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Chp 10: Celestial

"Ugh..." Seth groaned. He opened his eyes expecting to be in the temple, with dark stone corridors all around him. Instead, it was a ceiling, a human building one. He turned his head to look at the room, his neck aching. It was a small room, with lots of girly stuff, pokemon plushy, frilly wallpaper, and a big dollhouse in one corner. The presumed owner was sitting on a chair, reading a book. She looked to be about five or maybe six. She looked up and saw Seth was awake.

She bolted up, dropping her book, and ran out of the room. "Mommy, he's up!" A moment later, Soul came rushing around the corner into the open door. She slid a bit on the hardwood floor, before turning and almost sprinting into the room. But a hand reached out and grabbed her by the horn.

"No, you have to stop. He is in a very fragile state. I know you want to see him, but that's all you can do: look, don't touch." A mature voice said. The woman it belonged to stepped around the corner and past Soul. Seth could see Sky poking her head around the corner. The woman had long blonde hair, almost touching the floor.

"Where..." was all Seth could make himself say.

"Don't even try to get up. Just relax. Everything is okay. No one, besides you, is hurt." She sat down on the chair, which was far too big for her, but she did so gracefully. "Let's start from the beginning. I am Cynthia, you are in Celestic town."

"How..." Seth tried to say.

"Just relax and allow me to explain everything. I found you here two days ago, lying in the middle of the road. I took you here to recover. Given your... 'condition', I thought it would be better for you." Seth looked down, but his head did not move. He did see the blue fur on his face and shoulder. "I see you are a hybrid." Seth's eyes widened. "No, no, it's alright." She said, holding up her hands. "My own daughter is a hybrid, the one who's room you are in. We're waiting to tell her once she's older. I'm no doctor, but I treated you as best I could. By the way, pokemon medicine works on you, when you are in that form, and it can also be used to heal real wounds, not just the fatigue of battles. It isn't as effective as proper medical care however." She stood. "Girls, why don't you go back to eating. He needs rest right now."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Soul asked. "We can take you to the pokemon center."

"That shouldn't be necessary. Pokemon, and by extension hybrids, have amazing regenerative capabilities. He just needs some time." Cynthia said, as she ushered the girls out. She shut and locked the door behind them. "Your mates really care for you." Seth opened his mouth, but she seemingly read his mind. "Yes, I can understand pokemon. You see, I used to be a big time trainer. I was even champion. Out of all my adventures, I honestly don't remember when I learned how to communicate with them. There are several things I want to talk to you about, but I will start with you."

She came and sat back down, scooting the chair closer. "Whatever happened to you, you were in bad shape. I mean bad. Your entire skeletal structure was damaged in some way, with your ribs and right leg being almost completely crushed. I had to use nearly twenty full restores to stop all the bleeding, most of it internal. Your muscles are a mess. Your body may knit itself back together, but that kind of healing will come at a cost. Your life span will likely take the brunt of it. It may also affect your functioning for the rest of your life, though I could not tell you how. Whatever you did, don't ever do it again. If no one had found you, you would have died, no question about it. Had it not been me, you would have been taken to the pokemon center, where they would have no doubt discovered your true identity."

She sighed. "Now, as for our shared interest. I have discovered... three other hybrids, besides my daughter. From what I've learned, only humanlike egg group pokemon can breed with humans. A lucario is my mate. Hybrids gain the ability to transform from intimate contact with that species. To my knowledge, there is no limit of forms. As for your forms, they directly feed into each other. Your pokemon form has all the strength of pokemon. Your human form is mostly separate. Training in one form powers up your entire being, however not as much. Your human form can draw on the strengths of pokemon. Your hybrid form is unique. It draws on both, but if one is lopsided, it is weaker. Your entire being is one, but each form is based on its own base power, while your own amplifies it. Understand?"

Seth was still unable to speak, but he could think just fine. That was why his hybrid form seemed so much weaker. He had never done any human training. It had all been focused on his pokemon form. He had learned to use aura as a human, barely, and draw upon pokemon strength for brief periods, but he had never done any real training, no real body exercise. It all came from his pokemon half. He had always drawn on the power of pokemon instead of his human power. That was the idea of his... it didn't really have a name. Maybe chimera form. Combine as much pokemon power as possbile. But if it had the costs she said it did...

"I assume you've discovered some these things yourself, but I thought I'd fill you in. A certain trainer out of Johto was a hybrid, and he was a very skilled trainer, able to compete among the legends. He taught me most of that."

