Ch. 69
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Claire
After everything that had happened, after how far we had come, and everything we had faced to get here, I was determined to see it through. I didn't have to ask permission. This was my place to shine. The stands were packed full, but the crowd was nothing. The support I needed was right there next to me. Tempest winked, snapped her teeth at me playfully. Mira waved a ribbon in my direction from atop Cocoa's head. Penance and Helena sat on either side of the podium master stood at. He nodded, grinned. The same almost vicious grin Sybil gave. I felt motivated to put on a show.
The trainer we'd fought beside yesterday was now facing us, and I could tell he was nervous. He had every reason to be. That energy carried into the pokemon I faced from his corner, announced as a pangoro. The world was a big place and I had only ever seen a small part of it. This would be new. Not that it would make any difference. Sure, they made it this far. I wouldn't take them lightly, but there was only one way I'd let today go.
My partner was small, a bird of vivid purple plumage. He seemed delicate, but danced with an elegance and a song that were honestly infectious. Still, something about the way he moved reminded me of Mira. As playful as it might have looked at a glance, the little bird was as serious as could be. Nobody was on this stage as a joke. Oricorio, from the announcer's voice, one of the island locals. As beautiful as he was, it made me wonder all the more for what splendor we would see when we arrived.
But first, we had to fight our way through this tournament. And that meant squaring off against that hulking pangoro and his partner, an elegant and beautiful dragonair. Something about the duo gave me pause, instinct, I suppose. A sudden wariness making me bristle, the fur of my tail puffing out, but the trainer working with us broke the tension, calling out to master.
"You figure we take care of the big guy first? How's your delphox from a distance?" He asked, from their side of the arena. It was an odd question, and master's thought to me reflected my own confusion. He meant to put his own pokemon in harm's way to cover me? That went against the nature of the tournament. The whole point was to be the last one standing, including through the allies you made yesterday.
"She can hold her own. But I think the dragonair's the bigger problem. Keep back until we can deal with that. No sense getting your bird hurt right now." Master wasn't wrong. The dragonair probably wouldn't have much trouble clipping the oricorio's wings. I didn't expect an easy time with it, either. Losing my team mate would have made it harder for me. Not impossible, but much more unlikely.
"You might be right about that. Fine, we'll do it your way." the Oricorio's trainer sighed, shrugged and called out to his partner. "Alright, Haka! You heard it, I know. Do what you can, but try not to lose any tailfeathers!"
I was glad that our bond didn't need words. He was right there with me. I could close my eyes and see it through his. His heartbeat slowed mine. He wasn't anxious. He was as calm as I'd ever felt him. His calm became my calm. The tournament didn't matter. The crowd didn't matter. Breathe. Settle. When the horn sounded, we were off. The pangoro charged ahead, taking a swipe at me as I tried to slip by. But I'd read it from across the room. Ducked the length of his arm, had thought to counter, but we had our goal, master and I. I would leave him to the oricorio behind me. I heard the cry, high and shrill, the roar as I made my move.
The dragonair was surprised, but sprang into action. My psychic attack against his water pulse. I knew it was bad news, I hadn't expected the sheer force of the blast. We were both momentarily stunned, but I shook it off first. His attack had blunted my own, and I could feel my body protesting, struggling to move how I wanted to. How I needed to. Our next exchange was only a little better, he coiled, sprang at me. A ferocious rush of attacks that I barely had time to guard myself against. Still, it didn't all go his way, the oricorio had managed to get a vicious shot in from behind. I'd never felt a wind as cold as what came from those wings, and I was fairly well removed from the immediate path.
The dragonair was shocked by the sudden chill, and seemed to struggle to shake free of the immediate tension it put into their muscles. From where I stood, I knew I'd been given a chance, a real one. I wasn't about to let it slip away. We had this one. Tempest and I had this one. Her thoughts and mine touched for just a moment, and I could feel her grin. This was perfection. Elegance. Our late nights perfecting this one single motion.
My early mornings making it my own.
Closing the distance I lashed out, a punch as hard as I could deliver, my fist wrapped around the branch I'd carried for so long. My fur had polished the wood I held to a silky smooth finish. About the only mercy my poor arm was going to get. But I'd make it count. I knew how, and I knew where, and his whole back made him one tragic little target. From where I was, the pangoro would never see it coming. It was more than a punch. It was the culmination of every ounce of training I'd ever had. Every effort I'd ever given. All of my focus. All of my tears. Every thought, every ounce of me to make this count. It was more than a punch, it was almost trance like, the focus I had on his back. Here and now and I'd make sure he never forgot it!
