Diary of Trainer Seth

by MinnieSchiffer

Seth Rhines, unlike his father Norman, was not a trainer, and instead held a passion for exploration. Yet, not long after arriving in Hoenn, he received his first Pokémon, and together the two of them set out to explore the region, having many a sexual adventure along the way! Rated M for lots of sex both gay and straight. You have been warned.

20. Lavaridge Town - Celebration

The midday sun rose high above the peak of Mt. Chimney, bathing the tortured rock with its warm golden glow. The summit was awash with activity immediately following the end of the tumultuous battle between the villainous Team Magma and the allied force consisting of Team Aqua, the Fallarbor police, and several gym leaders.

After the remaining members of Team Magma had surrendered, the paramedics were quick to arrive, flying in via medical helicopters, flying pokémon, and ambulances to treat the numerous injured on both sides. Next to arrive were the local Lavaridge police force, who set about arresting those of Team Magma who could still move and loading them into patrol cars.

The presence of so much law enforcement served to unnerve the members of Team Aqua, but Winona's presence and leadership served to smooth over the tensions between them. She'd had the foresight to inform Chief Greer of their arrangement with Team Aqua so news of their pardon could be circulated among the various police precincts.

While Winona was occupied with giving the police a debrief, Roxanne and Archie assisted the paramedics in locating and prioritizing the injured, while Brawly worked with Shelly and the SAT team to search for any members of Team Magma that had escaped.

All the while, morale was high among their number. Mt. Chimney had fallen silent once more, the machine that had once threatened its eruption now turned to molten slag at the bottom of the crater. Despite Maxie's escape, the battle of Mt. Chimney had ended in victory both for the allied forces and the region as a whole.

---

Seth woke nearly a full day later to find himself in a hospital bed with an IV drip attached to his arm. He winced, becoming acutely aware of just how injured he'd been. He was swathed in bandages and gauze that covered the variety of burns, scrapes, and abrasions he'd collected over the course of the battle, but they didn't hurt as much as before. He chalked that up to the expert care of the hospital staff.

He vaguely remembered collapsing with Kyra in his arms once the adrenaline had left him. Seth looked around for her frantically, only to find her nestled up against his side in the bed with him, fast asleep, her soft breathing gently tickling his side. Seth smiled softly, moving his free hand to rest on her head, stroking her hair lovingly.

His other pokémon were contained securely within their pokéballs, which lay on the counter to the right of his bed along with the remainder of his belongings, which included everything he'd left at the Mt. Chimney outpost. At the front of the room was a pokémon that was a common sight in any medical facility: a Chansey. It appeared to be monitoring a computer screen in front of it, upon which a detailed set of esoteric diagnostics were displayed. The moment Seth began to move, the Chansey paused and turned over to look, flashing him the smile the species was known for. It trilled happily and tapped a button on the wall nearby. A few minutes later, an elderly nurse entered the room.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Rhines. I'm glad to see you're awake," the nurse greeted him politely. She crossed the room and moved to his left side, where after giving him a brief warning, she removed the IV from him. "How are you feeling?"

It took him a moment to recognize he was being talked to. "I-I'm okay," Seth answered hollowly, the words coming to him with some difficulty. He moved various parts of his body tentatively. His muscles were sore, his limbs ached, and splotches of his skin felt uncomfortable or raw, but overall he was in much better shape than he expected. "How bad was it?"

"You were in bad shape when we brought you in. You had first and second-degree burns all over your body, and that's not even counting the scrapes and rock splinters." Seth winced as the nurse confirmed his injuries. "But you can chalk up your current state to our doctors and medical pokémon. Like little Nurse Chansey here. Once we had all the splinters out, she took care of the rest."

"Thanks. Where are we?" Seth questioned. Kyra stirred by his side at the sound of his voice, her eyes slowly opening.

"You're at a hospital in Lavaridge Town. After that mess up on Mt. Chimney, you were brought here by the Sky Queen herself. You have some important friends, Mr. Rhines," the nurse related. He then felt a rush of relief and happiness coming from Kyra, who was now sitting up and gazing up at him. The nurse watched the display with a smile. "You have a lovely pokémon there. She'd only let herself be treated if she could stay with you."

Seth barely registered her words. After meeting Kyra's gaze and taking in her features, he broke and embraced her tightly. He held her close, his mind flashing back to the events on Mt. Chimney. An immense wave of emotion crashed over him so intensely that he shook with a quiet sob, the man incapable of and unwilling to let go of Kyra. Just seeing her and feeling her emotions had broken down the floodgates in his mind. So many emotions passed through him; relief at his and his pokémon's survival, rage that Maxie had escaped, and regret that he'd forced his pokémon to go through such a terrible ordeal in the first place.

"I'll go let the others know you're awake," The nurse told him with an empathetic expression, and then she retreated from the room.

Seth didn't know how long he sat there, embracing his pokémon. Kyra pressed herself up against him, emitting soft hums and sending constant waves of gentle reassurance across to him via their mental link. When he at least released her, he gazed into Kyra's eyes, seeing nothing but love and comfort in those crimson orbs.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Seth choked out. The events on the mountain had been an ash-ridden nightmare that had almost resulted in the deaths of thousands, but it was all over now. Yet he couldn't help but think of how close they'd come to failing. "I never want to put any of you through something like that ever again. Ever."

Kyra gave a shrug, a feeling of self-assured indifference radiating from her small white form, as if she were trying to tell him it was no big deal. Despite that, Seth could detect a hint of frustration from her.

"Are you frustrated with me?" Seth asked her hesitantly. Kyra shook her head instantly, then pointed to herself. "With yourself? Kyra, you did everything you could. You were awesome up there. You all were."

Kyra put on a stubborn pout, crossing her arms. Seth instantly realized what she was trying to say. "You wanted to win." Seth deduced, his voice colored with disbelief. Kyra nodded. Despite himself, Seth let out a wry chuckle. "We went through hell and helped save the entire region from destruction, and you're just upset because you couldn't handle Maxie's pokémon by yourself." Kyra began to feel indignant at his tone. Seth poked the side of her head. "You battle-obsessed dork. What am I going to do with you?"

As Kyra nipped at his hand playfully, the door opened once again to admit Roxanne. The woman looked somewhat worse for wear herself; Seth could see gauze bandages obscured beneath her simple hospital clothes and her hair was loose, rather than organized into her signature dual braids. She watched Seth playing with Kyra with a relieved smile. "You appear to be doing well for yourself," she observed. "How are you feeling?"

"Roxanne!" Seth looked up from Kyra and sat up, propping his back up with spare pillows. "My head is still spinning, but never mind me, how did everything turn out? Is everyone okay?"

"Honestly, Seth. At least take a moment to allow one to worry after you," Roxanne chided him with a knowing shake of her head. "To answer your question, everyone has recovered nicely. We did well; no one sustained any permanent injuries. Winona is currently in a meeting with officials from the HGL, Brawly is training at the gym, and Flannery is preparing for the celebration to come."

"Celebration? Like a party?" Seth asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"But of course. Regardless of the circumstances, we achieved a decisive victory against Team Magma atop the mountain. It is only natural that we should celebrate such an outcome," Roxanne clarified. "It was originally Archie's idea, but Flannery agreed, so she's in the process of reserving the upper levels of the Redwater Hot Springs for private use."

"I like the sound of that. I've never visited hot springs before." Feeling somewhat unsteady, Seth climbed out of bed. He stumbled and almost fell, but Kyra caught and corrected his balance with her telekinesis. His legs felt weak, but the more he used them, the better they felt.

Now that Seth was on his feet, Roxanne walked up to him and hugged him gently. "I'm glad you're alright. I'm terribly sorry I couldn't be there to assist you against Maxie. I tried to reach you, but Courtney was a truly formidable opponent, even for Flannery and myself."

Seth reciprocated her embrace, her familiar scent washing over him. "You don't need to be sorry. If Courtney had been free to join Maxie, none of us would be here right now." He shuddered as he said that. "I'm still coming to terms with just how close to death we were. If it weren't for Archie…"

"It was a close call, to be sure, but you did what needed to be done." Roxanne pulled back somewhat, her arms wrapped around his neck. "I heard what you did. The way you outwitted Maxie was truly ingenious; I always knew there was something special about you, even back when I first met you."

"I don't know if I'd go quite that fa-mmff!" Seth cut off when Roxanne leaned in for a long kiss, catching him off guard. He blushed beneath her sudden affection but didn't fight it, his mind flashing back to the time they'd spent together back at the Rustboro hotel. Unfortunately for him, as he was wearing little more than a hospital gown, it was easy for Roxanne to notice his arousal. "Roxanne, I-"

Roxanne's lips curved into a knowing smile, a mischievous glint entering her eyes. "You naughty boy. Do I really affect you this much?" Her right hand traced up his legs to his crotch, where she briefly ran her fingertips along his growing length, causing him to flush deeply and shudder. Much to his disappointment, she withdrew, looking regretful. "I apologize; I shouldn't tease. There will be plenty of time for such debauchery during the celebration. More importantly, there was another reason I came to see you. It concerns the pokémon captured by Team Magma."

That got Seth's attention. "Did you find them?" He asked anxiously.

"Indeed. It's unclear what Team Magma desired of them, but they were being loaded onto trucks on the northern end of the summit. Once it was safe to do so, Archie and Winona defeated the grunts guarding them and released them back into the wild. I thought you might like to know, given your expressed interest," Roxanne revealed.

"You were right. Thank you. It's time for me to fulfill a promise to one of my pokémon," Seth asserted. "When is the party?"

"You have a couple of days. There's much to be done; the venue needs to be cleared, entertainment needs to be procured, and invitations need to be sent. Feel free to take care of any business you have," Roxanne answered. "I'll keep you updated via PokéNav as to our progress."

"Thank you. In that case, I'll leave as soon as the hospital clears me," Seth asserts. "Can you let the others know I'm okay?"

"Certainly. Take care, and I'll see you soon." With one last kiss, Roxanne retreats from the room. Seth watches her go, and then located his belongings and began to get dressed.

---

After handling some minor paperwork, Seth departed from the hospital. He hailed a taxi and rode it to the cable car station, which was once again back in operation, carrying visitors to and from the summit. A surreal sensation fell over him when he walked into the station to see it bustling with activity. The complementary souvenir shops and cafes were open and in business, the scent of cinnamon drifting over the air. The waiting area was filled to the brim with people waiting for their turn to purchase tickets or get on the next cable car. It was such a stark contrast to what he'd experienced the last time he was here.

After purchasing a couple of cinnamon buns for himself and Kyra, Seth got in line with everyone else and waited for half an hour before he finally reached the ticket kiosk. There, a woman behind the counter looked up at his approach. "Greetings, sir. Will this be a one-way or a round trip?"

"Round trip, please."

The woman tapped a few buttons on her keyboard. "Very well. What name should I put on the ticket?"

"Seth Rhines."

The woman paused in shock upon hearing that. "Seth? You don't mean the same Seth that cleared out Team Magma for us?"

"I…" Seth blanched, wondering just how far word had spread already. He prayed to anyone who'd listen that his participation in the battle didn't make the news, or he'd have a lot of explaining to do to his family. "I suppose I did have a hand in that, yes."

The woman tapped a button and handed him his ticket. "Consider this on the house then."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." The woman looked at him with an earnest expression. "So many of us were out of work for weeks because of them; I wouldn't even dream of making you pay for this."

"Oh…I appreciate it. Thank you."

"No, thank you."

---

With his free ticket in hand, Seth boarded the cable car along with a score and a half of other people. This would be his first time riding it, so with Kyra's subtle help, he made sure to grab a spot by the window where he could look out at the view below. He made it just in time for the cable car to hum to life and depart from the station.

