Chapter 7

"Alright. I'm fine with that."

"Really?" Siarnaq seemed ready to collapse with relief.

"Provided that we settle down afterwards, and that you promise me the children we agreed to." Pallene sat there, her legs crossed.

"B-but…" The Absol sighed. "Fine."

"Umm, not to be rude, but don't all guys want sex?" Lily was sitting next to Tsunami on the bed across from the couple. Her head was tilted and she had a puzzled look on her face.

"Well…" The Absol sighed, but Pallene interrupted.

"No! Don't say it!"

The Absol sighed. "Let's leave it at that. Fine… we can have kids…"

Pallene kissed him on the cheek. "Deal. Now let's snuggle."

The two of them pulled the sheets over themselves. "Goodnight you two."

"Goodnight," said Tsunami and Lily at the same time. The two of them sat on the bed next to each other.

"So… the bed…" began Tsunami.

"Yeah…" The two of them had discussed it a bit earlier.

"You want it?"

"No! You can sleep on it! I've lived in a cave, so I'm used to the floor…"

"But you're the girl!"

She sighed. "Fine. I'll sleep on the bed."

Tsunami grinned, knowing he had won. "Alright." He gently laid down the blanket on the wooden floor, and sighed as he was lying underneath it.

He heard Lily slowly undressing, likely changing into something more comfortable. He watched as the crimson dress she had worn today hung off the side of the bed. For about 20 minutes after, none of them spoke.

Then he heard Lily speak. "Tsunami?"

"Yeah?"

"All this talk about legendaries… I don't know what to think anymore…"

"Yeah. It seems terribly confusing…"

"But, say… well, what would happen if a legendary mated with a non-legendary?"

Tsunami blinked. "What would happen? Is that even possible?"

"I don't know. Back at West Lyon's academy… well, there was a girl who claimed she was the daughter of Zapdos, a legendary as you know, and a Unfezant. We all thought she was crazy; even I did. But what… well, what if she was right?"

"Well, was there anything special about her?"

"I… well, no." Lily was silent for awhile. "Have you remembered anything about your past at all?"

"No… I'm sorry. I just can't think up anything; no flashbacks or anything."

"Your sword skills are otherworldly, Tsunami..." She peered over the bed. "I can't believe you're agreeing to go with Siarnaq… aren't you interested in your past?"

Tsunami pondered her question. "I… well, I hope to perhaps find that answer along the way."

She looked at him, her eyes examining him carefully. "Tsunami?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you a secret? About a boy I used to know?"

He sat up. "What? There's another guy?" He had no idea why he was feeling so defensive.

She giggled. "No, silly! And pipe down, you're going to wake up Pallene and Siarnaq." She shook her head. "Before my parents passed away… there was a boy… he was an Eevee, like me." She had a faraway look in her eyes that made him feel jealous. "His name was Faolor… like me, he was a farmer…" She turned to him. "Is that envy?" she said softly.

"Wha-? Me? Uhh, no."

She giggled again. "Faolor was my best friend. We would play in the fields as children. He told me that when we grew up, we would get married and have fifty children and be rich and famous." She laughed. "Of course, I didn't even know how children were made at that time, and I don't think he did either. But you got the idea. He wanted to be with me."

Tsunami flinched. "What happened to him?"

"Well, he vanished. His father ran away with drinking problems when he was a child, and she was always busy. She was a great mother, but she had to work so hard to keep the farm running that she couldn't always keep an eye on him. Then one day, he was simply gone. His mother was devastated, and so was I." She looked away. "I suppose that my distrust of males began there… I never knew what happened to him. I thought that he would tell me if he was going to do something like that. And I never knew why… he always seemed happy when he was with me. I believe that he is alive though. I heard rumors of a Jolteon commander named Faolan, and, knowing him, he probably would have changed his name to forget his past. He always hated his father for leaving him." She sighed. "But it's okay. You're a good friend Tsunami…" She smiled at him.

"But this Jolteon… have you ever tried to search him out?"

