Congratulations, Sphinx! o7

THAT SYLVEON

Hopefully you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I actually had so much fun making it. So, here's the next! Remember, as always, thanks for the read. Also, thanks for the help of the buds in the server for helping me make up some of the characters. If you've read That Snivy by SavageCalibre22, I think you'll have an idea of who we had in mind.

LuanOTP owns nothing.

It was always said that clocks move faster when you aren't looking at them. However, Julley felt like his had to be broken. Five hours passed, yet the minute hand had only budged half an hour forward. He held his head in his paws again, exasperated. Only two sides of paper had he thoroughly reviewed. The rest, he left up to fate.

A pair of gentle knocks emitted from the left wall of his cubicle. The Umbreon looked up, and saw a familiar face around the establishment peering above the grey barrier. It was a Snivy that was chewing bubblegum, and had a wireless earpiece in her ear. Julley could barely hear the aggressive lyrics of an electronic dance music song.

Wait - Snivys have ears!? Since when?

SHH! You're interrupting the story!

"Hey, Julley. Got a second?" the Snivy asked. Her fierce female voice made the question sound like more of a demand. "Just need some advice."

It wasn't like he had anything better to do. Aside from his job, of course.

"Yeah, Delilah, right? D-Did I say that right?" Julley replied. He was aware of the intern's presence earlier this working year. It baffled him that she was still a mere Snivy, though.

The grass type flicked her eyebrows up once. "Yup. That's me. Just wanted to ask, how long have you been working here?"

That was a question he always tried to avoid, as he'd always be reminded of the harsh reality. "Uh, I think… S-Since I was twenty, so um… twelve years now."

Delilah's eyes widened. "An entire dozen!? And you never thought about sockin' Haines right in his beak?"

"Umm… no?"

Yes. He at least thought about it.

Julley stifled a yawn, "Have you?" he managed to get out, before the yawn emerged back again, guns ablazing.

"Not until he tried to ask me out to dinner-" The Snivy held up a digit donning a ring that sparkled under the office lights. "After telling him I was engaged!"

Wincing, the father of two scratched his head. "Well, um. Yikes, that's a big issue. D-Did you report it to PR?"

"PR?"

"Pokemon Resources."

The Snivy eagerly nodded. "Thanks, Julley. I'll put that on my to-do list. Right, now."

With that, the grass snake left as promptly as she came. Julley sighed disappointedly. It pained to admit, that was the most fun he had in a conversation all day.

He faced his work in sorrow. Imagine if he could just blink, and have all this work just complete itself. It must be good to be Arceus.

"Oy, oy! Julley!"

Uh oh. He could recognise that voice without even having to listen to it. The dark type turned around in his swivel chair, and identified the Honchkrow standing outside of his managerial chambers.

Haines cocked his head to the side as he presented the door to his personal office with his large indigo wings. "Would'ya mind stepping into my office for a second?"

Immediately, all eyes belonging to each Pokemon in the venue laid his, her or their eyes on the Umbreon who felt a million times smaller now that he was the centre of attention. It was as if he was in school again, and he was called on by the teacher to answer a question up on the board. Maybe some things don't change after all.

The entrance to the chamber of the big boss Pokemon, Julley entered with obvious unwillingness. Haines puffed his chest out to his inferiors, before scuttling into his office following the fellow dark type.

Sitting in the chair that faced the desk of his superior, the Umbreon watched the bigger, broader bird hastily close the blinds that led to the outside world. The orange rays of sunlight were cut in twain by the soothing blackness.

"So, Julley. You know why I brought you here, right?" gruffed the avian, struggling to turn on the desk lamp with his not-so prehensile feathers.

"Umm… No, actually. I-I thought you were gonna tell me."

The desk lamp clicked on. "Well, I thought you'd know."

"How? You never told me beforehand…"

Haines took a deep breath and sighed, "Okay, it seems like we've reached an impasse."

"well, it's not really an impasse as much as it is a waste of time…"

"What was that, Julley?"

"I-I said that I agreed with you."

