Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, it is here. Sorry for it being about...an hour late. It's 1am on Tuesday when this is going up. Only the cool kids finish stuff at the last minute...Okay, what am I kidding myself?...
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Disclaimer stuff and let's go!~
As we stepped off the boat, I looked around the town. It was small, not a bustling city like Rustboro, but it wasn't practically unpopulated like Littleroot. Yellow beaches, modest houses and a sparkling ocean; it couldn't have been more cliche. It reminded me a bit of where I used to live in Johto: Olivine.
"So...This is Dewford, huh?" I looked around as we got on the weather beaten pier.
"Yeah! Before we can meet Steven though, we have to beat the gym!" Noah was looking a bit green from the boat ride.
"Are you still mad about me knocking you unconscious and shoving you into a body bag?" Dusty asked, trying to look as innocent as possible and almost succeeding.
I contemplated the question quietly. "...I don't want to murder you as much. Still do, though," I pointed towards Granite Cave. "I thought we could go to the cave first? I normally do that first." Noah shook with heaving laughter. The heaving because he was still visibly nauseous.
"Good..." he said between laughs. "That is progress. In the remakes you have to beat the gym."
"Gym first then…" I replied. "Thought it was optional, but if you say it isn't, all right." Noah picked up one of his pokeballs, and threw it from hand to hand.
"Olivia's going to have a field day."
Dusty looked up from her bag with an alarmed look in her eyes. "Tch...Where are my papers?!" She dug through her bag again. "Noah! I blame it on you! I blame everything on you: My dad, world hunger, Good-Thoaria…"
Noah simply shrugged. "It isn't my fault you lost our contract. That sounds like a "you" problem."
Dusty frowned back, looking pretty upset. "I said papers, not paper. They're Wally's medical files. Now…" She kicked her bag. "Where are they?!"
"Icarus may or may not have made a nest for Baby out of them," Noah said, attempting to hide Icarus's pokeball from Dusty's sight.
"Hawk ate some, too," I added.
Dusty pulled out Crescent's pokeball. "Fuck you too! Crescent, Attract!"
Nothing happened. Of course...We're human.
"I don't think it affects humans," he guessed, backing up my thinking.
"I was talking about Icarus up there," Dusty pointed to a random wingull. "Oops, he just divebombed into the sea. Doesn't look like he'll be coming up anytime soon either."
Noah shook his head, "That's just a random wingull. Icarus is in his pokeball."
"Dammit!" Dusty yelled. "Now I'm a murderer! Noah's fault!"
"More like a BIRDerer!" Noah corrected as I just facepalmed, muttering;
"No. Just….No."
"Whatever. You two have some girl time. I need to train Mumble."
With that, Noah left for Granite Cave.
Girl time? ….Okay. Hopefully, Dusty doesn't kidnap me again.
"No! I'm saving the Wingull! I'mma superhero, idiot!" Dusty dived off the edge of the boat.
"So...Just me...Alone. With my pokemanz...And there's that cave...And bored...I have a feeling some-" A vision of amazingness appeared on the horizon. Steven flying on a Skarmory to the island. He slammed onto the beach with a plume of sand flying into the air. He then began walking towards me, his silver hair curling around his face from the humidity and clothes adorably wrinkled. I gave an internal squee.
...Not gonna lie. That looked badass. ...Brain. Back out of that territory, please.
"Excuse me, could you give me directions to Granite Cave?" he asked, which surprised me. He's an expert on stones...How would he not know where that cave is?
As if some god were mocking me, a whole bunch of magazines-that weren't even mine-fell out of the bag that….Dusty gave to me before we left.
"Uh…Why do I have these anyway?" I muttered embarrassedly. "Is this a prank, Dusty? Uhh...Dusty?"
I looked around for the person in question, but she was no where to be seen.
"Where is Granite Cave, miss?" Steven asked again.
"Oh, sorry, sir," I replied, pointing towards the gym. "It should be thatta way. Make a left when you reach the shore."
"Thanks. Maybe if I am lucky, that won't be the only cave I explore today. Do you have a cave that I can explore with my iron hard pokemon, miss?" he asked. He did not seem to be implying anything...but...?
Was that an innuendo? Nah...He doesn't seem like that kind of person.
"There's a few on Route 111. Shouldn't I be asking you this? Aren't you some expert on stones and caves and such, Mr. Steven Stone?" I said more than asked, suspicious of the whole situation.
"Yes, but I enjoy talking to you for some reason, miss." Steven gave me a dazzling smile. Like one of those that make a girl's (and gay pokemart employees') heart flutter... Interesting.
"Well, I suppose you're one of the only people around here that I can hold a decent conversation with, even though I barely know you," I replied.
"I know!" Steven said cheerfully. "Do you want to help me and my iron hard pokemon explore a cave sometime?"
….Did he just ask me out or something?
If he was, he was being pretty cool about it. I mean...I dunno. It just seemed like it was a thing. And it was happening. Dusty came around the corner out of nowhere with the corpse of a wingull in her right hand.
"What the hell? That's not true! You can hold a mildly entertaining conversation with me! ….Why are you ignoring me? I'm a main character!" Dusty looked from me to Steven. "Wait...Excuse me? You want to explore a cave with Thoaria?" She nudged my side with her elbow.
I shook her off, even going as far as saying, "Did you hear something? No…?" I smiled. "Okay. I'd be glad to help out. Just one thing...I'm terrified of the dark, so we'd need some type of pokemon with-"
"Flash?" Steven asked. "Never leave home without it. You know, you really are pretty. You should consider becoming a swimsuit model. It pays very well." There was no trace of flirtation in his voice.
Swimsuit...model? Okay, no. Never in a million years. I'd rather die. And have someone take a red hot knife and cut off my limbs slow-Eh…
I shuddered at the thought. "I couldn't pose for a camera in practical underwear if I tried...I'm more of a contest person."
"If you explore a cave with me," he said. "I'll be sure to watch you in a contest."
"Really?" I replied, amazed. "It'd be an honor. Though I wouldn't come without some form of disguise."
"Duly noted," Steven agreed with a laugh.
"Heh...Yeah." I then realized that I never gave him my name. "Oh! My name's Thoaria, by the way; nice to meet you, Mr. Stone."
"Call me Steven, Thoaria. I'll remember that name, you know. I have to go."
"All right, see you in Slateport. The next contest is there!" I said as he waved and headed towards the cave.
I watched him go, sighing habitually, as Noah walked up behind me. "Hey, guys! What did I miss? I saw Steven walking away, did I miss the first Theven moment?"
"Well...I'll tell you what you didn't miss...Nothing." I shook my head, confused. "I don't even know. He seems nice though. Not like those certain celebrities these days…Anyway, how'd that training go?" Noah tossed a pokeball from hand to hand.
"Caught a Zubat, and trained everyone to level 20. Mumble and Olivia evolved. I think I will challenge the Gym first."
"I'm going next. I was last last time," I said as he walked into Brawly's gym. Dusty looked at me with stars in her eyes.
"So!" She clapped her hands together. "What is your strategy for impressing your man at the contests?"
"..." I let out a really long sigh. Dusty will be Dusty. "Dusty, for the first and last time, he is not my "man". Seriously, I just met him. This isn't High School Musical..."
"What is your strategy? Seriously."
"Train like there's no tomorrow and get Raven to evolve. And then somehow get Dazzling Gleam and...stuff on her...I haven't really thought about it."
"Not possible. You can not grind by that much. Have you considered the move sets, and your strategy? Make some Pokeblocks?"