"No. If he wanted me to find him, he would have told me. And I simply had a crush on him. He was cute, but… well, at that age, and even now, I don't know what love really is. I mean, what is it? Desire for sex? I just don't know…"

"I don't know… maybe I loved before I lost my memory? I… well, I just can't say…"

She sighed. "You males… just want somebody to play with… then leave them once you get bored."

"That's a little sexist, isn't it?"

She shrugged. "I've learned from experience."

Tsunami finally understood what the Espeon's problem was; she had been in so many bad relations with males that she almost kept a shell over herself to avoid being hurt. It had seemed as if she wanted to be closer to him, but was afraid of what it might lead to.

"Lily… I want to know… do you trust me?"

She blinked, then tilted her head in surprise. "Do I… trust you?" She stared intensely at him with those pretty sunrise-colored eyes. "Hmm…" She rested her chin on her hands. "Can I trust you?"

"Why wouldn't you?" He was shocked.

"Well… for example… you could be lying about your memory. You could be using it as an excuse to try get with me…"

"That hurts, Lily…" Those words were daggers.

She looked at him, then laughed. "Hee hee… the… tha… haha!"

He blinked. "What's so funny?"

She wiped some tears away. "The look on your face… no Tsunami, I trust you. You're not like any other boy I've met. And that is a compliment."

He sighed with relief. "That was a cruel joke, Lily… I'll get you back sometime…"

She giggled. "Alright… I'll be ready." She winked at him, then yawned. "Let's get some sleep… oh, and Tsunami?"

"Yeah?"

She smiled at him. "I trust you."

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"WHAT?"

A Magmortar bowed. "My lord Palkia, we have no- URF!"

"I give you three, three fucking fire types guarding the door and you let a little Leafeon escape. Just… how?! You tell me general!"

"W-well, you see… there was a hole… she might have, well, escaped through the hole."

Palkia didn't speak for awhile. "You find that bitch. Or I'll kill you. It's simple. GO!"

"Y-yes, my lord." The fire type ran away, out of the throne room.

Madison watched from the top of a large statue. She shivered at the coldness in the legendary Pokemon's voice.

Palkia froze, then turned to the statue where Madison was watching. She ducked down, certain he had seen her. But when nothing happened, she peeked around again to see Palkia following the fire type out of the room.

She carefully climbed down the statue. She peeked around the throne room to make sure nobody was around, then made a dash for the exit.

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"Lily? Are you alright?" Tsunami turned to face the Espeon. She was fidgeting nervously.

She brushed whatever it was away. "I'm fine. It… it's nothing, Tsunami."

The four of them were walking through the village. Nobody seemed to pay much attention to them. Pokemon all around were armed with various weapons. An Arcanine with an axe, a Floatzel with a longsword… there were so many armed Pokemon here it was unsettling.

"Siarnaq… is something wrong about this?" Pallene must have noticed also. "They all seem armed…"

Finally, Lily spoke up. "Th-this is it… my… my old academy. West Lyons… it's very close… I just realized it."

Tsunami turned to her sharply. "Lily… why didn't you tell me?"

"I…" She gulped. "This place holds terrible memories, Tsunami… I just want to pass through here…" Tsunami quickly noticed some Pokemon shooting suspicious glances at Lily and whispering. "G-guys… if they recognize me, they'll make me go back to my old mentor… oh lord Arceus!" Her voice was a whisper, and she was shivering despite the sunlight.

"What happened?" asked Siarnaq.

She gulped, Tsunami knew he had to help her. "Siarnaq, we have to hide for now… we can't let them take Lily…"

"If we run, they'll notice us," added Pallene.

Then they heard a flap of wings as Aero landed down gracefully. "You guys sound like you need a place to hide. I know a place… you are going to have to follow me. Quietly now!"

The four silently followed the bird Pokemon, trying to blend in as much as possible. It was obvious they were still getting suspicious glances from the crowds, however.

"Just one more block now, guys-"

"HALT!"

Lily's eyes grew wide with panic as the voice rang through the air. All Pokemon nearby froze. Her eyes seemed to beg Tsunami for help, with a desperation he had never seen before.

Out of the shadows stepped a Mightyena. "Well well… my little apprentice has chosen to… how should I put it… return?"

