p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny stood before the painting, one she'd caught glimpses of but had never actually taken the time to appreciate. It was because of that strange fear she'd have – she just didn't like the idea of strangers hovering around her while she enjoyed something she emloved./em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"In this case, it was a painting of two Veev-... two emEevee/ems, on the right side of the large, open entrance to the small manor that Nemona's family called home. It was an adorable painting, for sure, but Penny also... couldn't quite pin down why, just... something about the piece felt... emoff? /emArtificial? Lacking... emsoul? /emShe couldn't explain it. It was not made by someone who emloved /emEevees, not someone who emunderstood /emthem. It felt like a painting made to... emdisplay, /emnot to appreciate./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Did that make sense?/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny noticed the title of the painting: emSibling Love/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""-next month, it'd do you some good. You ought to be transitioning more into professionalism."br /br /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny's throat caught on itself at hearing the voice of Nemona's older sister use such... phrasing./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emEngh, /emI dunno," Nemona off-handedly replied. She was talking with her sister, who was off down the opposite hall Penny stood near, out of Penny's sight. "We'll see, but... I wouldn't count on it."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona was re-entering the main entrance hall with a pack slung on her back and two sleeping bags rolled up beneath each of her armpits. Penny noticed she'd changed clothes, out of her track suit and training wear and into sweatpants and a tight turtleneck sweatshirt, with an unzipped, Fighting-Type themed track jacket (maybe something Bea had given her?).br /br /"Sooner or later," Nemona's big sis called out, "Father is emgoing /emto expect you to show up to one of these, and be on your best behavior. Do you even emhave /ema single dress – an emactual /emdress – that still fits you properly?"br /br /"Maybe? We-... We'll figure it out if it comes to that," Nemona shouted back over her shoulder, re-wrangling her grip on the sleeping bags. She was gritting her teeth as she flinched, likely from rubbing her cargo against an injury – an injury Penny had given her just a little while earlier.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""You emsay /emthat," her sis huffed, her voice more distant now. "But we'll see how Father reacts when you're not prepared, as usual. You're emalways /emprepared when it comes to emyour /eminterests. Always punctual for emthose. /emBut as soon as it's what emwe /emneed from you, emGiratina forbid, /emyou're suddenly an amateur and running behind schedule. You know, if you invested a emfraction /emof effort into being a responsible, functioning member of this family, instead of all that mindless embattling.../em-"br /br /Whatever 'big sis' was ranting about faded up a stairwell, eventually becoming /br /Nemona visibly sighed – but not audibly – her eyes rolling as she non-verbally displayed her disinterest to Penny by sticking out a grouchy tongue. But Penny couldn't help smiling at her girlfriend – emher /ememstrongbrand new girlfriend /strong/em– which, in turn, caused Nemona to beam back at her. Standing right in front of one another, they scanned gazes, and Penny closed her eyes, hoping to receive her fourth kiss (she was keeping count, emfour /emin one day, and on the emfirst /emday of being official, that was a record!). She could feel Nemona's breath exhale against her cheeks, just about to-/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNemona,/em" snapped her mom curtly, catching both Nemona and Penny off-guard. The two of them flinched, even. If any human being Penny knew was good at causing 'flinching', it was Nemona's 'Mother.'/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny's heart had nearly burst out of her chest, she hadn't even noticed the woman sneak in behind /br /"M-Mah-... emMother/em," Nemona stammered out, visibly offput. Penny had emnever /emseen Nemona falter in calling her mom anything but 'Mother,' not so much as a missed syllable before./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But then, Penny had never seen Nemona in front of her family while romantically entangled with someone else who was emstanding right there /emand they had to emplay it cool /embecause Arven was the only person who knew so far aaaaand-/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Don't emstammer. /emWhat are you doing here? emWhy /emare you carrying those? emWhere /emdo you think you're going?" 