"Whoa…" He did not regret it. The view was absolutely spectacular. He could see all the way down the forested foothills of Mt. Chimney to Golden Peak in Mauville City to the cycling path just north of Slateport City. He was so awestruck by the sheer beauty of the view that he couldn't help but snap a picture.

When Seth arrived at the Mt. Chimney outpost, he disembarked from the cable car and made his way into the street. It looked to still be in the process of reorganizing and repopulating after it was used as a staging area by the allied forces; not all of the shops had reopened and volunteers were still rearranging the information center back to the way it used to be.

Moving on, Seth left the outpost and then turned off the path, retracing his steps to an obscure and treacherous path that led along the mountainside to a battered and secluded clearing. In stark contrast to his previous visit, the clearing was no longer unoccupied.

A collection of thirteen Vulpix could be seen either frolicking together happily in the center of the clearing or snuggling together in the dens. Watching over them was the elegant form of a Ninetales, a very rare and powerful pokémon with nine flowing tails on which many legends were made. The moment Seth stepped into view, the Vulpix bolted in every direction, hiding in any crack and crevice they could find or hiding behind the Ninetales.

"Wait, you don't need to run! I'm just here to…" Before Seth could finish his sentence, his eyes crossed with the Ninetales's, and he found himself transfixed. He wasn't restrained in any way, but he could feel his will to move draining away from him. Its eyes narrowed, and then an aura of intense flame formed around its body. Seth broke into a sweat as the pokémon opened its mouth, an orb of fire appearing between its jaws.

Seth realized he was seconds away from being seriously injured or killed. Yet moving even his smallest finger took immense effort; he couldn't look away from Ninetales's paralyzing eyes. With a cry, Ninetales unleashed a blistering torrent of fire from its jaws that washed over the clearing like a flood.

Glowing with psychic power, Kyra appeared in front of Seth and brought her tiny fingers together, forming a barrier just in time to redirect the flame away from her trainer. Then, she lifted a rock to Seth's eyes, breaking the line of sight to the Ninetales. Just like that, Seth felt his will return to him.

"Thanks, Kyra." Seth reached down to his belt and grasped Summer's pokéball. He berated himself for thinking that he'd be able to approach them unscathed; Team Magma likely destroyed any trust they had in humans. Rather than waste his breath on words, he released Summer into the clearing and then retreated several paces.

Summer caught sight of the Ninetales and squeaked with happiness. Upon hearing her voice, the Ninetales ceased breathing flames, its eyes widening with surprise. Summer broke into a run and then leaped at the Ninetales, brushing her head up against its fluffy chest lovingly. The Ninetales crooned happily and curled two of its tails around Summer before leaning its head down to lick her head affectionately. Other Vulpix poked their heads out from their hiding places. Some of the braver ones made their way to Summer to shower her with relieved affection as well.

The Ninetales looked back to Seth, yet this time its eyes did not hypnotize him. After a few long moments, it nodded slowly, acknowledging the intent behind his gesture. Seth let out a small sigh of relief, but he didn't try to get any closer.

"Summer," Seth called out to his former pokémon. Summer looked up from Ninetales's fur. "I promised I'd get you home to your family, whatever it took. I knew it was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but I'm sad to see it end nonetheless. You were a member of my team and a friend who stood with me even when things went to hell. I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me." Summer watched him with soulful eyes as she listened, while the Ninetales gazed at him with scrutiny. Seth took a breath, trying not to get choked up. He turned slightly and lifted a hand in farewell. "I guess this is goodbye. Take care of yourself, okay? And thanks again…for everything."

Summer nodded, her ears drooping somewhat. Seth couldn't bear to look any longer; his eyes were beginning to sting with forming tears. He placed Summer's pokéball on the ground and then gave one last wave before heading back towards the entrance to the clearing. Like before, he made his way back to the main road via the treacherous mountain path.

Kyra looked up at him as they walked with a gentle expression. One of her arms moved up to rest on his leg, honest concern emanating from her small frame. Seth smiled sadly, sniffling somewhat. "I'll be alright, Kyra. I always knew this was going to happen one day. It's just…I'm gonna miss her." Kyra hummed understandingly. Seth stumbled slightly when she suddenly teleported up to him and hugged his neck, her legs hanging down his back. "Heh…you're too good to me, Kyra."

---

On his way back to the outpost, Seth was accosted by a traveling trainer who had heard of the reopening of the cable car and was on their way to challenge Flannery. He was soon dragged into battle, which turned out to be a nice change of pace from the high-stakes battles he'd been thrust into. He was no challenge for Kyra, but he did have several pokémon, so he was held up for almost an hour.

As the battle came to a close, Kyra was facing off against the trainer's best pokémon, a speedy insectoid Ninjask, but it was nowhere near as strong or fast as May's Kotaro. Yet, during the thick of the battle, the trainer suddenly held up his hand.

"Wait! Time out a second!" he exclaimed, his eyes darting to something off behind Seth. Kyra and Ninjask stopped obediently, moments before Kyra was about to finish the fight. The trainer produced a pokéball from his pack. "Sorry about this, but I just spotted a rare pokémon just standing in the middle of the road. I can't let this chance pass by."

"Fair enough. I don't mind waiting for a little bit." Seth replied with a shrug. Out of curiosity, he turned his head to see what the trainer was looking at. His eyes widened in surprise as he beheld the two pokémon gazing at him a little way down the path. Panic entered his voice. "Wait, don't-!"

The trainer wound his arm back and skillfully threw his pokéball in a gentle overhead arc, heading directly for the larger of the two pokémon. While Seth was warning the two pokémon to run, Kyra leaped into action. She teleported as far into the air as she could muster and caught the flying pokéball with telekinesis just in time. Seth saw this happen and moved to catch her before she hit the ground, reaching her just in time.

"Hey, what gives!? Are you trying to take it from me or something? I saw it first; you can't have it!" The trainer protested angrily, already reaching for another pokéball. He suddenly realized he couldn't move his hand, the appendage clutched firmly in a deadly serious Kyra's telekinetic grip.

"These pokémon aren't for you to catch," Seth declared, his voice coming out with an edge in it. Ninjask attempted to rescue its trainer by swooping in at Kyra, only to find itself ensnared by her grip and dashed against the earth without her even turning to look at it.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" With the trainer thus constrained, Seth turned to view Ninetales and Summer, who stood together not far from him. He approached them slowly, cognizant of the Ninetales's gaze upon him.

Summer came to meet him, leaping forward at him. Seth reached out his arms to catch the happily squeaking Vulpix, who nuzzled up against his chest while licking at his face. "Summer!" Seth hugged her tightly, running his fingers through her pleasantly warm fur. After a few moments, he allowed her to leap back down, where she brushed up against his legs like a cat. "What are you two doing here? Is everything alright?"

Summer nodded and cooed happily. Seth was about to ask Kyra for help in translating her feelings, but then the Ninetales let out a soft bark to get his attention. Seth froze and looked at the Ninetales. It didn't take a genius to recognize the social status of the Ninetales in their little family unit, so he gave it his full attention and respect.

One of its tails unfurled and tossed something at him. Seth caught it out of reflex and opened his hand to see a pokéball. "Summer's pokéball?" He didn't have to understand their language to recognize the significance behind this gesture. His breath caught in his throat. He looked at Summer. "You…want to stay with me?"

Summer nodded, pawing at his leg. Seth could feel the tears forming in his eyes, his breath shaking with emotion. "What about your family? They're okay with this? You're okay with this?" Summer only cooed and bounced around from place to place excitedly. He glanced over at the Ninetales that was watching him in silence. Seth kneeled down to Summer's eye level. "I'd love to have you, but are you sure about this? We're taking the league challenge, so there'll be a lot of battling and training."

Summer's answer was to lick his face again. Seth melted and hugged her again, planting gentle kisses along her neck and upper body. "Thank you so much. I'd like nothing more than to continue traveling with you."

Satisfied, the Ninetales walked forward and gave Summer a parting nuzzle, and then transfixed Seth with a pointed stare. Like before, he froze, unable to look away. It emitted a barely audible growl. Seth couldn't understand it, but he felt he could piece together what it was trying to say. She's your responsibility now. Take care of her.

"Thank you for trusting me," Seth said to the Ninetales with a humble dip of his head. The Ninetales gave one last solemn nod before it departed, the fox cutting a regal figure as it padded away with its tails flowing in the air behind it. Seth wanted to snap a picture, but he resisted the urge; it already had enough trouble with Team Magma; the last thing it needed was more publicity. Instead, he settled on scanning it with his Pokédex quickly. He glanced at the entry and briefly skimmed through its description…only to go pale when he read exactly what mystical and terrifying feats Ninetales were capable of. With one wrong step, he could have ended up the target of a multi-generational curse.

"You done?" The unamused trainer butted in, his free hand tapping at his waist impatiently. Kyra smirked at him before releasing his other hand. He crossed his arms. "You know, you could have just said they belonged to you."

"You didn't give me a chance. You just threw a pokéball before I could say anything," Seth pointed out.

"Whatever." The trainer just rolled his eyes. He fished out his wallet to pick out the money he owed Seth for their battle. "By the way, you're an ass for holding back like that. Why'd you let me think I had a chance if you could knock my pokémon aside like that?"

"That's just a Kyra thing," Seth admitted helplessly, eyeing the Kirlia beside him that was now humming a whimsical tune while pretending to ignore them.

---

After accepting the money from the trainer, the two of them parted ways, with the trainer heading south to Mauville while he returned to Lavaridge via the Cable Car. There was still some time before the party, so he felt it was high time he engaged in his favorite pastime; exploring. Lavaridge was a new town for him and he had plenty to see and plenty to experience.

With Kyra on his shoulders, he set out into the town. It was smaller than most of the locations he'd visited; there were no skyscrapers or hulking hotels, only buildings of one to two stories at most. The architecture was an older style with white walls and resting hill-style roofs, helping Seth feel like he had stepped back into the distant past. The town itself was rather spread out and decently populated. The first thing Seth noticed was an increase in the number of people in their elder years. From an information center, he learned that this town was a popular retirement location due to the scenic residential areas and the numerous hot springs resorts for which the town was famous; it was rumored that the springs possessed healing properties.

He especially had to visit Lavaridge Shrine, which was one of the town's most notable landmarks. Seth stood at its gate, his breath taken away by the architectural beauty of the shrine. The gate alone was in a class of its own, consisting of a two-story structure made of wood and plaster with a hip-and-gable-style roof. It was the third largest of its type in the entirety of the country, not just Hoenn. He put on a smile; being in the presence of cultural architecture like this never failed to inspire a sense of wonder in him.

Unfortunately, much like Mauville Castle, it had been damaged in the earthquake that occurred several years ago, but the silver lining was that the repairs were nearly complete; the only area barred from tourists was the inner sanctum.

Excited, Seth walked through the gate, returning the polite greetings of the local staff as he did so. Inside, the grounds were made of gravel, while the walking paths were made of gray brick. He stopped by an informational stand and picked up a brochure to use as a map and guide, and then he slowly strolled the area, taking in the sights of the local culture. The first place he visited was the central offering hall. He couldn't go inside, but he could see through the open windows where several statues of archaic-looking pokémon could be seen. Two of them he recognized; Groudon and Kyogre. He couldn't help but view Groudon with a hint of animosity; it was partially that thing's fault everyone had to go through such hell atop the mountain. No one could go inside to pay their respects, but that didn't stop people from kneeling on the steps to the hall. Seth felt out of place, so he left them to their prayer.

