{"sf1_id":349076,"sf2_id":"k1VrkVW1","title":"A Trainer's Tale - Chapter 27","author":"FoxStriker25","words":11294,"posted_at":"2012-03-03T08:13:00.000Z","tags":["Human","Lucario","Luxray","M/F","Pokemon","deoxys"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/349076-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-27","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/k1VrkVW1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/48/6e/486e2ab6-9bdb-484a-97f9-2aa910881b6e","description":"#27 of A Trainer's Tale\n\nFox: Like I've said before, schooling has taken a lot of time from my writing.  It...","content":"Fox: _Like I've said before, schooling has taken a lot of time from my writing.\u0026nbsp; It was never my intention to have this waiting for two whole months, but here we are nontheless.\u0026nbsp; We'll figure something out so we aren't waiting this long for the next installment._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBrimcon: _\"We apologize for any inconvenience for the delay, we now return you to your regularly scheduled... Wait.. Am I reading this right?... Oh god.. PokèPorn!? Who wrote this script!?\"_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=====================================================================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nChapter 27: Waltz\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIolanthe pressed her face against mine, her tentacles holding my sides and arms in place.\u0026nbsp; As much as I wanted to hold her, it was out of my possibility at the moment.\u0026nbsp; She seemed to want the lead in our encounter, and my words would probably have little impact.\u0026nbsp; Angering her was the last thing on my mind.\u0026nbsp; The hold on my arms slowly receded, allowing me some sort of movement.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles encircled my palm, allowing my fingers to hold on to them.\u0026nbsp; My lips were finally allowed to part from her face, letting me take a deep breath to fill my lungs.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer eyes widened momentarily before I shook my head slightly.\u0026nbsp; She seemed to calm down, the grip on my body not relenting.\u0026nbsp; The hold on my mind felt gentle but ever present.\u0026nbsp; It was a comfortable feeling that I felt, even if there was a slightly awkward feeling of being naked.\u0026nbsp; My memory failed me if this was the first time being like this in front of Io.\u0026nbsp; Her face, while always welcome to see, didn't give me a sense of what she was feeling.\u0026nbsp; Worse, I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Really Master, trust yourself_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nArceus!\u0026nbsp; Mist was still inside of me?\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes, but only the ghost's laughter filled the silence inside my mind.\u0026nbsp; Io's eyes widened, and only my hands prevented her from flying away.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Iolanthe, you should let Master know what you like.\" Mist said out loud.\u0026nbsp; \"Encourage him.\u0026nbsp; Gently, of course.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIo's eyes widened at the suggestion, but it didn't look like she was going to bolt away.\u0026nbsp; She nodded, closing her eyes for a moment.\u0026nbsp; A sudden poking sensation startled me, stopping as quickly as it came.\u0026nbsp; Mist's laughter made me think that the mischievous ghost was up to something.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIolanthe shook her head.\u0026nbsp; \"Will you allow me to connect to you?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer voice sounded timid to my ears.\u0026nbsp; Was she afraid of my refusal?\u0026nbsp; I tightened my grip around her tentacles in my hands, nodding my consent.\u0026nbsp; A wave of feelings that weren't my own bombarded me instantly.\u0026nbsp; Bundles of emotions and thoughts were the first to come unbidden. \u0026nbsp;It was hard to stay focused on the here and now when what looked like stars flew by my vision.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe visions subsided but they were replaced by Io's worried eyes.\u0026nbsp; I smiled at her, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; She was still unconvinced, her tentacles leaving my hands and touching my face.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles were exploring my face as she peered into my eyes.\u0026nbsp; It was like as if Spirit was here instead of Iolanthe.\u0026nbsp; I didn't expect her to act like this.\u0026nbsp; Satisfied that everything was alright, she visibly relaxed only to stiffen as soon as Mist began to laugh again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy hands were on Iolanthe instantly, touching her cheeks and instantly getting her attention.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes widened for a moment before relaxing again.\u0026nbsp; A tentacle reached to my face, stroking my cheek as I did to her.\u0026nbsp; It was good to feel her relax again, and hopefully Mist will stop teasing Io.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully the ghost didn't laugh out loud, which helped keep us both calm.\u0026nbsp; My body stiffened as I felt Iolanthe's touch at my waist and legs.\u0026nbsp; She stopped instantly, her eyes looking straight into mine.\u0026nbsp; For a moment, we both looked into each others eyes before she continued.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was a hesitant touch, as if asking my permission to continue.\u0026nbsp; I brought her face to mine, my lips pressing against her skin.\u0026nbsp; This seemed to embolden Iolanthe, her tentacle exploring my body.\u0026nbsp; My body shivered as her touch tickled but stopping instantly as she reached my crotch.\u0026nbsp; Her exploration continued slowly, encircling my aroused manhood.\u0026nbsp; A moan escaped my lips unconsciously, but it didn't stop Io's ministrations on me.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacle would stroke up and down, gently squeezing near the top on occasion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was interesting to feel her shiver as much as I was, if not more so.\u0026nbsp; Did the link she asked about let her feel what I felt?\u0026nbsp; If that was the case, I don't think that she was ready for what would end up happening.\u0026nbsp; Not that stopping her was in my thought process.\u0026nbsp; While one of my hands stayed on her cheek, I moved the other one to trace the side of her face.\u0026nbsp; Slowly my roaming fingers made their way to her chest.\u0026nbsp; Her touch stopped instantly as my fingers explored one of her breasts.\u0026nbsp; I instantly stopped myself, looking at Io to confirm if she was ready.\u0026nbsp; It was the slightest of nods from her that allowed me to continue.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was odd to know that she was a he not that long ago.\u0026nbsp; I sure hope that Iolanthe has any idea what she is getting herself into.\u0026nbsp; My fingers gently kneaded with her breasts, gauging her reactions.\u0026nbsp; A soft moan echoed in my ears, her body shivering in response.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes closed instantly, stopping her attentions on me for a moment.\u0026nbsp; I wasn't that disappointed though, enjoying seeing her experiencing this firsthand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIolanthe straightened, sitting on my legs.\u0026nbsp; My eyes roamed downwards slowly, taking in her body in a whole new light.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles instantly flew to her body, her body shivering against mine.\u0026nbsp; I smiled at her, gently moving my hands over her tentacles and body.\u0026nbsp; She still shivered, but wasn't moving away from me.\u0026nbsp; My fingers glided over her skin, following her tentacles to her shoulders.\u0026nbsp; Io shivered, her skin flexing under my fingers.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master?\" she whispered.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stopped everything I was doing, awaiting her question.\u0026nbsp; When she didn't continue, my fingers continued to roam around her body.\u0026nbsp; Her body shivered lightly again, reaching to her chest.\u0026nbsp; The jewel centered on her chest began to glow softly.\u0026nbsp; A soft blue glow came at first, growing brighter as my fingers touched it.\u0026nbsp; I hesitated to put any pressure on it, since it was a mystery to me if it was a sensitive area.\u0026nbsp; My eyes met Iolanthe's, hers glowing in the same hue as the gem.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs my fingers passed over the gem, it pulsed brightly.\u0026nbsp; A soft moan echoed in my ears as I moved my hands back up to it.\u0026nbsp; More curious than ever before, I touched around the gem to see what would stimulate her the most.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe closed her eyes immediately, the glow brightening and another moan rang in my ears.\u0026nbsp; Was the area that sensitive?\u0026nbsp; I didn't want to injure her by applying too much pressure, so my touches were as gentle as possible.\u0026nbsp; Her legs pressed against my body suddenly, tensing suddenly and grasping my arms.\u0026nbsp; Both tentacles intertwined with my hands, her grip tightening to the point of making me wince in pain.\u0026nbsp; She began to shiver again, her grip leaving my hands.\u0026nbsp; My fingers wrapped around her tentacles, holding Iolanthe in place when she tried to get away.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head, frowning slightly as we looked at each other.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes looked like she was feeling panic.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe shook her head, struggling against me to leave.\u0026nbsp; Again I shook my head, waiting for her to calm down.\u0026nbsp; It was slightly amusing to see her in a panic.\u0026nbsp; My smile seemed to slowly calm her down, her struggling coming to a stop.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Does it feel good, Io?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe looked at me, blinking a few times.\u0026nbsp; Io hesitantly nodded before averting her eyes.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles wrapped around my arms, squeezing gently this time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I am afraid of harming you.