Burning.
Everything was burning.
My legs were burning, tremors rippling through flesh and bone. My paws were burning, like I was standing on molten sand. My lungs sucked in liquid fire in desperate gulps, my outward breaths choked with coal-black soot. My vision swam with the flames, my world bathed in terrible swaths of orange and red.
"…time…"
My wobbling hearing strained to attention at the faded sounds emanating around me, instincts screaming words that I couldn't understand.
"…hira…dge it!…"
My danger senses slipped into overdrive, my muscles straining to move themselves, but it was too late. A brutal blow to my left flank, and the last of the air was blown out of my lungs. Stifled gasps of pain hitched in my throat as my body was launched into the air. My vision locked to the ceiling as I spun over like a bowling ball, round and round and round and round, the only sounds I could hear being my own screams of agony as I slammed back on the ground in a plume of blackened dirt, dust and sweat tainting my brown fur as I struggled to my aching feet.
"…eph…ira! N…o….!"
I coughed hard, straining not to vomit on the floor as I staggered to my legs. Voices I failed to recognize overlapped over each other, human voices unlike my own. I couldn't care less. I only had one desire and one desire only. Nothing mattered to me anymore, only that burning, primeval hatred that gripped my soul like a vice.
No. I couldn't give in now. I still had this. I had to have this.
He was depending on me.
"…id… too cruel…. up already… her sake!"
"No… when Zeph… …t to stop!"
"…usly… at her… blood…!"
I shook my head with rising fury, my battle instincts flaring up as I locked eyes with my opponent: the flaming tortoise that stood a few feet in front of me. Eyes that stung like molten lava, its stubby feet digging into the ground as it reared for the next charge. My sharp claws extended in instant response, a low animal growl escaping my throat as I circled the larger Pokémon with careful but slow steps, resisting the urge to collapse on the ground even as my legs were screaming in agony. My sharp blue eyes scanned the enemy for any kind of opening, my opponent keeping on its toes despite its massive strength advantage.
"Last… chance… id… finish this…"
"W…take you… ira! ..s Return!"
His voice cut through the smog, the words resonating in my brain despite my failing ears. A large grin flashed over my muzzle, my gaze now laser-focused on my target as my body began to glow a deep blue, newfound power and strength ripping through my body as I prepared to blast him into oblivion. Like a lightning bolt, I launched myself forward with furious vigor, my slim form snaking through the air like a homing missile at the enemy in front of me.
"Yes! Now that's what I like to see! Alright, Torkoal! Use… Overheat!"
The tortoise's belly suddenly swelled with glowing heat, its maw opening menacingly as it charged its ordered attack. Suddenly, a huge column of fire and lava exploded from the Pokémon's large mouth, the sheer level of temperature basting the entire arena like a superheated sauna. An impossibly bright light overtook my vision, my mind and memory going blank as our two attacks made contact, my senses fading into oblivion as existence itself seemed to slip away…
…
…
…
…
…
…hm?
Hmm?
…h…huh?
What's…
What's… going on?
Where… am I?
My eyes strained themselves open, my blurry vision coming into focus as my senses slowly returned.
"Ah! Zeph! You're finally awake!"
I found myself looking up at the face of a dark-skinned man, his brown eyes staring into my own with a quiet sense of kindness.
"…Ahmed?"
A smile crawled over his face before he brought me in for a tight tug, a surprised gasp escaping my lips as he crushed me in his arms.
"Oh, there's my girl, there's my girl! I was starting to think you would never come through!"
I took in the sights as he held me in his arms, taking in our new surroundings. We were currently seated on a bench in what seemed to be a courtyard, a Magikarp fountain in the center of the area while green square bushes flanked the circular stone walkway. My attention shifted to the large white and red building sitting at the end of the yard, a distinctive circular logo of a Poke Ball set above two large glass doors.
"Mmm… Ahmed, where… where are we?"
"Huh?" he replied, letting me go finally as he considered my question. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Uh… sorry, I don't remember much…" I replied, still disorientated from the memories that were flashing in my mind.
