Hello yet again!

This story tells about the blossoming relationship between one of the couples from the second main fanfic, Melting Gelid Roses, when they first met years before the series. Though it's not as long ago as the last story featuring prior events, it does occur some time before events that lead to the first fanfic, hence its placement.

Characters Featured: Blastoise, Carracosta

Additional Cast: Squirtle

Genres: Romance

Timeline Placement: Prior Events - - - Bluebells Are Forever - - - Melting Gelid Roses

Since I'm still having some display issues with the fanfics, I'll continue to use the ellipsis to indicate where the story starts and ends between the author's notes.

Enjoy!

...

Under the cloudy morning sky, a blue turtle wandered into a ravaged town along the riverside. He frowned at the damages, as he observed the broken buildings. A statue of the penguin emperor was shattered, ice sculptures were smashed into shards, archways were caved in, and rubble lined the roads.

Drumming on the trowels and brushes lined on his belt, the turtle made his way to the settlement's office, but paused as he glanced at a home not far from it. He turned back and made his way into the office.

An hour passed as he explored, spotting dust covered books and artifacts left in tact from the damage. He plucked them out and stored them in bags, rubbing his head as he went.

"Maybe I'm going to need a wagon or something…"

"Hey! Who's there?!"

Jolting, the turtle flailed and fumbled around, bumping a desk missing a leg. He wobbled, managing to regain his balance, and twisted around to the window. Or, where the window should have been, from the bashed open hole in the wall.

Another turtle hurried over to the opening, though he seemed to wear a mask, or his face was covered oddly. This turtle wore armor, and held a spear in his flipper as he glared in on the other, who grumbled and glowered right back.

"What are you doing here? Who are you?"

"My name is Blastoise," snapped the first, "and I'm here to research the desecration of Overton."

"On whose orders?"

"The chain goes a bit, but I have allowance from his Imperial Highness."

"Absurd." The second turtle scoffed. "I would've been informed of it."

Snatching a paper from his satchel, Blastoise stormed over to the turtle in the window, and unraveled it, shoving it in his intruder's face. Backing a bit as he took the paper, the masked turtle scanned it over, tilting his head as lowered his eyes.

"That's from the Emperor's palace," he confirmed. "But why didn't they tell me of it?"

"You must not be very high on the pecking order," mocked Blastoise, taking back his ordinance. "It's ok, we all come back to earth at some point."

"Bah."

"Look, you're a town guard, right?" Blastoise folded his arms. "I think I should be the one asking you what you're doing here." He lowered his eyes, peeking back out at the ruins. "You're definitely not from this place…"

"They sent me over to keep the settlement from falling into further disarray," explained the turtle guard. "I'm on rotation with a few others from the neighboring towns."

"Ah, well then you're going to make everything difficult," complained Blastoise. "I need to search this village for important documents and objects, in order to preserve them."

"Huh?"

"Archaeology."

"Oh." The other turtle rubbed behind his head. "Don't they usually wait a few years for that kind of, uh, research?"

"Given how destroyed this place is, I don't think they're inclined to wait." Blastoise glanced behind him at a broken cabinet. "They're likely looking to salvage as much as possible."

"Guess you're delicate enough going through it all."

"Delicate?" Blastoise gestured to himself. "Does any part of this look delicate to you?"

"Uh…not…quite?"

"Excuse me?"

"Ah, not at all!"

"…You don't get out much, do you?"

"Not enough," admitted the guard. "Parents sheltered me a lot growing up."

"And yet you became a guard?"

"Hey, not everything lines up like you expect," grumbled the turtle. "Didn't your work ever teach you that?"

"Sometimes." Blastoise folded his arms. "Anyway, are you satisfied? I've got work to do."

"Hold on!" The turtle tapped his lance on the wall. "This place could be dangerous, and I need to make sure nothing happens."

"…Is that you telling me that you're protecting me?"

"What?!" The masked turtle blushed. "No! I mean, yes! But that…"

"Wow." Blastoise smirked. "From sour to sweet."

"Quit it! I'm also making sure you don't cause more trouble!" He scowled. "Even if the Emperor requested your help, I'm stationed here. So, I'll be monitoring you."

"Sounds like you're excusing being a creep," teased Blastoise.

"I am not!"

