Author's Note: First off, I should apologize for such a long absence. I know, to my loyal reviewers who keep up chapter to chapter, that this has been a rather unfair and long while when it comes to me, but there is a reason why I say I don't have specific update spans and such. I think in all fairness, I should tell you all why it's taken so long. I am in classes, which keeps me busy, and I've been very piled with that and work for the last month or so. The big reason why I haven't been able to update though is because we had some personal problems happen around the house that's been impairing my abilities to write as well as I normally do. I sincerely apologize for this, and I know I probably worried most of you. I have been receiving some PM's pestering me to hurry, and I know it's hard, but please refrain from doing that-especially more than once. Please do know that if there are large breaks in updates like this though that I'm not giving up on the story or anything. I can assure you that I don't intend to ever write this and leave it unfinished. If it helps, this chapter is pretty lengthy, and to tell the truth, I could sure use some nice reviews after going through such a hard ordeal. Hopefully you'll all provide...
On a lighter note, some of you have been asking if Anwyn will be catching Victini... I have to be honest and say I really wasn't considering that. Here's why: First of all, Victini is first and foremost a legendary, even if not big and mighty like say Zekrom and Reshiram. It can power up Pokémon and make them near victorious in battle, if you've seen the movie Victini is in or read the Pokédex entries you'll know the extent of what I mean. In general, it's a pretty powerful Pokémon even disregarding that ability; that's a bit of an unfair advantage for Anwyn to have, as much as I like Victini. Even so, I'm going to put my Fire-type poll back up on my profile and add Victini as an option just to see what you guys think. You'll honestly have to vote quickly though, because it's likely that the next chapter is going to determine whether or not she catches it. (On the Fire-type poll though, I do want you all to keep in mind that Anwyn will be saving the sixth slot in her team for a certain white Pokémon I'm sure you all know she will catch by the end. I remind you of this just so you'll think more on the Victini issue or even the other choices for possible Fire-types. Whether or not she even catches a Fire-type other than the "certain white Pokémon", that'll be up to you.)
I think I've babbled on enough and kept you waiting as it is. I sincerely hope you enjoy the chapter and hope dearly it makes up for the absence.
Liberty Garden and Victini
"Wow, these two are Snivy and Tepig? I hardly believe it—they look so different!"
The salty sweet air of the sea tickled Anwyn's nose as she inspected the two Pokémon before her, both standing loyally by their Trainers and peering up at her inquisitively. Tepig, now a chubby, brawny Pokémon with dual swirled accessories equipped upon his torso, stood on two legs instead of four, the end of his curly tail no longer a red ball, but a tuft of black fur. Snivy, similarly, had grown a fair bit taller, his eyes more narrow and slim body fit and lean. Palmate leaves, much like the one on his tail, grew in spikes up his spine, and his scaly skin poked up in a small crest along the back of his head.
"Let's see..." The brunette lazily lifted her Pokédex, a light hum passing through her lips as she aimed its detector. As always, it reacted instantly, lighting up and reading out information.
[Pignite, the Fire Pig Pokémon and the evolved form of Tepig. When its internal fire flares up, its movements grow sharper and faster. When in trouble, it emits smoke.]
How I'm comfortable around Bianca's starter, I'll never know, Anwyn thought awkwardly, her hand inching left to scan Cheren's Pokémon next.
[Servine, the Grass Snake Pokémon and the evolved form of Snivy. It moves along the ground as if sliding. Its swift movements befuddle its foes, and it then attacks with a vine whip.]
Oz, envious of the two starters' evolved forms, sulked with his mouth agape, soon flailing his limbs and hopping indignantly up and down in a tantrum. With a wily smirk, Servine waved his thin arms in a taunt, almost baiting the otter for a fight. Oz lunged at the snake, and Anwyn had to step in to prevent the two rivals from tussling by drawing her starter into a hug, saying, "Now, now, Oz... You'll probably evolve soon too!"
Crossing his arms, the Water-type huffed and ranted, "Osha! Osha! Osha—wott! Oshawott! Wott! Wott! Wott!"
"You obviously haven't been training enough if Oz still hasn't evolved yet, Anwyn," Cheren scolded, his nose poking into the pages of a book in his lap. "You're far past the estimated time it should have taken for that stage of growth."
The girl's bottom lip curled out in a pout, and she leaned forward towards her friend's lounge chair to uncomfortably penetrate his personal space. "If you're so great, what new Pokémon do you have? Or are Purrloin and Servine all you have?"
Cheren adjusted his glasses, unfazed, and replied, "For your information, Purrloin is now a Liepard. As for new Pokémon, I have a Frillish and a Tranquill now."
"Frillish...?" Anwyn knew Tranquil well enough after traveling through so many forests, but not the former Pokémon. She could've sworn she'd heard of it somewhere, perhaps on television or from one of Professor Juniper's lectures, but there were also many Pokémon she couldn't familiarize with by name alone.
"It's a dual Water and Ghost-type whose appearance varies with its gender," the boy clarified.
"Gender differences... Interesting..." Sinking into her chair, Anwyn shuffled through the functions of her Pokédex to research the Pokémon for herself, the device presenting her with two different images—one pink and one blue. "Which do you have?"
"The male variant; it's blue with a taller crown."
"I see... Okay, I guess that's a pretty cool Pokémon," she admitted casually, returning her Pokédex to its place on her chair's armrest and putting Oz on the ground. "Play nice now."
The Oshawott plopped down on the deck in a sulky manner, flattening his tail against the polished wood as he grumpily puffed out his cheeks. "Osha..."
Freeing a contented yawn from the cage of her throat, Anywn stretched to ease some of the lingering exhaustion from the late night before, enjoying the sensation of the velvet wind kissing her skin. The saline scent it carried left a brackish taste in her mouth, though she didn't mind. They'd sailed quite a few miles away from port, and not counting the distant view of Castelia from the rear, the only visible terrain was the ocean and some occasional islands—a dramatic turn from all the forests. The Nuvema trio had taken the time to admire the change of scenery before sitting by the ship's outdoor battlefield. Trainers of all different origins and ages cheered as strings of matches were held between several Pokémon that'd, so far, encouraged their Pokédexes. Not only could the entertainment deck fit a battlefield, but also a juice bar, tables for outdoor dining, and even a small stage for bands to play. It truly had earned its reputation as a marvel, and Anwyn doubted she'd ever see anything like it again, secretly thanking Bianca's luck.