"Ah, I understand. Well, to make things simple, we're outside the Lavaridge Pokemon Center, naturally. Rushed here as soon as things wrapped up, so you don't gotta worry!"
"Rushed? From what?" I whispered, the scattered visions solidifying in my mind as I recalled what had come before. It was…
Heat. Pain. Dust.
Lavaridge. Lava. Ash.
Lavaridge.
Fight.
Battle.
Lavaridge Gym Battle.
"…Ah!" I said, shooting up straight as a stick as the memories began to flood back. "The battle! The gym battle!"
"You got it," Ahmed affirmed with a smile and thumbs up. "But wow, let me tell ya, Zeph, you did such a good job! You really are the strongest Linoone the world has ever seen! Even Flannery was shocked at how long you lasted!"
"Huh? Lasted…?"
"Yeah? that's what I… oh."
My eyes instantly fell to the floor, my ears flattened to my head as I took in the meaning of his words. I had "lasted" for as long as I could against that monster, which could only mean one thing…
"…we lost again, didn't we?"
"…yeah. We did." Ahmed admitted, a twinge of disappointment in his voice that made me flinch a little bit. His gaze soon joined mine as we both stared at the floor in complete silence, reality closing in on us as we just sat there, quietly digesting our failures.
"Did I…" I started, afraid of the answer I would receive. "…you know… at least take him out? In the end?"
"The Torkoal?"
"Yeah…"
Ahmed could only shake his head in response, my eyes shutting closed in defeated acceptance. "You tried your best, you really did. But the damn thing was too tough. Oh well."
"Oh well indeed," I growled back, leaping onto the floor and beginning to pace with my racing thoughts. "This is the third time, the third time we've tried our hand at this, Ahmed. You and I both know what this means…"
"Ugg, yeah, yeah, I know…"
"Well, what are you gonna do about it?"
"I… I don't know, ok…" he replied, his head falling in his palms. I could only shake my own in annoyance at my idiot trainer, his lack of planning showing its hand once again. Gym Leaders would only accept a set amount of attempts from challengers per each rotation cycle, so as to not be overloaded with trainers trying to earn their badges, while also discouraging them to push their Pokemon to fight till they drop dead. Some gyms were more lenient than others with the amount of tries that were thrown at your feet, but typically a challenger was only allowed three tries per rotation before they were barred from the cycle, having to wait until the next one started before they could have a chance to battle the leader again. And the Lavaridge Gym, well…
"…so we're stuck, then," I concluded, the panic in my voice rising with each word spoken. "We can't continue our journey without the Heat Badge, which we have failed to win for the third time, which means that we can't battle Flannery again until her gym resets its challenger pool again, which means that we have no choice but to wait around until we can battle her again. And she might just reject our challenge outright considering that we failed three times in a row." My pacing began to increase in speed as I continued to ramble frantically, my paws leading me in circles across the yard as I vented my frustrations. "So, Ahmed the super genius, what's your big game plan now, huh? Where do we even go from here, huh?"
"Woah, whoa, relax, Zeph, relax!" Ahmed said, the tone of his voice never losing its confident edge, something I really didn't need to hear right now. "It should be obvious what we need to do next!"
I froze in my tracks, looking back at my trainer with an incredulous expression.
"Ahmed. Please. Please don't say it."
"Come on now, say it with me!"
"Ahmed…"
"On the count of three: one, two…"
"AHMED!" I shouted sharply, my anger boiling over at his usual stupid antics. "More training is NOT an option!"
"W…" he stammered, taken aback by my outburst. "What are you saying here, Zeph? When is training NEVER an option? This is what being a trainer is all about!"
"Do I have to spell the answer out for you?" I grumbled. "And you're supposed to be the leader…"
"Spell out whatttt? What are you trying to say?"
"My LEVEL CAP, you dolt!" I snapped, though it came out more like an annoyed sigh. "We don't have enough badges to progress to the next level! We're at our limit!"
"…oh CRAP!" Ahmed shouted, standing up in surprise at this revelation. Seems like he really had no idea.
