The sun shone bright over the little Fortree Town, in the Hoenn region. The day was beautiful; the sun was bright at its highest and the sky covered in clouds, the perfect weather for activities so simple such as a little walk through the forest, to something more exciting like a good Pokémon battle. People at the houses on top of the trees watched in awe how a kid with a Linoone battled against another kid with a Swellow. The battle grew intense as the Swellow charged in midair against the Linoone with Aerial Ace; the people were at the verge of their seat expecting the flying-type pokemon to win the battle. At the last minute, Linoone's trainer told him to use Thunderbolt, succeeding and bringing the poor Swellow to the ground as cheers were chanted all over the place.
Route 120, at the end of the town, was a perfect place for more relaxing activities; families having picnics while other kids played around with their Pokémon was a very common sight around here. Inside a field filled with lots of berry trees nearby a lake, a young boy dressed in a gray t-shirt, jeans, boots and a lab coat picked and collected the delicious fruit inside a bag; his name was Joseph, he was eighteen years old and came from the Kalos region.
What was he doing in Hoenn? He, unlike his parents who once were champions of the Pokémon League of their respective region, wasn't interested in battling. Instead, he focused his time on becoming a scientist.
It wasn't an easy decision, mostly because his relationship with his parents wasn't the best, they wanted him to carry on with the family tradition. You see, this champion thing is something that runs in the blood, both his parents and grandparents were multiple times champions on their times, so it was only natural for the new generations to continue bringing honor to the family. With that in mind, his parents had put him through a very tough training: running for miles, lifting weights, increasing endurance, it was pretty difficult at first, but over time his body adapted and (luckily for him) helped him to become the strong young adult he was today.
Joseph picked a couple of Pecha berries from a tree and put them in his bag. The sun was strong as if someone had called a Groudon into the battlefield, and he began to feel the heat under his lab coat. Several drops of sweat formed on his forehead, he whipped them away with his forearm.
He was currently in Hoenn to do some research about the berries; his goal was to locate and isolate the healing properties in each one to develop medicines to fight Pokémon diseases. It is known that Pokemarts sell many types of sprays that cure Pokémon problems such as status conditions, you know, like poisoning, burning, and paralysis. The problem was that they were made of synthetic components, and some were proven to cause more harm than good in the long run. This wasn't an easy job; it didn't only take a lot of his time, but he also had to compete against big corporations who profited with the health of Pokémon. However, this didn't discourage him at all.
"This is taking forever!" A female voice cried. Joseph closed the bag full of berries and turned around; a small Braixen with a pout face and some leaves all over her fur stared at him with crossed arms. Joseph couldn't help but chuckle at such a cute sight; he gave her a head pat, which made a noticeable blush to spread across her face.
"Don't worry, I already got the samples." He said. "Let's head back to the base." With that he began to walk, Braixen followed him closely.
"I swear, if we have to go through all these bushes and trees…" she complained as she grabbed two sticks from her tail and compared them to keep the one that belonged to her. After a moment, she threw away one and returned the other back to her tail. They've been at this for hours; she'd been enduring the heat of midday, mud and insects sticking to her beautiful fur, and a lot of people who wanted to catch her, just to find out the ball didn't work since she already had a master. "A lady like myself shouldn't be doing this kind of work!"
He put the berries bags inside his backpack. His job there was done; it was time to take these for study.
"Come on, Lily, you know how important this is for me." Joseph responded. "Besides, don't say you haven't had any fun on this trip."
Joseph was right, and she knew it. Though most of the time they're looking for berries or plants or whatever he was working on, he had also made sure to have some free time to do something she likes. In Hoenn, there are a lot of Pokémon contests; in this kind of contest, the Pokémon don't battle each other until one of them passes out. Instead, they use their moves and other facts (depending on the kind of contest) to get points. They have been in Hoenn for about six months, and in that time they have won several contests. They also have something called a "Lava cookie" which can cure some status conditions such as burns or paralysis, but it also makes a very tasty treat (and expensive, since it is very difficult to find). Something she also liked was the sea; a lot of people tend to believe fire-type Pokémon don't like, are afraid, or even hate the water, but that couldn't be farther from the truth (most of the time). She enjoyed swimming and playing in the water with other Pokémon, and since Hoenn was surrounded by sea, it was perfect.
"I guess you're right…" the little vixen admitted. "But if you're still counting on my assistance in these ugly conditions, you'll have to reward me later!" She demanded with authority. Such a character for someone that small was so funny that a small chuckle escaped his lips. Lily heard it and got angry.
"What are you laughing about you idiot! You think getting your hands all muddy is funny! I'm gonna…" She kept yelling at her trainer, who didn't seem to care that much. He opened the backpack and took a small box from it; lifted the top and showed the content to his Pokémon.
"Will you do it for a piece of Occa berry tart?" He asked. Braixen suddenly stopped yelling and instead she stared at the dessert with wide pupils. Occa berry was her favorite; the sweet and spicy taste was a combination that never failed, no matter the presentation. Her tail began to wag unconsciously as a thread of drool fell from her mouth. She hated him for using this tactic whenever she didn't want to do something that involved getting dirty, but also hated herself for falling for it. She immediately stopped her tail and shook her head. No. She was not falling for it this time! A lady has to stand her ground and…
Her stomach rumbled, interrupting her self-motivational speech, then it came to her mind that all she ate for breakfast was a toast with Pecha berry jam and orange juice. She looked away with embarrassment.
"I-I feel generous. I'll take your offer" She said, regaining her composure. Joseph handed her the pie, and she took it with shame. Sweets were her weakness; growing up in Kalos, there was always a bakery with cakes of all the colors and flavors you can imagine, or stores selling delicious macaroons and other desserts fresh from the oven around the corner, so it was only natural for her to get them whenever she wanted.
Ok, maybe not that often; Joseph took good care of the food he gave her, but he also rewarded her for a job well done.