The Honchkrow beamed a little. "Oh, okay. Awesome. So anyways, you know why I brought you here, right?"

Thump. That was the sound of Julley slamming his head in the desk before him. In his imagination of course. Come reality, the dark type merely glared at the big boss Pokémon, as if he had grown another head.

"...No, Haines. I don't know why you brought me here."

Haines stood up, pacing around the room. He soon bumped into a potted plant, though, making him promptly get back into his chair.

"You see, Julley, I'm uh… I'm not as awesome as I tell you."

Gasp. What a twist.

"S-So, uh, what are you saying exactly?" replied the Umbreon.

Spinning on a talon, the big bird faced the window that overlooked the clouded skyscrapers of the city. Unfortunately, he forgot that the blinds were closed, so all he saw, instead of the perfect sunset, was just more blinds.

"Okay, so you know when I told you about that chick I was taking out to that downtown diner?" Haines held his beak curiously. "When even was that? Like, a few days ago? Maybe last week?"

"Um, actually, it was an hour ago."

"...No it wasn't."

"I-I hate to say it, Haines, but it-"

"That's besides the point!" Mitchell exclaimed, struggling to explain his inner pains. "Anyway, that chick doesn't actually exist."

Julley made his ears fall flat on his head, as if to say he actually believed it one bit. "Well, that's a shame. Why would you lie about it?"

"Because I'm a loser, Julley!" Whining, the Honchkrow gracefully fell back into his comfy leather swivel chair and continued, "I-I don't have a woman I'm seeing, I've never even been with or kissed anyone in my life! To top it all off, I'm already thirty five. I'm old, man."

Now, it was making the Eeveelution wince out of cringe. His sorry gaze fell to the action figures that stood proudly on his manager's desk. Maybe there was a reason to all of this.

"A-Ah, well, Haines. I-"

"Mitchell." responded Hai- I mean Mitch. "Just call me Mitchell."

"Oh. Then Mitchell,

"No-no, call me Mitch actually. Mitch sounds cooler."

"..."

"Alright, Mitch, if it's a-any sort of help, I think you are a gentleman at heart, er… Don't be too hard on yourself."

"Really? Do you think that?"

The Umbreon nodded eagerly, albeit awkwardly.

"Then, do you think you could help me?"

"Erm… S-Sure?"

Haines pounced forward in his seat, lighting up and grasping the desk to stop his momentum. Julley glared in immediate regret, as the action figures and various nicknacks wobbled from the impact.

"I knew I could count on you, Julley! You're the man!"

"T-Thanks… So, what is it you want me to do?"

"Oh. That's easy. Could you help me find a girl for myself? You know, a woman?"

"W-What? Mitchell, with all due respect, I don't think I have the skills to get you any sort of partner. I-I'm not really too big on socialising, you might be better off on your own."

"POPPYCOCK!" SCREAMED HAINES. He slammed his wings on the wooden surface that separated manager from employee. "I mean, did you see the state of your wife? She's fuckin' HAWT!"

Julley squinted. "Umm… Thanks?"

"I mean, I don't mean to sound like that guy, but I just want to know your secrets, Julley! You seem to have such a beautiful family, and I just want what you have! Happiness!"

"W-What? There are no secrets?"

"'Course there are." scoffed Mitchell. "Nice personality? Check. Approachable vibe? Check. Plus, you're an Umbreon, and everyone knows that Umbreons have, y'know…" The Honchkrow took two digits from each wing and held them up parallelly. He then gradually increased the space between his fingers.

Julley clenched his legs shut.

"M-Mitchell, it's not like that. It's more like… How can I put this? If you want to get someone to like you, you need to be yourself."

"Yourself?"

"Yeah, yourself."

"What does that mean, Julley! I'm always myself, but somehow I always seem to mess it up. I suck."

"No, Mitch, you don't-"

"Compared to you, I kinda do! You have a wife, a kid, buncha friends I'm sure…"

Julley's ears flopped against his head. "Ah, um, two kids, actually."

"Wha- See what I mean!?"

