Chapter 100 – Hatching

Johto...

"The last time I tended to you when you were sick, Charizard, I was begging you to trust me. And now I fear that trust was misplaced...Just...Please get better Charizard," Ash pleased with his Flame Pokémon, a great weight on his heart. His hands hurt from the effort of continuously massaging the lizard's orange scales. Like someone had been rubbing them with sandpaper.

Charizard, fortunately, had stabilised. His tail flame was low, but burned continually, not wavering or flickering. The Flame Pokémon had laid his head in the sand and closed his eyes. Ash had worried at this point, screaming, "CHARIZARD," and rubbing his scales as fast and as hard as he could.

But Jimmy reassured him, "Ash's it's fine, he's just sleeping. Charizard, needs to rest. We just need to keep him warm."

With the three trainers not even having the clothes on their backs any longer, and certainly no blankets or medicines, Ash, Cameron, Jimmy, and their Pokémon were taking turns to try and keep Charizard warm by rubbing him with their hands and paws. So far it seemed to be working. The four fires burning around Charizard provided an additional source of warmth, with Pokémon scurrying up the beach to fetch twigs and leaves to feed them.

"This has happened before," Cameron asked Ash with a frown, though it was imperceptible in the dark.

"Once before, yeah," Ash explained. "There was this Polywrath..."

And he briefly recounted the story of a night on the beach in the Orange Islands, years ago. When Charizard had been sick from fighting Todd's Polywrath and being frozen in a block of ice caused by an Ice Beam attack. And how Ash...And Pikachu...Had sat with Charizard all night to keep him warm.

"Charizard wouldn't listen to me before that night. Since he evolved to a Charmeleon he wouldn't listen to a thing I said. But then after that night, he's been one of my most loyal Pokémon. I just hope I haven't failed him."

Ash felt a hand on his shoulder as he continued to rub Charizard's scales. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Cameron kneeling beside him. The broad smile on his face was just visible in the firelight.

"Don't say that, Ash! Charizard's lucky to have you. You're a great trainer."

Ash sighed. "Why don't I feel like it." He trailed his hands up Charizard's back and under his wings.

"Let me see your hands."

Ash felt Cameron grab his right hand, pulling it off Charizard and holding it up to his face. Then with his free arm he reached out and grabbed Ash by the side and turned him, so he was closer to the firelight.

"Hmmm...You've really rubbed these raw," Cameron mused.

Ash felt himself blush. Cameron was sitting very close to him and had not removed his other hand from the side of his chest. It didn't help that they were both nearly naked.

"You should take a rest," Cameron suggested. "We can all take turns rubbing Charizard. We've got more than enough Pokémon!"

"Pikapi." Pikachu chose that moment to leap back on to Ash's left shoulder, being sure to dislodge Cameron's hand as he did so. He nibbled at Ash's ear affectionately, achieving his aim of getting Ash to pull his right hand free of Cameron's to scratch him behind the ear.

Cameron turned back to Charizard and started rubbing the scales on his flank, above and over the flame Pokémon's right leg. "Hey Lucario, give me a paw over here, would you buddy."

"Orurio." Lucario walked over and knelt down beside Cameron, though on the other side of Charizard's foot. He raised his furry paws and rubbed Charizard's backside and along his tail. Soon Charizard had a whole host of furry Pokémon rubbing his body.

It was a pity he wasn't awake to enjoy it...

The mandatory teamwork had another impact as well. Ashachu, Hunter and Geyser found themselves working together, side by side. Massaging Charizard's back and the base of his neck. There was an awkward silence as Hunter and Geyser took positions beside Ashachu. Ashachu blushed and looked determinately at his large scaly boyfriend, not making eye contact with the other two. Something that made Hunter smirk.

'Hehehe...Somebody certainly feels small,' he thought to himself.

After five agonising minutes of each of their sitting there, silently stroking Charizard, which felt more like five hours, Geyser decided to break the silence.

"Where' Blade. Does anyone know."

A moment of more agonising silence followed.

"Pokéball," Hunter replied simply. "My Lucario dad thinks he's a bad influence on us."

"Right."

More silence, with each Pokémon concentrating on stroking Charizard. Air was so tense, Geyser actually thought the charge would make his fur stand on end. He decided it was time ot address the Phanpy in the room. "Arceus...I could cut the air with one of my Scalchops. You two really need to sort things out."

Ashachu clenched his teeth, focusing his energy on Charizard, and ignored Geyser.

Hunter however, retorted annoyed, "Hey I'm not the one with the problem. It's lighting arsehole over there who started this shit." He waves his paw at Ashachu dramatically. Though, like Ashachu, he refused to look at the chu.

"You're both being massive dickheads," said Geyser. "We have really enemies, like Team Rocket. We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves. I know we've all had our differences, but it's time we reconciled and put that behind us." He took a deep breath. "So, here's my doing that." He reached out a paw and stroked Ashachu's back, before saying, "Ashachu…Whatever I did, I'm sorry. I'm sorry Ashachu. I want us to be friends."