Seth spent roughly an hour within the grounds of the shrine before taking his leave, feeling richer for the experience. He gazed back at the gates and the sanctum within. Even if he was unconvinced that pokémon of godlike power actually existed, he believed that experiencing the culture of those who believed was still a worthwhile experience. If there was anything he'd learned from his time in Hoenn, it's that pushing his boundaries and expanding his horizons was a good thing.

Following his departure from the shrine, Seth stopped at a cafe for some local food, as he had not eaten properly since the snack earlier in the day, and then he followed his map to the Lavaridge Gym, purely so he could see what it looked like. Standing in stark contrast to Mauville's eccentrically designed gym, Lavaridge Gym wasn't much different from the rest of the town in its architectural style. It was noticeably larger than the surrounding buildings; It was as wide as four houses and half as deep while rising three stories above the ground. It was isolated from the rest of the town by a white wall roughly five meters high complete with a roof and its own gate similar to but much less extravagant than the one at the shrine, topped with a stylized sculpture of a pokéball.

"Lavaridge Town Indoor Spa and Pokémon Gym," Seth read off of the sign nailed on the wall just to the right of the gate. "So even the gym is a hot spring resort? I wonder if we'll be using it for the party as well."

Seth decided against registering for a challenge just yet. He had a better idea of how to spend the rest of his time. He made his way to the largest outdoor hot spring resort; the Redwater Hot Springs Resort. As he neared it, he found that he'd drastically underestimated how large the place actually was. He felt it was an injustice to even refer to it as a resort; it felt as though he'd entered another town entirely.

He stood at the bottom of a covered path that wound its way up a series of raised cliffs, utilizing flights of stairs to make the most efficient use of limited space. Everywhere he looked, there were countless small inns, souvenir shops, and food stands, all situated strategically within walking distance of a hot spring, the steam from the crystal clear waters visible even above the rooftops. The hot springs were either out in the open for the use of paying customers or were located indoors in more private areas for clients with deeper pockets. The higher one went up the cliffs, the nicer and more extravagant the attractions became.

It was also one of the most populated areas of the city. People of all ages clad in bathing attire filled the resort, either lounging around in the various springs or walking to and from the various shops and food stands. At the entrance, Seth spotted a sign nailed to the wall just before the main area detailing the rules and etiquette of the resort. The rules were similar to those of the beach he'd visited, except somewhat more nuanced due to the family nature of the resort. Bathing suits were to be worn in all public areas and no sexual activity was allowed. There were some exceptions to the rule, such as public springs isolated from the rest by walls, where nudity was allowed, but there was still a minimum and maximum age limit for those areas. However, the rules made it clear that in the private upper levels, there were areas where these rules did not apply. For example, some areas would be meant for adults, others for family, others for the elderly, and other such cases so that everyone would feel accommodated based on their needs. Naturally, any entirely private springs reserved beforehand, none of these rules were in effect and could be used for whatever the customer wished. There was also a clause reminding everyone to stay hydrated and that there were complimentary drinks included in the cost of entry.

Seth went to purchase a ticket, but ended up repeating his experience with the cable car receptionist a while back—the moment he gave his name, he was waved in with a smile without even having to pay. He continued onwards. It was when he reached the upper and most decadent layers of the resort that he saw the way forward barred by members of the staff. The older man there held out a hand to get his attention. "Wait a minute, sir. I'm terribly sorry, but the upper levels are currently closed in preparation for an upcoming event," he informed him.

Seth opened his mouth to correct the misunderstanding, but he didn't get a chance. Just behind the gate, members of Team Aqua were milling about, hard at work setting up the area for the party. It didn't take long for one of them to notice him. "Yooo, Seth! How's it going, man?" The grunt set down the box he was carrying and came to the front gate. The staff member at the gate stiffened at the grunt's approach. The grunt just gave the man a sidelong glance. "Lay off him. He's with us."

"You're Seth?" The staff member asked with surprise. When Seth nodded, the man looked at him in awe. "You're the one who saved us, I hear. My apologies for holding you up. Go on ahead."

Seth thanked him awkwardly. He wondered if the entire town knew his name at this point. Once the man opened up the gate, Seth walked inside and was met by the grunt, who pulled him into a brief hug, slapping him on the back with an unprecedented camaraderie.

"Good to see you're in one piece. I can't believe you tricked Maxie! That's so badass, Seth!" the grunt expressed fervently with a grin and a look of admiration.

"Thanks…I was just doing what I had to do," Seth never thought he'd get a look like that directed towards him, much less from someone in Team Aqua. "More importantly, I have some spare time. Do you need any help setting up the party?"

"It sure as hell can't hurt. Let me show you to Archie. He and that gym leader has been working their asses off getting this place set up." The grunt beckoned to him and took Seth the rest of the way through the upper levels.

The upper levels were the most luxurious and also the most natural of the springs Seth had seen up until this point. The inns, shops, and stalls were exiled to the outer edges of the resort to give as much room as possible to a hot springs landscape that looked almost completely natural. There were multiple steaming springs separated by mild elevation yet all connected to one another by gentle waterfalls. The springs were surrounded by cherry blossom and palmate maple trees, mountain orchids, and other greenery planted in the stonework or in raised beds made of cobblestone. At the far end of the resort was the largest building labeled the Redwater Luxury House, which encompassed the largest and nicest of the hot springs, which despite their physical displacement still flowed into the open area via waterfalls and streams.

It felt like the entirety of Team Aqua was there to help out, with a smattering of resort staff mixed in among them. With Shelly there to lead them, they were surprisingly efficient, working together to set up tables and chairs in the open areas between the springs. In the largest open area, the beginnings of what appeared to be a stage were present, where Archie was working together with Flannery and more of his team on its construction. Roxanne was there as well, conversing with a smartly-dressed older gentleman with a clipboard in her hands.

"Hey, boss! I brought Seth!" The grunt called out with a wave of his hand. Archie paused and glanced down at them.

"Good to see you up and about, Seth!" Archie leaped down from the stage and approached Seth. He clapped him on the back with a grin spreading across his grizzled face. "You look no worse for wear! I should have known a few burns wouldn't keep you down for long!"

Flannery leaped down from the stage as well to join them. Before Seth could finish greeting her, she hugged him tightly, surprising him. "There you are! There's our hero!" She pulled back briefly, holding him by his shoulders. She flushed somewhat. "I'm gonna kiss you; that cool?"

"Huh?" Her words failed to register with him at first. "Oh." When it hit him half a second later, he wondered if he'd heard her correctly. Yet he could feel Kyra's encouragement, so he nodded shyly.

"Good. C'mere," Flannery pulled him in and kissed him firmly on the lips, one of her hands running through his silky hair. Her scent, a hint of sweetness flavored with cherry spice, flowed into his nostrils and her taste seeped into his mouth. He turned a shade of pink. The kiss was over in a few moments—much too soon for Seth. Flannery took a step back, somewhat flushed herself, yet she played it off well, putting on a pleased grin. "There. I feel better now."

"Hahaha! You seem quite taken with him, Flannery," Archie commented with a booming laugh.

"Do you blame me?" Flannery gave an unconcerned shrug and an unashamed smile. She looked back at Seth. "First time I met you, you were on your way to take on Team Magma alone for the sake of your pokémon. Talk about a good first impression. Then when you found out their plans, you brought us, the police, and Team Aqua together before taking on Maxie himself and making a fool out of him! You're a hell of a guy, Seth!"

"I…" Flannery's earnest expression and her eyes shining with admiration caused Seth's words to disappear. He didn't think he'd ever get used to someone looking at him like that. It didn't help that he was now hyper-aware of just how attractive Flannery actually was after the kiss she'd given him. The way her shirt framed her upper body and accentuated her chest, the way the hem was just high enough to show a hint of her midriff, and how tightly her jeans hugged her waist and butt…all of it caused a sexual desire to rise within him, causing Kyra to squeak softly with amusement when she inevitably sensed it. "I was just trying to…I mean I'm not…"

Flannery lightly punched his shoulder. "Hey, don't sweat it. Just had to put that out there. When the party starts, we'll share a drink. How's that sound?"

Seth took a breath, Kyra helping him regain control over his emotions. "Yeah, that sounds nice. Speaking of which, that's actually why I came. I have some time and thought I might offer to help out."

"How good of you! There's plenty of room on the deck for more hands!" Archie proclaimed heartily. "Come with me, I have just the task for you…"

---

For the remainder of the night, Seth spent time with the members of Team Aqua, working together with them on the extensive list of things that needed to be done before the party was ready. The stage needed to be built, the tables needed to be arranged, the hotel rooms needed to be booked and distributed, entertainment needed to be secured, and catering needed to be negotiated. It was both an enlightening and a refreshing experience for Seth; he'd never done anything like this before, so he never appreciated just how much work organizing a party truly was.

Team Aqua was also very pleased to work with him. They were friendlier with him than ever before, cracking jokes and exchanging friendly jabs with him, despite his inexperience at the latter. Despite his wariness towards them, Seth let his guard down regardless. Their past actions aside, they played a large part in saving the region with him.

"Hey, you!" Inevitably, Anya tracked him down as he carried a cooler filled with ice into the main clearing. "Put that down a sec and come with me."

"But…"

"Wasn't asking. Come here!" Anya's forceful words caused Seth to freeze and unconsciously do as he was told. She grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the edge of the clearing, towards the building. Kyra quickly grew annoyed and indignant, her fins starting to glow. "Calm down, you white demon, I'm just doing him a favor. If you don't like it, you can psychic me then, or whatever it is you're thinking of doing to me."

Kyra glared at her for a few moments, her indignance still lingering, but she allowed Anya to continue. Before he knew it, Anya dragged him into an alley between an inn and a shop, then took him behind the inn, completely out of sight of everyone.

"Anya? Is everything alright?" Seth asked out of concern.

Anya flushed and walked towards him, causing him to instinctively step away until he felt the wall of the inn against his back. Anya stopped only inches away from him, her chest pressed up against his appealingly. She pinned him to the wall with an arm and then before he knew it she was kissing him fiercely. Seth struggled at first on instinct but found that he couldn't budge her, and soon her scent and taste overwhelmed him and he succumbed to her wiles, kissing her back as best he could. A perverse thrill passed through him because he knew he shouldn't like this as much as he was; even if they'd been pardoned, Anya was still a member of a terrorist group who could even end up his enemy again in the future. Yet the feeling of wrongness from their fraternization only served to turn him on.

Her hands roamed over his body, beneath the hem of his shirt to trace over his bare chest, causing him to shiver. Her other hand slipped into his pants and moved around to his backside to squeeze and knead his butt, her fingers slipping into his crack and tracing against the sensitive skin there. Seth couldn't help himself; he began to harden beneath her attention, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by her. Her hand moved to his growing shaft and brushed up and down against it, aiding it to its full length.

"Anya…" Seth whined when the two of them had to break to breathe. He gasped when she leaned into his neck, planting kisses along his collarbone, sometimes biting down lightly on his skin. He felt like putty in her hands, his legs trembling beneath him. "Can't we do this later? There's still so much work to be done…and anybody could come back here and see us."

"You think I'm gonna have another chance if I don't take one now?" Anya challenged him, pulling back somewhat to look him in the eyes, even as her hands continued to caress his butt and crotch. "You think I'm dumb enough to believe I'll be able to play with you during the party? I saw the way those gym leaders were looking at you. I can't compete with them, I'm just some grunt."

"What are you talking about? The gym leaders don't…"

Anya planted a finger on his lips. "Don't you even. I just watched Flannery kiss you. That girl wants in your pants, no two ways about it. And who'd blame her after what you did? So I'm getting in first before she does." Anya kissed him one more time briefly. She blushed, which made Seth curious; that was an unusual expression for her. "By the way, if you tell anyone what I'm about to do for you, I'll kill you."

