, her face almost serene in contrast to the wet tracks streaming down her cheeks.

"He cried every night. Not from the pain, he never complained about the pain, even though I know it must have been unbearable. He cried because he couldn't battle anymore… he knew it right away before anyone else did… All the years of hard work just… gone a-and I had to sit there and hold him and tell him it was going to be okay… even when I didn't even believe it myself."

“Emily…”

"He knew before I did. He'd already accepted it… the day the doctors told us his flame sack was destroyed beyond repair, he just nodded. Like he'd been expecting it. Like he'd already made peace with the fact that his life as a battling Pokémon was over, j-just like that, as casually as changing the fucking channel on the T.V.. Everyone was so proud of him for being so strong… they didn’t know… they didn’t know that he just didn’t have any more tears to cry over it... They didn't watch him cry until he fell asleep at night.” she says, rubbing her face. “I was so angry… I was so fucking angry but Ty… he was the one trying to comfort me about it… after getting the most life changing news a pokemon could get… and it was me he was worried about!”

Emily laughed, but there was no humor in it, it was just a hollow, aching laugh.

"I sent all of you away because I couldn't let you see him like that. I couldn't let your last memories of him be... that. Matted fur and tubes being kept alive by machines."

She finally turned to face Gardevoir fully, her expression raw and bleeding.

"If he had died… and there were so many nights when I thought he would, when his vitals would crash and those fucking alarms would sound and nurses would come running in and start working on him I... didn't want you guys to see that… I wanted your memories of him to be whole. I-I wanted you to remember the Ty who used to let you brush his fur when you were both young and bored at camp... The Ty who always knew when someone was sad and would wrap them in his arms and not let go until they felt better… the Ty that always smiled and stood like a wall for every single fucking one of us to lean against when shit got too hard to deal with."

Her voice cracked completely on the last word, and she buried her face in her hands.

"I couldn't let you watch him disappear piece by piece. I couldn't let you see him become something less than what he was. I-I thought... I thought if I just handled it myself, if I-I just carried it alone, then none of you would have to carry it too... a-and then when he got better, when he could walk again, when he could eat on his own, when he started to look like himself… I-I could bring him back to you, and we could pretend the last three months hadn't happened."

She was fully crying now, great heaving sobs that shook her shoulders and made it difficult to breathe.

"But he's not better. He's alive, and he can walk, and he can eat, a-and he can do all these normal things, but he can't be the fighter that he loved to be… He can’t… a-and every time I look at him, I see the scar, and I remember..."

She gestured helplessly at the air, unable to articulate the depth of what she was remembering. All the sleepless nights. All the panicked alarms. The doctors speaking in hushed tones and whispers outside his room. The weight of his body in her arms when he was too weak to stand.

"I didn't want you to see him broken… a-and I thought I was protecting you. I thought..." She shook her head, tears streaming freely. "I thought if I just loved him hard enough… if I just… stayed by his side for every single moment… I could somehow fix what had been broken. But I couldn't. I-I can't. And now Lance is going to be at this stupid… fucking pageant thing…” Her arms tightened around her, ignoring the ache of protests from the soreness in her sides. “I don’t know what to do…”

The silence that followed was profound.

Gardevoir hadn't moved since Emily had begun speaking. She stood perfectly still, her hand gently holding Emily’s, her eyes fixed on her trainer's tear-streaked face. There was no judgment in her expression, no recrimination, only a deep, aching sorrow.

When she finally spoke, her voice in Emily's mind was barely above a whisper.

“I didn't know.”

It was a simple statement, but it carried the weight of everything that had been hidden, everything that had been kept from her, from all of them. The severity of Ty's injuries, how much he had suffered, and the magnitude of the burden Emily had carried alone.

“I knew he was hurt. I felt... something. A distant darkness from you. But the messages you sent, the sparse updates, the assurances that you were fine… they made it sound manageable. Recoverable. I thought…”

She trailed off, her psychic voice trembling with an emotion Emily had rarely ever heard from her.

“I thought you were grieving a career-ending injury. I didn't know you were watching him die all alone…”

"I wasn't sure he wouldn't. For a long time, neither were the doctors… he did die.. Nearly six times he flatlined and I… I was so terrified I didn’t know what to do."

"Three months." Gardevoir closed her eyes. Emily could feel her processing, working through the implications of everything she'd been told. "Three months, you sat in that hospital, you watched him suffer, you carried all of that pain and fear and grief by yourself, because you thought you were sparing us."

"I thought it was the right thing to do."

Turning more towards Emily Gardevoir placed her free hand on her trainer's arm. “And now? What do you think now?”

Sighing out deeply Emily shook her head, pulling her hand free to wipe over her eyes. “I feel like a complete and utter fucking idiot... I shouldn’t have sent any of you away… it wasn’t right to do that, he was your friend too, your teammate… I thought I was helping… but now I know I just made everything worse for you guys dealing with the unknown…”

“I believe that is what you humans call an understatement” Holding her hands together Gardevoir stepped closer to her. “Pain and fear though… doesn’t really give room for rational thought I suppose.”

“You can say that again… I fucked up big time trying to be kind to you guys, just to run you as ragged as I was running myself.” she sighs through her shuttered breths. “I’ve been a complete fucking mess… thinking all this shit is done and over with but it just… keeps coming back, any time I try and talk about it I just fall apart.”

“It has not been a very long time since it happened, yes months have passed, but the pain is still very much still there, as it will be for a long time to come. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“I don’t even know if Lance will even come by the Daycare or not… all this worrying and sobbing like a little school girl could possibly all be for nothing, just me being overly emotional idiot… but my feelings for that guy… they probably won’t ever go away… the negligent fucking prick.”

She looked at Gardevoir, her eyes still red and puffy.

“Did you know he didn’t even care enough to come by the hospital to check on us? Didn’t say a god damn thing to me for nearly a month, not until it got out in the papers that Ty had been hospitalized after the battle. Oh but then the fucker tried to check in and see, he sent letters, he tried to call, he even had the League try and send me a letter like I wasn’t going to even read who it was from… that mother fucker.” She grit her teeth as the anger swelled in her all over again.

“You hate him.”

"I hate him so much it scares me." Emily's voice was quiet, honest in a way she hadn't been with anyone, not even with herself. "I hate him for what happened to Ty. I hate him for not caring until it went public. I hate him for acting like nothing terrible had happened while my partner was learning to fucking walk again. I hate him for getting to continue his life like nothing changed while everything in mine fell apart. And I know... I fucking know… that the lightning strike wasn't technically his fault. I know it was a freak accident. I know holding onto this hatred isn't healthy or productive or fair to anyone."

She let out a long, shuddering breath.

"But I can't let it go… I don't know if I can stand in that room and pretend like I don't want to wrap my hands around his fucking throat and squeeze down as hard as I fucking can, and not let go until he stops moving... I wan't him to suffer and hurt the same way Ty did... for months." she says as she shakes her head. “I-I just don’t… fucking know.”

Gardevoir was quiet for a short time, looking down at the ground before she took a few steps away from Emily as she looked out at the ocean. She was quiet as she thought, contemplated on how to respond.

"I know... I know you're being nice... But don't." Emily spoke up leaning back against the guard rail. "Don't be nice... say everything you need to say... I need that right now."

"Very well... if that is your wish than I am going to be very honest with you, as I have always been. Not all of it will be kind… but it needs to be said, and you need to listen to it very closely. What you did, keeping us away, hiding the truth, carrying all of that pain and fear and grief entirely on your own,was wrong."

Emily flinched, but she made no move of stopping her.

"You made a decision for us that was not yours to make. You decided what we could and could not handle, what we should and should not know, what memories we should be allowed to carry. You took away our choice to be there for Ty, to be there for you, to face the darkness together as we have always faced everything in our journy."

Her voice softened slightly, though the firmness remained.

"I understand why you did it. I can feel the love behind your actions, the desperate need to protect us from the possible pain of loosing him. But Emily, did it ever occur to you that we might have wanted to be there? That seeing Ty in pain would have been unbearable, yes, but that not knowing… not being allowed to help, might have been worse? That we spent three months terrified and confused, wondering what was happening to our family, unable to do anything but wait and hope to hear from you?"

Emily began to look away from her though Gardevoir's psychic energy gripped her cheek, not allowing her to.