\" she said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That doesn't answer my question.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe tentacles tightened again as she nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, it felt good.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So the gem is sensitive?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No one has touched me like you have before.\" she answered.\u0026nbsp; \"And yes, my... chest area... feels sensitive to your touch.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue.\u0026nbsp; As long as my touch was cautious, it would make her feel good.\u0026nbsp; Something wet was on my thighs, and it sure didn't feel like sweat.\u0026nbsp; I sat up with Io's help, her tentacles wrapping around my back as well.\u0026nbsp; A knowing smile was on me when we were face to face.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe averted her eyes again.\u0026nbsp; It was a bit difficult to tell if she was embarrassed or not.\u0026nbsp; She turned to me slowly, her body raising from my hips slowly.\u0026nbsp; The tentacle on my left slid down in between our bodies, touching my shaft for a moment.\u0026nbsp; Before I could say anything, she pressed her face against mine.\u0026nbsp; With my lips busy, she proceeded to impale herself on me.\u0026nbsp; My entire body seized up due to how tight she was.\u0026nbsp; It was almost to the point of pain, but just enough that it wasn't.\u0026nbsp; It was an odd feeling, but one that I didn't mind.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer body was tense, her tunnel squeezing me in rapid succession.\u0026nbsp; I gasped, feeling her tentacles wrap around me immediately afterwards.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe's legs wrapped around my waist, her body shaking against mine.\u0026nbsp; The gem in her chest glowed brightly, her body twitching against my own.\u0026nbsp; Worry instantly flooded my thoughts, afraid that she harmed herself.\u0026nbsp; She would technically be a virgin, right?\u0026nbsp; She shook her head, her tentacles reaching to my head and holding me still.\u0026nbsp; My gaze met hers as Iolanthe shook her head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No, it... it didn't hurt, Master.\" she said softly.\u0026nbsp; \"Please... give me... me a moment to adjust.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, her eyes glowing noticeably brighter, even with the light of the room.\u0026nbsp; The jewel on her chest glowed with the same intensity, if not brighter.\u0026nbsp; My hands wrapped around her body as we held each other.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles stroked the back of my head softly as my hands explored her back.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe slowly pushed my head against her breast.\u0026nbsp; The gem felt warm against my cheek, though not enough to cause discomfort. \u0026nbsp;For a moment, Io began to move by raising her hips.\u0026nbsp; It stopped quickly, a gasp echoing inside my head as she held still.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI moved, leaning backwards and dragging Iolanthe with me.\u0026nbsp; Her body tightened, both around my member and my body.\u0026nbsp; I turned my face to the gem, planting a kiss against the smooth surface.\u0026nbsp; She twitched suddenly, squirming against my grasp while making all her inner muscles contract.\u0026nbsp; A moan escaped my own lips as she did so.\u0026nbsp; I bit my lower lip, trying my best to divert my brain from being overwhelmed by what my nerves were sending to it.\u0026nbsp; It seemed that Io's body was calming down, in the sense that she wasn't twitching randomly.\u0026nbsp; She leaned to my right, making the both of us tumble to our sides.\u0026nbsp; Succeeding with that, we continued to turn to allow me to be above her.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes widened before relaxing her grasp on me.\u0026nbsp; This allowed me to lift myself on my knees and grasp her hips.\u0026nbsp; She gave me the slightest of nods before before I slowly began to pull out.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe squirmed suddenly, her tentacles lashing out to me.\u0026nbsp; As soon as they grabbed me, I thrust my hips sharply forward.\u0026nbsp; The gem on her chest sparkled brightly, causing me see stars for a moment.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe's tentacles still grasped me, but not as tightly as before.\u0026nbsp; The glow of the jewel on her chest was replaced by her eyes.\u0026nbsp; Her voice echoed in my ears.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"More!\" she exclaimed loudly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI obliged, grinning as my pace stayed the same.\u0026nbsp; Another set of tentacles grasped at me, followed by another.\u0026nbsp; Her touch kept exploring my back, with two others resting on the back of my neck.\u0026nbsp; My next thrust was faster than the first two, a high pitch sound echoing in my mind and in my ears.\u0026nbsp; Looking down at her in worry, Iolanthe shook her head furiously at my hesitation.\u0026nbsp; Silently, the look of her eyes told me that she was alright.\u0026nbsp; Still I kept control of my pace, not wanting to overwhelm her too fast.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIo's grip against my body tightened.\u0026nbsp; Her glare refused to soften.\u0026nbsp; Not until she got what she wanted from me.\u0026nbsp; I smiled, beginning to thrust again.\u0026nbsp; A soft moan echoed in my hearing, though it was hard to pinpoint if it was through my ears or inside my mind.\u0026nbsp; Her muscles contracted around my dick, making me moan in pleasure.\u0026nbsp; While I kept my pace as even as possible, her body was the opposite, changing her reactions to my touches or thrusts constantly.\u0026nbsp; Her breasts would sway with every thrust, the motion hypnotizing whatever sane part of my mind was left to become possessed to swing into her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy grip tightened on her hips alongside her own.\u0026nbsp; The tentacles wrapped around my body tightened suddenly, pulling me down on top of her.\u0026nbsp; My hips did little to stop their motions as pleasure seeped into every part of my body.\u0026nbsp; Goosebumps went up and down my spine.\u0026nbsp; While Io closed her eyes, the jewel on her chest continuing to shine brightly.\u0026nbsp; The jewel glowed as if the light that came from her eyes was put inside her gem.\u0026nbsp; A surge of pleasure washed this concern away as I moaned loudly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy actions sped up more, my body becoming more in tune with the need that we both shared.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles tightened around my body, her legs wrapping around my waist and squeezing tightly.\u0026nbsp; Though limiting the movement that I could provide, it didn't ease my thrusting into her.\u0026nbsp; Shivers went down my back, though if it was due to pleasure or cold was beyond me.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe's tentacles held me tightly against her as her body shivered.\u0026nbsp; With a loud moan that sounded like a scream, she began to twist and turn.\u0026nbsp; Her muscles convulsed rapidly, warm liquid squirting out of our joining.\u0026nbsp; My own body responded to hers, fingers grasping her skin as whatever self control I had slowly slipped away.\u0026nbsp; The orgasm that rocked me made me numb.\u0026nbsp; It was almost painful in its intensity.\u0026nbsp; Io's muscles wouldn't stop milking me for everything that I would provide.\u0026nbsp; Her hips met mine halfheartedly, her tentacles almost cutting what little air that reached my lungs.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI slumped forward, resting on top of Iolanthe.\u0026nbsp; She didn't voice any discomfort, her tentacles slowly stroking my body.\u0026nbsp; While exhaustion was present, I think it would be possible to be roused if need be.\u0026nbsp; After a moment, Mist's laughter echoed inside my mind.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_It seems that you've preformed admirably again, Master_.\" she teased.\u0026nbsp; \"_My hope is that she enjoyed it as much as you did._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI could feel my cheeks warm up from hearing her words.\u0026nbsp; \"I would like to think that she enjoyed herself, Mist.\" I whispered.\u0026nbsp; \"It's my hope that you enjoyed yourself, as well.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBefore Mist could formulate a response, Iolanthe slowly opened her eyes.\u0026nbsp; They were still glowing, just like her gem, but the glow was slowly dimming.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head against mine.\u0026nbsp; Io's voice fluttered into my ears before she stopped herself.\u0026nbsp; Her head shook one more time before her voice could be heard.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I truly enjoyed that, Master.\" she said softly.\u0026nbsp; \"It was... a new experience.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe events of the day were beginning to pile on me.\u0026nbsp; Exhaustion clearly winning the battle, my eyes almost closed on their own.\u0026nbsp; Io wrapped me in her tentacles, pinning my body to hers.\u0026nbsp; Even without the glow coming from the jewel, a warm sensation flooded my chest.\u0026nbsp; My head rested against hers, one of her tentacles rubbing through my hair.\u0026nbsp; Sleep\u0026nbsp; came quickly to me, though my heart was still pounding in my chest.\u0026nbsp; A soft melody echoed in my mind.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to ask if either Mist or Io was behind it, but my mind refused to cooperate any more.\u0026nbsp; The last thing that I could make out was Mist giggling in the back of my mind as sleep took me.\n\n====================/////////////////////////========================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was only by the grace of Arceus that we weren't bothered during, or after, our lovemaking.\u0026nbsp; My body was being held tightly by Iolanthe, but I managed to escape her grasp to use the restroom.\u0026nbsp; Managing to salvage my toothbrush from somewhere inside my bag, I did what my body needed to do in order to keep going through the day.