"Relax, just come in here already." Blastoise picked a brush out. "I need to get back to work. Today's my only day here."

"Well, you'd better get to it."

"Beg pardon?"

"Ah…I, uh, I'll be in there, just a moment."

He hurried around from the window while Blastoise shook his head, and ambled to the nearest broken shelf. As he gazed down to the floor, he spotted another couple of books, and bent over to store them in bags.

Lifting his head and checking behind him, he glowered at the turtle guard, who winced and clung to his spear.

"Um, sorry, I, uh, I didn't…mean to stare…"

Standing up from the floor, Blastoise blinked and focused down on the turtle guard. Noticing it as well, the guard straightened up.

"…Huh." Blastoise smirked. "You're shorter than I realized."

"Excuse you, I am not short!"

"Definitely are."

"Am not!"

"Ok, if you insist, short stack."

"Grr!"

"You know," suggested Blastoise, "you could easily get around that by giving me your name."

"Wha…?" The turtle blinked. "But I did…?"

"Not." Blastoise lowered his eyes and tapped his foot. "You did not."

"Well, that's rude of me. Sorry." He slouched and rubbed his head, and then perked back up. "Anyway, name's Carracosta!"

"Such a pleasure to meet you," mocked Blastoise. He gathered his findings and pushed a broken chair aside. "Now how about you help me move things along?" Blastoise strode across the room, lifting an eyebrow at Carracosta. "Unless you'd rather just rub your spear while watching."

"No, I can help." Carracosta took two steps after Blastoise, but then paused. "Wait a minute." He blushed and stiffened. "Hey!"

"Took you long enough." Blastoise smirked. "Come on."

"Maybe I should just watch you," argued Carracosta. "After all, if you bend—"

"Oh, fine, I'm sorry." He rolled his eyes. "I may as well be the bigger turtle…"

"That's ok, you're forgive…" Carracosta blinked, and then fumed. "Quit it with the potshots!"

"You make it too fun." Blastoise swept at the desk before him. "On second thought, just stay there. I can laugh while I work."

"Absolutely not!" He stormed over and crouched down with Blastoise. "Tell me what's next."

Chuckling, Blastoise handed Carracosta some tools, as they picked at the desk. They cleared debris around the room, tugging out a few different findings. And after they finished with the town office, they wandered to the next building, starting on the research there, excavating in the dirt below a crushed cathedral, and sorting jewels from a shop.

"Geez, I can see why the Emperor put you on this," piped up Carracosta, setting down a sapphire for Blastoise's collection. "It's still not even nightfall, and you've covered plenty of spots."

"Honestly, that's because you've helped," admitted Blastoise.

"Yeah, but you directed me." Carracosta smiled. "You're really talented!"

"Thanks, but…" Blastoise sighed. "The other reason is that I used to live here, a long time ago."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes." He spun back and looked at the village. "So much has changed here though, so it's…harder to navigate than I remembered…"

"Still sounds like you've got impressive skills," complimented Carracosta.

"Ha, maybe." Blastoise shrugged. "I feel like there's other things that I want to do with my life, though."

"Like what?" He snorted. "Settle down and have kids?"

"Sounds nice." Smirking, Blastoise poked at Carracosta's arm. "Why? You did that already? Or are you offering?"

"Nope, I haven't, don't really…wait, what?" Carracosta blinked. "Are you asking—?"

"Hey, come on," urged Blastoise, turning away to hide his red cheeks. "This home back by the town office caught my eye. Let's go check it out."

"But…"

Hesitating as he watched the tortoise double back, Carracosta grumbled and chased after him. They entered the home, as the door hinges snapped from the slightest push. Carracosta rubbed his head, while Blastoise studied the doorway and hall arches.

"That thing nearly broke right off." He turned to Blastoise. "What is it?"

"It's kind of roomy here…" Blastoise scratched his ear. "I've had to squeeze in to other homes. But, this one seems like it accommodates my size."

"Ha, so you're too big, huh?" Carracosta grinned as Blastoise scowled at him, and then bopped his shell. "Ouch! What? You can't take what you dish out?"

"Oh, I can." Blastoise folded his arms, checking the caved in kitchen. "You're just having too much fun."

"Then that's your fault." Carracosta smirked again. "Quit treating to me to a good time."

"Why, so you can laugh and…?" He blinked and turned back to the guard. "Wait, you're enjoying all of this?"