Her eyebrows twitched when the back of her chair abruptly pushed up and bumped her head. She spun around to locate the source, finding Maya—still cast in her illusion—taking refuge behind her. The transformed Pokémon's face held a bright, rosy red tint, and she whimpered shyly, rubbing her hot cheeks with two balled fists. Curious, Anwyn slid off her chair and crouched down, patting her Pokémon's hair. "Hey, what's the matter?"
Maya's arm shot up, extending to point towards the cause of her uneasiness. Barron crouched low a little ways away, his icy eyes glued attentively onto the disguised child and utterly dense to her avoidance of him. When the Zoroark took a step forward, the Zorua scrambled a step back, only confusing the evolved fox even more. In an attempt to understand, Barron barked something at her, though Maya only grew more flustered in response to whatever he'd said.
Suspicion crept up upon Anwyn's mind, and she smirked, slyly slanting her eyes in a playful stare. "Aww... Maya, you don't have to be bashful~ Barron's your protector, remember?"
Her hair frizzed out, much like fur, and she hissed at her Trainer's accusation. The human laughed, petting the top of her head. "You can't hide it, come on now. I've lived with Cheren all my life after all."
The dark-haired boy stiffened considerably, slowly shifting his focus from the pages of his book to Anwyn. "...What?"
"Well, you know, Bianca still—"
Realizing where this conversation would end up, Cheren snapped, "Keep your mouth shut!"
Bianca pried her eyes off the current battle, reacting to her name. She tapped her friend's shoulder for clarification. "I still what, Cheren? Do you need to tell me something?"
"No!" he spat, a million thoughts and more racing through his mind—every one of them brimming with denial. "Forget about it!"
Bianca quickly drew back her hand at his shrill anger, her fingers curling into her palm. Without a word, she shrunk into the plush cushions of her chair, tugging her beret down slightly. "S...Sorry..." she murmured, Pignite sympathetically patting her leg.
An awkward guilt tore a hole through Cheren's stomach, and Anwyn slapped her forehead at his stupidity. "Wow, Cheren... Very smooth. You deserve an award for that one."
"...I... U-uh..." Scoffing at himself, the boy used his book to raise a wall in front of his face, coughing roughly to force the embarrassment off his voice. "...It's... fine... Quit sulking already. It's not like you."
Canceling her illusion, as Barron had snuck even closer, Maya clambered over Cheren's chair and hopped onto Bianca's, burrowing herself into the the human's lap to hide. Distracted from her upset, the blonde whisked her beret from her head and placed it upon the cowering Dark-type. The rounded green headwear sagged down the Pokémon's body, Maya using her ears to keep it pitched up. Remembering Barron, however, the fox eventually opted against that and let it drop, the beret serving as a tent as she hid.
"Why is Maya acting so timid?" Bianca pondered aloud, poking the fabric of her hat and earning a few yips. "Well, I mean, I guess she's always sort of timid, but..."
"Gee, I wonder..." Anwyn drawled, inwardly bubbling with amusement. Deciding to take a walk, she picked herself up off her chair, emerging from the shade to bask in the realm of sunlight. Oz, seeing the opportunity, flipped up onto the chair and took ownership of the spot, melting into the cushions with a happy yawn. She smiled at him and then went on her way, pausing only to give Barron a pat. As expected, he snarled at the affection.
"Careful. If you want her to come around, you have to stop acting so impolite and scary," she warned the Pokémon, offering a wink. Barron blanked out at her words, about as baffled as a toddler trying to be convinced of the meaning of life. Anwyn giggled and shook her head. He really has no clue...
She traveled south, passing multiple other tourists who chatted about one thing or another. When she neared the stern of the ship, which had required quite a bit of walking considering the size of the Royal Unova, she located her desired target glued to the same spot he'd started off in when first boarding. His attention seemed far-off, almost longing as she approached. His arms, draped between the bars of the railing, coiled together, fingers tracing the texture of the sleek painted white of the vessel. She took note of the way the breeze combed through his scruffy mane of hair and weaved strands of it together in little wisps, finding the sight of him strangely peaceful. "Hey, Night."
Brought out of his shroud of focused silence, the young man directed a slow, questioning flick of the eyes back at her, tipping his head. The girl folded her arms best she could with her injury against the small of her back, moving to stand next to him. "What are you doing all the way over here still...? Don't you want to sit with us?"
Humming thoughtfully, he drifted back towards the sea, watching the shifting water below batter the side of the boat. "I'm uninterested in assuming the role of spectator to those battles you're all so entertained by," he stated. "And this is my first time seeing something like this... I wish to enjoy it."
Anwyn blinked, carefully picking apart each word of his answer. "Wait... You've never seen the ocean before?"
"Mm, no. Not like this. I have viewed it in books and seen quick glimpses from afar."
"That hardly counts... Didn't your parents ever take you to swim in the ocean? Unova's a pretty water-driven region, you know..."
N slipped back into his previous brood, his hat darkening his features with its typical shadows. His lips arched to present her with a gauche smile, voice quiet as he spoke, "I'm afraid I'm quite without... parents... At least, I know not of the woman who gave birth to me. My father is not the sort to arrange for me to explore the world either. Well, until just recently."
Anwyn's eyes rounded in sincerity. "...I'm... sorry... I had no idea..."
"It's alright. You needn't worry about offending me with information you had no knowledge of."
"But..."
Banishing his dark mask so that his face reentered the light, his smile softened, relaxing into a more real and gentle presence of emotions. He laid his hand on her head. "Don't fret..."
Returning his smile, albeit weakly, she regained some solace, taking comfort in the fact that his aura had noticeably risen. Snagging on a previous thought, she said, "By the way, we may have a problem..."
"Problem...?"
"Mm..." Anwyn twisted on a heel and rested her back against the railing, giggling. "I think Maya might have a crush on Barron...~"
"...A... crush...?" N frowned, clouded by intense worry. "I've heard her say no such thing. Why would she want to crush my friend when he's worked so very hard to care for her?"
"...You're joking, right...?"
"Why would I joke about such a thing...?"
"You don't know what having a crush on someone is? But you're a guy on the brink of adulthood! Haven't you had a girlfriend before?"
N naively tilted his head. "What's a girlfriend?"
The brunette gawked at him. He didn't know what a crush was...? What being in a relationship was? Just how isolated had his life been? Granted, she'd never had any experience with relationships either, but she certainly wasn't blind to the concept, and N was a guy—older than her even. Questions endlessly poured from her mind, adding one layer of bewilderment over another.
