SAVAGECALIBER22 MADE THESE NEW BANNERS!

THAT SYLVEON

I think it's about time we do this. I'd like to thank the TU news team on behalf of getting the word about this chapter about the server. That's right, the TU news team, thank you.

LuanOTP owns nothing. She has a bowl full of cookie crisp and lucky charms, though. She goes halfsies because she likes the variety. Have you seen the new banners? Good grief. That's art if I ever saw it.

…

Patiently, a Blaziken stood at one of the counters in his kitchen. Two bread slices on a plate awaited their respectful accessories. Brendan waited no time in preparing the grilled cheese maker, as well as the cheese in question. During his work, he felt two hands wrap around his waist like a belt, and a bosom boring themselves halfway down his back. The pair of paws unravelled themselves, before going their own ways to explore the Blaziken's body.

"Afternoon, baby." mumbled the Lucario providing the embrace. She set a baby monitor on the counter.

"Hey, Jasmine." replied her husband, who turned around to reciprocate the hug. "Do you need some help with the kids?"

"Nah, thankfully not. I finally put those suckers to sleep, but it took a lot out of me." she moaned, walking beside Brendan to grab a slice of cheese from his variety of ingredients. "Ooo, could you make me a grilled cheese too?"

"Yeah, baby. This one was yours, but I know you don't like tomatoes."

"Yeah, tomatoes suck." Jasmine put the slice in her mouth, before propping herself up on the counter. "Okay Brendan, are we gonna fuck or what?"

"Huh? Isn't it early for you, Jasmine?" excused the professional battler, pointing at a clock on the wall. "We did it like a few hours ago."

"I know, I know, but come on, ya goof. I've got a high sex drive. Dating me was accepting that fact, but marrying me was your way of saying that you're down to help me in my time of need."

Brendan waved a slice of cheese warningly, "You know, if I pressured you sexually the way you're doing to me, people would really be after my head-"

"Oh boo, hoo, sexism. That's just how life is; I never ask to get catcalled, but shock and awe! There's always at least one. I'm in my thirties, for Arceus' sake." the Lucario falsely whined, just to mock her husband. "So what now, Brendan? My legs are open and my mouth wants your meat in it."

The Blaziken rolled his eyes, yet couldn't say he was against the idea. "Ugh, fine, just lemme finish our sandwiches- wait, you get catcalled?"

"Thanks baby!" sang the Lucario, kicking her legs up and down. "So, do you wanna do it on the counter? I was thinking, I put my legs up on your shoulders, then you hoist me up in the air, and- Arceus, that sounds magical."

"Hmm… huh?" Brendan felt a pattern of tingles in his feathers. He brought out his phone and found that someone was calling him.

"Hello? Brendan?" spoke the phone. Brendan put the device to his "ear" to respond. His wife didn't seem too happy with the notion, though.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Heya, it's Cassidy! Do you have a moment?"

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…" the Blaziken glanced at his wife, whose burning irises was enough of an answer. "Yeeaah… I do. What's up?"

"So, do you remember Alice?"

Brendan scratched his head. "Alice? Alice who?"

"Alice, from highschool! The Arcanine!"

"Alice… hmm… From West Latias?"

"Yes! The one who used to hang out with you guys!"

"Umm… Whuh? HEY!"

Brendan was caught by surprise as Jasmine leapt at him, grabbing the phone out his hands.

"Hello, this is Jasmine speaking. Who's this?"

"Oh, Jasmine! It's Cass!"

"Hiya, Cass. Is this call really important? I've got a lot to do with this numbskull of a Blaziken." she said, placing a hand on her hip.

"Ummm… Well, I just wanted to see if you still remember Alice, the Arcanine."

"What? Of course I do. Is she alright?"

From the other end of the line, came some background shuffling. "Yeah, she's fine. What I really wanted to ask is if she's single or not."

Jasmine jumped with surprise. "Wait, what? Cass, I hope you aren't cheating on my little brother!"

"Huh? Ohhh, hahaha! Don't be so silly, Jasmine! Julley's boss is the one that's looking for blind dates."