"Yeah, and you know what else?" I continued, a frustrated growl floating with my words. "Even if we could gain some more levels, what good would it actually do, huh? Think about it! I outnumbered that turtle 2 to 1 and I still got thrashed back there! So training and grinding is not gonna cut it anymore, alright?"
"Well, that's, uh…" Ahmed stammered, "Oh, come on! Surely something will work itself out, Zeph! Come on, giving up doesn't suit us!"
"Hmf. Yeah, it doesn't…" I spat, my anger settling in my chest as I jumped back on the bench, another bout of silence forming between us as we continued to think.
"Well, I don't think it's that big of a deal…" Ahmed started, his attempts to lighten the mood only annoying me more. "It's only a little while longer, and we can get back at it again! For now, let's just enjoy our lives and prepare for our next bout! How about that, huh?"
"Ahmed, I…" I sighed in defeat. I wished I could be as optimistic as my trainer was, but being a weak Linoone kinda makes that impossible. "I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"It's about us. About your future as a trainer."
"My future?" Ahmed asked confusedly. "Zephira, you're my Pokemon for crying out loud! You don't gotta worry about that stuff! I can handle it!"
"No, I can't back down from this," I said, placing a lone paw on his leg as we met eyes. "You need to hear this. It's important."
"Well, I… alright. Go ahead. You know best." He conceded, crossing his arms as he prepared to listen to what I had to say.
"This isn't just about you. It's also about me. Let me ask you this. Do you think you can keep progressing the way you are now, with only one weakling Pokemon to call your own?"
"Zeph, you're not weak… you soloed three gyms!"
"That's beyond the point," I replied, shaking my head at his attempts to cheer me up. "What I'm trying to say is that you are NOT ready for what's coming up next. Lavaridge, what we're dealing with now? That's only the beginning. Soon enough, we're gonna encounter trainers that are double, no TRIPLE the strength of her, not to mention all the upcoming gyms too. If we are finding ourselves stuck right now, imagine the dire straights we will be in soon enough!"
"That's…" Ahmed started, my words seeming to strike a chord as he struggled with a reply.
"The only thing you can do right now is to do what any other trainer would do," I continued, my ears flattening against my head as I considered my next words. "You need to shelve me, and start building a team that can carry you to the top."
"SHELVE YOU?" he cried, shock dancing across his face. "No way, Zeph! Out of the question!"
"It's the only way, you moron!" I shouted back, the two of us locking eyes as we stared holes into each other. "I'm at my limit as a Pokemon! I can't carry you forward anymore! You need to cut me loose!"
"No. I REFUSE!" he roared, the night air reverberating with his shouts. "I'll never abandon you, Zeph! Never!"
"Keep your voice down, Ahmed," I hissed quietly. "No need to make this awkward."
"Well, what am I supposed to think?" he shot back, clearly not interested in listening to me. "You want to leave me, Zeph? Seriously? And after all we've been through since we were kids! Does that mean nothing to you?"
"I know it's tough, but you need to consider the facts. This is your dream on the line. And dreams need sacrifices! Don't you understand that?"
Ahmed only shook his head. "If it means sacrificing you, I'd gladly throw away any of my dreams! Come on, Zeph! We've gotten this far!"
"I'm afraid it's outside of your hands," I replied glumly, my eyes dropping to the floor once again. "I've hit my ceiling, Ahmed. A Linoone could never carry you to the top. I can't let you give up everything just for me. Please, let this go and do the right thing."
"No." Ahmed replied flatly, placing his hands on my shoulders as he looked me straight in the eyes. "Never in a million years. I will never push you to the sidelines Zeph. Either we go together, or we fall together. No in-betweens."
I could only stare back into his eyes in a silent trance, the quiet illuminating the air around us in tranquil quiet as the moment settled between us. A blush began to crawl across my face as he continued to stare into me, and I resisted the urge to smile as I shyly looked away, trying hard to keep up my annoyed and prickly facade.
"…idiot."