"Of course, I thought of that horrible little factor. So I suppose Kirlia'd be fine for this. I plan on using these Oran Berries to make pokeblocks for Beauty. And I have a trump card, of course."
"Crescent's going to enter, too. Attract for looks, Sing, Feint Attack and one last move~. And think of the clothes! They're always adorable." Noah walked out of the gym with a badge in his palm.
"So, you return victorious?" I asked, eyeing said badge.
"Yeah! I didn't even lose anyone this time!"
Dusty flipped through some contest magazine. "Noah, shut up. We want to talk about contests. You're entering too; for da ladies."
"Wutt?" he inquired, monotonously. Does that mean utter boredom or is he excited? I'll never know, I guess.
"Yeah and I'm going to win. Steven's going to be there. I don't want have him waste his time," I explained. Realizing how...I dunno...egotistical it sounded, I added, "I mean, it'd be all right not to win, but...Like I said, He's busy as is, I don't want to waste his time."
"Oh, really?" Dusty asked, looking at a map now. Where does she keep all this stuff? "Verdanturf is near Slateport! So Wally can come too! Noah, don't lose. I'll back out this time because Noah can't do anything on his own. He needs his agent!" Noah rubbed his head subconsciously.
"I actually think, granting that all the judges are interested in guys, I am a shoe in past the first round."
Dusty looked over at the gym. "Boom! I'm going to do the Gym now, cause Thoaria's busy. Suck it." She lit Hibiscus on fire, and let her run through the gym. So THAT is how she did it.
Long story short. The gym does not exist anymore. It's just a pile of rubble.
She ran out, covered in soot, a gym badge pinned on her shirt. "I pissed Brawly off too. Gotta run!" Dusty bolted as...cops? Cops chased after her, yelling something about a bounty. Noah just sighed.
"Well. That WAS a nice gym."
"A legit gym at that," I added. Noah lifted a couple of… rather large weights out of his bag.
"At least I bought some weights. This body requires work to maintain."
"I'm sure it does," I muttered. Well, that's interesting...Sand comes in many different shades...
"Anyway, how was Steven?" he asked.
"Steven." What? That is a legit answer. Noah appeared to be looking for a conversation topic in the air.
"Okay... At least that gym wasn't as traumatic as Roxanne's. How did she deal with you by the way?" He was blushing slightly as he said this. Eh?
That was an experience. "I let her Pokemon live so she gave me a golden star sticker. Still feel as special as I did in third grade." I don't enjoy killing other people's pokemon. "Oh and I took a test and got another because perfect score…" Noah's stare was glassy as he looked back at me.
"Err...That is interesting…"
Just then, Dusty came out of nowhere; as per usual. She must have lost the coppers.
" I always get good grades," she stated. "But if I get a B dad yells at me and tells me I'm a disappointment, and a waste of his time. Ha ha! Right. Once he locked me in a closet for an entire day~." That is… extreme. And I thought my dad was crazy...Geez. No wonder they were best friends in school. Dad and Prof. Birch.
"Well, I'm not allowed below 95...There was this one time I missed a science lesson and got a 54 on the test and Mom flipped. Dad was like "Good-Thoaria got a 100 on that test." And I'm like "I had band that period! Flute is important! Scholarship, remember! The goals?" Noah just looked sheepish.
"I didn't exactly go to school…" We ignored him.
Bless your soul...No years of grueling learning…
"Your dad is as much as an asshole as mine~," Dusty sang, "He broke all my toys once and called them a waste of time and forced me to do fieldwork. My poor DS... I will remember you."
Noah sighed again. "...And nobody cares."
That isn't true...Wait. What was that Raven was talking about before? ...I guess I'll just ask? What if I don't get an answer? ...Yeah, I'll get one.
"You know...Raven said something about you and mental unrest before. Like...Something's bothering you? She uses the weirdest terms."
"Nothing is wrong!" he replied too fast for it to be believable. "Nothing at all!" Noah proceeded to give out a forced laugh.
"And nobody cares! You know, I was trying to brag about my bad childhood." she laughed mockingly. "It usually makes people feel sympathetic."
Well...It's really empathy for me…
I rolled my eyes, looking at Noah. "I'm ~sure~ it's something petty." Noah looked quickly around. As if searching for a reason to be angry...
"I was jealous because you two seem to have these perfect hubbies, and all the girls care about is my body." He could have come up with a reason that WASN'T complete bullshit...Still...it gave me a bit of feels.
"Well...I'm sure there's someone in the same position out there, feeling the same pain and they understand. Maybe you'll find them someday," Dusty just glared at us, tapping her foot. We were still in front of the gym… wasn't she supposed to be on the run?
"Hmph. Since we're all sharing our feelings now, I couldn't care less about anyone, even you guys. I hate you all!" she laughed again. "And Noah? Stop lying. It's become pretty annoying. Tell us how much you find it pathetic we're taking out families for granted and all these bad things are just how much they love us." His eyes darted quickly to the left.
"Nope. Telling the truth," he pressed, "I was seriously thinking about that."
I shooked my head, deciding to apply my Game Theory skills. "I still don't believe you. When you told us your reason, your eyes drifted to the left. Lying. You're right handed." Noah wrote something on a piece of paper with his LEFT hand. It read:
"Ambidextrous. It doesn't work on me."
"I still think I'm right," I insisted, "Call me a stubborn ass if you want."
Dusty rolled her eyes. "How stupid. You think you can analyze something from his dominant hand. I mean, how does that work?" She turned to Noah, "And perfect? Stop kidding yourself. You need to feel jealous of us. Heh. You need to feel as if we have it all."
Because reasons and La Noire…. and Game Theory.
"I wasn't lying," he protested, his eyebrows scrunching together. "You two have these fantasy type relationships, while I get girls because they like my body, and don't care about anything else."
...If not lying...then...Half truths?
"You're right...You aren't lying. Not completely anyway." You don't even know how awesome this feels. CIA dreams be coming true...I mean. Awe...So sad… "You're simply relying on half-truths. Telling half the story, the rest a mystery. But we "believe" it. Because it's just true enough."
"Sweet Arceus. You think I am lying?" Yes. Yes I do. "I could have ridiculous, harem sex every single night with a different set of girls every time, but I don't because I actually want a relationship." That probably could happen. Does not make it any less disturbing, but it could happen. Dusty made a hand puppet.
"Blah, blah, blah! Pity me!" The puppet mocked. "I have no parents and girls fall over me at every turn! Look! My friends have perfect relationships! Oh no!" She rolled her eyes, and put her hand down. "You are fucking ridiculous sometimes. You know, you may not realize it, but your parents can be a pretty convenient wall to hide behind. You rely on that pity, you know? Spare me the dramatics. You want a good relationship? Then try to find a girl instead of complaining."
...Gods. She's such a bitch...Count to ten, Thoaria. Dusty = friend. Dusty = friend...Don't explode…
"Me? The ridiculous one? What about you? You literally abuse your friends for money and science experiments!" Noah said matter-of-factually. "You try to murder Thoaria with that infernal baseball bat on a regular basis! You hide behind the premise of being some mad genius to get rid of the signs of your true feelings! We are your friends! You can talk to us!"
...I can't...hold it back...
"...OH GODS! JUST SHUT UP!" Despite my outburst, they ignored me.
"At least I don't hide it," Dusty sneered. "I told you, you guys aren't my friends. I don't have friends. I don't need them. You're the one who chose to believe that. Oops! Better shut up now."