"You say you wanted to protect our memories of Ty. But Emily, do you truly think so little of our bond that you believed we could not have found beauty in his struggle? That we could not have seen the courage it took for him to fight for every breath, to push through every painful day, to rebuild himself from nothing? That we could not have loved him just as much in his brokenness as we did in his strength?"

A single tear traced a path down her pale cheek as she took a slow breath to compose herself.

"We should have been there. Not just for him, but for you. You should not have had to face the possibility of losing him alone. You should not have had to sit in that hospital room day after day, week after week, with no one to hold your hand or share your fear. We are your family. That is what family does. And by pushing us away, you denied us the chance to be what we have always been, what we have always wanted to be."

Her words felt like a hot knife in the heart, dragging back and forth as she watched the tear roll down her cheek. Emily wanted to ask her to stop, but she had asked for it, and Gardevoir was right. She knew she was right, in a way she had always known, somewhere in the back of her mind, that her decision to isolate herself and her team during those darkest days had been born as much from fear as from love. Fear that seeing them would break her carefully constructed composure. Fear that their pain would compound her own until she couldn't breathe. Fear that if she let anyone in, she would have to acknowledge just how bad things really had been.

But hearing it spoken aloud, hearing the hurt and the disappointment in the voice of the Pokémon who had been her closest companion for fifteen years, was almost more than she could bear.

"I was a coward... I'm sorry," she whispered, the words sorely inadequate for the magnitude of what she was trying to express. "I... I-I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting you. But I-I was so scared. Scared of losing him. Scared of losing all of you. Scared of having to face what my life would be without him. I-I couldn't let you see how broken I was. Couldn't let you know how close I came to just… giving up."

She looked up at Gardevoir with eyes that were red and desperate.

"I don't know how to move forward. I-I don't know if I can take that fucking job and stand at the Daycare and smile and pretend like everything is fine when the fucking prick who was supposed to just be my opponent became the catalyst for every-fucking-thing falling apart… I don't know if I can look at Lance and see anything other than Ty lying in that hospital bed with tubes coming out of him and machines beeping and doctors telling me to prepare for the worst... that I can feel anything other that this... gnawing hatred whenever I hear his fucking name."

Gardevoir reguarded her in silance as Emily hung her head. "I don't know how to forgive him… and I don't know how to forgive myself."

The last words came out as barely a whisper, slouching against the guard rail as fresh tears threatened to overtake her.

Gardevoir crossed the distance between them in three swift steps pulling Emily in tightly. It was not the gentle, careful touch that Gardevoir normally gave. It was fierce and tight. Gardevoir's arms wrapped around Emily's shaking shoulders, and her telepathic voice rang clear and strong in Emily’s mind.

"You do not have to forgive anyone. Not Lance. Not even yourself if you are not ready too… That is not what matters." She pulled back slightly, cradling Emily's face in her hands and forcing their eyes to meet. "What matters is that you are not alone. You were never supposed to be alone Emily… and I will not let you push me away again… Do you understand me?"

The tears in her crimson eyes had spilled over now, tracing silver paths down her pale cheeks.

"I cannot fix what happened. I cannot give Ty back his flame or erase the pain of the last eight months or make Lance into someone other than who he is… But I can be here… Right here with you, and I can hold your hand and listen to your anger and sit with you in the dark when it feels like the light will never return. I can remind you that you are strong, not because you do not feel pain, but because you have survived it… and I can promise you, on everything that we have built together over these past fifteen years, that I will never let you forget that you are loved."

She pressed her forehead against Emily's, their breath mingling in the small space between them.

"You made a mistake. A very profound and very stupid one... but one born of both love, fear, and ignorance… and I am deeply disappointed that you did not trust us enough to let us help you when you needed it the most… But I understand why you did it, and more importantly, I forgive you. Not because what you did was right, but because you are my family, and that is what families do. We forgive each other. We learn from our mistakes, and we grow together from them."

Emily's hands rose, shaking terribly as they clutched Gardevoir's arms, gripping tight as if she were afraid the Pokémon would disappear, trying to swallow the sob that was trying to force it's way out "I-I don't fucking deserve you." she choked out through her tears.

Sighing a soft chuckle Gardevoir pulled her into another firm hug, wrapping her arms tightly around her beloved trainer. “That’s ok, you never were really good at figuring out what you deserved anyways… Swear to me that you will never try to push us away again… that you will let us hold you together then you are the one broken and falling apart… I want you to swear it to me.”

Shuddering in her hold, Emilly nods her head, gripping her fingers tightly around her pokemon as she fights not to sob into her shoulder. “I-I swear… I swear…”

She stayed there in her pokemons embrace for longer than she cared to keep track of, just hiding from the world in that moment, the only thing forcing her to let go was the strong cool wing that rolled over the gaurd rail from the sea. “Fuck man… Did that uhh… answer your question? Do you want me to repeat any of that?”

“Don’t you dare start being a wise ass now, I’m still contemplating whether I want to slap the piss out of you or not.” She retorts, petting over Emily’s cheek. “For now let’s get you back inside somewhere warm so you can get dry and collect your thoughts, I really don’t want you getting sick.”

“Yeah… you’re probably right.” Rubbing her face she shook her head. “Guuh this fucking sucks! Why do feelings have to be so god damn annoying and complicated all the fuckin time!”

“While they can be inconvenient, they are necessary… Even if some of them you have are… concerning.” She says feeling over Emily’s shoulders. "I’ll take us back to the Daycare… but tonight when we have time I wish to continue discussing this with you… you have a lot to grieve for, even though Ty is better now, the pain and anguish of it all still burns inside of you… I can feel it” Gardevoir says, moving to place her hand on Emily’s chest. “For now try to set everything aside and focus on what you need too… there will be more time for this tonight when we are not in public… or the cold rain.”

With a sharp flash of psychic energy the two of them would teleport back in front of the Daycare, leaving Emily to shake and squirm all over as she patted herself down. “Gaaah oh my god I hate how that feels!”

Looking over the Daycare Emily shivered, hurrying back inside with a quick wipe of her eyes. There was a lot on her mind, a lot looming in the future to deal with, though she knew that standing around and crying about it wasn’t going to do her any good, it would be better to focus on work for now to try and give herself time wo work things out.

She would find Mr Shelby in his office in the back of the Daycare with his reading glasses on as he typed at his rather old computer. Seeing Emily he looked relieved if not a little worried at first. “Good heavens Emily… you’re completely soaked through, are you-”

Shaking her head Emily took a deep breath. “I’m fine, where's that paper for me to sign… I’ll be damned if I let an opportunity like this pass me by on the chance I might see the prick. I don’t owe him a damn thing… but I owe my pokemon as much security as I can.” she says looking back at Gardevoir who stood behind her holding her hands together patiently.

Looking a little surprised he moved to pick up a pen, placing it on a stack of papers that he pushed towards her. “Very well then… I can see you took what I said to heart and thought about it, fill this out and you can go get changed into one of our work uniforms.” he says as he folded his hands together. “Have you been crying? Your eyes are red and puffy.”

“Don’t worry about it… some stuff that needed to be talked about got talked about.” she says looking over her shoulder at Gardevoir who only nodded in return. “What matters right now is that there’s work that needs to be done.”

“Alright, slow down now. I can only move so fast dear. Once you get those filled out I’ll still have to enter the information into the system. You’ll have more than enough time to get changed and get to work as soon as I’m done.”

“Right, sorry.” she says, reaching up to rub her face. “I’m sorry about before too… smacking your hand away like that… talking to you like an asshole.”

Looking back at her Mr Shelby smiled weakly. “My goodness, it seems you really did have a thorough conversation… I wasn’t offended Emily dear, I knew I overstepped where I shouldn’t have, but don’t worry about my feelings too much. It's going to take a lot more than a sassy young woman to upset me any.” he says as he chuckles.

“Even still… I’m sorry for speaking to you that way Mr Shelby, it’s only right that I apologize for it, especially when you're sticking your neck out for me like this. Thank you.” she says, giving an earnest nod of her head to him.

“God damn Gardevoir what did you do to the poor dear?” He asks rather abruptly, making Emily grunt in frustration and embarrassment.

“Only what I should have done much sooner… Emily, the papers?” She motions to the application on the desk.

“Right, right… can’t wait to get out of these clothes and into something warm.” she mutters as she sat down in the spare chair beside the desk, going about filling out the paperwork.