"Okay, Mitchell. P-Please, don't beat yourself up over this. Maybe I can ask my wife if there's anyone she knows. She could give you her contact, and maybe you two could meet?"

"Wait, are you serious, Jull?"

"Y-Yeah? Why would I n-"

The bird darted over the desk, bringing Julley, and the poor vulnerable bobbleheads, down to the floor with him. With the Umbreon in his wings and the tailwind in his feathers, Mitchell gave Julley a tight embrace.

"You are SO the man, Julley! So what? Are we double date or sumthin'? A double date would be pretty awesome."

"Umm… N-"

"Yes? Ballin'! In fact, I'm gonna go tuxedo shopping right now!"

Mitchell stood up, Eeveelution still in grasp, and darted out of his office, and into the light of the main area. The receptionist, a Scraggy, glanced up from their desk.

"Rodrigo! My man from Kanto!"

"Unova, Haines…" Rodrigo humbly replied, although his head sank toward the carpeted floor.

"Yeah, that's what I said. Tell the directors that me 'n' Julley are outie!"

"Where are you going?"

"To get a new set of wheels."

Julley's head popped out from the wing of his manager. Deprived of motivation, he tiredly smiled, and fell asleep in Haines' grasp. These wings? These wings were comfy.

...

The way I saw it? The sky was a deep red. All other Pokemon blended in with the crimson blur of my rage, except for one Pokemon - A grey, hollow, piece of shit Mightyena at the end of the playground, and this bitch had tunnel vision. I was on a one-way rail to kick ass, but I of course, needed answers first.

What am I talking about? Haven't you been reading? It feels like I've sent on this dumbass wild Swanna chase over… I don't even know the entire story! But, it's pissing me off. First day of school - it's already been a shit week - and here I am, stomping across the fields, strutting through the grass, Raidon right behind me, begging me to slow down…

"Yo, Anais! Slow down!" he huffed.

"No."

He sprinted a bit more to catch up to my pace. "You seem really mad, Anais. I-"

"Really? What was your first hint?"

"Well that wasn't very nice…"

"What's your point, Raidon?"

I finally took the effort to come to a complete halt. I stared at the Luxray, deep into his bright irises.

"Like, what if this is all just a misunderstanding? I dunno if it's worth actually getting into a fight over." he tried reasoning. However, reasoning and rationale was in the doghouse of my brain right now.

"Raidon, I don't care if this is a misunderstanding. You can't just go around the school and accidentally tell lies about me. She fucked up."

"At least try to talk to her about it. What's the use behind beating someone up over spilled milk?"

"Is that what you think this is? Spilled milk?" I retorted, and Raidon recoiled.

"I didn't mean it like that- hey! Anais!"

I had already made up my mind. Swivelling on a paw, I set eyes on the bitch that spat on my name and stepped on it. She was surrounded by a few Pokemon I hardly knew, but that was to be expected; Lola had the decency to at least stop hanging out with her.

Hey, um… If I remember correctly, you were in the wrong, Anais, with telling Bella that-

I know what I said! But this is a trespass of boundaries. Plus, she's got new friends. That's a sign of bitchiness.

Bitchiness… Got it. Hey reader! Did you know that bitchiness is a real word?

There she was. By the seating area, just short of the field were Pokemon, predominantly male, would fuck about playing sports and whatever. Surrounding her at the table were some other 'Mon I didn't give a shit about. One was a Serperior, another a Excadrill. To Bella's right hand? Some Pikachu I didn't know. They all seemed to be doing that annoying pretentious laugh at a joke that probably wasn't even funny. Yeah, they're those kind of girls.

I approached the table, and soon, the Mightyena noticed me. Just looking into her eyes was enough to make me wanna snap. And I did. I leapt onto the wooden table, and pounced onto Bella before any of her cronies could react. She squealed like the spoiled sow she was, but it was too late. I dug my best canines into her throat, and watched in eager pleasure as the blood shot out from her newly made orifice like a fountain. The metallic taste of her body's fuel and the horrified screams from both the fidgeting Mightyena and her fake as fuck cronies was like food to my soul. It filled me.

