Touko's hatred for Team Plasma was fueled by an indefinite amount of facts.
One, they were so unbelievably hypocritical, it made her sick. The way they ordered their poor Pokemon was awful. She couldn't stand their abuse, even if the Pokemon managed to do something awful to her own Pokemon under their brainwash.
Two, she hated their leader. Everything about him made her want to send her own Pokemon after him – N had done so to her once. After the time he had informed her, "First, I must tell you... I am the king of Team Plasma", she automatically knew she had been betrayed. She promptly knew nothing would change that she precisely hated him for leading such a corrupt group.
Three, the fact that their hypocrisy affected her own life to such an extreme. They killed one of her Pokemon. Her beloved Liepard, Liam... He died protecting her from them. It was all their fault – she would never forgive them. She remembered every single detail – down to the spot.
It was in the interior of the Cold Storage, that's where it occurred. The Plasma Grunt she faced had sent out a ravage Watchog. The look in its odd eyes showed it was abused and mistreated by the hypocrites. The crazed thing had scars all over its slender body – it appeared that the scars came from an abusive tool.
She recalled the Pokemon she already had out; her Pignite, Leroy. Leroy had been used throughout the storage, since his Fire and Fighting typing was able to defeat most of the enemies within. To her surprise, the Plasma Grunt started muttering commands.
"Watchog, use Hyper Fang on that bitch before she can get out another Pokemon! And make sure it's damn effective!" he almost sounded drunk with the pleasure – killing the girl who had caused so many problems to Team Plasma would be highly appreciated among his peers and king.
She grunted in fearfulness, unconsciously clicking the Pokeball the contained Liam. She was willing to get gnawed at by the overgrown Patrat if it meant protecting her team. Liam was far too protective to allow such things. The Liepard shot out of his Pokeball, fully aware of the situation. He pounced on the ferocious Watchog – pinning it to the cold ground with an echoing "thump".
The Watchhog's yellowing teeth bit down on the majestic Liepard's chest. Blood was speedily drawn – covering the mussel of the Watchog within mere seconds.
"Liam! No!" Touko cried, her chest heavy with anxiety for her precious Liepard.
Liam hissed in the undeniable pain yet was quick to use a powerful set of Fury Swipes across the Watchog's hide. Blood drew from the rodent yet, he wasn't going to give up so quickly. The Watchog sank another set of glowing fangs into the Liepard's throat – more effective than the chest. Liam didn't hiss this time. Instead, an piercingly loud screech uttered from his slender throat.
As if Touko could feel his pain, tears consequently swelled in her aquamarine eyes. "Liam, get out of there! Come here, I can heal you sweetie!"
Liam was too stubborn to listen. Instead, he used his energy to deliver a final blow across the Watchog's face – causing it was faint and let go of his throat. Liam was panting in the exhaustion of the battle and from the loss of blood. Touko fleetly ran to her Pokemon's side, ignoring the Plasma Grunt as he returned his brutal Pokemon. Liam fell down on his side before Touko could get to him.
"Liam! No, no, no..."she hummed under her breath.
Touko swiftly pulled out from the interior of her bag a Super Potion. It was something. It had to work on her precious Liam. She rapidly settled the mischievous cat's head on top of her lap. He peered up at her with emerald eyes. He posed a smirk for her in an instance to let her know that he would be okay – they would be okay. Touko applied the potion on his throat gently yet in a fast pace.
Liam was clever enough to figure that the wound was too deep to fix. He was clever enough to know that Touko knew it – somewhere in the depth of her complexion. She wouldn't accept it – she was stubborn as Liam was. The potion didn't make the wound's gap close, it didn't stop the bleeding... all it did was relieve his pain to the slightest.
"Liam... hold on, baby – hold on for your mama," she begged, petting the slender neck of the Liepard.
She was unaware of the fact that blood was soaking her jean shorts and running down her legs. It also managed to cover her arms and hands – she was too caught up in the idea of healing him that she didn't care. Liam's breathing was congested – a sign that death was greeting around the corner. Touko searched her bag, finding another Super Potion.
She applied the Super Potion on her Liepard. This continued with three more Super Potions. Nothing made him better, nothing closed the bleeding gap. She wouldn't let him die. He wouldn't die, not as long as she was with him.
"C'mon, baby... please!" Touko's voice cracked, showing signs that she was about to reach her breaking point.
