Watcher of Arceus

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Only the idea and OC's.

Author Notes:

-X-This will be used for scene breaks and for when the story switches to another character, but it does not mean that a new section of the story has started.

~xXx~ This will identify where each paragraph breaks.

"Human Speech" 'Character Thought' {Pokémon Speech}

Co-author: Catsithx

The following is a total and complete Reboot of the story "Watcher of Arceus".

~xXx~

Chapter 35 : A Moon Lit Break

The sun was setting over the waters as the boat rested in open water. Soft light bars on the ring around the boat provided enough light to see easily for the moment even as the sun was casting the last of its light to their side. Dahlia was in front of the other three, Thomas, Sarah, and Xent, all practicing a few things.

Thomas and Xent were busy sparing with some spare broom handles that had been cut in half, working on sword play. Thomas once again found his foot giving way under him as he dropped suddenly onto one knee, but still rapidly blocked a blow. He tried to recover, but his leg wouldn't let him rise and he knew why. Adapting, he blocked a second blow before grabbing Xent's hand to pull him down and the tip of his half of the broom handle stopped an inch from Xent's throat.

"Fatal blow." Dahlia's voice sounded again as she rose from her stance, having once again taken to practicing her mixed martial arts. She stood up slowly as she turned around, and looked at Xent and Thomas, who did their best to hold the pose for inspection. "You're too slow on the assault Xent. These knights will dominate the battle if you give even an inch. You either need to control the terrain, and make things unruly for them, hard to stand on, or just cramped for them to move well, or you need to be ruthless and disable them quickly." Dahlia stated, already seeing how he was biting his, almost the breaking again trying to swear.

Thomas quickly relaxed and then Xent did the same. "I... I thought you said that you would make this hard on him." Xent finally grumbled.

"My brother has almost two thousands years of practice with a sword or rod." Dahlia reminded him as she looked over to Sarah who was taking a large breather herself, weights on her arms and legs while she just practiced some basic stances and punches.

"Trust me, she's not going easy one me." Thomas noted as he stood up and looked up the skies, the moon slowly rising over the water as the sun was setting on the other side.

"We should call it for now." Dahlia stated, only for Xent to shake his head and raise his half of the broom stick again.

"No, again. I can keep going." Xent stated, panting hard, but determined to at least get one decent hit on Thomas right now.

"Tomorrow. You both need rest and Thomas has other obligations." Dahlia stated firmly, both halves of the broom stick jerked from their hands and following her as moved to Sarah, helping to untie the weights.

"Really..." Xent grumbled loudly.

"My brother has not had a lover in over five hundred years. He needs this, and tonight is the full moon. Despite recent events, we have a moment of calm, and its important to focus on more then just improving yourself." Dahlia stated as Sarah about fell over from the exercise she was doing.

"Why... am I doing this again?" Sarah panted hard, giving a small whine from how sore she was.

"Because you've spent your entire life in contests where you've practice movements and more unhindered by weight, in only fancy costumes. With some work, you could dance around a knight, but only if you have the chance to drop your gear, which you may not have a chance to get back." Dahlia reminded her.

"Its not much, but these weights will help get you use to the fluid motions you're so accustomed to already, but while carrying your bag and in heavier clothing." Dahlia continued as she opened the door and instantly a harmonious whistling tune was sound from within the boat.

Radara was busy training herself as well, and was assisting Verna right now, the two of them having a dozen whistling crystals floating around them as though orbiting them. Verna had a blindfold on, but Radara merely kept her eyes closed occasionally using her tail to reach out and tap on a crystal to bounce it back up into the air while Verna tried to the same but with her hands.

'Are you done for the day?' Radara's voice asked as she felt everyone start to walk inside, finally opening her eyes and looking at them.

"Thomas will need a chance to prepare for this evening. You should go take a shower." Dahlia noted, only to rush up and catch Verna when she about collasped back, half of the whistling crystals suddenly toppling to the floor as everyone looked on, Xent rushing up.

"Hey! Hey, come on." Xent stated helping to hold Verna up as she seemed to pass out, breathing hard and ragged. "What did you do to her!" He demanded.

'This was her own choice. She wanted to take a dozen crystals to start, but I talked her down to six.' Radara stated, gathering up all the crystals and placing them on the mantle piece under the television.

"She's no different then you Xent. The difference is she found her reason to fight and she is pushing herself harder. She's just found her limit right now." Dahlia stated, slowly helping Xent lift her up.

"An hour or so in the pokemon on the medi-station and she'll be fine." Dahlia added.

"I thought you said that those things were safe." Xent stated, moving her over to the couch where his pokeballs were, and quickly called her back, before setting the pokeball on the medi-station.

'And so is a basic day at the gym for the average person. She chose to strain herself too much, no different then lifting weights outside your weight class.' Radara countered.

"And your sure she'll be fine." Xent pressed with a hard stare.

"Entirely. She'll recover easily enough." Dahlia replied before looking down.