"Only for you, my sweet." Ahmed said with a grin, my initial blush morphing into an annoyed frown at his quip. Before I could claw him in the face for his efforts, he stepped back a few paces, hands on his hips as he continued to speak.
"So, it's settled then. We aren't giving up just yet. You aren't leaving anytime soon, and we still got another shot in us. So, Zeph, why don't you say we…"
"Just one second, Ahmed. I'm not done talking," I interrupted, jumping to the ground as I looked up to my trainer. "This isn't some kind of joke to me. I'm absolutely, positively serious and I have no intent on backing down. You. Need. To. Listen."
Rising to my hind feet and placing my paws on his chest, I continued my piece. "Let me explain why I've come to this conclusion. You know how the teams at the highest levels of the league are, right?"
"…Yeah?" he replied, his tone indicating that he thought it was a stupid question. "Highly organized, usually super powerful beefcakes or sometimes legendaries, often bred to fight competitively?"
"That's a part of it," I confirmed. "At the very tippy top of the summit, the only way you can survive is through putting together the best team you can possibly can. But that feat isn't easy, obviously. It requires careful consideration and select curation of the Pokemon you choose for that team. Moves, skills, IV's, EV's, team dynamics, type balancing, and more all play a pivotal factor. If even a fraction of these stats are out of whack, it could cost you big time. That's why ace and champion trainers care so much about breeding for the best 'mons for their teams. They literally can't compete seriously if they don't."
"Ok, but what's that got to do with us? You and I have our bond! I mean, it's carried us past three gyms along with everything else! Surely, we don't gotta worry about all that other complicated stuff!"
"Ahmed, goddamn it," I sighed angrily, stifling my desire to let loose at this blockhead. "Bonding is fantastic and all, but that cannot make up for reality. You only have one Pokemon, a Pokemon so weak its only practical use is for TM dumping. You realize that most trainers wouldn't even bother to train something like me to this point, right?"
"Well, you are special, Zeph! You are a beast with no comparison! You always do your best no matter what, so what's your point?"
"I understand that, Ahmed. Really, I do. But…" I stuttered a bit, the more difficult part of our talk coming up fast. "I can do my best all I want, but that hasn't helped with Flannery, right?"
Ahmed began to grow quiet, finally realizing the extent of the words I was trying to say. It was tough on both of us, I knew, but the world often wasn't so nice. He needed to know that.
"You keep saying that, but…"
"I know, but really consider it. Those big leagues you are hoping to aim for. I'm sorry, but I can't stand up to any of those monsters. Those trainers. I might even die honestly."
Ahmed's eyes widened at my declaration, the situation finally crashing upon him as I spat out these tough words.
"Champion trainers are smart. Real smart. They build their teams from the ground up, making sure that every Pokemon compliments their teammates and covers all possible weaknesses. But not all Pokemon are built equal. A Linoone could never fit on any team like that. Because we have no strength, no speed, no abilities, and our move pool is utter garbage. If you don't mind me saying."
"Zeph…" Ahmed started, sitting back on the bench as he looked back at me. I couldn't meet his eyes. I didn't have the strength of will.
"So, it's clear what we… what you need to do. Get out there, capture the strongest Pokemon you can, breed them for even better fighters, and forget all about your pathetic starter. Nothing else will cut it but that. I'm sorry."
Ahmed only sat there in silence, both of us not knowing what to say. I looked up at the now dark sky, the stars above twinkling like crystals in a cave. I wanted so desperately to reach out to them, for some kind of answer to drop out of the darkness, some compromise to the horrible situation we were in. But nothing came, so I continued to stare at the heavens above, holding back tears as the moment dragged on.
"Zephira… I…" Ahmed started, before a voice cut through the silence.
"Excuse me!" it called, a cheery feminine voice with a distinct southern drawl. We looked over to the pink-haired human calling over to us, one of her hands waving in the air to get our attention.
"It's getting late, you two. Are you going to check in?"
