Hello all, here is another chapter. Hope you enjoy!
"What the hell is this bullshit!?" Voltaro threw his arms up. "Do you have any blue's?"
"You're gonna have to draw some more," Quina said.
Voltaro sighed and reached for the card and immediately lit up. "Hah! This is where my luck turns around!"
"Are you sure about that?" Lazuli asked.
Voltaro quickly glared at her, spouting out "No, don't you dare!"
Lazuli grinned menacingly. Voltaro gulped and color drained from his face as she kept throwing down draw four after draw four.
"Son of a-" He flipped the table, electricity sparking from his cheeks. "I hate this game!"
"Calm down, Voltaro" Queenie sighed. "It's just a card game."
"Yeah, a card game that's entirely rigged!" He flailed his arms.
Lazuli giggled. "I think he's cute while raging like this"
"Well at least Nouva and Kirin are having a better time than he is," Quina laughed.
As soon as the names were spoken, the group heard heavy footsteps. Queenie looked out the window and gasped in horror. "Nouva and- is that Kirin?" She tilted her head in confusion
"Queenie! Please!" The panicked voice confirmed that the dragonite was in fact Kirin. "We have to get Nouva to nurse Joy!" She said, holding a bloodied and battered Charizard.
Everyone else overheard and didn't hesitate. Red was already awoken by Voltaro but was shaken to see his partner hurt to this capacity. He got up in his t-shirt and shorts and ran outside to them without changing into his trainer fit.
...
Everyone sat nervously as Red was led by Nurse Joy into the back room with Nouva on a stretcher. Kirin caught everyone up to speed on the situation.
Kirin was trying not to cry. Queenie comforted her by hugging her; while she patted her back. "Ssssh, it's ok sweetie. He'll be fine. He's stubborn and hard-headed."
"It's my fault as always" She sniffled.
Queenie shook her head. "No, It's not. I'm sure Nouva would tell you the same thing. You saved him from that Rhydon."
"Besides, you evolved, and it gives him more to work with," Lazuli cooed.
Queenie glared at her. "What?" The lapras asked. "I'm trying to be supportive," she said, hiding behind Voltaro who just scratched his head in confusion about the exchange.
"Queenie is right about one thing," Quina chipped in. "Nouva will be fine. Thanks to you he's being looked at right now."
Kirin wiped her eyes and Queenie put her hand on her shoulder. "Now, let's all just calm down and wait."
They all sat in silence for about an hour. Red came out the door and waved for his team members to come back. They all followed swiftly, finding Nouva in a bed, all bandaged up with his left arm in a cast. He had a large patch over his left eye. His tail flame was protected by a glass case. Kirin rushed to him and stood next to his bed.
"So, your Charizard is fine, he will most likely be out for a few days. The injuries he sustained are brutal. Any later and he might not have made it. Rest assured all he needs now is rest." Nurse Joy informed.
Red nodded. "Thank you Nurse Joy."
Everyone, especially Kirin, sighed a breath of relief.
"See, what did we tell you?!" Voltaro beamed.
Kirin just rolled her eyes. "Voltaro, can you keep it down?! Nouva needs rest." She said, holding his hand.
"Sorry" He simply said.
Queenie put her hand on Kirin's back "He defended you with his life" She said. "I'd say he truly cares for you."
"I know, I told him how I felt but it was kinda in the heat of the moment during that battle. I didn't even get to see if he feels the same way"
"You will have to wait and see young Kirin." Quina said.
"I- I want to stay by Nouva's side until he wakes."
"That's fine dear." Queenie reassured, "We'll be in the next room if you need anything."
The pokemon left one after the other, and before he left, Red pat Kirin softly on the head and nodded. She nodded back as if they both understood each other.
She then turned to Nouva and put her hand on his cheek. "Nouva, I really love you. Even if you don't return my feelings. I hope we can remain close."
She took her hand away and sighed. No response as expected. But she noticed he didn't have his scarf and decided first thing tomorrow she was gonna go looking for it. She laid her head on the desk that was next to Nouva's bed and drifted off.
...
The next morning she woke up to Voltaro tapping her back. "Who what where huh!?" She looked frantically and rubbed her eyes trying to focus on whoever was in front of her..
"Hey, Red is gonna train us for a few then let us take a break. He told me to see if you want to join us."