'Mother' dryly interrogated, continuing to walk right past them as an attendant matched her pace, swiping at a Rotom Phone. "Aren't you meant to be preparing to attend an Academy Council Meeting?"br /br /Nemona's eyes bulged, her pupils shrinking. It was immediately evident that whatever that was about, Nemona had completely spaced and forgotten. And Penny knew that emshe /emwas the reason why./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I-... Something-... " Nemona's gaze flicked to Penny. "-... came up, and-... " Her 'Mother' didn't even stop to speak with them, just kept going right past, headed for a bookshelf with her attendant glued to her side. Nemona found her way to the end of a thought. "-... Clavell asked me to take care of it. emSo. Yes. /emI am. Doing that. emA-And /emI need... Penny's help, m-might take... all emnight, /emand so... -"br /br /Penny sheepishly nodded, playing along, even though she had no clue what Nemona was on about – and no one besides Nemona even saw her /br /"Fine, fine," 'Mother' sighed, already over this conversation. "I'm at least happy to hear you're earning favors from that lovely man – you can never have too many I.O.U's saved up. I'll be sure to give the Council your regards tonight."br /br /'Mother' noticed another attendant enter, carrying some kind of article of clothing. She snapped her fingers, signalling her current position, and the attendant swooped to her emother /emside (now she had emtwo /empeople practically attached to her hips) and began placing some kind of fancy jacket or vest over her. "Eso será suficiente," she said to the attendant, who gave a half bow in reply./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""My... regards?" Nemona murmured, handing one sleeping bag to Penny. Penny accepted it, but was feeling really antsy by this conversation. Nemona's 'Mother' always had that effect, on the exceptionally rare instances Penny was ever in the same room as her. But at least the lady normally seemed polite, but busy. Right then, she seemed... /br /'Mother' replied to Nemona's question with a formal, brief scolding of, "Don't emmumble, /emmy dear."br /br /"Yes, Mother," Nemona blurted out – in the way a Pokémon might execute a well-practiced move on command. Exchanging puzzled glances with Penny, Nemona asked, "What do you mean, 'my regards'?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona and Penny stood, hovering by the entrance to the manor, while her 'Mother' was being coddled by two assistants, each performing different tasks, and each task separate from what the woman herself was doing – poring over a document folder./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNemona, /emmy... emdarling, /emsweet child..." A heavy sigh. Penny saw Nemona gnawing at her lower lip, her head bobbed. "First of all, emlook /emat someone when you're speaking with them, would you?" Nemona swivelled to face the intimidating lady. "Shouting about the house one moment, emmumbling /emthe next, scrabbling around emcamping /emgear as if your life depended on it... Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if you're taking what's on your docket seriously, anymore."br /br /"I am, Ma'am," Nemona insisted. But not in the way Penny recognized – the words were lacking passion, energy, electricity. It was as if Penny was looking at a version of Nemona inflicted with every stat sharply reduced... (Also, em'Ma'am,' /emto your emMOM? /emYeesh... ) Penny did something she emnever /emdid: she extended a hand out and emtouched /emNemona – emher /ememstronggirlfriend /strong/emem– /emon the back, a gesture of encouragement. She felt Nemona's back muscles expand slightly, likely from taking in a deep /br /Nemona's mom quietly said something in Paldean to her phone-using assistant, who began to rapidly type something down./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Is something going emon /emwith you?" 'Mother' inquired, pacing toward her daughter and Penny, her eyes not on them but on the contents of her folder em('wanking hyprocite!'). /em"You've been acting a little odd for days, now..." She wasn't being demeaning or speaking with ill intent, there was genuine concern, there, but it was nevertheless laced with a sort of... disappointment./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny could emfeel /ema strange nervousness in Nemona that she was unfamiliar with. She was used to this family being distant, a bit cold, plastically polite – or maybe just emactually /empolite in a plastic way. But this was the first time she'd ever seen Nemona's 'Mother' visibly emangry, /emand yet the actual details of her mannerisms were barely any different from usual. It was emNemona's /emmannerisms being so different that was tipping Penny off./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Just... tired," Nemona said plainly, innocently, devoid of the authenticity Penny knew. "And... th-that's no excuse, of course, so... I'm sorry. I'll do better next week."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I should emhope /emso," 'Mother' lamented, breezing right past them and heading back from whence she'd come. "The Council vote is coming up emnext month /emand I am going to be relying on you to do your part to see them understand what I can bring to the Academy. 