She didn't recognize that his eyes had become covered in a layer of gray gloss. It wasn't but minutes after she applied her last potion that his mysterious emerald eyes closed for the last time. Her hands shakily reached for his head. She cupped his sharp cheek, running a thumb over the soft fur above his mouth.
"C'mon, Liam... remember when I-I promised you that we would fight the Elite Four together? You would get to meet Grimsley – the best Dark-Type trainer ever! Then we could ask him to teach us techniques and—"
"Touko, he's dead."
Touko didn't flinch or turn around to see where the source of the voice was coming from. She knew far too well who the voice belonged to; her longtime best friend, Cheren. She was too indulged in healing Liam – she didn't care if everyone else believed he was dead. He was alive in her mind. It was only an hour ago that he was purring as she petted his luxurious fur. She petted him then as if his body wasn't icily cold or his fur wasn't matted with blood.
She completely ignored the comment, resuming to her cooing. "You will get stronger. You're already a strong Liepard—"
Cheren knew that she would ignore his statement. "Touko, look at his chest. He isn't breathing, that means he's dea—"
"G-Go to hell," she spat coldly at her best friend, not concerned of how he would feel.
Even though she knew deep in the pits of her heart that Liam was dead, she would never live with it. Her hand pet up and down his blood-soaked, freezing cold neck. She was unaware that her own tears were dropping onto the body of the Liepard, infusing with his fur that was matted with blood.
"Touko," Cheren commended to walk closer to her, "... he isn't here with us any longer. Come along, let's get him out of here and—"
"No! Dammit Cheren, he isn't dead!" Touko furiously shouted, echoing the empty storage unit.
Touko was so absorbed that she hadn't noticed Clay and a few Cold Storage workers come in and arrest the Plasma Grunts. They probably noticed the blood-soaked floor surrounding Touko, yet ignored the weakened form. Her cheeks were soon reddened not only by the cold air but by the flustered feeling arising in herself.
"... Touko," Was the only thing Cheren could murmur.
Watching the eerie scene sickened Cheren's stomach. He could tell through the dim lighting that a layer of violently shed blood covered the entirety of Touko's lap. At that point in time, he knew she would refuse to let Liam go... unless she was force to.
"This is for your own good..." he briefly muttered to himself, aware that Touko would not likely listen in.
Cheren reached for the Pokeball on his belt. He released the trusted Pokemon of his – an aged Dewott. Back when Cheren first received Atticus the Dewott, Professor Juniper was provisional to give such an early trainer a wise, old Pokemon such as Atticus. However, Juniper was observant of Cheren's leadership skills and amazing knowledge of the Pokemon world.
"Atticus," he called hesitatingly to the skilled otter, "... get Liam out of her arms."
The serious Dewott askance over the form who moved up and down – in sync with her hiccups and chokes. Beneath the sobbing form; the dead body of a Liepard. He knew it was for Touko's good to take the precious Pokemon away. Cheren rested a balmy hand upon the shoulder of Touko. The feeling of her body going up and down caused the ill feeling in his gut to worsen. Atticus went to the front of Touko - catching her attention. He placed a paw on the dead body, being able to feel how eerily cold the body felt.
"I'm sorry, Atticus... may I have a moment with Liam to myself?" Touko asked; entirely blinded by her rage and sadness.
Atticus looked up to Cheren. Cheren nodded, signaling that anymore time in the Cold Storage would surely go to Touko's head. Besides, her clothes weren't suitable for the cold environment. With that being said, Cheren's arms swiftly wrapped around her stomach and began to pull her away. As Cheren pulled her away, Liam's body was snatched by Atticus. Touko was hurried to realize what they were doing.
"No!" she screeched at Cheren, possibly damaging his hearing.
His grip on her became stronger as her effort to get to Liam became a full-out struggle. Atticus threw the equally sized Pokemon over his shoulder, having to get over the putrid scent and sight of his blood. Touko became insane in the idea of losing her beloved Pokemon – he was hers!
Cheren's grip around her was tightened, pulling her back more as he commanded his Dewott, "Atticus, take him outside! I'll calm Touko down—"
"You will never calm me down, not ever!" she snapped in one of the most antagonized tones he had ever heard her use, "Give Liam back to me, now!"