" ...Then why do you bother staying here?" I yelled. "Why do you follow us around? Huh? And yes, that is something to hide behind, but something like that-whatever happened, whatever it was-must've been hard to come back from." This is killing my sanity. "Still, don't use hardships you've faced as an excuse to do things, act a certain way. I don't want a war." Dusty just laughed.
"Nobody cares, remember? I learned that a lot. Heh. Whatever. You guys are quality entertainment. Why do you think I have to have some sort of hidden feelings and sad past? I don't get humans. People. They're so damn emotional."
...At least I have emotions. Geez…
Noah lost it at that point. "EXPLAIN YOUR LACK OF EMOTION TO WALLY THEN! HE DESERVES TO KNOW, YOU FUCKING CRAZY ASS BITCH!" Dusty's expression changed to mock sadness.
"Boo! I blew my cover again. I just don't relate to humans. Ha ha ha! I can't tell him that, though. Might crush the poor guy."
"Normally...I'd be at my wit's end right about now, but surprisingly, I'm not. I'm not going to believe anyone could be so heartless." I frowned at her, trying to come up with something witty. "Though that probably sounds pretty naive to you. There can't be light without a bit of darkness and darkness without light like how the clouds cast shadows on the earth." Noah clenched his fists, and glared death at Dusty.
"Wally loves you. You don't even understand. HE IS TOO GODS DAMN GOOD FOR YOU!"
I second that thought.
"I thought I established that I don't give a crap," Dusty made another one of her damned hand puppets. "Blah blah blah. Sentimental stuff and philosophy, opinions and thoughts. I thought I could at least make the game last longer this time. Whatever." Noah immediately began striding towards Granite Cave, leaving hasty, deep marks on the sand.
"I AM LEAVING!"
There's was something about what she said that stuck in my mind. "I thought I could at least make the game last longer this time." What did she mean by that?
"Game? W-wait!" Considering my options, I chose to run after Noah.
The cave was damp and dark, a trickle of water dripping on to the floor with a steady plop. Crumbled rocks covered the floor and the walls looked roughly hewn together, with a few stalactites and stalagmites hanging sheepishly on the edges.
As I wandered farther into the cave, I saw Noah punching the wall. He really was strong. His fists were bloody, thickly coated so you couldn't see the flesh underneath, but there were two huge dents in the cave wall. He could have given Captain America a run for his money in a punching bag competition.
"All right, Steve Rogers, cheer up. No need to break your hands," I said, gesturing towards the wall.
"Cheer up? Do you know what I did for her?" Noah asked. "Do you know why Wally stopped his Philandering ways so suddenly?" I am assuming a severe man to man talk was involved.
I guess I'll have to...be a man? Okay. This is happening.
"And that's why we can't be mad at her. Think. Something must've set her off. An inability to let people in? Something we said? There's a good person in there, she's just a bit lost." Maybe. I think. I try to give people a chance...No matter how much I want to kill them...What?
"Maybe she doesn't want to be found. Wally may kill himself if he finds out. I have to stop him if he tries something stupid." Noah must have done some SERIOUS talking to.
"...You know...Not that Wally killing himself isn't important...But I've been thinking about something she said." I'm going all Sherlock up in this hood.
"How her not having emotions is complete bullshit and that she really does care for Wally?" You have a point there, Noah.
""I thought I could at least make the game last longer this time." She said that." I explained.
"That just proves how she does not care. Seriously. She beat you over the head with a baseball bat, and stuffed you in a bag. You are right. It is time to end this. We are ending her Pokemon before she becomes too powerful." He jumped to that pretty quickly...
Those poor pokemon don't need to be slaughtered…
"Woah!" I held my hands up in a "stop" gesture. "Okay, you can look at it that way. Okay. But what I thought doesn't involve her being evil at all. This has obviously...happened before. Again. And each time she tries to prolong it. Cursed? Stuck in a sort of loop? Someone keeps resetting this "game" and sending her new people. She stays the same. We change." Oh, if I were right about all this… Noah began shaking his head.
"...That is not possible. And I have proof."
" Proof? Fine, lets hear it," I allowed Watson to voice his thoughts. "Though I can back my point up as well…"
"This is not sexual in the least." He took off his pants revealing large white scars running up and down his legs. Almost as if someone took a knife to them. They protruded from his flesh like angry, white, mole tunnels. Who could have done this? "Let me ask you something. I want you to feel those." He put my hand on one lower on his thigh. It was rough, and calloused. "Tell me. Are they real? I remember exactly where and when I got these." He pointed a single finger at me. "If I did not exist until I met Dusty, then why could I tell you the exact place I got these? And show you the bloodstains?"
"That's a valid point," I agreed with that one part, "but we found you in a situation I like to call the "Robin Effect". Do you remember how you got there? Why you were there?"
"Yes. I swam the route between Mauville and Oldale. I was running from A Team. I took a nap in the place you found me
There was emphasis on the "a"...Am I just reading too far into it? Yeah...I am. He probably meant the A Team from that old 80's TV series.
"Then I have another theory. So you remember where and when you got these scars? Maybe this game has been going on for longer than we thought. Maybe it didn't start here in Hoenn. Or when I arrived." I could be so wrong right now, but I don't give. If I'm right...I totally claim bragging rights.
Noah then began to tell a tale. One that will disturb me for as long as I live. "A cave in Lilycove. I could show you where the blood hit the floor every time he cut me. I could show you where he took his most recent "fuck slave."" DAMN. That's harsh. "I could show you where one day he decided I should become a man, and forced me to fuck this poor woman he had stretched on the table. I could show you where I took my first steps out of that hell hole. Are you telling me none of that was real?"
Crazy hypothesis time, I guess...
"I'm sure you could. ...I don't know how to respond to that...Sorry if that sounds insensitive. But I can't help but think of one more thing," I explained. "You know how when you get a video game and each character has a programmed backstory? Memories...Family, friends? Now I'm just overthinking it..."
"You are telling me my entire existence is due to some sick asshole's imagination?" Noah asked, seeming to be somewhere between breaking stuff and curling up into a ball and crying. "That he could have made me have a happy childhood? A past that didn't haunt me every time I took off my pants?"
"You know what he gave you with a tragic past, if this is true?" I feel like an old, wise guru right about now…."He gave you a chance at a better future. He let you escape that place. Why do you think he did that? So you could bring terror to others? I don't think so. You're here with us, right now, for a reason."
Now, go. Go and claim your destiny, Ru-Okay. I'll stop. Need to be serious now. But I just can't find the right words... What can I even give to him, besides pity and cliche words? He deserves more than that.
"You are telling me the girl wasn't real?" What girl? "The girl he wanted to watch me rape?" Oh. That. "The one where I did so that he could be proud of me for once?" Sick...That's sick and twisted. "Her screams for her sister to come help her weren't real? I remember them as real as you are. I won't let that happen to anyone ever again. I will destroy his abomination. I may be here for a reason, but I am by no means a hero." Not a hero? ...I doubt that being possible. But I suppose...
"No one is. Maybe we aren't in a game. Maybe someone-some god-threw together some sick world. But that just makes it all the more fun to rebel…. Oh and thanks...for indirectly telling me what was bothering you…"' Noah looked away, visibly ashamed.
"Do you hate me yet? For my crimes? For what he is? For what he made me do?"
Hate…? Hate and I aren't very good friends. Now, pie on the other hand…. Focus.
"Do I hate you? Well, I can't exactly put stock in anything I haven't witnessed. So you did some bad things. It happened. But you haven't done anything here and now that would make me hate you." I'm not giving you a pity pass. Don't think that.