\u0026nbsp; Looking at myself in the mirror, my hair was a mess.\u0026nbsp; There were red marks along my neck, and my left shoulder looked like it has a large bruise.\u0026nbsp; My mind couldn't remember when it was that Iolanthe became so aggressive.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe reflection that looked back at me from the bathroom mirror wasn't the one I was used to.\u0026nbsp; Mom and Dad wouldn't be all that proud of me if they heard of what happens between me and my Pokémon.\u0026nbsp; Ashamed would probably be the least of their worries.\u0026nbsp; The news paper guys practically live next door to home.\u0026nbsp; And now with all these news people following my every waking step, the threat became all too real.\u0026nbsp; My parents didn't need to suffer or pay for what I did, that's for sure.\u0026nbsp; Misty's reaction to the reporter injuring her sister came to mind.\u0026nbsp; Could I do that?\u0026nbsp; Should I do that?\u0026nbsp; Probably more important, would I be able to do it?  \n \u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head, my hair moving around with the movement.\u0026nbsp; Grabbing the toothbrush, my hands opened the faucet and did what needed to be done.\u0026nbsp; I did my best to force the thoughts out of my head for the moment.\u0026nbsp; They would only increase the worry that started to surface for no reason.\u0026nbsp; I'll just not let that happen.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy hands went to grab my Pokédex in my pockets.\u0026nbsp; Sadly, I was still without any clothes on my lower half of my body.\u0026nbsp; Sighing and shaking my head, my fingers turned off the light, I opened the door, and went back to the room.\u0026nbsp; As soon as I was through the door, Iolanthe's tentacles were around me.\u0026nbsp; She held me against her body tightly, her tentacles squirming along my arms and chest.\u0026nbsp; At first a bout of surprise startled me, but it quickly passed as I relaxed against her.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe laughed gently, guiding me back to the bed.\u0026nbsp; My world was still a blur of darkness and shadows, but my back was suddenly on the bed with Io's comfortable weight on my chest.\u0026nbsp; Her light touch was on my cheek, her eyes and face barely visible in the darkness.\u0026nbsp; My lips were pressed against her skin suddenly as my hands held her body against mine.\u0026nbsp; She pulled away from my lips as a feeling of contentment swept through my mind.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Io, are you happy?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; A need possessed me to confirm that feeling in her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer laughter echoed in my ears again, her cheek touching mine as she tightened her hold on my body.\u0026nbsp; She didn't respond immediately, the only sound was my heartbeat and breathing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I want you to come up with that answer yourself.\" she said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer hold on me tightened slowly.\u0026nbsp; Not enough to be uncomfortable, but enough that I wouldn't be going anywhere without her consent.\u0026nbsp; There wasn't enough light for me to see anything.\u0026nbsp; The outline of her face was the most that my vision allowed.\u0026nbsp; She didn't seem to be angry or upset.\u0026nbsp; If anything, she seems to be more at ease around me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Maybe a more appropriate question is if your questions have been answered.\" I said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Perhaps.\" she answered enigmatically.\u0026nbsp; \"I feel that there is more to this than just being in physical contact whenever we are aroused.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI wanted to laugh, but my body still felt exhausted.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe's laughter made me smile.\u0026nbsp; \"It is still early in the morning.\u0026nbsp; The sun hasn't risen yet.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"At least let me wear some pants.\" I pleaded.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You will be fine.\u0026nbsp; I highly doubt that anyone will come in here without my knowing.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=======================//////////////////////////==========================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMorning came with the familiar buzzing of my alarm from somewhere nearby.\u0026nbsp; My eyes were wide open, but my mind was still slowly awakening to the fact.\u0026nbsp; How did that alarm stay activated?\u0026nbsp; I was sure that I turned it off every time.\u0026nbsp; Dwelling on it right now wasn't going to give me the answer.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe was quick to rise and grab my Pokédex, quickly turning the offending sound off.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"There has to be a different sound in that machine, Master.\" Iolanthe said, moving the offending piece of technology to my face.\u0026nbsp; \"I do not wish to hear it so early in the morning.\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, trying my best to hide the smile that wanted to form on my lips.\u0026nbsp; Making sure that the alarm was really turned off this time, my attention turned back to Io.\u0026nbsp; She was still on top of me, almost like she was refusing to rise with the alarm.\u0026nbsp; If it was due to being woken up before her preferred time or something else, I wasn't sure.\u0026nbsp; Fortunately, Iolanthe was amiable enough to let me sit up and get dressed.\u0026nbsp; If it was the usual morning time, we should be well enough to be moving around today.\u0026nbsp; I'm not one-hundred percent sure about this whole Cerulean Cave business, but we can go there when we're ready for that.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nStill didn't fully understand why Misty was so keen on fighting me either.\u0026nbsp; Oh well.\u0026nbsp; Other than the due she had with Agatha.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWith Song's staff in hand, I was prepared to face the outside world as Iolanthe stood next to me when I opened the door.\u0026nbsp; A sense of disappointment ran through me as neither Jon or Joy were there on the other side.\u0026nbsp; Their absence made the me feel strange.\u0026nbsp; Though it was welcome last night, because doing THAT in front of them was not in my to-do list.\u0026nbsp; Now it felt like part of my team was missing.\u0026nbsp; As odd as it felt to think this, I missed Joy making fun of us.\u0026nbsp; Not the punching, because that could be lived without.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCome to think about it, she hasn't hit me in quite some time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIolanthe walked beside me as we headed towards the front desk.\u0026nbsp; Nurse Joy greeted us with a smile.\u0026nbsp; For a moment, the thought of this Nurse Joy and the Blackthorn City Nurse Joy being in communication ran through my mind.\u0026nbsp; Would that be a good thing?\u0026nbsp; The smile on her face made me feel a bit self-conscious about what she may have heard or know.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThankfully the reception area was clear of anyone else.\u0026nbsp; As we approached the desk, she leaned forward so her hands would support her on the desk.\u0026nbsp; \"So my sister was right after all.\" she said to us, smiling.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI could feel the blush on my cheeks form after hearing those words.\u0026nbsp; She laughed before any words could form in my throat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't worry too much.\" she said, her smile never really leaving her face.\u0026nbsp; \"Your secret is safe with me.\u0026nbsp; You don't have to worry, but I can understand your caution.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nRelief washed over me at her words.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you, Nurse Joy.\" I said, smiling.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Also, Kanto and Johto have the same laws regulating them, so nothing bad is going to happen to you.\u0026nbsp; We make those rooms sound proof for a reason.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSuddenly, my level of embarrassment shot up with those words.\u0026nbsp; At the very least she wasn't asking more personal questions.\u0026nbsp; Though I'm pretty sure that Zin would have that covered in the foreseeable future.\u0026nbsp; Nurse Joy continued to smile at us as she sat back down.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"A few people have come around looking for you.\" she continued.\u0026nbsp; \"News reporters.\u0026nbsp; I told them that I haven't seen you since yesterday.\u0026nbsp; Just be cautious around the city limits.\u0026nbsp; They're probably still out looking for you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What turned out to be a favor ends up being a pain in the behind for me.\" I said, frowning.\u0026nbsp; \"Now even walking outside is a hazard.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"They aren't that bad.\" Nurse Joy said, giggling at my plight.\u0026nbsp; \"At the very least they didn't ransack the Pokémon Center looking for you.\u0026nbsp; They've just been very persistent.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, has anyone named Jonathan come around earlier or today?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; \"They would be accompanied by Isabella.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Oh, so that's who she meant!\" Nurse Joy exclaimed.\u0026nbsp; \"No, they haven't shown up yet, but I'll keep my eyes open for when they do.\u0026nbsp; They're probably on their way here by now, since they had to stop by Indigo Plateau and cross Victory Road.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI grimaced at the mention of that.\u0026nbsp; \"I hope not.\u0026nbsp; That would take a few days.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe laughed at that.\u0026nbsp; \"Knowing Isabella, not likely.\u0026nbsp; Expect hearing from her later today.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked at her dubiously, but wasn't about to say anything to contradict her statement.\u0026nbsp; Thanking Nurse Joy, we headed outside and confirming that we weren't leaving the city limits.