"Hmmm… That makes sense. Heard that guy's a bit of a tool... M'kay, I'm pretty sure she's still single, yeah. I dunno if Julley's boss minds kids, though." advised Jasmine, who took the free time to fondle her husband's love handles. "She's got a three year old or something."

"Ahaha, well we'll have to see. Could you send me her number? Hope it won't be awkward speaking to her again."

"Naw, you'll be fine, Cass."

"Thanks a lot you two! Oh, by the way, have you guys seen anyone that's saying that they're me? Apparently, there's someone going around claiming that they're 'Cassidy herself', but I'm right here! I don't get it!"

Jasmine couldn't take it anymore. "Okay, Cass, thanks for calling! Byeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"Huh? But you hadn't even answered my q-"

*click*

The Lucario switched off her husband's phone and set it to the side. She then stared at the Blaziken with fierce intentions.

"Okay, Brendan. No more distractions. We're gonna have crazy-awesome kitchen sex," She pointed to the counter. "then we're gonna gobble those grilled cheese sandwiches."

Giving in to his insatiable wife, the Blaziken smiled and moved a little closer to her, feeling up her hips. "I can never really say no to-"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Shrieks emitted from the remorseless baby monitor, that Jasmine regretted bringing down with her. She glared at her surprised husband, and screamed into her paws.

"FUCK." she cried, nabbing the baby monitor as she prepared to take her leave. She gave the fire and fighting type one last look. "You. Stay. Right. There."

...

Closing her maths book, Anais could sigh one of relief now that it had come to the end of the day. The afternoon skies of a golden aura was where she truly wanted to be. However, the best she could do with four paws is go home. Clamouring out of the classroom with a bunch of other Pokemon she hardly knew, the Sylveon remembered one agenda that was on her mind, and made a speedy U-turn in the middle of the hallway.

She took a flight of stairs toward the gymnasium, where she flung the doors open, and laid eyes on her objective. Raidon ran laps around cones laid a few metres away from the circumference of the gym, as if to replicate a track. As he sped, consequently leaving the rest of the class in the dust the likes of Lola, Sarah the Salazzle and even Barry - seemed to lag behind the tiring majority.

A whistle blew the class to a halt. Coach Easel put her hand up to signify that Raidon had made it to the finishing line.

"In first place, Atos! Four minutes and fifty seconds. Not bad." the Sneasel yowled, reading off her stopwatch. She then waited for the other Pokemon to finish their personal races.

Anais took the time to approach and congratulate the knackered Luxray. "Hey, Raidon!" she exclaimed, startling him from behind as he slugged off the track.

"Whew, hey," he replied, close to being out of breath. "Did'ya-did'ya see me run it? The half mile?"

"Only the end bit, but damn." Anais glanced back at the other runners, who didn't seem close to finishing. "Did you lap these guys?"

"Oh, um. I don't actually know. I usually keep my head down when I'm running."

"You are one fast Luxray."

Raidon snickered, wiping beads of sweat from his brows. "Aha, it runs in the family. So, if you don't mind me askin', what'cha doin' over here? Didn't you just have maths?"

"Oh yeah, I just wanted to see if you were free." explained the Sylveon, clasping her paws. "I r-really appreciated what you did for me at lunch. Could I grab us some ice-creams or something?"

"Really, Anais, don't worry 'bout it." the electric type assured, playfully patting her head, causing the Sylveon to recoil from all the sweat transferred to her forehead. "But I can't make it today."

"Aw, that sucks. Why not?"

"Oh, I'm just busy."

Anais narrowed her eyes. "Busy doing what?"

"It's a really long story. I'll definitely tell you when I get a moment."

"Second place, Justam-Eggamuffin…! Did I say that right?"

The Sylveon ended up not pursuing her prey any longer. "Okay dude. Mind if I walk you out at least?"

"Yeah, sure. I think I need to wait for Coach Easel to dismiss me, though." responded Raidon, watching the Weavile call in more students.

"Third, Lattykin! Fourth, Punnichi!"

Anais scoffed, "Lame. Usually I just dip from gym the second I'm done with whatever garbage we're up to."

