Nikki Allaire was pissed. She had been waiting for JJ to wake up for at least twenty minutes late. Nikki looked over at her beloved Junior, "Junior go wake up your annoying aunt." The Gabite huffed at his mother's words as he walked away. Nikki wanted JJ to wake up because Nikki had discovered something out. It was her best friend's birthday and JJ hadn't even told her. Nikki had looked at JJ's phone, when JJ was hanging out with Dexter, when she had discovered texts wishing JJ a happy birthday. Nikki was disappointed that JJ had not told her. Sure, this year had been awful, but JJ deserved a celebration. Nikki had devised a plan on how to celebrate with JJ. But first she needed the tall brunette to wake up. Nikki stayed in the living room as she heard JJ's screams. Junior had just evolved two days ago and still thought he was a tiny cute Gible. So he would have jumped on JJ's bed for cuddles. That apparently had frightened JJ. Nikki just had to laugh to herself.
It had been a while since Nikki had laughed. What had transpired this year had put a damper on her personality. Even what had happened recently had crushed Nikki. Her fight with JJ, JJ nearly getting killed by Marcia. All of it took a toll on Nikki. JJ had not fully recovered from her injuries. She still needed oxygen from time to time and her body still was on the mend. Nikki always kept a watchful eye over her best friend to make sure that she was ok. This was why Nikki could never return to the Institute. That place was a cancer to her and her friends. She was running from her problems, but she didn't care. She couldn't risk going back there. Not with Franz still looking for her. Dexter and Guzma had been keeping their eyes and ears out to find out what The Righteous were doing. Apparently they were still looking for Nikki, but they wouldn't find her. She had dyed her hair usually pink hair bleach blonde and sore faux glasses and a ponytail. She also had hazel contacts that she would use. It was a good disguise that had been effective in hiding Nikki. Still she was worried about Franz and The Righteous finding her.
"What the fuck, Nikki? Why is Junior jumping up and down on my bed?", a red haired Jessica Walkmen walked in. JJ had changed her hair color as well. It was longer with some black streaks in it. She had blue contacts. This had been the suggestion of Dexter. Nikki and JJ would be wanted by The Righteous and their description would be sent out throughout The Righteous networks. So both females had changed their looks. JJ wore a blue top and grey booty shorts. The now nineteen year old looked haggard. Junior stood next to JJ with a sad expression on his face. It was clear that his aunt was not happy with Junior trying to cuddle. She used to always love Junior's cuddles, but not since he had evolved. Junior started to hate his new body. If he could go back to being a Gible he would. JJ had hands on her hips, "I was trying to sleep. You know I need my rest. Doctors orders." Plus she had spent the night before just talking to Dexter. Not that she had a crush on the dark and mysterious former bar owner. No, he was just interesting when it came to training pokemon. Her blue eyes stared at Nikki.
Nikki looked over at Junior and nodded. The Gabite would walk into the kitchen as Nikki watched. She had ordered something that Junior would bring out. Nikki then stared at her best friend, "well maybe you shouldn't spend all night trying to bone Dexter. That way you can get some sleep. Afterall I don't think the doctors want you to have that kind of rest." JJ turned as red as her dyed hair. Nikki threw her head back as she let out a loud and obnoxious cackle. JJ had told Nikki that she liked Dexter. Dexter had spent so much time around JJ since JJ had nearly died thanks to Marcia. Nikki estimated that Dexter had spent as much time around JJ as Nikki did. So it was clear that Dexter had feelings for JJ as well. Nikki would play matchmaker for the both of them. But that wasn't what Nikki wanted to do right now as Junior walked in with a cake. He tapped JJ on the shoulder, "happy birthday!" Nikki shouted at her best friend.
JJ had tears in her eyes. She had not wanted to share about her birthday. She didn't think it was appropriate to mention her birthday. Not with everything that had happened. But here was her best friend who had taken the time and effort to discover JJ's birthday and celebrate it. The tall former brunette felt the emotions building up in her body. This was what true friendship was. Jessica Walkmen ran over to Nikki and gave her a huge hug. "Ohhh Nikki, thank you so much. I didn't want to tell anyone it's my birthday because of everything that has happened. But thank you so much. You're the best. I really don't know how to repay you.", devilish thoughts had passed through Nikki's mind at that comment. JJ pulled back from hug to roll her eyes at her best friend. At least some things hadn't changed. But the good time was broken up by a coughing fit from JJ. Nikki and Junior both looked on with concern. Jj had not fully healed from the battle with Marcia. Nikki helped JJ to the couch so she could catch her breath.
