Episode 16: Griselle's Gift! The World's Hardest Choice!
The sound of heavy splashes echoed through the highland mountains as Water Pulse blew up against Air Slash. Hydro Pump sent several Noibat and Woobat screeching down the mountainside, but several more took their place. They too were knocked aside by attacks, but not before they filled the air with Supersonic screeches.
"Where are they even coming from? They won't stop," Leos cried as he shifted back-to-back with everyone. Griselle breathed heavily beside him, and almost stumbled onto one paw. "You okay?"
"Ye-yeah. Don't worry about me," the hybrid panted in complete opposite to her response.
"You don't look it," Leos said, and blinked in surprise.
"Eyes front!" Griselle warned just before a Swoobat came at them with Heart Stamp. The duo jumped away in time, leaving Hyde behind them to grunt from the hit. "Hyde!"
"It's- no problem!" the Gyarados growled. He flicked his body to knock the Swoobat away, where Melba knocked it back further with Psybeam. "But I was born to fight, not defend. End this or I will rampage!"
"Keep it together, have some patience already!" Griselle complained. "Damn it, why did these guys have to attack before breakfast? What kinda ferals fight before the food starts cooking?"
"You're asking the wrong Oshawott," Leos replied as he landed beside her. Two Swoobat and three Noibat remained, and each one fluttered around the party with nasty glares. This battle's gone on long enough. It's a risky move, but if I float with Aqua Jet…
"You've got that look in your eyes again. What's the plan?" Griselle gave him an upbeat smirk. Leos linked paws with her, and the two of them planted their feet.
"Throw me at them, now!" Leos commanded as he surrounded himself in water.
With their paws still linked, Leos' Aqua Jet propelled Griselle's momentum as she spun into a hammer-throw. She threw Leos with shocking momentum, far more than he anticipated. That went for the feral bats as well, two of which were brushed right out of the sky as Leos soared past them. It didn't take much effort for him to turn around thankfully, so he crashed through the remaining three on his way back. He almost crashed into the cliff as he landed too, and flailed his arms while skidding across the rock. He wound up falling into a hug with Griselle, who stopped him perfectly.
"That was certainly a plan," Alpha remarked, eyes widened.
The couple remained cuddled for moment, and then Leos giggled and pulled back. "Ahah, sorry for the impromptu tag move, there. Thanks for saving me."
There was another pause, however. Griselle couldn't answer, she was panting and strained as though she was about to collapse. She lost her balance and fell forward into him. "Ack, Griselle! You okay? Griselle, Griselle!"
"St-stop shouting," she barely huffed. She was limp despite her complaints.
"Your body's really hot and—" Leos said worriedly.
"I said I'm fine!" Griselle hissed. She forced herself to stand in the end. "I'm just… hungry, okay? Really, really hungry."
Leos stared at her.
"What?" she snapped at him.
"I'm really concerned. You've been getting worn out a lot recently. Do you think you're coming down with something?" Leos asked with a furrowed brow.
"Other than a firm case of growling stomach, I hope not," Griselle turned away. "We should get into the cave before more of them show up. How's Lollipop?"
"Gu gu?" the Cosmog piped up, nestled by Hyde's crest. They were unharmed.
"Good call. Another skirmish like that and we might as well skip breakfast," Alpha agreed.
The group's journey had been this eventful ever since they set off from Vanil Village. Their caravan was a portable cottage; a large, round structure atop wheels with more than enough room to house the group besides Hyde. A few seats at the front let them sit and handle Hyde's reins. Griselle didn't jump in with Leos however, and chose to walk beside them.
"Uh," Leos mouthed.
"I-I'll be alright. I just, if I don't keep my body awake, I'll fall over," Griselle admitted with a cheeky smirk.
She's really pushing herself, Leos couldn't hide the worry on his face. "When we get to the next town or village, we're taking a well-earned break. Melba, how far are we?"
"Should be a little under an hour at Hyde's speed," the Indeedee chirped, glancing at a map. "We'll be at the Plateau before you know it."
"Oh, I didn't realise we were here already," Leos replied. The Plateau… It's there we'll find the Shrine of Radiance, where Cosmog can become the Radiant One. If the legend is true, we're eerily close.
He snuck a glance at Lollipop, who happily sung in his arms as the carriage went along. They appeared blissfully unaware as always, for the best, swaying side to side in the chilly breeze. We're not supposed to be here yet, but it's worth checking out. I wonder if Lollipop will react in any way?
