Ch. 25
Imported from SF2 with no description.
The scrub desert land began to transform, broad, rolling hills rising up across the landscape, brush and meager little desert plants giving way to grasses, bushes, even a few trees, dotting the landscape around us. The dusty road had slowly turned to darker pavement, unobstructed by the encroaching desert sands. I couldn't quite say how long we'd been on the road, not without stopping to count the days.
I was glad to be out of the sand, myself. For all that it had ultimately been exquisitely beautiful and a lot of memories I'd treasure, there was something utterly refreshing about leaving it behind.
Our next destination, our next real one was a few days out, following the road. But we'd all decided a detour was in order. Not for any particular reason, just… because we were there, and we might not be back that way for some time.
Of course, if Claire thought she was being sneaky, she wasn't. I could tell she was up to something. I couldn't say exactly what, but knowing her, a few ideas came to mind. She didn't let me in on the secret, but she and Mira both seemed pretty well engaged. I could tell they were talking, but it was just out of my reach. A lot of girly giggling and agreement though.
It was at once maddening, and delightful. I knew she intended to surprise me, and I wanted her to be able to. But not knowing what she had in mind, what she'd even be able to do? It was like having an itch, just out of reach. Too much to ignore, and nothing to be done about it!
Finally, a few days out from the road, well into what I'd have considered basically the middle of nowhere, Claire flat out asked me for a little time to go look around, to have time on her own for a bit. Worrisome it might be, but I had no reason to deny her that. Whatever she was up to, I'd just have to wait and see.
Mira volunteered to go with her, which set my mind at ease, and Claire, naturally, welcomed the company. Whatever misgivings I had about the idea of the two of them being away from me, I just had to trust that I'd raised them well, that they could look after themselves without me for a little while.
So it was that we'd set up camp, nestled against a copse of apple trees, a cheerful little campfire concealed from the world by our low position between the rolling hills. We would be, at least for a while, all by ourselves.
As the pair went off, I shot them both a quick thought, settling in to stoking the fire. A last bit of concern that they be careful and don't stray too far. Their reassurances were heartfelt, and it did help set my mind at ease somewhat.
The first couple of hours went by fairly quickly, I felt. I'd set to going through my pack, checking on our supplies. My hands brushed against the shard of shell I'd been carrying for all those months, and as I held it, glimmering in the light, I remembered that matronly charizard.
As busy as we'd all been, it made me wonder how she was. Where she was. If she was happy. If she'd found a way to make peace with it all. I wished I could talk to her again, see her again, if only once more. I sat for a while, in the privacy of the tent as Cocoa and Tempest kept an eye on the fire, and on the start of dinner.
Moments like this… that's what we lived for as trainers. To see the world, to take it all in, to share the journey. To share the experience. That's what I told her, wasn't it? I would have to get used to the idea of letting the girls go off on their own now and then. To trust they'd come back. As worrisome as it might be, they were my friends, not my children. Even if they were, I'd be a pretty poor parent to deny them the chance to really see the world they were a part of.
I laughed softly to myself as I re-packed that beautiful shard. “Thanks, mom. See you someday. Soon, I hope."
The little medical kit we had was looking a little sparse. We'd gone through quite a bit of the smaller supplies, and most of the ointments. I never held anything back when it came to preventative care, so it didn't surprise me. I'd need to take care of it though.
Until then, I decided we'd have to nix the actual sparring. Conserve the supplies, and maybe let some of the bruises heal. The girls had definitely learned to keep up with me. Even Cocoa forced me to keep my guard up.
I wondered, with no small amusement, how I'd fare at a human-only tournament these days. I knew I was more agile and guarded than I'd ever been before. I had to be just to keep from getting mauled accidentally. As careful as Tempest was, and she was very careful, her claws were no joke. I still carried scratches from our post-tournament lovemaking!
It had been long enough, I decided, as I zipped up the pack, slipping back out into the afternoon sunlight to join the girls at the campfire. Tempest and Cocoa kept up their happy chatter while I quietly sat back, watching the clouds roll by. It was idle girly banter. I'd have expected it from Cocoa, but Tempest surprised me.
“When I was little, I used to sneak into the shops, you know?" Tempest said, with a smile. “There used to be a pokemon that they always showed on the screens. I thought it was live at the time, but learned later it was a recording. She would sing and dance and everyone would cheer. The crowd would go on and on, just screaming for her attention between songs. She was really beautiful, and her voice... “ She trailed off, reminiscing. “It was just amazing to watch. I always wanted to do that. To have that kind of life. Be an idol."