JJ slammed her fist on the coffee table which shocked both Nikki and Junior. Tears formed in her eyes as Nikki and Junior sat next to the distraught red head. "I'm so weak. I'm so useless. Look at me, Nikki. I went from being this strong athletic person to someone who can't breathe on her own. When I technically died there was a sense of relief. That way I wouldn't be a burden on you guys anymore.", JJ cried into Nikki's shoulders. Dexter and Guzma had warned the others that JJ could have PTSD after her encounter with Marcia. They had warned that it could come at any time. Now it was happening. This was JJ's birthday and she should have been celebrating not crying. Nikki just rubbed JJ's back as did Junior. She had to cry it out.
"What do we have here?", Dexter's booming voice came from around the corner as he was followed by Klaus. He had been awoken by JJ's wails of self pity. He knew that she would have moments of ptsd and this was one of those instances. Dexter had been through it himself after he found out Melody had been sold to The Righteous. He knew how to help JJ. He walked out into the living room as the freshmen females looked up at him. JJ's eyes were soaked with tears from the pain. Physically and mentally she wasn't herself. Technically she had been dead for a minute. No one else could relate to that. No one knew what it was like to be dead or come close to it. JJ did and it rocked her world. Dexter understood deep loss and fear better than anyone. Sure he hadn't experienced being dead, but Dexter had known the pain of losing someone close to him. Of feeling weak and powerless without anyone by your side. But Dexter also knew how to break out of it. He put a calloused hand on her left shoulder. "JJ, you aren't weak. Trust me it takes someone stronger than even me to endure what you have been through.", Nikki amd Junior nodded. But JJ did not seem to listen.
More tears fell from JJ's eyes. "I'm not strong. If I were strong then I would have easily beaten Marcia. She was a lot stronger than me. I just got lucky.", her body shook at the memories of that battle. She had nightmares from the battles. She didn't know what Marcia had done to her, but it had destroyed the JJ the others had known. She was a shell of her former self. She had pretended to be fine to go along with the training and her recovery. In reality she cried herself to sleep most of the times. She was tormented and anguished. Nothing had cheered her up. "You guys don't understand what it's like. To know that you're dead and to come back. To know that you let everyone down. That you aren't good enough to protect your friends.", she inhaled as best as she could as the others watched on. Nikki wanted to say something, but Dexter gave her a look that told her not to. JJ had to get this all out. "And then we left the others. We left them. They're sitting ducks out there at The Institute. What if Franz hurts one of them? He already tried it with my uncle. What if Franz decides to hurt Alex, Kat, Melody, Ava, and Bunny? It will be my fault for suggesting we stay.", she felt like something awful would happen.
Nikki kept JJ close as Dexter just watched. Finally the former bartender smirked, much to the surprise of the females. "Yep, you have ptsd. I was wondering when it would come out. So what are you going to do JJ? Just wallow in your own self pity?", the words didn't seem to help as Nikki looked like she wanted to kill Dexter. JJ needed comforting words. Not this nonsense that Dexter was spewing. But Dexter was not finished. "You wonder why you can't control that Wavren? It's because he can sense that you so much doubt in you. He doesn't respect that.", JJ hung her head in shame. She had struggled to control Lucky. The steel and water type had not been following JJ's instructions during training. This also made JJ feel inferior. Sure Lucky had "picked her", but he was so damn stubborn. He didn't follow instructions or commands. JJ hated feeling inferior as a trainer. Perhaps Dexter was right. She couldn't control Lucky and it sucked. She was a shitty trainer, a shitty niece, a shitty friend. JJ just hung her head and shook.