"So now, I suppose I should explain more about myself. As I said, I once was the champion of Sinnoh, before I was defeated. I then went out on an adventure, to see more of the world. Archeology has always been among my interests, and I discovered many interesting things. I have since retired back to my home town. I don't do much these days. Based on some dust I found in your fur, you were in some ruins. There are only four places you could have gotten that dust on you. Snowpoint Temple, Solaceon Ruins, Spear Pillar, and here in Celestic town. They are all structures built by ancient Sinnoh people... Well, there is actually one more. As I know a lot of secrets about you... there is a place called Sendoff Spring. It is a very dangerous place. If you had been there... and that would explain how you got here... Is that where you were?"

"No..." Seth managed to say. "Snow...point."

"The temple there? How on earth did you get here in the shape you were in? Wait, don't explain now. Save your energy. I would guess you had an encounter with Regigigas. That legendary pokemon could have inflicted the kind of damage you have. But then... When you are better, I expect the full story. Soul and Sky told me all they could, but I want your perspective." She stood. "Alright, I guess you're hungry, so I'll bring you something easy."

She left and soon returned with a bowl of hot soup. "Do you think you can eat?"

Seth slowly and shakily sat up. "Y...yeah." The soup, and some crackers, were on a shelf designed for eating in bed. She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Seth reached up, his entire body aching, and took hold of the spoon. He had to wait for his hand to stop shaking, before lifting it into his mouth. The hot liquid felt good on his sore throat. If he really had been unconscious for two days, no wonder he felt so bad.

"You're lucky you know. Momma is the nicest lady in town."

Seth looked towards the source, to find the girl from earlier looking through the window. She had to be standing on something, but he couldn't see what it was. "You're awfully mature."

"Yep. Momma says I'm special. I also heard her say that if you were out much longer she'd have to take you to the hospital and that that would be a bad thing."

+++

"So how is he?" Soul asked as Cynthia returned to the dining room. Sky wanted to know the same thing, but Soul had asked first.

"He's not in any immediate danger. Rest and rejuvenation. That's the best thing he can do."

"Would you like me to try my hand at healing him?" Cynthia's lucario asked.

"No. It's best to let things proceed naturally." Cynthia turned to Soul. "You can stay as long as you need to."

"Thank you so much." Sky said.

Soul got up, soup still dripping from her chin, and walked down the hall. "Hey, come open the door for me!" She yelled back.

Cynthia did come, but paused. "On one condition. No touching." She opened the door, which was not pokemon friendly, having a slippery knob. Only a pokemon like lucario could grip it enough to twist it. Soul slipped in and walked over to Seth, and Cynthia closed the door. "I'll give you some privacy. Just yell when you want out."

"So, how was it?" Soul asked.

"The fight or the transformation?" Seth asked. It felt a lot easier to talk now that he had had something to eat and drink.

"Both."

"Well, first of all, I don't really remember anything of substance. It feels kinda like a dream. That one time, I just did lucario and absol. This time I did lucario, espeon, zoroark, and lopunny. I know I killed Regigigas, and he called me an abomination. And he fucked me up."

"So how did we escape? You showed up human again and passed out. I couldn't break through those rocks, neither could Sky, and you were in no condition to."

"That's what I want to know." Seth said. He closed his eyes and laid back. "I remember one thing. 'Live'. That's it. Maybe it was Mewtwo? She always shows up to bail us out."

"I wish that bitch would just leave us alone."

"She did teach me a lot about my transformations. But then why leave us in the street? Did she know about Cynthia?"

"Hey Cynthia!" Soul yelled.

A little later she opened the door. "Yes?"

"Know a pokemon named Mewtwo?"

"Yes, but not personally. That pokemon is one of a kind, created by a group called team rocket in an effort to clone Mew. It is known to be a very solitary pokemon with incredible power."

"Well first of all its a she." Soul said.

"A legendary pokemon with a gender? I suppose. Science hasn't really caught up to the legendaries."

"And what about Regigigas?"

"The continent puller, master of the golems. What do you know about that one?"

"Well we fought it and killed it." Soul said plainly. Both Cynthia and Seth's mouths dropped.

"You've... You must be joking. It is nearly impossible to kill a legendary pokemon. They are incredibly strong and live for thousands of years. To do such a thing would throw the world into disarray." She said. After Soul's expression did not change, she leaned against the wall. "Dear Arceus... what have I gotten myself into. Listen. I'm retired. Just don't do that again. There's no telling what could happen."

"That wasn't the plan. That thing just kinda showed up and attacked, and we had to defend ourselves." Seth said.

"What about your-"

Seth hit her head lightly, stopping her. He grunted and grit his teeth at the shock that run through his arm. "That's about it. Thanks for explaining."

Cynthia looked suspiciously, before closing the door.

