FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Surprise, a double upload!

Since I've kept you waiting for too long, I think it's only fair that I should compensate with some extra stuff :)

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Jubilife was the largest and most modern city of Sinnoh. The city of Joy - Or so was it nicknamed, Jubilife was always full of energy and excitement, and that trail was carried over to its dwellers. Because of the city's prestige however, it should be noticed that earning a spot in Jubilife was no easy task, and naturally, such fortunate people couldn't find anything to complain about their life.

That being said, everything had exceptions. Somewhere in the city's most luxurious area, in his not-so-humble villa, a teenager in his early 18s was preparing breakfast with a face that could express nothing but utmost boredom. Perhaps he was in a bad mood. Perhaps he missed his daily morning coffee. Perhaps both.

The young man had just finished making his omelet when a familiar ringtone started to play on his cell. He got a new text.

Liam,

Today is the end of the month. Send us your study results ASAP.

Love, mom and dad.

Liam grunted and promptly tossed the cell onto the sofa, "Damn, can't wait until I finish breakfast, can you?"

Casually, the young man started munching on his toast and eggs; his mind drifted to the previous events of his life, as well as his plans for the future.

Wealthy as his family was, Liam never considered his life a fulfilling one. Happy, yes, to some extents, but satisfying, no. His parents were loving. From physical property to love, they supported him with everything. Liam couldn't remember a time when he'd starved or envious of his peers. As long as he maintained his role as a clever and obedient son, he could pretty much get anything he wanted. One problem, though, was their overprotectiveness. The two tended to tamper him too much, and as he grew, Liam thought of such acts as embarrassing and unbearable. Also, it was an irony that Liam himself possessed a frantic level of passion for pokemon while his parents suffered severely from pokephobia, which according to them, resulted from a nasty experience involving a Raichu, a bottle of ketchup and an electricity-grilled trolley.

As such, when Liam went to college, he'd spent week after week begging his parents to let him move out and live on his own. Considering the situation and his parents' characters; imagine show shocked Liam'd been when the answer he received was yes. The young man had marveled about his new life and what freedom had to offer, but Liam's bubble was mercilessly burst when his parents reveal their conditions: Along with his fancy new flat, Liam had to attend a prestigious college in town and earn top grades in every subject; otherwise, he could say bye-bye to personal house, free expenses and privacy whatsoever. Apparently the old couple was one step ahead of their son, and as a result, most of Liam's time was spent studying.

His life wasn't getting any easier. In fact, it was going down a landslide.

"Just you wait; I'll get a pokemon after spring break." Liam vowed. He'd already got everything planned. Quite a model student, Liam had no trouble asking his teachers to assign him spring homework beforehand, and he'd nearly finished them. Now, all that's left was deciding where to begin his search. Any local pokemon professor would be an easy choice, but if he went there, Liam knew the best he could get would be some weak starter pokemon. The young man wanted his first companion to be…say, more unique.

…

Today, school would have ended like it always did, plain and uneventful, hadn't it been for a certain guy calling out for Liam when he was about to leave the classroom.

"Hey, top guy!"

Liam frowned. He loathed that nick name. True, he did get top grades in class, but Liam needed no reminder of how his life was screwed by his own parents. Forcing a smile, Liam turned around and found Derrick running toward him.

Derrick wasn't exactly the most hard-working guy around. In fact, looking at his records, one might consider him a troublemaker. On the bright side, he was a likable trickster, whose jokes never failed to crack up a smile from everyone.

"What's up Derrick?" said Liam. People like Derrick made life a lot less boring, but Liam had never been particularly close to the guy, and it was strange for Derrick to actively start any kind of conversation with him, even a small talk.

"Just wanna ask you for a small favor," Derrick said bashfully, "You see, my parents are leaving for Kalos tomorrow, on their next business trip, and I…well, I've wanted to visit that region for a while, so I'll take a week off…"

Liam frowned. And he thought his parents spoilt him as a kid, but apparently, Derrick's had just broken that record. To think they actually let their son ditch school for a whole week to go on that good-for-nothing trip?

"Just thinking about it gets me so pumped up. Besides, my folks say I can invite a friend…"

Liam's eyebrows wrinkled slightly as he spoke, interrupting Derrick, "Let me guess. Jenny is going with you?"

It wasn't hard for Liam to tell, basing on the annoying fact that Derrick always tried to show off whenever Jenny was around. The dude had been wooing her for a while, and this trip to Kalos would be a golden ticket for him to…well, get whatever he wanted.

"Well yes…but no need to be so blunt," Derrick said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "Anyway, there's still a problem. Jenny isn't much of a pokemon fan, and someone has to keep and eyes on my two pokemon and feed them while I'm away…"

Even if Derrick pretended to sound reluctant, Liam'd already known where this conversation was going, and he decided to reach that conclusion, just for the sake of saving his time, "And you want me to be that 'someone'?"

"It can't be helped. You're the only person in our class to have a private house." Derrick explained, "Don't worry, you'll like my pokemon. They're pretty well-mannered."

Liam should have declined Derrick's request. His mind told him to stay away from unnecessary trouble, yet the young man couldn't bring himself to let such an opportunity pass by. It's not every day he got to interact with pokemon, leave alone two at once. If Liam was going to get any pokemon, any available experience in getting to know their behaviors would come in handy.

"Fine," Liam finally nodded, much to Derrick's delight as the latter beamed and hastily shoved two pokeballs into his hand, "Thanks man, you saved my ass. Oh, and here," he added a wad of cash into Liam's handful, "Money for their food. Don't wanna bother you too much, right?"

"What do they eat?" Liam inquired.

"Pokemon food," Derrick replied curtly.

"Wait…that's all? Don't you know anything else about their taste or preference?"

"Dude, take it easy. They're just pokemon." Derrick said matter-of-factly, and Liam suddenly had a very strong urge to punch the guy in his face. Fortunately, he managed not to. Instead, another question escaped his mouth, "Is this the first time you ask others to look after your pokemon?"

"Nope, but I don't think it's wise to ask someone for the same favor twice." Derrick smirked, patting Liam on the shoulder, "Well then, I'm counting on your, Liam."

And just like how he'd arrived, Derrick disappeared behind the crowd of students, quickly and absurdly.

…

On his way home, Liam stopped by the mart to buy some extra food for his two new flatmates. Derrick had made quite a fair point about feeding them Pokemon food, which was, after all, produced for pokemon. Besides, those two weren't Liam's, so he technically never mistreated them. That being said, Liam wanted to do something for them, as for the reason why, he didn't know, nor did he bother to explain.