"Anais? Hey, Anais!?"

I snapped back to reality. All four Pokemon glared at me with faces that seemed to be a mix of confusion and disgust. Fucking elitists.

The Pikachu's weird appendages on their head grew straight. "Wait, that's Anais? The one you were talking about?"

Bella nodded. What a cunt. "Yeah, that's her, Cherri." she muttered, although just loud enough such that I could hear her. "What do you want, Anais?"

It took everything in my power not to headbutt her nose there and then. "What do you think? I've heard about the bullshit you've been spreading around in school."

"You'd know about bullshit." remarked Bella. She snorted, and the bitches around her laughed too, as if it was that funny. "What was all that shit you were telling me about Raidon before you fucking pranked me? Was it some dumb joke? Is that why you brought him with you?"

Honestly, I was taken aback. I know Bella. Oh, sorry, I knew Bella - she'd never curse at someone else the way I did. It felt like I was talking into a mirror.

"You know I apologised, Bella. You know why I said what I said to you."

"...Do you even remember what you told me?"

I pawed the ground below me, but remembered what this was all about: Pride. I stuck my nose in the and looked down on the Mightyena, even though she was technically above me. "How could I forget?"

"Go on. Remind me."

Okay, so all of her friends met eyes with me at this moment. I'm not an actress or anything, so I don't see how I was supposed to react while being put on the spot.

"Well, like, I told you that… that…"

"She can't even remember!" unnecessarily added the Pikachu next to her.

I felt my cheeks get a bit warm after that. I opened my mouth to speak, but weirdly, nothing came out, no matter how much I tried.

Bella barked at me with the passion of ire in her irises. "You told me, I need to get into the ballpark.You told me, if you don't buy a ticket, you'll never win the raffle. All to find out, Raidon had no interest in me at all!"

I spun briefly, turning to see Raidon behind me. He looked like he was caught in the crossfire of a very awkward parents' evening. Then, I grit my teeth. "So what was I supposed to say? That you weren't gonna make it with a guy? I tried to make you feel better about your shitty life! Excuse me for being a bad friend!"

As if they were an audience to an awful sitcom, the Pikachu, Excadrill and Serperior gasped in terror. Yeah, I admit, it was an asshole thing to say, but it was a spur of the moment thing. Bella's brows only became steeper, and she glared right into my two pupils, that stared back into her own.

"Is that what you call it? Is that what you call depression, low-self esteem and insecurity? A shitty life?" The Mightyena bore her teeth, and I realised how much bigger her canines were than mine. "You really are an awful person, Anais. I'm so glad you showed me what kind of horrible bitch you were on the inside. I've finally found friends that don't use me for their own, selfish needs."

"These cunts!?" I exclaimed, slamming both of my paws on the ground. "Bella, if I'm not good enough to be your friend, then there's not a snowball's chance in Mount Chimney that these punks will!"

It hadn't even seemed like she had given her 'friends' a look of reconsideration before she spoke again. "Anais, you're a horrible Pokemon being, and I just feel sorry that Raidon's going to have to deal with you for as long as he decides to stick around your toxic personality. You know what? I'm glad I ratted you ou-"

"FINE!" I couldn't handle any more of this. I needed time to be alone, before I actually started crying in front of these jerks. "You've made your conscious decisions, Bella. Don't you dare come running back to me when you realise that these dickheads wouldn't think twice to throw you under a semi."

I turned with my nose pointing to the ground now, unlike the way I had initially come. I didn't care whether Raidon followed me or not. I didn't care about whether I found out about the lies that brought me here in the first place. I spun, and not even in my dreams would think to I turn back.

...

It was over between the two. Anais seemed to be the first to finally concede, and leave the general area with a stomp in her step. However, a furious argument left a perplexed Luxray behind in a fray of four female Pokemon, who all had their eyes on him.

"Well, if you ever get your senses back to you, give me a ring." Bella sneered, subtly licking her canines. "With someone like Anais? You two won't last long. You need a real woman, Raidon."