"Kind of, yeah." Carracosta shrugged. "It's a different experience, at least, and that makes it interesting."

"Maybe I did bump you too hard…"

"This is your work!" He tilted his head. "Don't you enjoy it?"

"Of course, but um…" Blastoise scratched his head. "No one else usually does."

"Co-workers?"

"No, I don't usually work with groups." He picked at his shell. "I meant friends, or rather, other folks that have joined me previously." Blastoise tugged at his arm, staring away at a heavy pot smashed into the cabinet on the wall. "Not that it happens all that often or anything…"

"Really?" Carracosta held his hips. "But you're good at it. And you're fun to be around."

"You don't need to pity me," mumbled Blastoise.

"It's not pity, as you're pretty entertaining," insisted Carracosta. "Bit of a tease, but if you take away some of the mocking, I'm happy to have spent the day with you."

"Only some?" Blastoise smirked at Carracosta, but then leaned back. "Wait, did you call me a tease?"

"Oh look, stairs! Let's go wander upstairs before this whole place crumbles!"

"The beams should support—"

"Up we go!"

Both blushed as they made their way through the shredded family room, and climbed the staircase. The railing was ripped apart in several spots, as they used the wall to guide themselves up.

Blastoise wandered behind Carracosta, touching at the openings, still puzzled about their size. He bumped into the guard and stumbled back.

"Everything ok?" Blastoise tapped at Carracosta's shoulder. "Unless that's how you get a—"

"Hold on." Carracosta paled, and pulled his spear back out. "Don't move."

"Why?" Blastoise raised an eyebrow. "Are you ok, did I…?"

His mouth hung open, as Blastoise gazed past Carracosta, spotting blood that stained the bedroom before them. Lifting his spear, Carracosta stepped in, poking at the blankets on the bed.

Nothing budged, and he lifted them, only to find the mattress beneath. He scanned the room, noting its tarnished state with the broken dressers and mirror, but dropped his shoulders, as he looked closer.

"It's all dried out," confirmed Carracosta. "It's like that third house we went to."

"Why does this one have so much more though?"

"Don't know." He spun back to Blastoise. "Did they mention what exactly happened here?"

"All I was told was that the village had an incident," murmured Blastoise. "This is supposed to be a quiet town. What could have possibly happened…?"

"Hm." Carracosta lifted his spear and shuffled back to Blastoise in the hall. "We only saw two houses with blood, so…maybe an affair gone terribly wrong?"

"Seriously?"

"It's possible!"

"What about the rest of the town?"

"Uh…" Carracosta rubbed his arm. "Ok, maybe I'm thinking too small."

"Actually, that didn't even cross my mind, but thinking of just the two houses with that scope, you never know," determined Blastoise. "Unlikely based on everywhere else, but it wasn't half bad of a guess based on the two homes."

"Aw, did it hurt for you to compliment me like that?"

"Not at all." Blastoise smiled. "And, ah, thank you, for protecting me."

"Oh! You're welcome." Carracosta glanced at a dropped painting as he blushed. "Just part of my job, nothing special."

"Here I thought you were starting to like me."

"But I already do?"

"Wow, really?" Blastoise's ears twitched and he straightened up. "Hang on, what was that?"

"What was what?"

"Something cracked."

"…Besides the whole house?"

"No, in this next room." He tugged Carracosta's free arm. "Come on, right over here."

"Wait, wait! Get behind me!"

Together, they pushed on the door stuck in the arch, failing to get it to budge. Nodding to one another, they pulled back and tackled forward, knocking the door away and dropping in.

Pushing up from the ground, Carracosta helped Blastoise up, and they gazed inside of the room. A crib waited inside, its front buried under the broken door. A cracking egg sat inside of the crib, snapping open as the turtles gawked at it.

"Is that an Egg?" Carracosta shook his head and blinked. "A baby was here this whole time?!"

"Good gods, they're coming out now."

Blue arms pushed from the egg's shell, and a tiny turtle forced his way out of it, falling out and onto the mattress. He whimpered as he looked around his crib, shuddering as he searched the room.

"Oh no…he…"

"Hush!"

Hearing them, the baby turned to the turtle pair with him. Blinking, he smiled and flailed around, as the pair stared at the newborn.