"What do you mean?" Seth asked, confused.

"Just shut up and enjoy." Anya got down on her knees, her face level with Seth's crotch. She reached up and undid the clasp on his pants, then pulled them down to allow his erection to flop free. She wrapped one hand around the base and used the other to gently stroke him. Seth bit his lip and let out a stifled moan as he received the attention he'd been craving all day due to all the teasing he'd experienced. Despite her uncharacteristically embarrassed expression, Anya couldn't help but grin after hearing that.

Anya continued stroking him for several moments, then she brought her lips to his length, her hot breath upon his arousal earning a shiver of desire from Seth. She kissed the tip, and then after a moment's hesitation, she opened her mouth and took him in, closing her lips around his shaft. She took it slow and steady, her ministrations resulting in a soft suckling and slurping sound. Yet despite the slow speed, Seth could barely keep standing; each time she pulled her head back, the sensation was incredibly intense, his tip feeling almost too sensitive beneath her skilled tongue. He couldn't help but moan in pleasure each time, stifling the sound as best he could with his left hand clapped over his mouth.

Kyra watched the intimate scene before him with interest. Oddly enough, despite her previously expressed anger towards Anya, she now seemed pleased by what was unfolding before her. She put a hand to her chin, thinking with a mischievous glint in her eye. Then, her fins glowed, and Seth felt his right hand torn away from the wall. Kyra directed his hand to the back of Anya's head, where she forced him to remove her bandanna and curl his fingers into her hair, applying pressure to get her to take him in deeper. Anya's eyes widened in surprise. She growled helplessly around him but didn't try to stop him. Kyra released Seth's hand and she returned to watching Anya, a smug and self-satisfied smile on her face.

Anya held him steady with one hand, stroking his base, while the other reached down to the hem of her top and pulled it up, letting her lovely dark-colored breasts bounce free, nipples fully erect. Then, she slipped her hand into her pants and began to finger herself, the wetness of her arousal staining the fabric. Looking down at Anya sucking on him so skillfully with her breasts hanging free like that caused a rush of perverse pleasure to course over Seth, his release drawing closer with every time she pulled back to tease his tip with her tongue.

"Anya, I'm getting close…" Seth warned her, unable to keep himself from helplessly humping into her mouth, his tip occasionally brushing against the back of her throat. In response, Anya pulled her hand out of her pants and steadied herself, then sped up her pace, her sticky fingers caressing his balls gently. Seth yelped at the sudden increase in speed, his breath quickening and his moans coming faster and shorter. He let out a gasp as he hit the point of no return. "I'm gonna cum! Anya! Anyaaa!"

Kyra chose that moment to force Anya's head forward, Seth's length sinking as deep into her mouth as possible, his balls pressing against her chin and his cock completely enveloped by the silky warmth of her throat. Anya's eyes widened, tears squeezing out of her eyes as Seth helplessly came inside her throat with a shuddering moan. Yet she couldn't pull back until he was spent when Kyra finally saw fit to let her free.

Anya recoiled, Seth's length slipping out of her mouth. She hacked and coughed until she caught her breath. She then swallowed the cum left in her mouth with a single gulp. She immediately glared at Kyra. "The hell you playing at, you little white brat? When did I ever say you could do any of that?"

Kyra just leaned in to meet Anya's gaze with the smuggest look Seth had ever seen her wear, her expression daring her to retaliate. Anya growled, but didn't dare make a move against her; no human was a match for a Pokémon. "I hate you." Anya then stood up, lowering her shirt to cover herself and licking the remains of her arousal from her fingers. She looked back at Seth. "There, I took care of you. Remember, not a word to anyone or you're dead."

"You said that before, but what's the problem? Doesn't everybody in Team Aqua already know that you and I have…well…had sex?" Seth asked, his breath slowly returning to normal as the afterglow from his orgasm faded.

"Yeah, but…" Anya sighed and shook her head. "Look, I don't give blowjobs. I absolutely hate being on my knees in front of anybody. It's demeaning, and not in a good way. Besides, if I'm gonna please somebody, they better damn well please me back. Blowjobs are too one-sided."

"I didn't realize you felt that way." Seth didn't know if he agreed with that particular viewpoint, but something didn't add up. "But wasn't this your idea? I wouldn't have forced you to do it if…"

"Would you shut up?" Anya cut him off again, her cheeks flushing again. She averted her eyes, embarrassed. "I did it for you because I respect you. You earned that. The only other person who I'd even consider doing that for is Archie—not that he'd be interested in me."

"I…I don't know what to say."

"Maxie is a godsdamned monster. If it had been anyone else who faced him up on that mountain, we might not have made it back alive. But you are the reason that any of us are here to see another day." Anya's voice shook with genuine emotion, her eyes shining. "I really thought we were gonna bite it up there, you know? But we didn't. You made sure of that. So I wanted to do something for you I wouldn't do for anyone else. You better feel special right now."

"Anya…" Seth had received blowjobs before, but the meaning behind this one humbled him. "Thank you. I promise I won't tell anyone as you said."

"Good. I don't want to have to kill you. I'm actually starting to like you," Anya teased him with a punch to his shoulder. "I'll let you get back to work. I'll find you during the party, assuming you're not balls deep in Flannery."

Seth flushed at the imagery, finding it more than appealing. "I'm still not sure she wants me that way."

"Uh-huh." His words fell upon deaf ears. Anya gave him one last wave before she headed back towards the springs, using a different path than the one they'd used to get there.

Seth watched her go. "Well, that was…something…" He wiped himself as clean as he could with a tissue, then pulled his pants back up. He glanced down at Kyra. "I can't believe you helped out like that. I really thought you hated her." Kyra only shrugged, her smug smile returning once more. Seth shook his head. "I just don't get you sometimes."

---

At the end of the day, Seth discovered that as part of the reservation for the party, the inns on the upper level had also been reserved for their use. As such, he spent the following two nights in a charmingly traditional-style inn, where there were futons instead of beds, tatami mat flooring, and sliding doors. It was a refreshing change in pace, especially considering how often he spent his time in more urban environments that had lodgings to match.

Soon, it was the night of the party. Seth arrived wearing his bathing suit and his belt of pokéballs, with Kyra sitting on his shoulder as usual. When Seth walked into the upper levels, the place was almost unrecognizable due to their efforts. The left side of the area had been delegated to refreshments; every inch of free space not taken up by an inn entrance had been occupied with covered long tables containing a variety of dishes from entrees to snacks or coolers containing iced drinks of all kinds. There were even tables relegated purely to alcoholic drinks.

On the right end of the area was the completed stage. Their efforts had paid off; the stage before them looked professionally done, complete with lighting, pyrotechnics, and a sheet in the back detailing the band that would be playing first. Such an elaborate set-up wouldn't have been possible without Wattson's help; Flannery had reached out to him for assistance in locating entertainers. While he had delivered, he had also invited himself to help with their set-up, bringing his engineering expertise along with a copious amount of electronics. As a result, a popular rock band called Metanglica was set to perform that night, backed up by an all-girl band called Illumise and a power metal band called Dragonite Force as opening acts.

The area was awash with people and Pokémon of all kinds, the former dressed in bathing suits. The rules of the resort were still in effect despite the private nature of the event—some of the members of Team Aqua had brought their families to celebrate their victory with them, so there were children and elders among their number. However, every private hot spring in the area had been reserved as well, so anyone desiring to shed their layers or become intimate could retreat to them as necessary.

Lastly, at the far end of the area, situated several meters away from the entrance of the Luxury House, was a podium with a microphone upon it, around which Winona, Archie, and one other unfamiliar man dressed in a neatly pressed business suit were gathered, chatting amongst themselves.

"Hey, dude! You're looking good!" Brawly greeted him not long after his arrival, dressed in his swim shorts and nothing else, his toned body and impressive abdomen muscles on display for all to see. He and Seth clasped hands and then he pulled him into a brief hug. "Ready to get this party started?"

"Sort of? I've never actually been to a party before, so I'm not sure what to expect," Seth admitted.

"Seriously? This is your first party?" Brawly uttered, blinking in disbelief. "You've never had one back in Johto?"

"Not like this. Sure, I had birthdays, but that was always just my mom and sometimes my dad and one other friend if they weren't too busy to show up." Seth briefly recalled his last birthday party, a rather subdued event where he'd come home to a cake and a few presents such as travel gear or albums from his favorite bands.

"And your first party is a Hoenn party. Aha…" Brawly scratched the back of his neck, giving a knowing yet nervous laugh. "Stick close to me if you get uncomfortable. Some of these parties can get pretty hedonistic. You're lucky the resort has rules, but it's gonna get pretty lively for sure."

Seth had flashbacks to the beach, causing him to turn a light shade of pink. "It can't get that bad, can it? There are rules in place, right?"

"Let's just say the security staff is gonna work for their paycheck, especially with all these Team Aqua guys around. They're not so good with rules, remember?" Brawly reminded him with a laugh. He then pointed ahead at the podium and everyone who was gathering before it. "Check it out, I think it's about to start. Come on, let's get in there."

Seth followed Brawly into the crowd of Team Aqua members until they met up with Roxanne, Flannery, and Wattson, who made room for them at the front where they had an excellent view of the podium. They whispered greetings to him, and Watson slapped him on the back and flashed him a wide smile. Archie stepped up to the microphone. With the faint screeching of feedback and the crackling of speakers, he switched it on and cleared his throat. The crowd quieted down almost instantly.

"Fellow comrades of Team Aqua! If I could have your attention for a moment!" Archie began, his booming and authoritative voice echoing across the clearing. He remained silent for a few seconds before a triumphant grin crossed his face. He pumped his fist in the air. "The battle of Mt. Chimney has ended in our overwhelming victory!"

The crowd erupted with tumultuous cheers of victory, spirits rising higher with just that single sentence. Although he didn't join them, Seth felt himself swept up in their emotion. After everything he went through, those words made him feel like it was really over.

Archie raised a hand to quell the noise. "For years now, Team Magma has dogged us with their harmful and self-serving goals, but over the past few weeks, we've seen them take complete leave of their senses. To think Maxie would sacrifice the entire region to bring back his god…it's unthinkable! Yet when it looked as though nobody could stand up to them, it was us, Team Aqua, who stepped up! We, who have been dismissed as nothing more than upstarts and criminals, stepped up and delivered all of Hoenn from volcanic hellfire!"

He continued even as the cheers rose in volume once again. "This victory doesn't belong to me alone; each and every one of you stepped up in the face of certain doom and took back your future with your own hands! I couldn't be prouder of all of you!" Archie beamed, gazing over his teammates like a parent would his children. "But, let it not be said that Team Aqua is ungrateful! I want to draw attention to our allies from the HGL who stood alongside us, putting their preconceptions of us aside!" Archie swept his hand towards Winona, then at the group of gym leaders surrounding Seth. "And most importantly, I want to take a moment to recognize one man in particular. A lone trainer with allegiances to none but himself who fought for what he believed was right!"

Seth froze as the gym leaders around him gave him knowing looks, and the grunts behind him started clapping his back and shoulders. He started to panic; he was about to receive more attention than he'd ever be comfortable with.

"This man went from opposing us by himself in Slateport City to fighting one on one with Maxie himself, where he single-handedly averted calamity and made our victory possible! Let your voices rise in adulation for Seth Rhines and the White Demon!" Archie finished amidst the hollering and whooping of the crowd, pointing out Seth from among them. Seth's eyes bugged out as several grunts from the crowd suddenly picked him up by the legs and waist, hoisting him into a precarious sitting position atop their shoulders and hands. He struggled and wheeled his arms to keep his balance, his protests drowned out by the crowd. He looked down to Kyra for help, but she simply stood with her arms crossed, nodding approvingly with a pleased expression on her face. Archie watched the display with good humor. He beckoned. "Get up here, Seth! You deserve to be recognized!"