"Anwyn...?"
"Ah, um... Well..." She scratched her head, struggling to piece together an explanation to such a hard topic. "A crush is when you like someone, I guess..."
"So... it's a friend...?"
"No, well, yes, but it's not a normal friend, it's a special friend—a friend that's more than a friend."
"More than a... friend...?"
"Mm... A friend you fall in love with..."
The young man hummed, cupping his chin. "So... Zorua is in love with Zoroark...?"
"Y-yeah, I think so. See, you get it!" Anwyn tittered, letting out a small sigh of relief. That wasn't so bad. Guess that wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it'd be.
"...Anwyn, what's love...?"
She choked on the air she'd been attempting to breathe, a wild hotness illuminating her entire being in a blush that could have possibly been seen for miles. Once her gagging subsided, she whipped her head to the side, unable to prevent her voice from cracking. "W...What...?"
"What's love?" N repeated, oblivious to her embarrassment.
"Y...Y-you can't be serious..."
"I am. I don't understand." He leaned a few inches forward, further tormenting the raging heat on Anwyn's skin. "Is it the same as caring for my friends? I understand that love."
W-what did I get myself into? Oh my gosh, no—I-I can't do this! Stop looking at me like that! her thoughts screamed. When he did nothing but stare on, she bit her lip, taking a deep breath. "...L-love can... take many forms... There's love for friends, like you said... For... family members... For objects... or hobbies," she stuttered, her composure gradually reforming. "But there's also... a special kind of love... It's love you only feel towards one specific person."
"A special love?" N asked. "Is it pleasant?"
"...I-it can be... but it's difficult... W-when you're in love, that person makes you nervous... yet happy too... Your heart races when they're near and skips a beat when they touch you... You think about that person all the time and want to be the closest you can to them... Hug and... kiss..."
His focus caught on the last word, leaving the rest of the details invalid. "What's a ki—"
Her hand flew across his mouth before he could finish, killing the rest of the question. "Y-you know what? No! I'm not elaborating anymore! If you don't understand, go... go study it somewhere or whatever! I-I'm not the person to ask for this!"
N gazed at her with genuine puzzlement, though when Anwyn finally deemed it safe to remove her hand, she clutched the railing, refusing to look his way. "I-I don't get how someone can be so intelligent and dimwitted at the same time..." she mumbled. "You're practically conflicting with yourself. It's no wonder you're weird!"
He remained quiet, studying her disposition and contemplating the loss of her touch. Had there truly been harm in asking a few questions for the sake of knowledge? Still... The notions she'd presented were indeed strange. Curiously, he lifted a hand to his chest, pressing his palm over his heart. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but it seemed to pulse faster than usual... A special friend that's... more than a friend...?
"Ah... Liberty Garden!"
N blinked. "Pardon?"
Excited, and cured from whatever had been bothering her, Anywn pointed towards an island closing in on the ship, the stone tower positioned at its center standing tall and greeting them as the Royal Unova proceeded to dock at the pier. Passengers were already rushing by to be the first off the ramp, and N stepped closer to the railing to avoid the river of people. His companion continued to gush at the sights, paying no attention to the others.
"That is Liberty Garden, right? Wow, getting here didn't take long at all... Guess most of the trip is going to be spent docked here," she chirped.
"It seems so..." the young man confirmed. "We should return to gather our friends."
Pushing back from her position, Anwyn spun around with a smile. "Yeah! I'm so eager to see this place."
A chime over the ship's intercom rang out in three distinct tones, followed by an announcement from one of the ship's head crewmen:
"Attention passengers. Attention passengers. The Royal Unova has docked at Liberty Garden and will remain docked until tomorrow evening. To those planning to visit the island today, please plan accordingly and exit in an orderly fashion. We're not responsible for any items lost while out on the island. Thank you, and please continue to enjoy your time."
"Yay, we can get off!" Anwyn cried cheerily. Her eyes practically sparkled with joy as she bounded off after the crowds. "Come on, come on. I want to see the island!"
The green-haired Trainer glanced back towards the entertainment deck. "What about Cheren and Bianca?"
Anwyn halted, expression momentarily twisting as if she'd tasted something sour. "Oh right! Them. I so didn't forget." Before she could run back, her Xtransceiver rang from inside her bag. Surprised, she retrieved the device and picked up communication. "Um, hello?"
Cheren and Bianca appeared on screen, the boy speaking first after pushing up his glasses. He seemed quite awkward. "Anwyn, hey. You've probably noticed that we're at the island now, right?"
"Well duh... Night and I were just about to get you both. Why are you calling me?"
"They're starting a double-battle tournament. We've decided to participate," Cheren announced. "There's an interesting mystery prize that sounds valuable, so I think we'll end up seeing Liberty Garden tomorrow. You and N can go on ahead though."
"...Is this your way of apologizing to Bianca for earlier?"
"...N-no..."
Anwyn grinned cheekily, seeing right through his ruse. Offhandedly waving, she said, "Fine, okay... We'll go on without you then. Be sure to have fun on your date~"
"W-what?"
Bianca shyly dipped down on the other side of the screen, flicking her eyes towards Cheren. "D-date...?"
"Anwyn, I'll kill you...!"
"Bye-bye~" She quickly hung up on him and burst into laughter. N meanwhile brushed back his hair, processing the situation.
"Is this another example of this 'crush' abnormality?" he asked absently.
"Indeed it is," she answered, holding up a finger. "The perfect example, actually."
Barron, having apparently sniffed them out, swooped down from one of higher balconies, padding over to his human friend. N smiled and stroked his mane, his hand stilling when his fingers caught on one particular tuft of fur that seemed out of place. Maya shyly poked out her head, same with Oz, who popped out of another section of the bushy red fur like a rabbit Pokémon from a hat. "Osha!"
"Hey, you three. I see you've finally warmed up to Barron, Maya," Anwyn noted, collecting Oz in her arms. The Zorua whined softly, sinking back into Barron's fur while the Zoroark protectively growled.
"Oh, don't be rude, Barron. Maya can ride in your mane for as long as she wants," the girl assured. "I won't force her out."
The evolved fox, surprised, tipped his head, his lips curling up happily when Maya popped out again to nuzzle his ears. N observed them with fascination, though didn't have much time to think, as Anwyn's impatience had reared its ugly head. She grabbed his wrist, pulling him forward with a strength that should've been impossible for someone of her stature.