She grinned, shaking her head. “Not a lot of room on stage for a terrifying idol, I don't think. But when you're a girl, you don't really think about that. About what you are, how the world is going to see you. All you see are the bright lights, the cheering crowd. Not what you have to give to make it there."
Tempest paused at that, looking up at me as I sat down near the pair. “Part of why I love what we do. I… if we get good at it, really good? I might see a cheering crowd from center stage. Those tournaments always get such big crowds…" She trailed off, laughing softly as I settled in and kicked off my shoes in the grass.
I spoke up, in that idle moment. From my lazy spot as I stared up at the sky. “We could enter those tournaments. I mean, there's a lot of amateur circuit ones, you know? People who have up to so many badges. They're… maybe not as big as the serious ones, but we could. No reason why not." It was funny. I never really thought about it before. It just hadn't occurred to me to be something we'd do.
Given my background, it was enough to make me laugh out loud, and let the pair in on the joke. “Somehow because it's you four doing the work, it doesn't occur that you might actually want to try a real tournament. I'm dense."
“We'd sure show 'em a thing or two, I reckon." Cocoa said, with a laugh. “Like that gym. Think we really surprised the woman."
“I guess. I don't know. I … it's stupid, maybe. I just want to see it. From the stage. All those people." Tempest said with a sigh. “Guess some part of me is still just a pup, starstruck by all the flashing lights."
“Maybe so, but you're my starstruck little pup. I think you could do it. Battle tournaments or fashion shows and singing. If you want, we can look into it." I said, propping myself up on my elbows.
She looked at me, a moment of stunned quiet, before her tail gave away her intent. She all but sprang up from her seat, diving onto me to shower me with kisses as Cocoa cooed in the background.
“You mean it? You really mean it?!" She asked, through happy, confused tears as she held me.
“What, like I'd tell you no, now? Of course I mean it. You're my girl. I believe in you. And if you want this, we will tear down everything in the way of it. You'd fight for my silly little badges. Least I can do is fight for your dreams."
She sniffled, and clung to me, shaking like a leaf. Cocoa gave us a little wave, disappearing into the tent, giving Tempest her moment.
She didn't say a word, not for a long time. Just held me, and cried, her tail involuntarily slapping against the dirt and grass as she nuzzled against me.
Eventually, I broke the silence, running my hand over her head, and singing a soft little love song. Her ears perked and craned for a moment, before she looked up at me, her normally intense expression soft, and full of longing.
She didn't interrupt, but as I finished, she pulled herself closer, and kissed me. She didn't say a word. Neither did I, as she fumbled with my clothes. There in the grass, and the sunlight, beneath the breeze and the birdsong, we made love.
Gentle, and tender. Every touch as warm and sweet as the moment we'd shared. This time, for the very first time, we were truly gentle with each other. She nuzzled into my neck, a soft, loving whisper meant only for my ears, and the tickling sensation of her tongue against my skin.
“Maybe I'll get that crowd someday… but your voice cheering me on is the only one I need. I love you. I love you so much."
What we had, in that moment, it was rapturous. Beyond words. Beyond imagining. We could go our whole lives and maybe never have that moment again, so beautiful my heart ached all the more for it. As her softly panting breath hitched, her body gripping mine, a whimpering, shuddering moan, a second gasp, and the feeling of all her muscles seeming to go slack at once, her eyes met mine, and she smiled, shy and embarrassed.
We lingered like that, the soft embrace, the mutual sense of being shy at our vulnerability. The love, and the warmth. It only took us a few minutes to reach our respective peaks, so we cuddled, we just held each other for a while, trading kisses and caresses.
“I might have had different dreams as a girl…" She whispered, after a while, her arms wrapping around me, holding me tight. “If I knew back then that I would have you."
When all was said and done, she took my hand quietly, and called to Cocoa in the tent, who came back readily, brushing her hand along Tempest’s shoulder in passing. The two went back to talking, but Tempest did so from by my side, her hand in mine, warm and loving and complete.
Cocoa had never really had any particular dreams of being anywhere else, it just never occurred to her that there was more than the farm. But she admitted with a cheerful little shake of her head that it would be fun to even go see an idol concert. To which Tempest readily agreed.
“Well, I can’t promise a when, of course. But we’ll make sure it happens.” I replied, as Tempest leaned into me. “It’s not as if we’re on any kind of schedule. We can always add a few more stops.”
We could, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to. With everything that had been happening lately, I was beginning to wonder if maybe the girls needed more time away from all the constant training and sparring. A more rounded life.
To be honest, I was beginning to wonder if maybe I needed that.