Ashachu felt his heart start to beat really fast as Geyser touched him. He could feel the Dewott's eyes on him and wished that he could evaporate on the spot. He glanced to his side. "The fires low," he mumbled. "I'm going to get more twigs." He scurried off up the beach.

"I'll come with you," Geyser called after him. "You shouldn't be scurrying off in the dark alone."

"You care not my trainer," Ashachu mumbled under his breath, though not loud enough for Geyser to hear.

Under the cover of darkness nobody really noticed Ashachu scurrying up the beach away from the campsite. Even if Ash been able to see him, he was distracted at that moment as two thuds in the ground beside him announced Dragonite and Flygon's return. And Dragonite quickly embraced him in a crushing hug, which caused both of them to fall into the sand.

"D-dragonite," Ash breathed, as he finally got his head free of Dragonite's neck and could talk again. "Careful."

"What did you find," asked Pikachu, glowering at Dragonite in the dark.

"The other half of the Halberd crashed in a forest to the northwest of Olivine City," explained Flygon.

Ash had sent them to scout the area from the air and see if Team Rocket were anywhere nearby. With no moon or stars the sky was pitch black and allowed the two dragons to move through the air unseen.

"There's already a small group of Team Rocket agents gathering around it. We couldn't get too close, or they would have spotted us."

"Any sign of the other Halberd," Ash asked, as he wiggled free from Dragonite's grip and propped himself up in the sand.

"No," said Flygon. "It's completely disappeared. Not that we could find it if we wanted to. It's almost impossible to fly when it's this dark. I'm just lucky Dragonite has such good eyesight. I would have crashed if I didn't have him holding my claw. How's Charizard."

"He seems stable now," replied Ash. "We're just trying to keep him warm."

Dragonite rose to his all fours and grinned broadly at the sleeping Flame Pokémon. "Ooh I know how to do that. Here let me." He crawled over to Charizard and lay beside him, putting an arm around him. "Nothing like a good snuggled to keep a draggie warm."

Flygon sighed and folded his arms. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Dragonite."

"Trust me, he'll love it," Dragonite called back….

Ashachu didn't know the move flash, but he could make his cheeks grow dimly by letting off little sparks. Just enough to find his way up the beach to a large shrub. He didn't bother searching for leaves or twigs on the ground. A couple of whacks with iron tail cut off an enough branch to keep the fires going for a bit longer. He gathered them up off the sand and held them in his arms as he made his way back towards the flames of the camp.

Unfortunately, his sparks weren't bright enough to see Geyser behind him, and he crashed right into the Dewott, sending them both into a heap the sand…

"What the…."

"Ouch…Ashachu, watch where you're going!"

Ashachu groaned at the sound of his half-brother's voice. He couldn't quite see him in the low light. And hopefully that meant that Geyser couldn't see him blushing awkwardly too. "Geyser, what are you doing," he asked.

"Ash said not to go wandering off," Geyser replied.

"Yeah, he would say that" Ashachu grumbled. "He always says that!" He pushed himself off Geyser and started collecting the branches.

"Here, let me help you with that," said Geyser. The Dewott was taller than he was, with longer arms. He was able to scoop the majority up, before Ashachu had the chance.

"I meant what I said, you know," he continued, before Ashachu could march off. "I know we've had our differences and our issues, but I really want to make up. We're family Ashachu and we're a team. We can't keep fighting, not with Team Rocket and others after us. Pokémon have to stick together."

Ashachu glared at him. "Stop acting all sanctimonious. You turned Hunter against me. You started trying to get inside him when he was still my mate. He was my best friend Geyser, and, as much as I hate him now." He shook his head. "None of it would have happened if it weren't for you! And then you gang up with them to humiliate me."

The words stung Geyser like a poison sting attack from an angry Nidoran. He had a thousand retorts he would like to say. Like that it was Ashachu's fault for running off behind Hunter's back with Blade. For letting the Sneasel fuck him. That he hadn't even started a relationship with Hunter or accepted the Riolu's feelings until he knew . That he had allowed Hunter to be vored by Charizard and he was the one acting like an arsehole. But if he really wanted to mend hearts with Ashachu, blame wasn't the best strategy.

So, he decided to accept it. "You're right," he said softly. "I did come between the two of you. I shouldn't have done that. And I'm sorry. And for what it's worth, Hunter and I really aren't together. Because Hunter doesn't like me in that way."

"What?"

Now he had Ashachu's attention. Even in the dark, he saw the mouse Pokémon's head come up and his ears twitch.

"Hunter and I aren't mates," said Geyser. "We're not mates, because Hunter still has feelings for you. He told me so that day on the dockside in Slateport City. He told me that his heart would always be with you, and that deep down he would always love you. Even if, at that moment, he hated you more than any Pokémon in the world. You won, buddy."

It was a half-truth. Hunter certainly had rejected an initial advance from Geyser when the breakup with Ashachu was still fresh. And Riolu are demi-sexual Pokémon who usually mate for life. But Geyser knew that, given time, Hunter would develop stronger feelings for him. No, it was an attempt to stroke Ashachu's ego. Build him up by giving him the satisfaction that Hunter would never be able to have feelings or intimacy for or with any other Pokémon as intense or satisfying as he had with Ashachu, and that part of him would always want Ashachu. Effectively, rendering the Riolu to never mate properly again, as Ashachu belonged to someone else now. It had the disarming affect Geyser wanted.