"Pick up the pace! I want to see the island!" she blustered.
"D-do you have to drag me? I'm almost sure this isn't normal."
"I wouldn't have to drag you if you weren't so slow!"
The two humans and three Pokémon, Anwyn in the lead, winded their way around the ship to the ramp leading down, joining the line of tourists disembarking to take photos and visit the landmarks. After a short time waiting, their feet touched upon the soft soil of the island, the earth strangely fertile and teeming with life. Dozens of colors speckled the grass, belonging to the petals of flowers, and trees grew in a ring around the island's border. With all the salt water, it surprised Anwyn that so much vegetation managed to thrive. A gardener of some kind must have been hired to attend to the environment. Most of it didn't appear to be natural.
"How lovely..." N murmured as they walked by a fountain to the right of the cobblestone pathway. Its waters glistened in the now twilit sunshine and sparkled, releasing cool sprays and vapors.
"Mm... It is," Anwyn agreed. "Even if we're surrounded by a lot of noise."
Now that she had a spare second to check, she could see the amount of people had made N a little uncomfortable. She reached up and rubbed his back. "Everyone'll disperse once we hit the wider areas."
Hiding under his hat again, N said nothing, his deep blue gaze landing on one person after another. Each time his target switched, his condition worsened, and Anwyn worried. I hate how people bother him so much. It's really unhealthy...
The stone tower she'd seen from afar, serving as a statue of pride among Castelia's citizens, appeared much bigger now that they were on the island. When they reached the area where guides were waiting to answer questions and recount some history, most of the people on the path went astray, leaving to snap pictures at other angles or chat with friends. Rather than relax, Anwyn and N decided to hear what the nearest guide had to say, listening in on his lecture.
"Liberty Tower has been around for generations," the man stated through a rehearsed speech, arm raised out over the iron fences keeping unauthorized tourists away. "According to our records, it was built by a wealthy historian who had once used the tower as a place to work on his writings. However, his works related to the study of a Pokémon of legend, so the general public dismissed his research. Some say he spent the very last of his days here, converting Liberty Tower into a place to hide the secrets on very Pokémon he'd put his life into detailing—Victini."
Victini...? Anwyn crossed her arms, scratching the ground with her heel. That must be the little Pokémon on the Liberty Pass.
The guide continued on, indifferent to her musings. "One myth even suggests that the historian ended up befriending Victini and, in his frustration and anger, locked the Pokémon here in the tower. Naturally, the inside has been searched many times, but no evidence on such a claim has turned up."
Something clicked in Anwyn's head, and she stiffened, a chill running up her spine. Wait... A Pokémon that may or may exist... Mistreated and locked in a tower by a human... Is Victini the Pokémon Team Plasma wants to use for their 'liberation'?
"Human beings... How disgusting we are..."
Not expecting that, she glanced up at N, somewhat startled at how coarse and hard his tone had been. His normally gentle, innocent eyes were tapered and venomous, piercing ahead towards the olden structure. Barron, as if sharing in his Trainer's displeasure, had his fangs bared, scaring Maya to the point where she ducked back into his fur to hide.
"Night, calm down... You'll make a scene," Anwyn muttered, pinching a fold in his jacket. "It's just a rumor..."
Irritated, he paid her reassuring little to no interest, shrugging off her grip. "Perhaps... Perhaps not... The very idea disturbs me..."
Touchy... It's not like I like it either, sheesh... she thought, shaking her head. Growing bored, she left the tour group to see if she could explore the more desolate areas beyond the tower's fences. After cooling off a bit, N followed after her, Barron in tow and growling at anyone who came too close.
Oz squirmed in his Trainer's arms as she looped around the back of the tower and came to the more hidden front side, pressing straight up against the black metallic obstacle barring her out. No flowers speckled the area beyond the fencing, something she found weird given the rest of the island. She bent down, running a brittle blade of grass between her fingers. Almost instantly, the yellowed green strand crumbled into grainy flakes, leaving only the remains of what it'd once been.
"How sad..." she whispered, rising from position. "Why don't they care for this part of the island? It's almost depressing..."
"Anwyn, I'm not sure we should be here," N told her, gesturing towards a beaten old sign with faded red words. "This is likely restricted—"
"Ooh, let's go in then!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the gate. "There's no security or anything—the timing is perfect!"
N nervously laughed. "I wasn't really intending to trigger any sort of reverse psychology. It's unwise to break into these kinds of places."
Jiggling the lock to some chains around the gate, Anwyn said, "Aww, but who wants to sit on a bench for hours? We already heard the story... Aren't you curious?"
The young man couldn't deny that, though kept his precautions. "Well, perhaps, but it's going to be dark in an hour or two..."
"Psh, c'mon, help me get this open! That Victini could be in here~ You want to save it, don't you?"
"...You yourself said it was just a rumor..."
"Don't listen to me. What do I know? "
With a sigh, N caved and turned to his Pokémon. "My friend, if you would be so kind as to help the young lady out..."
Anwyn sidestepped out of the way with a slight yelp as Barron lunged at the chains, crushing the rusted metal into skewed fragments with a powerful Night Slash. The crimson glow that'd lit his claws soon died down, and the Zoroark sunk onto all fours, busting through the gateway with a mighty charge. The now somewhat unhinged steel doors teetered back and forth in the wind, baring damage that would be difficult to conceal if any guards came along.
"I... guess that's one way to open it..." Anwyn admitted, slinking past the ruined gate. "If we don't get caught..."
"You said you wanted to go in. I've granted your wish," N stated simply, following behind once securing the gate enough to at least appear believably closed if untouched.
"You realize Barron could have just carried us over it. His jumping skills are incredible."
"Yes, well, I highly doubt he would willingly comply to a request that involves hefting strangers..."
The girl blew at a lock of her hair, uttering a noise of displeasure loud enough for him to hear. "I'm not that much of a stranger anymore."
Barron chuffed at her words, Maya resurfacing from his mane to nuzzle and playfully tug on his ears, calming him down. With a giggle, Anwyn drifted around the inner confines of the fencing, her amusement snuffing out as she noticed yet more untended land. Upon closer inspection, the grass around the tower almost looked dead, and the building itself, though tall and majestic, had become coated in decay and covered in cracks. She parted some dried up vines and touched one of the stone blocks that made up the structure, recoiling at the unpleasant, grimy coating.
"This place is mainly for show," N concluded after searching around a bit himself, rather saddened by his observations. "They probably don't allow access back here because of its lack of beauty, to the point where the maintainers of the island have given up on caring to the tower itself."