"Relax Xent, its purely mental strain." Thomas said, gently pulling Xent back. "And you need some rest too before the same happens to you."

"Yeah yeah..." Xent grumbled, before calling out Zai. "We'll need some help with dinner."

Zai just looked on for a moment, and then nodded as she saw how close he was to falling himself. She went to the kitchen for a moment, and then quickly walked back with his canteen and practically shoved him into the couch, canteen to his chest.

"Wha... oh come on, stop trying to baby me." Xent grumbled as he tried to get up, only to fall right back down and Sarah quickly joined him.

"We all need a break..." Sarah added while Thomas started to head downstairs.

Walking down stairs, the master bedroom door was open, and Juno was sitting on the bed, tails spread out and curling around something in a ball, only for her to look over her shoulder and lower her tails.

She had been covering Rebecca who was whining a bit, only to see the tails lower and watched Thomas come down.

"How goes the aura training?" Thomas asked with a small smile, Rebecca quickly jumping from the bed to rush up to Thomas, hugging him tightly, only to readjust herself when he grunted in pain from her chest spike digging into his gut.

'I'm getting better I hope. My aura sight is getting far more stable and I can use it for longer and longer now, I can't believe Dahlia is so mean with your training though. She's pushing you so hard and making it rough on you.' Rebecca whined, only to nuzzle his chest.

"It's all fine, she means well and I could use the handicap. It helps me get back muscle memories from my last lives and helps train my body in this life." Thomas said softly, holding Rebecca softly, rubbing her back some, and then getting up.

"Look, I could use a shower, and then a break before tonight. Can you go up and help Zai and Dahlia make dinner." He asked.

Rebecca gave a small whine, but nodded. She couldn't wait for their time tonight, to continue such a fantastic and romantic date again with her lover. Thomas just held her a few, and then finally let her go. "I really could use that shower before tonight. But once the sets properly, the night is ours. The others already agreed to stay inside while we enjoy the moonlight."

Although slow to let him go, Rebecca did pull him down into a kiss that he was happy to return before started upstairs. Xent and Sarah were entirely exhausted and just sitting there while Rebecca moved to the kitchen where Zia and Dahlia were already checking on things, the crock pot quickly filling the room with the smell of slow cooked pork. "How's the rice coming?" Dahlia asked as she worked to shred the meat now.

'You shouldn't be so rough on Thomas...' Rebecca stated as she moved over to check on the rice in the steamer while Zai was cutting up some veggies.

"Thomas will be fine with the light scale training we're doing." Dahlia noted before Zai turned and growled a bit.

[Light! You call that light? Xent's about to pass out after getting his ass handed to him over and over again.] Zai grumbled.

"And I went easy on him. I was holding Thomas back the whole time, restraining him or shifting his legs underneath him." Dahlia added as she pulled the pot out of the cooker, and set it on the table. "The sweet and sour sauce please."

[That was not easy and you know it! That was like three days of exercise in a half day no break package!] Zai grumbled, quickly finishing the veggies that she was slicing before getting the sweet and sour sauce that was asked of her. [And you took it easy on yourself making them all work like that. You're hardly out of breath, you can't tell me that you take it easy.]

"Yes, I did go easy on myself because I don't have the room or equipment that I usually use. My usual regiment of training involved tossing four unskilled but eager recruits around. And you would not believe the amount of trouble it took reach that agreement with the knights to even consider letting me do any kind of exercise much less actually train myself." Dahlia sighed.

"Look... I know its rough, but Xent himself demanded the hard course and this is as hard as I can get without breaking him. If he had his own way, he'd be taking Coria's training course, which doesn't stop because she gets hurt. It only stops when she breaks a bone and either can't walk or risks a likely near fatal injury, and Coria's broken dozens of bones over the years, some of which didn't stop her from training." Dahlia continued taking the offered sauce.

"If you have issues with how hard Xent trains, then take it out on him. He needs the training, and I won't let him really hurt himself if I have my say, but he's eager to do this to himself right now." She finished, Zai grumbling loudly and even giving a growl, but lowered her hands a bit. Dahlia was right, this was just as much Xent's idea as it was Dahlia's.

[You just make him take it easier from now own. He can't just... just jump up his training like that, he needs to take it in steps.] Zai grumbled.

'I agree with Zai. Thomas may not look worn like Xent, but I've never seem do that kind of training before either and he was worn out too.' Rebecca added as she finished up with the rice, trying a few small grains to make sure it done and they were.

"I'm sorry, but we can't be taking it easy. After that stunt on national television, we're not going to slow down." Dahlia stated, pulling out some bowls and plates for them all.

-x-

A slow dinner on account of taking it easy for Xent, Sarah, and Thomas, and the night was beginning in full. A full moon was now in the sky and slowly rising towards it peak as Dahlia pulled out a few of the other gifts that Arceus had given her.

"Here... for your night, enjoy it well." Dahlia stated coming up from downstairs with Thomas's trainer safe which still had the materials for his Lover's Crest with Rebecca as well as a small bottle.