\u0026nbsp; I wasn't planning on heading to the Cerulean Cave today either.\u0026nbsp; No, today was definitely a well deserved break from that fight yesterday.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was a sunny day outside, the sun beating down without many clouds above.\u0026nbsp; My first sensation was relief that no one was swarming to me for my autograph or something.\u0026nbsp; Even with Iolanthe standing next to me, people passed by me without many glances.\u0026nbsp; At the very least, no one stopped and stared at us as we walked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy hand went into my pocket, pulling out the badge that Misty handed me.\u0026nbsp; Did this change who I was?\u0026nbsp; At least a part of me was excited over the whole deal.\u0026nbsp; I just beat a gym leader!\u0026nbsp; At least, that's what the little part of me was cheering about.\u0026nbsp; The rest of me was worrying how much more publicity could we take.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA passing conversation drew my attention that there was a park nearby.\u0026nbsp; Curious, I asked where it was.\u0026nbsp; Though they recognized who I was, they didn't jab a piece of paper my way to sign.\u0026nbsp; They were more than willing to point me in the direction of the park.\u0026nbsp; Thanking them, we moved onwards.\u0026nbsp; It was hard to suppress the though of them just trying to shoo us away.\u0026nbsp; Maybe they felt uncomfortable?\u0026nbsp; Shocked?\u0026nbsp; I wasn't sure.\u0026nbsp; A mixture of both, and possibly fear due to Io standing next to me.\u0026nbsp; She looked happy at the very least.\u0026nbsp; She was almost to the point of skipping as we walked side by side.\u0026nbsp; It was odd, seeing her like this.\u0026nbsp; Though then again, I barely know her on a personal basis.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs we arrived at the park, it was obvious that people constantly visited.\u0026nbsp; Kids were flying kites around the open areas, closely supervised by their parents or Pokémon.\u0026nbsp; People were walking down the paths or sitting on blankets.\u0026nbsp; It was the picturesque scene of a movie or post card.\u0026nbsp; The thought made me chuckle.\u0026nbsp; We stepped on one of the paths, following it aimlessly.\u0026nbsp; All I wanted to do was avoid the crowds of people.\u0026nbsp; The park seemed large enough, though, so it shouldn't be hard to find at least some kind of secluded area.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTrees hung over the path, affording a little shade from the sun.\u0026nbsp; A few clouds passed by, adding a bit of cover to the open areas where trees weren't planted.\u0026nbsp; The air was clean, even for a city.\u0026nbsp; It reminded me of back home in Solaceon.\u0026nbsp; The smile on my lips made Io's voice echo in my ears.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm glad to see you smile.\" she said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy smile widened as I turned to her.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes looked deep into mine.\u0026nbsp; It felt like she was ecstatic walking next to me.\u0026nbsp; Like a little kid with way too much energy.\u0026nbsp; Her tentacles grabbed hold of my arm, tugging at me gently to get me to move faster.\u0026nbsp; No words had to be said, as my legs sped up to her pace.\u0026nbsp; I could feel a few people look at us, but it didn't feel like it was a big deal.\u0026nbsp; We ended up finding a group of trees that weren't occupied.\u0026nbsp; Though we didn't have a blanket or anything to sit on, we made the spot our own.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, the ground was dry and the grass soft under me.\u0026nbsp; Resting against the trunk of one of the trees, Iolanthe sat on my lap and leaned against me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI placed Song's staff on the ground next to me and wrapped my hands around her, holding her tightly against me.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes were closed, but the warmth of her gem could be felt through my shirt. \u0026nbsp;Even with the occasional breeze, the warmth stayed.\u0026nbsp; It made me feel comfortable, knowing that such a gentle feeling was coming from her.\u0026nbsp; My right hand drifted to my waist, grabbing one of my Pokéballs.\u0026nbsp; I was about to open it when my hand stopped moving.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You have the oddest sense to wake someone up, don't you?_\" Mist asked suddenly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy sense of control returned as she slowly exited my body through my back.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes, suppressing the shiver that wanted to shake my body.\u0026nbsp; Mist's voice still echoed inside my skull, slowly fading into nothing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Zin fought extremely hard yesterday.\" the ghost continued.\u0026nbsp; \"I believe we all did.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"And why aren't you sleeping?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I recovered quite quickly due to your extracurricular activities.\" she said.\u0026nbsp; The gems on her body glowed a soft red for a moment before returning to their normal color.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Right.\" I said, chuckling.\u0026nbsp; Mist's gems brightened up again, making me smile.\u0026nbsp; Io's laughter joined mine.\u0026nbsp; It was nice to hear her be less formal, at the very least.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Anyway, how are you feeling Mist?\" I asked, trying to redirect the conversation.\u0026nbsp; As much fun as it is to laugh, I didn't want Mist to feel like we were making fun.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I feel refreshed, Master.\" she said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"I would ask you the same question, but it seems obvious to me that you are both fine.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded to Mist's assessment.\u0026nbsp; \"Is there any reason why you stopped me from releasing anyone else?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You woke me up.\" she accused.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI chuckled.\u0026nbsp; \"A tragedy I'm sure.\u0026nbsp; You're more than welcome to go back to sleep if you so desire.\u0026nbsp; I don't believe we'll be doing much today other than take it easy after that battle.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe smiled, visibly relaxing as she hovered above me.\u0026nbsp; \"I am quite sure that everyone else will appreciate the gesture.\" she said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThat's a reassuring thought.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, with your permission, can I let everyone out of their Pokéballs?\" I asked Mist.\u0026nbsp; She giggled, nodding.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe first one out was Akalia, looking around for a moment in a hostile stance.\u0026nbsp; Her tail twitched slightly until her glowing eyes turned to my direction.\u0026nbsp; She instantly calmed down, purring loudly as she rubbed her head against my right side.\u0026nbsp; Iolanthe aided me in getting a Pokéball to my hands as Akalia refused to allow me to get any by my own power.\u0026nbsp; Song was released next, looking extremely thankful that I brought her staff with me.\u0026nbsp; Aurora and Xola soon followed her, the Weavile taking her respective place on top of my head and Xola resting on top of my legs.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nZin was the next to be released, groggily standing on her four legs as the sun hit her.\u0026nbsp; She grumbled loudly before turning towards us.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes opened wide at the sight of us in our new surroundings.\u0026nbsp; Her growls were loud, but didn't look to have any menace behind it.\u0026nbsp; She came over to me and flopped next to Xola, content to continue sleeping.\u0026nbsp; Baast and Spirit were next, both Pokémon looking happy to be out of their spherical containers and enjoy the sunshine.\u0026nbsp; Spirit more than Baast, but the Lucario was smiling as much as my Flygon.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Is something going on, Master?\" Song asked.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Nope.\u0026nbsp; Just wanted to get out of the Pokémon Center and let everyone rest after fighting Misty.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"I think we deserve a break after all that.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hold it!\" Zin exclaimed.\u0026nbsp; I almost jumped at how loud her voice was.\u0026nbsp; My hope was that no one else heard her, but it was probably hopeless.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Who won?\u0026nbsp; Did we lose?\" she asked quickly.\u0026nbsp; Snarling, she continued.\u0026nbsp; \"Don't make me regret going first.\u0026nbsp; That Blastoise hurt like a-\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"We ended up winning, Zin.\" I said, cutting off any explicit comments she would make aloud.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, I'll be a Tropius' aunt.\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"She gave you a badge, right?\" I nodded to answer her question.\u0026nbsp; \"Show me!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI managed to squeeze my hands to my pockets and fish out the badge.\u0026nbsp; Zin moved in to inspect it, taking her time to see and smell it.\u0026nbsp; The temptation to grab her muzzle crossed my mind.\u0026nbsp; Due to the obvious danger of making her angry, the thought stayed in my mind.\u0026nbsp; She stepped away, a smile on her muzzle and looking satisfied.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You didn't disappoint me, then.\" she said.\u0026nbsp; Her tone reminded me of a proud mother.\u0026nbsp; \"At least my sacrifice wasn't in vain.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You did volunteer to go first.\" I reminded her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe tilted her head to one side, and then the other.\u0026nbsp; \"It didn't matter in the end.\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"How did we win?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She forfeited after Baast won her fight with a... what was it again?