He thought for a moment before saying, "Who do you think "he" is? You are smart. If you can even guess correctly, I will tell you why I need to kill him myself."
Who is he? Hm…He said he swam that water route. And "he"...? Well, maybe his dad? Normally, people want to make their parents proud.
Okay, that's covered...What about who he is? Well...He was running from a team...or the A Team. Is he Hannibal? Murdoch? Merryweather? Mr. T god forbid? I dunno. Anyway... He had to swim. So that mandates him being part of Team Aqua.
In order to be kept and for his dad to have...AHEM...he would need to have a high status. That would make him an admin or the leader of Team Aqua.
Coming to my conclusion, I nodded. "I don't ever back down from a challenge. He's your dad. And your dad is either an admin in Team Aqua or the leader himself."
"Well, you are mostly right. You have narrowed it down to two people. Good job. I guess I can tell you the rest. My father is Archie of team Aqua." He took a breath, bracing himself to continue. I couldn't really find the right words to comfort or help him. "We don't talk about my mother. Mostly because she died, and I look much more like her than Archie. He just sort of snapped after Mom was killed by team Magma.
"The last straw was when he forced me to "become a man." Afterwards, the girl became pregnant if you believe it. I wasn't sure how to feel, but when he was born, I felt so alive for once in my life. Then he came. He said the babe didn't look enough like him, then strangled him to death in front of me." By this point, Noah was full on crying. I felt like it as well...That's just sad and it looks like someone really needs a hug. "I….You don't want me around."
"...Do I have permission to give you a hug?" He had no reaction, so I took it as a yes and did so."Nah, I'mma do it anyway-"
"I am a monster. I don't deserve a second chance…" Noah muttered.
I pulled away and said, "Awe, okay. Fine. No hugs for you."
A sharp, slow clap interrupted the moment, echoing through the cave. "Fun. Nice story. Should I take a picture of this ship?" It was Dusty, her voice dry as she leaned against the wall. Noah glared at her.
"How much did you hear?"
"Thoaria, another piece of evidence is that he didn't say he joined Team Aqua, which points to his dad having the highest position of power to make this decision. Oh! Did you say something, Noah?" She gave him a friendly smile.
"I said you two don't want me around," he explained. "My dad is going to come for me, and when he does you two are going to be slaves best case scenario."
...So he didn't say anything because he wanted to protect us…
Dusty sighed. "You're being stupid again, Noah. I would love that sort of thing. I thought Thoaria had at least helped you grow up. Alleviate your pain and all that. Hibiscus, get the bag."
"Okay...How about no bagging people? Thanks." I said. "Here's the thing, I'm not going to become someone's bitch. I'm definitely not ready for that. Plus, I know karate….I don't. It just sounded cool," I added sheepishly.
Dusty snorted, as Hibiscus presented us with a medium sized bag, dark blue with only thin straps for decoration. "And I've travelled all over the region already. I grew up here. What did you think I do in my spare time? Oh, this bag Hibiscus is giving you is full of some medicine for Wally. Got a few experimental cures, but it's mostly to help with the side effects of his disease."
"You must care. How many times have you watched him die?" Noah pressed.
"You're making no sense now. I thought you were smart. But then with your display from earlier... Gotta analyze that some more. Right, got some bitter almond cookies for you and this balm in case you get hurt. Helps with pain." She ignored his comments as Hibiscus offered him a bag of cookies and a green tinted jar.
"You know what? You are right. I never claimed to be smart. But I know hopeless. When I watched my son die before my eyes, I see the same look in your eyes when you look at Wally. So tell me. How many times have you watched him die?" Noah stared calmly at her as Dusty looked back in confusion.
"True. But people don't know themselves. They think they do, but it's hard to get a grasp on who you are, not if you hands with each encounter and experience." She laughed, cold and hollow. "What? I only just met him, Noah. How can I watch him die over and over? Unless you mean metaphorically."
"How many times have you played this game, Dusty? Thoaria has to be right. I am too stupid to think of something that is actually right." Noah just looked down in despair.
"When I said game, I was referring to how many people had come and go in my life. Here's some seals for your contests, Thoaria. And some sheet music. Try it. It's a good song." Why was she giving me things? Hibiscus stood innocently at my side, offering papers and a wooden box of seals.
"Thanks, but you aren't changing the subject. Explain why you tried to push us out? You didn't want to get attached to us-" Dusty cut me off.
"Can I get some fucking room now?" She sighed. "Geez you guys are pushy. Let me put this in terms you understand: I don't give a fuck about anyone. Stop trying to pretend you know me. Stop trying to push your ideals on me."
"I am tired of being a failure. I reserve the right to push." Noah stated.
"No, how about you stop with the act?" I put my foot down, done with all this BS. "Dusty. We aren't stupid. Tell us. Now."
"These people are fun, Hibiscus. They're so stubborn, it's cute. Let's go. I came for what I wanted and now I'm leaving. Bye, bye!" She turned to leave, before stopping for moment, tilting her head so we could only see the side of her face. "Funny thing to note: if I don't care, it can't bother me. I already have a lotta ghosts, anyways. A few more won't bother me."
"Let them bother you." Noah insisted. "That is how you know you are human."
I nodded. "Yeah, the past...Sure most say to forget it, but like Noah said, if you're human, you'll let it haunt you. Involuntarily."
"You're talking in philosophy and I'm using logic." Dusty murmured. This was progress. I guess. "Eh, if you want me to spill a few beans, I'll bite."
"I hope you understand," Noah said as he pulled on his pants. "That what I said was for your benefit. You don't seem to understand what true heartlessness is Dusty. I have seen it. It stared at me all my childhood. You are not it."
"Yada yada yada. I don't need you to tell me what I am or am not. You should know that, of all people. There's a difference between not caring and cruelty, yeah? Well, my beans, let's see... Lana! She used to beat me bloody and blue, kicked me all the time and told me to die. Renae and Diane. They, I think, bullied me. That's whatcha call it, right? Hahaha! Made me swallow a whole Lotad once, burned me up and down my arms. I would show you for shock factor, but eh. Oh! And the teachers hated me cause those two blamed all the trouble they caused on me. That enough? Should I go into family issues too?" Her voice was monotonous, as if she was reciting something for a school project she only half remembered.
"I have listened. I cannot say anything to you that won't dissuade you from your path." Noah lightly brushed his lips across the back of my hand. "Thank you for your support. Your hubby awaits. I am going to see if I can stop my father before he can kill anyone else."
"Eh? I'm on a path? What path? Hibiscus and me, and all the rest, we just travel with the wind. See ya in hell, guys! Fun knowing you." She shrugged nonchalantly, spinning around for a few seconds.
"You're leaving? Oh...I guess...I'll see you in Verdanturf for that contest." I tried to grasp what exactly it was that was happening, not wanting anyone to go. "And you, Noah? You're going as well? To go after the old man? ...You're not going to do any of this alone..."
"In books, the group usually doesn't split up like this." I felt a flame of hope ignite as she said this, until it was brutally extinguished with the next few sentences. "It's after a few more chapters. Fun, this life. Remember to give that to Wally. Not my concern if ya don't."
"Good thing this isn't a book then." Noah said, confirming that he was leaving as well. "I will do whatever it takes to stop my father. I wish you two luck in whatever you guys do." He then took off his shirt, and ran out of the cave. I heard the splash as he hit the water.
"Geez, what a gentleman, didn't even ask if I wanted to help..." So this is it? Why'd this have to happen...? "Go commit suicide, why don't you? ...Wars aren't won alone..."