She glanced back towards Nouva, turning back to Voltaro and smiling softly.. "Nah, but don't tell the others where I'm off to!" She decided to get up and head for the door.
"Wait, don't leave me hanging here! Where ya going?" Voltaro asked.
She frowned and gave in after Voltaro tried to give her cute eyes. "I'm gonna go try and find Nouva's scarf. It means a lot to him and I'm gonna go get it back for him. It's the least I could do."
Nouva wagged his finger. "Alright! Go get your mate his scarf. I wont tell them where you are!"
She blushed at the word 'mate'. "Oh u-uh alright then!" She hurried out the room.
He chuckled. "Them being together is gonna be so fun"
...
After doing a bit of walking, she came across where the battle had taken place. "I can't believe how this fight went. We nearly destroyed the forest. His scarf should be here, hopefully."
She did a little looking around and saw the same set of trees Nouva crashed through. She didn't see the scarf and decided to survey the area.
"Where could it be?"
She continued poking around and eventually found it wrapped around a tree branch being pecked at by a Spearow.
"Hey! Knock it off!" She yelled at it, firing an ice beam in its direction. Unfortunately, the spearow just flew away, the ice from her attack landing a direct hit on the fabric.
She covered her mouth and gasped "Oh shit!" She panicked. She was able to climb the tree since she still didn't know how to fly and she thought about using a small spew of flame to thaw it out which she did- sorta. Instead of the desired result, it caught on fire. "Ouch ouch ouch!" She yelped as she threw it around and soon threw it into a puddle. She picked it up once the flames went out. She sighed as his scarf was now basically ruined. "Dammit, he's gonna hate me now for sure. I always mess things up as usual" She then thought about what Nouva said to her and shook her head. "No! I'll make him a new one!" She pumped her fists.
...
"Hmm I see, well first we'll need some materials" Queenie spoke looking at a crafting shop in Saffron with Red.
Kirin wagged her tail "Nouva's gonna love this even more than his old one! It was starting to get worn down anyway!"
Queenie smiled "Well I'm glad you aren't stressing yourself over things. I have a feeling hanging around that Nouva has changed you."
She blushed, "Yeah, he made me not quit on myself." She looked around and asked "By the way why didn't Lazuli come?"
Queenie frowned 'Well you know her; she literally acts like Voltaro. Honestly those two would make a perfect match."
Kirin gasped "Could they be a thing maybe!?"
Queenie shrugged "If they do, I can see it"
They entered, and after a bit of looking, Kirin pulls on Red's arm pointing at the yarn and other supplies and then points to her neck as if she was playing charades.
"Scarf? Wait, Nouva doesn't have his scarf anymore... you wanna make him one?"
She nodded with her tail wagging.
He adjusted his hat. "How sweet. I'll get you the stuff you need"
He bought her the stuff she needed and she spent the next hour or so making the scarf beside Nouva.
"Nouva, you are going to love the new scarf I made for you! Queenie gave me some neat tips."
She then glanced at Voltaro, Lazuli, and Queenie, the three of which were playing a card game. At first it started out normal, till she and Quina witnessed what followed.
Lazuli smirked. "Well I throw down an Ace of Spades!"
Queenie slammed a card down on the table "Draw 2!"
"I'll go all in!" Voltaro slid some poker chips in.
'What the hell is going on?' Kirin sweatdropped.
Queenie throws down a Nidoking card.
"They make cards of us?" Voltaro gasped. "What next? They make games or animated series about us? Anyway, beyblade time!" He yelled, letting rip a Beyblade that almost hit Nouva.
Kirin's nostrils flared with fire. "Watch what the fuck you're doing!" She growled.
Voltaro gulped.
"Damn, that's crazy," Lazuli blinked at Kirin's unusually loud outburst, before immediately throwing down a blue eyes white dragon card onto the table.
"With all due respect, what the hell are you guys playing?" Quina scratched his head.
"Blitzkrieg!" Voltaro answered as he slammed down a credit card.
"Wait, Voltaro, where did you get that?" Queenie eyed him.
"Whoops! Wrong card" He nervously laughs retrieving the card as quickly as he had put it down.
Quina sighed "You've got to stop stealing things."
Kirin ignored them and continued her work on the scarf which was coming along nicely. She looked at Nouva again and smiled imagining what it would look like on him as her tail began to wag faster and faster.
A few days passed and Kirin kept working on the scarf while the others helped her and even made her take her mind off of the situation. She even trained herself to get stronger to be able to spar with Nouva when he woke up. She gained much more adapted to her body except the flying part...