We looked at each other in surprise, not quite realizing how fast the time had slipped away. My dark thoughts slowly vanished as a smile crept over my face, looking over at my trainer with a silent smirk.
"…Well, Ahmed?"
"Uhh…" he said. "Yeah, we'll be coming in soon. Don't worry, Ms. Joy!"
"Alright, then! Don't be out too late, okay?" she called back happily, slipping back through the automatic doors back into the center. I gave my fur a quick shake as I started walking towards the center when Ahmed's voice stopped me.
"Whoa, wait a sec, Zeph! Where are you going?"
I only gave him a blank expression, my desires making themselves obvious.
"It's been a rough day, y'know? How about some outdoor camping for a change, huh!"
"No." I replied simply, continuing my slow saunter towards the center, ignoring my trainer's pleas as I continued to walk, my trainer catching up to me as we continued to bicker.
"Oh, come on Zeph!"
"No."
"Just hear me out for once! What about…"
"NO."
"…killjoy." He finally conceded, his feet falling in step beside me as we walked in the night.
The warm water of the shower trickled around me, my fur heavy and damp as I sat alone in the silence, taking the enjoyable feelings with measured strides. I leaned myself further against the wall, pads pressed against the white linoleum as my eyes bore holes into the drain below me. I took a deep but shaky breath, the rejuvenating feeling of steam entering my lungs in stark contrast to that other feeling.
Fire… Ash… Soot…
…defeat…
…despair.
I know I shouldn't do it. I know it's not good for me. To dwell on the past and the things that I lost… doesn't help. After all, my life hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows after all. Over time, you slowly learn how to let go of those things, move on, and focus on what's in front of you. But despite all of it, my mind began to wander again. The thoughts refused to move on. The battle, the pain, the struggle to overcome and deliver… for his sake. But I knew deep down that it was never meant to be. How could it? It was just how it went for my species.
I still didn't understand why he stuck by me for so long. I could still recall that rough and tumble kid who wandered into the bush with no protection with him, the kid who came across a scared and lost Zigzagoon in the forest, its family lost to forces unmentionable, an orphan forevermore. I was alone, he was alone, but I didn't care. I charged in with no hesitation, knocking that scrawny kid straight a few feet into the grass. When he tried to struggle to his feet, his hands and shins bloodied and tears staining his face, I tackled him down like a mad predator, my tiny claws shredding his shirt to scraps as I mauled him mercilessly. My pain, my rage, and my sadness, all let loose like a bomb exploding forth.
But… he didn't fight back. No, Ahmed was never that kind of guy. He was strong, even then. Stronger than I could ever grasp. He only grasped me tight, his trembling hands tracing along my dirty fur. Just like before.
Just like Mom.
Eventually, I just slumped in his arms, my own tears falling away like a waterfall. We just sat there until a human adult heard us, and even though he could have ratted me out he defended me, making sure that I felt safe even through all that I had been through.
The rest was history. The years almost flew by for me as we grew up together. We rarely left each other's side, the two of us on our own as we explored the world… or, at least our hometown. And Ahmed never cared about who I was, either. People questioned why he dedicated himself to a weak Zigzagoon, 'especially considering that I was small even for my species. But not only did he back me up, but he outright refused to get a normal starter or even another Pokemon. No, he only wanted me, and me alone. That's all he needed for himself, and I felt the exact same way.
And we proved all the bullies and critics wrong. It wasn't long before me and Ahmed became the kings of our neighborhood and soon the entire town, not even those scary Dragon types being able to stand against us. No Pokemon could match my speed or the power of my Return. For once in my life, I felt like I was worth something, that I had overcome the weakness intrinsic to my species and ascended.
Ascended to something useful.
And, soon enough, we were ready to move on. To expand our horizons, just the two of us on our own once again. We fought hard, harder than we ever had before, with Pokemon and trainers beyond our imagination or experience standing against us all the way. But we persevered through it all, no wall too big enough to stand in our way. As long as we kept believing, as long as I pushed myself past the brink over and over again, a way would find us. Always.
…until now.