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Her Omastar._\" Baast said with a bark-like laugh.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Right, her Omastar.\" I said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"So I was going to let Io go next when she called the match over and declared me the winner.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Wasn't expecting that.\" Zin replied, looking worried.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI chuckled, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"I honestly didn't know what would happen.\u0026nbsp; Glad everything turned out for the best.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You don't trust our powers?\" Song asked sweetly.\u0026nbsp; The blood in my veins froze at the tone of voice she used.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That's not it, and you know it.\" I said, frowning.\u0026nbsp; \"You all know how I felt about this before we fought Misty.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSong laughed, shaking her head.\u0026nbsp; \"I think you worry too much about us.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Isn't that one of my responsibilities as your trainer?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Maybe not as much as you worry over us.\" Xola said with a giggle.\u0026nbsp; \"You're starting to act like Spirit does to you.\u0026nbsp; Maybe her feelings are rubbing off on you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit looked at me nervously.\u0026nbsp; The grin on Xola's face made me realize that she was having fun.\u0026nbsp; I did my best to look hurt, causing my Pokémon to laugh around me.\u0026nbsp; Spirit slowly calmed down, shaking her head as she finally sat next to the growing pile on top of me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA comfortable silence fell around us.\u0026nbsp; I could feel Aurora adjusting to keep herself balanced above my head.\u0026nbsp; She leaned down, her eyes staring into mine.\u0026nbsp; Her inverted smile almost made me laugh, her nose rubbing against my forehead for a moment before disappearing from view.\u0026nbsp; It was a comfortable day, so it wouldn't be surprising to find if everyone decided to take a nap.\u0026nbsp; Zin managed to get my attention when her horns forcefully rubbed against my side.\u0026nbsp; Akalia growled for a moment, though she moved to allow the persistent Houndoom through.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How did everyone else do?\" she asked softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why don't you ask everyone instead of me?\" I suggested.\u0026nbsp; \"We won.\u0026nbsp; Isn't that the important part?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI could feel her horns grazing my sides.\u0026nbsp; \"Don't avoid my question.\" she hissed.\u0026nbsp; \"Who else lost their fight?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist lost to her Lapras.\" I said, mentally preparing myself for the inevitable explosion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That's it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"And you said that she gave up, right?\" she continued.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She forfeited, yes.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe explosion I was expecting never came.\u0026nbsp; The sound of Zin's laughter made me relax slightly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Did you think I was going to rant over how I lost?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"A little.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You don't know me very well, do you?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'd like to think that we know each other very well.\u0026nbsp; You keep surprising me by not acting consistently.\" I answered.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll take that as a compliment.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI chuckled at her response, her own laughter joining mine.\u0026nbsp; When she stopped, it felt like her eyes were drilling into me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Did Akalia fight?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stiffened next to her, but shook my head.\u0026nbsp; \"No, she didn't.\u0026nbsp; Neither did Xola or Io.\u0026nbsp; Misty called for the match to end after Baast fought.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You should apologize right now.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI blinked, looking towards the Houndoom.\u0026nbsp; Before any words could leave my mouth, Zin stood up and demanding everyone to do the same.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master has a few words to speak to Akalia, in private.\" Zin stated loudly.\u0026nbsp; \"In the meantime, I think we should all go back inside our Pokéballs until we're needed.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSong and Baast almost seemed ready to argue her logic, but Mist shook her head.\u0026nbsp; Some kind of telepathic conversation took place, due to the slow nod that they shared.\u0026nbsp; Xola almost looked confused until Spirit spoke to her.\u0026nbsp; Song looked worried, but about what was a mystery to me.\u0026nbsp; She opened her mouth but Baast placed a paw on her shoulder.\u0026nbsp; They both looked at each other for a moment before the Lucario waved at Xola to her.\u0026nbsp; While I was more than willing to wait for them to be done talking, Zin had other ideas.\u0026nbsp; She barked at the three gathered Pokémon heatedly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nLiterally.\u0026nbsp; Flames were visible as Zin spoke in her native tongue.\u0026nbsp; I could picture Zin saying to hurry up while Song and Baast tried to calm her down.\u0026nbsp; Eventually the Houndoom did calm down, if just a token effort.\u0026nbsp; She really did look like she would blast fire everywhere.\u0026nbsp; She turned to me after a few moments.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Baast wants to translate for you, if both you and Akalia are alright with that.\" Zin said, looking at the Luxray in question.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia didn't look bothered by this turn of events.\u0026nbsp; If anything, she looked like all she wanted to do was sleep.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, she nodded her consent.\u0026nbsp; If it was to stop Zin from talking or actually agreeing to the circumstances, I wasn't sure.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, Zin nodded to Baast as the Lucario came to stand next to me.\u0026nbsp; She offered me her paw, pulling me up from the ground as soon as she grabbed hold of my fingers.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSighing, I recalled everyone back inside their Pokéballs.\u0026nbsp; With only Baast and Akalia left beside me, an awkward silence fell around us.\u0026nbsp; Akalia turned to look at me, rubbing against my legs insistently.\u0026nbsp; I kneeled down to be on even ground with her and scratched behind her ears.\u0026nbsp; Even with Baast present, it didn't seem to bother her as much as having everyone else being present.\u0026nbsp; It was always a bit jarring, seeing her switch from being affectionate to her stoic moods.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer purring made me smile, letting me know that she enjoyed the attention.\u0026nbsp; This has been one of the few times that we've managed to stay on the calm side of things in a while.\u0026nbsp; It felt nice to know that nothing was going to happen.\u0026nbsp; The only thing I expected that would ruin the silence was one of these reporters Nurse Joy mentioned.\u0026nbsp; Even then, it wasn't that big of a deal.\u0026nbsp; We haven't really made ourselves secret in public.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sat down next to Akalia, making myself comfortable.\u0026nbsp; Baast was nowhere around me, and looking around allowed me to see the Lucario sitting with her legs crossed.\u0026nbsp; My attention returned to the Luxray, who was looking at me curiously.\u0026nbsp; She climbed up on my lap quickly, purring loudly as her face pressed against my chest.\u0026nbsp; My hands quickly returned to scratching behind her ears, a deep purr letting me know that I was scratching the correct way.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Just so you know, I highly doubt that Baast is sleeping.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"Probably meditating or some such.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia shook her head against my chest, burying her face against my shirt.\u0026nbsp; Her purring was still loud, so it confirmed that she was still at ease.\u0026nbsp; We've never really had a translator, so it was a mystery to me why anyone would put Baast to the task.\u0026nbsp; Maybe Zin and the others thought that she would actually talk.\u0026nbsp; I highly doubted it, though.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's a nice day out.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; It was a lame attempt to start small talk, but better than nothing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer claws extended, sticking to my pants with every tug.\u0026nbsp; I could feel the sharp tips against my skin through the denim.\u0026nbsp; It was beyond me if she was aggravated or amused at the moment.\u0026nbsp; Though, in all honesty, it would be hard to miss the cue to tell me if she was mad.\u0026nbsp; Probably the only way I would ignore it if my entire nervous system was shot.\u0026nbsp; Judging from the occasional pinprick on my legs, it wasn't the case.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAfter a moment Akalia nodded.\u0026nbsp; Her kneading stopped, eyes glued to mine.\u0026nbsp; Even in the daylight, they still glowed brightly on their own power.\u0026nbsp; It felt like my face was being observed for anything odd or peculiar.\u0026nbsp; The why was beyond my mind though.\u0026nbsp; Baast laughed loudly in her own tongue before her voice echoed inside my skull.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_She's trying to figure you out right now_.\" the Lucario said plainly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI would have asked why, but a jolt of electricity stopped the thought.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes were locked on me, for whatever reason.