"Is that?" Thomas asked, taking his safe, but looking over the old glass bottle.

"Sake, a lovely and very light eighteen ninety bottle that was offered to our mother. She wanted you to have it for tonight." Dahlia stated as she gave him his safe and the bottle, as well as a few small cups.

"What... what all did she pack for us in that chest." Thomas asked, a bit curious now as he looked over the bottle.

"Things to help me... help me and my brother try to find peace." Dahlia said softly before giving him a firm hug herself, and then letting him go. "And a few bottles of sake, because I'll feel better knowing that your courting a lover the proper way, in the way of the god children where she will be remembered for lifetimes." She added, before gently pushing him towards the door.

Rebecca was already waiting outside for him, light just by moon light over the open water, a calm now thankfully while Xent and Sarah just went to bed early, leaving Dahlia, and most of the girls up inside for the moment.

Thomas just smiled as he walked outside and into the open air. There was barely a chill right now, and it was unlikely to get much worse throughout the night. Rebecca was already there, sitting on the side of the boat, paws in the water as she heard the door close and eagerly turned to look at Thomas.

"Good evening Rebecca. Would you like a drink?" Thomas smiled as he moved up sat down beside her, letting his bare feet rest in the water, scooting nicely beside her. Already he could feel her tail slip behind his waist and keep her close as he set down his trainer safe beside them.

Once more exercising his mind, the two glasses rose up, but a little more slowly since he had strained himself earlier that day with training. Rebecca could easily see that he was still a bit tired though, and didn't like seeing him so worn out.

'Dahlia is being rough on you...' Rebecca whined a bit, reaching out and taking the cups, Thomas just slowly pouring a bit of sake for them.

"She's really not." Thomas replied, lightly rubbing Rebecca's ears a bit.

'But you're worn out, you're tired. I wanted you to be all eager and happy and relaxed for tonight. Its supposed to be our special date remember.' Rebecca said, murring a bit happy with the attention, but not happy with how much and how hard Dahlia was trying to train them all every since the news report on Thomas.

"And I am eager, and really happy for tonight." Thomas said, pulling her head up just a bit, giving her a kiss to her cheek, and then reaching over and taking her cup, lightly tipping it back into her mouth while she gave him a small drink as well.

'You're not as relaxed as I would like for this... I can see it in your aura.' Rebecca still said softly able to see his aura even as she took her small sip of sake.

"And that's not because of Dahlia. Yes, I have a lot on my mind right now, but right now... right now this is for us." Thomas smiled as he finished sip of sake, and wrapped his arm around Rebecca looking up the moon.

"How does the moon look tonight?" Thomas asked as he let his eyes change. They were much like Dahlia's a large red trim around them, shifting to a gentle yellow and blue, his eyes looking sharper and stronger, but looked a little off like they weren't yet complete though.

'Your eyes...' Rebecca stated looking at them after a moment.

"They aren't fully changed, and I don't have my true eyes just yet, but... well our eyes, mine and yours with the blessings I've been giving you." Thomas smiled and just lightly tilted her head back up towards the moon which slowly started to take on a blue tint almost like it was back in the sanctuaries.

"You can't see as properly as you will later, when I give you the final sheet over your eyes, but doesn't it look nice tonight?" Thomas asked, opening up his trainer safe now, revealing the start of their Lover's Life Crests.

The piece of leather that had started Thomas's crest for Rebecca was showing signs of starting to be a flower now, the red diamond there in the center, and below it a long "stalk" of baguette and tapered baguette emeralds and malachite with a few trillian and octagon cut gems to give it shape and color. A few rose quarts and topaz gems were loosely set around the red diamond as well starting the image of a flower made of gems. Thomas pulled it out for a moment and let her view it again.

'Such a pretty flower its going to be.' Rebecca murred a bit as Thomas reached into the trainer safe just set it aside for now though, pulling out the second piece of leather.

"I... was thinking tonight though that maybe we start your crest for me. The one you will wear with the image of what I am to you." Thomas said, just pulling it out and the small tray of gems as well as another thin crystal sheet. Carefully laying it over the leather like he had down the time that they had done a month before on North Mandarin Island.

Smoothing it out fully and the holding it still with his mind, he took the crystal sheet and applied it to the leather, letting it bind to the leather. "Tonight, would you let me continue to court you as we share your story?" Thomas asked, leaning her into him just a bit and letting her look over the gems in full.

'But... you already know all of my story. I barely remember anything from my time before you saved and started raising me.' Rebecca asked, a little confused.

"There is so much more to your story then just my helping to raise you." Thomas smiled, giving her a kiss to her cheek again, before looking to the moon.

"I've always given you room, and I helped set the rules for you so you don't get into trouble. But I wasn't the only one to help raise you. Radara and Juno both did a lot to help raise you too, and my foster parents both did something as well. I only know the you that I helped raise, and there is so much more then that." Thomas said gently holding her waist and side now, rubbing her a bit and letting her cuddle up to him.