'I'm sorry' doesn't do anyone any good, my dear – having nothing to apologize for in the first place is what you should be striving for."br /br /"Of course, Mother," said Nemona, bowing slightly at her mom's back./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The enigmatic but altogether intimidating lady of the house took her leave as swiftly as she'd swooped in, like a stern Braviary./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"When Penny felt sure Nemona's mom was out of earshot, she mockingly murmured, "emYes, /ememstronghello, /strong/emnice to see you, emtoo/em, Ma'am." (Seriously, the woman hadn't so much as emacknowledged /emthat Penny even existed that whole time!)br /br /"emCállate,/em" Nemona hissed dully./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Wait, emwhat /emwas that her mom had said? By the way? 'Council vote?' Council emmeeting? /em'I'll give Clavell your regards...?' Was emshe /emattending this meeting? She wasn't even emon /emthe school board, was she? And what she'd just said, it made it sound like she was trying to get emon/em the school board?/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The bloody emhell?br /br /emBut before Penny could verbalize her realization, Nemona had grabbed her harshly by the hand, emyanked /emher toward the manor's front doors, and was speed-walking away, hiking pack and sleeping bag in tow./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Catching their breath outside – and they emwere /emstrangely out of breath, somehow? – the pair of them kept going, though Nemona broke hand-holding almost instantly as she marched toward Poco Path./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Y-You OK?" Penny eked out, clearing her throat when she realized how dry it was./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Fine," Nemona dismissed coldly. "Let's just find Arven and go."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Um..." Penny was off put, but was quickly beginning to piece things together: Nemona's vague statements about 'things' she had dealing with which had been preventing her from expressing her feelings to Penny over the past few days. "If there's something going on with your family, you... know you can talk to me about it, right?"br /br /Nemona sighed, walking at a pace a bit too brisk for Penny's comfort./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I know," she replied after a moment. Some of her 'Nemona-ness' was starting to come back. "Sorry, Pen, I-... Just leave it for now, 'kay? I promise I'll explain at... emsome /empoint."br /"You emalso/em going to explain why you just emlied /emto your mom – sorry, your 'emMother?'/em"br /br /Penny immediately regretted having asked this – or least the way she'd asked it – when she saw Nemona slow to a stop, gripping at her stomach /br /"Híjole..." Nemona grunted to herself, her eyes shooting wide open with alarm. "em¡Joder tío! /emYou're right, I... I emdid /emlie to her...!" She stared at Penny, dumbfounded with herself. "And I keep emcursing/em," she added in a mumble, a hint of fear about her. Penny was enamored, of course. Seeing Miss Perfect Academy Darling was human like everyone else just made Nemona all the more cute in her eyes. But Nemona quickly covered her rebellious tinge back up by bemoaning, "emAgh, /emI can't believe I emlied /emto Mother...!" You win some, you lose some, even when it comes to cuteness points.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""That... wasn't on purpose?" Penny balked, /br /"N-No," Nemona sighed out, clamping her free hand against her cheek and sliding her cheek's skin downward with /br /Penny told white lies all the emtime. /emAnd she'd even deceived Nemona, actively, in recent times with the whole 'Scream Tail' thing. But she had emnever /emseen Nemona lie, to anyone, in any way. Not that she was complaining – seeing Miss Perfect Class President walk on the 'wild side' for Penny's sake was, you know... extremely cute./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona began moving again, a bit slower, still clawing at her side, as if her stomach was sick suddenly. She even sounded a little queasy, yeesh... She began muttering out, "It just-... It slipped out, I-... emMierda/em," she winced, sucking air in through her teeth as she unslung her pack's left strap. "emAy-ay-ayyy.../em" she squeaked softly, obviously in some kind of sudden pain./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Oh, right... That boob-bruise Penny had left.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emGugh, /emoh-my-Arc, 'Mona," pleaded Penny. "I'm emso /emsorry, I-...Y-You should let emme /emtake it, I can-..."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""It's fine, it's fine," Nemona insisted through grit teeth, audibly and visibly strained as she cautiously readjusted the backpack./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emIs /emit fine?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The pair of them paused as the familiar voice – followed by face – of Arven met them up ahead. It was getting dark out, so they hadn't even noticed him, so fussed with their own affairs./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Nemona," Arven lamented, shaking his head at her as he approached with his Mabosstiff. "You look like emcrap./em"em br /br /em"emThanks, /emBud. You, too," Nemona grunted out grumpily, clearly trying to suppress her /br /em"Heh. And you've emgotta /embe worn out after the day you've had, huh?" Arven said to her while shooting Penny a dubious look, citing, "To think our little Pen-Pen had better bite than her bark..." Her smirked, obviously amused by what had happened – they'd explained things to him, of /br /"emRrrowf!