\u0026nbsp; After a moment that felt far too long, her eyes stopped glowing and returned to their normal coloration.\u0026nbsp; I took a deep breath, feeling like my lungs stopped working under Akalia's scrutiny.\u0026nbsp; She nodded for a brief moment and looked at me expectantly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy fingers moved to rub behind her ears, but stopped as electricity arced over her fur.\u0026nbsp; The closer my hands got, the more audible and brighter the lightning became.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to hesitate, but it felt like a game to me.\u0026nbsp; She's done something like this before, but intimidation was a big factor to all this.\u0026nbsp; As my fingers connected, electricity ran up my arm in short bursts.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't painful, but it was enough to make me wince.\u0026nbsp; I didn't pull away from her, though, wrapping my arms around the Luxray.\u0026nbsp; The electricity grew less intense, but it still made me feel like parts of my body were slightly numb.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe electricity flowing through me slowly dwindled as Akalia purred loudly.\u0026nbsp; Her tongue licked my cheek, her rough tongue a sharp contrast to her soft fur.\u0026nbsp; Sparks of electricity still held their charge but they didn't pull me away from her.\u0026nbsp; Baast's barking from nearby made Akalia's eyes glow once more, but she quickly ignored the jolly Lucario.\u0026nbsp; It sounded like Akalia muttered something in her tongue.\u0026nbsp; If it was meant as an insult it didn't do what it was intended.\u0026nbsp; Baast's laughter grew louder, both in my ears and in my head.\u0026nbsp; Definitely a weird feeling to be able to hear the same person two different ways.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia ignored her, adjusting herself on my lap once again.\u0026nbsp; The Luxray's eyes looked into mine as if to figure out my thoughts.\u0026nbsp; I guess that it didn't help that I was quiet all this time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Is something...? Wait, you wouldn't act this way if nothing was bothering you.\u0026nbsp; What is it?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe shook her head firmly, pawing at my pants again.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully it was without her claws this time.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes glowed momentarily before returning to normal.\u0026nbsp; The growls that came from her startled me but she stopped before I could try to figure out her mood.\u0026nbsp; It felt like she was frustrated.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"This is about yesterday, isn't it?\" I asked softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, pawing at my legs again.\u0026nbsp; This time with claws and electricity.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI winced slightly, not moving too much so Akalia doesn't get the impression that I would run away.\u0026nbsp; \"I didn't know that you wanted to fight so much, Akalia.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe sound that came from her startled me.\u0026nbsp; She pushed me backwards, my back on the ground as she stood above me.\u0026nbsp; Lightning arced above our heads, making any complaints die in my throat.\u0026nbsp; Suddenly I hoped that Baast was just really meditating and not sleeping.\u0026nbsp; My hope was that Akalia wouldn't hurt me.\u0026nbsp; Being pinned under the Luxray didn't frighten me.\u0026nbsp; This has happened countless times before.\u0026nbsp; What scared me is the actual amount of power she was willing to display at this proximity.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Did you want to fight?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, letting out a loud growl.\u0026nbsp; A sigh escaped my lips, feeling aggravated about this.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You could have said something, you know.\" I pointed out.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe shook her head, a particular bright spark of lightning linking her ears to each other briefly.\u0026nbsp; I've always known her to be a fighter, but this was ridiculous.\u0026nbsp; Baast suddenly appeared next to us as she silently watched us.\u0026nbsp; Her piercing gaze was a bit unnerving to watch.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI decided to change tactics, focusing on Akalia once again.\u0026nbsp; \"Why did you want to come along with me?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia's paws were on my chest, holding me down firmly.\u0026nbsp; She spoke rapidly in her language, her fangs gleaming in between words.\u0026nbsp; Though if it was because of the sun or the lightning that still flashed across her was a different story.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes glowed at random intervals.\u0026nbsp; Saliva dripped from her fangs and on to my face.\u0026nbsp; I did my best to ignore the impulse of wiping it away, especially when it landed uncomfortably close to my nose.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You didn't tell me that she's an ex-champion Pokémon_.\" Baast stated.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It never came up and it never was in her records.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; Akalia growled again, and my attention returned to her.\u0026nbsp; \"That you are experienced isn't news to me.\u0026nbsp; What is new is who you were before being retired.\u0026nbsp; I'm using the same words that were in your file.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia shook her head vigorously, sparks of lightning flying in Baast's direction.\u0026nbsp; I managed to get my hands under her and push upwards.\u0026nbsp; It's a bit difficult to move a Luxray when she doesn't want to.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, she didn't need to be so aggressive.\u0026nbsp; Looking towards Baast, she gave me a nod to indicate that she was fine.\u0026nbsp; Akalia was still on my lap, electricity dancing dangerously across her fur.\u0026nbsp; How it wasn't shocking me was a topic better not thought of.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia muttered something, looking away from me.\u0026nbsp; Baast laughed loudly, both verbally and mentally, causing the Luxray to jump.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Well, that explains some things!_\" Baast exclaimed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia quickly shook her head, exclaiming to Baast in her language.\u0026nbsp; The Lucario laughed loudly again, shaking a paw in the Luxray's direction.\u0026nbsp; Baast turned to me, a smile on her muzzle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_She's a bit shy._\" she commented.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I gathered as much.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; Turning back to Akalia, I continued.\u0026nbsp; \"Though that doesn't...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_She didn't want to be left alone._\" Baast continued.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTears were pooling in Akalia's eyes, beginning to run down her cheeks.\u0026nbsp; Perhaps the group agreeing to Baast speaking for Akalia wasn't the best idea.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, now it felt like it was my fault this was happening.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to feel aggravated, or at the very least not at fault, but it's hard to argue when a Luxray gives you a soulful look with tears in her eyes.\u0026nbsp; My fingers scratched behind her ears in an attempt to keep her calm.\u0026nbsp; Or at the very least, stop her from crying.\u0026nbsp; It was mildly successful, though Baast's laughter echoed in my head.\u0026nbsp; Akalia was mumbling inconsistently, shaking her head every now and then.\u0026nbsp; Her speech was punctuated by a hiccup or a paw passing across her face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Well, that certainly explains some things._\" Baast said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"_You're not a normal human, are you_?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"In what sense?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You're an asshole._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI rolled my eyes.\u0026nbsp; A blow to the back of my head made me wince.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Did you know that she thinks of you as a brother?_\" Baast asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head.\u0026nbsp; \"No.\u0026nbsp; At best, it felt like we were good partners for when we wanted peace and quiet.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe pinched my ear, pulling up sharply.\u0026nbsp; I cried out as pain came right afterwards.\u0026nbsp; If I could stand it wouldn't be such a problem.\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Akalia was either enjoying the punishment being inflicted, or mortified that Baast was doing this to me.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, Baast showed me mercy by letting go.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You're an idiot.\u0026nbsp; An idiot I care about, but an idiot all the same._\" Baast stated, her paws on her hips.\u0026nbsp; \"_Since you seem to be ignorant to Akalia's perspective, then allow me to enlighten you._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia shook her head, proclaiming loudly to Baast in her language.\u0026nbsp; The Lucario shook her head, making Akalia's eyes widen.\u0026nbsp; A charge of electricity formed, but died as soon as Baast spoke a line or two in her own tongue.\u0026nbsp; They both spoke rapidly, leaving me in the dark as to what the conversation was about.\u0026nbsp; Akalia's eyes would glow intermittently as she stared up to Baast.\u0026nbsp; The Lucario's eyes would narrow every so often, but quickly calmed back down to her even stare.\u0026nbsp; Eventually, Baast let out a long sigh as she shook her head.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes focused on me again, Akalia walking off my lap.\u0026nbsp; I was about to stand up, but a wave of force knocked me down once more.\u0026nbsp; Baast was surrounded in a light aura, her left paw aimed in my direction.