He watched her as she took a bite of the tart; her face rose with delight and a "Xen~" escaped her mouth. His heart fluttered and his cheeks blushed; whenever she wasn't behaving like a 'princess', she'd usually let her real self out. She may be demanding and have her temper, but inside she was a normal girl who enjoyed simple things such as eating sweets or playing with other Pokémon. He loved her for that.
Joseph couldn't help but recall how they met; how he was just a little kid who had just buried his first Pokémon and only friend due to a strange disease and in the way home found her tied up to a tree. She was a little Fennekin back then; she looked like she hadn't been fed in days, her fur was pale, dirty and even patched in some areas, she wasn't moving much, just enough so he knew she was still alive.
He didn't know what to do; he was still in pain for losing his best friend, but couldn't just let her like that, she'd be dead if he didn't do something quick. The moment he tried to get close, she struggled to get up and launch a little flame; it was too weak to harm anything, but apparently that took all her energy because she collapsed to the ground. It was his chance; he then cut the rope and took her to the nearest Pokémon center.
The nurse in turn took her to the ICU, and after making it the first two nights her condition improved. The nurse then told him that this was the doing of an abusive trainer who let her to die, and told him to give her some space before approaching her as she might be aggressive towards humans.
She stayed in the Pokémon center for three more days, and Joseph spent every day trying to gain her trust. It took him a month to finally get close to her without getting bitten, burned or attacked, but at last she ended up liking this human; she found out he was the total opposite to her previous master, he was caring, kind and patient. She made it out of the Pokémon Center and he took her home; he would bring her food and water, check on her at any time and even bought her a few toys to play with. This was new to her; normally she'd hunt her food since her old master never gave her any, and when he did they'd be leftovers.
He demonstrated to be a good person, and she swore to herself she would show him gratitude by being with him through thick and thin. But of course, that gratitude turned into something more as she evolved.
After a 20 minute walk, they arrived at their base. It looked like a normal tree from the outside, the top was thicker and no sunlight passed through, something normal since it was just a disguise. Inside it was a pretty spacious room with some lab stuff, a bed, even fridge and some beanie bags. Joseph had a house not far from the base, but sometimes he'd spend so much time in his investigations he'd eventually fall asleep, and it was Lily who would take him to the bed.
Joseph hit the trunk three times, and a vine fell from the top. The boy grabbed it and extended a hand to Lily. "You're coming?"
Lily got closer to him, touching his chest with hers and putting her arms around his torso; she could feel his heartbeat, so steady and relaxing it was almost hypnotic. The vine went up, taking them to the lab.
The place wasn't too big, but it was enough for his job. Joseph placed the bag on the table and emptied its contents; bags of berries along with other things such as his Pokegear, protective equipment, some powders made of roots he bought from his last trip to Lavaridge Town and stuff scattered all over the table. He grabbed the berries and took them to the "operating table" like Lily liked to call; this was where he would do the experimentation thing or whatever he'd do with the samples they gathered. Lily wasn't that much of a fan of science, but she liked to spend time with him, even if that involved her sleeping in the bed while he was busy.
A few hours passed when he was done with his job; there were three beakers filled with liquid, each one with a different color. Lily looked curious at them; they looked kinda tasty, but she already had a bad experience with a nice looking, good smelling liquid that ended up being the bitterest thing she'd ever tasted. It took her two weeks to recover her taste.
Joseph got up from his desk and stretched his arms and back, a cracking sound came from his joints and he let out a sigh, followed by a growl coming from his stomach.
"Hey, Lily," He called his partner. The Pokémon, who was reading a magazine on the bed, looked at him. "Wanna get something to eat?"
"You've been working at that thing for several hours and you didn't even eat breakfast," she apprehended him. "You shouldn't push yourself too hard…" She realized what she was just saying; a small blush appeared on her cheeks and she looked away "Not that I care or anything!"
He looked at the time, it was 14:20; he's been collecting berries the whole morning, and Lily was right, he skipped breakfast so he could pick fresher berries before other people.
His stomach rumbled again, this time louder. He was so hungry he'd eat a whole Milktank.
They came out of the base and started walking. The way home would take at least 30 minutes; he sighed again, wondering what he was thinking when he decided that the farthest tree from home would be perfect for his base. There were more trees near his house but no, he wanted the most spacious one. He doesn't even have that much equipment, it's just…
Joseph soon noticed Lily was being left behind. He looked back and caught sight of her; she was at her own pace, gazing at the ground lost in her thoughts.
"Are you OK?" he asked. Lily didn't respond until Joseph put a hand on her shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
A shiver ran through her body at the mere touch of his hand; her mind processing all her thoughts and emotions came to a halt like a car crashing against a wall and brought her back to reality. "N-Not at all, don't worry." She replied. Her face turned red again, she just looked away.
"Something's bothering you, I can feel it." He insisted. He had known her for a long time now. He could feel whenever she was lying.
It also helped that she wasn't a good liar.
Lily stopped and her body tensed; she tried to avoid this conversation for a long time, but the problem was that, as time passes, it becomes harder. She knew she felt something more than just a good friendship towards him, how couldn't she? He was the most caring, serious and dedicated person, and even when she acted like a spoiled child sometimes, he would never complain or try to change her.
But let's be realistic, she'd never have a chance.
She was just a Pokémon, the fact alone that they were different species was already a huge problem, but there were other facts. Take for example: girls.
They've been travelling for quite a while now; they've visited different cities and villages, and there has not been a single one where girls wouldn't hit on him. Many girls of different ages, from his age to (way) older would try and flirt with him. They'd invite him to walk around, go to the movies, even some of them would shamelessly try to drag him into a hotel room. She couldn't do anything but feel her heart sink with every proposition. She was afraid he would accept and leave her alone for another girl.
He'd always reject them, and that'd bring relief to her.
But maybe there was a chance, she felt it this time.
Her heart began to race and a knot formed on her throat; there was never an easy way to say this, but the secret had only grown heavier on her back like a giant boulder that she had to carry. She had to tell him, even if that meant to suck up her pride. She felt brave, this was the time.