/em" Mabosstiff agreed, shooting Penny a suspicious look – and honestly, fair play. She'd done some shady stuff. Not everyone had to be as bluntly forgiving as 'Mona was about it, so it was deserved to give her the side-eye. Hell, she'd even let that use of em'Pen-Pen' /emslide, here, she was feeling so guilty. At least the three of them had agreed to keep the whole thing – including Nemona's reckless Tera Orb stunt – a secret./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But Penny could tell Arven was a little wary of her, masking his uncertainty with Nemona /emhe expected bizarre behavior from, but from Penny it was probably more jarring.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNngh,/em" Nemona whimpered weakly, nearly tripping as she took off her hiking pack, dropping her sleeping bag in the process. Penny made sure to catch her, and she sighed in a warm, grateful way, smiling feebly down at Penny. Just the idea of being there to 'rescue' Nemona, in the smallest of ways, made Penny's insides boil merrily./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Uhh," said Arven, bending down to grab Nemona's pack. "Here, let emus /emtake care of that for ya."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emOwf-owff!/em" Mabosstiff was happy to oblige carrying the pack, while Arven dusted off the rolled sleeping bag and hooked it onto Penny's bag./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny grunted with surprise at the added weight, but wasn't going to dare /br /"Why don't you call out your Lycanroc to hitch a ride?" Arven suggested, pressing a palm against Nemona's shoulder as he leaned forward a bit. His critical gaze peered at her through his flowing bangs./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""N-Not a bad idea," Nemona grumbled, her voice shaky as she padded at her pockets. "I-..." Her eyes squinted angrily shut as she stomped one foot, growling, "emEstoy empanado./em" She sighed, wiping a hand against her forehead, slicking her bangs back. "I left my 'mons back in my room..."br /br /Arven and Penny exchanged utterly nervous glances at this, and the unspoken thought was shared between them: em'/ememstrongNEMONA, /strong/ememof all people, /ememstrongforgot /strong/ememto bring a team of Pokémon with her?! /ememstrongAGAIN?/strong/emem'/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Guys," Nemona warily huffed, managing to pick up on their concern. She spoke with her eyes closed for half of her statement, her head lulling in impatience. "I'm just... emtired. /emI'mem fine. /emI was getting totally grilled by my family, I was carrying camping stuff, and... and I just had to emleave, /emso it... slipped my mind. That's all. ¿Sí?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona gave both of them very serious looks, the bags starting to form under her eyes lending truth to her words./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emPlease /emstop looking at me like that, ¡venga ya!" Nemona lamented tartly and tiredly, her lower lip propping out with offense. "Let's just go."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emGah, /emnone of my Veevees are... big enough to give you a lift, really," Penny realized. "I'd... emcarry /emyou... if I could..." And again, the idea of Penny sweeping Nemona off her feet was a daydream too tempting to ignore, so Penny allowed it, just for a /br /"I know," Nemona said with a small smile, her warmth peeking in past her exhaustion like sunlight at the end of a rainstorm./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""And my Pokémon aren't exactly made for riding, besides emthis /embig guy," Arven cited, giving his precious pupper a firm pat on his side – to which he received a sturdy em'Owf!'/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Listen, my legs aren't embroken /emor anything," Nemona insisted, her tone getting sharp as she began to press on. "emNo hay problema. /emCan we just emgo? /emUh. And. Thanks for... helping carry my stuff," she said to Arven, taking a step backward from her escalating tone./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Of course," Arven replied gently, eager to dissolve whatever was wrong. "Did you, erh, apply potions to your injuries...?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""We did. R-Right away," Penny insisted – though that was a white lie. 'Right away' as in, minutes after their fight, after they'd had their intimate moment, became a couple, kissed... and everything. Some cuddling had taken priority over applying medication to scrapes and bruises.