Moon River
Richard and Elizabeth laid back onto their shared bed together, tired and drowsy after their bondage session's climax. It had been relatively intense, even if Richard was only subbing with plastic cuffs on. Simply being on the bottom sexually once more… but this time willingly to a woman who loved him, gave the Solgaleo an experience like no other.
And he loved it. Just like he loved Elizabeth.
Looking over to the Lunala, he watched her sleep and drift into dreamland. She was… always so beautiful as she slept. He was truly grateful to have Elizabeth enter his life.
Richard Samuels' thoughts drifted away as he lay next to his wife, thinking back. Thinking back to how they had first come to meet, back when Richard would start high school in Unova with the world ahead of him…
Richard smiled as he saw the text message sent by his parents. It was just a simple "Have a good first day at your new high school, son!" from his father's phone, but it was the kind of small thing that his biological parents would never have even bothered with. The Solgaleo put the thoughts behind him and put his phone up as he entered the school bus that had stopped in one of Undella Town's lots, ready to begin his first day at one of the town's few high schools.
The moment he boarded the bus, there was a lot of jaws dropped and staring eyes. Even the bus driver seemed a bit surprised. It was understandable, to some degree. Richard was technically a variety of Ultra Beast, and while they were a common sight in Ultra Space (and Alola, to a lesser extent), Unova had an almost minimal Ultra Beast population. Most of the students only knew what a Solgaleo looked like from their class studies, and even then, the introduction of Ultra Beasts outside of Ultra Space was very recent and newly added to the latest versions of history books.
"Hi. Uhh… nice to meet you all. Anybody… have a spare seat?"
The moment he spoke those words, fights broke out at the seats, with students actually attempting to push other students out of their seats so they could sit with the 'cool new mysterious kid'. Richard merely sighed as the bus started driving off, looking for someone who wasn't begging to be with him.
His eye caught someone who paid the fighting over him no mind, simply engrossed into a book he was reading. Deciding that was far better than a student that simply wanted status, he sat next to the calmer Pokemon.
A Zangoose. An incredibly common species of Pokemon, one that nobody would give a second thought about.
"Hey." Richard greeted the Zangoose.
"Yo." he replied back, not even looking in Richard's direction.
"...So, what's your name? I'm Richard. I'm kinda new here, and I kinda appreciate you not trying to fawn over me like the… others here."
A subtle smirk hit the Zangoose's face. "Honestly, high school is filled with wannabes. They all want to be something important. So they attach themselves to you. To them, you're cooler than they'll ever be. They want that 'popular' status, and they'll do anything to get it."
Richard seemed shocked for a split second before chuckling. "I'm guessing this isn't your first year."
"Nope. Junior year. 2 more years until I'm outta high school and into a place that'll actually motivate me to pursue a career."
"Heh… right." Richard awkwardly admitted.
The Zangoose took his head out of the book to look at the Solgaleo. "But you aren't a wannabe. And honestly, I'm down with that. Name's Dave." he said, extending his claw for Richard to shake, which he did.
"I feel like we'll get along just fine."
Richard was walking into his first period class now, thinking over what the Zangoose had told him en route. The cliques, popularity and status, the unspoken 'rules' that were subconsciously enforced by other students…
Peeking around the classroom, it was about 15 students or so waiting for the teacher to show up. It was mostly ordinary Pokemon species, standard species around Unova that nobody would bat an eye at. Of course, he stood out like a sore thumb the moment he walked in, but only for a brief moment before the students resumed whatever they were doing. Nevertheless… one of the other students caught his eye. One that stood out just as much as he did.
A beautiful Lunala. Seeing that there were at least a few open seats near her, Richard took the chance to sit himself beside her, curious to know why a Lunala would be here at a local Undella Town high school instead of at some fancier higher-status school.
Richard blushed a bit, trying to find the right words to greet such a beautiful Pokemon. Perhaps fortunately for him, she spoke first.
"Hey there."
"Oh, uh… hi. I saw that this seat was open so I thought it would be a good place to sit. I'm kinda new here."
She smiled. "I had a feeling. I probably would've remembered seeing a Solgaleo here last year."