"W-Well, the truth is…" she began to say. The words died in her mouth and her ears rose up, her eyes opened wide. She turned to the left, there was something coming from the forest.
No, someone…
A couple of men emerged from behind the trees and bushes; one of them was a thin man wearing a khaki vest over a black shirt, jeans and boots, he had a thick moustache.
The other guy used the same vest over a red shirt, jeans and boots. Both men wore khaki hats and sunglasses.
"A Braixen isn't a Pokémon you see around here often," the red-shirt one said. "Not even in Kalos you see one in the wild, they're highly requested."
"Well well, this is our lucky day then." The black-shirt guy said, a smirk crossed his face as he took his hand to his back.
"Sorry to disappoint you, fellas, but Lily isn't going anywhere." Joseph said calmly. Lily walked a few steps in front of him and readied up for anything.
"You don't seem to understand the situation, kid," The red-shirt guy took his hand behind his back as well. Both grabbed a pokeball and threw it to the ground, a Luxray and a Machoke appeared in the now battlefield. "We're not asking."
Joseph took a deep breath and so did Lily; he wasn't a fan of Pokémon battles, but sometimes he just had no option. This wasn't the first time when someone needed a thing or two, and unfortunately for them, school was in session.
Luxray took the first turn; he ran towards Lily and attempted a bite attack, but Lily dodged him easily and countered with Fire Punch. The Luxray returned to his original position at Machoke's left side, but then felt the effect of the attack as a red glow covered his body.
Next, Machoke charged against her with Mega Punch, but the result was the same; she stopped the attack using Psyshock, which made the enemy Machoke fall. This being a Psychic-type attack had much more effect on Machoke. Both men looked upset after seeing not even with numeric advantage this was looking good for them. Luxray got up and tried to attack with Thunderbolt, but Braixen managed to stop the attack using Protect. Next was Machoke again, trying to use Rock Slide this time; the attack hit the target, which caused Lily to back up a bit. Seeing how things were turning in their favor, both of them decided to attack at the same time from both flanks; Luxray went after her using Wild Charge, while Machoke charged with Brick Break. Lily waited for them to get closer, and at the very last moment she used agility. The result was both attacks colliding against each other and hurting their respective users to the point where they were no longer able to battle.
Red-shirt guy cursed and put Machoke back in his pokeball, while the other just went after his Luxray. Lily returned to Joseph, who checked for injuries and gave her a root; she grimaced at the bitter flavor, but gave her partner a thumbs up at the end. "You better get outta here, and be grateful I'm giving you a chance, because if I ever see your sorry arses around I won't be that nice."
Both men looked at him with hatred. Joseph and Lily just turned around and walked away, believing it was over.
"We better watch out, Lily." Joseph told her. "There might be more of them around.
"Pff, come on, didn't you see how easy I took those idiots down? She bragged her head up with pride and smirked with confidence. They can come in hoards if they want, because I'll…"
She was suddenly pushed aside and landed on a bush; she was about to yell at her trainer, but ultimately fell silent with what she just witnessed.
A bright yellow glow enveloped Joseph's body for a few seconds that felt like hours; his body twitched as electricity travelled through it looking for a way to go to the ground. When it finally faded, his limp body fell to the ground as smoke started pouring off his body.
Lily was in complete shock; she kneeled to check him out, confirming to her relief he was still breathing, though it was weak. The attack could only come from one direction; she turned right, and there was that guy's Luxray, who used Wild Charge in an attempt to attack her on the back and was now shaking its head due to the recoil damage. Meanwhile, the other guy stood behind him, smirking mockingly with satisfaction. "Kid's a complete idiot, he preferred to take the bullet for you."
"Had he just handed you over and he'd still be ok, but I think some people like it the hard way." Red-shirt guy spat. "You're coming with us, baby, want it or not!"
Lily looked one more time at his trainer, blood started coming out of his nose and soon formed a small pool beneath his head. She looked down for some moments, her emotions making a mess of her mind; she couldn't stop thinking this was her fault for getting her guard down even when Joseph told her not to. The men approached her with ropes and a bag, ready to take her to her new home where she'd either help strangers with their physical needs or be turned in a fine piece of clothing.
A tear rolled down the fur of her cheek and fell on the ground.
"Why did you do that?!" She kept yelling at him, expecting an answer that never came.
A red glow covered Lily's body, a strange energy ran through her body and her temperature rose. She got on up and started walking towards the men; they backed away with fear in their eyes. Black-shirt guy commanded his Luxray to attack her with Thunder Fang; said Pokémon obeyed and charged against her as electricity emanated from his mouth. He jumped and aimed for a direct strike, but right before he could even make contact, a huge torrent of fire enveloped his body and sent him flying back to his trainer, who couldn't do anything to stop or dodge the body of his pokemon. Luxray's body slammed hard against him, the strength of the attack sent both man and Pokémon flying until they crashed against a tree. They both lay unconscious as ashes floated around them. The other guy looked with fear what just happened to his partner; now that they were down he had no doubt he'd be next.
Braixen's mind was clouded with wrath, her eyes were red and fire started coming out of her nose with every breath. She stared down at the man, who walked back until a tree cut his way; he was trembling in fear and paralyzed, there was no other way to go, this was the end of the line.
Her vision went red, she felt her balance weakening until she fell forward on her front hands. Her fur frizzed and her gestures became more feral-like. She felt no worry, no sadness and didn't feel anything overall, or rather she couldn't tell what she felt; she didn't think anything, her mind went primal and was now acting on instinct. The shaking man in front of her was a threat, and her fight or flight instinct kicked in.
She decided to fight.