The next day was approaching, Kirin was asleep after still working on the scarf for about a week; but at least she had finally completed it, and was now taking a well earned nap. She was sleeping peacefully until she woke up to Nouva mumbling. She awoke and tried not to panic, but was also holding her breath and listening very carefully. A moment went by and he groaned again. Her eyes lit up as she saw Nouva's open. He looked around weakly and then saw a Dragonite looking at him.
"K-Kirin?"
"NOUVA!" She yelled, hugging him tight.
"Ouch!" He croaked in a raspy voice.
Kirin pulled herself back and gasped. "Oh my Arceus, I'm so sorry Nouva!"
He winced from the bearhug. "Y-yeah just be more careful next time"
Everyone walked in to see Nouva up, quickly running over to him.
"Ayo buddy! Trying to look cool in front of Kirin didn't go too well, now, did it?" Voltaro winked.
Nouva just rolled his eyes. "Tch, whatever."
"About time you woke up, doofus." Lazuli grinned.
Quina crossed his arms "Well Nouva, your battle left you wounded but those wounds will serve as memories for you"
Queenie shook her head. "Anyway, how are you feeling dear?"
Nouva sat up a bit. "Well, I'm hungry as hell" His stomach growled on cue, causing everyone to laugh.
Red came in and saw his partner finally awake. He ran to him and gave him a hug more gentle than Kirin did.
"Nouva, buddy, I was so worried about you" He started to tear up.
Nouva returned the hug with his right arm. He let out a genuine smile as his trainer held the hug for a few more seconds.
Red wiped his eyes and gave Nouva a thumbs up with Nouva doing the same.
"Nouva- I-" Kirin was about to talk,
Nouva signaled her to hold on. "Everyone, I want to speak with Kirin."
Voltaro grinned. "Go ahead!"
"Alone."
Everyone left and Nouva eyed Red, who chuckled and joined the others.
...
"Hey Kirin?"
"Yes Nouva?"
He looked up at her. "Sorry if I worried you. I also wanted to say I'm proud of you for taking down that Rhydon."
She blushed. "Nouva, you're making me blush!" She rubbed her head smiling.
He then cut to the point. "Kirin I need to know... when you were fighting that Rhydon. You said you loved me?"
She blushed harder, looking away and twiddling her claws. "Y-yeah. It's true that I'm in love with you."
Nouva closed his eyes and blushed. His heart started beating faster.
"You've done so much for me and I wasn't gonna leave you behind. You are always on my mind Nouva. Ever since we visited my parents I had this feeling for you. It just wouldn't go away!"
Nouva felt his heart beat even faster now. "I see"
"Nouva, even if you don't return my feelings I want us to remain good friends at least"
Nouva rubbed his chin and then spoke. "Kirin, I'll be honest. I'm not into romantic stuff. "I never gave romantic feelings much thought, but when you kissed me, I-" Nouva froze, struggling to find the proper words. "Arceus," he groaned as he put his paw on his head in exasperation. "I don't know, Kirin. I don't know a lot of things, especially when it comes to this kind of stuff. But if there's one thing I know;" He lowered his paw and gingerly grabbed hers. "It's that I want to be with you."
Her face lit up and her tail wagged ferociously.
"I guess what I'm saying is... I love you too Kirin"
She squealed in glee. "Nouva! I'm so happy!"
Nouva just smiled and they locked eyes and their heads moved closer and closer. Their lips finally met, as Kirin held onto Nouva's face with both her paws. They both were a deep red and then after a few minutes they finally stopped. They both felt awkward but they felt good.
"Wow, that felt good, but also kinda weird." Nouva grinned.
"Probably because we've never done this before." Kirin nodded her head in agreement.
The two admitted that it was gonna be a little weird since they now are a thing but that left them with one final question.
"So what will the others think?" Kirin asked.
Nouva huffed. "Well, Voltaro's gonna have a fun time with this now. Even Lazuli... those two are a perfect match."
Kirin just smiled and nuzzled her mate on the cheek. "Doesn't matter to us... it's gonna take us a bit to get used to being... mates? Is that the word?"
"Yeah I guess we're mates now" Nouva rubbed his head, still not used to being a 'mate' to anyone. Regardless, he felt very content with where he was right now, nuzzled up snugly against his partner.