Dollops of tears fell down my cheeks. My teeth clenched in growing anger, my rage directed at the stupidity of my past self. And why wouldn't I be angry at myself? I really thought, really believed, that I had moved on, that I had somehow become a special Linoone, that I would reach beyond anything other Linoones could possibly achieve.
But I wasn't special. Not. One. Bit.
I was just as weak and hopeless as the rest of them, and that was a fact. I gave it my all, time after time to reach this point, but other Pokemon would have no problem blasting through all those challenges and more, including this one. If only I wasn't so…
…myself.
I hate myself. I hate my species. I hate that I care so much about winning and losing when my species is no more useful than the trash lying on the street. Ahmed may be an idiot, but even he had to know the truth. Dreams often come with a price, especially when they collide with the storm that is reality. And the reality was that I didn't belong. I didn't belong here, or anywhere. It was selfish to keep denying it any longer, to keep holding my Ahmed behind when he could be doing so much better. He had the spark of greatness lying within him, his skills as a trainer and commander impeccably high. If it wasn't, forget about even making it this far. But he was holding himself back, just because I couldn't live up to his expectations. To his dreams.
No. A stupid Linoone who is way out of her league can't be allowed to do that. She wouldn't hold him back any longer. She couldn't. It's clear what I had to do, despite the pain that comes with it.
For him. For everything we've been through. For the future.
I shook my head, flecks of water falling away from my drenched fur. I stood in that scalding stream for a little bit, my thoughts continuing to race as I listened to the slow pitter-patter echoing around me. After a bit more time, I nosed the shower knob upwards, the water shutting off as silence descended in the wet bathtub until I let loose a torrent of rain from my wet coat. I sighed again, waving away my thinking as I prepared to finish up, my soul hardening as I prepared for the talk that was to come.
Leaving the bathroom after making sure I was completely dry, I was met with an unexpected but yet predictable sight. Ahmed, wearing nothing but tight-fitting red shorts, was doing rapid-fire push-ups in the corner of the room, the sweat beading off his skin as he huffed heavily. My eyes began to trace along his muscles and his bare chest, my breath suddenly freezing in my throat as I just stood there watching, a warm flush beginning to cross my cheeks. Soon enough, Ahmed finished with his exercise as he lay on the carpet for a bit, soon enough scrambling to his feet as our eyes met. I pushed down my ballooning feelings in an instant, giving my trainer my best scolding expression as I began to speak.
"Ahmed… what are you doing?"
"Getting my push-ups in!" he replied, reaching for a towel on the desk as he dried his face. "Didn't get to do any today, so I decided to do it now!"
"…before we go to bed?"
"Yeah?"
A paw smacked across the side of my face, a massive groan escaping my lips. "We're about to go to bed, you just took a shower, and you got yourself dirty and sweaty. Again. Think about this for two seconds, please."
"Alright, okay Mom. I'll just take a quick dip and everything will be okay. You happy?" he replied, his eyes rolling in his skull as he stepped past me. Before he could enter the bathroom, however, I stopped him with a paw to his leg, the two of us meeting eyes as he looked down on me with a confused expression.
"Wait… Ahmed…" I began, my hesitation clear in my voice as my gaze began to drift away, Ahmed's expression growing more confused as I continued to speak, "There's something I need to tell you. It's… important."
Ahmed's expression morphed into cautious concern, only giving me a curt nod in response as he turned back, settling himself on the thick hotel mattress. I scrambled upwards and sat myself beside him, my claws gently flexing in and out with bubbling anxiety.
"Okay, before you start…" Ahmed spoke up, a hand finding itself stroking my pointed head. "If this is about the gym battle, you should already know my answer. I couldn't care less about that. Water under the bridge."
I shook my head timidly, words not needed in my response. Ahmed accepted my response with a silent "oh", falling quiet as I continued to fidget in place.
"I… well… uh…" I began to say, the words refusing to form into sentences as I fumbled with my voice.
"Okay… seems like you're having a little trouble…" Ahmed chuckled lightly, my ears flattening against my head in embarrassment. "Let's start at something easy, alright? What's on your mind?"