She attempted to walk, but something clinging to her leg prevented her from. She gazed down, her eyes glowing red and her sharp teeth showing in a ferocious face until she realized what (or who) was stopping her. It was Joseph, struggling to breathe but able to stop her before doing something she'd regret. In matter of seconds she returned to her senses, her eyes went back to normal and her fur flattened. She regained her posture and hurried to aid her trainer; she put his arm around her and attempted to help him to stand up, but he was too heavy for her and she was too short. Red-shirt guy just watched the scene, unsure what to do. Lily stared at him with anger, she snorted at him as smoke came out of her nose; It didn't take a genius to know when an animal (or Pokémon) stops its advance towards you, it was your chance to save your life. He fled the scene as fast as his legs allowed him, not caring to help his partner and his Pokémon.
Lily tried to lift him once again, and just like the previous time, with no avail. What would she do now? She couldn't take him to the hospital by herself; they were too far from one and she couldn't physically help him. She cursed the fact that she couldn't learn teleport or hadn't learned Psychic; that way she could take him to the nearest Pokémon center in no time.
Time was against her. She was alone in the forest with no one to help her.
An idea crossed her mind; it could be very dangerous, but there was nothing else she could do right now.
She walked away from her trainer until she was at a safe distance. She breathed deeply, held it for a few seconds and sighed. Next, she inhaled until her lungs were at the top, and exhaled an enormous torrent of fire towards the sky.
The total darkness was soon overpowered by a blinding light that momentarily hurt his eyes. It took a moment for his sight to adjust to the sudden change, but was able to open up his eyes.
The cold air hitting his shivering body was the first thing he felt back to consciousness followed by a mild headache. As the fog that clouded his thoughts faded, realization hit him that he was in a Pokémon Center. He pulled aside the cover, noticing his clothes were gone and all that covered him was a hospital gown. As he tried to get up, a sharp pain stuck him in the chest and forced him to stay on the bed. A heavy sigh let out his body.
"How did I end up here?" He wondered. The sound of the door opening caught his attention.
"I see you finally woke up." A nurse commented with a smile on her face and a tablet on her hands. Following her was a Chansey, holding a tray with medications.
"What happened?" He asked. The nurse checked some documents on her tablet.
"According to the report, there was a fire in the forest around route 120. When people rushed to extinguish it, that's when they found you lying in the ground with a small pool of blood under your head." She responded. "There was a man nearby along with a Luxray; they were unconscious and his clothes were scorched, but he and his Pokémon were Ok."
She set the tablet on the bed at his feet, grabbed the medication along with a glass of water and handed them over him. "At first they thought the Braixen did this on purpose, but she then explained what happened, well, sort of; she talked with a Mr. Mime and he translated her words to English. You probably understand her words due to the bond you two share, but…" The nurse stopped, realising she was getting out of topic. "Anyway, the police did some research and found something interesting; turns out the man was part of a gang of poachers, he was looking for Pokémon to catch and sell. He was also brought here at first, but due to his non-critical condition he was taken to a prison hospital."
Joseph nodded. He swallowed the pills, which left a bitter taste in his mouth, and drank the water. Well, that explained what happened after his lights went out. However…
"So they brought me here?"
"An ambulance did; your clothes were scorched and you were unconscious, but fortunately stable. The only concerning thing about you is the burn in your chest, but a little bit of rest and some meds will get it healed in no time."
A quick check on his body showed no signs of burning or any other wound. Now that he thought of it, the nurse was right; the only thing he felt uncomfortable was the pain in his chest.
"What happened?"
"Well, you have a first degree burn." The nurse said. "I do recall hearing the paramedics blaming it to the fire, but then they found out it was a burn caused by electricity. Police later confirmed the Luxray that was found at the scene was the cause."
It stuck him like a thunder: the battle, the men who battled him, the attack.
"Lily!" He said with panic. The nurse was a little taken aback.
"Excuse me?"
"Lily, my Pokémon, the Braixen that was there with me!" His heart began to race. He didn't care if something happened to him, but with Lily it was different. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her.
"Oh, Braixen," she said, her voice coming as calm as if nothing in the world was wrong. "She came here with the paramedics when they brought you. She was not harmed and has been in the waiting room ever since you arrived."
His pulsed decreased to normal as a sigh of relief left his body. The thing he feared the most was she being taken away from him; after he blacked out they could have just taken her by force, but somehow she made it out of there.
"So…can I talk to her? He asked.
"You can, but the thing is if she wants to." The nurse said.
"If she wants?" He asked with confusion. Why wouldn't she?
"Well, you've been here for three days now. We've told her it was ok if she wanted to stay with you; she showed signs of intent, but then changed her mind. Instead, she chose to stay in the waiting room."
"Why doesn't she want to see me?" It didn't make any sense. His previous relief was now replaced with concern. This didn't sound like her usual self, he'd been in bed quite a few times (either because of sickness or accidents on his work), and she'd always been there with him; she'd prepare soup (though not the best, he appreciated the effort), bring him everything he needed, or do things such as simple as stay with him and talk so he doesn't get bored. She was more than a partner; in the time they've known each other they've grown really close. If she didn't want to come and see him there had to be a reason.
The nurse just looked at him with a warm smile on her face; it wasn't the first time she'd seen this before. Her young appearance may trick many people, but she has been a nurse for quite a long time now; she has dealt with a great variety of cases, Pokémon and people. She has witnessed many births, losses and sometimes she had to get dirty to accomplish her mission.
There is, however, one thing that's more common when you get to know many trainers every day: Love.
She got close to his ear and whispered. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but she told me she feels guilty for what happened to you."
His confusion was now surprise. "What?"
"She told Chansey about the battle, and how you risked your own life to save her." She gazed at the documents on her tablet. "I have to say, although very dangerous, you're brave."
"I know," His cheeks turned slightly red upon the compliment and smiled. "Though it was something stupid."
"Tell me something". The nurse said. She put the tablet aside and looked him straight at the eye. Her stare, normally kind and warming, was now digging deep inside him. He tried to look away, but he still could feel her eyes piercing him like a harpoon. "Do you regret it?"
"What?"