"Oh my gods…" Blastoise fixated on the child. "He's…alive. He looks fine, and he's—"

"Adorable!" Carracosta gently clapped and scooted closer. "Oh, look at him, Blastoise! He's such a cutie!" He grinned and turned back to his partner. "And he's like you!"

"He's alone," uttered Blastoise.

Carracosta's broad beam faded, and he turned back to the smiling child. He slumped down as the baby tossed and turned, reaching out as he waved.

"…What do we do…?"

"…I'll take him."

"What?" Carracosta spiraled back. "How?"

"There's…other work that I can do, doesn't need to be field work."

"But—"

"It can't be you," decided Blastoise. "You've got enough to juggle as a guard, and even more so if you get promoted to the Emperor's knights." He smirked as Carracosta's mouth opened. "Town guards tend to get promoted to help fill in the ranks for the Empire, right?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"I can't leave him, Carracosta." Blastoise ambled over and leaned over the baby. "Not after seeing all of this, not knowing…" He shook his head. "This was my home, ages ago. It should fall to me to keep this place alive."

"Nonsense, don't be a martyr over it!"

"Even if I'm not, I won't leave him," reiterated Blastoise. "I can't."

The baby reached up as Blastoise scooped him up. He smiled at the tiny turtle, gently cradling him as he made his way from the room. Carracosta pushed back up, and fixated on Blastoise and the baby as they stopped by the doorway. He turned back to the turtle guard, and tilted his head.

"What?"

"Nothing, I…" Carracosta smiled. "That's noble and…really sweet of you."

"Ha, well…" Blastoise blushed and brought the baby closer. "Ah, I'm about to be very not-sweet, and ask you to help gather everything we found to leave with."

"Uh…that's a lot," realized Carracosta.

"If you need—"

"No, no, you leave it to me!" He pounded his chest and grinned. "I'll get you all set to go, quick and easy!"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!"

Exiting the shambled home, Carracosta hurried around to gather his and Blastoise's findings. He gathered everything together and tied it all up, and followed Blastoise from the lost settlement of Overton.

They approached the nearby river and a boat made its way down. Blastoise rocked the baby as he reached for his supplies, but Carracosta batted him away, and lifted it back up himself. He placed it onboard, as Blastoise climbed on.

"Thank you for all of your help." Blastoise smiled to Carracosta. "It was a pleasure meeting you."

"Likewise! And you take care of that kiddo, huh?"

Approaching the baby, Carracosta waved his flipper as the tiny turtle giggled and grabbed for him, barely able to reach up. The older turtles laughed at the child, and the guard stepped back, smiling as the boat began to push away from its dock.

"Good luck, I hope you reach knighthood," called Blastoise, and he waved along with the baby. "I think you'll do great."

"Ha, I sure hope so. And I wish you two well too!"

"Thank you, Carracosta!"

They waved until they were out of each other's sights. Carracosta sighed and gazed at the sunset, his smile fading.

"…Ah crap." He slouched. "Didn't even ask him where he's from…"

Groaning, the turtle guard hung his head and arms, wandering away from the riverside. He exhaled and dragged himself along, taking three minutes before he perked back up, and made his way back to the neighboring town he was stationed at.

A couple of months later, Carracosta grumbled as he marched through the imperial city, wearing new armor and the colors of the Empire. He sulked as he glanced up at the palace in the distance, and went back to wandering through the city square.

"Figures I'd end up knighted for the empire that struggles to keep any of them safe," he muttered. "Should've taken up another job…"

He fumbled back as a small mouse and duck hurried past him, laughing as the children played together. A swan bumped past him and knocked him over, as he flopped back onto his shell.

Grumbling, Carracosta wobbled and spun himself around, glaring at the children and their guardian as they raced off. His expression softened as their laughter rang out from the city streets, and he lowered his head as he pushed back up from the ground.

"Should've gotten that damned address," he muttered, as he had four days ago, and two before that. "Gods, I could've at least been able to mail him…"

He wandered back through his post of the city, and passed by a market stall. He glanced at the fruits gathered from the southern kingdom, and glumly picked up a bright apple from the basket.

"Excuse me!" Carracosta jolted up at the voice, and spun back, spotting a blue tortoise, cradling a tiny turtle and shifting back to the vendor. "Sorry, could I just get one more apple? My son seems like he loves these." The chinchilla smiled and placed her coins past her scarf, giving the extra apple away. "No charge? Are you sure?" She nodded and the turtle beamed. "Thank you very much!"