"Really? Don't you wanna be in Coach's goodbooks?" curiously asked Raidon, scratching a bother behind his ear. "You know, she's got a lotta links to some high-level teams."

"Yeah… About that, I don't really know if I want to pursue battling as a career."

The Luxray stopped scratching his ear, as they perked up in surprise. "Huh…"

'...What's with the "Huh"?'

"Nothing, nothing at all. I just took you as a pretty good fighter. I feel like you'd go far if you tried."

The fairy type brought a paw just below her open mouth. The comment - that she had taken as a compliment - travelled lengths to boost her spirit. "You think so?"

Raidon closed his eyes, raised his eyebrows and smiled. Nodding, he had made a statement from one gesture alone.

"Eighteenth, Knicks-Even. Nineteenth… C'mon! You're not gonna go anywhere goin' that slow, Bursyamo!"

Anais plopped her buttocks down, but saved the deep thoughts for later. "Hmm… Okay. I'll remember what you said."

Once the Wheevile had sorted out dismissal of the students, Anais and Raidon had swiftly taken their leave. The near-empty hallways led to the sidewalk pretty quickly. And step - they were off school grounds. The fairy gave her boyfriend a hug, as they prepared to part ways.

"Well, guess I won't see you 'til next form, isn't it?"

Raidon shrugged his shoulders, though embraced the hug tightly. "Eyup. But it won't be long."

…

The bus halted to a screeching stop. Raidon hopped off his seat and meandered through the other passengers just to get off. Just a few roads away from the fairly desolate bus stop, the Luxray found himself in the reception of a massive building. A really big one. He trotted over to the receptionist, who was a Bulbasaur, in fact. Raidon smiled as he approached them.

"Haha, hey kid!" Raidon called, greeting the Bulbasaur on an office chair behind the desk. "Do you know where the receptionist went?"

"I am the receptionist." the grass type responded in a very mature, adult, female voice.

"B-But… you're-"

"I'm a Bulbasaur, yes."

Raidon cocked his head at a tilt. "So… you're an adult?"

The Bulbasaur sighed. "Yes. Do you need something?"

"Um, yes. I've got an appointment to meet someone here."

"Name?"

"Raidon."

The Bulbasaur rolled her eyes.

"Oh, I mean Raidon Atos."

"There we go."

Tap tap tap. The grass type punched some keys into the keyboard. The monitor made a beeping sound.

"Yep, you're here. Make your way through the doors on your left." instructed the receptionist.

Raidon looked to his left, and the doors referred to by the Bulbasaur made themselves apparent. Of course, security stood firmly in the form of a Leavanny. Raidon found it slightly ironic. Yet, their black shirt with the words 'SECURITY' surely didn't lie. The doors were opened courtesy of the bug and grass type Pokemon, and the Luxray trotted through them.

A dimly lit, narrow hallway brought him to an array of chairs put neatly facing a transparent plastic wall. Many Pokemon were sat at some of the chairs, while many others were on the other side of the wall, bearing some sort of orange apparel, depending on their shape and size. Raidon's eyes scanned the room, and took no time in recognising an Absol draped in an orange cardigan. He took to the corresponding chair without a second thought, and peered through the glass.

"Mom! Is that you?"

The Absol seemed to not respond at all. It was as if they didn't hear him. They barely made any eye contact to begin with.

"Mom!" he had said a little louder. The Absol brought their eyes over to his own, and Raidon was certain. She seemed to be holding a telephone to her ear.

The Luxray took a look at the desk just before him, and made a bagel shape with his mouth once he realised what was wrong. He picked up the telephone, and spoke into it again.

"Mom?"

"Hi, Son." she had responded with a smile. It shook Raidon to the bone, seeing a toothy beam come from his mother of all people.

"How are you?" Raidon asked, with nothing else to do other than gaze into his mother's indigo irises and twiddle with the telephone cord.

"I'm fine, Son." Awkwardly, the Absol's free paw ambled onto her side of the shared desk. "How's school?"

"It's great. I guess I'm just happy to be back. Today, we had a bit of track, and I came first!"