"Some are. He needs that reassurance, yeah? Buh bye now!" Dusty released a Marill she shouldn't have owned, picked it up and followed Noah's path out of the cave.
I was alone. Our little ragtag group had split apart and I was left standing in a cave, nudging broken rocks with my foot.
"Thoaria!" I heard a familiar voice call. I didn't need to turn to know it was Steven. We're in a cave after all.
"Oh, hey..." I said half heartedly, "Some friends I have...Now they're gone. Gone to pursue things. And I'm by myself. With my pokemon. In a cave. Yay..."
"Who? You were always alone." Steven was confused. Probably because I was by myself when I met him. "Thoaria. I wanted to help you from the beginning. Always so lonely. Come with me. I want to show you something."
"So, what you're saying is, you want me to come with you on an adventure? I guess."
Because, ya know, I don't need to collect badges to wreck Dad or anything...Just explore caves all day, every day. ...Sigh.
"It may take a few days. Do you have your own sleeping bag?"
"No, I was initially sent here to deliver something to someone, so I thought I'd just come here and give the person the letter and beat Brawly. Haven't done that yet. The letter or beat Brawly." I pulled out the letter and looked at the name on it. It said...
"It is addressed to me..." I handed Steven the letter, which he took gratefully. "Father knows I visit him every week. Why would he send a letter with you?" He opened it without ruining the envelope. Damn. That takes skill. "Uhhh. Do you want to know what it says?"
Oh, you're killing me now. Of course. "Sure. Now I'm all curious about it..."
"My son. The girl carrying this letter is one of a kind. You should keep your eye on her. You should know that she may just be the most important piece of the puzzle.
~Dad."
"Huh. Guy who barely knew me wrote that to you? I certainly feel special now..."
"Apparently you made an impact. I just wonder what puzzle he means. Could he mean Primal Rev...I am getting ahead of myself. You traveling alone?"
"Well, I wasn't until now. I was originally with two others. They went to take care of sh-stuff."
"Really? Never noticed them." Steven stretched, for some reason reminding me of a cute lil skitty when he did. "I feel like I should travel with you. Figure out what this puzzle is."
"I'm sure it'd be fun. To figure out this mystery, I mean. Why not?"
"Maybe we can explore your cave together with my iron hard pokemon."
I still can't tell if he's giving be innuendos or not...Why do I care so much? Oh, right. So I don't worry about shit.
"My cave? Oh, you mean the ones on Route 111? I wouldn't necessarily say they're mine, but okay!"
"All right, my captain," Steven said, saluting. "Where to first?"
"Um, well..." My thoughts drifted to the gym and then to the pile of rubble it now was. "I sort of need to dig through the wreckage that is Brawly's gym, clear my friend's bounty and get a badge."
"Bounty? On the short one? There is a poster right here. "Wanted dead. 2000000 poke yen." Sheesh. Quite the bounty."
Over 9000...
"It looks likes its gone up in the past hour..." I could totally make a profit from this! No...Mustn't kill Dusty. No matter how much I want to. "Hm. That's a problem...This'll be hard. Looks like I'll have to bring out the big guns."
Steven then reddened. Not that powder blush shit, full on red. I could only wonder what he was thinking of. "There is a way to convince him."
"And what would that be?" I asked, not liking where this was heading. Next thing I know I'll be in a gym and battling for my virginity, but it won't be blatantly stated, just implied.
"He always had a weakness for gambling," Phew good, gambling. "He also has always had a weakness for... Teenage girls. Especially as gym trainers in those uniforms he makes them wear. A huge perv." SHIT. FUCK. FUCK. SHIT.
...
Steven continued. "I have a plan that could work. But it would require exploiting both his weaknesses... And you won't like it. But it is the only way you can get the bounty off of your friend's head."
...
I sighed, planting my face into the wall. "Why, Arceus?! I can't believe I'm doing this for her...She tried to kill me various times! Ya know what? Fuck it." Yay...I'm going to try and seduce Brawly… "
"There is a place right on the beach! But... Ahem. Um... Ah..." Steven seemed to become even more red than he already was. I'm terrified.
"Yes...?" I asked, trying to remain calm.
He pinched the bridge of his nose in obvious disgust. "All they sell is a string suit. I have one with me though, but the top... Is too small. Where do you want to go with this?"
"Why the fuck...Ahem. Why...exactly do you have that with...you?" I eyed the purple monstrosity. It even had sequins. Sequins! That just screams terrifying!
"A friend asked me to hold onto it for her," he explained. "It's this or the string stuff they sell here."
Holy fuck...This is really happening.
"It's either too small and revealing or not enough and revealing. Sparkles it is."
"Here." He handed me the suit. "I'll...let you change!" Steven then ran out of the cave, leaving me to change among the shadows. I cast off my clothes and started pulling it on.
What am I doing with my life? Why am I even...? Oh. Right. Dusty. I'm going to murder her and her blood will splatter across the stones that line the shores of the rivers of Hell. Nice beachside property there...
"Are you done yet?" His voice was muffled as he called from the outside.
I tied the annoying straps around my neck and back, both of which burned into my skin. "Fucking...suit..." I looked down at myself as I stepped out of the cave. "Can't...breathe..."
"I was right! You would make a perfect model!" I really wouldn't, Steven. "But... I am sorry for not having a top bigger. It looks painful."
You don't even know the worst of it.
"Oh...It's fine. Nothing I can't...handle."
Think of the Speedos, Thoaria…
"Are you breathing okay? Don't breathe too deeply. It may pop off."
I felt my face heat up at the thought of that happening. "Raven knows Teleport. Escape route's a go-"
"That move doesn't work in gyms," he interrupted.
That's utter BS!
"Morgan Freeman magic?"
"What is that?"
"Never mind…"
We stood in an awkward silence. Steven seemed to have a newfound interest in ro-Oh, wait, he already had one. After a while, he spoke up.
"Just for the record... Your looks...They are making me feel strange right now."
...Making you feel strange? Dafuq? Do I really…? Nah. It's just to make me feel better about doing this.
….Right?
"...Thanks?"
He looked away, muttering. "I'll get over it…" Steven then looked up. "Let's go get Brawly!"
"...Yeah."
Fuck...This isn't going to end well. Why do I has this feeling of dread hanging over me?
As we entered the gym, I was reminded of ancient ruins. Mostly because of the rubble. And the smell of death and burnt flesh. ...Is that a hand?! Apparently, lost body parts limbs are used for interior design.
As if it weren't terrifying enough already…
"Hello, Steven! Haven't seen you in ages!" Brawly bellowed. "You were my first challenge if I recall correctly."
"Yes." Steven nodded, gesturing to me. "My friend wants to challenge you."
"Good! Bring them…" He caught sight of me and...well, his nose started bleeding, apparently. "Duh…"
You've got...Why did I even have to wear this swimsuit in the first place? The gods hate me at this moment in time, don't they? What did I do…? I'm half expecting Arceus to show up again.
"Yo!" I yelled. "Earth to assface!"
"I like you. You know what?" he smirked creepily. "Are you a fan of gambling Miss...Hooters?"
OH, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME. He's not the quiet type? Frick...
"No...but I need to get rid of someone's bounty…" That gaze is terrifying… "You know her. She blew up your gym."
Something flickered in Brawly's eyes. "Heh. You know what? I'll make you a deal. If you win, you get to have whatever you want, plus a badge! But if I win…"
"If you win…?"