After getting home, the first thing Liam needed to do was releasing his two (temporally) new pokemon. The young man's control over his excitement had reached its limit. With one final gulf, he tossed the pokeballs onto the ground and watched nervously as two red beams shot out, materializing into two figures.

The one of Liam's left had the appearance of a large, navy-blue, pokemon; the tri-horn and blue marking on its head resembled a trident and a crown respectively, which were both symbols of power. Empoleon snorted and took a particularly deep breath, as if it'd spent too much time in the pokeball to realize how amazing fresh air was.

On Liam's right stood an even more recognizable pokemon, despite being shorter than both him and Empoleon, thanks to the lush, cream-colored chest fur; the calm, intelligent crimson eyes and the spike poking out of its chest. Liam had to fight down his urge to jump in excitement: A Lucario was standing in front of him, the very pokemon he'd always admired and wanted to meet, due to their incredible rarity and rumored valor.

Contrary to Liam's expectation, when Lucario finally noticed him, the pokemon had a politely bored expression rather than bewilderment. Confused, Liam decided to break the silence, "Hey. If you're wondering where we are, this is my house. I'm Liam, and I'll be looking after you for the next seven days. Let's get along."

Liam held out his hand, but before Lucario could shake it, Empoleon interfered, speaking in a rich, deep voice which unmistakably belonged to a male, "Hey, are you a trainer?"

The rather impolite manner earned the water pokemon a hard nudge from Lucario, who quickly apologized to Liam, "I'm sorry, don't mind him."

It was clear to Liam that Empoleon and Lucario shared the same gender, as the latter's voice was just as deep, albeit more mellow than his companion's.

"What?" Empoleon grumbled, "You know the deal. We provide entertainment, they give us food and shelter? I'm getting tired of this sucking-up life. Why couldn't we have a better owner?"

Lucario let out a barely audible whine; his ears dropped indignantly.

One minute ago, Liam'd expected two bewildered pokemon, but now it was his turn to get totally confused. Still, the human was quick to notice the bitterness in Empoleon's words and come up with a hypothesis, which was further confirmed by Lucario's reaction.

I thought Derrick was a jerk, but this is even worse, Liam concluded mentally. He was wise enough to not say it aloud, as Lucario and Empoleon seemed to heavily resent their constant passing-around life. Liam didn't bother wasting his breath comforting the two, as he knew pretentious words healed no wounds, and if anything, they only worsened the situation. Instead, he decided to let his action speak.

"Well it's nearly lunchtime. You guys just stay here and watch TV; I'll make us some grub." Liam offered, and then disappeared into the kitchen, not before giving the pokemon quick instructions of how to use his flashy plasma TV.

…

Empoleon waited until Liam had left, then turned to Lucario, "Something's off here, don't ya think?"

"I know. We usually get stuffed into our pokeballs right after the introduction. I wonder what Liam's up to." Lucario replied, though his mind was wholly focusing on Liam's aura. The human seemed busy, as he was moving around swiftly in the kitchen.

"Sense something with your aura?" Empoleon asked; a miniature hint of tease in his voice.

"Not really. For now, all I can say is…he's different from any human we've been with."

"Well, he's certainly the cutest one so far." Empoleon smirked, missing the ever so tiny blush on Lucario's face, "Oh well, let's enjoy this while we can," he said, casually throwing himself on the spacious sofa, "Sweet Arceus! Check this out, Lukey. This fancy seat's gotta be the most comfortable thing ever."

"Mind your behaviors! Just because Liam seems nice doesn't mean you can start fooling around!" Lucario scolded, although he too, took a seat next to Empoleon, "Oh…Then again, you made a good point. This stuff is amazing…Ah; my back has never felt so relaxed!"

…

The pokemon duo was half-way through a reality show when they heard Liam's announcement, "Okay guys, lunch is ready."

Lucario and Empoleon quickly got up and made their way towards the kitchen, upon entering which their nostrils were greeted by a mouthwatering aroma. When they located the source of that delicious smell, Lucario and Empoleon were surprised, as the dishes looked fairly simple rather than sumptuous or extravagant. In fact, all there was on the table was three dishes of fried rice.

"Heh, you sure eat a lot for a human," Empoleon smirked, before looking around for his expected bowlof pokemon food, "So where's our food?"

Lucario, being more observant and focused than Empoleon, immediately noted the food on the table was evenly divided into three portions rather than one big helping. A possibility formed in the aura user's mind, but it was simply too good for him to accept.

The two pokemon had no idea that Liam was studying them with a smile on his face, since their reactions were exactly what he'd anticipated, which once again, confirmed his earlier guess. Also, Liam especially found Lucario's mild bewilderment rather cute, not that it really mattered (matter or not, he'd find out later). Without keeping his friends hungry any longer, the human announced, “Okay guys, sit down and dig in."

“Very funny, but seriously now, where is our food?" Empoleon demanded impatiently; his hunger grew rapidly worse.

“Right here," Liam replied, gesturing at the steaming meal on the table, “From now on, no more pokemon food. You guys will join me and eat the way you always should."

“But why?" Lucario asked, looking rather startled, “I'm sure Derrick…I mean our master must've told you about our diet."

“Right now, he's not your master, and neither am I. in this house everyone is equal, so I don't wish to hold any authority over you." Liam explained while casually taking his seat, “Besides, even humans go nuts if they eat the same stuff day in and day out, so I think it's only fair you two can enjoy something other than pokemon food once in a while, at least until you're done staying with me."

Liam's words had different effects on the pokemon. Empoleon looked stunned, somewhat skeptical, but Lucario, on the other hand, felt an immense surge of warmth wash over his body. An aura master, he had no trouble reading Liam's, and Lucario could tell the human's intent was entirely genuine. Liam was also offering more than food, but also care and affection, both of which Lucario had never experienced.

Having been separated from his parents since he was a Riolu pup, Lucario knew he was lucky to be rescued rather than ending up some predator's lunch, and even though he was grateful for the help, such a price the pokemon had to pay, that it, at times, left him pondering which outcome would suit him better: Get eaten or enslaved. To repay his life-saving debt, Lucario had to constantly work and improve himself, in order to meet the standard of his rescuer, who happened to be an excellent trainer with infamous temper and discipline - Derrick's father.