"Stop it Dexter! Can't you see you're bullying her? She can't take what you're saying. She needs comfort instead of you scolding her. So what if she wants to wallow? She has suffered so much! Let her overcome this in her own way!", Nikki was not afraid to stand up to Dexter. Not with the way he had been talking to JJ. The now bleach blonde got right up in Dexter's face and pointed a finger right into his face. This caused Klaus, Dexter's trusted Kommo-O to move closer to his trainer. Of course Junior would get close to Nikki as he stared at Klaus. Nikki would then slap Dexter much to the surprise of everyone. There were tears in Nikki's eyes now as even JJ stared in shock and horror at what Nikki had done. "Stop trying to hurt my best friend. She's been through too much. She died for a minute Dexter. Don't you get that? So if she needs to get back into the swing of things then LET HER. STOP TRYING TO MAKE HER FEEL LIKE SHIT!", Nikki was filled with rage. She had seen and heard enough from Dexter when it came to JJ. He was always scolding her. Always talking down to her. It was time for that to end.
Dexter listened to what Nikki said. There was tension in the air from everyone. Finally Dexter made the move first. He hugged Nikki. "I know you are just trying to help JJ. So am I. You just have to trust my approach. I know what I am doing. I can help snap her out of this.", Dexter whispered into Nikki's ear. Nikki wasn't so sure about what Dexter meant. Right now he wasn't helping JJ, he was making her more depressed. Nikki looked over and saw that JJ clenched onto Junior. Of course Junior had tried to comfort his favorite aunt. Junior and JJ were incredibly close so Junior was not going to leave his aunt like this. The Gabite rubbed JJ's back as she continued to sob. The pain that JJ was going through must have been worse than Nikki had imagined. She knew that JJ wasn't her normal self, but not to this extent. Nikki wanted her best friend back and not this husk of a female. Her gut told her that Dexter was right and that he could help bring the old JJ back. "Alright, I trust you Dexter. Just be careful with her, ok.", Nikki didn't want Dexter to push JJ too hard. That could hurt hurt JJ and break her forever.
But Dexter had a plan to help JJ, but Nikki too. He had noticed that Nikki needed help too. She was way over protective of JJ after what happened with Marcia. Yes they were close, but this was beyond that. They were both extremely damaged in their own way. Dexter was going to help them through this in one of the only ways he knew how. His blue eyes looked at both of the females, "you two go get dressed. Both of you are going to battle me. JJ you will use Lucky, Nikki you will use that Feraligatr you still haven't named. Now come on." The two girls looked in shock at Dexter. He was crazy to think that this was that the girls should battle him. But Dexter looked at the both of them with determination. This was how he would get through to them. Nikki and JJ looked at one another and shrugged. They would have to go along with it.
The makeshift practice field where they would fight was attached to the "shack." It wasn't as fancy as the practice areas at the Institute in fact it was older. But it would do for what Dexter wanted to accomplish. He stood on one side of the practice field as Nikki and JJ stood on the other. The 19 year old females had not battled together since since what happened at Dexter's bar so this would be a good test to see if they could work well together. JJ had changed back into a athletic outfit as she stared at Lucky's pokeball. She could feel the pure power of the pseudo legendary Pokémon. JJ was so nervous to work with Lucky again. The Waveren was extremely stubborn and hard to control. He had attacked Arthur a few days ago and now Dexter wanted her to use Lucky right now. The brunette turned ginger sighed as she nervously threw out the powerful Pokémon. The hammerhead shark flopped around as his red eyes peered not at Dexter, but at his trainer. This made JJ gulp, she could feel that pure uncontrollable power that Lucky had. The feelings of inadequacy crept back up.
"JJ, we're going to beat him. You'll be able to control lucky, I promise.", Nikki comforted her friend as she pulled out the Feraligatr's pokeball. She hadn't named the dark and steel type yet because she didn't know what would be a good name for the Feraligatr. He was stubborn just like JJ's Waveren was. But this Pokémon did respect Nikki as he had seen how Junior battled for Nikki. So the Feraligatr knew that Nikki was a great trainer. She just had to build that bond with the creature. Nikki pulled out the Feraligatr's pokeball and tossed it up into the air. The powerful Pokémon let out a roar to try and establish his dominance. Nikki smiled as she racked her mind to think of a name for the Pokémon. "Hmmm how about Arthur for the king of Camelot?", Nikki called out. JJ's twitched in annoyance as the Feraligatr shook his head. "Had to lighten the mood.", Nikki patted JJ on the back as the taller girl mumbled something about getting Nikki back.