"Would you rather like her to be the one that got attacked and sent to the hospital? Would you rather be the one who has to spend their time in the waiting room expecting to have any update on your condition?" She questioned. Joseph opened his mouth, but no word came. She was right; he could only imagine how hard it all was for Lily. She doesn't know anyone in this region outside Professor Elm, who was his personal friend and the one that arranged everything for his stay in Hoenn.
He closed his eyes and sighed.
The nurse smiled, her words hit the spot. "I'll let her know you're awake. In case she wants to come and see you, I'll tell the staff to let her pass." She winked at him. Joseph smiled at the kind act of her. The nurse grabbed her stuff and walked outside followed by her Pokémon.
Joseph let out a sigh and watched the ceiling with uncertainness. The nurse's words echoed inside his head. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her in that fight; he'd rather receive every thunder, every rock, and every punch to the face that might be thrown at him if that meant to keep her safe. He proved that in the forest, and if he had to do it again, then so be it.
He closed his eyes.
But why? Did he really feel more than a friendship for her? A Pokémon? Did he feel love for someone that wasn't even her own kind? He knew relationships between humans and Pokémon were seen upon real badly, almost as a bad as a rape and he'd dare to say a murder. He didn't think that badly about them, but to be honest, he never thought that deep into the subject; that topic was very, very rare due to its nature, and even when people talked about them he'd just listen without much interest and answer vaguely if questioned.
His left arm swung off the bed until it hit something. What was that? He sat on the bed carefully and grabbed whatever was on the floor. It was his backpack; it was burned in some areas and the strap broke. Whatever, he was thinking of buying a new one anyways.
He inspected its content: The Pokegear was surprisingly fine, it still worked. His wallet was in good shape as well, the berries he picked were burned to ashes…
Well, nothing of value was lost, that's a relief. He put all his stuff back inside, but then something fell off the wallet. It was a photograph he took the day she evolved into Braixen; she looked so cute with that blush on her face as he got close to her to take the…
Oh…
His eyes opened wide in realization.
It couldn't be.
He put the photo back into the wallet and put it aside. His mind was blank; he felt a rush of emotions raiding his brain: surprise, embarrassment, anger…
How long has she been in love with him? That thought stuck in his mind for a while. He had never been good with girls, not because he was ugly or anything; he considered himself a fine looking man. It's his inability to catch their hints or notice their approaches that ultimately made the girls get bored or tired of him. He knew several girls who he was good friends with, and honestly he always thought they were beautiful, but he thought they were way out of his league. This kind of kept him from even making an effort to ask them out.
Well, he'd find out later. For now, all he wanted to do was rest a little bit.
It was five in the evening and the waiting room was barely crowded; a couple of humans were waiting for their Pokémon to come out of the checking room after they fainted in a battle, and on the far corner was a mother with her children waiting for her Eevee to be attended. She was the only Pokémon without a human around.
It has been about three days or more since she's been there, she barely has eaten anything and hasn't slept well; she'd usually rest a couple of hours, but the constant nightmares would suddenly wake her up, so she gave up and decided to stay awake.
The vixen has talked to other Pokémon around the Center, they'd share good stories about battles and contests and have a good laugh, but at the current time it was almost empty.
There weren't many options she could do to avoid falling asleep; an Eevee was busy playing with her owners and she didn't want to talk to other humans. Well, she couldn't properly talk; other than Joseph, no other human could understand her language.
She sighed and sat flatly on the bench. She gazed at Joseph's room, hoping to see him walk right through that door completely healed and retake his work. Hell, she usually never participated in his job (other than helping him with simple tasks like hand him objects or pick samples with him). But now, she'd be willing to be his testing subject.
After all, it was her fault he was brought here in the first place.
It was all her fault. If she had listened to him and didn't brag around, both of them would be fine. But her bratty-self had to show off and try to impress him so maybe he'd show interest in her more than just a partner.
Who was she fooling? She was a Pokémon and he was a human. It was not natural for a human to have romantic intentions for a Pokémon, she had known it for a long time, but yet she clung to any little possibility there might be, it was easier than accepting it was useless.
Didn't matter anymore, he probably hated her for what happened and wouldn't think twice about dumping and replacing her for a much better and obedient Pokémon. She wouldn't blame him, and wouldn't make an effort to get his forgiveness, she didn't deserve it.
Tears began to fall from her eyes right through the fur of her cheeks. Small, almost quiet sobs occasionally escaped her muzzle as she lay on the bench. Minutes passed and she cried herself to sleep.
The night passed, and the sun rays falling through the window right to his face woke him up. A loud yawn escaped his mouth as he rubbed his eyes. "Good morning Lily" he said, but didn't receive an answer; it took his brain some moments to remember the events of the last few days, but ultimately he remembered everything.
He let out a heavy sigh, Lily didn't come to visit him.
He was starting to get worried; even when the nurse told him she was ok, he still didn't feel comfortable. Not that he doubted her word, but he needed to see her personally to make sure she was ok.
He felt something strange on his chest; it wasn't the burn, in fact, he hasn't felt the burn yet, maybe the meds were too good but there wasn't any pain now.
No, this sensation was something else. It was like a need, like a long for something he required desperately. Maybe it was that he just woke up and his brain was still warming up, but he realized what that need was.
Lily.
Since she didn't want to come and see him, maybe he should go and make sure she was ok. He attempted to stand up; sitting on the bed didn't hurt anymore like it did yesterday, but he could barely stand up. His legs shook under his weight and almost gave up, but he managed to grab the nightstand to keep his balance. The sound of the door opening caught his attention.
"You shouldn't do that yet," the nurse said. "You've been sleeping for three days, you need help if you want to walk."
"I don't need help and I don't care, I need to check on Lily."
The nurse sighed. She's seen this type of patient before; they say they don't need help, but end up worsening their condition and thus their stay in the Pokémon center is longer. His wounds weren't that bad, but he still needed help since his legs hadn't had any kind of exercise. She didn't blame him though, his reasons were totally understandable.
"if you want to check on her you'll have to wait." The nurse said.