Once she was finished she pressed the papers back towards Mr Shelby who looked them over with a nod. “Alright, there’s a closet with what uniforms we’ve got in stock right down the hall there," Pausing from his typing he motions towards the hallway leading to the storage room. "New people come and go sometimes so we try to keep at least one of each size, just don’t go opening them unless your for sure you can wear them, I don’t like ordering uniforms, it’s always a pain.”

“Yes sir… thank you again” She says, pressing herself up out of the seat.

As Emily got her uniform picked out she made sure to let Mr Shelby see what she got before returning back to the room she had stayed in the night before, closing the door behind Gardevoir. “You’re not… mad at me still… are you?”

“I am still rather disappointed in you, yes, but I know why you did what you did, you do not need to explain yourself anymore than you already have… I admittedly need time to think over everything.” Gardevoir spoke with a nod of her head.

Pulling her shirt off and unfastening her wet bra she tossed them aside. “Yeah, I am sorry… but I know that doesn’t change what I did.” she says, pausing as she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Do not move!” Gardevoir’s voice was suddenly sharp and firm, almost aggressive. “My goodness… what in the hell happened to you?”

“W-What do you mean? D-Don’t just grab me like that, I thought I was going to get punched in the back of the head there for a second” Emily says a little startled, grunting as Gardevoir pulled her hair to the side.

“Emily… your back is a mess… and your sides are so bruised! Were you attacked by someone?!”

“Oooh… oh thank god dude you scared the hell out of me there for a moment.” Emily chuckles, looking back at her over her shoulder.

Gardevoir wasn’t smiling, she was scowling with a look of anger that admittedly made Emily shrink back. “Tell me what happened!”

“A-Alright calm down… i-it’s nothing bad, I-I got this from Daisy, that's all!”

“Daisy? Redgie’s Daisy? Why in the hell did she do all this to you? Has she lost her Damn Mind!?” Gardevoir's psychic voice came with an intensity that made Emily cringe away from her, reaching up to hold a hand against her head from the brief ripple of pain.

“Ahh shit Gardevoir take it easy! She didn’t do it on purpose!” she says rubbing over her temple. “Look you know how I was telling you about Daisy getting inseminated right? Well apparently that was yesterday, I didn’t know it was going to be yesterday until Redgie just up and told me last minute, sort of why we left the house in a rush like we did.”

Folding her arms Gardevoir gave a grunt. “Get to the point where you tell me why you're bruised all to hell with scratches on your back.”

“I-I’m getting to that! I went in to sit with Redgie and Daisy for the procedure but… you know how Redgie is with that sort of stuff, Daisy is his baby and he doesn’t want to think about anything in regards to her lady business down there… he ended up leaving because it was too much for him so I was in there just to be supportive and… well I held her while she was getting the procedure and she sort of… came… like hard.” she said, eyes looking off in the distance as she shook her head, recounting the events in her mind. “Like… earth shattering hard… she sort of got caught up in the moment and squeezed me really tight... Like she didn't hurt me on purpose she was just... in another world and I was the life raft... pretty much."

“You’re… telling me all that is from Daisy… climaxing? I was not aware that one could while… I mean when it’s done naturally between a male and female that is more preferred, in my case it was… huh” The anger bled from her quickly replaced with a soft angelic giggle as she looked over Emily. “Forgive me, I thought you had been attacked, I wasn’t aware you were being such a reliable friend.”

“I wasn’t expecting it, I saw her in ways I didn’t think I’d see a pokemon… and it sort of… well I… think I’ll wait to talk to you about that tonight.” She says as a blush tinged her cheeks. “I’ve found out a lot more about myself than I was expecting I would yesterday.”

“Oh? I’m quite curious now what you have found out.” Smiling Gardevoir moved to sit on the edge of the bed as Emily began to shuffle out of her pants and her underwear.

“Well… it might be a lot to take in so if it’s ok let’s wait for tonight.” she says, pulling the clothes she had gotten from Ms Shelby from her bag, tossing them onto the bed. “Mainly cause I have my suspicions about something but I’m gonna sit on it for a little while.”

Gardevoir only giggled softly to herself as she folded her hands into her lap. “Now I am very curious, tonight is going to be interesting I’m sure.”

“Yeah… Yeah it’s gonna be something.” she says, pulling on a fresh pair of panties, being careful of her still very apparent sensitivity. As she got herself dressed she paused to look over herself in the mirror, turning from one side to the other, patting the wrinkles out and plucking the occasional stray hair off her. “What do you think? It’s thick and warm… sort of screams cowgirl vibes.”

“I am unsure, neither of us have ever been one for fashion… you look presentable, nothing bad showing, it’s thick to withstand the weather… It’s functional and everything matches.”

“Yeah you are right, neither of us is very good with fashion.” Emily chuckles, grunting as Gardevoir gave her hip a little swat. “Heheh what! You said it, not me!”

“You did not have to repeat it” She says with an annoyed little smirk. “Though I am glad, you seem like your heart is less burdened now.”

“Sometimes you just need a good kick in the ass to see things for how they should be.” Emily says, pulling her hair up and into a ponytail, fastening it all together with a hair tie. Pulling the Daycare worker cap on she took a deep breath. “Well, let's get to it then I guess.”

As Emily checked back in with Mr Shelby he put her right to work doing a round of the fences, helping the other handlers get the larger pokemon wrangled up and brought in to get cleaned from being out in the mud. She helped scrub down a Nidoking and patch up the injured arm it had from a little squabble with a Rydon. She made rounds through the grooming stations sweeping up the floors and wiping down the equipment, taking out the trash, feeding the pokemon that were staying there overnight, and helped see to the ones that were either just arriving at the Daycare, or on their way out the door.

The day drug on slowly, and while her heart still ached with the thought of her actions and the rage of he who shall not be mentioned, every time she began to falter Gardevoir would place a gentle hand on her shoulder, give her a hug, and keep her going about her business.

By the time the sun had started setting Emily was finishing up with Nurse Joy’s Chansy, brushing over its ovular body with a tired look. Petting the pokemons head she pressed herself up with a grunt, patting her back with a light sigh. “There you go sweetheart, that should do it for you.” she says, getting a few happy chimes from the pokemon as it spun around.

Moving to the door to the room Emily knocked on it, leaving Ms Shelby to press it open with a smile. “Ahh wonderful, right on time, thank you Emily.” she says as Chansy bounced over to and out the door. “I believe that should be everything for now, why don’t you call it an evening for now and get some rest before you do your rounds for the night.”

Sighing with relief Emily nods. “Yeah alright… thank you.” she says, trudging out of the room looking rather exhausted. Having a seat on the bench in the lobby she rubbed her hands over her face with a soft sigh, tugging a bottle of water from the cargo pocket on the leg of her pants. “That… was a long 7 hours.”

"Indeed it was, but you did well, consindering your bruising." Gardevoir spoke up. "I'll help Ms Shelby with this one, I will return in just a moment." She says as she strode after the elderly woman.

“It’s You!” A frustratingly sour voice stated rather abruptly, a young voice that made Emily tense up and look up from her drink. It was him, the brat who she had stomped in a battle the day before. “I’ve been looking for you!”

Emily regarded him for a moment, blinking a few times before tilting her head to the side. “I’m sorry, who are you?” she asks as she takes another drink of her water. “Sorry kid, but I’m just getting off the clock so if you need help with something you’re going to have to talk to another one of the workers here

“Don’t you dare pretend you don’t remember me!” He states pointing a finger at her. “Do you have any idea how much trouble I got in for messing up my clothes and having to get Sterling cleaned again!? My mother was furious!” he stated as he stomped his foot.

Emily just stared blankly at the kid for a moment feigning ignorance, looking up in thought she tapped the water bottle to her head. “Sterling?” she mutters, grumbling as she folded her arms and tilts her head to the side, making the boy steam and grit his teeth in rage. “Sterling… Sterling... It’s not really ringing any bells actually, sorry kid.”

Growling, he pointed a finger at her. “Don’t Play Dumb you Filthy Commoner!” he shouts, snagging his pokeball from his hip, throwing it on the ground hard. Sterling the Serperior emerged with a glow, coiling and stretching as it poised up behind him, tensing as it saw Emily. “I’m going to teach you a lesson this time!”

Emily’s eyes narrowed as she rested her elbows on her knees, holding a calm stare as she looked at the pokemon, staring it down without a blink. “I don’t think that’s a good idea on your part kid… so drop it and go on with your life, and leave me the hell alone.”