"Not your first year, huh?"
"...I'm actually a sophomore. I came in halfway through the school year for my freshman year, so I have to take a few extra classes that I didn't finish over the summer. All I have left is Unovian History I."
"Oh, right. Well uh… I'm uh…" Richard wanted to greet himself, but it was hard to find the right words.
The Lunala simply extended her hand. "I'm Elizabeth. Pleasure to meet you."
Richard got a bit of confidence back to finally introduce himself. "Sorry for not saying this earlier. I'm Richard. P-Pleased to meet you too, Elizabeth."
The two were interrupted as the teacher, a portly Stoutland, finally came in, huffing and panting a bit as if he had just been in a run.
"Ohh… My… I apologize, class. Some ruffian punctured my car's tires this morning, so it was a rush to get back over here with a new set. Let me take attendance quickly and then we'll start."
As the class began, Elizabeth passed Richard a note that the Solgaleo discreetly took. Opening it, he read the note.
"Meet me outside in the plaza before lunch period."
Richard blushed more as he read it, but tucked the note away in his pocket, planning to meet with her just as she had hoped.
"So, how was your first class? Mr. Yoshen isn't a real hardball of a teacher, from my own experience."
Dave had caught up with Richard after Richard's first class, having a couple minutes in the halls before their next classes.
"Huh? Oh, the Stoutland? Yeah, he was alright…"
Richard trailed off as his mind seemed to zone out, thinking of that lovely…
"Yo. Richard. Don't zone out on me." the Zangoose brought the Solgaleo back to reality, snapping his fingers. "Either you have a very weird infatuation with Mr. Yoshen or there's something else going through your head…"
"Huh? Oh uh… sorry. It's just that… I met this lovely Lunala girl and…"
"Whoa, buddy. Let me stop you right there. A Lunala girl. Only one student in this entire school matches that description, and that's Elizabeth Bathorn."
"Yeah, that was her name. Elizabeth." Richard nodded.
"Well, as a friend, let me just tell you… be careful." Dave warned.
"...Huh?"
"There's nothing wrong with Elizabeth herself, but there's this weird… girl posse that's been strangely protective of her ever since she moved here. A Crobat chick, a Swoobat chick, and a Noivern chick. Kylie, Brittany, and Stephanie. Guess what they have in common.
"Uhh… bats?"
"Yep. I have no idea why, but those three rip apart any guy that they don't approve of with her. Which is… well, everybody so far."
"Is Elizabeth part of this posse?" Richard asked with caution.
Dave shook his head. "Not to my knowledge. If anything, she seems to resent the three, but they keep saying that they 'only want the best for her'." he mocked with air-quotes.
"They don't sound that dangerous." Richard commented.
"You'd think that they aren't, but Stephanie sent the last guy she tried to get involved with to the hospital with a Boomburst. Whole school heard it. Think he lost his hearing, too. Point is… be careful."
Richard certainly looked more nervous now… though he attempted to calm himself. He was strong. If things got out of hand, he could take them on. He nodded towards Dave.
"I gotcha, Dave. I'll see you later, alright?"
"Best of luck, dude."
The two went their separate ways, heading for their second classes with Richard still quite eagerly waiting until lunch…
"So, what do you think, girls?"
The trio of bat girls sat a distance away from the Solgaleo that had come up to a familiar Lunala. Stephanie the Noivern had spoken, and her 'posse' observed the two other Pokemon come together.
"Well, I guess he's a step-up from that icky Golurk that our sacred Lunala tried to befriend. How utterly nauseating, a living golem! He's better off deaf in the hospital anyways." Kylie the Crobat said with a snooty haughtiness in her voice. "Still, he's not a bat. She still deserves better."
Brittany the Swoobat had hearts in her eyes to match her nose, staring at the muscled Solgaleo, almost drooling. "What a gorgeous hunk-muffin…~"
"BRITTANY!" the other two bat girls scolded her.
Her wings drooped down and she broke out of her love-obsessed trance. "Y-Yes, girls. Sorry."
Stephanie the Noivern finally spoke up again. "He's not a bat. I don't care if he's the big, bad Arceus. Our precious Lizzie will NOT be dating anybody else. She MUST have a bat. Only the best for her."