"What?" Joseph lost his balance after hearing her words and fell, luckily, on the bed. "What happened?
"Don't worry, she's ok," the nurse said calmly. "Chansey managed to get her to eat something; since you were brought here, she has barely eaten anything." After hearing her words, his concern just grew more. "She just ate yesterday, but by now she still must be asleep."
He sighed, and laid on the bed. "This is all my fault…" he said.
"Are you still blaming yourself for what happened in the forest?" the nurse asked.
"No," he replied. "Listen, I thought about what you said yesterday… and I realized that…I might have…" A noticeable blush spread across his face. This wasn't something easy to say; yes, he knew what he felt, but the words to express it just didn't come out.
"You have?..."
"I have feelings for her."
None of them said a word after that; the seconds felt like hours, he wanted her to say something, anything. The silence felt like a rock on his back.
"I know it isn't right and you might think I'm sick and-" he was cut as the nurse put her index finger on his lips.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of." she smiled warmly. He didn't know what was happening or why she was taking it this good; he expected her to start insulting him and saying he's fucked up and stuff like that. Ultimately, he was thankful it was this way.
"So, you're not mad or disgusted?"
"Not at all." She replied. "I've seen this plenty of times; and I personally think this is the strongest bond a trainer can have with his Pokémon." She sat on a nearby chair.
"How often have you seen this?" he asked.
The nurse smiled. "I may look young, but I have my years here. I've seen it plenty of times, and even when the majority of times trainers deny this, they can't fool me."
He blushed harder, but felt relieved. He always thought it was wrong, but her words calmed him a little bit.
"I see you're in good condition, but if you want to walk, I'll help you." She walked towards him and extended her hand. He took it and sat on the bed.
"I just need something to grab so I don't lose balance."
Alright, I'll take you out of the room, there you can support yourself on the wall."
Lily woke up to face a new day with a sensation of freshness she had never felt before; she slept for eight hours straight, no nightmares, only good dreams and rest.
She was in one of those rooms where fainted Pokémon get treated and recover after a battle; the last thing she remembers is talking to the Chansey that worked with the nurse. It wasn't easy for her to open about her feelings with someone she didn't know, but Chansey seemed sincere and she felt comfortable talking with her. Now that her head was clearer, maybe it was the perfect time to go and see Joseph.
She stood in front of the door, her paw touched the knob but hesitated to do something. She wanted to go and see him; apologize for the incident and for not going to visit him. But she felt a small pinch of fear inside her.
Maybe going to talk to him is not a good idea after all; he can probably be mad and…
No. It wasn't the time to think about such things. This was the day, this was the moment.
She turned the knob with determination and immediately started to walk, until she crashed with something that sent her to the floor. No, someone.
"Sorry, I thought you were still asleep." a female voice said. She opened her eyes, and saw her trainer in front of her with the nurse at his side. For a moment she froze, unable to process any thought. She reacted when he offered his hand to help her to get on her hands.
They both stood still without uttering a word for some moments that felt like hours. Luckily for them, the nurse came to the rescue.
"I assume you both have a lot to talk about, but this is not the place, for other Pokémon might need this room. Please follow me." she said, making them snap out of their thoughts. The trio walked towards another room, one that was on the far end of the hallway. She guided them inside, and dismissed herself before walking out and closing the door behind her.
On her way out she met with Chansey, who was carrying a tray with meds and a cup of water. "Chan?" the Pokémon asked.
"They'll be busy for a while," the nurse replied. "Please make sure no one gets close, they will need some privacy."
"Chansey!"
The room was like the others, it consisted of a bed with a night stand and a chair, the only difference being that the bed was king size. Joseph lay on top of it, observing the ceiling and letting out a sigh. Lily was on the edge of the mattress gazing down with shame. They remained silent for a while, until Joseph broke the ice.
"Lily," he called her, and she turned her head. "The nurse told me you didn't come to see me while I was asleep." His words buried deep inside her mind like seeds, and from them a feeling of guilt bloomed. It was true she avoided visiting him, but it wasn't that she didn't want; if it wasn't for her he'd be alright, she was the one that had to be in the hospital. "Is it something I did that made you upset?"
She rushed to throw her hands forward. "No! You did nothing wrong!" she said. "I…just couldn't go and see you after what happened to you…it was all my fault!" she admitted with guilt.
"It was not-" he tried to say, but was interrupted by Lily who, at this point, was on the verge of tears.
"Yes it was! Had I listened to you and kept my guard up I could've prevented the attack and we'd be fine, but instead I acted so careless even when the threat of more enemies was present! I could've protected you from the attack, and because of my stupidity you ended up in this damn bed!" She finished her rant with a tear falling down the fur of her cheeks.
"Lily, if I had to go through it again to protect you, I'd do it a thousand times." Joseph said, catching her attention. "You're more than just my Pokémon; you're my partner, my friend, the girl I know I can count on when I'm in need. And I know that if you were in my place, you'd do the same to protect me." she now turned to face him. Joseph extended her hand to wipe the tears off her face.
His heartbeat increased when his eyes met with hers, those green eyes he'd seen many times and liked so much were now staring at his brown, insipid eyes. A blush spread all over his face.
"You're right, I'd do that and way more for you" she responded. Unbeknownst to her, the distance between their faces was getting shorter with each second; she was lost in his beautiful brown eyes, almost gazing at his kind and caring soul. Her own cheeks turned red, almost matching the red of her fur.
She could feel her pulse running like a crazy train, her heart drummed inside her chest so hard she thought it'd explode right there, but not even that could distract her from the fact that she could practically feel his breath upon her lips.
Joseph noticed how close they were. It is now or never, take the shot! he thought, and with a quick movement he eliminated the remaining distance that separated them. When their lips met he watched her, spectating her reaction. Luckily for him she kissed him back. This gave him more confidence, and forced his tongue into her mouth, and she did the same with hers until their tongues started to dance in a show that lasted several minutes.