Anywn frowned, peering up at the top of the looming building. "That's so stupid..."
"Quite." The green-haired Trainer took his investigation up the small flight of stairs towards the gapping open entrance to the tower, his shoes clacking rhythmically on the stone platform just before it. "I believe the reason we haven't encountered security is because the people see no reason to hire it here. They don't think, after all their previous years of search, that there is any reason to venture inside..."
"Let's go inside then!" came the quick reply, Anwyn bolting up the stairs before N had time to protest. She and Oz disappeared into the dusky shade within the next blink of an eye, their excited, gleeful squeals echoing out from the darkness. With a lopsided grin and a chuckle, N entered as well, Barron attentively crawling behind his human friend like a shadow.
The interior of the building displayed even more proof of abandonment as they descended down into its depths. The dirty walls were crawling with pipes running from the floor to the ceiling, and the only light came from dim lamps that buzzed with age, flickering as if about to go out. Anywn coughed when she inhaled some dust, the musky aftertaste a bitter insult to her distress. Sensing her struggle to breathe, a caring hand touched her back, gently rubbing from her shoulder down.
"Are you alright?" N asked softly, eyebrows furrowing in concern.
"Ah..." For whatever reason, the brunette hastily darted her focus away and mumbled, "I'm fine... Worry about yourself."
"You were coughing... The air in here probably isn't very sanitary."
"I said I'm fine," she blurted, picking up her pace to create some space between them. "I think I see something up ahead."
True to her word, another open doorway sat at the very bottom between two jutting walls. Bright light poured out from it much more strongly than that from the wall lamps. Exchanging decisive nods, they stepped through it, crossed a final stretch of hallway, and entered a room quite unlike anything either of them had expected. The tiled stone floor, unlike the stone outside, had no traces of grime and little dirt dampening its appearance. A pinkish rug trimmed in yellow and covered in some scattered cushions, spread across a large amount of it, complimenting some of the pictures and furniture off along the north wall. The objects in the room ranged from a potted plant—still somehow growing—to a bed with green sheets, and there were even some shelves with multicolored drawers and a box of toys.
Anywn, completely taken aback, slowly worked through her shock and walked over to one of the shelves, letting Oz down onto the floor and picking up a picture frame. The photo it held depicted an older gentleman with a smart disposition and a tiny tan Pokémon with bright orange hands, feet, and triangular ears pointing up in a 'V' shape. It had adorable round blue eyes and two wings as tails, appearing very joyful.
Victini...? she guessed, flicking up the lid of her hat. The person must be... the historian, maybe? But... they both look so happy...
"This place..."
Anwyn turned her attention on N, who had moseyed over to the toy box. His hands reluctantly touched upon an aged subway car piece resting on top of blocks and stuffed animals. Puzzled by his actions, she inquired, "This place... what?"
He shook his head and retracted his hand, stepping away from the object. "...No... It's nothing... It just reminds me... of another room I'm quite familiar with..."
The forlorn, wistful sadness emanating from his answer hit her hard, though confirmed something that'd been eating at her for awhile. Something about his personal life had really messed up his current outlook, and as much as she desperately wanted to pry, she couldn't find the words to initiate such a conversation. I hate it... she thought as she returned the photo and went about exploring the insides of the drawers—the contents of which mostly stacks of hand-drawn pictures and crayons. There has to be some way I can help Night... I don't... want him to turn into one of those Team Plasma idiots...
Oz trotted around while the two humans continued intensely searching the vicinity, Barron watching with interest when he waddled over to a fluffy pink couch to the left of the room. Once up, the otter yawned and stretched, his arm unexpectedly hitting something invisible and extracting a noise that nearly had him leaping to the ceiling in fright.
"V-vicuu..."
"Eh...?" Anwyn and N rotated their heads over their shoulders. "Oz that was a weird sound, coming from you," his Trainer said.
"Osha, osha!" he argued, furiously pointing to the side. When he reached out to demonstrate, however, whatever he'd discovered had vanished. He poked, prodded, and even punched the open space, but still nothing. The humans looked less than convinced.
"He says there is something here with us," N clarified.
"Oz, it's probably nothing. Maybe you sat on a toy or something," Anwyn dismissed. "Calm down, okay? We're trying to investigate."
"Osh—a!" Despite his pleas, the duo had already gone back to their hunt for clues, ignoring him. Maya poked out of Barron's mane, mewling quietly at the Water-type. The nubs of his ears drooped, though he was far from discouraged. Oh no. He'd solve this little mystery one way or another...
Carefully waving his arms as he hopped off the couch, he hoped to hit something concealed, continuing the makeshift detecting method around every square inch of the room he could reach. He tried near the furniture, near the walls, wandering around silly as anything, but determined nonetheless. Finally, as if his target had grown curious of him, something tapped his shoulder. With a confident smirk, he whirled around and grabbed, though fell flat on his face. Another tap on his shoulder made him jump up and try again, and though he once more failed to seize the culprit, when it happened a third time, the mystery being's luck ran short. Oz's arms caught it, and it squirmed around, lifting him up off the ground.
"Oshhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Oz, enough already," Anwyn scolded, only for her eyes to widen when obtaining a glimpse of her Pokémon suspended in midair. The otter gestured wildly at something next to him, waving his flipper.
"Tiniii...!"
A light psychic force enveloped the Oshawott and threw him off, though the light ensured he landed as lightly as a feather. Unable to see the kindness in the act, Oz puffed out his chest, spraying a harsh jet of water straight towards the spot where he'd been floated. It made contact, much to the surprise of Anwyn and N, and the shroud of invisibility disappeared, revealing the presence's true identity.
"V...Victini!" Anwyn shouted, mind completely blown away. N, similarly, narrowed his eyes in intrigue, not as outwardly affected, but still quite shocked. The girl's hand instantly flew to her Pokédex, surprise morphing to unadulterated thrill and excitement.
[Victini, the Victory Pokémon. This Pokémon brings victory. It is said that Trainers with Victini always win, regardless of the type of encounter.]
"Oh my gosh, it's real! It's really real—and it guarantees victory? That's so awesome!" Anywn squealed, stowing her recording device and rushing forward to meet the new Pokémon. "Hiya! I'm Anwyn!"
"...Wait... No, Anwyn—"
Frightened by all the attention and the girl running for it, the floating Pokémon's instincts kicked it, attempting to aid its threatened safety. Its body drew in tiny orange embers, soon bursting into a compressed sphere of fire which pulsed upward. "Viccuu...!"