Abby's smile grew, unnaturally in the Luxray's opinion. She trailed a claw across the telephone as she replied, "Is that so? When I was your age, I was always first in the track races."

That's something he had never known before. His eyebrows furrowed with great interest. "Huh, really? I never knew you were so into sports." blurted Raidon, to which his mother nodded slowly.

"I was. At my old highschool, I was a part of the school battling team for a term, and we even won a major tournament." reminisced the elder Absol, teary eyes glaring at the damp ceiling. "Interesting how quickly the silverware came once I joined the team."

"What?!" her son nearly exclaimed. "You were on the team? Why didn't you battle professionally?"

Abby smirked. "Bored, I would suppose."

The Luxray chuckled at his mother's dull response, "That's so awesome." he cried cheerfully. "I wish you had told me before."

"I too, have regrets, Raidon." she muttered, inching a little closer to the barrier that separated her from her son. "Regardless - how is that Sylveon? Anais is her name."

The electric type shook his head rapidly. "Oh, um, no. I don't talk to her anymore."

"Raidon. Don't lie."

"Honest! I haven't spoken to her in ages."

"...Raidon, I know what I said to you before. But please, just tell me the truth."

The Luxray glared into the eyes that stared back at him with intensity ten fold. A drop of sweat rappelled down his forehead and cheek.

"Okay, I'm sorry, Mom. I've been seeing her, even after you told me not to." he admitted, eyes dropping to the floor.

"...You're an item with her, aren't you?"

"...Y-Yeah… I am… I'm so sorry, Mom, honest."

"Look at me, Raidon."

Raising his gaze, the Luxray found his mother completely void of her typical scowl. Instead, the same gracious expression written across her face brought his tense shoulders down and sprayed relief on his soul.

"I'm happy for you." she said, and Raidon's ears stood tall as antennae.

"W-What?" he mumbled, but it didn't seem to affect his mother.

"I'm happ- no, I'm proud of you, Raidon." she said, though her smile disappeared briefly. "The events that transpired the last few weeks had me thinking much less about myself, and more about you. It's made me realise how horrible, and selfish I have been. But, despite all that, growing without a father figure, and instead with my coldness, you've become such a strong, young man. For that, not only will I always be proud of you, Raidon, but I'll always admire you."

Lost for words to respond, a tear escaped the grasp of the Luxray's eyelids. He dampened the fur on the back of his paw trying to wipe it away, but the more he tried, the more tears he'd shed. "I… I… I don't want you to go, Mom! I can't… I don't want them to take you in!" the teen cried aloud into the telephone.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be the mother you needed when I had the chance, Son." The Absol placed a claw that had seen more bloodshed than most in the room. "You must stay strong. It seems like my story has come to an end, here…" Abby croaked barely, yet her glare spoke volumes of determination. "But this is where your story starts, Raidon. This is where your life begins."

He tried drying his tears a little more - not like tears could help him now. His paws were getting soggy with melancholy. The Absol placed her claws on the glass.

"I know you'll be just fine. I want you to make me proud, by holding your head high, and rewriting the wrongs that I sew into the matrix of your future. Am I understood, Raidon?"

Stop crying, Raidon. Not in front of Mom.

Not in front of Mom.

His tears ceased their incessant waterfalling, and now he could look forward without the wet blurs in his eyes. "Okay… Okay, you're right. Thanks, Mom."

"It's fine, Son. I…" Abigail felt like she had a Frogadier in her throat. "I wish I had another chance to embrace you."

Raidon frowned, and found that he really couldn't come to terms with the fact that despite the opportunity being there, a transparent medium and a set of laws stopped him from the affection he longed for. Sighing, he spoke into the telephone.

"I know… me too…" said the Luxray. "So what's going to happen to you?"

Abby smiled, though her curved mouth held back regret. "Well, the court judge ordered for me to be incarcerated for… a very, very, very long time."

"...How long?"

"Long enough."

Raidon worked out what his mother really meant, and the shock struck him like a baton. "Wait, what? So, that's it? You won't get out?"

The Absol lowered her head, and raised it only once. "The cost of murder, Raidon."

"I… I don't even believe it… What happened that day, Mom? Why… who?"