This area certainly fit the setting of the oncoming legend. Mountains made up most of the scenery, but the unusual range of colours gave away the importance of their destination. The mountains were jagged and brown, with hints of green and orange from wintering shrubbery, but the closer they got to the Plateau, the blacker everything became. Distance mist boasted how far they had come, as civilization was invisible beyond.
"How about you, Hyde? Sorry about earlier," Griselle spoke up.
"I am fine. It is all part of my training," he replied. He was making a clear attempt to lower his volume. Emphasis on attempt. "Next time we fight, can you remove the reins so that I can help?"
"But then who's gonna guard the cottage? You've got the best Hydro Pump outta all of us, use that," Griselle suggested. "But not here or anything. If you start thrashing, we're gonna have a rock slide on our paws."
"Oh! That is fair," Hyde realised, and glanced around to confirm.
Leos decided to keep his focus on the area. This was his favourite place in the world – not these mountains in particular, but this region of Etheria. You had Eris, the land of dragons, and Faernia, the land of fairies, both of which were established civilisations with their own history, laws, and rulers.
Here was a lawless land known as the Second Country. An unmapped world that was neither a land of dragons nor a land of fairies, where Pokémon built their lives around the environment rather than bending nature to their advantage. One would think a world with no rulers or laws would result in a country of chaos, but it was the exact opposite: the Second Country was the most peaceful place on Etheria.
The fact that it was mostly unmapped also meant there was always something new to discover here. From an entire village where Pokémon lived in tents, and day and night cycled every four hours, to these winding rocky hills where cold wind howled ceaselessly. The Second Country had all the wonder an explorer could want.
No matter how careful they were, hard floor made their caravan creak in complaint. The path turned a corner into a cave, where the mumbles and squeaks of feral Pokémon echoed above the muffled wind from outside. It had been this repetitive cycle of caves and rocky hills for the past few days now.
"I don't think we're going to get more privacy than this," Leos said as he pulled Hyde to a stop. "It might be smarter for us to eat inside."
"It'll be warmer too, I hope," Melba chimed in. Leos nodded.
"And me?" Hyde turned back.
"I do feel bad. We've gone a while without a source of water. Are you going to be okay?" Leos wondered.
"You are meant to be the smart one, yes? Gyarados do not need water. Our ancient ancestors soared the skies above mountains like these," Hyde bragged.
"Did they really? Why didn't I know this?" Leos raised an eyebrow.
"Revelling in the ways of the old Gyarados is my training. To become stronger than the ferocious ancestors. A lack of water will not stop me," Hyde assured. "Go! Enjoy your nourishment. I will keep guard and make noise if we are attacked again."
"I'm almost tempted to sit out here and ask. I had no idea you were a historian, Hyde," Leos remarked.
"Here we go," Griselle giggled and rolled her eyes.
"I am not! I only know of things related to battle. I may not have much to tell you," Hyde turned away.
"Anything is something, and a start. I honestly can't imagine Gyarados flying through the sky. I'd love to know all about it," Leos urged him, but Griselle yanked his ear. "Hey- ow, quit it!"
"You are not skipping food, soldier. We all know what you're like when you're moody," she ordered.
"Agreed," Alpha nodded.
"Yep. Even I've felt your wrath," Melba giggled.
"Pew pew," Lollipop blew raspberries. Leos grumbled but obeyed.
"Whose turn is it to cook, anyway?" Leos rolled his eyes.
Soon enough, the group were gathered in the single room of their cottage around a small fire. Breakfast was limited to roasted berries this far into their journey, but Leos didn't mind it. Everyone was able to eat quickly, while they got all the energy they needed. No need to worry about what dishes anyone didn't like.
Something's ailing her, Leos kept his eyes on Griselle. For someone who complained about breakfast, she ate slowly this morning, and her paws wouldn't leave her belly. If I keep bugging her about it, she's going to lose her temper with me for sure. I really hope we can properly rest this off once we reach the Plateau.
"So this Plateau destination of ours," Alpha brought up as he crunched away on a hard berry. "I meant to ask for a while. Why exactly are we going there?"
"Did we really never say?" Leos replied, confused about the question.
"Nope, we really didn't," Griselle said. "Is it even safe to say?"
"I don't see why not. We've come really far, and trust in our friends and retainers is what will carry us further," Leos reasoned.
"Leos…" Griselle muttered. She looked more concerned than she sounded.
"The Plateau is mentioned in this little one's legend," Leos began, giving Lollipop a little pat. The Cosmog made a sound and rolled backwards to try and look up at him. "We go there when certain conditions are fulfilled, and they will turn into a legendary being known as The Radiant One. The Radiant One can fill our world with aura, light, the energy we use the function as Pokémon."