As Richard and Elizabeth started to talk, the trio of bat girls came over. Elizabeth eyed them coming from a mile away.
"Urgh, can you girls just leave me alone?" she groaned, now facing them as they came over.
"Oh, but Lizzie, you ONLY deserve the best.~" Stephanie smiled.
Elizabeth growled a rather deep and somewhat unnerving growl. "I told you not to call me Lizzie. Can't you girls just skedaddle and find someone else's social life to ruin?!"
Richard had observed the trio of bat girls as Elizabeth and Stephanie argued. That Noivern seemed to be the ringleader of the group, and he had also observed Kylie looking at him with disgust and disdain… while Brittany seemed to be doing everything in her power to not steal Richard for herself with hearts appearing in her eyes once more.
Kylie came up to Richard… throwing poison spit in his face!
"Hey!" he exclaimed, trying to wipe off the burning saliva. "What the hell was that for?!"
"You don't deserve Lizzie. You never will." Kylie spoke condescendingly.
"And who said you three get to make that choice for me?! I'm sick of this! Your stupid excuses that you 'only want the best for me'. It's bullshit, I'll tell you that right now! You just want me to date a bat! It's that petty, isn't it?" Elizabeth damn near exploded at the trio of bat girls, only a hair away from vaporizing them with a Moongeist Beam.
"...Because bats are superior. You should know that, Lizzie. A bat only deserves another bat. THAT is why we want the best for you." Stephanie finally spoke again.
Richard was agast. How could three bat girls be so incredibly species-ist… this had to be the pettiest thing he's ever witnessed, too. Like they couldn't bare to see their precious Lunala date a non-bat. Richard would have started telling them off, though Elizabeth beat him to the punch.
"OK! Fine! Screw this! I'm not playing nice anymore!" Elizabeth spread open her wings, the inside of them glowing with a Moongeist Beam clearly charging.
The girls got the hint, and scrambled like their lives depended on it. Which it probably did.
"You try this again, and you'll be wiped off the face of the planet!" she screamed as they fled. Elizabeth growled again, now cancelling the attack since they had run off. After a moment, she sighed.
"That has to be the first time I ever threatened anybody…"
"They deserved it." Richard said bluntly.
"...Huh?"
"If those three are going to be so petty as to hate anybody that's not a bat, yet force their viewpoint onto you and interfere with your own life… I think you have every right to wipe them off the face of the planet."
"...Heh, thanks." Elizabeth smiled a bit. "They've done this ever since I came to this school, and they sent the last guy to the hospital just for showing interest in me."
"So I've heard." the Solgaleo commented, checking the clock. "Unfortunately, lunch seems to be almost over now."
Elizabeth sighed. "Drat. You want to meet up after school, then?"
"Where?"
"Your place. My house is kinda being remodelled right now, huge mess."
"Uhh… heh heh. I'm not against it, but… kinda bold, don't you think?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "I like bold.~"
"Uhh… all right, then! My place!"
It was after school hours now, with the two Legendary Pokemon walking towards Richard's house after being dropped off.
"...Kinda hope Mom and Dad don't get too excited over the fact that I'm bringing a girl over after the first day of school." Richard confessed.
"What, you something of a playboy?" Elizabeth lightly joked.
"Not really, just uhh… don't be too surprised when you see my parents." he said, knocking the door.
"Come on in, son! Door's unlocked!" he heard his father's voice holler, seemingly too occupied with something to get to the door. Richard went ahead and opened it, revealing a rather cozy home inside.
Elizabeth's eyes darted over to the TV, which was switched onto a football game as the occupant of the chair watching it was hidden… until he turned himself around to reveal that it was not a Solgaleo or Lunala, but rather… a Nidoking?
"So, how was your first day of…?"
Pierce the Nidoking had his eyes widened as he saw the Lunala girl that his son had brought home. She seemed almost equally surprised that Richard's father was a Nidoking.
"Oh um uh… you brought a girl over!" Pierce laughed awkwardly, quickly shutting off the TV. "You should've called or something in advance, son!"