"Searing Shot. That's..." N tensed and glanced sideways, his fears confirmed. Anwyn had frozen once again, consumed by the dark roots of her phobia and unable to get any of her bodily functions to obey her. She couldn't move, couldn't blink, and by what he could tell, she couldn't even breathe anymore. Reacting out of panic alone and not fully comprehending what it was doing, Victini charged ahead towards Anwyn, time almost seeming to slow down. Oz and Barron both were turning to hurry and stop the impending attack, but N knew their efforts were in vain—they wouldn't counter fast enough. She'd either get hit, or...
The Searing Shot collided, burning through cloth, charring skin, and ripping a painful grunt from its victim as the flames vanished and Victini bounced off, rolling to the floor. A trembling Anwyn, whose body now pressed firmly between the wall and something warm, regained the ability to operate properly, her stomach moving in and out with her clipped, erratic breaths. Her mind raced to catch up with the situation, still clinging to some of the resurfaced memories, but all that disappeared the moment she dared to turn her gaze up, heart stopping in dread.
"...N...Ni...ght...?"
His palms against the wall and arms spread on either side of her, he hovered over her shaky frame with his front mere inches from touching her own. His face twisted in pain and his skin writhed with spastic twitches. With one eye clamped closed, he guided the best of his attention to her horrified expression, checking her for injury or lingering traces of fear. As the corner of his mouth tugged up in a slight smile, he heaved, "...Y...Y-you got... scared again... T-this is becoming... inconvenient for me... ugh..."
...Why...? A sick remorse pooled to her gut at the realization. Why...? She gritted her teeth, stomping out the angry beads of tears that almost fell. Why? She shoved him away, pounding on his chest. "Why did you do that, you stupid, clueless idiot...!"
A bit wobbly, N allowed her to lightly beat on him, perplexed by it, yet not opposed to it. "If I hadn't... you would've..."
"Then let me!" Anwyn cried angrily, her hits getting weaker and weaker. "It's my problem! It's my weakness! You should've just let me get hurt, not get hurt in my place! Dammit!" She stopped with her arms still against him, hanging her head low. I-I'm so pathetic... I... If I don't get over this... I...
"Tinii..."
The brunette slowly lifted her eyes. Victini floated apologetically behind N, its own eyes dripping with guilt and sorrow. It briefly bowed with its winged tails fluttering and then swooped over to the bottommost drawer on the shelf with the photo, scooping up a roll of bandages and some ointment. Hesitant, it flew back over, shifting closer towards Anwyn. Its arms shivered with its anxiety. Clearly it thought the she might turn and hurt it.
Taking the medical aids from its tiny hands, Anwyn reached up and scratched behind its ears, the mythical Pokémon blinking in astonishment at her kindness.
"...I... I know you didn't mean it... Please... don't be so scared... We invaded your home, so... w-we're the ones who should be apologizing..." She inwardly kicked herself for the uneasiness that clung to her voice. "W-we're... s-sorry..."
"...Viccu, vicuu..." Victini murmured, pushing its fingers together. Barron hurried over to help his Trainer stand straight, snarling at the dual-type, which immediately backed off, hiding behind Oz.
"...N...N-Night sit on the bed. I need to apply this to you..."
Barron nearly snapped at her next, though N held up his hand and silenced him, doing as told and working his way over to the bed. He removed his shirt and jacket, Anwyn now able to see the fullness of the damage he'd taken. Victini must have pulled back its power at the last second, for the singed holes in his clothes weren't as prominent as she'd thought. Even so, his injury hadn't escaped the definition of "bad". The fire had burnt into his upper back, shredding a few layers of his skin and blackening the rim around the wound. It had burnt so much, in fact, that the blood that should've bled had been sizzled up along with the skin. Anwyn laid her hand just below the mark, biting her lip.
This is all my fault... If only I weren't such a wimp... If only he weren't such an idiot...
"...You are... my friend..."
Her head snapped up. "E-eh?"
He gazed back at her, contracting in pain still, yet somehow retaining that clueless, childlike innocence she'd come to know and, daresay, take comfort in. "You're confused... as to why I did that... correct...? I do not really... need a reason for it... You're just... Anwyn... Anwyn is my friend..."
She stared at him entranced, to which he just smiled, biting back another twinge of pain. "If you would though... T-the bandages...? This could infect..."
"Ah... R-right..."
She swept his hair over his shoulder and applied the ointment first, which stung him considerably as her hands gently rubbed it in over the reddened wound. He ground his teeth together to keep from making protesting noises, and while it did hurt intensely, Anwyn's touch somehow made it less unbearable...
First I get my hand hurt to the point where I can barely use it, and now this... Some team we make... she inwardly chastised with a slight sigh. As she continued to work, a stray thought brushed by her mind, and her cheeks flushed, just now realizing some of the more embarrassing details of her current task. C-Cheren better not call me while I'm in the middle of this... I don't care if the back of his clothes are a bit ripped. H-he's putting them back on.
Once she finished with the ointment, she went about bandaging his torso, her musing drawing back to Victini, who Oz seemed to be attempting to apologize to.
"Has this... happened before...?" she asked it quietly after gathering some courage. N also looked toward it in a silent stare.
The little Pokémon glanced to the side, twiddling its fingers before nodding.
Inquisitive, Anwyn decided to question on. "To who...? The workers here?"
It shook its head this time, floating away from Oz over to the photo she'd studied earlier, pointing at the human in it.
"The historian then... I understand... But Victini, didn't that guy trap you here? You're all alone, right? Everyone talks about how the one who met you eventually grew angry and did horrible things to you..."
"Vicuu!" It shook its head again, faster than the last motion. Using its psychic abilities, signified by a soft orange light, the Pokémon flooded her head with visions—more specifically, memory flashes, and all involving Victini and the historian. Most of them were fun, happy times on the island... Him writing papers while Victini napped in his lap... The two planting flowers outside or playing by the ocean... The last memory it showed her didn't seem as well-cherished. The historian had aged considerably in it, a suitcase in his hand and Victini in the very room they sat now.
"I must leave you now..." the man told the mythical Pokémon, his voice carrying the grief he clearly felt. "I've realized now... My research poses a great danger to you, my friend. I cannot risk staying here now that darker minds have begun to believe my work. You hold so much limitless energy—they'll never leave you be. You're just an asset to them to their dastardly plans."