"Why not tell her?" Soul asked. "She's been nothing but nice."

"Because I don't want to. Humans are fickle. If she thinks I'm a dangerous monster..."

"I'll never understand all that. If she finds out, she'll just be mad you lied to her."

"Whatever, just keep things hushed. And don't tell Sky about my new form. I don't want to scare her. I know she won't be scared of me or anything, but it'll make her worry."

"Fine. Only for you." Soul said, coming closer and kissing him on the cheek. "And I'm still waiting on payback for those eevee girls. When you're feeling better of course." She turned, putting her rear, and the faint bit of blue flesh there, in his view, before opening the cracked door and leaving.

+++

"So tell me more about your archeology." Sky asked.

"Interested? I've found many things. There were even some ruins north of the Johto region. They showed signs of collaboration between the people of Sinnoh and Johto. They were called the Sinjoh ruins. If you ask Seth, he can probably find an article about it. I also helped discover two unique altars to legendary pokemon here in Sinnoh. Here in Celestic town, there is one for Dialga and Palkia. At the peak of Mt. Coronet is a similar one. That one appears to be an ancient place of worship for Arceus. A kind of church. If you don't know about the legendary pokemon of Sinnoh, Dialga and Palkia, I can assure you they are real. I've seen them both. Dialga the creator of time and Palkia the creator of space. Arceus, however, I have found no conclusive evidence of its existence. While I would rather not look down on centuries of culture, I am more convinced by proof."

"You may want to stop. She could talk for days about this." Lucario whispered to Sky.

"Oh, sorry. I do get carried away." Cynthia admitted.

"No, it's alright. I find it really fascinating."

"Well I don't." Soul said. "Boring, boring, boring. There any soup left?"

"Yes, you can just have the rest of the pot if you'd like." Cynthia said.

"I didn't cook that for one person. The rest is for later." Lucario said.

"We don't have guests every day, love. Let her have it."

Soul didn't pay them any mind, instead trotting into the kitchen to scour for more food. Once there, she began to eat the soup right out of the pot. The kitchen counter, stove, and everything else was low, enough that Lucario would have easy access. This helped Soul to eat more as well. As she pigged out, she felt a hand on her flank. She turned back, soup dripping from her fur, to see the little girl petting her.

"You're soft." She commented.

"What's your name anyways?" Soul asked.

"Alexis, but daddy calls me Alex. Lucario isn't my real daddy though. He just helps mommy raise me. But I love him too, so I call him daddy."

"Yeah..." Soul said, going back to eating.

+++

"So you two have been sleeping on the floor?" Seth asked. It was later that night, and everyone had retired to their respective rooms. Alexis, with her room being occupied, was with her parents.

"Yea, Cynthia said we can't sleep with you." Sky said.

"I'm fine. I'm not too frail to handle my girls, hop on up." He said, lightly patting the side of the bed. Soul climbed up first, planting herself lightly onto his covered chest. Seth grunted painfully. "Okay, maybe not. Just lay beside me." He said. She climbed off and onto one side, lying down, as Sky climbed to his other side. The bed was small, meant for a lone little girl, so it was tight. He reached down and carefully touched his black bruised chest. His leg was in a similar state, blackened and aching. So much as twitching it made him want to scream.

Soul twitched her leg, poking one of her claws lightly into his injured leg. Seth grunted and pulled away reflexively, causing much more pain. "Oh shit, sorry." Soul said. She leaned over and licked his blue furred cheek. "Why are you still lucario?"

"Pokemon healing speed. I figure the longer I stay like this, the faster I'll get better."

"You've never stayed pokemon this long either." Sky said.

"Exactly." He sighed. "I thought we were plenty tough, but we need to be even stronger. We have to be unbeatable. Bad shit just keeps happening and we keep getting beat up. If I can find a way, I'll be in our gym matches."

"Yeah, I was thinkin' about that one. Why don't we find some new teammates? I was thinking we should've asked Dust and Drew, but we rushed out of there so fast." Soul said.

"They had their own lives. We didn't need to drag them into our problems."

"We could really use the help."

Seth sighed. "I'll be honest. I don't think I'm ready for anyone else to come with. I don't want to have to worry about anyone else until I... we're strong enough to protect those we love. And at this point, we are not."

"I can agree with you there. I'm the strongest here, but I couldn't do anything last time." Soul said. "But we would be stronger with more team members. We just have to find someone at our level or better."

"That won't be easy..." Sky muttered. She sounded sleepy and she was cuddled close to Seth, nestling her head on her shoulder. "Wild pokemon aren't usually strong, and most strong pokemon are already owned..." She expected some kind of response, but the others were silent, or more likely asleep.