"Oh wow, little Lollipop is that important? I had no idea!" Melba gasped. "This little guy? For real?"
"Gu gu!" Chirped Lollipop at the attention.
"And we're this close? What are the conditions?" Alpha's eyes widened.
"Aha, admittedly I do not actually know," Leos admitted and scratched his back. He took another bite of a pecha and started roasting it over the fire. "We're pretty much going to scout the area, prepare for what we need to do. We're in the dark about a lot of this legend, so the more we learn, the easier it becomes."
"Oh. I was wondering why we were going through the Second Country," Alpha commented, and joined him in roasting a couple of Razz berries. "I was thinking it was difficult to dictate Etheria from its lawless reaches."
There was a little pause, and Melba pinched him. Leos knew to speak up though. "I know, this isn't really why you two joined us. But I promise you, after this, our honeymoon time is over and we're returning to Eris. Our work as new royalty starts there."
"I'm not looking forward to it, to be honest," Griselle sighed. "There's so much to do. And I've been really enjoying being able to take a walk without Pokémon throwing crap at me."
"I've been psyching myself up for a civil battle for a while. You mentioned our journey was for your honeymoon, but it appears I misunderstood just how wild a couple you are," Alpha commented. "I am not complaining, mind you. Were I in your position, focusing on Lollipop is top priority."
"You don't have to put it that way, Dad. Just say you're excited to see the Radiant One, too!" Melba beamed excitedly. Lollipop was confused about the whole conversation.
"Did I mess up?" Griselle looked down.
"No, no, not at all. I am genuinely surprised that you two's idea of a romantic journey would be to go to a place like this. I have never seen anyone quite like you!" Alpha assured, shaking his hands. "And sooner or later, will we have to stop what we're doing to attend to Lollipop. I assume the instant the legend proceeds, they become the absolute highest priority."
"Definitely," Leos nodded. Griselle looked at him. "I can't imagine what could be more important, to be honest. The whole world's at stake if the Radiant One doesn't happen."
"Incoming!" Hyde's voice came through the walls. "Brace yourselves!"
"Huh?" Melba said. Before anyone could really brace, the cottage shook violently and tilted to the side. Leos immediately grabbed Lollipop while the others fell over, but Griselle managed to keep Melba steady despite.
"What was that? Hyde?" Leos shouted.
"Argh, we haven't even finished here. I don't remember the ferals being this violent!" Griselle complained. She was the first to storm out without fixing anything.
"A-argh, Griselle, hold up!" Leos cried. The two Indeedee made an effort to fix everything that had fallen over, but Melba dragged them out a second later.
Hyde had twisted sideways to block the path of a Rhydon, who was trying to push him over to no avail. It wasn't without growls and grunts however, until Hyde managed to snake his way above Rhydon and let out a Hydro Pump. Rhydon was set off coughing and flailing their arms about as they stumbled back.
"Alright, what's your problem? It better not be somethin' stupid," Griselle asked, lance in paw.
"Baby, calm down. Hyde, what happened?" Leos asked.
"This guy came charging down the tunnel and threatened to mow us down with Horn Drill!" Hyde reported.
"You stopped a Horn Drill? Way to go Hyde, you're so big and strong," Melba praised.
"Nng, just doing my job," Hyde replied. It almost looked like he was blushing for a moment.
Rhydon didn't answer them in the end. They just kept growling and crying. Their arms gripped their head while they stumbled, their heavy form causing the walls to crumble and the cave to vibrate. Their eyes weren't even open. All the noise set off Lollipop's crying however, to which Leos and Griselle grit their fangs.
"I hate doing things this way, but they'll cave us in if we don't calm them down. Melba, keep a hold of Lollipop," Leos ordered and handed her the Cosmog.
"U-uh, sure!" she squeaked.
"Griselle, launch my Water Pulse," Leos continued. He didn't need to wait for her, she was ready to knock them out of the park. One Water Pulse pushed Rhydon's head back, while a second made it dance on one leg to keep its balance. The third attack made it snap towards them however, and it finally revealed its bloodshot red eyes.
"Here it comes!" Alpha warned, and thrust a palm forward. A screen of light appeared in front of him, but it was shattered instantly as Rhydon charged right through it. "Reflect was useless?"
"Look out!" Melba cried as her father was brushed aside. Alpha smashed against the wall so hard she cringed from it. To make matters worse, Leos merely flinched to defend himself.
In a flash, Griselle was stood over him. She'd dropped her lance to grapple Rhydon's hulking arm, but the effort had her growling. "You… stupid…!"
