A/N: Missed me?
Before wedding-day surprises
The sun just began to rise outside the day-care center. Feathers fluttered down from the roof of the building from a set of wings that belong to a hybrid Pokèmon. A Pigeot no least too. Perched in her favourite spot, Circe's eyes scanned the area around her home while she listened to the song of all the bird Pokèmon in the outside world. One that had accepted her into their culture, despite the way she looked. Lost within her own thoughts, she was only pulled away from them by the sound of something landing on the roof where she'd settled herself.
"I thought you were still sleeping" she said to him
"Couldn't" came the soft, rumbling reply as the Charizard sat himself down next to the bird-girl.
"Venom still sleeping?"
"In Lee's bed or his own?"
Circe chuckled and gently slapped his arm "Bret"
"Ouch" he moaned, pouting and pretending to cry "You...You big meanie"
Her chuckle quickly turned into a laugh, and the young female couldn't even look at the tanned, Charizard male's face.
"You keep laughing and you'll fall off"
"Oh I know you'll fly to my rescue Bret, you always do"
"Of course. If you fell and couldn't fly anymore, I'd be without a flying partner"
Looking up at him, now without laughing, she blinked softly "You'll be without a travelling partner if you keep insulting him"
Bret shrugged "It's just something that comes natural. Blame Mel, maybe she imprinted it in me"
"Mel did not teach you how to insult Venom's love life"
"You know I'm only joking Circe, quit bugging me about it"
Looking forwards over the side of the roof, while folding her hands within her lap, the Pigeot girl sighed and shook her head, hair falling before her eyes.
"Upset again" murmured the male, and a strong, yet gentle arm wrapped around her shoulder. At his touch, her head fell upon his chest, tears rolling over her beak. "Hey, don't cry Circe" Hands wiped at her tears, which were quickly replaced with more. "It's really bothering you isn't it?"
The Pigeot nodded softly, her wings pulled close to her back as she curled into his form, those great orange dragon wings of Bret's wrapping around her in all attempts to comfort the bird.
"I feel like I'm losing her"
"Shhhh...Your not losing her at all"
"She'll want to go with Venom, I know she will. I'll be left here on my own"
"Oh, Circe..."
Sighing softly, he pulled his arms and wings tighter around her, then pulled the bird-girl's form up onto his lap, where she instantly flung her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest, tears rolling down the bare, tanned flesh. Rocking softly from side to side, Bret tried to calm his flying partner down the best he could. After a while, the tears slowed, replaced by soft sniffles, and then her glassy, black eyes looked up at him.
"I...I'm s-so s-sorry. I-I didn't m-mean t-to break d-down like th-that"
"Nonsense. You were upset Circe, and you were scared. It's only natural"
"You s-seem t-to know a lot"
He shrugged "I've gained a lot of knowledge since we were freed. Sam's been teaching me about emotions"
"Has it helped?"
Again, the Charizard shrugged "Sort of, but there are things she can't explain. When I asked Jale about them, he can't answer either sometimes. Em' told me that sometimes, you can't describe things, you have to feel them to understand"
"Lee said something like that too"
"Think they were talking about the same thing?" he asked with a slightly raised brow and a grin. Smiling back Circe nodded "Hey, speaking of Em', we've gotta get going today"
"Why?"
"Have you forgot?" he asked, tapping her forehead with a finger "Silly bird-brain. It's her wedding day tomorrow!"
Pulling away, Circe sat up properly, while ruffling her feathers, then looked at him, wide-eyed "I completely forgot! I can't believe I forgot all about it"
"Good thing I was here to remind you" He grinned
"We'd better get ready" chirped Circe, but as she tried to pull away, those strong arms of Bret's held her where she was.
"It's still early morning Circe, Ven and Lee won't even be awake. At least you know now that later you'll have to get ready to leave for the wedding. For now, stay up here with your partner"
Falling into her grasp, that relaxed when she did, Circe rested against the dragon, eyes looking up at the nearly finished sunrise. The sky was an array of beautiful, golden colours, and she couldn't help but feel at peace, even more so than usual with Bret holding her.
"Having fun?" asked a voice from behind them, and Bret nearly dropped Circe as he swung his upper body around to search for the voice.
"Who, who's there?" he asked when he could see anyone, but infront, Circe chuckled. Looking forwards again, he was met with a bright pair of orange eyes. "You!"
"Dragon!"
"Ghost!"
"A little early for you isn't it Nightscar?" Circe asked
"Mel's fault" he replied, folding his almost transparent arms across his chest. Despite the fact he was wearing clothing, he was almost see-through. So much infact, the mew hybrid was visible when she floated up behind him, a huge smile on her face.
