A/N: I apologise to all of my readers for the slow update, but my keyboard went into crash down, melt down and just basically quit working on me. It missed letters and everything. Plus, I was suffering from a rush of writers block. I'm back now, and should have more time to spend on Freedom.
Dragon Masters and Reunions
It had been some time since the hybrids had escaped from the clutches of the science facility. It had taken a while to get them to somewhere suitable, and safe. Each had taken up something that suited them. It took some a while to get used to it, but, after a while, it was normal for both them, and those around them.
For Drake, he could be randomly spotted at Dragon's Den in Blackthorn City. The dragon Pokèmon there seemed to like him, and he enjoyed being with those more to his own kind, plus, he was a big success with local children.
"Hey, Drake, make Dratini jump out again!" called one of the children.
Perched upon the roof of the shrine, Drake looked down at the three children and smiled. Whistling, bubbles soon formed in the water, and a young Dratini leapt out of the water, spun in the air, then dove gracefully back into the watery depths. Sounds of clapping and cheering from the children brought the Dratini to popped it's head out of the water and chirp. Spreading his dragon wings that were once folded upon his back, the Dragonite gracefully floated down to the children, landing just behind them.
"You like? I've been teaching him a new trick if you'd like to see"
Furious nodding, and Drake proceeded to the waters edge. Lifting a stone, he threw it above the water. The Dratini leapt out of the water and hit the flying rock with it's tail. As if flew back towards the hybrid, a sudden burst of flame from his mouth somehow managed to set the rock alight. The Dratini emerged once more, and a quick shot of water killed the flames and the ash fell into the water. Roar, cheering and clapping from the three youngsters, and one even hugged Drake.
"Wow Drakey" she said, grinning up at him "When I grow up and get my own Dratini, I'm gonna name it after you and raise it to be just like you"
"You do that Karen" Drake said with a smile as he ruffled the little girl's hair "And one day, maybe you'll become a powerful dragon master"
"Nu-uh, I'm gonna be stronger than Karen" said one of the others "I'm even gonna beat Lance!"
"I'm gonna beat you AND Lance" said the third child as she stuck her tongue out at the boy
"Hey there you two. You'll all be powerful Dragon Masters, I'm sure, but, you have to promise to keep visiting me" said the anthro, hoping to calm the children down
"I'll make sure I visit you whenever I can" Karen said as she clung to him
"Me too!"
"And me!"
Drake couldn't help but smile. After everything he'd been through at the Facility, he had never even imagined such a place as this. He felt welcomed and safe. "I'll look forward to seeing all of you, and I'll show you all the new tricks Dratini has learnt"
The little dragon Pokèmon chirped away and splashed it's tail in the water.
"And Dratini looks forward to seeing you three as well"
"How come you haven't named him Drake?" asked the little boy
"Hmmm...Don't know Caine. Maybe I should give him a name. What do you suggest?"
"How about you name him Draak?" came a voice from behind the group.
Spinning around, Drake looked straight at a young girl. One ear was longer than the other, and she had steel claws instead of hands.
"Asel!" he shouted and waved to her
"My friend" she said with a smile and went over to embrace him tightly. The dragon's hug was returned, and it was powerful in itself.
"Dra..."
"Oh, sorry" he said and let go off her "I guess I don't know my own strength"
"It's fine Drake. Don't worry about it" Asel replied with a smile "I thought I'd find you here"
"I like it here. Ever since we were shown this place, I just couldn't leave"
"He only goes out when he has too, miss" Karen said, still clinging to the Dragonite's leg
"I know, my brother told me you were the newest edition to Dragon's Den. Is it true that the Elder let you judge those that wish to become a dragon trainer?"
Drake nodded slowly. "They said that I have a closeness to Dragon Pokèmon than anyone else, even themselves, or Lance."
"You are a dragon Pokèmon though Drake, that's why you have the closeness"
Drake smiled, blushing slightly "So what brings you here?"
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends first?" she asked.
"Oh, yes!" he said "Dragon Master Squad, assemble!"
Each of the three children stood infront of Drake, in a straight line.
"The little girl with blonde hair is Meva. The littlest is Karen, and lastly, Caine"
"Hello to each of you" she said, bowing slightly. "My name is Asel. I knew Drake long before he came to Blackthorn"
"Really?" asked Karen "Were you there when he became a fire fighter?"
"Fire fighter?"