"Griselle!" Leos gasped. He shook himself off and thrust both palms to charge a Water Pulse attack using both of them, and fired it at Rhydon's face. The close-range attack sent Rhydon stumbling back, while Leos' group were shrouded it watery mist.
That wasn't enough for Griselle, however. The moment she was free of Rhydon, she roared out loud, clenched her fists, and then threw herself straight at their stomach. She drove her fist in so deep it looked like the Rhydon might throw up from it. A silent cry escaped the rock type as it was launched off the ground and into the wall, where it collapsed lifelessly.
"Griselle!" Leos gasped in disbelief. The whole team was in shock. Griselle didn't turn around, however. She was shivering and mumbling to herself, and then hugged herself tightly. "Griselle?"
"Argh… n-no, not now, please!" Griselle growled, and then let out an agonized wail. Leos rushed over just as she fell back, and managed to catch her, though he couldn't carry her. Alpha and Melba weren't far behind, thankfully.
"Griselle, Griselle! Speak to me, what's wrong?" Leos cried, but she wouldn't answer. Her breaths were heavy and strained, and her face was flushed. She wouldn't let go of her stomach, either.
"We need to get the Plateau, now. Hyde, emergency speed," Alpha stated.
"Oh gods, please… Griselle, hang in there, we'll get you help, I promise!" Leos gasped.
Hyde set off the moment the group huddled into the caravan. Although that made it difficult to safely strap the whimpering Griselle in, Leos appreciated the haste. He hated how strained she looked. It was difficult to tear his eyes away. The ride was bumpier than earlier, and a blast soon went off, forcing him to look away or else.
"The bats are still after us? You have got to be kidding!" Alpha gasped. Swoobat chased the group while Crobat fired Shadow Ball as they passed. "Melba, stay with Griselle and Lollipop!"
"I've got 'em!" Melba squealed as she leaned over both.
"Gu pew! Gu gaaah!" Lollipop wailed and flailed their appendages.
"Lollipop, it's gonna be okay, we're gonna be okay! There, there now," Melba cried desperately.
"It's almost like they're desperate to stop us proceeding," Leos growled. He stood up despite their vehicle's movement, and formed a Water Pulse on each paw. Heavy wind blew his fur in his face and irritated his eyes, yet his gaze remained fiercely locked. "But we have things to do, too. I won't let you touch Griselle!"
"Lord Leos," Alpha whispered.
He used Water Pulse to block a Shadow Ball from the left, and another to knock out the Crobat over there. Air Slash came from the right a second later, which he stopped with another Water Pulse. Leos didn't care if he was hitting his targets or not. He just kept firing every time he saw an attack come their way or if an enemy got too close. Hyde's hasty movement made sudden bumps or turns that threw him off-balance, but he didn't comment on that. He just stood back up and kept fighting. Before he knew it, the breeze became stronger, and the feral bats stopped attacking.
"Hold on tight!" Hyde warned.
Leos leaned forward onto all fours to grip the seats in front of him while Alpha and Melba huddled together over Griselle and Lollipop, the latter of which was still screaming. As they breached the light at the end of the tunnel, Hyde twisted to the side to throw the caravan into a screeching swerve of a stop. It worked, even if Leos did feel like his bones were going to fly out of his side.
It took only a second to grasp the new surroundings. This was definitely a village. Two mountainsides were connected via a couple of natural rock bridges, where Pokémon had set up tents and cottages of their own. At the far end was a villa, while a few Pokémon seemed to be out and about.
"Help! Somebody, help! We need medical help!" Leos cried out. They already had everyone's attention from their wild entry, so it wasn't long before a couple of Audino turned up amongst a crowd of varied species. The Audino rushed over, took two glances at Griselle, and then nodded to each other.
"Can you carry her?" one of the Audino asked.
Alpha answered by carefully lifting Griselle, and then they were on their way. Griselle seemed to have fainted at some point, and so was quiet. They were taken to the most modern structure of the area, and even that was no greater than a brick building. Leos went to follow them into the back room, but he and Alpha were shoved back.
"Give us time and space. We'll be with you shortly," one of the Audino ordered. Leos uttered a response, and reluctantly stood back.
"Just... please do your best," he huffed. Alpha tapped his head, and he stood back further, letting the Audino disappear into the next room.
"We've done our part. Just let them do their job," Alpha said quietly, and walked back.
"I know," Les sighed. I know he's right but still… Griselle…
"We shouldn't linger here. It seems this is a hospital," Alpha pointed out.