"Well, you must be Richard's father, then. I must admit, I would not… expect a Nidoking to father a Solgaleo. Pleased to meet you, I'm Elizabeth."
She presented herself courteously to his father, polite and well-mannered.
Pierce got a playful grin on his face. "A girlfriend on the first day of school? Didn't know you were such a playboy, Richard.~"
Richard groaned in embarrassment, trying to ignore his dad's teasing.
"Oh, is Richard home?" came a female voice, heading towards the living room area as well. "I'd love to hear all about…"
The Nidoqueen's voice came to a stop as well as she saw Elizabeth, with Elizabeth certainly more surprised than with Richard's father. It became very clear now that Richard was adopted…
"Oh, uh… I'm sorry, I didn't know our son was bringing a guest over. I would've tidied up otherwise." the Nidoqueen apologized. "I'm Marissa, and that Nidoking is my husband, Pierce."
Elizabeth muttered a bit. "So, you're adopted."
"...Do you have to be so blunt about it?" Richard sighed, looking saddened.
"Oh! No, no no! I didn't mean that in a bad way! I was just surprised is all! It's… just not every day an average couple adopts a Legendary Pokemon!" Elizabeth blushed, already feeling guilty over her choice of words.
"No, I understand your surprise." Richard said. "I just… it's kind of a long and painful story and I'd prefer not to recount it right now."
Elizabeth went silent. Seemed that Richard didn't have the best history. Maybe something happened before he was adopted… but she wasn't going to press on it.
"Right, so uh… what did you want to do?"
"You're the one that suggested we come over here, remember?" Richard lightly chuckled.
"...I guess we could work on some of our homework, then?" Elizabeth suggested, taking her tools out of her backpack.
"Yeah, good idea."
What had started as a simple invitation turned into something more. Both the Solgaleo and Lunala had started to see each other more often… meet up for lunch… hang out at the town's local park… and just talk about life. Admittedly, they were mostly casual conversations, but they had become pretty good friends over a month or two… but after three months of just being friends, Richard had asked Elizabeth out on a first date… and she had accepted. Richard was waiting at the park that they usually hung out at, having packed picnic dinners for himself and Elizabeth.
There was a number of things that Richard still hadn't told her. His abusive biological family, his rubbermancy powers… being his sister's personal rape toy…
OK, so maybe he didn't have to tell her about the rape yet. Bit extreme for a first date. Being honest with the rubbermancy would be weirder perhaps, but certainly easier. Though that nervousness came back up as he saw her come up the pathway leading from the suburbs to the park.
"Hey, Richard! You brought the goods?" she smiled, running up to him.
Richard chuckled a bit at that, loosening up slightly. "I'm not an illegal Rare Candy dealer, Elizabeth. But yeah, lunches are packed and all. My mother said she slipped an extra something in there, but I promised her not to look until we unpacked them together."
That got Elizabeth pondering a bit. "What do they make those things out of, anyways? Aside from the candy part, obviously."
"Usually some kind of steroid or performance-enhancing drug. Not the legal ones like Carbos and Zinc. I dunno the exact ingredients for illegal variants of Rare Candy, that's not exactly what I'm studying." Richard chuckled. "What, you think my mother would pack that?"
"An illegal one, of course not." Elizabeth smirked, digging through her basket. "Though the legal variant is hard to get a hold of, so people often turn to the illegal… you've got to be kidding."
"What?"
"Check your pack."
Richard indeed looked into the pack, checking to see what was tucked at the bottom. Right there in his hands was a small tab of candy, legitimately labeled "Rare Candy". It was the real thing.
"Your mother spoils you." Elizabeth laughed, taking a munch out of her Rare Candy.
"Yeah… not really going to deny it." Richard agreed, munching on his own. "Damn, these are tasty!"
"Well, they are 'Rare'."
"And I start to see why people pay ridiculous prices to import the legal ones."
"That DOES bring up the question of how your mother has these, admittedly."
Richard knew the answer to Elizabeth's pondering. "To be honest, my uhh… previous biological family was pretty loaded on Rare Candies. I just… inherited them."
This was when it occurred to Elizabeth that she knew very little about Richard's biological family. "What happened to…?"