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Try to stand again, and I'll use more force_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI quickly decided that standing was overrated.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia began talking in her language, with Baast translating on the fly.\u0026nbsp; \"_We've known each other for quite some time.\u0026nbsp; Years have gone by, easily, without us communicating.\u0026nbsp; Except perhaps whenever Song stuck her green head around._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_\"I was grateful for the company you gave us... me.... especially since no one ever looked at me for any extended periods of time.\u0026nbsp; But I enjoyed my solitude, as bleak as it was.\u0026nbsp; It made me feel justified in acting how I did.\u0026nbsp; Impersonal, cold, unfeeling... you name it.\u0026nbsp; It was easier to be at a distance than care about others.\u0026nbsp; But then a child had to change that._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Don't give me that look.\u0026nbsp; No matter how indifferent I acted, you always made time for me.\u0026nbsp; At first, it didn't change anything.\u0026nbsp; But you kept seeking me out.\u0026nbsp; When I finally confronted Song about it, she explained it all to me.\u0026nbsp; That you wanted to see me happy.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It slowly dawned to me that you really didn't have any ulterior motives.\u0026nbsp; You just really wanted me to be happy._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_My previous trainer was a show specialist.\u0026nbsp; He was someone that did his best to bring out the best in all of us.\u0026nbsp; But I was his prized Pokémon.\u0026nbsp; It was me and him that won three major tournaments in a row.\u0026nbsp; However, he was an older human while I was entering my prime.\u0026nbsp; He decided that it was best to retire now, at the height of his career, before his dreams were taken by some young upstart that didn't know any better._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia took a deep breath, stopping her speech momentarily.\u0026nbsp; It was then when I realized that she's been shaking as she spoke.\u0026nbsp; Her ears lay flat against her skull, and her large paws played with the grass.\u0026nbsp; She avoided looking at me but it was obvious that she was still crying.\u0026nbsp; The fur on her cheeks was slowly becoming more matted down.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head, taking another deep breath, before continuing.\u0026nbsp; Baast didn't miss a beat, immediately translating once more.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You reminded me of my previous trainer.\u0026nbsp; Except the part where you cared for others so much.\u0026nbsp; He never really did care of anyone else, except his own.\u0026nbsp; Though, now looking back at it not so much.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, not many other humans have tried to make me happy as either my previous trainer or you have._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_I really don't know what came over me when we mated.\u0026nbsp; Unlike how Zin put it, it wasn't due to my body demanding to be filled by a male.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to show you that I cared about you as well.\u0026nbsp; Though it felt hollow.\u0026nbsp; We've never had a real relationship.\u0026nbsp; It was more along like good friends, and I feel that my intentions were not true.\u0026nbsp; Though Zin and Song assured me that wasn't the case, it was as if the damage was already done.\u0026nbsp; No one else mentioned the incident, and what time we spent together wasn't the same anymore.\u0026nbsp; It didn't help matters when it wasn't just us two, either._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI held up my hand, my head pounding from the recent intake of information.\u0026nbsp; Also, it felt like Baast's voice was getting angrier inside my head.\u0026nbsp; It might have just been me, though.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"If this is how you felt all this time, why didn't you say something about it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy back hit the ground, the impact making me gasp in pain.\u0026nbsp; Akalia stood on top of me, paws on my chest while she spoke.\u0026nbsp; Baast's voice shouted in my skull as Akalia looked livid while the Lucario translated for her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_And you never thought about anything?!\u0026nbsp; Where is your sense of camaraderie?\u0026nbsp; We've known each other all this time and that's the best you can say?\u0026nbsp; Where's the human I knew?\u0026nbsp; I want him back!\u0026nbsp; He wouldn't ask that idiotic question.\u0026nbsp; He would ask if there was anything he could do!\u0026nbsp; What happened to him?\u0026nbsp; Did success go to your head?\u0026nbsp; Is having illicit relations with your us, your Pokémon, the highest goal you had in mind?\u0026nbsp; What is it?!_\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBaast said something in her native tongue, only to have Akalia snarl back at her.\u0026nbsp; Lightning cracked through the air, the show of force stopping the discussion before it would start.\u0026nbsp; I tried to lift myself off the ground, but Akalia pushed me down as soon as I tried.\u0026nbsp; Giving it a second attempt, the same process repeated.\u0026nbsp; It didn't take long for us to almost look like it was a game.\u0026nbsp; It would have been, if Akalia didn't look like she would murder me on the spot.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Maybe a better question is what do you want me to do.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"I know now that I've messed up, and I apologize.\u0026nbsp; How do we go from here?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe looked confused, her legs wobbling on top of me before she hid her face on my chest.\u0026nbsp; The sudden impact of her body on my chest drove the air out of my lungs.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, I wrapped my arms around the Luxray without hesitation, hoping that she will calm down.\u0026nbsp; The sound of electricity crackling through the air didn't make me pull away.\u0026nbsp; On the contrary, it made my embrace tighter.\u0026nbsp; Her thick fur made breathing a chore, but this was one of those times that breathing had a lower priority.\u0026nbsp; Baast's paws grabbed me and pulled me to a sitting position.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, her chest spike didn't go through my gut as she held on to my neck.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia slowly pushed away and I let my arms slide away.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head, a sad smile on her face.\u0026nbsp; She spoke again a quick word and Baast laughed loudly inside my skull.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, I wasn't kept in the dark for too long.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_That's what I want, is what she said._\" Baast said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Kidding aside, I'll do better now.\" I said, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"I have to.\u0026nbsp; I'm sorry that I've ignored you all this time, Akalia.\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\n\nShe seemed a little better after that.\u0026nbsp; I wasn't out of trouble just yet, but it was my issue to deal with now.\u0026nbsp; Since it was out in the open now, it's going to be difficult to not follow through with my word.\u0026nbsp; Especially with Baast knowing about it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I want to say that I thought that you were happy, Akalia.\" I said softly.\u0026nbsp; \"Obviously I took that for granted.\u0026nbsp; I want to do better.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI felt like a bastard right now.\u0026nbsp; Shit.\u0026nbsp; At least it makes sense why they agreed on Baast to translate.\u0026nbsp; Xola would be ashamed, Io wouldn't immediately relate Akalia's feelings, and Song would have sugar-coated whatever the Luxray would say.\u0026nbsp; Don't know why Zin didn't personally volunteer, as she would be as blunt as Baast, or more so.\u0026nbsp; Perhaps she knew about the situation.\u0026nbsp; But why involve someone else?\u0026nbsp; Maybe it was to make sure I didn't go back on my words.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBecause waking up to a growling Houndoom is so much better than a growling Lucario.\u0026nbsp; I'll have to make sure to compare one night.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head, returning my focus to the task at hand.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't want you to feel that your being pushed away anymore, Akalia.\u0026nbsp; If you do, I want you to shock me stupid until I realize what's going on, OK?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe didn't look too thrilled about it, but nodded all the same.\u0026nbsp; Baast laughed, punching me lightly on the shoulder.\u0026nbsp; Of course, a light punch from a Lucario was like being thrown against a wall, but at least it didn't dislocate anything.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_I'll remind you, as well._\" Baast said, grinning at me.\u0026nbsp; \"_Because you need the threat hanging over your shoulder for you to act_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nEven if she meant the words without spite, it still stung.\u0026nbsp; I nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"I feel that you're not far from the truth, Baast.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer smile immediately left her muzzle.\u0026nbsp; She grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, pulling me to her body.\u0026nbsp; The chest spike was alarmingly pressed close to my chest.\u0026nbsp; Akalia shouted something that was lost to me in the situation.\u0026nbsp; Baast responded quickly back to her, but nothing was translated to me.\u0026nbsp; Either way, it didn't stop the Luxray from leering at the Lucario.\u0026nbsp; Slowly, she relented her grip, but the chest spike still pressed firmly against my chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_This isn't to make you feel like an idiot, it's to make you aware how much you've messed up._\" she declared.\u0026nbsp; \"_Grow up.