Dexter nodded to Klaus who stepped forward across from Lucky. Dexter wanted to see how JJ would do with Lucky against Klaus. Dexter had a theory that he wanted to test out. If Klaus could bring out the best of Lucky then that would mean they could bring out the best in JJ as well. This was why Dexter wanted to battle both Nikki and JJ, to strengthen their bond with their Pokémon. JJ relied too much on Arthur and Nikki relied too much on Junior. That was the real reason why Lucky and the Feraligatr had nodded bonded with their trainers. They could sense that their trainers had better connections with other Pokémon besides them. Nikki and JJ needed to work on this connection. Dexter would help them improve this relationship. Then that would help them improve their self confidence. Dexter then turned his attention to Nikki, he had the perfect Pokémon to battle her. "Mollie, come on out.", with that Dexter's beloved Pyroar emerged. The female Pokémon yawned as she looked across at the Feraligatr. This may have been a bad matchup on paper, but Dexter had trained Mollie well.
Nikki and JJ didn't know what to do. They stared at each other trying to figure out who would go first. Finally JJ decided to take the initiative. "Lucky use surf", there was a apprehension in her voice. JJ didn't know if Lucky was going to listen to her. But he needed to get into the water as that was where he fought the best. JJ needed Lucky to understand that the best thing for them was for him to be underwater. Plus that Pyroar would be a sitting duck. Lucky had to grasp this, but he just stared at her. JJ didn't understand why Lucky wasn't doing what she asked. JJ was getting frustrated with Lucky, "COME ON LUCKY LISTEN TO ME! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND! Help me understand." The Pseudo legendary just stared at JJ as both their eyes turned red. JJ's head suddenly felt like it was going to burst as she fell to her knees. Nikki tried to shake JJ, but the now red head did not move. Instead she felt like she had been transported to a whole different area. It was pitch black as the sound of waves crashed all about her. The only thing that looked at her was Lucky. The Waveren opened his mouth as a voice echoed in JJ's head.
"I thought this would be a good place to meet. Away from everyone else, Jessica. I wished to speak to you so that you can truly understand me. There is a disconnect between us that I wish to address.", the Waveren slowly moved closer to his trainer. His red eyes stared at her which sent shivers up and down her spine. JJ winced as Lucky got closer to her. "See this is what I was afraid of, Jessica. You seem to be scared of me. I want to understand why. This is why we haven't been able to build that connection you have with your Skarmory. You aren't scared of him, but you are of me. I watched you battle with him against that other trainer. I was impressed. That was why I called out to you. Yet you don't seem to want to get to know me. You never have taken the time to understand what I can do", the tone of confusion in Lucky's voice covered up for the fact that he was hurt. He wanted to truly understand why his trainer, the girl he picked, was so scared of him. It didn't make sense to the Waveren. The pseudo legendary waited for a response.
JJ was scared of Lucky. Not because he seemed like a vicious Pokémon, but because he was so strong. A Pokémon that JJ did not think that she could control. JJ had raised all of her Pokémon when they were eggs, Lucky was the exception. Lucky was fully evolved and a pseudo legendary. The nineteen year old had no idea how to train a Pokémon like Lucky. So naturally she was scared of letting the Pokémon down. That she wasn't good enough to be his trainer. It had nothing to do with Lucky and everything to do with JJ feeling inferior. She took a deep breath as she moved forward, "I am scared of you Lucky. You're so strong. I am not a strong enough trainer for you. I think that you need another trainer. I don't think I can handle how strong you are. You picked the wrong person." She hung her head in shame and embarrassment from admitting that out loud.
The room that Lucky and JJ were in seemed to grow darker as the sound of the waves grew louder. Lucky seemed to be angry at least that was what JJ had figured. She had noticed that the sound of the waves grew louder when Lucky got angry. The creature continued to stare at JJ, "Jessica, you are wrong. I chose you because I saw that connection between you and Arthur. That is what I wish to have with you. I want that connection. But you don't appear to want to have that connection. This hurts me. I don't want you to be scared of me. But we cannot move forward unless we build this bond. This means you have to trust me and we need to build the bond. It is the only way that we can ever move forward." The words from the creature stung. JJ hung her head in shame. The Pokémon just wanted to have a real bond. And here JJ was being a bitch. That had to end now.