Lily slowly turned around. "V-V-Vail…"

The Mightyena wore a dark red cloak, and was tossing a small red jewel in his hand. "Lily… you look much more… hmm… mature than I remember? Maybe a bit larger in the chest area and even more beautiful…"

"Shut up Vail. You know exactly why I ran away."

He laughed. "What?" He threw his hands up. "Almost every mentor here has had some sort of sexual relationship with their apprentice. Nobody cares what I did to you."

Tsunami heard Pallene gasp from behind him, and next to him, he saw Siarnaq's face blank with shock. Lily's normally vibrant pink fur seemed to be turning paler by the moment.

He laughed. "Now… it's been too long since I've been able to… ahem, train you. Come back to me, Lily. I'll teach you some wonderful spells…"

Then Tsunami instinctively reached out a hand to Lily. She saw the gesture, and held his hand tightly. It's okay, he thought with a glance to Lily. When she looked up at him, she clearly got the message.

The Mightyena watched with narrowed eyes. "Who is this?" he asked softly.

"I'm Tsunami, Lily's friend. I don't appreciate you harassing her."

He scowled. "Just a friend? That pink furred bitch is mine. You can't take her from me."

"T-Tsunami is a better friend than you could ever hope to be, Vail…" Lily was glaring at him, eyes teary.

"That's beyond the point. She's my apprentice, and I may do to her as I wish… now hand her over."

"I'll make you a deal, Vail." Tsunami pulled out his blade.

The Mightyena swished his tail. "I'm really tempted to cast a shadow spell… but I'll listen."

"How about a duel?"

The Mightyena seemed interested. "A duel, eh? An uneducated swordsman stands no chance against a scholar and spellcaster like myself…"

"If I win, you leave us all alone…"

"And if I win, you watch me tou-"

"Lily isn't part of the deal. You leave her alone no matter what. But if you win, I'll take my own life."

The Mightyena considered it. "Hmm… I'll be known for taking down a swordsman without even attacking… and Lily might be so distraught she might come to me… alright, deal."

Tsunami nodded. "Let's fight."

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Landon watched the whole scene carry out from the roof of a nearby store. Poor girl… having such an ass for a mentor. Look at her, shivering… I wonder what happened… did he… touch her? "Your game," he heard the Vaporeon say.

Landon gently waited for the crowds to subside, then neatly landed on the sandy ground below. He retreated into the shadows. He had carefully listened outside a window yesterday when they had talked about going after Palkia. Earlier that day, he had strongly considered trying to assassinate them again, but he had overheard how they had escaped Palkia the first time, and it occurred to him that these were no ordinary Pokemon. It made sense to try secretly help them.

He remained in the shadows, following the Staravia who was high in the sky. Finally, the flying type descended, and he watched the one of the Ninetale's plumes vanish into a bar. He carefully snuck into the bar, and remained in a corner. A large ring was in the center of the bar, where the Mightyena stood in front of the Vaporeon.

He overheard the Espeon say, "You don't have to do this, Tsunami."

"Yes I do. I must protect my friends. We are friends Lily…"

"This is touching. But let's begin!" The two stood in the ring, facing each other. Quickly, the dark type started chanting, and a ring of lightning flew at the water type. The Vaporeon quickly rolled to the side, and with a wave of his hand left hand, a ball of water formed out of the air and flew at the dark type. The Mightyena threw the stone he was holding to the ground, and a protective shield formed over him, diverting the attack.

The eon Pokemon dashed over to the dark type with remarkable speed for a water type, and, with a swift slash, destroyed the dark type's protective shield. It certainly didn't look like the water type would need Landon's help.

But right when it looked like Tsunami would be able to beat the dark type, he yowled, "Bolt!" Then out of the crowd, a bolt of lightning neatly arced to the Vaporeon, and caught him right in the back. He shouted in pain, before collapsing to the ground, likely the work of some electric type.

Outside the ring, the Absol shouted, "That's cheating! He didn't do that!" but the crowd cheered as the dark type walked to the near unconscious water type.

"I win, bitch. And I also win your little Espeon. I am going to have fun with her. I'll take care of her, like you couldn't. You lose!"

Are they in trouble? What will Landon do? Read and review to find out!