Trainer
I hadn't realized it at first. But the trainer I was working with, and his oricorio had managed to control the entire dance from the very start. I can't imagine what could have gone better, or different. If we'd gone with his original plan, I wondered what would have changed. The elegant little bird had managed to peck and scratch his way into keeping the hulking pangoro's full attention, while making sure the beast's broad back blocked him from the dragonair.
Claire had played her role to perfection, and managed to put our enemies back to back. The oricorio had capitalized on this with an icy wind that left the battle stage glistening with frost. The pangoro shrugged it off, but the dragonair froze up. It was then that she defied my expectations, and lashed out with a blow I had never seen before.
The impact had pitched the pangoro forward, every effort made to keep his feet under him, but with the force of the impact he had already begun to come crashing down. Insult to injury, the oricorio lept out of the way, springing into the air for an acrobatic dive against the back of his head, the resulting landing taking what little fight the pangoro might have had left out of him. The dragonair panicked, and lashed out at Claire with his tail. The impact of the blow knocked her several feet away, but she rolled out the worst of the landing and got back to her feet, safely distanced from him.
It was the oricorio that stole the show, though. Another icy blast, deftly dodging that lashing tail, then a third, screeching with the howling wind until the dragonair collapsed, too frozen to even shiver anymore. That little bird was seriously tough, and I was agape at how quickly the fight was over. I felt out of my depth, completely. It was maddening, and delightful. Knowing how much further we could climb. How much further we'd have to.
"Not bad!" The trainer who had paired with me said, flashing a grin and a thumbs up from his podium. "Thanks for buying Haka the time! Your delphox has some slick moves! I'll hope to see you in the finals." It was polite, pleasantry, but we both knew he'd carried that match. Still, what could I do but respond in kind? A thumb up and a nod in his direction as the announcer tried to catch the mood and elevate it for the next match.
The roar of the crowd was deafening. We had won and were on our way to the fifth day of the tournament. Claire was bracketed for a role in the last pokemon standing match. Snagging our pins from reception, including the one I'd left from yesterday, we made it to the dining hall in time for an early lunch. It was almost strange to eat together with everyone after so many days eating apart. Sybil was over the moon about the show she had a front row seat to. Peppering Claire with questions about the training, and what she was looking forward to tomorrow.
Tempest on the other hand was quiet, seated beside me, her hand in mine beneath the table. Skewered meat and fried fish to enjoy between the two of us. Leaning into my shoulder, and nuzzling against me between bites. A quiet moment all our own amidst all the milling people and energetic conversation. A shared plate between the two of us, occasionally feeding each other a little of this, a little of that.
There was a stillness in her I hadn't felt since she was a rockruff. Since well before her evolution. When our days were mostly aimless gallivanting over whatever hill looked like fun. My hand squeezed hers, and the subtle thump of her tail curled over the bench we sat on was her answer. Subtle, gentle affection. Cocoa had moved in, settled next to me on the other side, and for a moment, I forgot about my worries, about all the things that had led up to this moment. None of it mattered. I was here, I was happy.
Tomorrow's troubles would come, and there was nothing I could do about it. Today was a day worth cherishing all the more because of it.
Claire
She'd looked calmer than I'd seen her in months. That little smile tugging at her cheek, playful nip at his fingers as he offered her another bite of fish. Tempest was beautiful. She was always beautiful, but here, this moment, this was the girl I fell in love with. He brought out the best in her. Always had. She was different with him than with anyone else, even me. A softness to her that she only really showed us. That I knew she'd be showing him again tonight. He loved that side of her, the moments where she felt sweet and shy. Behind the fangs and claws was the same girl who walked with him, over every hill, through every storm, anything to just be next to him. The same girl who watched with a wide-eyed wonder at all the things he and I got up to, before she was a part of it.
I loved her so much it hurt in my chest to not know quite how to tell her so. To not have the words to. All I could do was stare, and smile, and try and hold it tight in my memories. Something preciously kept, stories meant only for me. I'd brought them together, and it changed everything. But somewhere in the middle of it, I felt her thoughts reaching for mine, a note of concern, a query in a blue so soft and gentle I could feel the tears pricking the corner of my eyes. The flood of emotion she had in return made her grin, changed the hue of her thoughts to an embarrassed violet.
