Chapter Twenty-One:

Back to Cape Blanco!

Afternoon (4:24 P.M.), Route 11

"Go, go, everybody!" Jackie tossed all of his Poké Balls into the air, where they split open, releasing their occupants.

"(What is it?)" Runt asked as he was released, before gulping as Mary came over to nuzzle him. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!

Jackie sighed as he fell to the grassy floor, "I'm tired. We're taking a break. Let the filler commence!" he closed his eyes as he took his nap.

His Pokémon blinked at him in surprise.

"Hmhmhm," Hero chuckled as he walked up, "I don't blame the boy, not everyone's cut out for farm work," he looked down to Mary, Runt, and Sonja, "You heard him, free period, do what you want. Just don't wander off too far, 'kay?"

"('Kay!)" Sonja flew off to eat some berries.

"(Ooh! Now it's just the two of us, sugah! How romantic-)" Mary turned to Runt, but he had already disappeared. Her ears drooped in disappointment, "(Runt?)"

Elsewhere, near a small stream…

"(Hya!)"Runt tackled the tree using Quick Attack, then jumped back as it fell backwards. He smiled as he went to drink from the stream, "(Now this is a good workout!)"

His mind wandered as he drank the water.

Great, Mary has a thing for me. I can't have that, I'm a warrior! Romance would just be a distraction to my goal of becoming the strongest.

He shook his head to shake off the water droplets, "(The path to the top, is the path of solitude!)"

"(So you want to be alone?)"

"(Wah!)" Runt turned at the sound of the new voice, "(YOU?!)"

In front of him was the giant Mawile, "(Yep! And to think I came all this way for you, but here you go mouthing off about solitude.)"

"(Hey!)" Runt growled, "(Solitude is the way of the warrior! No attachments to hold me down! It is my belief that to be the strongest, I must shun all else but pain and hardship, accepting only the joy of victory as my only pleasure! You dare insult my beliefs?!)"

The Mawile sighed as she walked up to him, forcing him to step backwards until he could no further lest he fall into the stream. Smiling mischievously, she grabbed him by the arms and spun him around before pulling him into a deep hug, "(So you shun all pleasures but the joy of victory, eh?)" he could feel her rather warm breath on his nose as she caressed his head, "(What if I could show you pleasures the likes of which you've never known?)"

"(Hrr!)" grunting in exertion, he pulled away from her, "(Stay away from me, seductress!)"

She frowned, "(Oh, boohoo! Why must you reject my advances? Do you think I'm ugly?)" she asked sarcastically.

Runt didn't pick up on it, "(No, no! I don't think that!)" he waved his small arms frantically, "(It's just, I'm not interested in companionship right now. Yeah! Besides,)" he gestured to himself, "(Look at me, I'm a runt! You can do a lot better than a small-fry like me!)"

She smiled as she leaned closer to him, "(Be that as it may, larger Pokémon than you have fought me, and lost. But you,)" she leaned in closer, "(You beat me. Besides,)" she picked him up, and brought his face towards hers, "(Small is cute.)" she kissed his nose.

Just as a jolt of electricity hit her, forcing her to drop him, "(GAH!)" she recoiled away as a small electric sheep jumped between her and Runt.

"(STAY AWAY FROM HIM, YOU SUCCUBUS!)" Mary roared as static crackled throughout her wool.

Runt shook his dazed head, "(M-Mary?)"

The sheep nodded, "(Yes, sugah, it's me.)"

The Mawile glared at her, "(Just when things were gettin' spicy, you had to show up and ruin it!)"

Mary returned the glare, "(Runt. Is. Mine.)"

The Mawile frowned, "(I saw him first. Besides, he defeated me in fair and honorable combat, unless I marry him, my honor would be disgraced!)"

Runt sweatdropped, "(I don't think it works like that.)"

The Mawile turned to him, "(Listen, Baby, answer us this: who would you rather take as your mate?)" she struck a rather alluring pose, "(A sexy beast like me?)" she smirked and pointed at Mary, "(Or a fluffy, fat, Southern Belle like her?)"

Mary's eyes widened in fury, "(Well, Ah do declayuh! Does this here slut think she can hold a candle to mah beauty?)"

The Mawile narrowed her eyes, "(What did you just say to me?)"

"(Ah said:)" Mary began to repeat when she noticed something, "(Runt?)"

The Cyndaquil had begun running back to base. Run, run, run, run, run! If life in the wild has taught me anything, it's to never get between two feuding womons!

"(COME BACK HERE!)" they chased him all the way back to the base, but the Mawile was forced to retreat to a safe distance as she wasn't a member of their team.

"(Whew!)" Runt sighed as he made his way to the humans, Mary following behind him, "(Made it!)"

"(Theyah ya are, sugah!)" Mary ran up and nuzzled him, fully aware of the fuming Mawile spying on them.

"Hey, guys!" Jackie, awake and with Sonja perched on his shoulder, waved to them as he took out their Poké Balls, "Come on, it's time to go!"

Runt sighed as he was recalled, while Mary stuck her tongue out at the spying Mawile, "(Thank Arceus!)"

"Come on, Hero!" Jackie called over to his travelling companion as they headed out.

Back in the bushes…

Dammit! The Mawile cursed as she spied on them. I almost had him, then she had to show up! This isn't good! While I'm trailing behind at a distance, that… that Southern Belle can get all up and personal with my Runt!

She fumed as she followed them. If this keeps up, I'll have no other choice! But can I really lower myself to such a dishonor?

She thought of her Runt, and a smile graced her features.

For that handsome devil, anything…