"The you that I know best is still a child but tonight, why don't you tell me about you as my lover." Thomas said.

'Well...I...' Rebecca started, not even sure how to start, but Thomas just waited, he wasn't going to rush her, letting her think about for a few moments.

'I love these dates, and I love all the special romance that they have for us. And I can't image a life without you in it.' Rebecca finally said.

"See, there is a bit more to you then just me being here." Thomas teased.

'How can I not think about you though? And don't these dates also involve you?' Rebecca asked.

"I'm here yes, but you find joy in these times, you look forward to them don't you. You really did let all of those romance tales go to your head. All those days with Vivian and her love stories, movies, … comics and even her sharing what perfect dates that Andrew took her on mean so much to you don't they." Thomas smiled.

"And its something that I didn't know much they meant to you until now." He added leaning his head onto hers.

'How could you not know that.' Rebecca whined a bit,

"Because until Radara stepped in, I saw you more as a child, too young for this... I didn't want to see you mature so quickly." Thomas said, just gently holding her, and even picking her up a bit put her in his lap even. "I wanted you to … not see me as a lover, but maybe as a father, and just a good friend. I was hoping that by raising you, I would let you lead a proper life on your own one day, but you still wanted me anyway." Thomas continued, before taking a long deep breath.

"But... most of all... I didn't want to get to know you that well because... because I was afraid of you, of the past, of us." Thomas said, wrapping his arms around her and keeping her in his lap now, lightly nuzzling his cheek to her over her shoulder.

"But now, I see how much I need this too, of how much I need you. Won't you share with me what all I have missed?" He continued kissing her cheek again.

Rebecca just murred eagerly in lap, her tail coiling around one of his legs and holding him tightly and securely right now. 'You should know all of this already. But yes, I can tell you what parts of my story you missed. Pay attention next though, I don't want to feel ignored again.' Rebecca teased now.

'I love the thought of these dates, of these special moments and I hope they last for a long long time. I don't know if I'll ever tired of them. And I really like just spending time with you, and learning to cook.' Rebecca continued.

"I know you enjoyed cooking, but we have our own kitchen now. Its a little small for everyone here if all want to cook something at the same time, but we can still make proper home cooked meals on it." Thomas smiled.

'And I can make you all sorts of things now.' Rebecca smiled, Thomas just giving a small laugh.

"Now now, you can't go making me cakes and treats and snacks all the time. That would be too much sugar and we still a budget to consider." Thomas teased, but just held her close, offering her another sip of the sake though.

She happily took it, a little annoyed that she couldn't just give him all the cakes she wanted to, but this was still great eitherway knowing that if she really really wanted to, she could at least give him one or two without being told to stay away from the kitchen now.

"Rebecca. Tonight... tonight I would like to take a chance to start your crest for me. I know what you represent to me. Hope, love, my true self. You are the flower that will give beauty to this life for me, the life I need to be with, to care for, and to admire, to be loved and loved by." Thomas started, slowly tilting their heads back up to look at the golden blue moon over them with their god-like eyes.

"In order for you to make a crest representing me though, you need to ask yourself the same question. I am your lover, the one you need to spent your life with. But, what do I represent to you? What image, or icon, or thing do you see me ask?" Thomas asked, reaching over and gently taking the blank piece of leather, holding it up.

"When they are done, and we have finished crafting them, they shall be given blessings of time, a little bit of godly-essense shall be cast over them making them more resilient to the passage of time. For as long as they are cared for, I shall treasure these for generations. Whatever you think of me as, what you decide my image, of my meaning to you, shall be in a way immortalized as well." Thomas explained.

"If you know you are, like I think you do, then you are ready to be asked his question. I didn't want to see you grow up so quickly, to mature so much so fast, but you have. And I do love how you turned out. We all have our flaws and finding a lover means to help each other deal with them, to grow through them, but they are still part of who we are." Thomas said, giving her a better hug once more.

'You don't have flaws silly. I love everything about you, your kind and gentle, you want to help everyone and after meeting the rest of your family, I can see why you turned out he way you did, why your so kind, you seem to know so much and are such a big part of the world.' Rebecca smiled.

"I do have my flaws though... fear. There is still so much I fear, and I will need help. I may never get over my fear of us, of what could happen and I'm sorry for that. I know that at times I can seem distant, and it may take years for me to stop being like that, but I want you to help with that. At times I will need some space, but I will always want you close." Thomas said softly, lightly rubbing Rebecca's sides and her head a bit even.

Hearing him say that he did want her close, and his aura confirming just filled Rebecca with joy though, this was what she wanted most. 'No, you don't have flaws. You're just you and I won't let anything happen to us. Dahlia said she's going to start training me to and then I can help protect you. You won't have anything to fear.' Rebecca smirked, happy and eager to help out.

'And most of all, I know what you are to me. You are my trainer, my lover. You are why I have to stay your side and help you, and love and be loved you. And you are my shiny golden star.' Rebecca said very eagerly, earning a small shake of his head and little sigh from Thomas.