"Touko, stop it right—"
"Give him back, bastard!" Touko cried – whilst sounding terribly desperate.
She all of a sudden eased herself – catching Cheren off guard. After landing elbows in his chest, she was able to escape. Cheren alertly recovered and caught up to the flustered trainer in a heartbeat. Cheren clutched her slender wrist tightly, twirling her around afterwards so she faced him. Her fierce eyes glared into his in a way that was showing she was willing to hurt him if it meant getting to her beloved Liam.
"Dammit, let me go Cheren!" she still struggled, finding it odd how he overpowered her.
"Touko, he is dead! It's too late to heal him!" Cheren snapped back, attempting to her head out of the clouds.
"No! We just need to—to take him to the Pokemon Center! Dammit Cheren, they can heal him! He's alive, I know it! Please Cheren, please, please..." she wasn't screaming like before – she was crying more and more with each plead. Cheren had never heard her so desperate.
"... do I have to...?" he grunted underneath his breath before continuing on, "God, Touko! There's a Cryogonal's chance in hell that your Liepard is alive!"
"No..." she frustratedly murmured. "No... no..."
"You have to believe me, Tou—"
"No! You're a liar, you bastard!" she hastily pulled away before delivering a fist to his chest.
He simply stood there, taking the fist he threw at her. Each fist left a bloodstain on his white shirt. There was no doubt that the blood was from no other than Liam.
"I can't believe you would say that Cheren!" she screeched, a fist hit him.
"You have never lied to me!" another fist hit him.
"B-B... burn in hell!" she snapped fierily, yet another fist hit him.
"Give Liam back to me, bastard!" she shrieked, her face beating red with anger.
Touko was taken aback when his hand reached out and grabbed a fist that was about to hit his chest yet again. His teeth were visibly grinding against each other in the anger bottled up within him. Touko's swollen, aquamarine eyes went wide once he took her other hand. He backed her up against the wall behind her. His hands pinned her wrist against the wall as he came down to her eye level, glaring her down.
Cheren was brutally honest, "Touko, Liam is dead!"
She spoke through her flustered pants, she spoke, "But—"
"He is dead! There's no amount of crying or pouting you can do to bring him back! Think for a minute, Touko! Liam wouldn't want to see you like this!"
Silence rang through Cheren's ears. Touko's eyes askance to the side as if she was in deep thought. He decided to keep talking, furthering his endeavor to make her somewhat sane.
"I don't like to see you like this, Touko! You can't do this to yourself... Liam wouldn't want you to do this to yourself, either. Get real, Touko. He's dead. There's nothing we can do but respect and honor him by burying him... Please, Touko..." he sighed, quite overwhelmed himself, "... I beg that you come back to your senses..."
His icy looked into hers for an answer. He shortly glanced to see her hands curling into fist. Moments later, he heard a choke come from Touko.
She was heartbroken and crying.
Crying was incredibly out of charterer for Touko. The girl who loved battling, who loved climbing trees, hated expressing negative emotion – was crying... He was prompt to release his grip on her wrist and toboggan his arms to her waist. He snaked his welcoming arms around her oddly delicate form, letting her bury her head in his shoulder. Her whole body quivered with fear and anxiety as she accepted the fate of her Liepard. Her arms reached to his back, clutching his shoulder blades and deepening the hug.
"Cher..." she hiccuped through her tears.
"You'll be okay... for Liam," Cheren murmured to her a hope and comfort.
He placed chin on her scalp, deepening the hug further. She bawled against him, furthermore making the pain reform in his chest. This girl crying into him was his best friend – the girl he cherished since his childhood...
"Hey, four-eyes!" Touko teased with a kiddish lisp – the lisp came from her missing front tooth.
She sat on high above the ground on a fat tree branch – at least twelve feet above the ground below. Eight-year old Cheren was worried for her. She was probably twelve feet above the ground; a fall could do some damage. She was probably trying to catch a Pidove with her hands whilst exploring the tree. Cheren looked up at her, pushing his glasses up.
"I told you to stop calling me that, you bother! You get down from there!" Cheren hollered at the girl that was only a bit younger than himself.
She raspberried before reaching up and grabbing another branch. She pulled herself up and sat on the branch as a tease to Cheren.
"You're not my mother, silly Ducklett!" she giggled after saying so.