The crowd carried Seth to the stairs leading up to the podium, before letting him down. He stumbled and fell, but he caught himself on the steps with his hands, managing to keep his face from hitting the floor. He righted himself and climbed up the stairs to the podium, where Archie grasped his shoulder and steered him front and center, all while Seth felt like a deer in headlights. Kyra appeared next to him in a blink of white light.

The cheering only intensified, and even the gym leaders were joining in; Brawly whistled loudly, Flannery jumped up and down hollering with her fist in the air, Wattson applauded while laughing uproariously, and Roxanne simply smiled warmly and clapped with enthusiasm.

The other man standing on the podium approached Seth. He was an older fellow perhaps in his sixties, with neatly trimmed snow-white hair, a goatee, and a pair of glasses resting on his nose. He reached out and grabbed Seth's hand, shaking it enthusiastically. When he spoke, his words could be heard by the crowd.

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Rhines. I'm Cedric Tokuda, the owner of this fine establishment. In response to your heroic actions performed for the sake of all, I wish to provide you with a reward of my own. It isn't much, but I hope you will accept it nonetheless." The man reached into his jacket and produced a card lined with gold trim, which he handed over to Seth. "I present to you a lifetime pass to the Redwater Hot Springs Resort!"

Seth held the card, standing there like an awkward statue as the cheers subsumed him once more. It was only when Kyra gave him a mental shove that he returned to the present. He paused as his mind rapidly caught up to the present, then he bowed his head, thanking Cedric politely while doing his best to ignore how surreal this situation felt.

"Now, that's enough pleasantries! I think it's about time we got this party started! Eat, drink, and revel to your heart's content! This party is for us!" Archie grabbed a pokéball at his belt and released his Sharpedo onto the podium. He nodded to it, and then the shark spat a stream of shining water into the air. It traveled for roughly a second before bursting like fireworks.

Responding to their cue, the concert stage was engulfed with fog, and the sound of a guitar solo ripped through the air. When the fog cleared, Illumise took the stage with a storm of pyrotechnics, jumping into their first song without further delay. With that, the formalities were over and the party had truly begun.

As Seth was about to climb down from the podium, Archie tapped his shoulder. "Come with me, Seth. I want to talk with you for a moment while I have your attention." Seth nodded and followed Archie off the back of the podium, following the man towards a more secluded area located behind a series of food stands. "Sharpedo, make sure we're not interrupted." Once he was confident that they wouldn't be interrupted, Archie turned to face Seth, his good cheer seemingly lost.

"Is everything alright?" Seth asked worriedly. His eyes darted to the party, and he was reassured knowing that he could still be seen from here. Seth didn't think Archie would hurt him, but he held no illusions as to what sort of person Archie was.

"More than alright, but I've already done enough praising for one night. More importantly, I want to talk about our relationship moving forward." Archie revealed. Seth gulped. He'd had a feeling this was coming but he didn't expect it to be so soon. "I want to ask you one more time; would you join us in Team Aqua and help deliver humanity from destruction? I'm prepared to sweeten the deal; an administrator spot awaits you as well as a handsome bonus from our sponsors."

"I've been thinking about this." Seth began hesitantly. He took a breath and decided to be as genuine as he could. Archie deserved at least that much. "I was wrong to write you all off as criminals the first time I met you. As you said, it was shortsighted of me. Your methods leave something to be desired at times, but you're honestly doing what you think is right. And I'm sure that if I joined you, I could do something about those methods in the region I administered."

"That's absolutely right. As an administrator, your operations would be yours to oversee and conduct as you see fit." Archie seemed pleased with Seth's words. "Can I expect a positive answer from you then?"

"…I still can't join you," Seth said with a regretful shake of his head.

"I see. Why not?" To his credit, Archie remained calm, watching Seth with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Don't get me wrong. I believe in your goal. In another life, I would have accepted your offer without hesitation. The ocean needs help, that much is certain." Seth sighed and met Archie's heavy gaze. "But it's just not what I want to do with my life. When I set out on this journey, I did so to explore the world with Kyra here. I couldn't do that if I signed up with you."

"If things stay the same, the world you want to see might end up tainted by humanity's greed," Archie pointed out calmly.

"That's why I'm glad there's someone like you who'll stand up against that sort of thing. If there's anything that this whole mess has shown me, it's that when the chips are down, you'll do the right thing." Seth answered firmly. "So I'm confident in leaving the ocean in your hands. If you ever need my help with something like this again, you can ask me, but I'd like to return to my journey with Kyra."

Archie was silent for a long time, gazing at Seth with an unreadable expression. He released a heavy sigh. "I can't say I'm not disappointed to lose you, but at least this is a reason I can respect. You wouldn't be the first who chose to support me indirectly. Then, I'll leave you with one warning. Don't interfere with my plans again."

"I can't promise that." The words left Seth's mouth before he could stop them. "If I see your team breaking the law and trampling over others in the process, I'll stop you."

"Really now?" Archie leaned in with a hint of a smile. "Do my ears deceive me, or Is that shy nervousness you always show just an act? You've got the guts when it counts, boy."

"It's not an act!" Seth protested, offended. "I just have principles I won't back down on."

"Good man! I feel the same. Then, should we fight again, don't expect us to hold back," Archie challenged Seth right back. He gave a hearty laugh and clapped Seth on the back. "But enough of such dismal topics. You gave me your answer and I'll respect it. Let's get back to the party and blow off some steam!"

Seth followed Archie back to the party, his body relaxing from relief. He'd known that conversation was coming, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with. He spotted Brawly and Roxanne sitting together at one of the tables and moved to join them. Brawly saw him coming and pulled up a chair for him. As Seth sat down, he let out a sigh and let Kyra hop up in his lap. He looked at Roxanne, appreciating her swimsuit—a conservative dark blue one-piece suit with thin white straps.

"Congratulations on your lifetime ticket, Seth," Roxanne said to him, raising her voice somewhat to be heard over the metal music, singing, and the whooping of the other partygoers. She lifted a glass of amber-colored liquid and took a delicate sip. She put on a small smirk. "Not going to join the others on the dance floor?

"I think I'll pass. I enjoy music as much as the next person, but…" Seth glanced over to the dance floor, where a collection of Team Aqua grunts were singing, drinking, and moshing together with wild abandon. "I think I'd fear for my safety if I tried to get in on that."

"I don't blame you there!" Brawly agreed with a snicker. He gazed out at the party unfolding before him, shaking his head in disbelief. "Look at all this. Who'd have thought we'd ever be partying with guys like Team Aqua? And that Winona would ever meet with Archie without sparks flying?"

"You're telling me," Seth agreed, chuckling wryly. He idly stroked Kyra's hair. "Where did the others go? I haven't seen them since the party started."

"Flannery's fetching us some more drinks!" Brawly said, leaning back.

"Wattson felt he was best utilized backstage due to his technical talents, and Winona unfortunately was unable to stay. Her position is a demanding one; she's no doubt en route to Fortree City as we speak." Roxanne revealed the rest. "She did leave a message for you, Seth."

"Oh, did she?" Seth leaned forward with interest.

"She regrets she cannot remain for the revelry, but she looks forward to receiving your challenge in the future," Roxanne related to him. Seth recalled with a start that Winona was still a gym leader that he would have to face one day. It was easy to forget that fact after what they'd gone through together.

"Yeah, and when am I gonna get my challenge?" With impeccable timing, Flannery returned in high spirits with several bottles of alcohol clutched in her hands. Seth couldn't keep himself from admiring her swimsuit and how it framed her fit body; she wore a set of teal swim shorts that hugged her butt appealingly and a black halter top with a stylized flame insignia emblazoned upon it.

"Your challenge?" Seth repeated dumbly, too focused on her appearance to register her words. Flannery plonked the bottles on the table and nudged Seth with a grin.

"After how you battled Maxie, you better believe I want to take you on! So sign up for a challenge the moment this party is over! I'll make sure you get priority!" Flannery slid into a chair beside Seth and unscrewed the bottles before her. "So, who wants a drink?"

"Me for sure. Pass me some of that," Brawly sounded out.

"I suppose I shall indulge as well," Roxanne responded with a smile. "I recommend against imbibing too heavily, however. I don't distrust our temporary allies, but it's best not to let down one's guard."

"Oh, lighten up a bit, teacher," Flannery retorted. Setting out several small wide bowls, she filled them one by one with a clear liquid from one of the open bottles. "What we have here is some of Lavaridge Town's finest sake, fermented from our very own rice fields!"

"You're spoiling us, Flannery. This stuff isn't cheap, right?" Brawly remarked. He picked up one of the bowls and gave it a curious sniff. "Hmm, smells like fruit, though I couldn't tell you what kind."

"Yeah, this is good stuff. No need to thank me; this is a celebration!" Flannery filled up the bowl in front of Seth, then did the same with her own before she put the bottle down. Seth glanced at the bowl with trepidation; his last experience with alcohol hadn't been too good; it had burned and the taste had been awful. Yet, when Flannery picked up her bowl, Seth did the same. He wasn't about to be rude to her if this drink was as expensive as Brawly made it sound. "Let's start all this off with a toast!"

"I'm down for that."

"Very well, but to what shall we toast?" Roxanne asked as she lifted her own bowl.

Flannery beamed. "That's an easy one. To our victory!" With that, Flannery held her bowl forward to Seth and the others. Seth smiled despite his concerns and brought his bowl to meet hers. Their bowls all touched in the center of the table with a clink, and then they all drank at once.

The words to describe the taste of the sake eluded Seth; it was light, fresh, and slightly sweet, with a viscous texture. It was much easier to drink than whatever Jack and the others had provided back during his first toast; as such he didn't make a fool of himself this time. That said, the drink was noticeably strong; by the time they'd downed their second drink, Seth felt warm and pleasantly buzzed.

"Aah, this is the best feeling!" Flannery exclaimed, a light blush on her face. She slammed down her bowl and tugged at her top, her breasts jiggling in a tantalizing manner as she did so. "We really don't do this enough."

"What, share drinks? Yeah, I guess we don't. We gym leaders don't usually see one another more than twice a year for the Hoenn League Tournament," Brawly said after he finished his own drink. He seemed to handle it better than Flannery, as he didn't even seem fazed by his drink. "Meeting up for a vacation was a good idea, Roxanne. In more ways than one."

Roxanne made to answer, but then she noticeably hiccuped, her cheeks lightly pink as well. "Oh! Excuse me. I think it would be…would be best if we ate something to accompany our drink. I fear I may have underestimated the strength of this sake."

"Good idea. I'm starting to get hungry myself," Seth admitted. He got to his feet, gently set Kyra down, and fixed his eyes on the food stands. He licked his lips hungrily. "I'm really craving a good steak right now."

"Let's eat!" Flannery agreed enthusiastically.

With that, the four of them rose from their table and split up, each heading to a different area of the food stands to load up a plate with their favorite foods. They had everything from freshly cooked filet mignon and roasted chicken to salads and cakes. Seth joined the line just behind a Team Aqua grunt and her Whismur, waiting patiently for his turn.

As he waited, he couldn't help but notice the grunt in front of him…or more specifically, her perfectly shapely butt barely concealed by her skimpy black swimsuit accented with red highlights. Unhindered by his usual rational thought, Seth had no qualms about checking her out, already picturing what her butt might look like if he was inside it. With his mind thus occupied, the grunt's unusual choice of partner Pokémon was lost on him.