"But we- I—" Leos tried to argue. He knew Alpha was right, but still wanted to stay. They had left Lollipop with Hyde and Melba as well, the realization of which made him gasp. "Let's hurry, please."
"Leos," Alpha stopped him. "I know you're worried about your wife, but you've got to keep a level head at times like this. We've done our part in the emergency. Now is the time to calm down."
Leos turned away. He so badly wanted to argue, but nothing came up. Alpha was completely right. He took a deep breath, and then hung his arms loosely. "I apologize for that. Everything was just so sudden. We did leave Melba with Hyde and Lollipop and that crowd though, so."
"So keep level about it. Melba loves attention like that," Alpha said, and casually led the way.
Leos was surprised. Outside was calmer than he anticipated. There was still a crowd around Hyde and the caravan, but it was small, and all the Pokémon merely chatted amongst themselves rather than making complaints. He stood still to give it all a proper look and decide how best to act.
The Pokémon had no discernible theme amongst them. Mawile chatted with Gible, an Elgyem floated beside a Trumbeak, there was even a family of Wurmple with their evolutions on one side. At the back of it all was a Mime Jr. and a Clefairy with a large purple bow on their tail.
"Wait a minute," Leos had to do a double take. The Clefairy turned around at that moment, and then the two of them were certain. "Kristen?"
"Hm?" the Mime Jr. turned as Kristen froze up in shock, and then hopped in glee, too. "Oh my goodness, what a pleasant surprise!"
"Blossom, too?" Leos gasped.
"You know them?" Alpha asked. Leos didn't answer, and slowly walked over.
"Small world, huh? Then again, the way you wander around, it was only a matter of time before we ran into each other again," the Mime Jr. bowed at him. "And I take it you're not alone."
"Oh, erm, wow this is so sudden, I—" Leos choked up again. Ugh, get it together, Leos. Deep breaths, now.
He did just that, another slow inhale and exhale. Okay, now. As it should be.
"Please excuse me. It is a surprise, but that's what you get when an emergency comes up," Leos replied, and scratched his head fur. "Let me through the crowd, please."
"Figures a big ruckus like this would be yours, too," Blossom snickered. She was surprised when Hyde bowed to let Leos start undoing his reigns. "Wa-wait a minute. Gods, this big brute is seriously your doing?"
"Is brute a compliment?" Leos joked. Hyde swayed his head.
"It is when it comes from outsiders. Soon my name will be known as the world's strongest Koi of the lake, after all," Hyde bragged, and stretched tall once he was free.
"You're not a koi anymore, though. Set your sights higher, the strongest and first historic Gyarados of Etheria," Leos pumped a fist with him.
"Yeah, yeah you're right Your Highness!" Hyde chuckled. "The strongest Koi of every lake in Etheria!"
"Close enough," Leos slumped. Melba came over and handed him a sleeping Lollipop.
"They fell asleep once everything got quiet. It's a little early for them, but they must've gotten tired out from the fighting," Melba explained.
"That's fine. They'd fall asleep waiting for Griselle probably, anyway," Leos accepted the Cosmog from her. Lollipop didn't even stir.
"Do you know these two? Are you gonna introduce us?" Melba wondered, excited at Blossom's interest.
"About time someone said it," Blossom said.
"Sorry, it's a lot. Let's walk and talk, wherever we can park our cottage," Leos suggested, and gestured to their caravan. "This Mime Jr. is Blossom. She was once my retainer during the war. She got gravely injured saving my life, so we allowed her a safe retirement."
"And I keep telling you I'm way too young for that. What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life if I'm out of a job?" Blossom replied with hands on her hips.
"You don't need a job. We pay for everything for you, now. You're welcome to stay at the castle, if you want," Leos smiled. Blossom began to mimic him.
"Even now, you know that was a stupid response. Why even bother saying it?" Blossom snickered. "You're still so funny, Leos!"
"Eheh, I should mention that if she mimics you, she can read your mind. Leftover Constellar powers from her," Leos added.
"That's so cool! Can you read my mind, too? What am I thinkin'?" Melba remarked and bounced excitedly.
"Melba, please. Excuse her, she is my daughter, and very excited to meet new Pokémon," Alpha bowed. Blossom copied Melba anyway.
"If dad's right there, I don't think I should say it out loud," Blossom replied, and covered her mouth.
"Huh? Wait, Melba, what're you thinking?" Alpha gasped.
"Stuff dads shouldn't hear," she teased.
"What? We are in royal presence; I demand to know!" he raised his voice.
"You're both embarrassing," Hyde commented, making Alpha freeze.
