To-do list: RangerShipping, RepairShipping, IpanemaShipping, SylphShipping, ElegantShipping (LeafeonMxGlaceonF), NidoranMxNidoranF, StreetShipping, PokeShipping, LuxioMxEspeonF, LightrockShipping, ClapShipping, FireredShipping, GinsuishouShipping, EmpiplupShipping, ContuckyFriedShipping, RafexMay, MahouShipping, LilBlueShipping, BlenderShipping, AuraSightShipping, JackiexRui, JackiexEmok, AccordShipping, PenguinShipping, ChoosenShipping, QuestShipping, TurtwigxCyndaquil, RubusShipping, LunarEclipseShipping, TorterraMxSnorlaxF, Who'sOnTopTonightShipping, IronWillShipping, ActaeonShipping, BluebirdShipping, VandaShipping, RotomxTorchic, RotomxMismagius, SwellowFxBanetteM, EeveeFxPhanpyM, BlazingAuraShipping (RioluMxVulpixF), CosmosShipping (DialgaFxPalkiaM), LegendaryShipping (LugiaMxHo-ohF), CharcoalShipping (ArcanineMxHoundoomF), EmpoleonFxTyphlosionM, Silver'sCrobatxLyra'sCrobat, DarkraixKate, NinetalesF*xGallade*, TwisterShipping (RayquazaF*xSalamenceM*), SilverxHoundoomF, SnappyShipping (PiplupFxTurtwigM), SleepyShipping (HypnoMxJigglypuffF), CandlestickShipping, CommonerShipping, DayShipping (EspeonFxLucarioM), HaughtyShipping, RukarioShipping, DragonWillShipping, VolknerxRotomF, SwellowFxPidgeottoM, DotcomShipping, DoduoFxGolemM, GyaradosF*xTyranitarM*, OrbShipping (GroudonFxKyogreM), ElderShipping, Lucarioxchocolate, RileyxBlue, PikaShipping, GarchompMxDragoniteF, DracoSweepShipping (SalamenceMxDragoniteF), SaharaShipping (FlygonFxGarchompM), ElectivireMxGardevoirF, EmpoleonFxTorterraM, GabiteFxDrapionM, ParalysisShipping (ButterfreeFxBeedrillM), MetangFxLanturnM, GyaradosMxPhioneF, DiglettMxDiglettF, SteelixMxSteelixF, AlfShipping, NavigatorShipping, SundaeShipping, ToleranceShipping, TensionShipping, RespectShipping, BoulderShipping, A&WShipping, LanturnFxTentacruelM, PonytaFxPokabuM, LesserShipping (PhioneMxManaphyF), ColorlessShipping (ZekromFxReshiramM), RazorShipping (GliscorFxWeavileM), TogekissFxGlaceonM, RhyperiorFxElectivireM, MantykeFxLotadM, FinneonMxFinneonF, DrapionFxArbokM, LopunnyFxGlameowF, HonchkrowFxDusclopsM, DrifloonMxCherrimF, CherubiMxCherubiF, WidgetShipping (PikachuMxCyndaquilF), FireGroundShipping (CharmanderFxMudkipM), DrifloonMxEspeonF, BlueShellosFxPinkShellosM, SightShareShipping, ArbokFxIvysaurM, RapidashFxCrobatM, BluehairShipping, AntipodeanShipping, AnthroShipping, LuckyShipping, RudeShipping, MomoShipping (UxieMxMespritF), LoliShotaShipping, WaterFlowerShipping, DarachxLyra, ButlerDidItShipping, MangaPokeShipping, AmberShipping, HaughtyShipping, CatShipping, LuvdiscMxLumineonF, DescartesShipping (LyraxGiratinaF), LyraxGolduckM, DialgaFxSpiritombM, OutsiderCaveShipping (HeatranFxRegigigasM), ReshiramMxCrobatF, ArbokMxAriadosF, ScaleToothShipping (HuntailMxGorebyssF), MangaQuestShipping, OldRivalShipping, TwinleafShipping, AquaticnurtureShipping, AnomalyShipping, BeachShipping (PMD1), MarbleShipping, KoonxMebukijika
NostalgiaShipping – Grovyle & PMD2 Hero (T)
The two slunk through the undergrowth, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. They knew that any shadow could conceal a potential enemy; any patch of tall grass could hide a trap. True, this was a time of light – none of the fat, lazy, and happy people of this era had even begun to turn Primal yet. But there was always the possibility that the Primal Lord had sent his minions after them to prevent the dark future from being lit. One could never be too careful. It was a lesson that they had learned the hard way.
Grovyle tensed as he caught a brief movement at the corner of his vision, spinning swiftly around with leaf-blades poised to strike; but his so-called enemy turned out to be a little Combee, buzzing happily from flower to fragrant flower. He relaxed slightly, but refused to let down his guard.
"Isn't it strange?" murmured Hera, gazing around at the verdant jungle around them. "All this greenery … I haven't seen anything like it since the Collapse. All of the forests were just ugly and shriveled as hell after that." She shuddered slightly, remembering the evil time they had narrowly escaped.