My lips began to tremble, my desire to continue our talk ebbing away, until I finally broke the stalemate with a heavy sigh, the words coming more easily as I started.
"I've realized something over these past few days. That gym battle only made the obvious even more obvious. Ahmed, I need to ask. Why do you keep me around? Why do you insist on having me and only me? I can't help you reach the top, achieve all that you hope for. So why…?"
Ahmed giggled lightly, the answer seeming to be obvious in his head. "Well, pretty sure I've said this before, but you're the most important person in my life, Zeph. Just think of all the things we've been through together. You can't fake something like that. I'm not interested in any Pokemon but you, because you are all that I need. You are the most important part of my dreams, and you not being there is unacceptable to me."
I looked away for a moment, his words settling in my heart. But it only made things more clear on what I needed to do.
"…your important to me, too, Ahmed. The world could use a trainer like you as champion."
"I know, right?" he replied, seemingly satisfied that our convo was finally over. "So, if that's all you've got to say…"
"And that's why…" I continued, leaping down on the ground and slowly walking to the door, throwing my trainer a quick glance backward. "That's why I need to do this."
"Do?"
"I'm leaving." I croaked, the tears beginning to fall despite my best efforts to hold them back. "I won't hold you back any longer. I said you had two options, Ahmed. If you won't act on them, then I'll do it for you."
"Wait, Zeph!" Ahmed started, but I was done listening. With my head hung low, I began to walk away, fully prepared to leave my best friend behind forever. His cries for me to come back began to fade away, my ears having no interest in listening any longer as I hyper-focused on the door in front of me, determined to get this over with as soon as possible. But before I could reach for the doorknob and step out into the hallway, a pair of arms suddenly grasped around my stomach, lifting me in the air and pulling me back.
I let out a loud gasp, my legs beginning to thrash and scream in panic and anger, my claws extending and slashing in random directions as I fought in my trainer's grasp. "LET ME GO!" I roared, my muscles straining to escape as my trainer fell back on the bed, my claws raking his shirt and arms with vicious slashes, flecks of fabric falling on the mattress and floor as he continued to hold me tight. A primal feeling began welling up in my chest, an animalistic desire to fight and flee as emotion clashed with instinct.
"LET ME GO! LET GO! LET… GO!"
"NO, I'M NEVER LETTING YOU GO!" he screamed back at me, hugging me to his chest with an iron grip.
"YOU BASTARD! FUCK YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! KILL YOU!"
I continued to trash around madly like a caged animal, my screams of fury filling the air as we continued to struggle. Eventually, my strength began to fizzle out, my will to fight being replaced with a crushing sense of despair. I began wailing like a baby, my trainer holding me in his now bloody arms as I squeezed myself around his neck, my tears streaming like a cascade with no end. His hands began to stroke my trembling back, telling me that everything was alright despite everything I had done. "…idiot…" I spoke with hitched breath, the words falling out of my mouth with rising furor.
"Fucking idiot…"
"Say whatever you want, Zeph," Ahmed replied, the pain evident in his voice. "I'm never letting you leave. I won't give up on you, even if you give up on yourself."
"Fucking… IDIOT!" I screamed into his face, a furious growl escaping from gritted teeth. "HOW STUPID CAN ONE GUY GET! WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME GO, YOU ABSOLUTE MORON! LOOK AT YOURSELF! WAS ANY OF THIS A GOOD IDEA?!"
"Well, you're still here," he groaned, his voice chipper despite his growing amount of pain. "So that's something."
"w… YOU!" I shouted. "YOUR'e JUST... WASTING YOUR TIME! WASTING TIME ON A MONSTER LIKE ME! LOOK AT ME! DO YOU WANT TO KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS AROUND!?"
"Like I said, I…" he replied, falling back on the bed with me still in his arms. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
I began to cry again, my anger slowly being replaced by a sense of confusion and confoundment. I couldn't wrap my head around this guy. What was he thinking?