“Forget it! You need to learn your place! I’ll teach you this time!” he shouts, pointing a finger at her. “Get her Sterling!”

The Serperior began to move though paused as he looked at Emily, the cold unphased look in her eyes left him with a nervous hiss, glancing between his trainer and Emily.

“S-Sterling what are you doing? I said Get Her!” the boy shouts stomping a foot as he pointed at Emily.

Pulling back the Serperior turned his head away nervously. Setting the bottle of water on the bench Emily pressed herself up. “That’s right, I remember you now.” she says, pulling her hat from her head and sat it down on the bench beside her water. “You’re the little brat that got your pokemon to give me this.” she says holding up the bruise on her hand. “I let you go on the stipulation that you stop attacking people… but here you are trying to do it again.”

“Sterling!” the boy shouts, looking back at his pokemon before turning to look up at Emily, taking a step back from her. “Y-You need to know you-” he began before she snatched hold of his collar, yanking him up and nearly off the ground on the tips of his toes. “Hey.. S-Stop it… L-Let Me Go!”

“No… no this time I think I’m gonna let the police handle you, I gave you a chance before but you didn’t seem to learn your lesson, and now it’s gonna be the cops you have to answer too.” She spoke calmly, plainly as he held him.

“E-Emily! What is going on here!” Ms Shelby spoke up, coming around to look between the two of them as Gardevoir lingered off to the side.

“Call the police… this brat just tried to make his pokemon attack me… again.” she said, glaring down at the kid as he struggled to get out of her grip.

“T-That’s Not What happened! S-She’s Lying!” the boy shouts, turning to look back over his shoulder. “Sterling Do Something You Stupid Snake!”

Looking torn, the Serperior closed its eyes, turning its head away from him sharply in an act of blatant defiance.

“I’m calling the police.” Ms Shelby spoke as she made her way towards the counter to pick up her phone.

“That won’t be necessary.” a soft more adult voice spoke up as a man dressed in a fancy suit entered the Daycare, looking between the three of them. “Ma’am… if you would please, unhand my child.”

Emily held a flat look as she stared at the man. “Not a chance, he just walked in here and blatantly tried to make his pokemon attack me… his pokemon ‘did’ attack me yesterday, I let him off easy that time, but not this time. You can pick him up at the police station.”

“E-Emily dear… that’s Mr Lanchester.” Ms Shelby says as she moves over to brace a hand on Emily’s arm.

“I don’t give a damn who he is, your child assaulted me when I didn’t properly compliment his Serperior yesterday, and this time he tried to assault me as payback for wiping the floor with him yesterday in a battle, in the middle of the Daycare lobby!” she says, shuffling a hand in her pocket to pull out her phone. “If you won’t call them then I will.”

Mr Landchester lifted a hand, slowly making his way over towards them. “Come now we are all reasonable people here right?” he asks, reaching his hand into his suit.

The air sparked with psychic energy as Gardevoir slowly strode over to Emily’s side, her hand raised towards the man. “It would be very unwise for you to move your hand Mr Lanchester.”

Holding still the man slowly pulled a phone from his coat. “Easy now… I’m unarmed, just getting my phone.” he says with a smile. “Julian, apologise to this young lady right this instant.” he says as he tapped at his phone, after a moment of silence in the room he paused to look at the stubborn boy. “I said apologize to her.”

“But father, she humiliated me in front of everyone! Made Sterling look like a joke!” He spoke, still yanking at her grip. "She's needs to be taught a lesson in respect!"

“You will apologize to her right this instant young man. She is completely in the right you know, assaulting someone with a pokemon is a criminal offence, you could be taken to juvenile hall. No more contests, no more pageants, only cold stone bricks for however long the judge decides.”

“B-But Father… You won’t let that happen right?” the boy flounders, still trying to tug at her grip.

“My hands are currently tied, I have no pokemon to battle with and she’s.. Well she’s the Pokemon League Champion.” he says with a smile and a nod. “You picked quite the wrong person to try and lord yourself over, and I specifically told you that, that behavior was going to get you in a lot of trouble one day, perhaps serving some time ‘would’ be a better teacher for you, dragging our family’s good name through the mud… is that something that we do now son? Belittle ourselves to common criminal standards?” he asks as he tucked his cell phone back into his coat pocket. “Young man, I asked you a question.”

Gritting his teeth Julian looked away, slowly going lax in Emily’s hold. “N-No father.”

“Apologize… Now. I will not repeat myself.”

“I-Im so-” Julian began before Emily gave him a firm tug making the boy look up at her scowl. “I-I’m Sorry ok! I-I’m sorry! I won’t do it again I swear!”

Staring him down Emily very reluctantly let the kids collar go, standing back upright to place a hand on Gardevoir’s, slowly pressing it down until her pokemon relented. “Easy girl…” she says softly under her breath.

Julian hurried over to his fathers side, swaying as Mr Lanchester grabbed him by his shoulder, pulling the boy around to stand in front of him in his hold. “Ms. Verner, please allow me to offer you my most humble of apologies for my son's outlandish behavior. I fear that I am mostly to blame for it, you see I try to give my son every opportunity to succeed, however he is still… ‘stubborn’ in some aspects and fails to understand the concept of human decency and compassion.”

Emily looked to Ms Shelby before nodding her head. “He does it again. I'm taking him to the cops myself, I don’t care if he’s a misunderstood child with daddy issues or not, you don’t assault people with pokemon period.” she stated firmly.

The man nodded his head slowly. “I completely and fully understand, once again thank you for your understanding and compassion, I can promise you this 'will' not happen again.” he says looking down at his son. “Your pokemon are being taken away from you until you’ve made a noticeable improvement.”

“B-But father! T-The Pageant is next week!” Julian stated, raising his voice until he got a firm grip on his shoulder.

“That is final!” he started looking down at him, turning to guide Julian over to the door, taking the pokeballs from his hip. “Be lucky you get to keep them at all, I have a mind to give them to Ms Verner, at least she properly knows how to handle them!” he stated firmly. “Now go wait in the car with your mother, this discussion is not over.”

Emily couldn’t help but feel both a twinge of amusement, but more so a twinge of guilt as she watched Julian run from the daycare. Looking back to Mr Lanchester she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry… I didn’t wan-” she began only to stop as he held up a hand.

“You do not need to apologise, you are absolutely correct. We’ve had enough criminals running around our fair region, we do not need another one to add to it, I am very sorry for his behavior… Please do not file a lawsuit, it would ruin his chances of getting into a proper boarding school.”

Big deal, he assaulted her... but then again his Serperior seemed to have known better the second time around so no one was actually hurt. “Fine… I mean I wasn’t going to begin with, he’s just a dumb kid and hasn’t had a chance to really learn anything yet about the world and how it works… sorry though about grabbing his collar… and about the mud yesterday.”

Chuckling softly the man shook his head, keeping himself composed. “You have nothing to apologise for Ms Verner, if anything he’s seemed more determined than I have seen him in a long time to prove himself and his pokemon’s worth… but unfortunately it seems it was for the wrong reasons.”

“He’ll figure it out.” Emily says as she nods. “Actually… there's a thought, make him work here.” she says as she nods.

Both Ms Shelby and Mr Lanchester paused at that giving Emily a confused look.

“What? Hard work builds character and respect. Once he works here for a few days sweating in the mud and stuff like us common folk it would give him a new appreciation for what he has and how hard others have to work. It worked for me at least. Besides, we do need someone else to help carry buckets of gravel, and it would give him a chance to earn back his pokemon and stuff.”

“Earn back his pokemon?” Mr Landchester asks as he folded his arms.

“For the Pageant I mean… if he really buckles down and works for it I’d say let him participate… I mean there’s gonna be a lot of big wigs there, I can see he’s passionate about his pokemon if not a little misguided.” she mutters rubbing the back of her neck. "So... maybe as a stipulation he has to work here over the weekend and during the pagent.. or rather when he doesn't have any other showings up there... or whatever it is... I've never been to one myself."

“We… do need someone else hauling gravel to help fill in the mud holes that the rains are making.” Ms Shelby says as she nods. “I’m sure we could squeeze him in, though I don’t know about paying him with him still being a kid and all.”