As if sensing his gaze, the girl turned her head, her short black hair shifting. She scanned him with her violet eyes, then recognized what he was so occupied by. "See something you like, cutie~?" She called out to him in a teasing voice, a knowing smirk crossing her face.

"Yeah…you're very beautiful…" Seth praised her breathlessly, slowly tracing his eyes up along her figure, from her lean thighs to her soft slender belt and small breasts. Kyra tensed beside him and he could feel her concern washing over to him.

"Oh wow, you just came out and said it. Somebody's been drinking~" She tittered, her last sentence spoken in a singsong fashion. Her smirk only widened. She turned to face him fully. "You sure you like me that much? I'm not that feminine, you know~"

"What are you talking about?" Seth looked up at her, trying to find out what Kyra was so worried about. When he met her gaze, recognition struck him a moment later. A spike of adrenaline surged through him. He reached for his pokéballs instantly. "Wait a minute. "You're…!"

"Sh sh shhhhh," the girl hushed him swiftly, placing a finger to his lips. "Don't go ruining the party for everybody by crying wolf. I promise I'm not here to start anything. Just act natural, get your food, and we'll talk, kay~?"

Sobered up somewhat by the adrenaline, Seth suppressed his urge to alert the nearest grunts to her presence. He had no idea how strong she was, and there was no guarantee she wouldn't just use the resulting chaos to escape. He did as she recommended, grabbing a plate and loading it up with steak and vegetables. "How did you even get in here? You're Team Magma, aren't you?"

"I was, for a short time. You'd be amazed how easy it is to sneak around these Team types," she gave a self-satisfied shrug. Seth's gaze shot to her, his brow rising in surprise. She smirked, noticing him. "Getting it now, are we? I knew you could do it."

"If you were never Team Magma, then what were you doing with them?" Seth questioned, keeping his voice low. Whenever he picked up food from the tables, he made sure to engage in pleasantries with those behind them so as to not raise undue suspicion.

"I could tell you~" the girl hummed, tapping a finger on her cheek. "But I don't think you're quite ready for such juicy information. Buuut, since you're cute, I'll tell you a little—I needed Team Magma and their resources for something, but then they decided on something silly like blowing up a supervolcano and killing hundreds of thousands of people for something that wouldn't even work anyway." The girl adopted a frown of scornful disdain for a brief moment before she turned back to Seth, beaming. "But you handled that quite nicely for me! You, a random trainer of all people, did everything I wanted and more! I didn't even have to lift a finger!"

"Wait, back up. I…" The girl's tidbit of information presented so many new questions and so few answers that he had trouble forming a sentence.

The girl cut across him as the two finished loading up their plates and retreated from the tables. "So…that's why I'm here today. I wanted to thank you for keeping your promise. I honestly didn't think you could do it. But you surpassed my expectations." She walked with Seth over to a nearby empty table, setting down her plate. Whismur hopped up onto the table and dug into the food with enthusiasm, the plate's contents disappearing at an alarming pace.

"I just did what I had to…though I guess I couldn't have done it without you," Seth admitted despite his wariness toward her. "Who are you, exactly?"

"Tsk, where are your manners?" She chastised him with a tilt of her head, her hands on her hips, and a cheeky smile on her youthful face. "You want me to give you my name without first telling me yours?"

"I'm sorry. I'm Seth Rhines, a trainer from Littleroot Town," Seth introduced himself to her, stumbling over his words somewhat.

"Oh I know, cutie, I was only teasing~" The girl giggled and stepped up close to him, her body only inches away from his. He froze as she brought her lips to his ear, her hair tickling his cheek. "You can call me Zinnia~" she whispered, and then she lightly bit his ear, causing him to yelp and pull back, even as she dissolved into giggles.

Zinnia stepped back, twirling happily with a pleased hum, her spirits clearly high. "I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other. But for now, I think I'll leave you to it! Enjoy the party, cutie~"

"Wait!" Seth still had many more questions to ask her, but Zinnia quickly proved to be too slippery for him, the girl easily blending in among the half-naked bodies of the Team Aqua grunts around her. Seth knew it would be near impossible to find her in a crowd like this, so he stood there helplessly staring at where she used to be. There was something about Zinnia that caused odd emotions to stir within him. He couldn't even begin to place many of them, but he felt satisfied, as though he'd always known that she'd be here. Seth shook his head. "What a strange girl."

Seth returned with his food to the gym leaders, finding himself to be the last one to return. "There's the boy!" Flannery called out when he sat down, raising another bowl of sake in his honor. Deciding to put Zinnia out of his mind for now, he engaged in mild conversation with the other gym leaders as they ate and drank until once again he was pleasantly buzzed and full.

"Right! I think that's enough sitting around! I think it's time we kick this party up a notch!" Flannery announced just as they finished the last drop of sake between them. Flannery leaned across the table, staring right at Seth with a playful smirk on her face. "What do you say, guys? Wanna work up a sweat together at the hot springs?"

"Are you kidding?" Brawly said excitedly, standing up from the table. "I've been dying to get in that water ever since I got to town."

"Likewise. I believe it's time we enjoyed our vacation to its fullest extent," Roxanne agreed, letting out a giggle of anticipation.

"I'm in. I can hardly say I've experienced Lavaridge town if I haven't been to its hot springs. Let's go, Kyra!" Seth concurred, standing up from the table.

"Atta boy!" Flannery leaped up as well and led the way, leaving the mess on the table for the staff. Seth fell in with the three of them, following Flannery all the way to the Luxury House. The staff just inside the building smiled politely when Flannery approached him. She spoke briefly with him, then turned back to Seth. "Check it out, you guys; we've got our own spring just for us gym leaders…and a certain hero."

"Does that put me on gym leader level?" Seth joked, the sake in his system loosening up his usual awkward self.

"It does for the sake of taking a dip!" Flannery returned with a wink. She led them down a short hallway into the hot springs proper. The rightmost section of the room was a small changing area with a large standing mirror between the rows of cubbies lining the back wall. To the left was a short tiled walkway leading to a fully stocked hydration station and the springs themselves, which were set in a large clearing open to the night sky and were entirely enclosed by partition walls made of wooden slats. Decorated with large smooth rocks, trees, and flowers, the gently flowing and steaming waters of the springs possessed a natural and relaxing charm.

Brawly closed the doors behind them, leaving them all completely alone, the sounds of the party filtering in through the thin walls. "Finally! I've been dying to get out of these all night." Before Seth could recall the ramifications of being in a private springs room, Brawly loosened his swim trunks and stepped out of them, placing them in one of the complementary cubbies along with his belt of pokéballs.

It wasn't his first time seeing Brawly naked, but ever since his horizons had been broadened, he had a new appreciation for the male form. Brawly in particular was no typical specimen either due to his exceptional physical fitness. Seth gazed at his toned body appreciatively before briefly glancing between his legs at his sizable length. Seth looked away before he could be noticed, doing his best to keep his blush from showing on his face. He quickly failed that battle when Flannery agreed and reached her arms around her neck to untie her top.

"You're telling me. What's the point of going to hot springs if you can't get naked in them?" Flannery peeled away the garment, allowing her ample breasts to hang free, bouncing appealingly as they adjusted to their newfound freedom. Her bottoms soon followed, giving them all a clear view of her nethers with a neatly groomed tuft of crimson hair just above her entrance. "You joining us, Roxanne?"

"I suppose I shall. It has been some time since I've been able to relax like this," Roxanne followed suit, revealing the body that Seth had made love to many times before. She looked up at him. "Seth? Is everything alright?"

Seth knew he should join them; it would be odd for him to be the only one wearing a bathing suit. However, being surrounded by such appealing features had taken its toll upon him; he was hardening in his pants and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The thought of showing his full arousal to everyone had him as red as a beet.

"Hold on, I think I need a moment to…" Seth had only a hint of ambient mischief as his warning before Kyra yanked his bathing suit down around his ankles with an evil titter. Now, nothing was left to the imagination.

"Oh! Seth, you naughty boy," Roxanne commented with a coy smile.

"Wow, already? We haven't even done anything yet!" Flannery burst out laughing. She leaned in with a sultry smile crossing her face. "Do you really find me that hot?"

"I can't help it! You're all just so…" Seth defended himself, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Girls, come on. Don't embarrass the guy." Brawly came to his defense, resting an arm on Seth's shoulder in a friendly manner. "Seth's from Johto, remember? This kind of thing is probably entirely new to him. Did you have hot springs back where you came from?"

"No, we didn't. I lived in the big city, so I was lucky if I even got to wear a bathing suit, much less be naked," Seth stammered out, feeling reassured by Brawly's presence. "How are you guys not…"

"Turned on?" Brawly finished for him with a smirk. "You get used to it here, especially for Flannery and me who can visit places like this all the time. Though, if these two started making eyes at me, I think they could get a reaction out of me."

"Please, if I was trying, I could make you erupt like the volcano we're standing on," Flannery returned confidently, earning a laugh from Brawly. She looked back at Seth. "Sorry about that. I forgot where you came from."

"I also apologize. Besides, if there were ever a place to show your desires, this would be it," Roxanne gave Seth a slight dip of her head. "Now, shall we enjoy the springs while the night is still young?"

"Yeah, let's do it!" Flannery was the first to splash into the springs. She grabbed her pokéballs and released her Torkoal into the area as well. The smoldering turtle took up a position at the higher end of the springs, dipping its head into the water every now and again to appreciate its warmth.

Seth stepped into the springs and sat down atop a submerged cushion, the pleasantly warm water engulfing his body like a gentle embrace. It was almost like he was taking a bath, except he had all the room he needed to stretch out and relax. Brawly took a seat beside him to his right, while Kyra hopped in on his left, the shallow waters coming up to her neck.

Deciding to follow Flannery's example, he reached for his belt and released each of his Pokémon into the springs one at a time so they too could enjoy its comforts. Princess appeared in the springs with a sizable splash, her lengthy coils forcing her to take up a position in the deeper end of the area, where the water was up to seven feet deep. She was confused at first, the sea serpent poking at the water with her nose, its warmth proving foreign to her. Summer was right at home. Upon feeling the warm water, she squeaked happily and found her way to the hottest of the springs to frolic and relax in. Cairo simply flew to the rafters and basked in the steam rising from the water's surface.

"Good idea; Arty could use a little relaxation," Brawly released his Machoke, who promptly went to join Summer. Brawly sank deeper into the water with a contented sigh. "Now this is what I needed."

"Indeed. Now our vacation can begin at long last." Roxanne stretched out as much as she could across from Brawly, resting her head atop a small pillow. "No lesson plans, no curriculums, and no exams waiting to be graded…simply warmth, comfort, and excellent company."

"And no impending doomsday scenarios either. That's always a plus." Flannery added wryly, leaning her head back on her hands. "And I even get to end it by battling Seth in the gym!"

"Oh yeah, you made it past Wattson, didn't you?" Brawly recalled, turning to Seth. "How did that go? And while you're at it, how's your journey gone since I saw you last?"

Seth seized the opportunity to think about anything other than the beautiful bodies surrounding him on all sides and the still throbbing erection barely hidden by the waters. "Oh, mine? It's definitely been eventful, that's for sure…"

The four of them engaged in small talk from there, their stress melting away into the warm waters of the spring. Seth filled them in on how his adventure had gone up until their meeting, while Roxanne spoke of her recent experiences as a teacher and shared stories of her various students. Brawly and Flannery listened attentively, though the latter appeared somewhat distracted.

"As for me? There's something I want to do. One day, I want to compete in the Pokémon World Tournament," Brawly expressed with a confident smirk. Seth and the others looked at him in surprise.