"No way…"

Blastoise spun away, giving Squirtle the apple to hold. Carracosta tossed his back and chased after the pair, hurrying up as Blastoise's ears twitched.

"Look, I offered…" Blastoise blinked as Carracosta gawked at him. "…Carracosta?"

"Blastoise! It is you!"

"Of course." He smirked. "Should've known I'd run into you here eventually." He smirked at him. "You're the only knight that would scramble after me like that."

"Hey!" Carracosta straightened up and folded his arms. "That's not a great greeting after it's been so long!"

"It's been a few months."

"I didn't think it'd be ever!" Carracosta dropped his arms. "Meant to ask you for your address or something to mail you, but that completely slipped my mind!"

"Ha, so it did." Blastoise smirked as he shifted his baby around. "Should've figured that one out too; you didn't even remember your name with your introduction."

"Come off it," groaned Carracosta. "What brings you here?"

"Brings me?" Blastoise chuckled. "I live here now. This is where they've got me after I requested to stop field excavations."

"Wait." Carracosta blinked and jerked back. "You…you live here now, in the city? We live in the same place?!"

"Not quite, unless they've kicked the knights out of the palace."

"Where do you live?!" Carracosta bounced up. "Is it near here? Would I be able to visit? I'm sure I can clear time at some point to see you!" He blushed and rubbed his arm over his face. "You as in both of you. You and the baby, that is. Um…yeah!"

"Well, well." Blastoise blushed and grinned. "I don't think anyone's ever missed me that much." He bumped the baby up a little more. "You must really want to see my kid, huh?"

"Definitely, and his papa's the extra perk!"

"You're not even being subtle," teased Blastoise. He blushed as he gazed around the city square's citizens. "I think at least five of them are staring."

"So let them stare!"

Carracosta reached over and played with the baby, who giggled and reached up at him. Blastoise smiled as he held tiny turtle out to Carracosta, and they laughed as they batted at one another.

"What's his name?"

"Squirtle, of course."

"He's gotten even cuter! Ha!"

The little one yawned and Blastoise brought him back in, while Carracosta sighed and stared back up to him.

"So? Would you show me where you live?"

"Don't you have a patrol to keep up with?" Blastoise winked. "No slacking off, not for his sake."

"How about yours?"

"Especially not for mine." Blastoise looked up the street. "Which way are you going?"

"Eastern bound today."

"Huh." Blastoise rubbed his chin. "Well, that's…convenient."

"Do you live that way?!"

"Surprisingly for you, yes." Blastoise smirked. "So, I guess you can escort my son and I home." He lowered his eyes. "Just keep a sharp eye out. Our people need you too."

"Please. I'd defend this city with my life!" Carracosta puffed his chest out. "That's my duty, after all."

"Right, right, we're a big shot knight now, huh?" Blastoise stuck his tongue out. "You're always going to be my short stack, though."

"Oh, not that again…" Carracosta slouched but popped back up, cheeks red. "Wait, your short stack?"

"Anyway, your route is this way, right? Come on, you've been dawdling," teased Blastoise, hiding his face as he hurried along.

"But you just—"

"Don't make me tell the Emperor you're shirking on your work!"

With a broad beam, Carracosta chased after Blastoise and the baby Squirtle, as they made their way through the city streets.

...

Wasn't that just so precious?

Spoilers if you haven't read the main fanfics, but these two characters appear in the second story, Melting Gelid Roses, where Carracosta debuts as a secondary character, while Blastoise is revealed much later on to be his hidden husband, who Carracosta adamantly protects throughout the story.

So, this one-shot is based on the formation of their relationship years ago, where they first met one another, and when they discover their son.

It was really fun, because Blastoise and Carracosta are one of my oldest couples for my ongoing Pokemon fanfic, so it's nice to visit their origins, and Squirtle's too! It's funny, because they're more recent going chronologically, but they were one of the first that I came up with conceptually.

Didn't really take the time to research archaeology, so it's probably more of an "artistic interpretation" for it. But it works out for Blastoise, and gives a passable excuse for him and Carracosta to meet up. In the end, I think it's one of the more precious tales that I've written up.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.