Smiling Mr Lanchester chuckles. “You know… that’s actually a very good idea. I was expecting to have to write you a check, not put my son to work… Though that does sound like quite the idea indeed, it would do him well to learn the honesty of hard labor and humility for his common man… You’ve convinced me. If he comes and works here at the daycare I’ll return his pokemon and he’ll be allowed to attend the pageantry.”

“Ahh Wonderful, I’ll go and let the husband know we’ll have another worker to help with tomorrow… umm about the uhh… donation to the Daycare.” Ms Shelby spoke up nervously.

“Perish the thought, I would never stoop so low as to withdraw funding due to such a thing, besides everything has already been processed with the accountant and they would be livid if I try to change things... that would also upset the other gracious donors.” he says looking at Emily with what she could only assume was a hollow smile. "Besides Ms Verner was not only kind enough to excuse my son but try and help him be a better person and trainer instead."

“Yep... good thing that nothing like this is gonna happen again and hopefully by the end of it we can all just go our own separate ways with no hard feelings… go ahead and tell gramps the good news, I’ll lock up, see Mr Lanchester back to his car.” Emily says not taking her eyes of the man for a second.

“Oh yes of course, he’s going to be very happy to hear about this, and grateful too, having another person to lug around buckets of gravel is going to make everything go by a lot smoother.” she says as she makes her way back towards the back.

Once they were alone in the room Emily shook her head and held out her arms. “So now what? Gonna pull a gun on me? Sue me for what happened? Whatever you’re going to do leave them the fuck out of it.” she stated rather broadly.

Mr Lanchester looked taken aback, holding his hands up. “W-Woe easy now, this isn’t a movie Ms Verner, I would never do such an underhanded thing!” he says as motions around. “I’m just curious how… you ended up working here. Last time anyone really saw you, you were rushing your pokemon off the field at the Pokemon League, I’m actually a fan you see.”

Emily’s shoulders relaxed, though at the same time her guts twisted. “Oh thank god… I thought this was gonna be like some kind of mafia scene or something.”

“What? No! Goodness no! I’m actually very glad to see that you are doing well, after the battle you weren't at the closing ceremonies and I was hoping to get an autograph from you, but no one knew what happened until we saw in the papers that there had been some sort of accident?”

“Yeah… unfortunately there was, but everything is fine now.” she says as she nods. “I just… at the moment things weren't but things are ok now.”

“Well goodness please don’t keep me in suspense, I’d like to know all about it!” he says, clasping his hands together. “Perhaps even get an autograph if I may be so bold to ask?”

“Look Mr Lanchester, it’s late, I just got off a long shit and I’m pretty sore, perhaps another time alright? I can give you an autograph though if you’ve got a pen, I don’t mind that.” she says with a smile.

“Ahh splendid!” he states patting his suit a few times before batting down to his pockets. “Oh, I may need to get a raincheck on that dear, I don’t have a pen with me, or anything I’d like you to sign… Monday, I’ll come back Monday when we come to pick up Iris, would that be alright?”

That’s right, that beautiful Typhlosion variant that was there belonged to this guy's son. “Iris… she’s the Typhlosion right? The special one?” she asks as she retrieves her water bottle, pausing to get another drink from it.

“Yes indeed she is quite a difficult breed to acquire nowadays let me tell you, she cost me nearly three million with all her papers and medical records."

Emily nearly choked upon hearing the number, covering a hand over her mouth as she forced herself to swallow, coughing into her hand as Gardevoir patted her back. “Fuckin three million dollars!?” She coughs.

Chuckling softly Mr Lanchester nods his head. “Yes she was quite pricy, though she has been officially verified with ancestry dating all the way back to the Hisuian era in the Sinnoh region. Quite the difficult specimen to come by let me tell you, only a couple thousand of them left I believe in the entire world."

Rubbing the tears from her eyes she collected herself with a nod. “Damn… you can say that again… sorry for choking, that's just… geez.”

“Actually one of the most tame reactions I’ve gotten so far, in any case I would like to entrust her to your care if that’s alright, you clearly know your stuff about pokemon and I know for a fact that you’ll make sure that she’s well looked after… unless of course you already have too much on your plate to deal with.”

“You want… ‘me’ to watch her?” she asks, a little surprised by that. “Like… I mean yeah I would absolutely do that for you, she’s a beautiful Typhlosion and from the really sparse interaction I’ve had with her she’s really nice. I've already got nearly a lifetime of experiance dealing with their coats and practice with grooming them.”

“Splended! I am very pleased to hear that… that being said I do need to get the young man and the Misses home and let him know everything that’s going to be happening over the weekend, but I’ll see you again Monday Ms Verner.” he says offering her a nod of respect.

“Sweet, We’ll see you monday, I’ll make sure to take extra good care of Iris for you and have her looking as pristine as possible for the pageantries next week.”

“I know I can count on you, sorry once again for Julian's behavior, I’ll keep a better eye on him, and I appreciate all your hard work, I look forwards to Monday!" he says as he turns, making his way over towards the doors of the Daycare.

As the doors shut Gardevoir locked them immediately behind him, folding her arms as she shook her head. “I do not like nor trust him… he seems very sketchy… honest but sketchy.”

“Yeah no I don’t either… we’ll keep an eye on him.” she says pulling her phone back out to stop the recording she had going, pausing to grab her hat back from the bench “Recorded his ass just in case… Come on, I’m starving.”

Making her way along through the Daycare she paused as Mr Shelby pulled her aside and asked her at length what had happened. After taking ten minutes to explain what happened and to sooth his worries she politely excused herself to head back to her room.

Sitting down on the bed she flopped back on it with a soft puff, singing out deeply as she shook her head. “Why must these things happen to me?” she mutters as Gardevoir closed and locked the door. “It’s like some… stupid cosmic being has nothing better to do than just point at me and say ‘oh hey you’re having a good day today, let me just throw something in there to make it suck recent trauma? What about possible sketchy rich people and their brat children.’” she grumbles, pulling a pillow up and over her face, just laying there.

“Well at least it’s moderately interesting I suppose.” Gardevoir chuckles as she moves to sit down on the bed beside Emily, laying out and on her side as she smiles at her trainer.

Grumbling Emily looked over at her for a moment before making a kissy face at her. “Come here sweet cheeks give momma some smoochies.” she chuckles, propping herself up on her elbows. “I’m kidding.”

“If I was Ty you wouldn’t be kidding now would you?” she asks with a little smile, sitting herself upright on the bed. “You know Emily, you’ve been awfully quiet about that for the past few days… Did something happen? I’m curious because earlier you said you found out some stuff about yourself.”

A blush tinged Emily cheeks as she rolled onto her back, stretching her arms out across the bed. “Yeah… Yeah something happened alright… but I don’t… know if I want to talk about it… it’s kinda embarrassing and I don’t know how you’d react to it... nothing to do with Ty.”

“Emily I don’t think there is much you can really tell me that’s going to come as that much of a surprise to me. But then again your fantasies of late have been a bit… curious, is that what happened? Did you have another fantasy about a pokemon? Was it Ty again? Another member of your team? Scandalous.” she says, a knowing smirk playing at the edges of her mouth as she shifts to sit more on her side facing her trainer. “Come on, I've been waiting all afternoon to hear about it! Please?”

Groaning aloud Emily lay an arm over her eyes, trying to hide the dark blush filling her cheeks. “Gardevoir, it's really embarrassing and personal, cant I have a mental crisis in peace?”

“All things considered I thought you would be used to me asking you about your personal life, Whatever it is, you know I won't judge you. I've been with you since you were twelve years old. I've seen you at your best and your worst. I’m sure whatever it is isn’t going to break my mind or anything”

Biting her lip she lowered her arm, looking up at the ceiling, face as red as can be. “I-It’s about Noivern…” She finally admitted, albeit a lot quieter than when she had started to speak.

“Yes I gathered that much, you and him were patrolling the fences last night correct?”

“Y-Yeah… w-well… umm” Swallowing hard Emily shook her head. “You know how… I was curious… about pokemon right? Well I don’t wanna say outright curious but… the thought was there… the fantasy I mean.” she mutters, trying hard to avoid her pokemon's rather patient if not eager stare.

“My, My, My… Emily Verner, my beloved trainer… do I dare take a guess at what happened between you and the dragon bat last night? Or will you spit it out already, I’m waiting on pins and needles here.”