He grinned evilly. "I want you to be my gym trainer." The way he said it just oozed suggestiveness. Immediately, the entire population of girls in Hoenn covered their chests defensively.
"Then I guess I won't lose. Sorry, but I'm saving my virginity." I gave Steven a backwards Girl Scouts/Mockingjay hand sign. He raised a brow.
Read between the lines, dearie.
"Heh. That's what they all say. But they end up there anyway."
Oh, we'll see about that you little-but-not-little pervert!
"Thoaria!" Steven said abruptly. "I forgot to mention something!"
Godsfuckingdammit, Steven…
I sighed. "What? Before I decide, please."
"This is your only chance, but he is undefeated against women he has made that bet with."
If I come out of this alive, we'll be missing a champion...WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS SOONER?!
Chill. Deep breath, Thoaria. Don't panic… "Well, last I checked, I'm not exactly a "woman" yet. Someone's got to end this. And it'll be me."
"Errr... Check your curves again. They say differently."
"I'm a minor, smart ass. Not legally an adult."
"What are you talking about? Adult age is ten."
"It wasn't in Joh-"
"Less talking!" Brawly interrupted. "I want you in my b- I mean my gym trainer as long as possible!" He then pointed at my top… "That looks painful. Why don't you take it off first?"
Why don't I rip off your manhood and shove it down your throat so hard that you won't know if you're choking or dying from blood loss or both! …
…
Sorry, I'm terrified...
I tried to swallow my fear and pulled an Inigo, pretending to be all brave. "Hmph. Hope I don't bruise your pride…" Dammit, did that sound shaky? Did I show weakness?
"Once I am done with you…" I suddenly feel sick...Can you take a raincheck? No….? "Your pride won't be the only thing that is black and blue. I have yet to see anyone beat me when I am looking for groupies!" I'm gonna throw up…
"Ah…" Steven seemed to feel a bit guilty. "Just don't lose…"
Gee, thanks...Can't I just kick him and be done with it?
"GO MACHOP!" Brawly sent out the gray fighting type.
Brawly moved from where he was and stopped next to me, standing there creepily. ...I'm getting bad vibes from this...
"While I am at it..." He began preemptively squeezing the air... OH GODS! Thank you for stopping him Steven. I love you for that... Did I just type that out loud? Still...I didn't get to punch him...No fair...
"If you fight dirty..." Steven threw Brawly's hand to the side. "She can call on my help."
"Cockblock."
"Rapist." Steven fired back.
Can you just beat him up for me now?
"Wow...Feel ~so~ loved. I mean...Thanks."
"The faster you get your Pokemon out the faster I get you bent... I MEAN um... The faster I can get your uniform picked out! How do you feel about being a Neko?" He grinned, his eyes settling in all the WRONG places.
"I don't like Nekos….Um…" I grabbed Raven's pokeball from out of no where and set her out. "Go, Raven." Raven bowed and spun, which got pretty annoying after a while.
"A puny fairy? We know how to deal with that!" He pointed at Machop as if hyping for some huge move. "Use Bulk up!"
...Must be a pretty lame pokemon if it has to use steroids…
"Raven! Confusion and Magical Leaf! Make a shell…!"
"Power up punch the shell!" The purple holding up the leaves wavered a moment, but the shell still held up. Machop looked pretty intense now though, a deep red aura surrounding him like an angry, red, translucent, second skin.
The shell's obviously weakened, so one more hit from it would break it and possibly hurt Raven...It's attack was also already raised two stages. This could get dangerous. I have to end this quickly.
"Now! Confusion one more time!" I pointed at the scary little demon. "Attack! Direct the leaves at Machop!"
If worst comes to worse, I can have her use Draining Kiss...
"Dig!" The Machop used the unexpected move, but the leaves followed. "Pretty girl, do you think I was born yesterday?"
"Actually, no. I'm very well aware of your skill…"
The Machop came out of the ground, flipped over Raven, and placed her in between Machop and the leaves. They struck Raven, cutting her all over her body.
"Raven! Use Draining Kiss while you're close!" Raven turned around and tried to kiss the Machop.
"Duck and use seismic toss!" The Machop tackled, then threw the poor Kirlia against a charred pillar stunning it. She shook her head to clear it, only to see a glowing red fist slam into her face.
It's attack rose another stage...That's three... This is getting out of hand.
"Good power up punch Machop!" He eyed me critically. "I think a purple Neko suit will be excellent for my bon- I mean my gym's image!"
Ignoring that very disturbing imagery...Wait...Kirlia have the ability to distort the air around them with psychic energy to create mirages. They can also look into the future…
"Raven. Use your special power. You know what I want you to do!" Raven looked at me from across the field and nodded sagely. About a dozen copies appeared from Raven. The only problem was that she could not attack while this was going on. Too much mental energy was being used to keep up the illusion.
"Einee meanie miney..." He pointed at the third one from the right. "That one Machop! Use power up punch again!" All of the images disappeared meaning that he guessed correctly and Kirlia needed a desperate attack.
"Raven! Confusion!" Raven's hit was successful, exploding the head of the grey monster with pink gore splattering the charred black ground. The grey monster would not even let death stop his advance. His body slammed into Raven's left arm, ripping it from the rest of her body with a spray of slightly lighter blood.
OH GODS! RAVEN! NO YOU CAN'T DIE!She will live. Okay. Minus one arm. Oh gods... I am going to throw up. That is too much gore. That is my Pokemon is one image that will never leave my mind. This asshole is going to pay.
"Hurry Raven! Return!" I glared at the gym leader with rage filling my every cell. "How dare you?" He seemed to have no remorse.
"Damn. I missed," was all he said as he gauged my reaction.
"You lose a pokemon and you even give it a second thought...People like you make me sick. So what? You have tons of the same pokemon...Still you should feel some remorse, you sick bastard."
"Heh. Enter Makuhita." A pudgy bag with eyes and fists popped out of the pokeball. He slammed his fists together and glared at me.
Okay, so there's Dustox, Abra, Combusken or Swellow. Abra's a bit weak...So, Hawk, it is...
Hawk the Swellow appeared in a flash of light, stamping his clawed feet impatiently.
"Let me show you a magic trick." Bad memories from the Dark Knight came flooding back. "Try and get me. Use Bulk Up!" The bag puffed out his chest and flexed his chub.
Normally I'd say that's a waste..but no need to offend him more than he does by existing…
"That again? Alright, Quick attack!" Hawk streaked towards the punching bag, tearing off some scraps of skin to reveal orangish, yellow blood.
"Counter Makuhita!" Hawk's beak bent back at an odd angle. I'm not sure if I want to keep him out after that hit...
"Okay, Hawk. Looks like we're making a gamble of our own. Return!" I called back Hawk and sent out Silkie the Dustox. I had a sense of foreboding as Brawly threw back his head and laughed.
"A bug to squash flat!"
Steven looked horrified, as if some past memory came back to him. "Get her out of there!"
"Wait...Sh-" I started, realizing that I hadn't considered what Makuhita's move set may be.
"Too late!" He tossed a TM end over end in the air and caught it. "I got this move from Roxanne. Makuhita!" He pulled a horrifying parody of the Phoenix Wright pose. "Make his cairn! Rock Tomb!" Silkie's clear, sticky blood splattered the floor. Severed pieces of her yellow antenna flew up into the air, a wing half torn and thrown my way. I could almost make out her squished, mangled eye.
"Stupid.. I'm so... Stupid! I didn't think that through at all!" Wasn't I the gym leader's kid? Wasn't I supposed to know strategy and epically turn the battle with one well placed move" Brawly began squeezing the air suggestively.