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Potions didn't work the same on humans as they did Pokémon – for the 'mons it was nearly instant healing, and since Pokémon seemed to strangely share a common thread of genetics, the essentially perfected potion formulas did their magic. On humans, they disinfected and greatly sped up healing, but it wasn't instant. And with the bruise or two Nemona suffered, she'd be all good by morning, but it had only been a couple hours or so. At least, all of this was according to Arven, who certainly knew about medicines normally used for Pokémon, given all of his research in curing his Mabosstiff./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The trio headed off as the sun set, and it was thankfully an uneventful hike./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"In this case, it was a painting of two Veev-... two emEevee/ems, on the right side of the large, open entrance to the small manor that Nemona's family called home. It was an adorable painting, for sure, but Penny also... couldn't quite pin down why, just... something about the piece felt... emoff? /emArtificial? Lacking... emsoul? /emShe couldn't explain it. It was not made by someone who emloved /emEevees, not someone who emunderstood /emthem. It felt like a painting made to... emdisplay, /emnot to appreciate./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Did that make sense?/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny noticed the title of the painting: emSibling Love/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""-next month, it'd do you some good. You ought to be transitioning more into professionalism."br /br /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny's throat caught on itself at hearing the voice of Nemona's older sister use such... phrasing./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emEngh, /emI dunno," Nemona off-handedly replied. She was talking with her sister, who was off down the opposite hall Penny stood near, out of Penny's sight. "We'll see, but... I wouldn't count on it."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona was re-entering the main entrance hall with a pack slung on her back and two sleeping bags rolled up beneath each of her armpits. Penny noticed she'd changed clothes, out of her track suit and training wear and into sweatpants and a tight turtleneck sweatshirt, with an unzipped, Fighting-Type themed track jacket (maybe something Bea had given her?).br /br /"Sooner or later," Nemona's big sis called out, "Father is emgoing /emto expect you to show up to one of these, and be on your best behavior. Do you even emhave /ema single dress – an emactual /emdress – that still fits you properly?"br /br /"Maybe? We-... We'll figure it out if it comes to that," Nemona shouted back over her shoulder, re-wrangling her grip on the sleeping bags. She was gritting her teeth as she flinched, likely from rubbing her cargo against an injury – an injury Penny had given her just a little while earlier.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""You emsay /emthat," her sis huffed, her voice more distant now. "But we'll see how Father reacts when you're not prepared, as usual. You're emalways /emprepared when it comes to emyour /eminterests. Always punctual for emthose. /emBut as soon as it's what emwe /emneed from you, emGiratina forbid, /emyou're suddenly an amateur and running behind schedule. You know, if you invested a emfraction /emof effort into being a responsible, functioning member of this family, instead of all that mindless embattling.../em-"br /br /Whatever 'big sis' was ranting about faded up a stairwell, eventually becoming /br /Nemona visibly sighed – but not audibly – her eyes rolling as she non-verbally displayed her disinterest to Penny by sticking out a grouchy tongue. But Penny couldn't help smiling at her girlfriend – emher /ememstrongbrand new girlfriend /strong/em– which, in turn, caused Nemona to beam back at her. Standing right in front of one another, they scanned gazes, and Penny closed her eyes, hoping to receive her fourth kiss (she was keeping count, emfour /emin one day, and on the emfirst /emday of being official, that was a record!). She could feel Nemona's breath exhale against her cheeks, just about to-/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNemona,/em" snapped her mom curtly, catching both Nemona and Penny off-guard. The two of them flinched, even. If any human being Penny knew was good at causing 'flinching', it was Nemona's 'Mother.'/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny's heart had nearly burst out of her chest, she hadn't even noticed the woman sneak in behind /br /"M-Mah-... emMother/em," Nemona stammered out, visibly offput. Penny had emnever /emseen Nemona falter in calling her mom anything but 'Mother,' not so much as a missed syllable before./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But then, Penny had never seen Nemona in front of her family while romantically entangled with someone else who was emstanding right there /emand they had to emplay it cool /embecause Arven was the only person who knew so far aaaaand-/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Don't emstammer. /emWhat are you doing here? emWhy /emare you carrying those? emWhere /emdo you think you're going?" 