She took a step forward towards the Waveren in the strange room. JJ reached out and touched the hammerhead like Pokémon. Lucky's skin was rough and coarse. It was like touching a sharpedo. But JJ felt an energy that ran through her. As if Lucky was sharing a bit of himself with JJ. JJ had never felt this with a pokemon before. She jumped back for a second as she didn't know what this was. She didn't understand what was happening. Strangely it did feel like Lucky was trying to make JJ understand some more. The fact that he had allowed JJ to touch him was a big deal. That was Lucky showing JJ that he was nothing to be scared of. "I'm sorry, Lucky. I shouldn't have ignored you. I was way too scared as a trainer. It's just that I have never had someone as strong as you on my team. I am sorry that I have been so bad to you. You do deserve better and I am going to get better.", JJ could have sworn that she saw Lucky smile as she felt a wave of energy circulate in her body again. She stared at Lucky, "uhhh Lucky? What is going on? Where are we? What is this special energy that I am feeling? Where are the others?"
Lucky's "smile" grew larger. "My species is ancient. We go back to the time of ancient Avantura before even the legendary Pokémon. My species used to roam the oceans freely. But then the humans came. They were scared and started to hunt us. That was until we discovered that we could communicate with humans. The Waveren and the humans lived in peace for decades and decades. We were able to establish a connection with certain humans that went beyond what you call battlebond. Where the humans were able to see through our eyes. They were able to feel what we felt. Things were good that was until.", the waves in the room got louder and JJ could feel the pain Lucky was in. JJ put a hand on Lucky as a way of comforting the Pokémon. But Lucky continued on, "The Institute was created. Then they started to take my friends and they never came back. I am the last of my kind. This is why I have trouble with humans. Your kind betrayed mine.", JJ absorbed those words. She felt terrible for the Pokémon. Now she started to understand why he was so headstrong. Why he didn't trust humans at first. He had been burned before so now JJ grasped this. She trembled as she put another hand on Lucky.
"Lucky, I promise that not all people are like this. You can trust me. I am so sorry that happened to you and your friends. I am also sorry that I was scared to build a relationship with you. That was my mistake. I hope you can. Forgive me for rushing to judgment.", JJ hugged the Pokémon which caused a wave of positive energy from Lucky to JJ. It felt as if the Waveren had accepted her and she had accepted him. JJ understood now that the pseudo legendary was just protecting himself from being hurt again. But there is a question that still bugged JJ that she wanted to have answered. "Lucky, why did you pick me? I know you said it had something to do with Arthur, but I don't understand what you mean. Can you please explain what you meant. I want to understand.", JJ meant it. She truly wanted to understand her Pokémon better. To figure out what made him tick. She no longer had that fear inside of her. She now felt connected to Lucky. That fear had been holding her back from forming the connection. That was gone now.
Lucky seemed to thrash around happily at this. He had finally broken through to JJ. This made the ancient Waveren happy. He hadn't been happy in decades. He started to glow white as did JJ much to the birthday girl's surprise, she didn't know what was happening. All she knew was that she felt a calmness about her. As if all her worries had drifted away. The mental and physical anguish she had been in was gone or that was what it felt to JJ. The white aurora around both the trainer and the Waveren disappeared which left them in this room. JJ looked stunned as she heard Lucky's voice again, "I saw you defend a Pokémon you did not know. You sacrificed yourself because you knew that it was the right thing to do, Jessica. You did not hesitate nor back down even when she attacked you. You were willing to sacrifice yourself. You are an honorable person. That is why I have connected myself to you. That is why I wanted to come along with you. Your heart is pure. That is what I am attracted to. This is why we are now interconnected. I have used a heal order on you to give you temporary relief from your physical ailments. It won't last forever, but it will help you get through this battle."
JJ could feel that she could breathe again. That she did not have any pain breathing. She didn't need any machine to help her breath. Sure this would be temporary, but it was better than nothing. She hugged the Waveren tighter. This creature was the best thing to happen to JJ. She wanted to thank him, but they did have a battle to start. Now JJ was eager to fight with Nikki to beat Dexter. "Lucky, I am ready to go back to fight. We have to show Dexter and Nikki that we are a well oiled machine now. That we are connected.", before JJ could get the final words out, her head was hurting again. It felt like it would split open. But the next thing she knew, she was back in the makeshift training area where Nikki was shaking her. JJ blinked as the pain from her head was gone. The now red head would have spoken if not for Nikki's wails. She really did worry way too much about JJ. Finally the tall girl made her way to her feet and looked across at Dexter, "alright Lucky and I are ready." She smiled.
Ooc: I wanted to give a little background on Lucky and what makes him special.