"Touko, there's probably a Pidove up there!" Cheren was getting seriously worried at that point – Pidoves around Route 1 were capable of doing damage.
"So? It's a Pidove, not a big ol', mean Archeops!" she was swift and changed the subject, looking down at him, "Hey, Cher? Do you know if any Joltik live around here? You are a smartie-tartie, you should know!"
Cheren crossed his arms at her, tapping his foot as he did. "No, they don't. They live in Chargestone Cave – which is right next to Driftveil,"
She twisted her head, baffled. "Oh... 'cuz I really like 'em,"
"I promise, I'll catch you one when we're bigger. Now, come down here, you silly Ducklett! I'll get your mother if I have to!" he threatened.
She gasped. He did not just threaten to get her mother, that jerk!
"Hmph! Tattle-tale!"
"I don't want you to get hurt, Touko!" he glared at the girl as he hollered.
Cheren looked back at the memory, thinking of how things have changed. She had always been able to fend for herself, even as a child. Of course, she did dumb things and he had always managed to drag her out. Up to then, he realized then that he would have to protect her, considering the fact that Team Plasma viewed her as a threat.
He had promised her twin brother, Touya, that he would keep an eye on her as they went on their journey. He was going to now, he genuinely meant it... Cheren impulsively remembered one of Touko's comfort quirks. He tentatively yet calmly reached up and ran fingers through her bistre locks, shushing her as he did. The quirk activated and sooner than later, her sobs were becoming hard to hear.
When she was calm enough, he pulled away from her. Touko couldn't look up – she didn't have any energy left. She honestly felt like falling down, going to sleep, and never getting up. Cheren's hand squeezed her arm gently, regaining her attention. Aquamarine eyes looked up for a brief second but abstain away when her friend began talking.
"Touko, you're colder than ice. You should've listened to your mother when she said to pack a jacket..." Cheren brought up.
He took off his jacket and handed it to Touko. Hesitatingly, she reached a hand out and placed it on the soft material. To Cheren's surprise, she pulled away.
"I... can't take it. You're going to get cold," she protested.
Stubborn, he still held it out. "I don't want you getting hypothermia,"
She softly sighed to herself. She didn't want to have to deal with his stubbornness, not now. Touko reached a rough hand out to the jacket and with the wobbly hands, she placed the jacket on. She was surprised to find it pleasurably warm and it smelt like... cologne... Cheren wasn't the kind to wear cologne – well, that's what she always thought. Maybe he had worn it for sometime but she had yet to notice...
She flinched whenever he grabbed her hand.
"C'mon, let's get out of here. Let's go bury Liam,"
She felt her eyes commencing to swell. She bit down on her lip to finish any hiccups that were to come along with the tear.
She nodded, "Alright,"
Touko couldn't help but clutch onto his arm. She felt so safe with Cheren. He was so much smarter and he could figure out anything. He could bring a tranquility to any situation for her... He didn't even mind the fact blood was soaking her clothes – he just wanted to make sure she was fine.
Touko stayed on his arm throughout the burial. After Atticus and few other Pokemon of Cheren and Touko's made a hole, they buried the loyal Liepard. She didn't cry – she had done enough of that. She had been brave for Liam. As Cheren said, Liam wouldn't want her to cry.
After the nightmare, Cheren offered to take her to a hotel and rent a room. Well, more of, he forced her to go. She had plans to camp out on Route 6 nevertheless, she was too overpoweringly freezing for Cheren to let her go. He wanted to make sure she'd be okay. After all, that's what best friends do, they look out for each other.
She stayed clasped to his side; in the streets of Driftveil where people gave peculiar looks at the blood covering Touko, in the lobby of the hotel, up until they were in the room. Once in the moderate atmosphere, Touko took herself away. She plainly stood there looking at the two beds and it frightened Cheren.
Before he could ask what was wrong, she spoke.
"Cheren, I'm so tired..." she whispered.
Cheren wasn't too surprised. He had noticed her becoming sleep deprived since the begging of their long adventure across Unova. Each time he saw her, the skin around her eyes became rougher and darker. Battling was starting to stress her – he wanted to recommend against it yet, she had gotten too far to simply stop.
"I want to... sleep..." she was whispering to herself now.
Cheren wanted to laugh at the tired, drunk-like state of Touko. Withal, he needed to deal with a certain manner first.