When the old trainer retired to pursue his business, Lucario thought his fighting days were over. After all, the aura user had helped his trainer win numerous battles, and he certainly deserved a good, non-violent retirement. Unfortunately, all was crushed when Lucario's trainer gave him and Empoleon to Derrick, who, unbeknownst to his father, never intended to follow the old man's footsteps. Even a fool could easily guess what happened to Lucario and Empoleon thereafter, having fallen into the hand of a human devoid any kind of affection for pokemon.

Naturally, things went from bad to worse. Derrick treated his two pokemon like a waste of space, constantly passing them around to other trainers in the façade of small favors. To add insult to injury, he even ordered Lucario and Empoleon to act as entertainers for whomever they stayed with, effectively reducing the two from fighters to street performers.

It didn't help that all trainers Derrick'd asked to look after him and Empoleon were almost the same: Shallow, insensitive and utterly selfish. All they cared about was Lucario's rarity, Empoleon's power and fancy but useless moves. Not once it crossed their mind what he and Empoleon truly wanted. Over time, Lucario lost his faith in humans, as he could no longer find any redeeming qualities in those greedy trainers.

But that all changed when he met Liam. At first, he didn't strike Lucario as anything particular. Liam seemed nice, but then again, all trainers Lucario's met prior to him were all like that, until they showed their true colors. However, when his aura-reading instinct kicked in, Lucario noticed something different about Liam - His aura was calm and soothing; he was kind and naturally so; he radiated comfort and gentleness…Everything Lucario desired, more than strength or meaningless victories.

“Guys, they're getting cold." Liam noted, pulling Lucario back to reality as he realized he and Empoleon were still standing there, speechless. To his credit, Liam, too, hadn't touched his portion at all, which proved he was serious about having lunch with them. Finally, Lucario decided not to delay Liam's hospitality any longer and signaled Empoleon to take their seats.

The two gingerly picked up their spoons. They had no trouble handling the tools, having observed humans sufficiently. Lucario's ruby eyes widened when he shoved the first spoonful to his muzzle - It was the most delicious thing he'd ever eaten; and here he thought his taste buds had gone numb from chomping pokemon food for so long. Judging from Empoleon's face, the water-type must be experiencing the same sensation.

Like a feeding frenzy, Lucario and Empoleon processed to wolf down mouthful after mouthful of their portions while completely ignoring their host, who was happily observing in silence.

So this is pokemon huh? They aren't that different from humans after all, and at least they appreciate good food, Liam thought, bemused. In no times, the plates, except for his, were all emptied, and the two pokemon looked as if they'd just been injected with an overdose of satisfaction, sighing lazily and rubbing their full bellies.

“I was going to ask if my food's okay, but that seems unnecessary now." Liam chuckled in bemusement; chin rest on his hand. Lucario almost jolted; his ears perked just as fast as they dropped when the pokemon realized he'd just acted like a total glutton in front of Liam. Empoleon, on the other hand, remained entirely relaxed. In fact, he was entertaining himself watching Lucario blush and squirm uneasily like a guilty kid getting caught red-handed - a stark contrast to the steel-type's usual intelligent and calm self.

“Oh, you don't have to worry about formalities, I tend to skip them here," Liam informed softly when he noticed Lucario's shameful expression, “but do go slower next time. If I were you, I won't try my gag reflex."

"You heard the man, Lukey. Loosen up, okay?" Empoleon chipped in, taking the chance to tease Lucario, who blushed even redder, albeit managed to give the other pokemon a dead glare.

Liam was pretty much tempted to remind Empoleon that he wasn't any better, but he decided to spare the joke, "Now you both know what you've been missing? Living is more than battles or plain pokemon food. There're many other cool stuffs you really should check out."

"I smell flattering." Empoleon smirked.

"Don't get it wrong, I simply tell the truth. Oh, and about that question you had earlier, Empoleon, well, I'm not a trainer. I do like pokemon, though I've never seen one this close until now."

"Isn't that kinda weird?" Empoleon ventured.

"I'll say, but my folks…well, they have a bad history with you guys, really bad, and they're afraid the same thing might happen to me, so they always try to keep me occupied with studying." Liam explained bitterly, suppressing a sigh, "Anyway, I arranged my schedule, so I'll try to find myself a pokemon this spring."

"But what's the point of getting a pokemon if you don't like battles?" Lucario asked, finally shaking off his embarrassment.

"Don't be uptight, Lucario. I know, and I think you both know, there's more to you than strength. I'm interested in who you are, not how you fight." Liam replied in a mild, good-natured tongue; his fingers entwined, "And now you know my intention, rest assured that until your time here is over, you can do anything you like, minus the kick-boxing part. I honestly doubt you can cover the damages should anything is broken during one of your 'friendly spars'."

His last words were accompanied by a playful wink, and Lucario suddenly felt blood rush into his cheeks once again, this time for absolutely no particular reasons. The pokemon quickly hid his blush behind a bashful nod. Unfortunately, none of that escaped Empoleon, who then smirked to himself. His next few non-fighting days might turn out more interesting than he'd thought.

…

After lunch, the two pokemon returned to watching TV, while Liam retreated to his room for a nap. A few hours later, Liam walked downstairs with a huge pile of books in his arms and a content smile when he peaked into the living room and noticed how happy and relaxed his two pokemon guests were.

"Oh, hey Liam! Where're you going?" Empoleon noted gleefully as he spotted his host.

"Looking for a place to do my homework. This is my favorite spot, but you guys seem to have fun, so…yeah, the garden will do." Liam said, the smile never left his face, "By the way, I'm heading downtown tonight. You guys care to join?"

"Downtown? But where?" Lucario inquired.

"Dunno." Liam shrugged, "Strolling around, maybe stop by a bakery for some teeth-rotting sweets. I figure you two might get bored. Besides, just because you can't fight doesn't mean you should do nothing but eating and watching TV. So, anyone's in?"

"Sounds good! I need to get some exercises." Empoleon beamed, "Besides, you said something about…sweets, right?"

Liam chuckled. Empoleon might be a final-stage evolution, but he wondered if the pokemon's childish side had ever changed along with his appearance.

"What about you, Lucario?" Liam offered, and Lucario, for some reasons, avoided eyes contact with him. A timid nod was all Liam got.

Liam was slightly startled. Compared to earlier, Empoleon had clearly opened up and acted much more friendly toward him, yet Lucario seemed to get even more reserved, which made Liam wondered if he, by any chance, had done anything to offend the pokemon? Then again, Liam was sure he always considered his actions and words very carefully, so why?