"You're shiny golden star... you're talking about Vivian's favorite love story again." Thomas said, a bit annoyed, but shrugging it off and just giving Rebecca a nice hug anyway.

'And what's wrong with The Tale of Three Stars. Its a great love story full of love and sorrow, and a hero who gave everything, even his kingdom and his life for his lover, becoming the brightest star in the sky when he died to save her.' Rebecca asked.

"Okay okay, I guess the story is good, but the guy its based off..." Thomas said, but still kissed her cheek.

'What do you mean...' Rebecca asked.

"N-nothing... Just forget I said anything and forgive me any time I act like I don't like it. This is your choice, about how you view me and... the meaning of the star he became at the end is nice." Thomas said, reaching over and pulling up some gems. Although the couple that the original story wasn't the happy tale that everyone thought of today and it involved his family in a bad way, the newer version of the story was very popular. It also wasn't that bad of a tale and had multiple iterations and modern media around it, many considering some version of it a truly classic tale. Not wanting to spoil her image of the tale with the true version that inspired the tale that she knew, he merely went with her suggestion and went with it.

"So... I'm the brightest star in your world? How would you like to display that?" Thomas asked pulling over the tray with all the gems on it, there still a large selection for her to look through. "Do you want to fill it with a starry sky with one star that stands out more? Or do you just want to focus on that star?"

'Oh, can we make the scene at the end, where Yuki is looking up to the star and praying to it, wishing her lover the best in his afterlife, and asking him to wait for her?' Rebecca asked eagerly.

"Well, its possible, but I don't have the gem dust to paint such an image. That's also a very complicated image, we couldn't do all the little details involving everything on it." Thomas explained, thinking it over. It wasn't the most complicated crest that had been suggested, not even by a long shot. It was however a bit of a detailed crest and he wasn't sure that Rebecca knew just what all that would entail.

'But... it needs all the little details to make look right.' Rebecca stated.

"Its a little small for all the extra details. Remember, because you have hands, this image will worn a glove when its all done." Thomas reminded her, taking her paw in his hand and carefully holding the leather over it.

"Yours will be just below the spike here, but its still a little thin." He explained gently wrapping part of the leather around the sides of her hand and wrist. "See. There's still plenty of room for a small icon, and you can make something a bit larger, but you wouldn't be able to see all of it at once."

'Then just the star, the brightest star in all the sky, and a little image of Yuki... but yellow and blue, so we know its me.' Rebecca smiled and Thomas quickly nodded.

"Then... how about a few trilliant cuts at the top in the middle to make the center of the moon, or we could start with a classic round and surround it with some pear cuts? Once it gets crystallized, the trilliants would look like a single much larger gem, but it would be a bit more pointed, less round. The pears surrounding a classic round would look much more smooth, but it would be easy to make them out as small gems, and could give you a little more color." Thomas offered.

'The second option sounds very nice, a little color would make it great. But what do we start with?' Rebecca asked.

"Hmm... how about some yellow sapphires or some yellow quartz? I don't have a lot here, but I've collected gems in almost all of my lives. I have a few bags stashed away here in Sinnoh, I'm sure there are plenty of yellow and white gems we could use." Thomas offered as Rebecca reached into the tray as Thomas lifted up a few of the classic round cut gems he had.

~xXx~

As Thomas took his drink, the cups, and the trainer safe, Dahlia happily closed the door after him, and immediately afterwards turned and grinned madly. Zai was looking at her intently now though, while Suicune, Verna, Radara, and Juno were all in the living room space.

[So, you have more sake? The really good stuff? Is there another bottle, I'd like another glass. That was really good and you said it was at least a hundred years old?] Zai asked a bit eagerly.

"Those bottles of drink are for date nights only." Dahlia stated as she started for the couch.

[Come on, just a little drink please. How can I enjoy something basic anymore after trying something like those on the mountain.] Zai whined a bit.

"No date, no drink." Dahlia stated firmly as she moved up to the couch and took a seat besides Verna, who was currently on her knees just barely peaking through the shades outside. Zai just grumbled and moved over to get a seat from the kitchen and bring it out to the living room and just sat in the corner, opening a small bag of marshmallows.

'Such a fancy date idea, to have it under the full moon.' Verna said slowly turning around a bit.

'Our entire culture revolves around the moon. Its been a while since I've courted anyone myself, but I too will do so under the moon. Of course, we also see it differently though, its more of a shining beacon of life for us.' Radara noted.

'I'd call it more of a golden blue orb.' Suicune said.

'I'll agree that its golden blue, but it reminds me of a giant willow-o-wisp, just with more substance.' Juno shrugged a bit.

'What do you mean?' Verna asked, turning around slowly.

Radara just closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were yellow with a bright red trim. 'Our true eyes show us a lot more of the world. Dahlia has always favored them over her normal eyes once she has evolved and fully awakened.' Radara explained.

