"Are you sure about this?" Terrakion asked. "I look like an idiot."

Terrakion looked at himself, he was wearing some sort of neck accessory, as well as some weird scented spray stuff.

"What is this stuff anyway?"

"The humans call the neckpiece a tie, and the spray stuff is called coulonge." Rotor said with a smile. "Keldeo really likes that stuff, and the first step for getting answers is to get him to like you again."

The rock warrior rolled his eyes.

I think this is a bit much though. He thought.

The two turned their heads as they heard Zero rush into the cave.

"Kel, Al, and Ice are on their way!" The Aggron said and grabbed a deck of cards. "To the table!"

The three formally dressed pokemon then walked to the table and pulled out a bunch of cards and put the rest on the table.

This better not be too long.

"Terrakion, do you have any threes?" The Samurott asked, Terrakion gave him a funny look.

"Yes?" He replied. What do I do with it?

"That's when you give him the three." Zero whispered.

The warrior then gave the sea lion the three.

"And if you don't have the number, you say 'Go fish', and they have to draw a card." The steel-type continued.

Terrakion rolled his eyes again; he still thought this was a stupid idea.

"I don't know guys, what if he's awake?"

The rock-type slowly began to become tense; that was Keldeo.

"Just keep cool." Rotor whispered. "Pretend to not notice him, and remember what we went over."

"Easier said than done." Terrakion whispered back.

xXOOOOOXx

To say that Keldeo was nervous would be an understatement; Aladar and Ice had to deal with his stalling for about an hour.

"I can't do it!" The colt said and clung to the ground as his friends tried to push him into their home. "Can't we just spend the night at the inn tonight and deal with him tomorrow?"

"You're going to have to face him eventually." The Zangoose said and sighed. "Why not get it over with?"

"I just can't!" Keldeo quickly replied.

The three of them then sighed at the same time.

"Alright, you win." Aladar said and Ice nodded. "We'll go to the inn tonight."

What Keldeo didn't expect was for Zero to run out in front of them with what looked like cups of water.

"Good to see you three, you are just in time!"

The three confused teens were then pushed into the cave.

What in Arceus's name is going on? Keldeo thought, then went stiff noticing that his former teacher was sitting next to him.

"Well hello there." The rock warrior said and handed the colt a few cards.

The only thing Keldeo could muster was a light squeal.

He's wearing a tie! He screamed in his head, his face also going red. And he smells so good! He then noticed something else. Is he being nice to me?!

Zero then set the drinks next to the two fighting-types.

Rotor was also whispering something to Ice and Aladar.

"So uh… how are you?" Keldeo managed to ask. "Are you feeling better now?"

Terrakion let out a hearty chuckle, causing the colt to blush more.

"I assure you, I am well." He replied. "And what about you? I would like to hear about your life recently, has it been well?"

Keldeo wanted to faint.

"I, uh…" The colt said and messed with his hooves, trying not to drop the cards. "Me, Al, and Ice turned in this Alakazam guy a few days ago, he put up a bit of a fight, but the three of us were able to pull it off."

He couldn't help but feel as if he was gloating, but he wanted to impress his former teacher.

"I see, you have grown a lot since I've last seen you." Terrakion said with a handsome smile. "I would like to hear more about your adventures."

"Oh yeah!" Aladar said out of nowhere. "I forgot that me and Rotor were heading to his place to uh, collect stuff! Bye!"

With that, both Rotor and Aladar bolted out of the cave.

"And we need to go too!" Zero said and grabbed the fire-fox. "We need to do stuff, for uh, reasons!"

And with that, Terrakion and Keldeo were alone; both of them in shock of what just happened.

"Were we just…" The colt started.

"I didn't know that Aggrons could move that fast…" Was all Terrakion could say at the moment.

Keldeo knew that this was a setup, but he also guessed that Rotor and Zero must have "forgotten" to tell Terrakion the part where they would bolt as soon as he got there.

There was then an awkward silence...

A long awkward silence.

"Why don't we go find some food and catch up." Terrakion said, breaking the silence.

Keldeo was a bit hesitant, but nodded and got up with his former teacher.

I guess it's time to make small talk. The colt thought as the two left the cave. "I uh, like the tie." He said with a light blush, trying not to make things too awkward.

"I don't," The rock-type replied. "I think it looks stupid."