"I cannot say everything here, but…" Abby notioned to the attentive security Leavanny, who seemed very astute at their job. "Nearly for my entire life, I owed someone the cost of life, which there is none save for life itself. Hence, that's what I gave them."

"I'm sorry, Mom, I don't think I even understand what you said."

"For the best, Raidon."

Taking a deep breath felt now like a chore to the electric type. The thumps of his heart resonated throughout his body. He could feel the very tips of his fingertips become numb as rocks.

"Okay… Okay… What do I do? S-Should I live with Dad?" Raidon questioned, clueless and without his snow white guide.

"No. If there's anything in this life you can do for me, Raidon, it's not to reunite with your father. The man without a backbone." his mother commanded, with tones piercing the very fabric of his being. "Please, I know it may sound irrational for you in a time like this, but-"

"It's okay, Mom, I understand." forced the Luxray through gritted teeth. It was painful to say at the least, but it was the first step toward acceptance. "I know what kind of person Dad is." Raidon moved his chair a little closer to the barrier, speaking a bit more quietly, "I just… want some sort of family around me."

Abby came closer to the barrier, replicating her son's movements. "You have family around you, Raidon."

"No I don't, not with you locked away…"

"I wasn't referring to myself."

"Who are you talking about?"

"That Sylveon, Raidon. That Sylveon is your family." the Absol answered. "As such, you must tell her what she is to you. You must tell her what has occurred to you. Then, she will become more than just family. In time, anyway."

Thinking back to the events of merely an hour ago, Raidon wished he could have been a little more vocal at the time.

"Ah, man. You're right, Mom." admitted the Luxray. "Wait, how did you know that Anais and I were…?"

"Dating?" Abby completed, beginning to crack a grin at her son's embarrassment. "Don't forget, Son, I was a raucous teen as you are now. Well, maybe even worse."

The electric type gawked in surprise, excitedly. "What? No way! What sort of things did you used to do? Were you trouble when you were my age?"

Nothing more or less than a shake of the head was all Raidon got for a response. The Absol winked, leaving a fair amount to imagination, unfortunately.

"There's too much I can't tell you right now, Son." told the mother to one, but her coyness didn't go across the line unnoticed. "But, see if you can bother me another day."

"Oh, okay… Huh?"

Raidon felt an unnatural presence approaching his flank, boasting the shadow of a skyscraper that immediately enveloped his entire person. He turned to check over his shoulder, and was met with a black barrier of fabric, with "SECURITY" embroidered in bold white letters.

"My eyes are up here." said the Leavanny Raidon recognised from earlier. "Your appointment has expired. Please follow me back to the reception."

"Really? It felt like about fifteen minutes." complained the teen, unhappily. The Leavanny seemed nonchalant, and altogether unconcerned.

"Sorry, sir. I'm only doing my job. Please say your farewells."

Raidon faced the transparent blockade, as well as his mother in tandem. Desperately, yet accepting futility, he leaned toward the Absol on the other side of the medium and waved. Truly, he was struck with grief once he saw his once compassionless mother, bring a paw up and reciprocate the melancholic farewell.

"Bye, Mom. I'll see you again soon."

Abby simply waved as she saw the Luxray mouth his goodbyes - his telephone piece being nowhere near his mouth. Security escorted him outside, a forlorn electric type of her own flesh and blood. Her only true family for miles now, felt like miles away once he had stepped through the exit. Groaning, the Absol stood up from the chair, and stretched her aching muscles. At least, she could be reunited with two companions from old: Seclusion, and, well…

Glancing to her left, leaning on the wall of the only exit on her side of the barrier, was an orange-clad Gardevoir. Upon opening their mouth to speak, Abby could feel their intense, magical aura conflict with the Absol's own.

"Look how far you've come, Abigail."

…

Waving to the receptionist, who hadn't even the decency to wave back, Raidon left the prison without as little as a spring in his step. Out of character for the young teen. His wandering eyes took to the sky. The moon didn't wait for the sun to fully bury itself beneath the horizon before it had made its glowing presence known among the stars.