She stopped herself. Remembering how pained Richard's face was the first time she tried to ask, she immediately shut her mouth, beating herself up internally for being so insensitive.
"...I have to tell you at some point. Maybe not all the finer details, but… at least some of it."
"No, I shouldn't have brought it…"
"Please let me tell you, Elizabeth."
Silence. Then… the Lunala nodded, listening to the Solgaleo.
"...My biological family was… abusive. I used to live a rich lifestyle with them back in Ultra Space in my younger years, but my biological mother, father and sister all treated me poorly. I guess after being constantly called useless… insulted… not living up to impossible expectations... I started to believe it was true. But I eventually ran away from home. I left Ultra Space and just ran and ran and ran until I couldn't run anymore. I… met my real mom and dad that way when I woke up in their house and I was told I had collapsed. I'll spare a bunch of extra details for now, but long story short, I was adopted by them after my biological family was proven to be abusive in a court of law."
Elizabeth was silent after Richard finished speaking. He was in tears, obviously having a hard time telling this to her. After an awkward moment, she finally spoke up. "Richard, I had no idea…"
"It had to come out eventually." he said, drying up his watery tears. "Just… I'd prefer not to think about that. Let's focus on the here and the now."
Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah, let's get into this delicious-"
"I knew you weren't good for Lizzie."
The Solgaleo's eyes went wide as the Lunala's eyes narrowed in annoyance and irritation. Coming up to them were those three familiar bat girls that didn't seem to know when to quit. It was Stephanie that had spoken.
"Are you really going to believe such BS, Lizzie? He's clearly just lying to make himself look like the big strong hero." Kylie snarled, glaring at Richard again.
"How absolutely low. Lying to someone just to look totally blameless and be little Mr. Perfect." Stephanie agreed.
Elizabeth was startled to hear this from the trio after a clearly emotional confession by Richard, but the Solgaleo was the first to react.
"SHUT UP!"
The entire trio looked at Richard, who looked absolutely furious… and his hands glowing black. "You can insult me all you like, but you don't just get to call my actual experiences 'BS that I just made up'! Or do you just say that because I'm not a damn bat?!"
Kylie seemed a bit nervous when she noticed Richard's hands glowing black, but Stephanie didn't back down. "Yeah, I'm calling your bluff." she smirked. "Next, you're going to pull some 'oh, and I was raped by my sister, feel awful for me' kind of crap."
Richard screamed out like he didn't before, making Elizabeth feel somewhat fortunate that they were in a secluded area of the park. Richard thrust out his hands, with… a black gooey liquid coming from them?!
All three were caught off-guard, getting trapped by the gooey blob Richard shot and encasing them into a inflated sticky puddle on the ground. The rubbery substance went on to the mouths of the girls, rendering them unable to scream out for help… but otherwise safe as they struggled there.
After that moment of rage, Richard caught his breath… realizing what he had just done. "Oh… oh crap, oh crap… I-I didn't meant to do that."
Elizabeth tried to speak. "Richard…"
"I know, I'm sort of a freak. I-I just d-didn't…"
"Rich-"
"I'm sorry, I should go. I never should've tried to…"
"RICHARD!"
The Solgaleo stopped his babbling, looking at Elizabeth. "H-Huh…?"
She smiled genuinely. "Thank you."
Richard wasn't quite processing all of this. Elizabeth could tell it wasn't sinking in either, so she further elaborated.
"Honestly, I'm… just so sick and tired of them at this point, too." Elizabeth said, leading Richard off back over to the suburbs. "And well… I have a feeling they won't bother us anymore."
"You… don't think it's weird or anything?" Richard wondered.
"Well yeah… I guess it's weird."
Richard started to look down at his feet in disappointment.
"...But I like weird."
Richard… after quite a while of feeling like a nervous wreck… he finally smiled again to Elizabeth. "Well. Uh… thank you. Is this like a… boyfriend and girlfriend thing?"
"You could consider it official now. Besides…" she slyly smirked. "Something tells me that could be a VERY fun power for the two of us."
Richard seemed confused. "Fun?"