Keldeo couldn't help but chuckle at how blunt Terrakion was about the tie, just one of the many reasons why he liked the rock-warrior.

"No offence Kel, but how can you like these things?" Terrakion continued. "It's like a little rope trying to strangle me."

It was hard, but the colt was able to keep from bursting into laughter.

"I just like the way they look; I would wear them all the time if I had any that were my size." Keldeo replied. "You can take it off if you want."

Terrakion did just that, slicing the necktie off.

"Those things are expensive you know." Keldeo said and picked up the torn tie.

Terrakion just rolled his eyes.

"Didn't know you cared about clothes so much." The rock-warrior said. "I guess it's not a surprise."

Normally Keldeo would feel disappointed that his teacher said that, but instead he felt insulted. He wanted to say a smart remark, but knew that it wasn't a good time.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" He decided to say instead. "It's not my fault that I like to look nice."

"Yeah, I bet that's why that Tyranitar was swooning all over you." Terrakion replied, rolling his eyes.

Keldeo silently took a deep breath, remembering that he wasn't trying to start a fight.

"Let's not forget that the Tyranitar was sent to the hospital because of you." Keldeo reminded. "Now I have to go apologize to him about that..."

As much as Keldeo was annoyed by Tyro, he felt really bad that he got hurt so badly.

"Why are you even here?" The colt asked, changing the subject. "I'm sure that you didn't just come here to try to kill me one moment then try to make up for it."

"I came back because I wanted answers." Terrakion said with a sigh. "The only reason why I attacked you was because I was in a blind rage. I want to know exactly what happened two years ago."

Keldeo shuddered; that was a day he didn't really want to talk about that.

Why is he asking about that? Keldeo thought as he lowered one of the berry branches that were in front of him. I'm sure he of all people would know.

"According to Cobalion," The rock-type continued. "I… Did stuff to you, and I didn't. It wasn't me, but I think I know who it was."

Keldeo halted before he was about to eat. He actually couldn't due to the knot in his stomach, and it only tightened when his former teacher said what he just did.

The colt then turned to Terrakion and tilted his head.

"What do you mean it wasn't you?" He asked. "I'm pretty sure it was."

Terrakion sighed.

"Did I happen to say anything to you that day?" The warrior asked.

Keldeo shuddered again.

"N-no." He replied. "Y-you only stared at me. I don't think I've ever seen an evil face like that before, except from..."

"Tocaro."

The colt froze after hearing that name.

Everything fell into place.

"Tocaro took advantage of you in your weak state." Terrakion said and put his arm around the colt. "It was my fault that it happened, but I would never do something like that to you; it makes me sick that I even thought of it."

All of Keldeo's emotions came crashing down at once.

It was his fault that his teacher had to suffer from something that he didn't do.

"I'm so sorry!" Keldeo cried; nuzzling the warrior. "I-I thought that…"

Surprisingly, Terrakion hugged him back.

"I'm just as much at fault." Terrakion said, continuing to embrace the sobbing colt. "My actions were inexcusable and unnecessary. I'm sorry as well."

xXOOOOOXx

About half an hour later on their walk, Terrakion had calmed down his student, and the two of them were sitting on a ledge, looking at the stars.

"Terra, can I ask you a question?"

Terrakion turned his head and looked at his student.

"Why exactly did you hate gay people?" Keldeo asked, getting a sigh from Terrakion.

That was something that Terrakion didn't like to think about, but he did owe his student an explanation.

"I was wondering when you would ask that." He said with a sad chuckle. "Well... I too was raped as a child."

Keldeo's face was almost laughable.

I'm sure he would have never guessed that. He thought with a small chuckle. "My dad disowned me because of it, and it's also the reason I have a fear of Nidokings."

He then scootched over and embraced Keldeo again.

"My childhood was a downward spiral because of it, and I thought that all gays were evil, like my dad always said."

"I'm sorry about that." The colt said and nuzzled the warrior. "I guess that I proved your dad right; the way I made the last two years of your life a living Hell too."

Terrakion just chuckled and gave his student a pat on the head.

"I always hated my dad, and it's not entirely your fault." The rock-type stated. "We have Tocaro to blame for that."

"Hey Terra," The colt started. "I was wondering…"

But didn't finish.

"Nevermind, it's not important."