No matter, I still have plenty of time to figure it out; Liam calmed himself mentally and spoke aloud, "Alright then, we'll be moving after dinner."

Empoleon waited until Liam disappeared from his sight, then turned to Lucario, "What's wrong, Lukey? I thought you said it's rude to look away when people are talking to you? Not setting a great example, aren't ya?"

"Shush it!" Lucario snapped, the tips of his ears reddening rapidly. He'd gotta learn to control his feelings before things went out of control.

…

Later, Liam still occasionally wondered if he'd made the right call, choosing that night to go out.

By then, Lucario and Empoleon had both gotten used to human food, and Liam had to say: These guys could seriously eat. During the meal, Liam tried to make short, light-hearted chats with his two guests, but most of the times, Empoleon was the one to reply. It was fun and Empoleon really opened up to him, but Liam expected more enthusiasm from a certain steel-type, only to be left disappointed. Lucario remained the same, if not even colder toward him. Where did the cute, ruby-eyed pup disappear to? Liam painfully wondered.

The first two hours were nothing but perfection. The weather was nice and slightly cold, and there happened to have a carnival going on in town, so Liam decided to let his two friends enjoy some festive atmosphere. The trio entertained themselves with all kinds of game they could find, although it was quite a bummer that those involving speed, strength or accuracy were human-only. Liam, a nature marksman himself, solved the problem, when they found a shooting game booth and soon walked away with the main prizes: Two royal-blue scarves.

"Do you want these?" Liam offered, "I bet they'll look great on both of you."

"You keep them." Empoleon insisted.

"Nah, I already have one at home. Besides, it's getting cold, so here…" Liam chuckled and gently wrapped his scarves around Empoleon and Lucario's necks. The steel-type looked as if he was about to petrify when Liam's hand slid around him.

"There you go, nice and cozy. Now all we need is a warm drink. C'mon, I know a place with excellent coffee and dessert."

Liam led the pokemon duo to a small cafe on the far east of Jubilife City. The store didn't look like much from the outside, but its interior was packed with amazing decors: yellowish brown paintjob, cushioned chairs; luxurious chandeliers and landscape pictures. Last but not least, the place also allowed pokemon customers.

The trio quickly made their order. Liam had to fight back a smile when he saw the impatient look Empoleon was making. Even Lucario could hardly conceal his eagerness.

"See, Jenny? I told you this place is awesome."

Derrick's voice made Liam almost jump out of his seat. At the same time, he noted the anxious expression on both pokemon's faces - something he couldn't explain. However, one thing was clear to Liam: Lucario and Empoleon didn't want to see their owner here, and coming over to say hi was out of the questions. Derrick, fortunately, was oblivious to the trio's presence, thanks to the café's dim light and their conveniently unnoticeable spot.

He ditched Lucario and Empoleon to go on a date with that chick? Liam thought angrily when he overheard Derrick and Jenny talk about their Kalos trip, but was snapped back to reality by Jenny's question, "So, will the pokemon come along?"

"You should know me better, of course they aren't!" Derrick said, and without even looking Liam could picture his smug face, "By the way, those two actually belong to my dad. He told me to take care of them, but honestly, they're a pain in the ass."

"So why don't you just throw them away?" Jenny asked matter-of-factly.

"Wish I could, but the old man's made it clear: I can't, unless someone volunteers to adopt them." Derrick shrugged, but his voice suddenly turned husky, almost sickly sweet, "But don't worry, Jen. I promise there'll only be you…and me."

Beyond disgusted, Liam just wanted to throw up on the spot. If Derrick'd gone alone, Liam would've stormed over his table and beat the crap out of him. More importantly, he felt for Lucario and Empoleon. Being mistreated by their owner was one thing, hearing that person say they were…Liam couldn't bring himself to think of those words, just brought the cruelty to a whole different level.

From then on, silence shrouded the trio, human and pokemon alike, even when their orders arrived. Liam could tell the pastry was great as usual, but it tasted like mud his mouth, and he had a feeling his two pokemon friends were experiencing the same thing. Even Empoleon, who was impatient for sweets earlier, didn't appear to savor his treat.

The trio left shortly after Derrick and Jenny had. During their walk home, Lucario and Empoleon remained silent, and though the duo tried to look normal, their sunken shoulders spoke volume. Derrick's brutal words had clearly done the damage, and Liam felt guilt bubble in his stomach for dragging his friends into this situation. The human sighed. He wanted to do something nice for the duo, he really did, but in the end, all he managed was getting them hurt even more.

The night suddenly got colder. For some reasons, there were still people who deliberately ignored others' presence and feelings. How crudely hilarious…

"You two okay?" Liam asked concernedly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you here."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Lucario said; his voice quivered, "We always know Derrick's that kind of person, and he'd admit it sooner or later."

A startled Liam started at Lucario, sighing in the relief from the realization that the steel-type still hadn't crossed out his name from his talk list.

Wrapping his arms around the pokemon duo, Liam said softly, "Let's go home."

…

The following days, Liam, Lucario and Empoleon did their best to ignore the 'Derrick' incident and resume a normal life. Every morning, Liam would wake up and made breakfast for the duo before heading to school. There was something intriguingly warm about taking care of others rather than just himself or being tampered. Lucario and Empoleon were also surprisingly nice guests. Not only did they keep his house in one piece, the duo even learned to clean up, having watched Liam's demo a few times. Also, his time with Lucario and Empoleon taught Liam so much about pokemon: They possessed intelligence, emotions, compassion, finesse and most importantly, will, all of which made them essentially same as humans, if not even superior. As such, pokemon were no ordinary pets, and by no means should they be passed down or around like some kind of dispensable property.

Another reason for Liam to enjoy his time with the duo was…Lucario. The steel-type tended to avoid speaking or making eye contacts with him, yet his deliberate ignorance didn't discourage Liam. On the contrary, he felt even more enticed by Lucario's odd behaviors. Several times Liam caught the pokemon staring at him, and when he met those ruby eyes, Lucario just quickly turned away.

Liam was no fool. He quickly realized what kind of feeling he'd been harboring towards Lucario, which shook, but didn't disgust the human, for he knew it wasn't something he could control. That was the good news. For the bad news, Liam was uncertain if he ever got a chance to confess his feeling. The general moral standards just didn't approve it, and Liam had no idea if the aura user even swung that way. The teenager couldn't risk his friendship with Lucario.