"I didn't realise," said Ashachu, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I mean it," Geyser insisted. "Hunter's as upset about what happened as you are, and I know deep down he wants to make up too. And I know that I'm at least partly to blame for what happened between you, and I'm sorry about that. I just….I just want us to be friends Ashachu. Or least, friendly than we are. I don't want for us to be constantly fighting like this. It's exhausting. So, what do you say."

Ashachu's heart was going a mile a minute and his head was spinning. He felt a mixture of different feelings about what Geyser was saying from a feeling of triumph about Hunter, to a feeling of shame about how he had treated both of them. Most of all though, he felt a warmth towards Geyser that he had never experienced before.

He wasn't sure what made him say it, but he found himself blurting out, "Hey Geyser. That thing we did…That you did in the Ultra Jungle." He hesitated for a moment, while Geyser cocked his head.

"Ashachu?"

"Would you mind finishing the job…Privately, with nobody else around…"

Geyser made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Arceus damnit Ashachu…"

[Pokémon]

Charizard awoke all of a sudden. His throat burned and there was a slow trickle of snot leaking from his nostrils. Every muscles in his large body ached and he still felt cold, despite the fires burning around him, and raging within him. But none of that was what had woken him. No, what had woken him was the feeling of another large scaly body pressed against him. As he opened his eyes, he found Dragonite's face right next to his. The other dragon's shorter muzzle touching the end of his own, and his eyes looking into his.

"Heh you're awake," Dragonite cooed.

Charizard felt a claw trail up his side, over his shoulder and then up his neck, until it brushed his cheek. Followed by the horrible sensation of Dragonite licking the end of his muzzle.

"What the hell," Charizard growled, as best he could while sick. His voice sounded raspier than the desert resort. "Get off me!" It was a pity he didn't have the strength to use his flame, or Dragonite would have been reduced a slab of burning scales. He couldn't even push the Dragon Pokémon away.

"Oh, don't be all grumpy," Dragonite pouted. "Let me snuggle with you."

He moved closer to Charizard, despite the Flame Pokémon's protest. To his horror, Charizard felt Dragonite throw his right leg over Charizard's flank, his foot touching his lower back. At the same time his arm came over Charizard's back pulling him closer to Dragonite. Charizard felt his heart start to race in his chest.

"Hmmm...You smell really nice, Flamey," said Dragonite as he buried his muzzle in the base of Charizard's neck and taking a deep breath. "And you're so muscular and soft."

"And you're an annoying arse," Charizard grumped in reply. He felt his face heat up under his scales, which had nothing to do with pneumonia. Using all of his strength, he tried to move. To roll onto his other side so his back would be facing Dragonite. Pain immediately shot through his body, forcing him to stop, leaving him laying half on his side, half on his back.

Dragonite took advantage, shifting closer to Charizard once more and laying his claw on his chest. "Ooh feel those muscles, even now while you're all sick and weak. I'd never want to be your opponent." His claws slipped down Charizard's body, trailing over his stomach and thigh. He squeezed, feeling Charizard's muscles.

"S-stop that!" Charizard growled. A shiver slid down his spine as Dragonite's claws reached a particularly sensitive area. "Get your dirty claw, out of my slit."

"Umm Dragonite, I'm not sure he likes that," came Ash's voice overhead.

"Pika Pika," said Pikachu.

"You said to keep him warm," Dragonite giggled. "He's certainly warm now."

"Don't complain to me when he flames you!"

"Of course, there is one sure way to make him feel better."

A pair of claws dug into Charizard's slit. The feel of it sent electric shocks through his groin.

"Don't you dare!"

And then something happening. Something that drove Charizard's current predicament from his mind, and distracted Dragonite form his quest to gain entry to the other dragon's slit. Following their return from the Ultra Jungle, the two eggs had been laid in the sand by Charizard. And now one of them was starting to glow. A bright white light shone from within, lighting up the beach like a beacon.

"I-it can't be," Ash gasped. "Now."

"Pika."

Charizard raised his head, his eyes widening. "It's hatching…"

[Pokémon]

"Alright, I'll do it on one condition," Geyser said with a sigh. He wasn't sure what to make of the situation, or why Ashachu would ask him to do…that. Especially now, with Charizard sick. Was this a sign of the walls coming down between or was Ashachu just…needy.

Or did it mean something else entirely.

"What's that," Ashachu asked flatly.

"You beg for it after we start," Geyser replied. He couldn't help but smirk. Even now, while wanting to offer a peace branch, he couldn't help wanting to laud it over Ashachu. "And don't say you won't beg." He folded his arms, a smirk spreading widely across his muzzle. "You are the one that just came to ask me to give you a paw-job after all. You obviously want it.

Ashachu opened his maw to reply, but before he could articulate a response, they were distracted by a bright white light emanating from the camp.

Geyser turned around. "Wait, that's…"

"Charizard," Ashachu said, a lump forming in his throat. He dropped the twigs he was holding and raced off through the sand toward his mate…