“Did… you already know?” Emily asks, sitting up rather abruptly. “Did Noivern tell you? Did you Read My Mind Again!? You know how I feel about that!”

Giggling into her hand Gardevoir shook her head, waving her free hand to try and calm her trainer down. “No Emily No I would never, I’ve been behaving myself, though I’ve known you for a long time now, I could see the path you were already going down years ago, the curious little glances that you’ve been giving on occasion when you’re in one of your moods, half the time I don’t even think you yourself register it until later… please continue.”

“Oh god… is this something everyone can tell? Am I just going around staring at things again? I swear to god I just zone out sometimes while looking at something, I’m not intending to look but my brain is checked out and somewhere else!” Emily groans in embarrassment and frustration.

“No, nothing of the sort, I know mostly because of my psychic bond with you, I can tell what you're feeling most of the time, and last night… seemed to be quite the evening of feelings.” she says, reaching out to place a warm and comforting hand on her arm. “Last night with Noivern. What happened?”

“W-Well… after we… walked the fenceline for the last time we… it was muddy out so I didn’t want him or… me trailing mud in here… so I took him to the showers out back… and… umm.” Trailing off Emily looked off to the side, her blush darkening.

"And?" Gardevoir prompted gently.

"-A-And I told him we'd just share one of the private stalls… Which wasn't weird! I've bathed with my pokemon before. You know that cause we shower together all the time! After long trips, o-or when we're traveling and facilities are limited, i-it just makes sense to-" she stammers, tensing as Gardevoir placed a hand on her shoulder

“Emily dear. I'm not judging you. I just want to know what happened. You are safe here… please continue.”

"O-Okay… w-we got in the shower together and I... I got naked. Which also wasn't that weird! I-I don't think, we've all seen each other naked plenty of times over the years, but this time felt... different. I-I don't know how to explain it."

“Different how?”

"Different like... I couldn't stop looking at him. Different like I kept having these... intrusive thoughts. Different like I… wanted him to… see me." she admits, hugging her knees a little tighter against her chest. “N-Not as his trainer but… a-as a woman.”

Gardevoir's eyes sparkled with something knowing. “I see… and did he look at you as a woman?”

“I-I… I think so, I didn’t… really give him a choice… as bad as that sounds, sort of just sprung it up on him out of nowhere and he... He was trying to be such a gentleman as he always is but I was… persistent… I-I didn’t want him to be shy around me like that. I felt like I… needed him to see me in that way.”

“Ok, and so then what happened after that?”

“Well he did see me… i-it was a bath so I was washing him. I wasn't just standing there trying to put on a show for him or something, but he had already gotten a bath earlier so I was just cleaning him with some scale polish, even though he really didn’t need it.”

Biting her lip, Emily looked at Gardevoir’s hand, not daring to look up at her eyes. “I… got down to his… you know his… slit… thing and… I may have… lingered there for longer than I needed to.” she says pressing her face into her knees. “I-I had to stop, h-he was tensing up, looked so shocked and embarrassed that I nearly chickened out but… after talking to him he stopped me... pulled me back in and... a-and I saw… it… I watched it just grow and… a-and grow and…” Her words faded as a knot formed in her throat.

Gardevoir’s hand rubbed gently over Emily’s shoulder, giving her a gentle tug as if to try and ground her and reset her.

“I… He wrapped a wing around me… he gave me permission I think… I’m sure he did… he could have stopped me easily, h-he could of bit me o-or thrown me completely across the room but he... let me… touch him… I touched him and stroked him… I… sucked him…” Her face felt so hot that she could swear steam was visibly coming off her face. “Fuck his taste… I can’t get it out of my mind… he was so gentle with me when he thrusted I was surprised but… the entire time I just couldn’t stop thinking that he deserved it, he earned every second of it for everything... everything he had done for me over the years, he’s worked so hard and I… the emotion behind it.” Her hands squeezed her legs hard as her sore insides clenched and twisted. “The only downside was I-I might have… gotten a little too confident in myself… I-I’ve sucked off guys before, I-I know what to expect but…”

“I’m guessing it was a little more than what you expected it to be?” There was a certain giddy tone to Gardevoir’s typically stoic voice, one that Emily picked up on right away.

“Fucking shit that’s a hell of an understatement… I-I fucking choked like a chump… I-I thought it was gonna gush out of my damn nose at first, j-just three shots back to back all at once it felt like, I-I had to pull back or I would have gotten sick, I just know it… worst fucking nightmare for any guy… but… seeing him like that, hearing the sounds he made, seeing the... look on his face... I-I just… guh.” A strong shiver of aching arousal shot through her like a wave of sore heat. “I-I thought that was the end of it but… he sort of pushed me down after that a-and…”

“Wait what? Dear god Emily, don't tell me you two fornicated during your first time!” Her words were more out of surprise than they were of worry, abrupt with a hint of her excitement.

“W-What? No! Fuck no! That thing had to have been a foot long! He would have ripped me in half! N-No he… Picked me up and pinned me to the wall… crazy enough I wasn’t even expecting to get anything in return for doing that for him, I-I just was going with my gut but… well apparently he wanted to explore 'my guts'” she says with a sigh. “I’ve never had a tongue that long inside me before, my fingers aren't- hell the few guys I’ve been with havent had pricks that long... i-it was just… like… everywhere all at once and twisting and curling… I-I popped in like ten seconds flat… I-It was so embarrassing... and he teased me about it but just kept… going and… going and… guuh it’s getting really fucking hot in here.” she sighs, shaking her head. “I-I’m pretty sure he had me begging him at one point to stop... or… not to stop or.. I-I can’t even remember, everything got really blurry after a while, pretty sure I passed out for a few minutes at least. W-When I came back around he was cleaning me a-and… guuh.”

Burying her face in her knee’s Emily felt like she could just die of embarrassment right there, she couldn't have stopped herself even if she wanted too the words just flodded out of her all at once. There was an air of silence between them and Emily didn’t dare look at her pokemon, though slowly she would glance up at her with a meek smile and a nervous laugh. “Sort of a… life changing event… don’t you think?”

Gardevoir’s laugh started as a giggle that swelled into a full laugh. “Oh Emily my dear, I’m so very proud of you… I admit it may have been a little abrupt, but that is indeed a life changing event if I’ve ever heard of one.”

Groaning out loud Emily slapped her hands over her eyes. “You’re laughing at me, great, super nice when I just poured my heart out to you, asshole.”

“No, no you misunderstand, I am laughing because I am rather relieved you see… I’ve known for a little while that this was probably the direction you were heading in, but I admit you arrived here sooner than I expected.”

“What do you mean? Did you see this in one of your psychic thoughts or something? You can’t see the future right?” she asks suddenly feeling a little put off at the thought only to give her an almost upset scowl. "You can't see the future right?"

“Goodness no, I wouldn’t dream of even trying to, what’s fun about knowing what’s going to happen before it does? No I am very happy for you… the last few males you’ve brought into your room have been a far cry to what you truly deserve to have in your life, knowing that you are experimenting with males who will be there for you both physically and emotionally, it calms my worried heart.”

“What? But I… y-you said you liked Derick!”

“Derick was a womanizing prick that was looking at any female that crossed his path, I don’t want a male that’s just going to use you for sex or to even have the chance too, I’m just sorry I didn’t intervene before you had a ‘quickie’ as you humans call it in the pool house. You deserve far better treatment than that.” she stated rather bluntly. "Fuck Derick"

Blushing Emily relaxed the grip on her legs, easing back to stretch them out over the bed. “I… know you’re right, but I don’t want you to be… I’m not really the best when it comes to guys. I think I am but... most of the time that's what they want.”

“That’s why I am happy for you now. Noivern is very gentle and attentive when it comes to intimate activities, I know you’ll be in good hands.” she says with a pleased look about herself. "Well... his claws... wings?"

Emily narrowed her eyes as she looked Gardevoir over for a moment. “You say that really confidently… I guess I’m not the only one he’s had a little encounter with?” she asks, making Gardevoir tense up and blush softly.

“I… well to be honest with you… yes, quite frequently actually, for a long time now we occasionally find ourselves a quiet place away from camp to… intermingle.” she says with a shy little smile. “I mean come now Emily, you only have two females on your team and four males, what did you think was going to happen?”

“Four? All four of them? You and Milotic both!?” she stated whipping around on the bed in surprise. “G-Gardevoir!”