The only one who outright enjoyed that awkward situation was Empoleon. Every now and then, he would catch the sigh of Liam and Lucario glancing at each other; both seemed to be regretting something, and while Empoleon enjoyed their reactions, he was also annoyed by their lack of courage. The bad thing about living in a sophisticated society was that its standards sometimes drilled bad scenarios and hesitance to one's head. That being said, Empoleon wasn't going to let Lucario and Liam beat themselves over some stupid prejudice. He had his own idea, after all.

…

The one-week stay eventually came to its last day. After dinner, Lucario and Empoleon volunteered to help cleaning the table, although the former's mind was solely lamenting the fact that he wouldn't be seeing the cute and kind-hearted human after tomorrow. Only when a certain pokemon gave him a firm, sudden pat that Lucario was violently snapped back to reality.

"For fuck's sake, don't sneak on me Empoleon!!!" Lucario snarled.

"Sneak on you?" Empoleon said smugly, "You, the mighty Lucario, freaked out because I patted your back? More importantly, how the hell could you not notice my presence, being an aura master and all?"

Mortified, Lucario scoffed as he bit back a whine and the urge to shove an aura sphere down Empoleon's throat, for everything he said was true. The steel-type had built a reputation for his amazing perception, but right now, his instinct had completely gone blank; his mind was clouded by stuck-up thoughts and worries. He felt lost. He didn't know what to do.

"Something's in your mind, isn't it?" Empoleon inquired, his voice was so serious that it made Lucario flinch.

"No!" Lucario replied flatly. The last thing he needed was Empoleon knowing about his secret crush on Liam.

"Wanna keep it all to yourself, fine." Empoleon shrugged, "Do what you have to do, just make sure you won't have anything to weep about later, Lukey. Trust me, regret is one nasty bitch."

"Wait a sec…" Lucario held up his paws in a time-out gesture, "I am being told what to do, by you…I mean, seriously, by you?"

"Well, whether that's the case, or I'm just being incredibly sarcastic." Empoleon smirked, "Make a wise call, 'cause no matter how things turn out, you're the one to deal with them. I can see we all want a happy ending, but even in cheesy bed time stories, that ending has to be earned."

"Meaning?"

"You're smart, Lucario. Think, and figure it out." Empoleon said cryptically, and Lucario couldn't decide what irritated him more: being lectured by a sage-mode Empoleon or the water-type talking in riddles. Granted, his friend did make a huge point - Lucario would never know the outcome if he didn't give a shoot. And even if he did screw up, what could possibly be the worst? He wouldn't be here tomorrow anyway.

…

"Uhm, hey…"

Liam was pulling plates out of the dishwasher when he heard Lucario's voice. The human turned around and greeted his friend with a smile, "Hey, Lucario."

"Can I…ask you something?"

"You just did." Liam pointed out wryly, and Lucario felt even more like an idiot, "D-do you have a moment?"

"Apparently, I do. What is it?" Liam grinned.

"I, uhm, just want to talk with you…but not here. Can we do it in the garden?" Lucario said meekly.

"Sure, let's go." Liam nodded.

Soon enough, the two had settled on a small bench in the garden. It was a starry night, but Lucario hardly enjoyed the scene. Heck, being so close to Liam, he found it difficult to breathe, leave alone finding the right words to say. As his patience worn thin, Liam sensed the steel-type's uneasiness and decided to break the silence, "Well?"

Knowing that he could no longer stall, Lucario forced himself to speak, "I…I just want to thank you. Of all the humans I and Empoleon have stayed with, you're the only one treat us so nicely."

"That's the least I can do," Liam smiled, "A week with you helped me realize how amazing pokemon are. I just wish you two didn't have to leave tomorrow."

"Yeah," Lucario agreed.

"By the way, I appreciate your gratitude, but I just don't think anyone would make a talk only to say thanks. Is there anything you haven't told me?" Liam said, leaning a bit closer to the aura user. Heat rushed to Lucario's cheeks as he felt all the molecules in his body might combust if Liam got any closer. He tried to speak, but his muzzle couldn't move, as if it'd been glued shut.

Lucario's mind might hesitate, but his body knew exactly what it wanted. The steel-type didn't remember when or how it started, but when senses returned to him, Lucario was holding Liam tightly, pressing his muzzle against the teenager's lips. Somewhere in the back of his conscious, the aura user just wanted to crawl under a hole and die, but unsuppressed lust and passion had taken control of his body.

He had no idea how long he and Liam made out, but when Lucario finally let go, both of them looked seconds away from suffocation. Looking at a stone cold, speechless Liam, the aura user just wanted to die in shame. Instead of confessing like he should, Lucario had lost control and stole a precious kiss from Liam. In other words, he screwed up, and this time, his mistake was unfixable.

"I'm sorry, Liam. I-I…" Lucario stammered dejectedly.

"Wonderful night sky, isn't it?" Liam's irrelevant reply made Lucario's ear twitch, "But not as much as you."

The steel-type was given no time to register that compliment when a familiar warmth and softness invade his lips once again - a kiss which he quickly and instinctively returned. The passionate gesture got even more heated and sloppy when both started to make use of their tongues: Swirling and exploring each other's mouth, exchanging saliva and wrestling for dominance.

The passionate lip-locking had a potential to continue forever, but their air-drained lungs said otherwise. When parted, Liam softly cupped Lucario's muzzle and looked into his ruby eyes, "That is my answer. Good enough for you?"

Warm, salty liquid started leaking out from the corner of Lucario's eyes. Never had the aura user thought he was capable of weeping, but thankfully, they were tears of joy, which soaked Liam's shirt as the human embraced him, "You have no idea how much I've wished for this, Lucario."

Lucario gave a small shudder as Liam softly brushed the fur on his head, "Now that things are clear between us, I can finally tell you my plan. You won't ever go back to Derrick again, Lucario. I'll keep you with me, forever."

Being with Liam forever? The thought was so amazing yet ludicrous; it made Lucario wonder if he was hearing right, "E-excuse me?"

"Do you remember what Derrick said when we ran into him? If that jerk doesn't want to have you, then I'll grant him his wish. You and Empoleon can stay here with me, not as pets or trained fighting tools, but friend…and lover."

"You'd do that for me?" Lucario inquired in disbelief.

"For you and Empoleon, but yes, mostly for you. Sorry I kept you waiting, but I was afraid…afraid the longer I was with you, the less rational I'd become, and I'd eventually lose control of myself." Liam grinned, lifting Lucario's chin and lowering his head for a kiss, which would've been passionate if it hadn't got interrupted.