'Mother' dryly interrogated, continuing to walk right past them as an attendant matched her pace, swiping at a Rotom Phone. "Aren't you meant to be preparing to attend an Academy Council Meeting?"br /br /Nemona's eyes bulged, her pupils shrinking. It was immediately evident that whatever that was about, Nemona had completely spaced and forgotten. And Penny knew that emshe /emwas the reason why./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I-... Something-... " Nemona's gaze flicked to Penny. "-... came up, and-... " Her 'Mother' didn't even stop to speak with them, just kept going right past, headed for a bookshelf with her attendant glued to her side. Nemona found her way to the end of a thought. "-... Clavell asked me to take care of it. emSo. Yes. /emI am. Doing that. emA-And /emI need... Penny's help, m-might take... all emnight, /emand so... -"br /br /Penny sheepishly nodded, playing along, even though she had no clue what Nemona was on about – and no one besides Nemona even saw her /br /"Fine, fine," 'Mother' sighed, already over this conversation. "I'm at least happy to hear you're earning favors from that lovely man – you can never have too many I.O.U's saved up. I'll be sure to give the Council your regards tonight."br /br /'Mother' noticed another attendant enter, carrying some kind of article of clothing. She snapped her fingers, signalling her current position, and the attendant swooped to her emother /emside (now she had emtwo /empeople practically attached to her hips) and began placing some kind of fancy jacket or vest over her. "Eso será suficiente," she said to the attendant, who gave a half bow in reply./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""My... regards?" Nemona murmured, handing one sleeping bag to Penny. Penny accepted it, but was feeling really antsy by this conversation. Nemona's 'Mother' always had that effect, on the exceptionally rare instances Penny was ever in the same room as her. But at least the lady normally seemed polite, but busy. Right then, she seemed... /br /'Mother' replied to Nemona's question with a formal, brief scolding of, "Don't emmumble, /emmy dear."br /br /"Yes, Mother," Nemona blurted out – in the way a Pokémon might execute a well-practiced move on command. Exchanging puzzled glances with Penny, Nemona asked, "What do you mean, 'my regards'?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona and Penny stood, hovering by the entrance to the manor, while her 'Mother' was being coddled by two assistants, each performing different tasks, and each task separate from what the woman herself was doing – poring over a document folder./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNemona, /emmy... emdarling, /emsweet child..." A heavy sigh. Penny saw Nemona gnawing at her lower lip, her head bobbed. "First of all, emlook /emat someone when you're speaking with them, would you?" Nemona swivelled to face the intimidating lady. "Shouting about the house one moment, emmumbling /emthe next, scrabbling around emcamping /emgear as if your life depended on it... Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if you're taking what's on your docket seriously, anymore."br /br /"I am, Ma'am," Nemona insisted. But not in the way Penny recognized – the words were lacking passion, energy, electricity. It was as if Penny was looking at a version of Nemona inflicted with every stat sharply reduced... (Also, em'Ma'am,' /emto your emMOM? /emYeesh... ) Penny did something she emnever /emdid: she extended a hand out and emtouched /emNemona – emher /ememstronggirlfriend /strong/emem– /emon the back, a gesture of encouragement. She felt Nemona's back muscles expand slightly, likely from taking in a deep /br /Nemona's mom quietly said something in Paldean to her phone-using assistant, who began to rapidly type something down./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Is something going emon /emwith you?" 'Mother' inquired, pacing toward her daughter and Penny, her eyes not on them but on the contents of her folder em('wanking hyprocite!'). /em"You've been acting a little odd for days, now..." She wasn't being demeaning or speaking with ill intent, there was genuine concern, there, but it was nevertheless laced with a sort of... disappointment./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny could emfeel /ema strange nervousness in Nemona that she was unfamiliar with. She was used to this family being distant, a bit cold, plastically polite – or maybe just emactually /empolite in a plastic way. But this was the first time she'd ever seen Nemona's 'Mother' visibly emangry, /emand yet the actual details of her mannerisms were barely any different from usual. It was emNemona's /emmannerisms being so different that was tipping Penny off./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Just... tired," Nemona said plainly, innocently, devoid of the authenticity Penny knew. "And... th-that's no excuse, of course, so... I'm sorry. I'll do better next week."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I should emhope /emso," 'Mother' lamented, breezing right past them and heading back from whence she'd come. "The Council vote is coming up emnext month /emand I am going to be relying on you to do your part to see them understand what I can bring to the Academy. 'I'm sorry' doesn't do anyone any good, my dear – having nothing to apologize for in the first place is what you should be striving for."br /br /"Of course, Mother," said Nemona, bowing slightly at her mom's back./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The enigmatic but altogether intimidating lady of the house took her leave as swiftly as she'd swooped in, like a stern Braviary./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"When Penny felt sure Nemona's mom was out of earshot, she mockingly murmured, "emYes, /ememstronghello, /strong/emnice to see you, emtoo/em, Ma'am." (Seriously, the woman hadn't so much as emacknowledged /emthat Penny even existed that whole time!)br /br /"emCállate,/em" Nemona hissed dully./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Wait, emwhat /emwas that her mom had said? By the way? 