"I knew that Leevee and Venom had fallen for one another, but you two are new to me. I should of tracked you pair more often" came her voice, for once within their ears and not their minds.
"Wha!?" Circe jumped at her words, and attempted to pull away from him, but the Charizard held her fact, smiling softly.
"We're just two friends having a cuddle. She was upset earlier"
"I felt it" And Melete nodded softly.
"So much for private lives for all of you eh?" asked the Gengar with that huge grin still on his face. "What with Mel in your head all the time? So where are the two love-birds?"
"Leevee is watching him sleep. She is content"
"Mel, do you have to cheat like that?" Bret asked her, and the girl just giggled, seating herself down on a large pink bubble. "I was going to say they're sleeping. Ah well, at least we know one of them isn't in their own bed. So which is it? Bet it's Ven isn't it?"
"Bret!" Circe chirped, tapping his arm softly "Don't tell him Mel"
The mew chuckled "I'm not planning to"
The Charizard poked his temple gently "Can't you just tell me here."
Mel shook her head
"Stop trying to be mean to your best friend"
"Circe's right dragon-boy" came Nightscar's voice "I take it you two aren't going to the other two love-birds?"
"Later" Bret said before Circe had a chance to say anything.
"We'll go with you then, right Mel?" he asked, and the other psychic nodded
"You could of asked us. What if Circe and I wanted a little one-on-one?" Bret asked with a grin to match Nightscar's
Circe made a snapping noise with her beak and tilted her head to glare up at him. Melete laughed upon her bubble, and Bret just grinned down at his friend.
"Lover's fight. Mel and I shouldn't get involve" Nodding, he quickly vanished through the roof of the building. Popping her bubble, Mel flew off after him. Chuckling, Bret hugged Circe tightly, then kissed the top of her head
"Nah, we're just friends. Best to keep it that way, eh Circe?"
"Defiantly"
Pulling away, this time actually getting free, Circe floated up into the air then turned and looked at him, her wings flapping gently to keep her air-born, while she folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes watched Bret as he grinned at her and took the air himself.
"Lets get inside and get ready to leave later. Most likely, we'll all be staying the night to be ready for the morning. I'd like to get packed and have someone to watch the center"
Nodding to show he head, both of the fliers headed down to ground level, then entered the center where the other's were. Before entering, Circe took one last look at the new morning sky, nodded to herself, then went inside.
About late afternoon, a band of Pokèmon hybrids left the day-care center and headed towards the place where a wedding was due to take place. Gliding through the air was Circe, Bret, Mel, Fifteen and Nightscar. Bret was carrying his best friend with ease, with Leevee held onto Circe for dear life, despite being told that she wasn't going to fall. In the distance, signs of party preparation was taking place at a large mansion-type hotel. Flying towards the building, the group took in all the sights and smells. The building was like a large white mansion, but the stone statues of different Pokèmon and the name "Grand Pokè-Hotel" showed it wasn't a home at all. Flowers of all colours were being set into large vases, while people busied themselves with getting the wedding prepared. It al seemed perfect before a fly-away Hoppip hit Bret in the face, nearly causing him to drop Venom. Lading, much far from graceful, he let his friend roll to the floor while he rubbed at his bruise. Landing near him, the others looked around, while Circe was the only one that bothered with his moans of pain.
"Ah quit your moaning" came a voice as a vine shot past them and grabbed the retreating grass Pokèmon, pulling it back to it's trainer. Pulling the pink creature into her chest, a Meganium hybrid looked over the group, then at the whimpering Charizard that Circe has now left alone. "You'll live"
"That rogue is yours?" asked his soft, rumbling voice.
Amoura nodded "Yupe. I'm training him to be in my squad"
"He's as heavy as a rock"
"He's supposed to be strong. Hopi is gonna be the strongest Hoppip ever to exist"
"I think he's adorable" came Circe's voice as she walked up to Amoura and reached out to hold the grass type Pokèmon. Amoura let him go and the bird looked over him "He's in top shape too"
"Glad you came" she said "I was hoping you'd check some of my Pokèmon"
"Anything for you Amoura" Leevee said happily, quickly falling into Venom's embrace "We're happy to help"
"I thought this was Ember and Jale's wedding, not Venom and Leevee's" Amoura asked, raising a brow at the pair
"I think it's wonderful" Mel said happily as she floated towards the building "So many of us experiencing new things" Hovering quickly after her was Fifteen, who hadn't said a thing since he'd arrived at the day-care center.
"So who's here?" Bret asked, standing to his full height.
"Well, there's you guys"
"Of course"
"Jale and Ember"
"Obviously"
"And Azure and me"
"Azure'sssss herrre?" came Venom's soft hiss. Amoura nodded in reply
"He's watering the flowers"
"Sounds like something he'd do" Bret said "So none of the rest?"