Leos' mood dropped when he faced Kristen, who appeared just as awkward. "This one is difficult. I'm surprised that you're here.
Kristen played with her hands and avoided everyone's now confused gazes. "I was let go from the Constellars after my incident. With nowhere I would be accepted on Etheria, I was forced to flee here, to the Second Country."
"And you specifically went to the Plateau. You have to have known that I would one day pass through here," Leos stated. There was quiet, so he gestured back to the caravan and began to walk. "You've chosen an awful time to do this. I respect that you live here, but I do request that you keep your distance from us."
"My Lord!" Kristen gasped.
"I'm not your lord anymore. Not while I'm here anyway, I have no jurisdiction here. I'm asking out of respect," Leos stated.
"Whoa that's cold. What'd you do to him? Blossom wondered. Leos realised she was mimicking and changed his thoughts too late. "Okay that's a sad story for another time, but most importantly? You and Griselle got hitched? How in the world did I miss that?"
"I want to atone, you know," Kristen sighed.
"Never mind that! Let's get this thing parked!" Blossom said eagerly, and pushed Leos aside. "Alpha, was it? Will you help me? Leos, you go wait at the hospital."
"Whoa she's good," Melba remarked.
"We'll sort everything out for you. You just wait for the old girl. She needs you by her side," Blossom promised.
"Blossom… I have no right asking this of you at this point, but thank you," Leos replied, and bowed to her.
…
In an odd way, Leos welcomed the quiet chance to rest from this morning's events. A hospital in the middle of the mountains of stark nowhere was as quiet as he expected, even though the two Audino were at work. In the time that he waited, Alpha and Blossom caught up to him, though they joined him the silent lobby. The moment an Audino came from the back, Leos sat up and leaned forward. The Audino strolled right over, and then slapped Leos' cheek so hard his mind went blank and his whole body turned sideways.
"How could you? How can you call yourself a male when you put her through so much?" Audino began.
Leos didn't make a sound. He didn't even touch his face. He was completely dumbfounded as he turned to the big pink Pokémon.
"U-uh, excuse me? What did Leos do?" Melba asked as no one else was much better.
"What? Don't you know how dangerous it is to delay an egg like that? You could have killed her!" Audino put her hands on her hips.
"Delay an… egg?" Leos mumbled, and then his eyes popped out and his mouth hit the floor. "AN EGG?"
Audino hesitated, now. "Don't tell me you didn't know."
"Griselle was having an egg?" Leos jumped forward.
"The hybrid. Yes, she had an egg—" Audino answered, and that was it. Leos bolted past her so suddenly she almost fell over, and burst into back room. There was a corridor here, but it was obvious which of the many rooms were being used, so he ran for that.
There she was. Sat in a bed on a corner. Griselle glanced at him as he appeared in the doorway, and then tried to hide her embarrassment. They both sat there for a moment, Leos gawking at her, and Griselle performing all kinds of nervous gestures. Eventually, she sighed. "What a way to find out, huh?"
"Griselle, I'm more like… why did you do this? You could've killed yourself! I had no idea," Leos cried as he walked over.
"I'm sorry," she replied, and stared down. Leos stopped and pondered his thoughts for a moment.
"Look, ah, that's not what I- gods, there's so much to unpack with this," he sighed, and hung his arms. He slowly walked over, and then held up one of her paws. Two eggs were opposite them, carefully wrapped in blankets and neatly slotted into indents. "How long have you known?"
"… Since the thunderstorm night. Well not literally then, but I guess it happened sometime after that?" Griselle leaned to the side. "I really didn't want to slow us down or burden us with an emergency or anything. Fat chance I was gonna get away with that."
"You are so unbelievably powerful," Leos whispered in disbelief. "Even after everything, you were that worried about me, that you would do something like this."
"I was just stupid and wrong though," she sighed and faced the wall. The bed creaked and tilted a little, making her jump as he climbed on and up to her. "Le-Leos, what the?"
He held her paws in his and faced her as sternly as he could. She went quiet and stared back, so he must have looked exactly as he wanted to. "Griselle, you fight prejudice every day. You fight your own feelings, you train your body physically, and now I learn that you would go so far as to resist having an egg just to not be a burden. You do so much all in the name of proving yourself and being something. But you don't have to do that anymore. I promise you don't have to do that anymore."
"Leos," she muttered.
"You are Griselle. You're not 'Queen of Etheria', 'Leos' Wife', or any other title. You are Griselle Oswell," Leos stated. "Please, from here onwards, speak your mind and be you, no matter what is going on. I absolutely promise you, it's okay."
There was a long moment of silence, and then she gulped.