Sybil had fallen quiet, watching the moment shared between Tempest and I. Whatever she'd wanted to say wasn't forthcoming, and to be honest, I didn't have it in me to concern myself with it. My mind was already elsewhere. Occupied completely with Tempest, from across the table. Every thought, every breath, every heartbeat hers. Likewise, as her gaze held mine, she was open to me, so I held her, our thoughts as one for that brief, beautiful moment. Every desire laid bare. The gift I'd meant to give him before. Before all of this. I still wanted to. Still needed to. And I needed her beside me for it. It should have been her, to begin with. If we hadn't been in the middle of absolute nowhere, with our lover to look after all day! But this time, we had a chance. To get it right. To do it right, and do it together.
So with a wink at master, a loving brush of my hand at his shoulder, I stole her away, a day full of bother for the best of reasons. We'd return in the evening, and... and then I didn't know. I could bet it was going to be wonderful, though. Besides. It felt amazing to walk with her. To just ... walk with her and know we were stealing attention the whole way. Was I really being that obvious? Good. Let them envy me for the day I was about to have!
Mira was happy to fill the gap our presence left, a hop from her perch to wrap master up all at once, nuzzling against him in an almost playfully frantic sort of way, before settling in, and tugging his hand until he fed her the fried fish he'd picked up. A hearty chuckle leaving his shoulders shaking as he acquiesced to her demands in overly dramatic fashion.
"Yes, my queen." The last words I'd heard before he was out of earshot.
'You spoil her.' I couldn't hide the grin as my thoughts brushed against his. 'Yeah, but I spoil all of you.' His in return. A loving, wonderful truth.
And tonight, it would be our turn to spoil him.
Wendy
We'd taken to camping a bit further from the road every night. I'd enjoyed the privacy, and hell, we'd needed it. Sprinter and Stacky got in some training, while I set up the camp. Weren't too hard now that I'd gotten the hang of it. I'd learned a lot from our trip to the sanctuary, and it was easier when I knew how to find good ground. That part had gotten a lot easier with the help of our new friend, a cheerful little bounsweet who had taken to riding on my shoulder whenever she could. She'd also pointed out a lot of edible berries and fruits in the area, as often as not while we rode past. Which had been an absolute relief to me. I was as sick of canned and boxed whatever as anyone.
I wasn't as good a cook as he was, but I was getting better every day. I'd learned a thing or two from him, at least. Had the right tools on hand now, and that was half the fight. Stacky never objected to the saddle, or the bags, an' Sprinter and I often rode double on his back. No rush to be anywhere. Not this time. We took our time, and took our training seriously. I'd started too. Another thing I'd learned from our journey. Too many times my friends had pulled my boots out of the fire, and I knew better'n to think I could keep getting lucky.
I knew he and his pokemon worked hard as hell for everything they could do. None of it came free. Wouldn't come free for me, either. So when the boys were done playing, I sparred with Sprinter. He knew better'n to let me off light, and I knew better'n to treat it like anything but a fight for my life. Because tomorrow it might be. Carried a lot of bruises and got a lot of looks, but felt like I understood Tempest more and more each day. You take the beating and you carry it with pride, 'cause you know it was the best you could do, and you'll know better for next time.
We'd settled on trading off in other ways, too. Chores an' sex alike. Otherwise we'd not get much done but each other, and we knew it. For all Stacky was a selfish lover, Sprinter was a really generous one. Knew exactly what he was doin' to me, an' loved it when I was the one doin' to him. Loved makin' him shake and moan from behind him, too. He weren't shy about bein' inside me, but we both knew he loved it the other way around more. Suited me fine, my needs were met, only fair theirs were too. Besides, that was just an excuse to keep the right kind of toys around.
Sprinter would be waking me bright an' early in the mornin', and I'd be ridin' all day with a belly full of hot lopunny. Kinda funny thinkin' about it. I was shocked when I first figured it out about my friend and his girls, but look at me now. If anything I might'a been worse than he was! Here I was thinkin' maybe Sprinter would like a belly full from my best friend! Would be pretty hot to watch, if I could convince the big lug to give him a chance. Or to convince Sprinter to give my friend a go.
But that was a distraction for bed time. I had things to do still. We'd be trying for our second badge soon. Avoided that gym in the desert, in the end. We weren't ready for it and I knew that. We had time. We'd get to it when we got to it. For now we could enjoy the road, and each other's company. Was a damn fine feeling, and a damn shame it had taken me as long as it did to appreciate it.