"Well it's about time."

…

"Empoleon!" Liam and Lucario said in unison, both looking pale and dreaded by the prospect of having been watched by Empoleon the entire time.

"Having fun, aren't ya? Why left me out?" Empoleon said with a triumphant smirk, as if he'd won the greatest bet on the world. Pausing to enjoy Lucario's mortification, he continued, "No need to sweat, Lukey. First, I'm here to congrat you, not play pranks or laugh at you. Second, I'm utterly and happily indifferent to sexual orientation, so we're cool. And let's be honest, had it not been for my advices, would you be here with Liam, lovey-dovey and all?"

While Liam was slightly confused about what Empoleon was talking about, everything suddenly clinched in Lucario's head: The way Empoleon smirked back then, how he teased him, how he talked in a cryptic yet oddly correct way, "You knew all along about me and Liam?"

"Bingo!" the water-type clapped his hands, "I've been fighting alongside you since day one. If anyone knows you, Lukey, it's me, and as your friend, it's only fair that I helped you. Besides, I did gain a lot from this gamble."

"What do you mean?" Lucario inquired, eyeing Empoleon suspiciously.

"Freedom. Free from being a puppet. Free to do whatever I want. Look at Derrick and his father, we spent literally half our lives fighting for them, but had they ever paid us any respect? Those humans are hopeless, Lucario, don't you want to be free from them?" Empoleon asserted; eyes gleaming with such thirst that it scared Lucario.

"Something tells me that isn't all." Lucario ventured.

"As usual, your perception is excellent. Yes, there's another object of my desire, and he happens to be sitting right next to you."

Empoleon's words, as if didn't sound obvious enough, were accompanied by a flirtatious wink toward Liam. The reactions were immediate: Liam responded with a faint blush while Lucario had the perfect expression of someone who'd just finished the horror movie of his lifetime.

"Before you throw a love tantrum, let me make my points, Lukey," Empoleon said calmly, "I'm sorry to say this, but I don't love you, Liam. Sexually wise, I do find you…appealing. So here's the deal, Lukey: This human is totally yours, but I do have my need, and I hope you'll help me relieve in such times."

Lucario imagined how angry Liam would be when he heard those words, but the human's answer was…nowhere near his expectation, "I agree."

"Empoleon was right. Without him, you wouldn't have been here, and he certainly deserves a reward. However, I hope you don't expect to sway me, Empoleon, cuz just like your previous statement: I don't love you either. No matter how many times you have my body, my affection belongs to Lucario."

"Excellent! Just excellent! You're truly magnificent, Liam. I've worried if Lucario made the wrong decision choosing you, but now I can rest assured." Empoleon exclaimed gleefully, "Well then, I say we do something to celebrate this special event."

"Didn't we just have a huge dinner? I don't suppose you can eat more?" said Lucario mockingly.

"Oh no, but sex would be great. Anyone in the mood for a threesome?" the water-type offered, but his bluntness rendered both Liam and Lucario speechless, "What? People usually have sex after confession, don't they? And don't pretend that you aren't horny. I can smell your arousal in the air, both of you."

Blushing hard (though barely noticeable due to the night), Liam decided to put an end to the awkwardness, "Fine, but in my room, okay?"

(Moments later)

"Are you sure about this?" asked Lucario gingerly. In truth, he was droolingly hypnotized by the sight of his stripping lover.

"We're already here; it's too late to back out." Said Liam as he removed his shirt and pants, revealing his lean body, toned chest and firm abs. Now only in his boxer, the human blushed softly, "Though I must admit it's really uneasy, standing buck-naked in front of you two."

In the middle of the fabric surface, a bulge was noticeable. As for Lucario, his face was getting so hot that the steel-type assumed he could actually make fried eggs on it. Unlike his two anxious friends, Empoleon simply whistled as he feasted his eyes on the sexy human, "Just relax and leave it to us. Lucario, you're gonna join me or stand there all night?"

Lucario didn't need to be reminded twice. Making his way to the bed, the pokemon gave Liam a quick kiss, before running his cold, wet nose all over his lover's bare chest. Liam smelled slightly of sweat, yet to Lucario, it only added to his exotic and addictive scent. After a while, however, Lucario decided smelling wasn't enough, and Liam could only gasp as he felt a warm, slick tongue against his flesh.

Meanwhile, Empoleon was watching the pair in amusement as he didn't expect Lucario to take time enjoying Liam, given how aroused he'd been. Of course the water-type planned to be more than an outsider. While Lucario distracted Liam with his skilled tongue, Empoleon silently made his move; his claws wrapped around the painfully twitching bulge in the middle of Liam's boxers.

From his groin, Liam felt a tingling pleasure, but Lucario's assault reduced what little reaction he made into an audible gasp. As Empoleon stroked the bulge, transparent liquid began to soak through it, followed by the unmistakable musk of a young man in his prime. Empoleon never let such a treat go waste, and soon enough, his hungry tongue was lapping away at Liam's groin, adding to the already dampness.

"Guys…Please!" Liam begged; the hardness of his erection had grown beyond durable. Empoleon knew that too, and he decided not to push the teasing too far, especially in their first time, not to mention a certain steel-type who also wanted to grab a bite for himself. Pulling Liam's boxers down his legs, Empoleon removed the last restrain to his desire - An eight-inch human cock swinging proudly in the air. Pre constantly leaked out from the uncut tip, as if restating its master's unquestioned vigor and masculinity. The already thick musk now increased by tenfold. Both pokemon stared hungrily at the Liam's maleness, and without a word, they began to assault it relentlessly, earning a loud yelp from the surprised human.

Outside the battle field, Empoleon and Lucario were prone to bicker and tease each other, but at this moment, their coordination was flawless. Empoleon circled his tongue around the thicker base, feeling every pulse of heat from that tasty rod while Lucario practically worshipped the tip, savoring his lover's precum like a canine enjoying its bone. Liam'd previously been overwhelmed by the dual stimulation, but the ongoing treatment was another on different level. As his most private area was pleasured by something other than his hand (and much better too), the young man was reduced to a state of short-breathing ecstasy.