The road Raidon found himself on was empty. He looked to the left, and looked to the right. Then, he walked over to a lone bus stand that thankfully displayed it's timetable.

Staring at it, he compared it with the time on his phone. "Wait, what? It's… nine? How long was I in there for?"

Accepting that buses weren't going to be running for the next while, the Luxray put pedal to the metal, and went on a jog down the road.

Five or ten minutes later, Raidon wasn't entirely sure how long had passed, but he was just thankful the walk home was joined by compatriots peace and quiet. The road was long and winding, but nothing the active Luxray couldn't handle. Looking behind him, Raidon could spot two pairs of headlights, which was rather settling given the circumstances. It was nice to be reminded that the road didn't stretch on for infinity. He stepped off the road momentarily to let the vehicles pass. He never grasped entirely how they worked, or how they were adapted to suit the majority of Pokemon, but he did know that he wanted one. A fancy blue one.

One of the cars flew by - a fairly large van - with blinding speeds. The next vehicle, which was a smaller four-door sedan, followed it in close pursuit. Raidon could only wonder why.

In the far distance, he still could see the sparkling reds of the brake lights of the cars. One of the pairs of scarlet circles seemed to veer off the path. Squinting a little more, and Raidon could faintly see the outline of the van tumbling off road and into the surrounding grass and foliage. His eyes widened like valves, and his pace quickened in turn.

Once he had the visual advantage of being closer, Raidon found the distanced wreckage of what looked indeed like the van he had seen pass him, folded over and out of commission. Just parked to the right, another familiar convertible, making the accident seem to hold more malicious intent than at first perceived by the teenager.

Raidon, carried by his mother's words, approached the site with reckless abandon. The least he could do was check if anyone was still alive, begrudgingly.

Both sides of the sedan parked on the hard shoulder had doors that were opened to reveal two silhouettes of Pokemon that were shrouded by the shadows of the brewing overcast. It was simply beyond Raidon's capability to identify what kinds of Pokemon they were, nonetheless, he stopped in his tracks. Hopefully, it was dark enough for them not to realise he was there.

The pair seemed to be ignorant of the frozen Luxray's presence, as they briskly paced over to the lopsided vehicle off the road. One of the Pokemon went around to the back of the van to open it's storage compartment, while the other effortlessly hopped to the now horizontal passenger side door, entering inside just to exit moments later.

Soon, the Pokemon that had been inspecting the rear end compartment of the truck had returned to the faded illumination of the moon. They boasted the possession of whatever goods that were carried by the crashed van. As swiftly as they approached the vehicle, they departed without a second thought. Tending to their sedan, the cogs in Raidon's adolescent mind began to make rational sense out of the situation.

Horror descended upon his profile once he realised, and frantically he fumbled to get his phone out.

To the Luxray's dismay, the light of the device acted like a torch in the darkness. With one glance, he spotted the whites of the eyes of the strangers wrapped in black, their piercing scarlet irises that were simply pairs of crimson dots in a black canvas at his distance. Panicking a bit more, Raidon's shaky paws struggled to unlock his phone. Unwillingly, he took another look at his surroundings. One of the silhouettes began to fade into the fog of blackness. He hoped he wouldn't have to find out how well his training in battling would serve him.

A sharp tingle from Raidon's whiskers down to the very nerves in his paws rang inside him like a bell. Immediately, he darted to check his rear. A swipe of green, red, and black crossed his vision, followed by the conscious-crumbling impact of a sharp, blunt force. It began from his head, though soon travelled to the rest of his body, until everything hurt. Next, the Luxray felt himself lose grip on reality. His eyes shut, and his person went limp as a doll. Then, that was it.

…

Okay okay! I'm sorry about making you wait! I have a couple projects planned and I wanna get uni work out of the way before I have another writing bout. For those who've stuck with the story thus far, thank you! That Sylveon is a pretty sizeable chunk of my heart, so I'd very much appreciate any sort of critiques that would benefit my writing!

SavageCalibre22 made the new banners, and they kick ass so much. Thanks dude, FOLLOW THIS GUYS ART IN THE SERVER! IT'S GOOD!

-LuanOTP