None of them wanted that moment to end, but the oxygen in their lungs was almost burned entirely. She was the one to break the kiss, grasping for the very precious gas her body desperately needed. A string of saliva was the only bridge between their lips, stretching as they both panted for air; his brain was still trying to process what just happened, still not believing that she had feelings for him. Hell, he couldn't believe he had feelings for her.
"Joseph…" Lily said between gasps, her eyes not breaking the contact with his.
"Lily…" Her trainer replied. None of them said anything else, there was no need to, they already said everything they needed to say and expressed everything that needed to be expressed with that kiss.
This time she lunged towards him, placing both her legs at either side of his body and resting on top of his crotch. She placed her hands on his shoulders, careful to not touch the wound, and went back to action. This time she took the lead, kissing him passionately with a newfound feeling blooming inside her chest. It was different to love, but at the same time it felt very much like it. This feeling activated something inside her body; a switch, a primal instinct she tried to keep caged in the very bottom of her mind now broke free and was taking over her judgment.
Lust.
Joseph put his arms around her body and drew her closer, feeling the softness of her fur through the hospital gown and her increasing body heat. This time they took their time to enjoy each other, wrapping their tongues around in a dance, exploring each other's mouths and savoring their saliva. He trailed his hand down her back, sending bolts of electricity through her spine to all her body. Again they parted from each other, she gazed lovely at his hypnotic eyes while he lost himself in those green eyes so full of life.
"Joseph, I've been longing to finally say this…" Lily said. "I…
Her words died when her whole body began to glow in a blue light that blinded her trainer momentarily. After some moments, he felt a heavier weight over his body. When he opened his eyes, his jaw dropped as in front of him was no longer the Braixen he loved. Instead was a full grown Delphox.
"I love you" she said, her voice sounding more mature. As the words left her lips, she felt as a weight dropped from her back. She said it, she finally fucking said it.
It took him a few seconds to process everything. "I love you too." he replied. "I just realized recently that you've been in love with me, and…I feel horrible for not doing something sooner. You're an amazing girl, the perfect companion anyone could ever ask for. And if you want, I'd love to make you my girlfriend."
Lily gazed at him with a mixture of surprise and sheer happiness. Was this real? Was she dreaming? "A-Are you serious?" she asked as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes.
"Completely." Joseph responded. "It won't be easy, but I'm gonna try my hardest to make it work."
"No," Lily interrupted." "We are gonna try our hardest to make it work."
He cupped her chin with his index finger and aligned her lips with his, sealing the deal with a passionate, filled with love kiss.
Soon things got heated up; Lily took his face with her hands and held it as they kissed. Joseph got a firm grip of her hips and held her in place. Soon, his hands slowly crept their way towards her ass. It was a bold move, but was well received.
Lily let out a moan in his mouth as his partner's hands squeezed her ass. The sensation was totally new and really addictive.
In the heat of the moment, the trainer felt his member growing under the intense heat coming from the vixen's nether region; it was kind of embarrassing, but it couldn't be helped. Lily broke the kiss this time, feeling her own arousal coming in the form of a moist between her tights.
With some effort (and enduring the pain), Joseph threw her aside and positioned himself on top of her. He got rid of that damn gown, throwing it to the floor and revealing his naked body in front of her. Aside from the bandages that wrapped around his chest, Lily got a good view of his anatomy; his strong arms, his abs, his toned legs, but what caught his attention was his member. For a long time she wondered how it could be; she had seen him in his underwear a lot of times, and each one she'd reprehend him for exposing himself in such a shameful way. But when she confirmed her feelings for him she never stopped thinking about how things would go in the room.
From that single thought surged dozens of fantasies, dozens of situations where they would end up shaking the bed at the rhythm of their love making. Sometimes she'd end up masturbating to them. But now she had the real thing in front of her, it was long and thick and was leaking a transparent fluid from the top.
Joseph noticed the way she squeezed her legs together. She probably was embarrassed of being totally exposed, even if it was with him. She was the most beautiful girl in the world, and he wanted to let her know. He kissed her once more, this time running his hand up from her belly towards the fur of her chest; he could feel two mounds with a stiff tip, it didn't take long before he started to play with them using his thumb and index finger. Lily moaned once more, feeling electricity with every touch of his hands. Joseph proceeded to go a little bit lower, making her jolt with pleasure with each kiss on her body. He started to suck on her breasts, playing her nipples with his tongue while his hand found its way between her legs; the moistness made it easy to slip his index between, causing her body to tense in response. Soon he found the perfect pace to work with.
Lily covered her muzzle with her paw to keep her moans from escaping while grabbing the sheets with the other. This felt way much better than when she did it.
Joseph noticed how she responded while his fingers stimulated her pussy; he stopped playing with her breasts and focused in her sacred place. Her legs were closed, locking him away from the precious prize. He looked at her, wondering if there was something wrong. She felt really embarrassed, but decided to spread her legs at the end.
The sight was even more beautiful than he expected. He looked at her for a moment as she watched him expectantly.
"H-Hey, please don't stare too much." she said, looking away.
Joseph began to get closer to her, feeling the heat irradiating from her womanhood and his nostrils catching her hypnotic scent. It drove him crazy, his cock began to twitch in anticipation for what was coming. He managed to get a hold of himself and resist the urge of sticking it in right away; this was her first time (and his as well), he had to make sure that she enjoyed every single moment.
Without losing time he started to eat her out. The touch of his tongue alone was enough to drive her on the verge of her own orgasm. Joseph trailed his tongue up and down, savouring her love juices and enjoying every single bit of it. The taste was kind of bitter, but somehow he couldn't get enough of it.
Lily felt her most delicate area being attacked by his tongue, making her legs trembling and letting out loud moans; she no longer cared if someone heard, the pleasure was too much to even think straight.
At one point Joseph felt something hard against his tongue. He figured out what it was, and in a bold move he pressed it with his teeth.