"Tinii...?" Victini murmured, reaching out to wrap its tiny fingers around one the man's larger ones.
Unable to hold his emotion, tears began to stream down the elderly gentleman's face, and he turned away from the dual-type, taking his leave up the hall and out of the tower forever.
"I built this room to only to protect you... Please remember that and stay where you are safe... You can bring victory to most anything or anyone... If you fell to the wrong intentions, I would... never forgive myself..."
Just like that, the mental flashes melted away, Anwyn thrown back to reality. She shook her head slightly and blinked, seeing sparkles of tears shimmering in the corners of Victini's big blue eyes.
"He... He was just trying to protect you... It wasn't to trap you..." Anwyn suggested, N genuinely astounded by her remark and frowning.
"Tinii..." Victini nodded, its ears sagging low. It retrieved a fresh piece of paper and some crayons from the drawers they'd been rummaging in before, landing on the ground to start a new picture. Oz picked up a blue crayon from its pile and sat down to help it, causing a little smile to appear on the tiny Pokémon. Smiling herself, Anwyn noticed as she finished up with N's bandages that all the drawings hung up on the walls were of the historian and the island. She wondered how long Victini must have spent secluded in such a small, lonely room with nothing but toys, drawings, and memories keeping it company. Such a sad way of life...
"Did it show you something...?"
"Ah... Mm..." She fetched N's shirt and jacket, thrusting it into his chest before he had a chance to face her. Looking away when he tipped his head innocently, she muttered, "I-It showed me some of its memories with the historian we were told about... They were friends... and the guy only asked Victini to stay in here so it'd be safe... N-now hurry up and put your stuff back on..."
Releasing a light hum, N complied with her request—unsure of why she'd grown so huffy—and contemplated. A human who had done such a horrible thing for the Pokémon's best interest...? For its protection? Was such a concept acceptable? Ridiculous... Or was it...? Suddenly, he wasn't sure...
"What's the verdict? Can you move?" she asked once he'd fully clothed himself. He tried to reply by standing off the bed, but the results ended in failure. His knees buckled the moment he reached full stance, and Anwyn had to catch his arm before he stumbled onto the ground. Lowering him onto the bed again with his back leaning comfortably against the wall, she sighed, plopping down next to him. "No good I see... You took a really bad burn..."
"I apologize..."
"No, don't... This is my fault... Either way though, if it's really that hard to walk, we're going to have to stay here..."
"What about Cheren and Bianca...?"
She shook her head. They'd worry, but... "At this point, it's actually the best thing to do in general I think. I'm almost sure it's nighttime, and if we suddenly came waltzing out of an area they don't even check anymore, workers would get suspicious... Cheren and Bianca can just call if they need to... and... I don't want to put Victini in danger. "
N flicked his gaze to left. Anwyn's body lagged with exhaustion, probably due to the scare from earlier and the lack of sleep she'd had the previous night. With a light swoop of his hand, he removed his hat and dropped it by his side, letting his messy bangs fall freely around the border of his face. He grabbed the pillows from the front of the bed and positioned one behind him and one behind Anwyn, much to her surprise.
"W-what are... eh?"
"If we're to stay here, might as well be comfortable, yes?"
"...I guess so..."
He pulled up one layer of the green blankets next, wrapping it around the girl's shoulders. Dense to the return of her embarrassment, he turned an imploring stare on Barron. "If you could sleep by the door and listen for any trouble we may have, I'd appreciate it."
The Dark-type barked and took a spot just outside the open doorway, circling a few times and then curling against the floor with a contented growl. Maya crawled up his mane to give his ear a playful tug goodnight, to which he reached a claw to the tuft of fur on her head in an affectionate pat. Maya happily flicked her ears, shyly ducking down into his mane with a happy purr. N couldn't help but show the faintest of smiles.
"Zoroark is rather happy. It's unusual," he admitted.
"Is Maya...?"
"Yes... She is too..."
"Mm, that's good..." Anwyn snuggled into her blanket cocoon and yawned. She made sure to keep her bad hand in a position that wouldn't worsen its condition in case she fell asleep. "Maya needs... lots of love after all she's been through..."
"...Indeed..."
"I guess, similarly, it's good that if anything... we're giving Victini the chance to make some friends... I don't know if it really trusts us, but..."
N watched the mythical Pokémon and Oz, drawing together on the floor like young brothers... Both smiling... Both chuckling... Occasionally throwing crumpled up paper balls or crayons at each other... Distant, he said, "It doesn't seem... bothered by human company... It's a rather timid Pokémon, but a friendly one who I think is relieved to have someone around for once..."
Anwyn frowned. "It must be hard for it... It wants to go outside, but it's afraid... and it misses that man so much..."
"...I don't really understand why it would comply with such a request if it desires freedom. It isn't trapped—the doors are open for it to leave... No one is really oppressing it, yet... it stays..."
"Maybe... it's the same thing as you and Barron..."
"Pardon...?"
"Well... You don't like referring to yourself as a Trainer and you don't want to call him your Pokémon... If you need his help though, he'll listen to you because... you're friends..." Anwyn weakly offered a shrug. "Victini doesn't leave because... it believes in its friend... and what he was trying to do for it..."
"Friend..." N's chest throbbed in a new foreign sensation, mind swimming in confusion. "...I..."
"Oshaa~"
Oz, running over and bouncing up on the bed, and Victini, who simply levitated, gleefully hurried to present their masterpiece, the two holding up their picture for the humans to see. They curiously wiped their visions over every square inch of the paper. Working together, they'd drawn a simplistically cute portrait of them in the room playing with Victini, Anwyn half a stick-figure and half an adorable blob. Barron and Maya had been fused together in a mesh of red and black in the corner, the mug on Barron similar to that of a grumpy monster. Oz had clearly drawn himself. He'd picked the largest space possible for it and had decided to go with a heroic pose—scalchop sword drawn with a ridiculously oversized Razor Shell blade. He'd even gone so far as to add a watery cape flowing behind him.
"You two... are hilarious," Anwyn told the two artists, her laughter doubling when her eyes snagged on the mess of green hair Victini had scribbled out for N's part of the picture. "Aha, you look so perfect, Night! A-and Barron, too!"
N stared at the picture a moment, looked to Victini and Oz, stared at it a second time, and then touched a stand of his hair. "...Does that really look like me?"
At that, Anwyn almost toppled over, laughing so hard that her gut began to get sore. The young man shot her a childishly concerned look of dread. "A-Anwyn...!"