Dahlia just turned to look at Verna as well who was looking back and forth between Radara and Dahlia. 'Your eyes... they look weird too. Do you need those eyes to see the moon like you describe it?' Verna asked.

"These eyes let us see the world as a whole, entirely as we were meant to see it. Juno prefers her real eyes over over the blessing we gave, but Rebecca's almost been given our eyes too. In the next week or so, she'll have fully gotten the blessing she needs to see the world as we do, but for tonight, she can see the moon like we would, so to her right now, the night is illuminated by a blue and golden hue." Verna explained.

'Oh wow. That must be such a great view.' Verna stated, turning back only to see Thomas open up the trainer safe and give a loud gasp seeing the crest that had already been started as Thomas held it up for Rebecca to look at again. Verna just gave a small gasp, gripping the back of the couch.

'She is certainly into this.' Suicune gave a small chuckle.

'Wa-wait. Is that a red diamond?' Verna asked in excitement and awe, Dahlia quickly looking towards the window and just barely catching a peek.

"By Arceus, that is one! Where... how?" Dahlia gasped turning back towards Suicune, Radara, and Juno. "Where did he find one of those, those are very rare, a gift of our mother to us and symbolize the entirety of our rebirth, of our reincarnation, the essence of who we are." Dahlia stated in shock.

'When Thomas went shopping for the initial set of gems since we couldn't get to any of his past stashes of gems, I made him buy it since it was on display.' Juno stated rather calmly. 'I almost had to burn his shoes off to get make him get it, and he tested me, but in the end, he realized that it was not his choice. I also suggested the flower design, as Rebecca is his joy and love, what he needs right now. It would be as much his new life and rebirth now as it would be the rebirth of feeling of love for him.'

'It was a group decision. I had no idea that they had such a diamond on the Orange Islands for sale, or I would have gone with him to get it myself, but he asked for Juno's assistance. After I forced him to accept a lover however and it turned out well, the three of us had a long talk though.' Radara noted.

"And you decided that no matter what, he was going to get one huh. Well good choice, but... just wow. That was a very nice red diamond." Dahlia stated.

'We felt that he needed it, and it appears to be helping him think back and learn to love again.' Suicune smiled happily.

'The red diamond is a gift from your mother... you mean Arceus to you? Oh, wait is that a wedding ring like mating ritual? Is Thomas marrying Rebecca under the full moon in its proper beauty?' Verna asked overly eager now, but Zai just gave a small annoyed sigh.

"And it holds a very special meaning. It represents the essence of our many lives, of our rebirth from one life into the next and who we really are." Dahlia explained. "And what its resting on is the start of what we watchers call a Lover's Life Crest, and yes, its pretty much a wedding ring. The difference is that the crest will represent the true loves of lives throughout time and live through the ages with us. They were made in pairs and the watcher would make one to represent their lover, and the one that they were courting would make one to represent the watcher that they loved." Dahlia explained, and Verna just seemed to light up more and more at the thought.

'She is such a child, so enticed by and needy.' Juno laughed now.

'And what's wrong with a truly romantic date?' Verna asked looking a bit annoyed down to Juno.

'Oh nothing is wrong, its just so amusing to watch.' Juno teased. 'I might even be considering looking for a mate myself at long last. I... kind of feel the urges for motherhood, but I intend to at least wait to see Thomas and Rebecca courted in full. I would like to see the ceremony before I ask to take my leave.'

"You're leaving my brother at long last? What has it been?" Dahlia asked as she turned to sit down proper on the couch.

'A little over six hundred years. But don't worry, I intend to stay for a few more at least. I've been told that Thomas always takes his time when courting a lover he intends to share a life crest with. He will take it slow, I don't see him asking for a full ceremony for at least a year, maybe two.' Juno stated.

Dahlia and Radara just nodded. 'And I am willing to give him all the time he needs right now. I think that him and Rebecca will make a lovely couple. But what of you Verna. Have you found anyone you fancy?' Radara asked.

Verna just looked down a little, slowly turning and sitting on the couch now. 'Well... maybe Xent. But Zia has a full claim on him right now and I want him to be happy. I know that zoroarks usually have large open relationships with one of them as the alpha, but it took Xent a little bit to even come to terms with Zai. And... and well...' Verna said looking down, a hard blush on her face, hiding something and then trying to change the subject.

'I... I don't want to impose on her and risk ruining our relationship right now. If he's happy with her, then I don't want to get between them.' She added.

'Don't worry, there's still many choices for a life of love you. You are still young, and there will always be a chance for a happy life. There are still lots of travels to be had and even if we have to avoid humans, there will be plenty of chances to live along the way.' Suicune smiled.

'Yeah... I know. Its just, well I can't leave now even if I did find love. I couldn't leave Xent in this mess alone. Even if he's not going to be my lover, he's still my trainer. He saved me more then once... five times now, and I can't just leave him.' Verna said.