"Don't you dare say 'I'm sorry'," Leos stopped her.
"Can you do me a big favour then, soldier?" she asked.
"Of course. Anything I can do to help," he finally slid back.
"… Just stay here with me a while, please," she requested quietly, and held his paw tightly to stop him from getting off the bed. He sat on the side with her, but she brought him close again. "Don't worry, you won't hurt me. I want you here. You're warm again."
"Oh uh, haha. To be honest, I'm super fuzzy and afraid right now," he scratched the back of his head.
"You too, huh? It's super exciting," she huffed. "I'm sorry."
"What did I just say?" he went half-lidded.
"I know. But still, this is a lot, huh? We have Lollipop to worry about, yet I brought this on. I get it, you want me to be more confident in myself, but it doesn't change that I've made a heck of a lot of trouble for you," she reasoned, and shook her head. "So that's just me being polite."
Leos cocked his head. "This was going to happen eventually, wasn't it? Us being parents. Both of us did this. Us being parents isn't 'trouble', me being worried about you is."
"You know what, you're right. Being a Mama's gonna be scary, but it is something I've always wanted," she admitted. "So rather than be all moody with each other, lets do as I do, and just do stuff about it as it comes?"
"That's fair. So what's first is… rest, right?" he guessed.
"Heck no, I'm wide awake," she giggled, and then gave him a peck on the cheek. "And those are gonna hatch soon, so we need names!"
"Those?" Leos replied. She pointed to the eggs. "Wait, they're both ours?"
"Yeah, why else would they put 'em next to each other?" Griselle smiled.
"You had two eggs at once?" Leos gasped, and then covered his mouth. That's literally unheard of. But then again, this is a first for a hybrid as it is.
"You got any names in mind?" she asked.
"Ah, it depends on what Pokémon they end up as. The eggshells don't give us many hints," he replied, eying them. Both eggs were the same colour as Griselle, a smoky turquoise. "You named Lollipop, so it's only fair I get a name this time."
"Aww fine," Griselle pouted and folded her arms. Just then, the eggs began to glow, and the duo flinched. "Oh, I forgot to mention they've been doing that, too."
"They're already hatching, too? Way to put me on the spot, baby!" Leos cried and rushed over. Griselle was a lot slower and more careful, but was able to get out of bed and join him.
"I was in pain because they were going to hatch. That's what the doctors said, anyway," she clarified.
Leos' mouth hit the floor. "Seriously, you were this close to death."
"Wouldn't be the first time, and it's likely not gonna be the last," she shrugged. He grumbled in worry, but dismissed it for now.
Oh boy, here goes then. When I woke up this morning, I was not expecting to have to name children. My children, no less, Leos realised as the couple stared at the glowing eggs. They gradually grew brighter, and small cracks began to adorn their surfaces, making the couple lean closer. Griselle linked paws with him, too. Be smart, Leos, be smart. They're going to be new Pokémon. Just do as Mother and Father did… no wait, don't do what they did. I need to be a better father. Focus now, it's a moment of truth.
The egg on the left cracked open first. The moment there was a hole, the shell stopped glowing and the Pokémon within began to break its way free. They were tiny, grey, and very furry, with flat ears and a round form. A small nose, tiny paws with barely a nail, and extra fur on their chest. Their eyes wouldn't open, but they still squeaked and whimpered, innocently squirming their arms and legs.
"An Espurr," Leos whispered. Griselle ever so delicately brushed away the rest of the egg to hold them, where their eyes finally opened. The baby Espurr had bright pink eyes with purple pupils, same as any other Espurr.
The second egg began to break just then. In the same manner as before, the shell cracked open, the glowing stopped, and then wiggling arms and legs broke away the rest to reveal the newborn within. This time it was unmistakably an Oshawott, the teensiest bit shorter than the Espurr but all the more delicate.
Easy now, don't mess this up, Leos thought as he carefully picked up the Oshawott. Their eyes opened then too, revealing an unusual look. This Oshawott lacked pupils. Their eyes were very dark, and had a smoky glow in the middle. Leos stared, and the smoke flowed constantly, too.
He blinked, and couldn't utter a word. This is really happening. This all feels so fast. But this is really happening. These Pokémon we're holding… they're ours. Our children. They're actually here. I'm a parent, now. Me and Griselle, we're parents.
"Be careful, now," Audino whispered, getting their attention. One of the doctors from before was behind them, and helped Griselle back into bed. Leos stayed with her. "Make sure they get a good look at you two. They need to imprint on you."
