/Is it chapter 3 already? Man, time flies when you're having fun. I hope you like it reading it as much as I like writing it! ^w^
And so, it is with great delight. I return, to bring you... Episode three, a new hope! What? Why'd you facepaw? Oh, right, the crappy starwars joke. Well, anyway. Let me regale you with the last few years of my life, leading up to now...
Three years after the accident, and my son, Quaker, is all grown up himself. A handsome Krokorok. With his guitar on his back he headed out, leaving me alone at home with my trainer. Kevin. Now, it was coming up to my birthday, my twenty-second birthday to be exact, and Kevin surprised me with a really, really heartwarming gift.
Kevin shook me awake, watching as I slowly pulled myself out of my bed and looked at him. Wondering what he could want. Then, it hit me. It was my birthday. That's why he was in my room. I smiled lightly as he turned and walked out, motioning for me to follow. I did as I was told and walked out after him. Finding him in the kitchen with a huge breakfast, cooked up just for me. It had pancakes, chocolate dipped pecha berries, and a pecha smoothie, made with the freshest moomoo milk I've ever had. As you can tell, Kevin liked to spoil me.
Once I'd finished the breakfast, Kevin handed me a large box.
"Happy birthday, Repto" Kevin said, smiling warmly, addressing me by my real name.
I grinned lightly and ripped the wrapping off the box. Finding a bag which a still have to this day. A black messenger bag, with a green stripe along the bottom. Putting it on, I felt there was something inside. Opening it up and reaching in I pulled the thing out. Finding it was my pokeball.
"What's all this then?" I asked him, getting a chuckle in return.
"You're a lizard Harry" I heard primal say in the back of my mind. I couldn't help but grin stupidly at the corny joke.
"That's your pokeball, it's yours to keep, and do with as you see fit" He said, wiping his eyes. "Promised myself I wouldn't cry..."
"You mean..." I fell short of the question. But he knew what I meant. Nodding, he hugged me and smiled as I nuzzled his neck with a soft purr. "Thank you Kevin," I said. Truly meaning it.
For he had given me freedom. I mean, I had freedom before. But now, I was my own trainer.
A few days later, I said my goodbyes to Kevin. And promised to keep in touch. Wearing the clothes I 'borrowed' from him so I fit in a bit. I made my way into the town. Finding people only thought I was a cosplayer or something. With a soft chuckle I walked though the town. Stopping for a few children. To whom I revealed that I was a feraligatr, but, as I said to them. "I'm on a very secret mission, so no one can know. Shhhhh" The kids were so good, giggling away and nodding.
Over the next few days I made some new friends. Soon catching up with Quaker. Who I found had made a living by playing his guitar, which I had given him for his fifteenth birthday.
"So, what brings you out here dad?" He asked as we walked along. Both having a pecha in paw. I keep a good supply of them at all times.
"Well," I paused as I took a bite from mine. "Kevin gave me my pokeball, and now I'm on my way back to where I grew up... I've got a few things to do there"
Quaker nodded knowingly before eating his pecha berry whole. Smiling as he glanced at the nearby Pokemon Center.
"Care to join me for a show dad?" He asked, already heading over to it.
I nodded and followed. I needed somewhere to sleep for the night anyway. "Mind if I do the vocals? No one knows I'm actually a pokemon!"
He chuckled happily and patted my back "I've never understood humans."
Once we were inside I glanced about somwhat nervously. Soon being comforted by Quaker leading me over to nurse Joy. "Kroko!"
"H-Hello. I'm his trainer, we're a traveling duet?"
"Oh, do you want to play here?" She asked. Looking at me suspiciously.
"...Yes."
"Then set up over there," She said, pointing over to a spot in the corner. "And I think your feraligatr costume is quite impressive. Although the robot arm ruins the effect" She said, turning to someone who had come up.
I chuckled nervously before walking over to Quaker, who was strumming his guitar happily as he tuned it. "What song ya wanna do dad?" He asked. Which sounded more like "Kroka, krokorok, kroko" to the other people in the pokemon center.
"Know Crush?" I asked. Seeing my trademark grin reflected at me by my son as he nodded.
"Course I do!"
Now, we soon performed. And it went along swimingly, we made a fair bit in tips from the people who stayed and listened. I offered my share to Quaker, but he insited I keep it. We headed up to the room they kept for pokemon trainers and soon enough, as a father and son, who were each as immature as each other. Were jumping on the bed, giggling like school girls.
"This is so much fun!" I said happily. Leaping off the bed and landing with a heavy thud. Which is understandalble, considering I'm about 124kgs. Which is quite heavy for a feraligatr.
"I know dad!" Quaker said, jumping down off the bed himself and laughing. "Why are we so immature?" He asked, still laughing.
"I don't know, but that was an, onix-pected question" Having said that he facepawed
"Got any Pechas dad? I'm hungry" he said, before realising what he had said. His face fell as he shook his head, "Don't please, in the name of Arceus, I beg of you, don't say it"
Grinning evilly I looked him straight into the eyes. "Hi Hungry, I'm dad" And with that, he groaned and facepawed once more. Before chuckling lightly. "C'mon son. Let's head out for dinner"
He nodded and grabbed his guitar, walking to the door and opening it. "After you dad"
At the restaurant it was a quiet atmosphere, thankfully, we weren't the only trainer and pokemon dining together. Although I was getting a few glances from trainer and pokemon alike. I just smiled and waved, usually getting an awkward wave in return from the trainers. As we waited for our food we engaged in some light conversation, in pokemon of course. I was planning to disscus some personal matters.