"I know the feeling, we try to bond so much with others." Dahlia stated, reaching up and holding her sigil again, picking it up and looking at it intently. "My brother would always fill that bond for me, but for him to just hang around my neck now, where I can only just feel him, but can't have him talk back with me." Dahlia said.

'That feeling scares me.' Verna said softly, and Dahlia nodded.

"Let's just ignore that feeling for now. I'm sure there's a better view outside." Dahlia grinned, and both Verna and Dahlia turned to watch Thomas's date again, both of them on their knees with hands on the back of the couch.

'Yeah, its such a romantic idea and more. He's... making a crest?' Verna asked.

'A Lover's Life Crest. The flower with the red diamond is his crest that respresents what Rebecca means to him and I think tonight he'll be asking Rebecca share her story with him and to find out what he means to her.' Radara stated.

'And his is a flower? With the bud being the red diamond, that represents his long life and remembering her?' Verna asked once more back to eagerly watching and wanting to know more.

'Well well, she is excitable.' Juno laughed again. 'She reminds me of you at times Dahlia.'

'Of Dahlia?' Verna asked and looked to Dahlia now.

"I love a good night of passion, peace, and love myself. Its our species, we are emotional pokemon and perhaps I give into myself a bit much for others, but I will not deny who I am. Emotions are the foundations of our species, the need to share them shouldn't be restrained." Dahlia stated rather proudly, only to feel Verna's mind slowly reaching out to hers.

Dahlia just grinned a bit though, enjoying the feeling of a mind reaching out to hers though, and smiled. She knew why though, she had perhaps accidentally tried to bond with Verna already in her time of need during her escape, and when she took those dark feelings, she may have perhaps been a bit strong with it.

Still, to feel it brought joy to Dahlia though as Verna turned to look at her. 'You... you love a night of passion and romance.'

[How can you be so crazed about that kind of slow date? And just what's so special about sharing a night under the moon with someone?] Zai grumbled picking another marshmallow off her claws. [Its just a lame night anyway, they should be I don't know... get wild, really get moving, the blood pumping. You really need to act and let your actions speak for you, not some silly words.]

'Oh come now, surely you must delight at the thought of being told Xent loves you. You seemed so very happy after your talk with him in the corner back on Spear Pillar.' Suicune said.

'How can you not be eager for such a night? To be told that you have someone who loves you, who takes time to care for you and have something to symbolize that love.' Verna grumbled. 'Admit it, to hear Xent vocally say that he loved you and he was willing to try dating you had you all fluttered and eager.'

"Don't you lie to yourself, even you got clingy and hung off of him when I came back from my mother's den. I saw how much you wanted to hold you and just share a drink with you." Dahlia grumbled, Radara and Juno both giving a chuckle at the scene while Suicune just shook her head.

'Now now, let's all be nice. There's more to love than just words and things can be just as exciting for those who prefer physical interaction.' Suicune started, trying to keep the peace right now.

Verna just glared at Zai though, before turning back. 'Oh, they are sharing drinks to each other.' Verna smiled and almost jumped for joy watching the date eagerly again. 'I would love to have that kind of date with someone.'

"Its such a great time, warm sake to keep you awake and at ease, to just relax and enjoy the time alone." Dahlia smiled. "But... Zai might have a point about being physical though. There's a lot of emotions to share that way too."

Verna just turned in a bit of confusion though, but as she faced Dahlia now, Dahlia had taken the chance and gave her a full deep kiss to Verna. Verna was quickly taken back and heavily shocked by it though, gasping out and practically jumping back in shock, right off the couch onto the floor, thankfully onto the extra large blanket around the kotatsu table.

Despite the shock, and the fall though, Dahlia could still feel Verna's mind there reaching out to hers, as if asking for more. 'D-dahlia!' Verna gasped still though. 'Th-that was … w-was... why did... that was spicy!' Verna finally just blurted out.

Dahlia just grinned though. "If you thought that was "spicy", I could do so much more." Dahlia slowly turned to look down over Verna. "There is something to be said for the physical parts of life too ya know. They can be just as emotional as anything else." Dahlia smirked, turning some, now on her hands and knees on the couch looking over Verna and moving forward slowly.

'I think we know who Dahlia fancies now.' Juno teased.

'Dahlia, be careful with the poor girl.' Suicune teased, already knowing that Dahlia never jumped someone who she didn't already have a connection with and Verna had already show major concern and hints of more emotionally with Dahlia because of how they had found her.

Dahlia just grinned more, jumping down over Verna though. "What do you say Verna? I can feel you reaching out to me, wanting to share our feelings, our minds." Dahlia grinned, moving up slowly, between Verna's legs and slowly easing them apart, Dahlia still on all fours over her.

"I could do a lot more if you let me." Dahlia teased, a hand just barely reaching down and spreading her gown, Verna letting it happen now and giving a small gasp. Her hands moved, but up to her face, barely nibbling on her fingers in shyness and shock, her face entirely red as she let this happen.