Amoura shook her head softly "Nope. Just us ten so far. No word of any cancellations though, so we think everyone is going to turn up"
"That's good" came Lee's happy voice "So where's the bride?"
"Your standing there" Amoura jested, raising a brow at the pair while Bret and Nightscar laughed.
"That's not funny Amoura!" the Umbreon whined "I meant where's Em?"
"Go look for her yourselves, I'm busy"
"Yeah, we'll go do that" Bret said, tapping Circe on the shoulder "You can look over Amoura's squad if you want"
"They're inside"
Circe nodded softly "I'll go do that then"
Holding the Hoppip still, Circe walked towards the building, followed by Bret and Nightscar. Leevee was about to follow, but her Arbok's grip didn't loosen. Looking up at him, her crimson eyes held a glimmer of confusion. Ignoring the pair with a wave of her hand, Amoura went off to tend to the flowers outside. Spinning in his arms, Leevee placed her hands upon his chest, tail swaying in time with his.
"What's wrong Ven?"
"Nothing"
"Then why won't you let me go?"
"Don't want too"
Tilting her head, she watched him with growing curiosity "Why Ven?"
"Feel like it?"
Leevee giggled "Silly serpent. Come on, we've gotta find Ember"
"Not so fast" came a voice from behind the pair. Letting his grip fall, Venom swung around to look at an approaching scientist and what was once his younger sister.
"Thanatos? Asel?" asked Leevee as she looked at the pair
"Than wants to check you over Lee. He's not checked your health since before your evolution" explained the once human Sneasel.
"True, you were created to evolve, but by the use of stones and exposure to each element. You weren't to become a known Eevee evolution" explained the scientist
Leevee gasped and clung to Venom "You...I was never told"
"There was no point after you were all freed. You weren't going to be the most powerful of the group after you all got out, so it didn't matter much to tell you. So may I check both yours and Venom's health to make sure your in top shape?"
Venom nodded, and looking at Leevee in his arms, she also consented and holding one another's hand, the two followed brother and sister into the building.
"There she is!"
The voice was warm and happy, and a huge pair of arms came behind the kitsune, pulling her into a big bear hug, or a dragon hug since he was concerned.
"Drake, put her down" came another
"Drake?" Wriggling from his grasp, Ember pulled away then spun around, looking at a Dragonite hybrid and a Raichu hybrid. "Airia! Drake!" Smiling brightly, she flung her arms around them both and hugged them tightly. "I'm so glad you came" Stepping back Ember took a good look at the pair.
Drake was the same as he always was. A pair of faded blue jeans, his tail settled in a rip in the back. White shirt, tears in the back for his wings. Light tanned skin, pale blue scales along his front. Golden hair, large blue eyes, and a bright smile. Airia was dressed in large blue overall, her long tail swishing behind her form, the golden lightning bolt glittering in the light. Brown hair hid all but the tips of her ears. She looked so much stronger than she did back at the facility. Yellow cheeks seemed to give of a glow.
"You both look wonderful"
"Same for you" Drake said, scanning her golden form "Except your putting on weight" A clawed hand indicated to a soft rounded stomach. Smiling warmly, Ember placed her hand over it
"I'm not putting weight on Drake...I'm...Well..." Softly biting her lower lip, ember tried to find a way to tell her two friends what was happening, but the sight of a certain human walking towards them made her loose all concentration.
"I see you two have arrived" came his soft silky voice "Em', Circe and Lee are here too. And Bret and Venom. Our two psychics have also made an appearance. Fifteen is with them too"
"Mel told me she was here" Ember replied, reaching out a hand and pulling him closer to her. Standing behind her, his arms fell around her front to rest his hands softly on her stomach.
"Your hairs grown Jale" Airia pointed out "Much longer now"
What was once short spiky brown hair was now shoulder length, free and flowing over his shoulders. The human shrugged, then nodded "Felt like a change"
"More love birds!" shouted another voice as Bret walked up. Pulling from Jale, Ember hugged him back. After releasing her, the Charizard looked over the Ninetales form "Woa, Em', cut down on the snacks"
"I'm not fat Bret" she said, falling back into Jale's open arms "I'm well..."
"Hard to explain eh Ember? I told you it would be" Jale said, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Get Mel to do it like I suggested"
"I want to tell them Jale. All of them" she replied, looking at his face, then back at the small group "I guess I could try telling you first" Sighing softly, she looked down at her stomach, where Jale's hands were resting and placed her own over it. "I'm pregnant"
Several things hit the floor, including Bret's jaw.
A/N: Because Ember is my favourite! R&R or the evil mutant baby will come and eat you...In nine months... –sighs- Ah well, R&R anyway ^^