I missed sharing the road, though. Missed his laugh, and the way he joked and played with Penance and Staccato. Missed knowing exactly what they were saying, too. A shame I didn't have him around to translate for me. Translate. Right. I missed his touch. Arceus, I missed him. I missed him, and I was worried about him. I knew he'd be fine. Tough as he was. He would be fine, and he clearly had a plan. Always did, didn't he?
Penance
In the end, I'd stolen him away. Taken him for a ride around the ship, a little sight seeing together. An excuse, really. I knew I shouldn't wear him out today, but I still just wanted him close. Idle chatter between the two of us, and the feel of his hand at the thick band around my neck. It felt good. Felt right. Nobody spared us a passing glance as we made our way to the upper level, by the battle decks. Some had opened up for general exhibition, instead of the tournament we were a part of, and it was fun to watch people squaring off with their partners.
We'd settled in to watch one in particular. A riolu facing off against a sneasel. They'd both had the confidence to throw themselves into it, and neither was giving ground. It was all a question of who would have the stamina to outlast the other. It was cute. Reminded me of being so little. Felt like a long time ago, but I knew that wasn't the right of it. Honestly I still found myself backing into things, or knocking stuff over with my tail.
In the end, the sneasel won, but both the trainers seemed proud of their partners. It had been a good match. They were scrappy, and it was a good show. Off we went, letting my paw pads take me wherever they'd lead. It felt good to just wander a while. I missed the road, for all the cruise had been an awful lot of fun so far. I missed being on the road with him. The freedom to run, and the quiet we found together so often. The moments where we could just sit, calm and still and take in the scenery.
I'd wondered how Wendy was doing, the thought came unbidden, bittersweet. I hadn't heard from her since we split up. I understood why, but that didn't make it sting less to think about. She'd made some mistakes, hurt me pretty badly, but that didn't mean I hated her. She had been my best friend for so long. I hoped she was alright. I knew I'd see her again, someday. But that didn't make me feel better, here and now.
I knew though. In my heart I would always know. I had made my choice, and I meant it to the core of me. I'd have missed him so much more, if I'd gone with her. Just the thought of that seemed to knock the clouds away. That, and savoring the feel of his hand through my fur. He'd picked up on my mood, leaned in close, kissed the top of my head, asked if I was okay. That alone was such a keen reminder of the stark difference between the two. He picked up on it by instinct and immediately asked if I was okay.
And... I was. I really was.
"Missing Wendy a bit." I admitted, nuzzling into his affection. "Just wondering how she's getting on." It felt good to say it. To be honest about it to him. To know he was listening, he heard me, he cared. "That's all, how about you? Anywhere you wanna go?" I wanted to get away from it, from the mention of her, it wasn't worth digging into. He followed the flow, and I was grateful. Maybe later I'd feel more like talking about her. Maybe.
Neither of us had any grand design in mind, content as we were to just be together for a while. So I followed my paw pads, yet again. We'd meandered below decks, and found ourselves in a quiet space, an usher guiding us in and to a plush open padded seat, big enough I could curl up behind master's back, while he leaned against me, idly stroking my head. We'd apparently found a theater show. A man on stage was being followed by a haunter, and seemed oblivious to it as the crowd rippled with laughter at their antics.
It was slapstick, and honestly hilarious. He was trying to get into a room, but the haunter was having none of it. Everything from ice down his shirt to a pan drop from above a window, the loud clang of it echoing in the theater over the ripple of laughter from the audience. Slips and falls and an increasingly frustrated sounding haunter with the man determined to not take the point. When the second human actor took the stage the antics only grew more complex. The first man trying to sell a vaccuum, and a rotom sneaking in to play havoc with it. Blowing a cloud of dust, and taking the hair right off the top of the salesman's head, only to play tug of war with it afterward. The second man trying to help but being comically inept and only succeeding in tangling them both up in a lengthy power cord, before the haunter and rotom shared a look that was equal parts exasperation and amusement as they left the two men to figure it out for themselves.
When their show ended, it was to no small measure of applause. A brief intermission, but we stayed where we were, and I enjoyed the cool and the dark as the next act moved to take the stage. I was surprised when he switched our positions up, quietly moving between acts to settle my head in his lap. I could hear his heartbeat, and the warmth of him so close to me, the scent of his soap, and the peaceful, happy darkness we found ourselves in had begun to lull me to sleep, despite the show we were enjoying. But he didn't mind it. Just stroked my head and let me rest as I was. It was a beautiful moment in what had been an amazing trip so far.