The Luxray recoiled in shock. "Umm, yeah, no thanks. I don't know why I didn't even think to stop you two arguing. Dammit."

The Pikachu, Cherri, placed both of her tiny hands on the table. "These things happen. I just feel sorry that's what you gotta deal with, huh?"

"I don't think you have the right to say that - Our relationship is personal, so what would you know about us?"

Cherri clearly looked surprised by the reply, but Bella had calmed her down with a single glance. "Hey, he's right. They ain't our business." the dark type agreed, although accompanied with a side glare at the electric type. "Maybe you should get going, Raidon. If you wanna know about whatever lies your girlfriend accused me of, you should ask Manu. He told me everything."

Raidon chewed lightly on the inside of his cheek, only pausing to say, "Right…" before he too took his departure from the unwieldy scenario.

Four pairs of eyes watched the electric type's tail rock back and forth in time to his saunter.

"Ten."

"Nine. His girlfriend is batshit insane."

"I'd let him take me. Take me to the moon."

"Ten. I'll dump my side piece soon anyway."

…

...

So it would seem that the entire scene finally came to an end, Raidon soon realised he had no idea where Anais went; his first guess would be where he came from - the gym. He also found out that he'd another objective, that was the Zeraora he had acquainted with not too long ago.

Reentering the gymnasium, the Luxray took a look around. Lola, a familiar face, seemed to be doing battle with another Pokemon he didn't recognise. Furthermore, watching the battle from the bleachers, Barry Bursyamo ecstatically cheered on his fighting bunny of a girlfriend. The Luxray approached the Blaziken with intent to converse.

"Hey, Barry."

"Hi, Raidon! What's up?"

Where could he even begin? The quadrupedal took a seat next to the fire type. "Uhh… Well, Anais and one of her friends got into a bit of an argument. I don't know where she is, but I'm also looking for Manu."

"Ohh. That sounds harsh. Do you want a beverage?"

"What? No, Barry, I'm looking for Manu, not hydration."

"I mean, sure, but it's a hot day outside. Are you sure?"

"Yes, Barry. I'm sure. Thanks, though."

The Blaziken crossed his legs. "No worries! I think Anais went into the bathroom, but I'm not sure. Since you're also looking for Manu, I saw him go into the gym."

"Huh? Barry, we are in the gym."

"No, I mean the gym gym."

Barry pointed at a familiar subsection of the gym. The working out area, where there existed many machines to whip you up into shape.

"Ohhh… That area. Alright, thanks, Barry."

"No problem!" the blaze Pokemon switched his focus back to the fierce battle. "SWEEP HIS LEGS, LOLA!"

Raidon hopped off the bleachers, and stepped toward the gym gym. The gymnasium of the gymnasium, if you will. There, he found many Pokemon doing their stuff. It was surprising to witness how many students in this school took battling seriously.

True to Barry's word, he found Fraiser Furble and Manuel Valverde, using the treadmill. Well in reality, one was using the treadmill, the latter was on their phone, pretending to spur the other on.

"C'mon Fraiser, you ain't gonna outrun nobody runnin' like dat." Manu rudely commented. Of course, the Furfrou was too occupied with the exercise to reply.

"Yo, Manu!" Raidon called out, to which the Zeraora completely shifted his attention away from his trainee.

"'Ey! Donnie! Say it ain't so! Where you been the past week or sumthin'?"

Recalling the events of the week is something Raidon wanted to try and avoid. "Yeah, um, just sick. So, is it alright if I talk to you alone?"

Manu shrugged his shoulders. "Sure." He then tapped Fraiser on his shoulder. "Take five, chucklenuts."

After stopping the conveyor mechanism of the treadmill, the normal type fell flat on his face, out of breath. Meanwhile, Manu stepped away from Fraiser's side, and followed Raidon to a more secluded part of the gym.

"So what'll it be? Havin' girl trouble?"

Raidon looked away. "Sorta. Anais got into a bit of a fight with her friend. I think her name is Bella? The Mightyena? Do you know her?"