This was the end of her. With a powerful scream she lifted her body and let out a stream of liquid that sprayed her trainer in the face. It lasted for a few seconds, but it was so powerful she collapsed again. It was a completely new experience, like her soul parting from her body and finding Nirvana. Her body felt so numb she couldn't move a single muscle.
The smell was too much to resist; he's been repressing his urges for far too long. Accommodating on top of her he lifted her legs above his shoulders, exposing once again her beautiful core and pointing his shaft at the entrance. Lily managed to recover just to see her master's hard cock barely inches from her womanhood. This was the moment she's been longing for since the moment she evolved into Braixen; the moment where she and her lover would consume their love in the most deep and primal form, the moment where they would finally become one, breaking every wall that separated their hearts, throwing away the bond of friendship they shared years ago but forming a new, stronger one.
Love.
Joseph wanted to put it inside her so badly it almost hurt. His tip began to kiss her entrance, mixing the leaking precum with the juices of her previous orgasm, feeling the incredible heat coming from inside begging him to ravage her and mark her as his. But for a brief moment the fog of lust inside her mind dissipated, allowing his rational side to take control. He lifted his gaze just to be met with her beautiful green eyes. He saw reflected in them her deepest desires, her needs and worries. That's when he understood: they finally were connected.
He felt something taking a hold of his hand, it was Lily, who locked her fingers with his. "Take me now, master"
This was all he needed. With a single thrust, he slipped his member inside her pussy.
Lily let out a small yelp, grabbing the covers tightly in an effort to endure the pain. It hurt like a bitch; she's been in several Pokémon fights and had taken a lot of attacks of different types, but nothing could compare to this kind of pain.
For Joseph, it was a completely new sensation. It was hot, really hot, and tight. After a minute of getting used to the feeling he began to move his hips back and forth, thrusting his cock in and out. He got a hold of the covers as well, gripping them tightly to endure the waves of pleasure his dick sent to all of his body.
For Lily, the pain slowly turned into a strong sensation of pleasure. She passed her hands under his arms and hugged him tightly, feeling his heat and wetting herself with his sweat. His scent was driving her crazy, sending bolts of electricity that made her body quiver. She was happy; happy that she was able to confess her feelings for him, happy that he felt the same for her, happy that he was demonstrating how much he loved her with each thrust of his thick, hard cock.
Joseph let out a muffled groan. He could feel her walls clamping his dick, like preventing it from escaping. This combined with the incredible heat coming from her pussy put him at the edge of his own orgasm.
The Delphox felt his dick getting bigger inside of her, which she assumed could only mean one thing.
"L-Lily I-" he muffled, burying his face on the soft fur over her breasts, moving it aside to uncover her perfect, beautiful mounds and starting to suck on them.
Lily felt her own climax approaching again; the combination of her pussy being pounded with the sensation of her breast being sucked was too much for her. She tried to resist, but in the end she gave in and let nature follow its course.
Joseph let out a loud groan as he gave one final thrust, releasing his hot seed in the deepest part of her, marking her as his now. Lily, lost in the moment, bit his shoulder and sank her claws on his back as she felt his thick cum filling her insides. The warmness of his load overflowing outside her pussy and dripping over the mattress was all she remembered before having an orgasm so intense she let out a loud cry.
Joseph fell at her side, breathing heavily and barely able to move a finger. The bite on his shoulder and the bleeding marks on her back felt like a tickle, his whole body felt as if a lightning of pleasure just struck him. He turned to her, witnessing the afterglow of their lovemaking reflected on her blushed face. The mix of their juices started to leak out from her pussy, leaving a huge wet spot on the covers. The trainer grabbed his lover's hand, locking his fingers with hers and squeezing tight.
"I love you, Lily."
The Delphox rested her head on his chest, listening to the soothing beating of his heart, feeling in complete peace. "I love you too, Joseph." She said before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
After two days he finally was given permission to leave the Pokémon Center. His wound healed way faster than they expected, though he now had to take care of the bite on his shoulder and the claw marks on his back. He felt really embarrassed by this, but the nurse was pretty comprehensive of his situation; she said she was happy to help him realize his feelings for his now girlfriend.
Joseph and Lily decided to take a break from the job and traveled to Slateport Town to take a well deserved vacation. Currently whey were staying at a hotel; their room was in the 15th floor, it had an amazing view of the sea.
The sun was setting on the horizon, the wingulls flew on the orange sky as a Delphox walked towards the balcony of her room. She appreciated the beautiful view, recalling all the things she had to endure to eventually made her dream come true. Was it worth it? Yes, a million times yes. She'd do it all again if it was necessary.
"What are you doing?" someone called from behind, it was her partner, Joseph. The trainer walked towards her and hugged her waist. Lily rested her hands on top of his.
"Just getting a little bit of fresh air." she replied. "And remembering some good things."
"Oh yeah?" He asked. "Like what?"
"The day we met."
None of them said a thing for a while, they just stood there enjoying each other company, watching as the sky turned from orange to black, making way for the stars and the bright full moon to illuminate over the sea shore city.
"Joseph," Lily called.
"Yes?"
"What do you think people would say if they catch us?" she asked. "I know it is a taboo in human society to be in love with a Pokémon..."
Joseph put his hands on her shoulders, massaging carefully and getting soft moans in return. "I don't care what they say. If they're okay with it then it's good, if not, they all can go to hell." he replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I was...wondering what would your parents say," she commented. "I don't think they'll like the idea of you dating a Pokémon."
Joseph let out a small chuckle. "Oh they already know."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I told them a few days ago, and they are totally pleased with the idea." he commented. "They even asked me when are we having children."
Lily blushed at his words. "H-Have children?! But It's too soon and I-I don't think that's even possible..."
Her partner planted a kiss on her cheek. "Well, I don't know if it's possible..." he carried her on his arms bridal style and walked back inside their room. "But it doesn't mean we can't find out..." he whispered in her ear "...all night long."
The trainer closed the door behind him. None of them knew what destiny had for them, but they were sure that, as long as they were together, it didn't matter.
A one-shot I had written a while ago, but finished it up until recently.