"Touko, do you want me to wash your clothes?" he brought up the fact blood soaked nearly her whole outfit and her thighs.
She turned with an apathetic way to him with her aquamarine eyes looking at his icy ones. "I... guess... I'll just... throw away this tank top, I have more,"
He knew that the blood wouldn't wash out, it would just leave a stain with a painful memory behind it. She was aware of that herself, of course. She stripped off the jacket, catching Cheren off guard. He flinched a bit, backing up as he did. He felt a blush cease his neck and an awkward look creep upon his face.
"... I'm not stripping right here, I'm just giving your jacket back," she managed to smile.
Cheren was glad to ultimately see a smile on her face again. He almost ashamedly looked down as she handed him his jacket. The mood fell back down to the depressed state when the blood was visible. The blood reached from her mid-torso to her thighs and was beginning to dry up. Touko sighed and in hurried state, she sped walked into the bathroom with her bag – which the bathroom was conveniently right next to them.
Complete silence came over the two. Cheren waited for her to slip her clothes out, possibly. Well, he wasn't sure if should even would slip the clothes out. He didn't know if he was using it as an excuse to stay near her. He was believably afraid that she would go into a mental break down, crap like that.
Or maybe it was the fact he could hear her clothing drop to the tile of the bathroom with a "thud" that echoed the hotel room.
He swallowed back the awkward lump in his throat. Before he could continue, he heard the bathroom door open and swiftly close. He turned to see her bag was propped up against the door.
"I used all my medicine back at the complex, so my bag is practically empty other than the fact that it has all my clothes – w-would you please wash them all for me? Don't worry, I have my Pokeballs in here with me," her voice cracked at one time.
She had done this to protect Cheren of the awkward situation of dealing with her clothes. Cheren didn't bother looking – god knows what was in her bag. He was aware that she had developed a habitat of having at least one Pokemon on her at all times, even if it was when she was bathing. Maybe it was because of the fact she was scared of being alone because her journey made her come to terms to the fact that she couldn't protect herself in such a world. After that day, that made sense in Cheren's head.
"Alright. I'll be back in a little while," he responded, not knowing what else to say.
He left with her bag, not before grabbing his own clothing and a single Pokeball of his own.
Cheren had placed the clothing in the washer before going to a chair located across from the washer. Cheren was glad the hotel had a washer – he didn't want to deal with a Touko with bloody clothing and a godawful smell. He had to ignore the uncomfortableness of dealing with certain articles of clothing from her bag.
He felt a nudge at his hand once he sat. His own Liepard, Cato, was asking Cheren to pet him. Cheren rubbed at the Liepard's temples, earning a purr from the Liepard. Cheren knew it was going to take Touko a couple of days, maybe even week or two, to act somewhat normal at the sight of a Liepard...
Particularly Cato. Cato was Liam's twin brother.
Cheren and Touko simultaneously caught the similar appearing Purrloin brothers. Both were ill-famed for causing mischievous around the preschool school on Route 4 and they wanted the two out of their sight. Touko wanted the fiery one – whom was Liam. Cheren couldn't take the cat's constant meows and need of attention. Both brothers adored each other. Whenever Touko and Cheren saw each other, they would let the two reunite.
Something was off about Cato, as if he knew what Cheren was about to say. Cato was suddenly submissive and his purple scythe tail hung low. Cheren continued to pet the Liepard's sturdy neck.
"Cato, your brother was killed," Cheren spoke almost too quickly for the Liepard.
It was as if Cato already knew well enough what had happened. He had battled in the Cold Storage but, Cheren was unsure if the Liepard was out to witness his brother's brutal attack. Cato had been out to see his brother's burial but, not to help. Cheren wanted to clear things up with the Liepard. Cato took in a deep breath before depressingly settling his slender chin on Cheren's knee.
"I apologize for not saying anything sooner... Touko's a mess. I'll be with her for a few days, most likely. I don't think she wants to see another Liepard for awhile. You are going to be in your ball for a while, if that's okay with you...?"
The Liepard stood there in silence, staring up at his trainer with eyes like Liam's. He nodded slowly, understanding Cheren to the fullest.
Cheren simply comforted the Liepard as he sat in silence for an hour.