"I-It's just so... f-funny...!"
"It is not! G-give me the picture!"
"N-no way! It's mine!"
"Who says you get to keep it? They showed it to both of us!"
Victini, to N's amusing displeasure, pushed the picture more towards Anwyn, which of course boosted her need to throw a victorious grin his way. He sulkily crossed his arms, almost pouting. "Not fair!" he whined.
"Oh, waah, waah. You're such a baby," the brunette teased, carefully folding the drawing into a neat little square and tucking it away in her bag. "Thank you very much. Don't worry, I forgive you—especially after that," she reassured the dual-type, scratching its ears again.
"Vicuuu," the Pokémon gushed delightfully, its winged tails fluttering super fast at the praise.
Plucking up Oz and tucking him between her and her blanket, she instructed, "Alright, well, we're having a little sleepover here. Time for bed."
Oz had little trouble with that, already dozing a bit with his eyelids rolled closed. Victini, to the surprise of N, nestled in his lap, cozying itself against his warmth. He chuckled and stroked its long ears, earning a happy mumble in return. It twisted slightly to hug his arm, using N like a giant stuffed teddy bear as it lulled itself to sleep.
"It really likes you." Anwyn said, sounding more than a little sleepy herself.
"We are very similar, it seems..."
"Still, for such a little Pokémon, it packs a lot of power... Hopefully by morning... you won't... hurt as much..."
"Mm..."
That comment set his mind back to the persistence of Anwyn's unusual case of pyrophobia. Both times he'd seen it had been horrible experiences—the reaction she gave to flames even as large as a campfire were abnormal for a simple fear. Strangely, the image of her wide, frozen stare, paled complexion, and loss of, well, any sensible state of mind had branded into his brain, making it a bothersome stain that wouldn't easily scrub off. Mustering the words, he decided to confront her.
"...Anwyn, why are you so afraid of—"
A warm weight fell upon his shoulder. He blinked a few times, puzzled, and then finally let his vision identify the cause. Anwyn had either surrendered to her exhaustion or been defeated by it. Either way, she'd slipped away from the world of the wakeful and descending to sleep, resting peacefully on his shoulder. He didn't quite know what to make of the situation. She'd clearly not intended to use him as a pillow, though at the same time, it felt... wrong to simply push her away. He slanted his eyes and kept them occupied on something other than her. He hated being touched... With her, it was so different... Why though? What power did she have that prevented that tight stress he felt when others dared lay a hand on him? And... what was the needy feeling he did get from her touch? So wonderfully strange, yet, desirable—like a subconscious addiction. He shook his head once, resigned to save his questions for another time and let her dream without disturbance.
He let himself shut out the light and enter the darkness of his mind, as always, sorting through the primary knowledge of the day before letting himself drift off into slumber and, perhaps, dream of thunder...
...A friend that's more than a friend... People... are so difficult to understand...
Review replies:
Ashley Eon: Yup. Anwyn is N's... "babysitter". If you're familiar with anime and such, I'd go as far as to call her and even Cheren tsunderes, honestly. XD She acts super tough but is all soft and cuddly on the inside. (...Hope she doesn't kill me for saying that. Maybe I should hide.) She and N are great conversationalists when it comes to the whole truths and ideals talks. It's really fun to see them interact and disagree without really getting angry at each other. Ugh, I hate the four move limit with a passion, honestly. It seems extremely unrealistic. I mean, if a Pokémon learns a move, it wouldn't suddenly forget that move learning another move, for example. No. I'm doing as many moves as I want really while maintain a realistic feel. I think it's more natural that way. Anwyn's past is actually going to come up sooner than you think... And I'll warn you, it's a dark one I don't think you'll quite expect, even if you noticed some of the hints I dropped. :3 *evil laugh*
Lone Panda: Thank you for such a thoughtful review, and I'm so sorry I didn't get to this sooner! Love those specific ones. I did plan out her team at first, but I thought it'd be more of a challenge and fun to write with the help of my readers, hence why I do lots of polls and ask for votes. The Fire-type one will be a biggie that effects quite a bit. I'll have to see how that one goes, and I do hope to see another review from you, of course.
Daughter of Kabegami: Oh yeah, I'm a huge Okami fan. Played both Okami and Okamiden. Maya may be shy, but she's still a Zorua, meaning she's quite playful and mischievous. :3 I'm glad that imagery made you laugh, and as romance is my favorite genre, I'm glad that is what makes this story so enjoyable to you. Hopefully I won't fail to entertain with that. Also, the half-baked prophet is hilarious. XD Gotta love him
Dethclaw3: That would be the primary reason to give her another Fire-type other than... you-know-who... It's all going to depend on the poll though, so be sure to vote.
Zhar of Shadows: Lovely short and sweet review, my friend. Thank you. That's exactly the things I want to hear and I'm glad to hear them. Black and White definitely has the best characters and plot, at least to me. My writing is very character-driven, so hearing compliments on the characters specifically is a great boost to my confidence. Hope to hear again from you.
xFillyStarx: You should get one of the games! Best two of the series if you ask me, which is saying something when comparing it to classics like Red and Blue. :3 I'm glad my writing is setting it up so well for you. Must mean I'm doing a good job. And yes, Oz is an Oshawott, which is an otter. XD I think you're thinking of Piplup, the water starter of Gen IV. That's penguin. :3 And don't worry about it. I'll just be happy to see more future reviews from you. (.' And yes, I know. N doesn't need any more bullying. *hugs him*)
Life Is A Ray Of Sunshine: :3 Thank you very much. I think N is actually the most fun to write, so I'm glad you say that. And he and Anwyn are adorable, at least I think so. XD I just hope I'm writing their relationship out well and it's not too rushed.
Tripolar: Well then, if I just happened to catch you in a poetic mood, hopefully my luck will continue and I'll catch you in it again! I know I've PMed you and sort of given you a thank you on your review already, but you know I appreciate it and so of course I'll still leave you this. Morality discussions are definitely one of my primary "must-haves" is this story, and constantly too, as it really does weigh heavily on the plot and their developing relationship. Zorua was the one Pokémon I knew I wanted Anwyn to have besides Oshawott. Maya is going to be a fun one for me to write out, and I know about the cliffy though... I did consider that, but I did need to move things along at the same time. :3 As you can see, lots of fluffiness in this chapter. I do hope you enjoyed that. Cannot wait for your next review.