"Really?" Roxanne leaned forward with interest. "Those are rather high aspirations. Gym leaders do have the right to participate, but the competition is precipitous."

"Trust me, I know that. I wouldn't stand a chance the way I am now," Brawly admitted with a shrug. "But that's why I train with Arty and Maku every day. I want to stand on the stage with the rest of the legends, you know?"

"That's an impressive dream. I couldn't even imagine being a part of something like that," Seth said with a shake of his head. He winced, feeling Kyra's intense excitement flowing over to his side of the link. "Kyra. We're not even close to something like that," he chided her, lightly tapping her head. "That said, I'm curious. What're the requirements to participate?"

"First, you have to be a distinguished trainer of some renown. If every trainer that was interested were to participate, the proceedings would squander the better portion of the year. Specifically, you must hold a place in the hall of fame of at least one participating region," Roxanne lectured, looking pleased with the question. "Gym leaders are an exception to the rule, as are champions and members of the various Elite Four ensembles."

"Gym leaders can compete in tournaments with champions!?" Seth raised a brow at that. "That hardly seems fair."

"You are correct. That is why the tournament possesses multiple divisions—the Standard, Elite Four, and Champion Divisions. I previously described the requirements for the Standard Division," Roxanne elaborated. "Thus, if I were to participate in this year's tournament, I would do so in the Standard Division. Another example is Steven Stone, who would participate in the Champion Division."

"Okay, I get it now. Thanks for explaining." Seth's words earned a gracious nod from Roxanne. "Will the three of you be participating this year?"

"As I said, my team's not ready. I've got my eyes on a few species I want to train, but it might take me a few years to get them up to snuff," Brawly said, shaking his head.

"I feel the same. Furthermore, my responsibilities as a teacher come first in my list of priorities," Roxanne added.

"Flannery?" Brawly prompted when the girl in question didn't answer. He waved a hand at her. "Hey, Hoenn to Flannery!"

Flannery jumped, returning to reality. "Huh? Sorry, what are we talking about?"

"What's up, girl? You've been out of it for a while now. Everything cool with you?" Brawly questioned, concerned.

"Oh yeah, it's all cool," Flannery answered vaguely. Roxanne and Brawly exchanged glances before looking back at her, unconvinced. Flannery couldn't handle the weight of their combined gazes. She groaned in frustration and clapped her hands on her cheeks. "Ah, damn it, I give up; I can't take it anymore!"

She stood up and made her way through the water. Realizing that she was heading directly towards him, Seth did his best not to panic or say something stupid, even as he did his best not to ogle her bare body. She leaned over him with a flushed look on her face. "Hey, so…just gonna put this out there, but I really wanna make out with you right now. And probably more. Still feeling horny?"

Emboldened both by his intense arousal and the alcohol still running through his system, Seth felt as though his usual shyness didn't even exist. "I thought you'd never ask…" he responded with eager anticipation.

"Good answer." Keeping herself steady with a hand on the edge of the springs to Seth's left, Flannery leaned down to kiss him without another word, her hot breath tickling his upper lip. Her mouth opened on contact, her tongue pressing against Seth's lips until he obediently allowed her entry. Any relief he gained from the non-sexual conversation before was swept away in an instant, his arousal returning in full force.

"Whoa, are we already getting started? I thought we were still just relaxing," Brawly teased as he watched the two of them kissing fervently.

"It appears one of us was unable to control herself," Roxanne observed wryly.

"And there she was, teasing Seth about being turned on earlier. I bet she was on fire the whole time. Must be nice, being able to hide it like that," Brawly added with a smirk. "Still, no fair, Flannery. I kinda wanted a crack at him first. At the rate you go, I might not get a chance!"

Flannery broke the kiss to glare indignantly at Brawly, her hand still cupping the panting Seth's cheek. "It's totally fair! You snooze, you lose!" She stuck her tongue out at him impudently. "Besides you had him all to yourself back in Dewford!"

"Uh, no I didn't. His Kirlia had just evolved and I'm pretty sure I'd have ended up on the ceiling if I'd tried getting between them," Brawly pointed out with a smirk. Flannery looked at Kyra in surprise. In response, Kyra attempted to curtsy smugly, but she'd forgotten she was neck-deep in the springs; Kyra sputtered and spat out the mouthful of spring water she'd just taken in.

"You know I'm still here," Seth reminded them, embarrassed.

"Trust me, I know." Flannery turned back to him with an expression full of desire, slowly tracing her fingers down along his chest, causing Seth to shudder with arousal. "Oh, the things I'd do to you…"

"Am I really such a prize?" This was a question that had been on Seth's mind for quite a while. It seems like he had no trouble attracting people despite his lack of effort to do so. "Nobody in Johto ever gave me a second glance so being fought over like this is…surreal to me."

"Have you looked in a mirror, Seth? You're damn pretty for a boy, and you take care of your appearance." Flannery pointed out with a smirk. She sat down on his lap facing him after taking a moment to adjust Seth's erection so it didn't go right inside of her, instead resting it against her belly. She brushed his cheek with one hand. "Your skin is smooth, your hair is soft, and to back all this up, you're soft-spoken and shy, which makes you unbelievably cute."

"That's what I said! I mostly prefer women, but guys like you really get my engine going too," Brawly agrees whole-heartedly.

"I'd be giving you appreciative looks just from that alone, but then you quite literally saved us all from a fiery death by yourself. I guarantee you there's not a soul at this party that doesn't want a piece of you," Flannery expresses confidently. She giggles maliciously. "I just didn't let them get to you first."

"That's…wow…" Seth had never been so thoroughly complimented before. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head, flushing hard. He could also feel smug satisfaction emanating from Kyra beside him.

"I concur. I would also hazard the assumption that your appearance was appreciated in Johto as well, but due to the vast difference in social norms between our regions, they were likely unable to express it," Roxanne adds. "However, as Flannery stated, our shared attraction stems from more than your physical features. It's your honest, earnest nature supplemented by your heroic feats. If you hadn't caught my eye previously, I would likely choose to proposition you now as well."

"I've just been doing what I can…but thanks, I guess. I don't really know what to say to all of this," Seth admitted. He yelped when Flannery grasped his chin with her fingers.

"Then don't say anything and kiss me." Flannery returned to kissing him, her right hand pressing against the back of his head while her left rested on his chest. She ground against his knee, small moans escaping from her into Seth's mouth. Her left hand slowly trailed down his chest, her fingertips brushing against his nipples. She kept going, slipping beneath the water's surface.

A moment later, Seth briefly stiffened when he felt her fingers wrapping around his length. He shuddered with anticipation; he'd been wanting her ever since the moment she kissed him for the first time. Now that she was gently rubbing his arousal, he couldn't hold himself back anymore. He reached his hands up to her ample breasts and grabbed the soft supple flesh, a thrill running through him at the way they filled his palms. Flannery let out a soft "Mmmff," closed her fingers around his length, and started to stroke, the repetitive motions causing the spring water to ripple and splash.

"Damn, look at him squirm. This is getting pretty heated." Brawly remarked, adjusting his position to one more comfortable. His hand slipped below the water to stroke his steadily growing erection. "I gotta say, I was hoping for something like this when you first invited us out."

"Oh? You sought an evening full of carnal indulgence between us all?" Roxanne teased with a smirk.

"You said it was a vacation. What better way is there to relax when surfing isn't involved?" Brawly said with a nonchalant shrug. He matched her smirk with one of his own. "So, Ms. Roxanne, you down for said 'carnal indulgence?'"

"Your arousal is not lost on me. I think I could be convinced to assist you in alleviating it," Roxanne returned with a coy smile. She briefly stood up from the water and turned away from Brawly, bending over to adjust some of the cushions under the water. Brawly couldn't resist the alluring sight such a pose allowed him. He reached out and slapped Roxanne's supple butt, the flesh rippling appealingly beneath his palm. Roxanne yelped and gave him a sharp stare. "Ah! Behave, young man! I'm not quite ready yet!"

"Sorry, give me a view like that and I'm acting on it!" Brawly retorted unapologetically.

Roxanne shook her head in exasperation, and then she hoisted herself out of the water halfway, her butt resting atop the mound of cushions she'd just gathered. She eyed Brawly with a telling stare and spread her legs, her entrance on full display for him.

"You're gonna make me earn your attention? Fine with me." Picking up what she was putting down, Brawly approached her, grabbed her legs to steady them, then swooped down upon her. Roxanne exhaled sharply when his mouth pressed against her nethers, his tongue sliding up against her lower lips before making its way inside.

While Brawly was pleasing Roxanne, Flannery had just separated from Seth, a thin trail of saliva connecting their lips. Flannery thrust her chest forward and wiggled her chest, giving Seth a better view of her jiggling breasts. He couldn't help but squeeze them again. "You like 'em, big boy?" Flannery teased him, the girl breathing somewhat heavier after their intense make-out session. Seth nodded breathlessly, hardly able to believe he could do this with such a stunning girl. "Then play with 'em all you want. As for you, I've got bigger plans for you."

"Yeah?" Seth prompted hopefully.

"You bet. To hell with the foreplay, I need you inside me right this damn second," Flannery expressed with a light blush on her face. She lifted up her rump while keeping her hand on Seth's crotch, keeping him pointing directly up at her. She looked down at him, licking her lips with a perverse joy, and then she brought herself down, allowing his erection to slide inside her with perfect ease. Flannery inhaled sharply, then let out a long pleasured sigh. "Oh hell yes~!"

Seth was on cloud nine right now; Flannery's teasing had him wanting to be inside her like this so badly to the point he could hardly stand it, and now that he was he felt he'd gone to heaven. "You feel so good, Flannery!"

"I haven't even gotten started yet," Flannery said with a sultry smirk. She wrapped her arms around Seth's neck and planted kisses on his neck and collarbone. She was rougher than he was used to, biting and sucking at his skin while she kissed him. Despite the minor pain, he found it thrilling; Seth rolled his head back and panted. Flannery then rose and kissed him again on the lips briefly before looking him right in the eyes. "You just be still and enjoy, okay?" Then, Flannery began bouncing atop his lap, his erection slipping in and out of her velvety entrance even as her motions splashed spring water everywhere.

Roxanne's face was flushed, her hands pressing against the back of Brawly's head as he explored her innermost depths with his tongue. Every so often he'd take a break to suck and lick at her clit, earning pleasured pants from his lover. All the while, Roxanne watched Flannery and Seth fornicate together at the far end of the spring, a bit of perverse pleasure coming from watching something so naughty unfold before her.

With her own growing arousal and Brawly's expertise, it wasn't long before Roxanne was sopping wet with her own juices. "Very well. I believe it's time to proceed," Roxanne said shakily, tapping Brawly on the shoulder. Brawly pulled back and wiped his mouth, flashing her a boyish grin as she gazed up at him sheepishly. "You may take what you've earned. Do what you will with me."

"Atta girl," Brawly slapped her rump again, then stood and reoriented himself. He swiftly descended upon her, his head moving to the crook of her neck, where he planted kisses there, causing Roxanne to moan softly and crane her head back. While she was off guard, Brawly pressed his erection to her entrance and thrust his hips forward, slipping inside her without resistance. Roxanne gasped and closed her eyes, her cheeks coloring once more with redness. With the girl prostrated helplessly beneath him, Brawly began to have his way with her, his hips slapping against her butt with lewd slaps.

While all this was going on, the various pokémon were enjoying themselves in their own ways. Princess frolicked in the deeper end of the springs, oblivious to the lovemaking occurring around her, so lost was she in the comfort of the warm waters enveloping her serpentine body. Cairo had gone for a flight around the resort and hadn't returned yet, while Flannery's Torkoal appeared to be asleep. While Vulpix was blissfully enjoying the hot waters, Arthur was instead watching the debauchery below, steadily stroking his own erection as he did so. Kyra felt much the same as Arthur, though her eyes were transfixed on Seth's pleasured expressions as she gently teased her pussy with her telekinesis.