Cheren reappeared nearly an hour and a half later with her bag filled with clean clothes, along a bag of his own clothing. Cato's Pokeball rested on Cheren's belt, confined and out of Touko's sight. Cheren knew Touko was one to take long showers – peculiarly when she was stressed. He closed the door behind him and observed his surroundings. The bathroom door was open and cleaned, she had done a good job of making sure no blood was anywhere in the bathroom.
It smelt like Touko in the hotel room – an oddly girly scent for a tomboyish girl such as herself. It smelt like cliché girly berries and flowers, in reality rather satisfying. He could remember a conversation he heard her and Bianca having before the journey about some special shampoo made especially for longtime traveling female trainers. He payed too much attention to those conversations – so much that it's where he got his education on the menstrual cycle, no book or parent included.
He heard shuffling as he looked over to her bed. Touko got up and Cheren almost turned away at that sight as the gentleman he was.
She simply wore one of his basic white shirts with nothing covering her perfectly toned thighs. She blushed herself, completely forgetting the fact she wasn't wearing pants.
"S-Sorry. I accidentally gave you all my pajamas so... I took the liberty of taking one of your clean shirts and, well..."
Touko's Pignite sat on the bed along with her Ducklett, Aphrodite. The quiet Ducklett stared inquisitively at Cheren as Leroy did also. Touko must have talked to them about the events of that since her eyes were somewhat swollen. Her arms crossed as her slimly wet hair shifted around on her shoulders. Cheren had nearly forgotten what she looked like with her hair down since it had been months since the last time he saw the curly mess down.
She was enchanting and nothing would ever change that.
"It's alright but... a little warning if you ever do that again," he could feel his body tensing and he prayed that nothing else would tense.
He walked over to his bed, putting his stuff down once he was over. In the meanwhile, Touko sat back down on the bed. Aphrodite flew onto her lap, roosting herself on her trainer's lap. Cheren handed her bag to her once he got everything settled.
"Thank you," she timidly spoke.
On the spur of the moment, her hand slipped up, grasping his own before he were to pull away. She continued her thanks with, "... for everything,"
Cheren smiled at her as she shied away, clasping her bag as she did. She placed the bag the side of her bed, near Leroy. Cheren appeared to be getting ready to take his own shower, ready to retire in after the long day. As he assembled his things, he felt a tug at his shirt. He turned back to see Touko with her fair skin hand shying away. She looked up with her aquamarine eyes, ready to ask for something.
"... Remember when we were younger a-and... I'd get sick all the time?" she asked quietly.
Cheren nonchalantly sat on his own bed, right across from Touko. He gave a questionable look at her, quite curious to see what she was reminiscing about.
"Yes, I do Touko. I would come and read a book to you – it surprisingly calmed you. I remember now..." Cheren reminiscence himself, rather fond of the memory.
Touko had always been the kind of child who wanted her mom to read her books all the time. She secretly loved imagination, even as a teenager. She seemed to be suggesting something to Cheren, due to her knowledge of his love of books.
"Oh... you want me to read you something?" Cheren puzzled together.
"Y-Y... Yeah! If it's... not a problem. I honestly tried to sleep after my shower but, I couldn't... Maybe if you read, that could calm me..." she reached up and commenced twirling a strand of her hair in her finger as she honestly spoke, "your voice calms me, anyway..."
Cheren smiled at the mildly flirtatious comment. He reached into his own bag, fetching a book. Touko couldn't see the cover, yet she was glad he was actually reading for her. She did what she did as a child – get under the covers and look at Cheren as he read. Cheren was a little older than herself and she simply had to admire him; his leadership, bravery, and intelligence. He perpetually worried over Touko and it worried herself, to be honest.
He started reading a passage from his book.
"In a land unlike our own, there lived two kingdoms," Cheren commenced, prompt to catch Touko's attention.
"Wait, are you reading—" she felt a wave of excitement rush over her, swift the realize it was one of her favorites.
"Yes, the Prophecy of the Kingdoms. Now, don't be a bother – let me go on," he attempted to clear her as he began to read further more.
She quieted down, cuddling against the material of her comforter. Her Pignite was leaned against her, his arms supporting his chin as he looked at Cheren. Aphrodite has roosted herself on the pillow neighboring Touko, finding herself quite interested in the story.