"Azure and I helped put the flames out. A little time later, we were both given a medal for helping out"
"Well, I never knew that" she said with a gentle smile "I must go congratulate him when I see him"
"Where is he now anyway?"
"I don't know" she said, shrugging slightly "Samantha, Jale and Ember still keep in touch with most of us, so one of them is bound to know"
"Tell him to come visit me some time if he can. If not, I might be able to go visit, if I knew where he lived"
"I'll contact you when I find out" she said, then looked down at the children "I'm going to have to steal Drake away from you for a short while so we can talk a little more. I'm sure you all understand"
The three nodded and Asel grabbed Drake's hand and pulled him away from the three who were busying themselves with the little Dratini in the water. Walking side by side, Drake found he didn't know what to say. It had been nearly a year since he'd last seen Asel. She and her brother had gone not long after the incident at the research facility.
"Oh, you asked me what I was doing, I'm hoping to continue Pokèmon training where I left off before I fell ill. Thanatos travels with me sometimes to check up on any of us we might come across. He was the one that was involved with our health anyway, so he makes sure we're all fine. That's one of the reasons I'm here" Asel explained as they walked along.
"And the other?"
"To visit you my friend," she said with a smile.
"What about any of the others? Do you know how they are?"
"Leevee and Circe work in a day-care center raising Pokèmon for people. Amoura now runs her own gym"
"They let Amoura become a gym leader in just a few months?"
"Her skills with grass Pokèmon goes almost unmatched. The Pokèmon league thought she was a great addition to the gyms that are scattered all over. Few people gain her gym badge, so it's considered a great feat if someone actually beats her. Plus, she had the temperament for a gym leader"
Drake chuckled "Sounds like Amoura"
"Oh, and Leevee evolved!"
"Leevee did what?"
"She was a basic Eevee, and since she tended to the Pokèmon at the day-care center mostly at night, she's now become an Umbreon. I heard it was an amazing thing, I was ashamed to of missed it"
"I feel bad too now" he said sadly "But, I'm glad she's happy"
"She's very happy. Airia works in a large power plant providing back-up electricity when it's needed most. She found that she liked being around electric equipment of such a large scale"
Drake sighed "She used to be the power for the torture"
Asel lifted a clawed hand and patted his shoulder "She only lets them use her electricity when she wants, or it's absolutely necessary so that Pokèmon at the centre's that use the electricity don't die"
"That's good. And what about Mel?"
"She and Nightscar train psychics in Saffron City. Fifteen guards Melete with his life ever since she healed his mind"
"Poor Fifteen...It must have been horrible what he went through"
"He won't tell us, and neither will Mel. Then there's Darkfire"
"It was all his fault Chrysies died! I hope he's rotting somewhere"
"Now Drake..." Asel said softly "You know you shouldn't condemn him for doing something which he thought was right"
The dragon nodded slowly "I know. So what is he doing?"
"Pretty much the same as me. He too was human, so it was only right he should go back where he left off. True, it's strange seeing a Houndoom looking male walking around, but he's a powerful opponent. I battled him not too long ago, and his dark Pokèmon basically chewed my own Pokèmon up. He has a tendency to force them, but he cares for his Pokèmon none the least."
"And others? How are Jale and Ember?"
"Very happy. They want to know if you'll go visit them soon. Ember wants all of us there for the wedding"
"Wedding?"
"You really have been out of the circle for too long my friend" Asel said with a smile "Jale asked Ember too marry him. It seems strange, considering she's still young in this world, although she's older due to the fact she used to be a Pokèmon. I'm glad for her. I couldn't wish for a better person too look after her"
Asel spoke with a slight sadness within her voice, her gaze falling towards the ground as she walked at Drake's side. Noticing his friend's discomfort, a large arm was lifted, and gently draped around her shoulders.
"This is what she is now" he said, attempting to comfort his friend "And we all must move on"
"I never thought that the Pokèmon I raised would marry a friend of my brother. I didn't really think she would be anything more than a Pokèmon" Asel replied
"Your much more than a human"
"True my friend. So true"
"So when's the wedding?"
Asel smiled and led the Pokèmorph to her brother that was waiting at the entrance to the Dragon's Den. As the pair walked, she told him all about all the things going on outside the Den, and he told her about what was going on inside. A small reunion, but one none the least.
Also, another reunion was happening elsewhere...
A/N: Sorry it took so long!!!!! R&R pleeeeeeaaaaseee!!!