"I-I can't hold on…Ughh…" Liam groaned, feeling his orgasm rapidly approaching. His warning, however, only drove Empoleon and Lucario crazier with lust as they sucked and licked his cock with twice as much the pace; every drag from those two warm, wet tongues sent chills down Liam's spine. It didn't help that he was a virgin, and a few seconds later, Liam finally gave in to the stimulation. Milky semen shot out from the young man's phallus in thick ropes, but instead of going waste, it landed right on to two awaiting tongues. The two pokemon let Liam vent until he had nothing left to offer, and then started to enjoy their treat. Lucario was ecstatic. Leave aside the delicious, intoxicating flavor; that he tasted Liam's essence alone gave the steel-type quite the chills.

Poor Liam, having nearly drained himself after what could possibly be the most powerful orgasm in his life, the young man could only try to replenish his air reserve with gasps and pants. Lucario, as if wanted to show his gratefulness, cupped Liam's face and licked his cheeks lovingly, before planting a passion kiss on the human's lips. At this point, he'd completely ignored Empoleon's presence, focusing on nothing but his delightfully handsome lover, "Do you like it?"

"The most amazing thing in my life, but really exhausting too." Liam replied, blushing at his confession.

"Good, think you're ready for more?" Empoleon suggested, licking some of Liam's cum off his claws.

"You mean…?" Liam blushed brightly. Now he understood why the phrase 'that escalated quickly' was overused in those pornographic novels. Lucario seemed to share the same sentiment, as his face was just as red as Liam's, "Empoleon, you're taking things too far."

"Oh please…" Empoleon shrugged, raising his voice in mockery, "Too far, said the guy with a raging canine boner. I don't suppose you plan to sleep with that going on, huh?"

Empoleon's words hit the bull's-eye, and Lucario could only hang his head in shame. He imagined the next thing coming out Empoleon's mouth would be mortally embarrassing, but in the end, the pokemon was still his friend, and real friends knew better than crossing the line, "…But, since you're his lover, you're one to make the call, Lukey. You decide which way to go, and I'll handle the rest."

If Lucario attempted to count how many times had Empoleon rendered him speechless tonight, he'd definitely lose track. Then again, Lucario couldn't agree more with his devious friend: He was utterly aroused, and nothing but wild mating with Liam could satisfy his carnal need. As for how to bring up that subject, he was still…working on it.

Thankfully, Liam, as he always did, knew how to make things easier for both of them, "Lucario, before we do anything, just answer this question. Be honest. Right now, what do you want the most?"

All reasoning in Lucario's head crumbled at once. With a quiet growl, the steel-type replied, "I want…no, I need to fuck you, plant my seed deep inside you and make you mine!"

"Finally let loose, huh? Perfect. Come and get it, my magnificent Lucario."

A wild-eyed Lucario watched as Liam casually lay back on the bed and spread himself wide open, exposing his naked rear to his lover. Stunned, Lucario stood frozen on spot for a good few minutes, until Empoleon grew impatient, "Don't keep him waiting, Lukey."

Like a dream-walking person snapped back to reality, Lucario grabbed his erection and slowly lined it up Liam's opening, but before he progressed with the penetration, the steel-type suddenly remembered he hadn't done any prep at all. Whether this was Liam's first time or not, Lucario couldn't risk hurting his lover, but since they had no actual lube, Lucario decided to improvise. Gathering a large quantity of pre from his tip, Lucario smeared and rubbed it evenly all over his length, making sure it was slickened and ready for a good pounding.

Liam gasped as Lucario pushed his hips forward, feeling that exotic canine shaft spread its way into him, slowly yet steadily. He didn't pretend Lucario's cock caused him no pain, yet the foreign pleasure it delivered was more than enough to compensate any discomfort. He could feel every bit, every vibration, every wave of heat and the increasing thickness of the invading shaft as Lucario slid deeper into him. Moreover, when Liam looked at Lucario's blissful and pleasured expression, he could almost feel his lover's affection. He knew Lucario's arousal had reached its breaking point, but the pokemon still managed to restrain his urge and treat him so gently. That realization made him wanted to get up and kiss Lucario, but instead, Liam decided to lie still and let the pokemon sink another inch of his cock into his needy, virgin hole.

Lucario paused when he'd managed to push most of his length into Liam, save for the knot. Breath reduced to short huffs, the pokemon took his time to relish the sensation of having his cock inside someone else for the very first time. Liam's insides felt truly divine - so soft, so warm, so wonderfully tight around his shaft, and it took every bit of the pokemon's willpower to not just hunch down over his lover and pound away at him.

Their eyes met, and Lucario almost lost a heartbeat when Liam smiled at him lovingly, "Incredible…you feel so good inside me, Lucario."

The pokemon flushed furiously as he heard those delightful words, but his cock reacted even faster. Fair spurts of pre shot out from the twitching tip, adding extra lubricant to the fleshy tunnel surrounding it. The sensation made Liam shudder. If it felt this good already, he wondered how long he'd last when Lucario actually moved. Strange enough, that thought only made Liam more eager to start. Raising his hand to stroke Lucario's cheek, he said sensually, "I'm good. You can move now."

Lucario couldn't have been happier to oblige. Gripping Liam's waist firmly, he began to pull out, feeling the human's flesh squeeze his shaft, as if it didn't want to let him go. Liam moaned and twitched when Lucario's cock left his body; having been used to being filled up, and the emptiness was not agreeable. Thankfully, when only the tip remained inside, Lucario finally thrust his hips forwards, wedging his breeding organ into his lover one more time.

Liam moaned loudly as he was taken; spread wild open by Lucario's delightfully thick cock. He couldn't believe it fit inside him so perfectly, as if he and Lucario had always been made for each other. Lucario shared the same sentiment, as he looked the human beneath him and smiled; blue, furry balls swinging as he withdrew and thrust forward again.

Empoleon watched the two go at it in silent amusement, satisfied that everything turned out exactly how he'd orchestrated. Still, the ongoing show had rendered him painfully erect, and Empoleon knew it's time he had some fun too. Busy fucking each other, neither Liam nor Lucario noticed a certain approaching pokemon, not until that very pokemon's tapered cock came to rest right above Liam's mouth.

"C'mon Liam, you haven't forgotten me, have you?" Empoleon cooed lustfully, his body signals telling Liam what the human needed to do. Not wanting to disappoint, Liam immediately got to work. A deep breath brought Empoleon's scent to invade his nostril, and it was quite unlike what Liam'd expected. The musk was there, strong and unmistakable, but with a hint of intriguing freshness, which Liam figured must have something to do with Empoleon's water attribute. Wanting more, Liam processed to swallowed Empoleon's cock, taking the entire length into his mouth with one go.