"Den was the name of one of the kingdoms. It was ran by Electric-Type admires. Whenever you were born, they gave you an Electric Pokemon of your parents choice. If you didn't have parents, the Kingdom's officials choose for you. Everyone, young and old, woman and man, wife and husband—was to be able to fight. They were one of the strongest kingdoms in the world; no kingdom had bothered to tear them down," Cheren's voice had a tone he used only when reading – a tone that made her bubbly inside.
She could start to feel herself relaxing as Cheren continued to softly read.
"Everyone got along with their Pokemon. There were a few moments when a child would not like their Pokemon or accept the responsibility of raising one. However, they were quick to change their mind. The Pokemon were quite useful to someone such as a mother with a husband out on the fields. Pokemon were smart – Joltik could create web thick enough to support the weight of clothing, Zebstrika could travel for days without food nor water, and Manectric were expert hunters. They were an essential part of everyone's life in the Kingdom of Den,"
The more he talked, the more calmness and serenity rushed to her mind. He looked down at her, making sure she was still awake and interested.
"You want me to keep going?" he properly asked.
"Please," she murmured, muffled by the comforter.
"As you wish," he looked back down at book, flipping the page to catch up to where he was.
"The Kingdom was ruled by a powerful, wise King. He went by the name of Denatsu. He was respected by all, even in his illness. Due to his illness, his only son would have to take over. Senshi was a young man with a build similar to his father—having similar near red-amber eyes and dark skin. He even had the same jet-black curly hair,"
Touko was so in the story yet, she felt a wave of tiredness rush over her. The serenity was getting to her, so was Leroy's quiet snores.
"It was a day not long after he had been diagnosed with the eerie illness. The king was in his bed, nurses on either side of him—attempting to heal him. Not even the most skilled Audino could fix him up now. His coughs contained blood and lasted for minutes. Senshi would have to accept the death of his father—one way or another. His father had called him up one day. The nurses were gone, his wife—everyone except his faithful son,"
"'Senshi,' the king had weakly murmured, 'I need you to do something before you're crowned the king.' Senshi had looked down at his father, bitting back the thought of crying. He had to be brave, he had to. 'What would that be, my father?'"
Cheren mutely stopped, sensing to check on Touko. Her eyes were hidden by her eyelids and her slowly rising and lowering frame proved she was asleep.
He restfully continued the last bit, "'Ask a girl for her hand in marriage. You need a queen—someone who'll make sure you never go mad with power, someone who will love you, even if no one else will.'"
With that, he shut the book and placed it on the bedside table. She was surely asleep along with her Pignite and Ducklett – safe and sound from any harm for tonight. He wordlessly stepped over, pulling back a loose strand of her brilliant bistre hair. She smiled in her sleep, appearing so dear.
He would protect her, even if it meant his own life.
Touko awoke to the feeling of an odd tickle, running up her leg first, continuing to her her hip, coming to her arm. At first, she thought it was Leroy was messing with her. Aphrodite was far too aristocratic to do such childish play. She realized the source was too tiny to be Leroy's hooves. She opened her aquamarine eyes to view whatever was crawling all over her.
An adorable, petite Joltik tied with a red ribbon rested on her chest, looking at her with its compound-eyes.
Touko gasped, shooting straight up. The Joltik attached on for dear life, cuddling into Touko's chest. The affectionate and precious Tick Pokemon looked up with its azure eyes. Touko was captivated already by the Pokemon. She looked around the room to see an already risen, fully clothed Cheren. It appeared as if he had already been out, suggesting the slightly worn appearance of his own.
"She's friendly, don't worry," Cheren exclaimed.
Touko watched as the Joltik crawled over her collarbone, going to her shoulder and examine Touko's bistre locks. Touko chortled slightly to herself, easing her tense body. Leroy and Aphrodite appeared to have gotten up themselves, observing Touko and the Joltik.
"Where did she come from, Cheren?" Touko asked, quite curious.
"I caught her... for you."
Touko face flushed with blood – making her cheeks rosy. She coughed awkwardly as she held her hand out to the Joltik, who acceptably crawled on Touko's hand.
"I'm very grateful then, Cheren. Does she have a name?" Touko asked, wondering what she should refer the Joltik by.
"What about Den?" he offered the name to her.
She stared into the Joltik's four eyes, observing the ecstatic energy within the Tick Pokemon. This Pokemon was her team's hope – she felt it. She smiled as she watched the Joltik start to nibble on her finger.
"I like it. Den it is."