"I'm green too, if you haven't noticed," Grovyle replied dryly, slinking alongside her past bushes and trees.
"Yes, I've noticed," she admitted, patting his leafy head idly. "Lucky for me. if you weren't there, I might've forgotten that green was a color."
He couldn't help but smile at his human friend's statement. "And if you weren't there, I might have forgotten all about love and hope and ended up turning Primal like the rest of them."
"Now you're being silly," she laughed quietly, wiping her sweaty bangs out of her face.
"I'm being honest," he said, thinking of former good friends who had succumbed to the madness before his very eyes. "I could've turned just like that." He snapped his fingers ruefully.
"Oh, Grovyle," she sighed, shaking her head. He glanced up at her in confusion, but she didn't elaborate.
At length they reached the shore of a small, secluded pond, buzzing with flies and choked with algae. Pausing to catch their breaths, they felt waves of exhaustion, which they had hitherto dammed up to the best of their ability, pound over them mercilessly. There was a loud ringing in Grovyle's ears that he hadn't noticed before, and Hera's feet were so blistered that they resembled raw meat. It was all they could do not to devour all their rations at once, so long had their trek been.
"You know," Hera murmured tiredly, casting her drooping eyes over to the filthy waters, "I haven't had a decent bath in a long time …"
"That doesn't look particularly decent," Grovyle remarked, watching a clump of primordial sludge drift lazily across the pond's green surface.
She managed to raise an eyebrow. "Compared to some of the things we drank in the dark future, this is practically pasteurized."
"Touché."
She fingered at the edges of her sweat-soaked shirt. "Strange that I haven't taken this outfit off since it all went to hell … What?" she demanded weakly, noticing Grovyle's gaze.
"Well ..." He glanced away awkwardly, more out of habit than anything. "We've been going out for a long time, haven't we?"
"If going out means kicking ass together, left, right, and center, then yeah, we have."
"And we trust each other more than anything. I don't think love goes much deeper than that. So …" He trailed off, shifting awkwardly. "Maybe we should take a moment to, you know, seal the deal."
She shot him a weary glare. "Grovyle."
"Hmm?"
"We're in the middle of a potentially lethal jungle, possibly teeming with the Primal Lord's spies, and we're on a mission to avert the dark future before it begins in this time. Celebi's counting on us, she's holding Dusknoir off for us … that is, if he hasn't gotten past her already. We need rest, we're in a hurry, and you want to put all that off just to sleep with me?"
He cringed with embarrassment.
"I would've thought your priority would be to kick their asses out of the picture," she added.
"Yes, but then I met you."
"Touché."
"Hera, if we actually manage to succeed, we'll be erased from existence. We might never have another chance …" He faltered, already aware that he'd lost the argument.
She sighed. "Grovyle, as much as that tempts me, we can't put our happiness above the condition of the future. You know that."
He hung his head. "You're right, Hera, as usual. I'm sorry."
She smiled and put her lips to his sweaty forehead. "So am I, but that's just the way it is. Now, would you mind scouting the perimeter and giving me some privacy?"
"Sure." He slowly pushed himself to his feet, cringing as they ached in protest. "For you." Nodding towards her, he braced himself, took a deep breath, and began to dart through the undergrowth again, vanishing almost instantly into the dense clusters of leaves.
"Thank you," she called softly after him, a non-ironic giggle escaping her lips for the first time in a long while.
Her words were faint, but he heard them all the same. You're welcome, he thought, allowing a smile to brighten his face as he took off …
… Only for it to flip upside-down as a terrible scream ripped the air behind him. Whirling around in a flurry of leaf-blades and panic, he sprinted back the way he had come, small feet digging viciously into the earth as crashed through the undergrowth, no longer caring if he was heard.
He burst back onto the shore of the pond just in time to see a floating flare of darkness wink out of existence. Blinking, he cast his eyes swiftly about the area, wondering where she could have gone: her clothes were scattered here and there, shredded to ribbons, but Hera herself was nowhere in sight. Otherwise, everything was exactly as he'd left it. There didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle, though that scream had suggested otherwise.
"Hera!" Grovyle called out, worry etched into his tone. He focused his attention on listening, alert for any noise that might suggest she had been taken in a particular direction.
No returning shout greeted him.
"HERA!"
Still no response.
He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling a sense of hopelessness wash over him. How could this happen? He'd literally turned his back on her for a minute, and she'd somehow been snatched away. He should have stayed here with her, in spite of her protests, to make sure she was safe …
Then he thought of the dark future, and the Time Gears that would prevent it. His hands curled into fists as he opened his eyes partially, narrow slits staring determinedly at what remained of his love. "You were right, Hera," he said to nobody in particular. "Our mission comes first. I don't know what happened to you, but rest assured I'll finish this all for you. And if I find the bastard who took you …"
An overhanging Weepinbell dropped down towards his head, drooling mouth poised to strike as it fell. Without looking up, Grovyle swept a glowing leaf-blade over his head in a shining arc, slicing at the pitcher plant and swiftly knocking it out. As it hit the ground, he lifted his determined gaze towards the sky, glaring into the shadows that evaded the filtered sunlight.
"There'll be hell to pay."