Soon, all that could be heard in the room was the mixed sound of wet slaps, suckling noises and pleasured moans. On the creaking king-sized bed, three individuals were engaging in the most intimate and lustful of acts. At one end, a Lucario was rutting his lover; his hips moved back and forth relentlessly, working his breeding organ into his beloved one's depths. At the other end, an Empoleon was enjoying the blowjob of his lifetime; his length engulfed by a warm, wet mouth, massaged by a slippery coiling tongue and squeezed by a tight throat. In the middle, a handsome human, stuck in a spit-roast, was relishing the immense pleasure given to him by both pokemon, while trying his best to return the flavor at once; hands clutching the bed sheet tightly.

When Lucario got his rhythm under control, he took a deep breath and marveled at what he was doing. He was mating with a human, a male human, but that thought left his mind just as quickly as it appeared. Liam was a godsend, was everything he sought from a mate, and Lucario would never stop until he finished marking the human with plenty of fertile sperm.

It was then Lucario felt a warm hand wrap around his back and stroke his fur gently. Liam. Even amidst such intense stimulation, taken utterly at both ends by two pokemon, the human still remembered…remembered his one and only lover. It made Lucario shuddered with happiness and equipped him with a determination to give Liam everything he could muster. Stroking the human's toned chest, Lucario began to increase the pace of his humps, gently applying more pressure to Liam's tender insides, and finally he hit that spot. Even with his mouth blocked a huge cock; Liam's moan was still audible as his prostate was jabbed by Lucario's intruding length.

Empoleon was having quite a wonderful time himself. If he had to make a statement again, Empoleon would stick to his earlier claim of having no romantic attraction for Liam. Yet, the human left him with something even more special than love. It was friendship - different from that between him and Lucario but still ran as deeply. Besides, Liam gave one hell of a head. Empoleon had tried masturbating, but the human's warm oral orifice was better than his rough claws, by a landslide. With the lively tongue squeezing and massaging his length, it took Empoleon quite the willpower not to cum now and then. It'd be a waste to end this ecstasy too soon, and Empoleon couldn't afford to cum before Lucario did.

Still, both pokemon knew the end was near. While Empoleon was desperately moving his cock in and out, literally mouth-fucking the human, Lucario, in particular, was having a hard time as he tried to make Liam cum first while struggling to contain his orgasm. The pokemon wanted to make sure every drop of his precious seed was secured deep inside Liam, and in order for that to happen, he need to get his rapidly extending knot past the human's tight sphincter. Lucky for Lucario, his lover, being a virgin and all, was unable to hold back after nearly twenty minutes of straight coupling. A muffled yelp was all Liam managed as his cock pulsed and delivered jets after jets of sticky semen into the air. The human's climax also affected Lucario, as his anal muscles began to clamp extra tightly around the pokemon's shaft.

Wrapping his arms around Liam's midsection, Lucario pounded his lover hard with feral lust; his knot grinding against Liam's ring of flesh as it forced him open, gradually making its way into his delightful tunnel of flesh. After who knew many thrusts, the pokemon's knot finally into Liam's ass with a quiet slop. Throwing his head back, Lucario let out a whine as he ejaculated inside Liam; his cock throbbed and flooded the human's guts, coating every nook and cranny of his intimate depths with luscious sperm, none of which could escape thanks to a certain knot.

The surprise sensation of being utterly filled with Lucario's knot as well as silky, warm cum wracked Liam's body and brought him to another heart-stopping, albeit much weaker orgasm since he was exhausted from having already come twice. This, accidentally, also caused the human to suck Empoleon's cock even harder. With his cockhead nestled dangerously against Liam's throat, Empoleon succumbed to his orgasm and unloaded in erotic spurts. Gushes of watery cum flowed directly into Liam's stomach, but somehow he could taste the flavor. Spicy, salty yet pleasantly sweet. Strange combination, and even stranger that Liam found himself enjoying it while his belly swelled from Empoleon's impressive volume.

As Empoleon removed his spent cock, Liam immediately gasped and panted, making hasty inhales to refill his lungs while marveling at what he'd just done. He blew a pokemon and got fucked by another. His bowels laced with Lucario's essence, his stomach full of Empoleon's load. It was a perfect combination of fullness which was supported to be immoral, yet somehow felt so right and natural.

Exhausted, Lucario began to collapse, but Liam held onto the pokemon's shoulders and gently rolled him over the side. They smiled at each other as the human reached out to stroke his lover's cheek. Then, Empoleon's arms wrapped around his waist from behind as the water-type spooned him sensually. Embraced by both pokemon, Liam felt as if he was protected from all harm. He only wished they could just stay like this, forever.

…

Lucario grimaced as the morning sunlight spread across his face. Grunting, the steel-type gingerly sat up and rubbed his eyes. The room smelled of freshly cut flowers with no stench of copulation whatsoever, and the bed sheets wrapping around him felt as clean and comfortable as they ever could. Most importantly, neither Liam nor Empoleon was there.

So everything was a dream? They feel so vivid though…The steel-type thought, sighing wistfully. It hurt him so badly to realize today would mark the end of his wonderful week with Liam.

The door creaked open, and Empoleon's face peaked in with his trademark cheeky grin, "Well, look who decided to wake up? But your timing is great, as usual; Liam's just finished making breakfast."

…

"Morning, sleepy head." Liam greeted Lucario as the pokemon duo entered the kitchen, "You two hungry?"

Empoleon didn't need to be invited twice as he happily set to consume his portion. Lucario, however, stood still on the spot; eyes glued to his endeared human.

"What's wrong?" Liam asked, noticing the steel-type's odd reaction.

"Liam, before we part…" Lucario said; his voice trembled, "I just want to thank you for everything. I-I…"

"Part? The heck are you talking about?" Liam frowned. Walking over to Lucario, he lifted the pokemon's chin and looked into his crimson eyes, "In case you forget what I told you yesterday, let me say it again: From now on, you'll be going nowhere. This house is now our home, and I'm your mate. Understood?"

"So then…everything last night was real?" Lucario said in disbelief, feeling his heating up in embarrassment.

"Well of course, what do you think…Hold on, don't tell me…you thought it was a dream?" Liam noted, and started laughing at the top of his lungs. He was joined by Empoleon almost immediately, "Oh sweet Arceus, Lukey, seriously?"

"Shut up, both of you!!!" Lucario shouted indignantly.

A new, joyful day had just begun for those three.

(THE END)