'Council vote?' Council emmeeting? /em'I'll give Clavell your regards...?' Was emshe /emattending this meeting? She wasn't even emon /emthe school board, was she? And what she'd just said, it made it sound like she was trying to get emon/em the school board?/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The bloody emhell?br /br /emBut before Penny could verbalize her realization, Nemona had grabbed her harshly by the hand, emyanked /emher toward the manor's front doors, and was speed-walking away, hiking pack and sleeping bag in tow./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Catching their breath outside – and they emwere /emstrangely out of breath, somehow? – the pair of them kept going, though Nemona broke hand-holding almost instantly as she marched toward Poco Path./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Y-You OK?" Penny eked out, clearing her throat when she realized how dry it was./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Fine," Nemona dismissed coldly. "Let's just find Arven and go."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Um..." Penny was off put, but was quickly beginning to piece things together: Nemona's vague statements about 'things' she had dealing with which had been preventing her from expressing her feelings to Penny over the past few days. "If there's something going on with your family, you... know you can talk to me about it, right?"br /br /Nemona sighed, walking at a pace a bit too brisk for Penny's comfort./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""I know," she replied after a moment. Some of her 'Nemona-ness' was starting to come back. "Sorry, Pen, I-... Just leave it for now, 'kay? I promise I'll explain at... emsome /empoint."br /"You emalso/em going to explain why you just emlied /emto your mom – sorry, your 'emMother?'/em"br /br /Penny immediately regretted having asked this – or least the way she'd asked it – when she saw Nemona slow to a stop, gripping at her stomach /br /"Híjole..." Nemona grunted to herself, her eyes shooting wide open with alarm. "em¡Joder tío! /emYou're right, I... I emdid /emlie to her...!" She stared at Penny, dumbfounded with herself. "And I keep emcursing/em," she added in a mumble, a hint of fear about her. Penny was enamored, of course. Seeing Miss Perfect Academy Darling was human like everyone else just made Nemona all the more cute in her eyes. But Nemona quickly covered her rebellious tinge back up by bemoaning, "emAgh, /emI can't believe I emlied /emto Mother...!" You win some, you lose some, even when it comes to cuteness points.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""That... wasn't on purpose?" Penny balked, /br /"N-No," Nemona sighed out, clamping her free hand against her cheek and sliding her cheek's skin downward with /br /Penny told white lies all the emtime. /emAnd she'd even deceived Nemona, actively, in recent times with the whole 'Scream Tail' thing. But she had emnever /emseen Nemona lie, to anyone, in any way. Not that she was complaining – seeing Miss Perfect Class President walk on the 'wild side' for Penny's sake was, you know... extremely cute./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona began moving again, a bit slower, still clawing at her side, as if her stomach was sick suddenly. She even sounded a little queasy, yeesh... She began muttering out, "It just-... It slipped out, I-... emMierda/em," she winced, sucking air in through her teeth as she unslung her pack's left strap. "emAy-ay-ayyy.../em" she squeaked softly, obviously in some kind of sudden pain./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Oh, right... That boob-bruise Penny had left.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emGugh, /emoh-my-Arc, 'Mona," pleaded Penny. "I'm emso /emsorry, I-...Y-You should let emme /emtake it, I can-..."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""It's fine, it's fine," Nemona insisted through grit teeth, audibly and visibly strained as she cautiously readjusted the backpack./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emIs /emit fine?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The pair of them paused as the familiar voice – followed by face – of Arven met them up ahead. It was getting dark out, so they hadn't even noticed him, so fussed with their own affairs./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Nemona," Arven lamented, shaking his head at her as he approached with his Mabosstiff. "You look like emcrap./em"em br /br /em"emThanks, /emBud. You, too," Nemona grunted out grumpily, clearly trying to suppress her /br /em"Heh. And you've emgotta /embe worn out after the day you've had, huh?" Arven said to her while shooting Penny a dubious look, citing, "To think our little Pen-Pen had better bite than her bark..." Her smirked, obviously amused by what had happened – they'd explained things to him, of /br /"emRrrowf!