“I… perhaps should have not let that one slip out… it’s not really something that should be so surprising to you to be honest, I mean we’ve been a team for many years, We all have our own needs and desires, and sometimes things just… fall into place.” she says, her gray cheeks tinging an adorable shade of red as she fidgets.

“So… you’ve all been… like together at some point? Hold on back up, all of you have been fuckin around with one another? How in the hell have I never noticed? Even Miloti- She’s big as hell how in the actual fuck have you managed to do this!?”

“Y-You’re not… angry are you?” The question was rather abrupt but it held genuine concern, concern enough for Emily to pause.

“Angry?” she asks, seeing Gardevoir’s embarrassed expression soften to one of concern she shook her head “No, I'm… surprised more than anything… I’ve honestly never noticed anything out of place at all… Piko cleans his beans on the couch like he usually does and that’s about the extent of my knowledge.” she says rubbing a hand over her head. “Like… sorry for my reaction I just wasn’t expecting that to come out of nowhere.”

“I… don’t know why I let that slip so casually, it’s as private to us pokemon as it is to you humans with your partners, you can feel relief and joy about sharing the experience, but it’s not really something that you openly speak to others about without sounding like you’re bragging.”

“I get it… but no I’m not angry… actually I’m really relieved to be honest, like I said I’m not the best when it comes to relationships and I usually take care of myself when I have my urges, I just figured you all did the same, I mean… knowing that you actually have someone to share it with is a relief… I was worried I wasn’t making enough trips here to the daycare to keep everyone satisfied.”

“I mean to be honest just because we come to the daycare doesn’t mean we're going to grab the nearest Pokemon and hide in the corner to fornicate Emily, I believe that’s a gross stereotype for the Daycare and its intended purpose” she retorts with an embarrassed smile. “But no I can assure you that everyone is properly taken care of… to my knowledge at least.”

“Even… Ty?” Emily asks, his name coming out a little heavier than she intended for it too.

“Yes even him… the first night I returned actually once you had gone to bed, I was rather worried about him and… admittedly a little overeager in my approach, but as always he was very gentle with me, a little quick seeing it had been so long for him and with all the stress of everything that had happened… but I’m happy to say his habit of making sure his partner finishes first hasn’t changed.” She says with a shy smile.

“Gardevoir… he was supposed to be taking it easy, he still has a little bit of nerve damage in his shoulder, not much but it can act up if he’s jarred around too much.” Were they really just talking about this right now?

“Tell that to him, I didn’t tell him to shove my face into the mattress and hold me there, he was quite… eager to say the least.”

“Geez he just shoved your face into the bed like that? I mean that does admittedly sound kinda hot but he knows better than to put straign on his shoulder… then again he did get news of his retirement that day I can only guess he was stressed out and needed help like you said” Oh god they were, just as casual as any conversation they’ve had before.

“Yes I know, I tried to warn him but he was already overtop of me doing his thing before I could get a word in edge wise, not that I minded, I was just worried he’d overextend himself. It's... not very easy to try and voice your concerns when you're hardly able to breathe.”

“I mean for good reason… So what about Piko? How in the world does that work with him being so aggressive with people? Like I’ve never not seen him growling at someone, he still gives Redgie the business when he’s upset.” She didn’t need to know, why was she asking? "I mean sometimes he even growls at me when he's hurt and I'm trying to use a potion on him."

“You would think, however Piko is actually very gentle, he is grabby and he doesn’t like to let go when he has his claws on you, but he is also careful and so very gentle you would think he was cradling a flower… the knot does make things a touch… complicated sometimes, it takes a while for it to go down enough to separate, it does not tend to play in your favor when you’re under a time constraint.

“And Ampharos? He’s always so shy about even getting pets, I don’t see him pinning someone down and giving them a rut.” She couldn’t just stop talking, and the casualness of it all was a little unnerving to her, and yet it was... nice?

“Well you are right, he is quite the submissive one, I’ve only ever gotten him to be on top once, and that was after a long day of teasing and denial. He likes to make sure everything is ok and is very thorough when he asks if I’m sure I want to do things… really cute to see him squirm beneath me though.” she chuckles, blushing softly at the thought

“Yeah that sounds about right… and you and Milotic have been doing this for how long now?”

“Well for myself the earliest I can remember was when Ty evolved for the final time… there was a lot of confusing feelings, emotions, and hormones that came with the final step of his evolution, and one day I caught him trying to figure things out, curled up in a tight ball of angst and frustration, I tried to help, and it all just started from there.”

Leaning back on the bed Emily looked up at the ceiling for a while before she looked over at her for a long moment, longer than she originally thought she should have. “Have you and Milotic ever… you know.”

Perking up at the question, Gardevoir smiled bashfully, nodding her head. “Well of course, once we found out what the other had been doing we spoke in confidence about it, compared experiences… showed one another how we were treated, somewhere along the way I guess we just sort of dove in, be it curiosity or a silent understanding I couldn’t say… I don’t even think we really asked one another, just one day a simple conversation turned into a hug and then… something more.”

“That’s actually really cute… I don’t think I’ve seen you blush so much before, it’s really adorable.” she chuckles softly. “It’s not making you uncomfortable talking about all this right?”

“Goodness no, I’m proud to help out the ones I care for with anything, even that. We pokemon don’t have the same social conditioning or hang-ups you humans do, when we want something from one another we convey our feelings and ask for it, when we don't want something we communicate it… though I admit I am a little embarrassed that I let the topic come up so casually… though I am surprised you’re taking this all so well.”

“What do you mean? I’m still surprised and everything but, I mean like you said, you all have your own urges and desires.”

“I know… but everything regarding Ty… before today I didn’t... know why you had been so protective of him… but after earlier I think I feel… bad?” she paused for a moment. “Admitting that when he was supposed to be resting I was giving in to carnal desires… he was your very first pokemon, after all. I suppose I assumed you would have been more… jealous? Critical of my actions?”

Thinking about it Emily could only smile, chuckling lightly as she shook her head. “You know what? I think that 4 months ago, I would have probably been livid… angry and confused about a lot of things... but right now I’m just... grateful… I felt like I wasn’t doing enough for my boys, for you two either, I-I mean like I said before, typically I just took care of myself and had my assumptions you all did the same… it’s good to know that despite my inexperience in that department you all were still taken care of.”

“I believe… as terrible as Ty’s accident has been on everyone, it has been a good learning experience and opportunity to grow for you.” Smiling lightly, Gardevoir reached out to rest her hand on Emily’s arm. “It’s been messy but… growth isn’t always clean, I’m grateful.”

“I-I wouldn’t go that far… feels like I’ve just been making mistake after mistake since it’s happened.” she says, shaking her head as she chuckles. “I honestly still can’t believe we’re having this intimate of a conversation, talking about boys and emotions. and girly things... It's nice."

“Now that you mention it our conversations have been getting much more intimate as of late, I’m glad that you’re trusting more with such sensitive topics. This is just the next logical step I suppose.”

“Thank you.” Emily spoke softly as she sat back up. “For talking to me… about all of this and for not judging me.”

“I would Never” Gardevoir smiles as she rests her hands in her lap. “You are my trainer, my partner, my family. Nothing you could do would make me judge you, especially not something that brought you pleasure and didn't harm anyone."

Blushing Emily curled a loose strand of hair behind her ears. “Does… it ever feel weird?” She began, looking up to her pokemon. “Being with them? With Pokémon who aren't the same species as you?"

"Not really." Gardevoir leaned back a little to look up at the ceiling. "When you connect with someone on an emotional level, physical differences matter less. I know what feels good to me, and I can sense what feels good to them, and with their consent I act on it. It does not have to be romantical, only consensual. It's... natural. Simple."

"Simple," Emily repeated. "I wish it felt simple to me."

"It will, in time. You're overthinking it because it's new." Gardevoir's hand came up to rest against Emily's. "Give yourself permission to explore. To learn. To grow and enjoy."

“Give myself permission… to explore…” trailing off Emily smiled softly, looking down over Gardevoir's gown. “I mean… if you put it like that.” she says, reaching her hand out, resting it against her pokemon's leg, making her jump a little.

Gardevoir's breath caught, looking a little surprised. "E-Emily?"

"I've just spent the last several minutes hearing about your sex life with our teammates, and I realized that the one Pokémon I'm closest to… the one who knows me better than anyone else... with or without my permission… I've never even considered..." she says walking her fingers up Gardevoir’s leg making the Psychic types blush return as she adjusted her gown.