"Prepare yourself my good little cat," he sneered as Silkie's blood still seeped through the pile of rocks. It was as sickening as if it had just happened. He licked his lips in anticipation.
I can't lose anyone else...Starfire can handle this. She's a combusken now. She has a flying type move.
"I don't take kindly to name calling, sir." The comment was supposed to be sarcastic, but Brawly only creepily licked his lips and stared at the wrong places again.
"How about we up the ante? You have to refer to me as Master Brawly. And you will have to be my bath servant. You will have to do whatever I say. but if you win... I will give you information vital to your success. How bout it? Double or nothing?"
"I won't fail. I believe I can win this and if I lose, she would have died for nothing."
"Well, Maid? I am waiting!"
" Hope you have plan B ready Steven...Okay. I accept. You're...I'm not going...Whatever you said." The horror...I don't want to be someone's servant. Especially not a BATH servant. "I'm the daughter of Norman...This would certainly dishonor my family. Even if they're all complete nut jobs."
"AS IF! I have met Norman! He cares more about his precious vigoroth than anything. He wouldn't care if I killed you right here. Anyway, I am trembling in anticipation of all the things I will order you to do." A creepy shudder of ecstasy moved over his entire body.
I couldn't let go of what he said and just how much of it was fact. It certainly hurt, but...I still want to prove myself to my dad. Get him to notice me for once.
"You won't even be able to think of any before I'm done wrecking your makuhita." I pulled out Starfire's pokeball and muttered my favorite empowerment phrase. "Starfire...Beastmode." Brawly looked at me with a different sort of respect. A sort of respect that made him seem human.
…
Almost.
"Hm. A fighting type. I can respect that. Too bad it belongs to my servant. Use power up punch!"
...Starfire could blind it with ember….Maybe if she just jumped over…
"Super sorry~." I have never been more insincere in my life. "Starfire, jump! Ember! Burn it's eyes! Then peck!"
The fire fell over makuhita's eyes like a wave. He let out a scream as he rubbed his eyes with his arms. When he looked back up, his eyes had the pale murkiness of the blind. I had crippled my last obstacle. This should be a cakewalk.
"That is a fighting type! How did it get... Sky uppercut." His own moved missed, due to his makuhita being blinded by the flames. Even though the pokemon couldn't see, it managed to dodge Starfire's peck. "You almost had me panicking there, maid."
...This is going to be reckless, but maybe if I do this, he'll begin to underestimate me.
"Think that's the best we can do? flame charge!" Starfire looked at me in confusion, but still complied. ...This really is stupid.
"NO! Is what I would say, but COUNTER! I usually am pretty laid back. But you are my future slave." I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. "I don't usually fight this hard. It almost feels as good as se- working out!"
If I send abra in, she'll be able to do little...normally. Since makuhita is blinded, Psylocke should be able to win this and maybe evolve...
"...Starfire...Return." I said with mock defeat. Turning to Steven, I muttered. "You think I have him fooled into thinking I'm stupid?"
"Think about how tight your cat's collar will be... How hard I will pull your leash... Neko slave."
"Judging from that, yes." He muttered back, then louder: "Does Hawk know air cutter?"
"I wish!" I replied equally loud, trying to sound like I was out of options.
"It knows rock tomb, remember?" He tried to sound as condescending as possible. It worked; I knew he was acting, but my feelings were still a bit hurt. "Try abra."
"If I must... She'd just die instantly. Maybe from a strong power up punch…."
Steven grabbed my wrist, and tapped something in morse code. I love secret agent stuff, so I naturally knew how to translate it. It said:
"You have this."
...I can't express how much feels I'm getting from this. Or how much I'm holding back one of those stereotypical fangirl squeals...This is out of character...BUT I DON'T CARE. I mean that's so cute! Did he just assume that I'd know morse code?! He's just so-
"So Neko Slave? Tell me. How tight will I make your collar?" Brawly looked smug.
He interrupted... He die now.
Steven tapped another message:
"Still stupid. Play it off."
"Realllly wish I was awesome enough to have comeback right now. ...How about no? And no. And no?" Steven wanted stupid? I would act stupid.
"You accepted the bet. The champ is here as witness. It is legally binding." Brawly obviously thought he had won.
"Oh? That's a thing now? That's great…"
"Yeah it is... Sorry Thoaria."
"I thought you had more of a taste in intellectual girls, Steven! Oh well. She will be my Neko Slave, so you won't be able to keep that shallow whore anymore." Steven dug his fingernail into my wrist. He quickly released when he realized I was in pain.I shook my head to show it was all right.
"...Then I guess I'll have to send this one out. Go Psylocke!" The sleepy Psychic type sat very still and just floated there.
"Use power up punch to make quick work of him." Brawly wasn't even paying attention to the battle; he was staring at my... wrong places. As if he were mentally undressing me.
Makuhita missed its attack, because, you know, blinded eyes and teleporting abra. I felt bad for blinding it, and a small part of me wondered if I was just as bad as Brawly for hurting it like that... No way in hell. ...Right?
"You want to know how abra survive since they sleep so much? Because they have the ability to teleport while asleep. By instinct." I decided to give him a lesson on abra. "Abra can give the illusion of having copies as well since they teleport if anything approaches them while they are sleeping."
Brawly sneered. "Cool story, Neko Slave. You can... entertain me with them while I'm busy... giving orders. Kill it!" This was to his makuhita, who blindly aimed at where it perceived Psylocke was. But, as luck, Morgan Freeman and Arceus (who was a complete asshole, so probably not him) would have it, Makuhita punched a ruined wall, spiderwebbed with cracks, and it shook before collapsing on top of him, dust, rocks and charred wood crushing him to death. There was an awful little squeak and then the crunch of bones and a squish of soft tissue and flesh compressed together.
Just as planned~ Because I totally wanted that to happen. I love it when a plan comes together.
"Hah! Suck my ass, Brawly!" I hugged Psylocke, who had evolved into a sleepy looking kadabra and fell asleep on the floor… "YOU GOT WRECKED."
"You are right, you want to hear my advice?" He pulled down his pants revealing a... Thing. Because he didn't wear underwear, apparently. That's just revolting. "I am a sore loser."
He jumped at me-why am I not running?-but apparently forgot Steven was there. Steven caught him by the throat, and threw him against the wall.
"Why don't you play with Metang?" The Pokemon appeared next to him, a mass of levitating bluish metal. "Lock on."
My brain has exploded. I can't. I. Can't. It's too much! How valiant! How sweet! How-
"No! Please!" He backed away from the hulking Pokemon.
"Drill run." As the Pokemon used the vicious move, Rivers of blood flew through the air and splattered all over everything, accompanied by muscle tissue and pinkish intestines. A carcass of bloodied flesh fell to the ground, limp. Steven calmly returned his bloody Pokemon to his pokeball. "Your contract has been terminated."
I pumped my fist. "HELL YES! ….You killed someone...BUT HELL YES! COME ON! UP TOP!" I extended my hand, waiting for him to high five me back. "C'mon...Don't leave me hanging."
Steven looked nervously at my hand, as if I just proposed to him. The awkward silence hung in the air for a long while. And because I was such a people person, I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"So, you're a secret agent? How'd you know I knew morse code? Lucky guess?" He tapped another code into my skin.
"Informed guess actually."
"Keeping track of gym leaders and ending them if they get too corrupted is part of the job description." That was what he said aloud as he tapped. "Although, usually we work in pairs. My last partner died recently to team Magma. He brought the info that Brawly was connected with his last breath as he died in front of me."