/em" Mabosstiff agreed, shooting Penny a suspicious look – and honestly, fair play. She'd done some shady stuff. Not everyone had to be as bluntly forgiving as 'Mona was about it, so it was deserved to give her the side-eye. Hell, she'd even let that use of em'Pen-Pen' /emslide, here, she was feeling so guilty. At least the three of them had agreed to keep the whole thing – including Nemona's reckless Tera Orb stunt – a secret./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But Penny could tell Arven was a little wary of her, masking his uncertainty with Nemona /emhe expected bizarre behavior from, but from Penny it was probably more jarring.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emNngh,/em" Nemona whimpered weakly, nearly tripping as she took off her hiking pack, dropping her sleeping bag in the process. Penny made sure to catch her, and she sighed in a warm, grateful way, smiling feebly down at Penny. Just the idea of being there to 'rescue' Nemona, in the smallest of ways, made Penny's insides boil merrily./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Uhh," said Arven, bending down to grab Nemona's pack. "Here, let emus /emtake care of that for ya."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emOwf-owff!/em" Mabosstiff was happy to oblige carrying the pack, while Arven dusted off the rolled sleeping bag and hooked it onto Penny's bag./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Penny grunted with surprise at the added weight, but wasn't going to dare /br /"Why don't you call out your Lycanroc to hitch a ride?" Arven suggested, pressing a palm against Nemona's shoulder as he leaned forward a bit. His critical gaze peered at her through his flowing bangs./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""N-Not a bad idea," Nemona grumbled, her voice shaky as she padded at her pockets. "I-..." Her eyes squinted angrily shut as she stomped one foot, growling, "emEstoy empanado./em" She sighed, wiping a hand against her forehead, slicking her bangs back. "I left my 'mons back in my room..."br /br /Arven and Penny exchanged utterly nervous glances at this, and the unspoken thought was shared between them: em'/ememstrongNEMONA, /strong/ememof all people, /ememstrongforgot /strong/ememto bring a team of Pokémon with her?! /ememstrongAGAIN?/strong/emem'/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Guys," Nemona warily huffed, managing to pick up on their concern. She spoke with her eyes closed for half of her statement, her head lulling in impatience. "I'm just... emtired. /emI'mem fine. /emI was getting totally grilled by my family, I was carrying camping stuff, and... and I just had to emleave, /emso it... slipped my mind. That's all. ¿Sí?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Nemona gave both of them very serious looks, the bags starting to form under her eyes lending truth to her words./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emPlease /emstop looking at me like that, ¡venga ya!" Nemona lamented tartly and tiredly, her lower lip propping out with offense. "Let's just go."/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""emGah, /emnone of my Veevees are... big enough to give you a lift, really," Penny realized. "I'd... emcarry /emyou... if I could..." And again, the idea of Penny sweeping Nemona off her feet was a daydream too tempting to ignore, so Penny allowed it, just for a /br /"I know," Nemona said with a small smile, her warmth peeking in past her exhaustion like sunlight at the end of a rainstorm./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""And my Pokémon aren't exactly made for riding, besides emthis /embig guy," Arven cited, giving his precious pupper a firm pat on his side – to which he received a sturdy em'Owf!'/em/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Listen, my legs aren't embroken /emor anything," Nemona insisted, her tone getting sharp as she began to press on. "emNo hay problema. /emCan we just emgo? /emUh. And. Thanks for... helping carry my stuff," she said to Arven, taking a step backward from her escalating tone./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""Of course," Arven replied gently, eager to dissolve whatever was wrong. "Did you, erh, apply potions to your injuries...?"/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;""We did. R-Right away," Penny insisted – though that was a white lie. 'Right away' as in, minutes after their fight, after they'd had their intimate moment, became a couple, kissed... and everything. Some cuddling had taken priority over applying medication to scrapes and bruises.../p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Potions didn't work the same on humans as they did Pokémon – for the 'mons it was nearly instant healing, and since Pokémon seemed to strangely share a common thread of genetics, the essentially perfected potion formulas did their magic. On humans, they disinfected and greatly sped up healing, but it wasn't instant. And with the bruise or two Nemona suffered, she'd be all good by morning, but it had only been a couple hours or so. At least, all of this was according to Arven, who certainly knew about medicines normally used for Pokémon, given all of his research in curing his Mabosstiff./p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"The trio headed off as the sun set, and it was thankfully an uneventful hike./p