"You're my trainer," Gardevoir said, but her voice was unsteady and a little flustered. "Our bond is different. I-It's not about-"

"Isn't it?" Emily tilted her head, studying the Psychic-type's flustered expression. "You just told me that physical intimacy can be a natural extension of emotional connection. That it can be about caring for each other, giving each other pleasure, without it being... romantic."

"That's different i-it’s-"

"How?" the question hung in the air as Emily shifted closer to her

Gardevoir opened her mouth, then closed it again. The wise and eloquent Psychic-type seemed at a complete loss for words.

Emily moved slowly, deliberately, shifting her position on the bed. She pressed forward, bracing her hands on Gardevoir's shoulders and simply let her weight carry them over until the Pokémon was lying on her back, the trainer looming over her. The move was bold, unprecedented, and Emily watched with fascination as the usually composed Pokémon's eyes widened, her cheeks darkening with an intense flush as she let a squeak of embarrassment slip from her.

"E-Emily, t-this isn't… I-I didn't tell you those things to make you-" Gardevoir's mental voice was scattered, her thoughts tumbling over each other as Emily slowly straightened herself out. "I wasn't trying to… t-this wasn't my intention."

"Shh." Emily placed a finger against Gardevoir's lips, silencing her. The touch was gentle but firm, and the effect was immediate. Gardevoir's mental voice cut off mid-protest, her mouth opening slightly under the trainer's finger.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Emily simply gazed down at her Pokémon, taking in the sight of her; flustered, vulnerable, so unlike her usual composed self. The trainer's heart was pounding in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm, to project the stoic demeanor she had practiced for years.

"You take care of… everyone else," Emily murmured, removing her finger from Gardevoir's lips. "You make sure their needs are met. You give them comfort and pleasure and intimacy." Her hand moved to cup the Pokémon's cheek, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. "But who takes care of you?"

“E-Emily-” Her voice trembled, hands bracing against the bed as she hesitantly straightened herself out under her trainer.

"Everyone needs to be taken care of sometimes." Emily lowered herself onto her elbows, bringing her face closer to her Pokémon's. "Even you. Maybe especially you, since you're always so busy taking care of everyone else."

Gardevoir's eyes were wide, her breath coming in short pants as she gazed up at her trainer near submissively. “W-We… shouldn’t-”

"Why not?" Emily's thumb stroked along the Pokémon's cheek. "Because society says it's wrong? The same society that says Pokémon are just animals, incapable of real thought or emotion?" She shook her head slowly. "We both know better than that. You're not just my Pokémon, Gardevoir. You said it yourself… You're my partner. My best friend. My family. And if physical intimacy can be an expression of that bond... Why should we deny ourselves?"

The Psychic-type made a sound, some adorable mix between a half whimper and a gasp. Emily had never heard from her before. Her elegant composure broken, leaving behind something vulnerable, and those cute little sounds of hers were just the icing on the cake.

Bracing a hand against Gardevoir's side she leaned in closer, until their lips were a fair length apart, drawing another cute little sound from her. When they touched a warmth enveloped her, an embarrassed whimper, her hand slid along the length of Gardivoir’s arm, interlacing their fingers before pinning her hand gently to the bed.

The kiss was soft, gentle, and she let it drag on far longer than she needed too. Her mind was in a swirl and haze as Gardivoir squirmed faintly beneath her, trembling, crossing her legs tightly as a needy whimper slipped between their connection.

Pulling back Emily hummed, licking her lips with a soft chuckle. “Just as sweet as I thought you would taste… Gardevoir? You ok?”

Her face was red, her eyes dazed and her breath was coming in quick pants, a far cry from the usual calm collected smile she typically had. “I-I think I’m… a little… moist… master.” she stammers softly.

Chuckling lightly Emily sank down on top of her, pulling her into a tight and warm embrace as she nuzzled into the curve of Gardevoir’s neck. “Aww I made you flustered, I didn’t know I had it in me to do that, that’s adorable! You silly, beautiful creature," Emily murmured against her skin. "You've been taking care of me for the last fifteen years. Let me take care of you for once."

Gardevoir made another soft sound, her arms coming up to wrap around Emily's back. She clung to the trainer, her body trembling slightly. "This isn't.. I-I wasn't trying to manipulate you into this," she said, her mental voice wavering. "What I told you about the others t-that wasn't to make you jealous or to push you toward… this!"

"I know." Emily pressed a gentle kiss to the Pokémon's neck. "I know you weren't. You were being honest with me, like you always are. This is me being honest with you in return."

She pulled back slightly, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look down at her Pokémon. Gardevoir's face was a mash of emotional turmoil, she looked embarrassed, aroused, needy even.

"I want this," Emily said clearly. "I want you. Not because of what you told me, not because I feel obligated, but because you're you, and I love you, and I want to make you feel good. Okay?"

“You… I-I… wasn’t… expecting any of this I’m… I-I’m not…” he voice wavered before it grew steady as she looked up at her trainer, slowly nodding her head. “O-Okay… if you… truly wish to then… yes… p-please.” Laying back fully on the bed she tilts her head back, exposing her neck, laying out before her like a beautiful goddess. "Y-You can have me... I-I'll be gentle with you... if you are gentle with me... M-Master~"

Emily smiled, leaning down to press her forehead against the Pokémon's. "Good. But right now, I think we both need to rest. It's been a long day, and we have the weekend shift starting tomorrow."

"W-Wait what?” a whimper built in her throat as she sat up on her elbews rather abruptly. “Y-You're... you're not going to...?" Gardevoir sounded almost disappointed, and Emily laughed softly.

"Tempting as it is, I want to do this right. Not when we're both exhausted from a full day of work, and not when I’m so sore I can barely touch myself down there." She pressed a gentle kiss to the Pokémon's forehead. "But I promise, very soon, we're going to explore this properly. You and me. Together."

Gardevoir let out a shaky breath, her body slowly relaxing beneath the trainer's. "You have got to be fucking kidding me Emily! You... are terrible!" she whines, lightly swatting at her trainer. "Getting me all worked up and then telling me we have to wait! I’m completely soaked!"

Chuckling aloud Emily shielded herself as Gardevoir playfully flogged her. “Ahh! It was a joke! I’m sorry but my vag is still really sore from Noivern!”

“Oh You insufferable tease!” She huffs, hugging her close with a grumble. “You know how hard it is to get to sleep like this? I’m pretty sure I’ve made a mess of my lap! You little shit.”

“Heheh you know you love me, besides when it does happen it will be all the better.” Emily hums, snuggling her pokemon close with a heavy sigh. “Thank you Gardevoir… all bullshitting aside thank you.”

“Of course Emily... I’m always going to be here for you, no matter what.” She hums, curling up against Emily’s side as she uses her psychic to turn the lights off and pull the covers up over them.

There was a brief silance between them before Gardevoir sat up slowly. "Emily... I do want to talk to you about Lance... if you will listen for a little while longer."

Emily slowly opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling as she took a deep breath. "Anything for you."

"I... can feel how much you hate him... and when you said that you wanted to... strangle him earlier... I did not feel that those words were a lie." She thought carefully about how she wanted to speak. "Normally when you make sinical jokes like that I know that they are just that... a joke... If... it came down to it... would you?" she asks, holding a sorrowful look about her. "Would you take his life?"

Looking up at the ceiling Emily moved to fold her hands behind her head, her eyes glancing around in throught as the question lingered in the air.

"I love you Emily... deeply... and no matter what path you choose to take in life, I will follow you, even down a... dark path... but... I feel that the words that Mr Shelby told you before hold true... this hatred... can be a cancer if it's allowed to grow... and while I will never excuse what happened to Ty... I do not want to see you go to such an extent."

"I know you don't... and I would never take you down a path like that, not after everything you've done for me." Emily says as she closes her eyes. "I don't know what I would do to him... that's the scary part... forgive him... hit him... I don't know, it's all a blure filled with Ty's screams and cries of pain, and my desperation to help him." she says, looking over at Gardevoir. "You can ask me to do anything... and I'll do it... I'll try as hard as I can."

Looking only faintly reassured, Gardevoir reached a hand up to gently hold Emily's cheek, her psychic words were soft and spoken with a gentle plea. "Try to forgive him... for your own sake."