"Oh, poor guy…Your partner, I mean. At least, in a sense, you got even...I think..."
"That was only for what he did to you. You make me feel weird... Almost as if..." He pressed his lips hard against mine.
….Did he just? ….Wutt?
He jerked back just as quick as he had kissed me, giving me a strange, nervous look. "I am so sorry! I don't know why I did that!"
…That just happened….THAT JUST HAPPENED. Is feeling weird like this normal? I can't breathe. I can't fucking breathe. Asaddfsffsdfsdf….I just thought that...OH GODS...
"Well, I want to extend the invitation for you to become my partner in investigating the crimes of teams Magma and Aqua." He extended a single hand. Was he just pretending that kiss did NOT just happen?
"...Um." I guess I'll just pretend to... "Sure, I guess that'd be fun."
"You are the missing piece. That is what my father said. He put it perfectly. It can only be you," he said solemnly. "So that is a yes? Great! We will join the annals of the great investigators! Along with Looker and Cynthia from Sinnoh! Although... They ended up getting married..." He gave his head a quick shake. "What is wrong with me?"
"I dunno. Maybe a fever? You look a bit red there, Steven..." Of all the cliches...
"Why am I so drawn to you?" He moved so that our faces were only inches apart. I certainly wasn't pulling back.
"I'm afraid...I can't answer...that."
He did not answer, but his lips danced across mine with skill that only came with practice. He put one hand in my hair, and the other on my back. He pushed on the back of my head, deepening the kiss, and let our tongues dance together for a moment. He quickly then pulled away, leaving me wanting more.
This can't be put into words, so I'll give you an image...And there it was. Because I can't come up with one.
"Why does this keep happening?" A little jolt of feeling ran through my body as he kissed my nose. "I am not meaning..." My forehead got a little zap of pleasure. "To do these things!" Another quick little kiss to the lips had my head reeling with the clouds.
"I dunno…But I...um...don't mind..."
"I don't understand! What is this feeling?"
Another deep kiss kept my brain somewhere between fangirl, and lala lands. "...Dude, chill...It's fine…"
"Are you feeling the same way?" He was still holding me... Oh gods.
"..." Wow, he has really pretty eyes….
"Do you feel it too?" His eyes looked deeply into mine.
"I do…" I muttered, thinking I might be having a sunstroke or something.
"I.." Was all he got out before I initiated the kiss this time. My lips were slowly becoming less clumsy at this game. I pulled away and decided to issue a warning.
"You know...You're lucky...I would've killed anyone else by now…" I am being very serious here. I would've, but this is Steven... As it were, he took the hint, and went no farther.
"I AM SO SORRY! It feels like something else is taking control." He is still holding me... Can we just stay this way forever?
"You're such a dork..." He pressed his forehead onto mine. Our eyes were centimeters apart.
"Is that a good thing?" He whispered. His left hand began tracing hearts onto my back. His subconscious knew what was going on, but he did not? Also, I was getting heart shaped patterns of goosebumps on me. His fault. Everything he does just makes me feel good.
"I have a thing for dorks...So, I suppose it is..."
"Is that what this is? A thing?"
"A "thing" is a word for it."
"But we are partners." He looked confused.
"So we are. And…?"
"I certainly did not have this sort of feeling with my old partner." I groaned mentally. He still didn't get it.
"Well, uh, he was a guy...I'm not."
"I don't understand what is going on but... Erm... I want to keep you in my arms forever."
I felt the cold finger of night tracing a line down my spine. It was in that moment that I realized that I was a bit underdressed. And the sequins were beginning to chafe my skin.
"Can you just for a moment? I need to...uh...get clothes on?"
"Oh yeah! We left them in Granite Cave! Come on!" He pulled me behind him, and there we ran down the beach, hand in hand against the bright sunset.
That would be a perfect place to end, if it were the end of my adventures of that day. We reached the cave, and Steven peeked inside. Immediately, he looked back to me laughing.
"You have to see this!" I walked in, and saw a small itty bitty Makuhita running around the cave with his arms extended like the wings on a jet. On his head, instead of aviator's goggles, rested my yellow bra. Wait a second...
"Wow…"
"Maku?" The Makuhita looked at me with surprise at finding me.
"Um, lil Maku? That's sort of mine..."
"Maku." He pulled at the clasp on the bra, but could not do anything because of his lack of fingers.
"...Do you want me to help?"
"Maku!" He bobbed his head appreciatively.
"Okay, Lil Maku, let's see here." I unclasped the double hooks and pulled it off. Released from his...confines, I guess, he ran in and gave me a bonecrushing hug. "Gah! Too tight!"
"Maku." He said, pulling out a matching set of yellow panties from a bag next to him. He looked conflicted on where to place the new item, but finally settled on using it as an armband. Steven could not stop laughing.
"Oh, shut up…." I grabbed the underwear.
"Sorry! Just too cute!"
"Hita!" He stood and turned. I then saw something that made my blood run cold. On his back were scars like the ones I saw on Noah's legs, but unlike his, they formed rough words. Noah claimed that those were the marks of a knife. If so, then Brawly liked to carve his name into things. It said: property of Brawly.
Frowning, I looked to Steven. "...Steven? Do you have any bandages...I don't want to see that on this pokemon's back."
"I don't either, but those won't be fading for a while. They are pretty recent. The only way to remove them would be to cut him again, and I don't want to do that."
"Of course not...At least this lil' guy is free now."
"Much good that will do him. He is still just a baby." Steven rubbed his head. "He won't live long on his own." I picked up the little Pokemon. He was a lot heavier than I expected.
"...We can't leave him. Right, Maku? You'll die in here..."
He's so cute~
"Did you already catch a Pokemon here?" Steven asked me. Fuck you, Abra.
If there were a table, I would flip it.
"Ehh…." I looked at Psylocke's pokeball. "No?"
"That abra you won with against Brawly only appears here. You must have." He pulled a pokeball off of his belt. "I will take him." The little baby boy disappeared into the pocket dimension. Steven looked at me. Gods damn he looked hot right now.
"I guess we'll have to take care of him together." Steven just smiled back.
"Yeah. Come on out Maku!" The little guy came out, and did something I would never have expected in a million years.
"Hiya! You must be my new daddy and mommy!" I understand him? Steven caught him! How do I understand?
"...Um, "mommy"?"
"You can understand me?" He considered the new development. "But he caught me! ...I guess that really makes you my mommy!" What the hell is going on?
"They say that if two people have enough chemistry together, they can understand each other's Pokemon. I... This is love?" I have no words on how long it took him to figure it out...
"Yes, Dorkles. You figured it out…"
We kissed yet again, and despite this one not being the longest, it meant the most. We knew we had found each other, and that was all we needed. Even if it took a little push from a certain Pokemon.
...I did it, guys! 44 mins over the due date though...It's a freaking 12704 words, what do you expect?...Sorry about that! Um...Well, I try and forget the first two chapters...I hope this was a step up. Originally, this was intended to just be done. We-well, I-didn't really care how it came out and was thinking of the enjoyment not what was really wanted. So as you see, work was put into this. Tons of it. So, shame me. I didn't take this seriously enough and now I have been enlightened. Mostly because Noah kept bugging me about it.
If you find any grammar mistakes or anything, please tell me and I'll be sure to go back and fix it!
I promise you that the next chapter will be out on time or a certain someone might just...Feel Noah's wrath. You know who you are~