"Well… if we're boyfriend and girlfriend now, I think I should show you.~"
One wouldn't have known it at first, but it was Elizabeth that had introduced Richard into the world of kink. Not only was it a chance for very fun activities with Elizabeth, but it gave Richard a healthy (if unusual) outlet for his rubbermancy. At first, Richard had worried if things would descend into crude debauchery like with his sister, but the fact that this only went as far as he wanted it to go… the very idea of Safe, Sane, Consensual… it was very reassuring to Richard, especially with Elizabeth showing him the ropes.
Ever since that day at the park, these meet-ups at a movie or a restaurant or even a bondage club were how the two spent their time. Richard never even seemed to give any other lady a second thought, while Elizabeth seemed to only have eyes for Richard. The meetings over the days turned to weeks, months, and even years… until Elizabeth had graduated college and Richard was on his final year.
"...You think she'll say yes?"
Richard was a few weeks away from graduation at college, right before finals. He held a small box in his hand, looking it over as he looked to his parents. He had made arrangements to move out to a new house after graduation, figuring that the money that was once his biological parents' might go somewhere useful.
An older Nidoking and Nidoqueen looked at the adult Solgaleo with smiles on their faces. They were worn and wrinkled, but full of love for their child. Richard likewise saw them not as foster or adoptive parents. He saw them as his true parents.
"I don't think she will. I know she will." the Nidoqueen nodded, having packed a special dinner for Richard and Elizabeth… perhaps for the last time.
The Nidoking spoke up. "Richard… I'd just like to say something. I know you and Elizabeth are going to get married and have a wonderful marriage. All I ask is that you visit us from time to time."
Richard chuckled, taking the lunches. "Dad, I'm still not leaving for a few weeks. Don't get all sentimental yet."
"Regardless… she will say yes. I know it, son. Now get out there and have the time of your life. You've got a lot ahead of you."
The two had not opted for anything fancy this time. No movie, no restaurant, no bondage even. Rather… the two had driven out into Undella Town's countryside, where they could get a beautiful view of the night-time moon reflecting on the waters of Undella Bay. The two unpacked their lunches and looked at their view.
"It's beautiful tonight, isn't it Elizabeth?" Richard smiled.
"The chill of the night… the moonlight softly lighting up the woods around us… the waves of Undella Bay… it's not just beautiful… it's perfect."
Richard felt the box holding the ring. He had to make this special. Not just any old proposal. Something memorable.
"Elizabeth?" Richard asked… kneeling down like a gentleman. He pulled out a box.
Elizabeth knew exactly where this was going to lead, but let it play out. But to her surprise, Richard had already opened the box. And… he started to sing softly.
"Moon river… wider than a mile… I'm crossing you in style… someday…"
Elizabeth was silent. But… she knew this song. She and Richard had listened to this before on previous dates. She took the ring out of the box, holding it… and continuing the song.
"Oh dreammaker… you heartbreaker… wherever you're going, I'm going your way…"
As Elizabeth let Richard put the ring onto her fingers… both of them now sang, staring into each other's eyes.
"Two drifters… off to see the world… there's such a lot of world to see…"
"We're after the same… rainbow's end… waiting 'round the bend… my huckleberry friend."
"Moon river… and… me.~"
Richard smiled fondly as he remembered those memories. Elizabeth has been nothing but faithful and compassionate, and Richard couldn't ask for more than Elizabeth had already given. He chuckled, still seeing Elizabeth asleep next to him as dawn began to break.
6:55am. The night had passed by so quickly. He figured that he should probably get ready for work.
As he started to dress himself, his phone rang. Taking a peek at the number, he didn't recognize it (nor did Caller ID reveal anything). Nevertheless, he felt like he should answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, my favorite little brother! It's me, your favorite big sister!"
Richard went silent as the phone hit the floor.
Pokemon © Nintendo / Game Freak
Cliffhanger! Yeah, that's mean but oh well.
Man, I was really hanging onto this one in the back for a long while. Finally finished it up after my brain nagged itself at me for long enough. This'll definitely lead into something else later on, but I thought it should be pretty good for now, and for all of you to get a glimpse into Richard's past.
As always, review/comment if you please.