"You what? Donnie, I'll tell you what - that's the dish I've been seein' the past… I dunno, week?"

"Huh? You? And Bella?"

"You heard it right. Me 'n' her."

"I dunno what to say. Congrats man."

Manu shrugged again, this time with his hands involved in the gesture. "What can ya say? That girl is poison. I'm lookin' to get a bit more friendly wit' her, if you 'naww mean?"

"Uhh, yeah? I think I do? How did you two come about?"

"Pfft, you know these insecure girls. She was sad 'n' upset over some dude that didn't like her or somethin' - I dunno, I ain't be listening - but anyways, that's the best time to pounce on a boid; When they be desperate, depressed and alone. Like a Salamence - and I'll tell you what - just like a Salamence, I came in, swooped, and now she can't get ova yours truly."

Raidon repeated what the fellow electric type had told him over and over in his head until he fully understood what he was saying. "O-OH! Well… If it works out, then why not, you know?"

"You said it, pal. She's HAWT-HAWT, bra."

"Yeah, she's actually the person I wanted to talk about."

"Oh yuh?"

"Yeah man. There's been this rumor going around the school that she's broken up with her boyfriend, or she's dating someone else? I'm kinda out of the loop."

"Ohh, I know what you're spittin'. See that man over there, Donnie?" Manu pointed at the frail Pokemon resting on the treadmill. "That Anais 'n' him are a thing now. Could'ya believe that?"

Raidon rubbed his eyes, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Sorry, WHAT?"

The Zeraora nodded. "Yup. You awake, dude. She's been with him the entire time."

"What? How'd you find out about this?"

"Bro - he showed me a pic of them on his cell. Irrefutable evidence."

Slowly, the Luxray faced the Furfrou, who was also lying flat on his face just out of earshot from the duo. He gave one last look of confusion to Manu, but all the Zeraora did was nod. He stepped toward the normal type with purpose, and poked him from behind to get his attention.

"Hey, Fraiser?"

"Mhmgmgmhngmmgnnn…"

Raidon traded cumbrous glances with the Mythical Pokemon, who took it upon himself to shake the Furfrou to his feet.

"EY POODLE! WAKE UP!"

Immediately, Fraiser hopped to his feet in a state of panic.

"W-W-w-w-w-w-WOAH! What's going ooon!" he wailed.

Manu crossed his arms, while Raidon glared at the Furfrou with laser beams for eyes.

"Fraiser? We heard that you've got a girlfriend, now?" the Luxray spoke, although it seemed more of an interrogation.

Fraiser blushed a little. No, he blushed a lot actually. "Umm… Y-Yeah… I do."

"Could we see who? On your phone?"

The Furfrou wasn't sure what to expect. He was hesitant at first, but deathly silence made the first move. Fraiser made the second, as he reached into his fur pocket to get his phone out. After fiddling around with the lockscreen, as well as some of the apps, he eventually turned the screen around to show off his girlfriend.

As clear as day, or as dark as the night, whichever way you'd call it, there was a picture of Fraiser, and his "girlfriend", who appeared to have their arm draped around his shoulders. The girlfriend in question? A moody Sylveon by the name of Anais Breon-Solian.

Raidon inspected the picture closely. He glanced at Fraiser for a second, before his eyes went back to the screen. Finally, the Luxray made up his mind.

"And you're saying that's your girlfriend, right?"

The Furfrou humbly nodded.

"Right, nothin' personal yet Fraiser, but you're comin' with me."

"...W-Wait, w-what?!"

Raidon picked up the smaller normal type in his jaw. Hoisting him off the floor by scruff of his neck, the Luxray walked with the Furfrou out of the gym. Manu, now with nothing to do, spectated the event as it happened.

"...YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

...

Alright! Finally! It's done. This felt like it took longer than most chapters, despite it being in the shorter end of most of my chapters. I can't explain it. Thanks for bearing with me as I took time off. I've been doing the usual business. Regardless, let me know what you think of things, and join the server if you haven't! We're active literally every day lol

-LuanOTP