"I'm sorry for filling your mind with despair when we first met, but I could feel the spark between us when I took those feelings back, and gave you something better. Would you like something more?" Dahlia teased, now slowly exposing Verna's bare hips under her gown and just barely rubbing a hand between her legs.

[Now this is my kind of date!] Zai called out overly excited now, and everything changed. Verna cried out loudly, rolled over, covering her face entirely and just rushed downstairs slamming a door open downstairs, quickly followed by the sound of a pokeball recalling a pokemon.

Dahlia slowly got up, a very angry look on her face, and was suddenly forced back onto the couch by Radara using her psychic to keep her still. Even Juno jumped up and crawled partially into her lap. "I hate you..." Dahlia grumbled under her breath.

~xXx~

Xent woke up easily enough, but was still sore from the day before. He got up slowly, feet over the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. He hardly noticed the change in his room as he stood up and stretched a little, but going to take his first real step almost instantly sent him right to the floor.

Something round was under foot and he just barely caught himself as it rolled under foot. He corrected and quickly found that a pokeball was on the floor, a small blue crescent moon on the top giving away whose pokeball it was. Reaching down and picking up Verna's pokeball, he could tell that she was in it, but it looked like a rush for her to put herself away.

He looked it over, saw Zai's long hair and a foot under his bed knowing where she was sleeping as usual but starting to stir possibly because of his almost fall. Taking Verna's pokeball and then getting cleaned up, he gave a soft pound onto the side of the bed and Zai quickly started moving.

"Time to get up. Dahlia's got some early training us both before you get some real training today." Xent stated and that was enough to get Zai really moving, like Zai was looking forward to it.

Sarah, Dahlia, and Radara all already up and working on breakfast, what had become the normal usual for the group, eggs and a few sides. Dahlia seemed to glare at Zai though as she entered, even with Zai's grin as moved into living room space to start setting the table and make sure things were cleaned up. Xent couldn't help but think that something was up, but ignored it for the moment as he just went about helping.

Xent opted in to do some more training, but the most that Dahlia would give him though were a set of stretches and light exercises for now beside Zai to get her loose for the real training. As noon rolled around, Zai got sick of the light stuff and finally made a scene.

[Damn it! You promised me some real training and you've been avoiding it I think.] Zai finally snapped, wanted to really get started already.

Radara just shook her head though as Dahlia slowly stood up straight now. 'You really shouldn't be egging her on after last night Zai.' Radara stated, sharing her voice with everyone now. This got Xent's interest fast as he slowly stood up himself.

"Alright. We'll start with some hand to hand combat. You're best advantage is being sneaky. That means little without having some ability to fight without it though, because the knights will wise up fast. If they see Xent or Thomas now, they will immediately suspect that not everything is all in the right place as they see it. They'll look for other signs of illusions." Dahlia explained.

"So, we'll focus on some hand to hand combat. A few quick strikes against the knights to disable or distract them can leave bigger openings for someone stronger to take advantage of. This is not a regulation fight, and it won't be a one on one battle. You should always be fighting as part of a group, the knights will whenever possible." Dahlia explained as Radara cleared away the mats they had been using, as well as grabbing the life saver.

"For this training, your objective is simple. I want you to come at me hard. No illusions to start, focus entirely on your body, your physical strength and speed. I won't fall for your illusions, so don't waste energy on that right now. Focus just on the physical attack, and let's see what you are capable of." Dahlia stated looking at Zai, and then a foot to the left of Zai, something that even Xent had barely caught.

"I can't directly read your mind, but I can still feel where that mind is. I'm not so limited as other physic types when dealing with dark types." Dahlia added, and now just focused on where Zai's mind was. The illusion rushed forward, and Dahlia just completely ignored it even as it passed through her, Zai trying to pounce on her side, but Dahlia had already countered.

Dahlia ducked under the attack, twisted behind her, grabbed her, jumped back while actively suplexing Zai and while Dahlia landed right on the edge of the boat, Zai was dunked into the water hard. Radara had already tossed the life saver out and Zai was in a fit over it as she surfaced.

"Okay, what's going here." Xent demanded standing up. He could tell now for certain that Zai and Dahlia had something going on while Radara used the life saver to help Zai back onto the ring of the boat.

"She ruined what could have been a night of fun with Verna last night for me." Dahlia stated rather bluntly.

'You're the one who made her fall flat on her ass and spread her dress trying to mate with her in front of everyone!' Zai snapped back, Radara just translating for everyone.

"She was into it until you spoke up about that being your kind of date and scared her off." Dahlia countered. "Ready for round two?"

Xent however was just standing there for a moment, before slowly reaching into his pocket and pulling out Verna's pokeball, just holding that in his hand for a moment.

Realising that Radara was translating though, Zai turned toward Xent. 'That's it, come on help me. We both can take her down a peg.' Zai stated, only for Xent to stand up who was giving a long pause.

"I need to speak with Verna, then I need to speak to you after you're done with Zai." Xent stated looking at Dahlia before he turned to head back inside and back down to his room.