Seth panted breathlessly, his eyes transfixed on the fiery beauty that was riding him. Her butt slapped appealingly against his lap, teasing him ever closer to his orgasm. Flannery was insatiable and determined to claim every last piece of him; she kissed every last bit of skin she could get her lips on, from his neck to his shoulders to his chest and arms. Her stamina was also incredible; Seth marveled that she could keep up a pace like this for this long. As amazing as it felt, he had to say something. "Flannery, I…I can't hold on if you keep going this fast."

"What…you gonna cum already?" Flannery teased him, tapping his nose cheekily. Seth nodded shyly. She slowed down her pace steadily, coming to a stop. "What can I say? I'm too good at what I do. Right, let's take a break to let you recover. I'm not done playing with you yet."

Seth had to focus hard to keep himself from cumming as Flannery got off of him, his length sliding out of her. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint her. Flannery sat down beside him and rubbed at her slit as she glanced over to Brawly and Roxanne, who were in the middle of their own lovemaking session, the latter's legs wrapped around the former's hips as he thrust into her vigorously.

"Hey! You two, take a break!" Flannery called over to them. Brawly paused, much to Roxanne's annoyance.

"Why, what's up?" Brawly called over curiously.

"Come over here! If we're gonna do this together, let's do this together. You get me?" Flannery suggested.

"Oh yeah, sure! That sounds like fun," Brawly pulled out of Roxanne, then picked her up bridal style before she could say anything, causing her to yelp.

While Brawly moved to join them, Flannery faced the changing area and bent over the lip of the springs, giving Seth a perfect view of her shapely butt and the alluring slit nestled just beneath her puckered butthole. She glanced over at Kyra. "Hey, Kirlia, can you bring that mirror over here? You're the closest."

Kyra blinked and tilted her head, but then shrugged and teleported over to the mirror long enough to grasp it with her telekinesis and carry it over to the edge of the springs. She adjusted it carefully until anyone looking in the mirror could get a clear view of the edge of the springs and the four nude and thoroughly aroused people within it.

"Dang girl, I had no idea you were into mirror sex," Brawly teased as he set Roxanne down beside Flannery.

"Shut up. Don't judge me," Flannery retorted, swatting at him.

"As if I would," Brawly shot back with a good-natured grin.

"Whatever. You joining us or what?" Flannery said.

"Hell yeah, we are. Roxanne?"

"Certainly. I'm quite eager to return to our copulation. I haven't quite yet reached an orgasm, after all." Roxanne crawled up on the lip of the springs beside Flannery with a resigned smile on her face. Flannery reached her hand over to Roxanne's, their fingers curling together. Then, she craned her head over and kissed Roxanne deeply, their lips parting on contact.

The sight of the two girls making out proved an enthralling one. Combined with the tantalizing image of Flannery's butt in front of him, Seth couldn't control himself. He stood up and wrapped his hands around her butt, squeezing the soft flesh between his fingers. Brawly joined him on his left, doing the same with Roxanne.

"Don't keep me waiting. Fuck me until you can't anymore," Flannery demanded, pressing her butt up against him. Seth didn't need any further encouragement. He spread her butt with his hands, aligned himself with her entrance, then thrust inside of her, earning a satisfied grunt of pleasure from his lover. A moment later, Brawly did the same with Roxanne.

Before long, the two of them thrust into their respective lovers, the air filling with the sound of their pants of exertion and the slapping of hips against butts. Looking up at the mirror, Seth could see himself thrusting into Flannery from the front, proving to be a thrilling sight all on its own, especially with the way Flannery's butt looked from this angle. Even her facial expressions were amazing to see. This was the first Seth had heard of "mirror sex," but he decided he liked it; the way he could look down and see his cock plunging inside of Flannery while also watching the way her pleasure showed on her face was incredible.

"Spank me!" Flannery commanded him breathlessly after about a minute as he pounded her. Seth panted his assent and did as he was bid, lightly slapping her butt with his right hand. "Harder than that!" Seth tried again, using more force than before, earning a light grunt from her. "Harder!" Seth used all the force he was comfortable with, slapping her butt until his hand stung, leaving a red hand-shaped mark beneath his palm. Flannery let out a long, lewd moan. "Aahhh….that's more like it!"

"Flannery…I'm not gonna last," Seth warned her, feeling his orgasm approaching once again even as he spanked the other side of her butt. She felt too good, and Seth wasn't sure he could hold back this time.

"That's…that's okay. I just finished. Go ahead and cum. Do it inside me, you hear?" Flannery ordered him.

With her permission, Seth didn't try to resist it anymore. Feeling it coming, he grabbed her hips and sped up his pace. "Ah…Flanneryyy…I'm gonna…I'm c-cumming!" He thrust into her faster and faster to the point where it felt like his hips were moving on their own, and then the dam burst inside of her. He grunted and moaned, his cock throbbing inside of her as he released rope after rope of seed deep into her womb.

"Roxanne…mmh…gonna cum!" Brawly warned Roxanne just before his own orgasm, and together he and Seth emptied themselves into their respective lovers until they were spent, and they slumped over, out of breath and feeling more relaxed than ever.

"Oh, man…" Seth pulled out of Flannery and sat in the water beside her, his chest heaving from the exertion. Yet he could feel the last remnants of his stress from the party leaving him, replaced by the lovely afterglow of the incredible sex he'd just had. Now all he wanted to do was nap here in the springs.

"You're telling me. You're pretty good, Seth!" Flannery agreed as she lay there unmoving, rivulets of his cum trickling out of her pussy and down her thighs. After a moment, she joined him in the springs again, resting her head against the lip with her eyes closed.

"Indeed…after the events on the volcano, such carnal delights were quite welcome," Roxanne admitted softly as Brawly pulled away from her. She forced herself to her feet, her legs wobbling somewhat, cum trickling down her thigh. She moved over to the hydration station and filled up a series of cups with cool water, and then she presented them to each of the others. "Here. We just exerted ourselves greatly in the hot springs. It wouldn't do for us to end up dehydrated."

"Good idea…whew," Seth accepted his drink gratefully, and then he sat side by side in the springs with the other gym leaders. They hydrated themselves in contented silence, basking in the afterglow of their respective mutual orgasms. Over the course of about ten minutes of relaxation, the four of them slowly caught their breath and rehydrated. Then, Flannery looked over to Seth.

"So, wanna go again?" She asked, causing Seth to choke while he was drinking.

"Damn girl, you gonna share him?" Brawly teased her.

Flannery shot him a stare even as she climbed back onto Seth. "No!"

"Flannery, you greedy girl!"

"Honestly, dear. I'd appreciate a turn with him as well."

"Get in line!"

---

As Metanglica finished their final song of the night, Seth and the others emerged from the hot springs after a long session of vigorous sex, dressed once again in their bathing suits and re-equipped with their pokéballs. They stood at the entrance to the building together while they drank complementary flavored milk, provided to them by the Luxury House's staff. Each of them felt significantly more relaxed despite their physical exhaustion.

"Ah, what a night," Brawly emitted with a satisfied sigh as they gazed out upon the party, which was at last winding down. There weren't as many people in the area anymore, and the few that remained were either retreating to their assigned resort rooms in groups or lying out passed out drunk on the floor, where their friends or the staff were already moving to relocate them to someplace more suitable. "Great party, great company, great sex…what more could a guy ask for?"

"This was pretty fun. I can't say I've ever done anything like this before," Seth agreed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "I suppose that's why I set out on this journey in the first place."

"To get laid with the hottest gym leaders around?" Flannery supplied with a smirk, nudging him playfully.

Seth colored and swatted at her. "To experience new things! To learn more about the world and its people from among them, rather than from behind a book or a computer screen. Though…I never expected large parties or group…uh…sex to be included in that."

"Your goal is admirable, to be sure. Yet such mass self-indulgences are acceptable from time to time as well," Roxanne responded with a smile. She looked back at the party. "Tonight was for us; a celebration we earned through trial and tribulation. I imagine I'll be recalling this night for many years to come."

"Yeah, I feel the same. So many crazy things have happened to me recently; I can hardly remember what life used to be like before," Seth said, sipping at his milk.

"For what it's worth, dude, I'm glad I ran into you, and not just because of what you did on the mountain. You're a chill guy, Seth, and I'm happy to call you my friend," Brawly expressed with a sincere smile.

"Took the words right out of my mouth," Flannery added, lightly punching Seth on the shoulder.

"I feel the same," Roxanne added.

"I…" At first, Seth was struck speechless by their sudden heartfelt words, but then he felt an inner warmth spread through him. "Thank you. All of you. I didn't know what to expect when I set out on this journey, but I'm happy to say I walked out of it with friends." Seth hesitated when he realized what he was about to say next, but then after a quick moment of reflection, he became more confident. These three had done for him what nobody else had. "Truer friends than I've ever had."

"Hell yeah. Put it there everyone!" Brawly held out his bottle of milk to propose one last toast of the night. "It's not alcohol, but who cares. To us!"

"To us!" The four of them clinked their bottles together, then drank the remainder of their milk.

"On that note, perhaps it's time we retired for the night. We have much to do in the morning," Roxanne said as she lowered her bottle.

"Agreed, I'm exhausted."

"Sounds good to me."

---

With that, the four of them went their separate ways to their assigned rooms in high spirits. When Seth reached the inn in which he'd spent the past couple of days, he released his pokémon into the room and then promptly threw himself onto the futon. It had been an enjoyable few days, but they'd taken their toll on him. He was mentally and physically exhausted, and the road once again called to him. But before he could do any of that, he had a gym challenge to plan for…against Flannery. And after that…his father waited for him.

"One thing at a time," Seth said aloud to himself. Sensing his trepidation, Kyra crawled into the futon alongside him, nestling her head up against his chest. Seth chuckled and embraced his partner, curling his fingers into her hair and stroking her softly. With her in his arms, any lingering anxiety faded away, allowing sleep to steadily claim him.

---

Author's Note:

I feel like a broken record with the number of times I've come in here apologizing for my absence. I can't help it, I'm ADHD and work for a living! I need the right mindset to sit down and write! So we're just gonna skip past the apology part and get to the actual author's note.

This chapter was hard to write for me because there was a lot to cover; with the party, a talk with Archie, three gym leaders, Summer, and even Zinnia, it was pretty daunting to even start. However, thanks to someone in one of my discord servers who pestered me to write more, I decided to buckle down and get to it. After all, there's still so much I want to cover in the future that'll be really cool to write!

Speaking of Zinnia, I finally got to name-drop her! Idk what it was, but nobody really seemed to catch the hints I dropped with her back in the meteor falls chapter. I had thought name-dropping Aster would have been enough, but at least now her involvement is obvious! I know this isn't Ruby or Sapphire, but Emerald, so there's definitely room for me to use her in this storyline. Also, she's one of the coolest characters in the series, don't me.

And of course Summer was always going to stay. You think I was gonna let her go without a scene of Seth fucking his Vulpix? My guy, you clearly don't understand the level of depravity I am capable of. Nothing is safe. Not even the Deerling. ESPECIALLY not the Deerling.

And there's all the sex I promised! Anya, and then a foursome with the gym leaders (those wanting gay content won't have to wait long. Next chapter soon! Which given said friend will likely poke me for more, shouldn't take too much longer. Especially because it should be easier because I'm starting a new arc).

So, until next time! Shouldn't be a whole 'nother year this time. I think. Hehe!