\u0026nbsp; It seems like you say a lot of things, but never take your own words to heart._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stared at the Lucario, rolling the thought over my mind a few times.\u0026nbsp; The truth settled quickly, and nodded to the astute summary.\u0026nbsp; Baast looked at me directly, her eyes staring into mine.\u0026nbsp; For a moment, I thought that I would have to take a direct blow.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, she nodded before looking satisfied and releasing her grasp.\u0026nbsp; Akalia said something, with Baast responding quickly.\u0026nbsp; The Luxray seemed satisfied, nodding towards me.\u0026nbsp; Akalia's head rested on my lap, her deep purrs making me smile instantly.\u0026nbsp; My fingers instantly went behind her ears, encouraging her to purr more.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBaast shifted to my side, her head resting on my shoulder.\u0026nbsp; For the first time since this started, I felt a bit better about myself.\u0026nbsp; It felt like this needed to happen, though it would have been for the best if it was avoided all together.\u0026nbsp; A breeze tugged at my clothes as it passed by.\u0026nbsp; My hair blew in my eyes, obscuring my vision.\u0026nbsp; Baast slowly moved her paw to brush back the errant strands, suddenly tensing against me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_There's someone behind you._\" she stated.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI turned around slowly to see the same girl from the gym.\u0026nbsp; The same one from the gym with the steno pad.\u0026nbsp; Now that I am able to pay close attention to details, her long hair was a bright red that looked shoulder length.\u0026nbsp; She was wearing blue jeans and a purple shirt that was mostly hidden by the sky blue jacket.\u0026nbsp; In her hands were a writing pad and pen.\u0026nbsp; It looked like she was looking for an interview.\u0026nbsp; She smiled at me warmly, bowing quickly before walking over to us.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Excuse me, but do you mind if I ask some questions for the paper?\" she asked.\u0026nbsp; Her voice was soft, almost as if she feared making either me or my Pokémon angry.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked over to Baast, who shrugged as a response.\u0026nbsp; Akalia didn't even budge from her position, her purring continuing to rumble through my lower body.\u0026nbsp; I smiled warmly towards the stranger.\u0026nbsp; She smiled back, walking across from me and sitting down.\u0026nbsp; The pages of her pad flipped, and quick scribbles could be seen as the pages passed by.\u0026nbsp; She clicked on her pen, nodding to herself for a moment before looking straight at me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How are you enjoying Cerulean City?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI'll admit, I wasn't expecting that question.\u0026nbsp; Something more invasive at the very least.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's definitely different from Sinnoh.\" I said with a smile.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't think I've seen much of the city yet, but it seems like a nice place.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"When did you start your journey?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shrugged.\u0026nbsp; \"Two months ago?\u0026nbsp; I haven't been keeping track, to be honest.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe laughed at that, and I chuckled with her.\u0026nbsp; The questions were ones that I was comfortable answering.\u0026nbsp; Like where I was from, if I really was who I said I was.\u0026nbsp; It was funny to see her reactions to that.\u0026nbsp; She quoted a line from one of my parent's books, and I surprised her by finishing it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How do you remember that?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Easy, I said it!\" I exclaimed, chuckling at her surprised look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe shook her head, clicking the pen a few times before putting it against the pad again.\u0026nbsp; \"Alright, so how about this.\u0026nbsp; Why does your Gardevoir use a staff in combat?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That's a long story.\" I said.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes narrowed at me, leaning forward and writing swiftly without looking at her hands.\u0026nbsp; \"I'll give you the short version of it, or you can ask her yourself.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll be alright with your take on the events.\u0026nbsp; After all, I'm interviewing you.\" she said, raising an eyebrow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I guess so.\" I said, giving her a shrug.\u0026nbsp; \"Though before I answer your question, do you mind if I ask you one?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded silently.\u0026nbsp; I quickly thought how to say it, and spit it out quickly.\u0026nbsp; This woman gave me the impression that the she didn't like to wait very long.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How come are you so interested in me?\u0026nbsp; Other than being related to fame and stuff.\u0026nbsp; It feels like there's something more.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe giggled warmly, giving me a shrug.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, if I want new material, I have to interview new people right?\u0026nbsp; I mean, it's not every day that you end up meeting the son of the two most important researchers to Unown AND he just so happens to defeat the unbeaten Cerulean Gym.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA grin spread across her face, her eyes narrowing.\u0026nbsp; \"What's this?\u0026nbsp; You want a date, is that it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI could feel the blush form across my cheeks as she said that.\u0026nbsp; Words fumbled on my tongue, failing to communicate anything cohesive.\u0026nbsp; It didn't help that Baast was pulling me closer to her chest spike at the same time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll forgive you.\u0026nbsp; This time, anyway.\" she said, clicking the pen once and standing up.\u0026nbsp; \"Maybe we'll continue some other time?\u0026nbsp; I remembered that I have to meet someone in a few moments.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded to her.\u0026nbsp; I would stand up, but she smiled in understanding.\u0026nbsp; \"It's better not to wake her up.\u0026nbsp; Wouldn't want to be shocked, now would we?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWithout waiting for a replay, she walked away from me.\u0026nbsp; I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand as she finally disappeared from sight.\u0026nbsp; Using my peripheral vision, the Lucario's eyes glowed even with the daylight.\u0026nbsp; Her grin made it obvious that she found something amusing.\u0026nbsp; Either that, or she wanted to murder me at this very moment.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Count yourself lucky that I care about your well-being._\" she said.\u0026nbsp; Her voice purred inside my head, making me shiver unconsciously.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAkalia said something out loud, and Baast responded with a barking laugh.\u0026nbsp; I looked at both my Pokémon, but neither seemed to want to answer my unasked question.\u0026nbsp; It looked like it was beginning to be mid-afternoon.\u0026nbsp; My stomach rumbled, complaining about being empty at a time like this.\u0026nbsp; If Akalia heard it, she didn't bother to move.\u0026nbsp; If anything, she snuggled closer to me, even as I moved to stand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, look who we have here!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMy blood ran cold as Joy's voice destroyed the silence around me.\u0026nbsp; A hand slapped my exposed shoulder. \u0026nbsp;Looking up, Isabella's smiling face filled my vision.\u0026nbsp; Jon walked up next to her, shaking his head and pulling her away from me.\u0026nbsp; A shock of electricity made my body jerk in place.\u0026nbsp; Looking down, Akalia's eyes told me she was annoyed.\u0026nbsp; Quickly fishing out her Pokéball, I recalled the dozing Luxray.\u0026nbsp; Looking over to Baast, she nodded and I performed the same courtesy to her.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, both Joy and Jon helped me stand up.\u0026nbsp; It was hard to keep standing, due to my feet being asleep.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"When did you two get here?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"About two hours ago, I think.\" Jon said, shrugging.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Either way, who was that girl?\" Joy asked, grinning at me.\u0026nbsp; \"Don't tell me that...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Anyway, what's this that we keep hearing about that you beat the Cerulean Gym?\" Jon asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hey, that's right!\u0026nbsp; Do you have the gym badge with you?\" Joy asked, not looking annoyed that Jon cut her off.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah, I have it.\u0026nbsp; But let's get food while we talk.\" I said, stomping my feet.\u0026nbsp; Once I could stand without falling over, I walked behind Jon and pushed him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Where are we going?\" he asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Somewhere other than here.\" I answered.\u0026nbsp; \"If it wasn't obvious enough, there isn't any food here.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Aaron has a point, Jon.\u0026nbsp; I'm starved, and sis didn't give us anything for not being there on time for lunch.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You're buying.\" I pointed out to Jon.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Me?!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI pushed him a bit more, but stopped when he tried to turn around.\u0026nbsp; \"You want to hear my side of the story?\u0026nbsp; You're going to pay for it!\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"A Trainer\\'s Tale","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/319721-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-26.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/371546-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-28.json"}}