The couple nodded, but were still in disbelief. The newborn didn't turn away for a moment, and very quickly settled into their parents' arms. There was a little squirming and odd breathing, but the blankets made them relax. They were so quiet, so light, so scarily vulnerable. In this moment, there was magic that made nothing else in the world matter besides these two children and Griselle.
"Do you have a name?" Griselle whispered.
Leos blinked. Both this Oshawott and Espurr were male. He stared at the Espurr in particular, and gulped. "Celes."
"Celes?" Griselle said.
"Celes. I-I guess it's expected coming from me, but it means 'heavenly'. It's just what I'm feeling right now," Leos explained. The Espurr's arms wriggled and curled up into a cuddle as they relaxed. "Does that mean he likes it?"
"What makes you think that?" Griselle wondered.
"You do the same thing when you're taking it easy. He already takes after you," Leos smiled.
"Celes… figures you'd pick a name about space," Griselle added with a half-lidded smile. Leos couldn't help but blush, but to his surprise, Griselle gestured towards the Oshawott. "That makes you: Nova. Nova Aska."
"Nova? You're going with a space name, too?" Leos asked.
"I like the name," Griselle whispered. "Celes Aska and Nova Aska."
The two newborn Pokémon relaxed in their parent's arms as if acknowledging their names. Leos nodded to that, and relaxed, too. That's not going to be hard to remember. Despite Griselle being a hybrid Pokémon, these children look and feel just like an Espurr and Oshawott.
He slowly looked up and leaned back in the bed, making sure his hold on Nova kept them balanced. This is really fortunate for us. The whole reason I got off easy on the whole hybrid thing was because I look like a normal Oshawott. I don't even know what those doctors think of Griselle. Things could've been a lot harder for everyone.
"What're you thinking about?" Griselle asked softly.
"Just in disbelief that all this just happened. I honestly didn't think we were going to be parents when I woke up this morning," Leos admitted. "Not in a bad way at all, mind you. We have a lot to do now, but I feel like all of it will work out.
"Aww," Griselle replied, and relaxed too. "I do, too. When I really think about it, we have wonderful Pokémon behind us. Wonderful Pokémon we're gonna owe a lot."
"We have a situation here!" someone shouted in the hallway. The duo turned at the tone, a little concerned.
"Please excuse me," Audino bowed to them. But just as she made it to the door, she was pushed into the wall by Melba, who looked like she was being pulled back by her tail.
"Leos, Griselle!" Melba cried.
"Melba! Listen to me!" Alpha shouted. Another doctor shouted something too, but all were silenced by an angry hush from Griselle. Whatever commotion was going on in that hallway, it halted instantly.
"Ah, we don't have time to- just look at this," Melba hissed and forced her way into the room. Leos didn't know what to think until she presented something to them.
It was a tiny Pokémon for sure, a cocoon of some sort. It was a translucent core with a spatial pattern inside, carefully encased in a golden shell of crescents that made an asterisk pattern. The core had a face on it, the sleeping face of Lollipop. The instant he was hit with that familiarity, his heart began to pick up, and his eyes widened.
"Is that… Lollipop?" Leos whispered.
"I dunno what happened. They were asleep and then they just… turned into this. It looked like they evolved," Melba explained, and held the cocoon forward. "I'm so sorry, I promise I didn't do anything, I swear it."
"I know you didn't. It's fine, it's just," Leos whispered.
"Oh, wait, are they? The babies?" Melba replied, realising where she was.
"We really should not be here," Blossom pointed out, to which Alpha nodded.
"I took it upon myself to borrow your Connection Orb and contact the King and Queen, Rune and Ariala. I hope I made the right decision there, as they said they are on their way," Alpha added, and bowed.
Leos barely paid attention to them, though. His eyes were locked to Lollipop. He stared straight at them, and the longer he stared into that spatial, eye-shaped cocoon, the more his breath unsettled and the harder his heart beat.
"What does it mean?" Griselle asked, as his unsettling began to stir Nova.
"You picked a real heck of a time to evolve. Cosmog evolves into a legendary Pokémon called The Radiant One," Leos slowly shook his head. "That's it. If we take this cocoon to the Shrine of Radiance, we can evolve it into the Radiant One."
The whole room fell silent as everyone's mouths dropped.
"That's what Mother and Father told us, anyway. But of all the times for this to come up, why did it absolutely have to be now of all times? We literally just had Celes and Nova," Leos shook. Griselle put a paw on his back, and he calmed.
"What're you going to do?" Melba asked. Leos and Griselle exchanged worried glances.
"I don't think it's right to make that decision until Mother and Father get here," Leos stated.