"So, where are you going to once you leave this town dad?" Quaker asked, looking up from the menu.
Somewhat taken aback at the question, I took a moment to respond. Having mometarily forgotten the reason myself. "I'm going back to where I grew up, unfinished buisness and all that" I replied. Sipping some water, partly as the wine wasn't to my taste.
"I know that dad, but, where is that?" He asked, making me realise I had never told him, let alone show him. A slight smile spread over my face as I remembered the area. The azure blue skies, crystal clear lake, and the lush green forests.
"A couple days walk from here." I said, swirling the water around in my glass with a digit.
He nodded and glanced at the waiter who walked up with our meals. "Kroka" he said with a nod of approval as his meal was placed before him. A huge steak. Meanwhile, I had a nice salad of several berries.
"Thanks," I said to the waiter as he walked off. Leaving the two of us to enjoy our meals.
Skip ahead a few days, and me and Quaker are on our way out to my old home. The path was surprisingly well kept, and I mean that. All the plants were kept back, and pebbles had been laid out so you were able to find your way along. I followed them along, stopping here and there to place a paw on the trees. Remembering when I could barely reach up. Soon enough, Quaker was lookking around for me as I grinned down at him from above. For, one of the skills I learnt from my father, was climbing trees. I can never resist.
"Go ahead Quaker, I'll meet you up ahead!" I called out as I began to go along. Jumping from tree to tree, branch to branch. Choosing the thicker branches naturally. Soon, I ran out of trees, having come to the clearing before the lake where I grew up. I flipped down off the branch and walked over to the tree hollow that was my bed and smiled fondly at it. Chuckling lightly as I saw how small I must have been to fit in there. Soon enough, I heard Quaker walking up behind. Gasping in awe of the beauty the area held.
"It's amazing here dad..." He said, looking around. I nodded with a smile before walking over to a small flower bush. Beautiful blue flowers growing from it. Gently, I picked four of them. Standing up and looking down the path which I had walked many times before, this time. The role of father had been given to me as Quaker walked beside me in near silence. The only sounds being made were our footsteps and breathing.
We soon reached the clearing. A pair of graves lying side by side. Husband and wife together in life, and together in death.
"Jamie, and Danielle... Your parents dad?" Quaker asked as I nodded.
"Mhm, I never really knew my mother... But, I'll always love her," I placed two flowers on each of their graves and knelt down. Closing my eyes as tears ran down my snout, dripping onto the ground. "Rest in peace mum, dad... I'll always love you. For as long as I live, I swear I will never forget you..." I soon felt a paw on my shoulder, and my heart skipped a beat. Thinking it was them. Especially since this paw was much bigger than Quakers. I stood up and looked to the side. Finding Quaker standing a small distance away, looking somewhat intimidated. I quickly ducked down and spun around, glaring at the thing behind me before gasping. It was a feraligatr, a little taller than me.
"Are ye Repto?" He asked in a thick scottish accent.
I nodded, dumbfounded as to how he could know my name before he hugged me, tightly, happily.
"I'm ye brother," he said in his thick accent. It was then that I noticed he was also wearing a kilt. "The names Angus, I've been looking all over for ye,"
I could only blink in shock, unable to work out what was more shocking. That I had a brother I never knew about, or that he was scottish.
He soon explained to me that my father barely knew about him. A trainer having caught him when he was fairly young. He soon managed to escape and made his way back here. Only to find the fire had already ravenged the place, and took the life of our father. He had then spent the next years of his life searching for me, having heard that he had a brother from one of the pokemon that knew me and my father. I couldn't help but feel bad for him, but. He was quite happy to find me, and to see that I was in good health was even better.
It was all too soon, before we had to part ways, however he promised to keep in contact with both me and Quaker, who also had to leave. Him wanting to get to the next city as soon as possible.
I nodded, understanding they had reasons to leave. I however, had a reason to stay. This forest needed someone to watch over the pokemon living within. I jumped into the lake, swimming to the opposite side of it and climbing out. Running to the top of the hill opposite and looking out over the forest, feeling much like a superhero would, well, for the few seconds I was up there at least. For, a few moments later, I heard a crack, and I was plummeting down several meters. Thankfully. I didn't get hurt in the fall. But, I found myself in a cave. I looked around, finding nothing in my line of sight however.
I can't say how long I spent in there. Probably a day or two. Anyway, my eyes finally adjusted, and I made my way to a small crack of light I could see. Once there, I looked through it. Making out the outside world through it. I raised my mechanical arm, punching the wall as hard as I could. Only a few cracks appearing however. I reapeated this a few more times before the wall gave way. Collapsing and flooding the cave with light. I coughed and turned around, finding it was quite big. And, quite clear.
Over the next two years, I cleared it out. And began exploring it. Finding it was quite deep, and had many smaller 'rooms' leading off from the main cave. So, I decided to make this my home. Carving out what I needed. I made myself a bed soon enough. And, with Quaker and Angus' help. Made it up to my standards. Heh, those two sure are great family. They helped build me a bar, a library. Arceus, I've got everything here... Anyway. That's my story. I thank you for listening. Also, in case you're wondering what happened between me and Kevin when I first began talking... Well. As I said, that's a story for another time. So, until then. Adios amigo!