"But… I'm an inferior." I finally admitted, the words feeling strangely good as I let them out. "I'm an inferior species, not good for anything. I can never live up to your expectations."
"Zephira…" he said, our eyes meeting as he bumped his nose with mine. "Remember what I said before? I'll say it again for you. You are more important to me than anything in the world. Even if it means giving up everything, even my hopes or dreams, I would do it. I would do it all for you."
My eyes scanned his pupils, not wanting to believe what he was saying. "You… really mean that? Everything, even for someone like…"
"Of course, Zeph. What more would you expect from me?"
He gave me a smile, then. A big beaming smile that spoke of his infinite conviction and compassion. My entire body, mind, breath, and muscle, all froze in time. I could only sit in his lap, staring back in his brown eyes in silence as the seconds ticked by.
"…uh, Zeph, hello?" Ahmed started, shaking me a bit and waving a hand in front of my face. "Are you alright? You seem to be frozen…" he started to say, but I wasn't listening. My attention was entirely locked on his eyes.
Those big beautiful eyes.
Those eyes… that I had fallen in love with.
Before I could even realize it, I had already leaned forward in one go, our mouths contacting as I slammed my furred lips on his own. Ahmed's mouth opened in surprise, but my body moved on autopilot, my legs wrapping around his neck as I leaned into the kiss, my thoughts falling away in a sea of love and passion. I could feel Ahmed's hands drifting to my sides as he pulled me closer, the warmth in my chest only matched by the growing blush on my cheeks…
…until I pulled away ungracefully from our make-out session, my senses flooding back as I scrambled away as far as I could. I found myself curled up on a far corner of the bed, our collective breath heavy and wild as we stared at each other in silence. At least, until Ahmed slowly began to crack a smile, a knowing grin that told all tales. I would normally groan in annoyance if not for the awkwardness of the moment, my heart still frozen in primal terror as I curled in on myself in shame.
"So…" Ahmed began, "…seems like you had a little more on your mind than you let on."
I looked away shyly, not wanting any part of his ribbing, before he began crawling slowly towards me, his fingers resting on the tuft on my head as we sat in silence once more. Soon enough, I let out a long sigh, the omnibus now falling on me to break the silence.
"…sorry." I stammered, the shame in my heart growing with each passing second. Ahmed only listened on in silence, nodding his head in acceptance.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" he responded, his fingers giving my ears tiny stritches, my throat giving off happy purrs and my tail thumping against the bed despite what I wanted to do. "If it's your heart, why fight it?"
I continued to look away, still feeling incredibly guilty.
"Oh, feeling it now, are we? Hehe." He let out a small amused laugh, and an inexplicable urge to swipe his stupid face rose in my mind. Before I could flex my claws and give it to him, however, he stood up, his feet starting to take him in tiny circles as he, and I, wandered with our thoughts.
"I just made a big mistake, didn't I?"
Ahmed only shook his head at me. "No, Zeph, what you did wasn't wrong."
"No. It was." I shot back. "It's illegal, you know. Humans and feral 'mons. No better than bestiality."
"And the fact that you did it shows that you're above that, right? Come on, Zeph! You're smarter than I am!"
"If I was so smart," I spat, "I would've controlled myself better. A Linoone, doing all that… it isn't right. Not meant to be."
"Zephira, look at me," he announced, my gaze meeting his own once again as he approached. "Do I have to remind you again? About our promise?"
I gave him a confused yet dejected look, still convinced that a harsh rejection was heading my way. Hesitantly, I said, "Promise?".
"When I said I would give up everything for ya, I meant it." He said as he placed his hands on my shoulders, my gaze locked with his like a trance as we drew closer. "It might be stupid, I might be better off doing something else, but this is the one place I want to be right now. Nothing else matters to me."
A sniffle, then my eyes began to water, and soon the tears began to fall again. I wailed as we hugged tightly, my soul not wanting to let this moment go.
"Y…you are so… so stupid… such an… idiot! You…"
"I'm your idiot, Zephira. You can't get rid of me that easily."
"I can't fucking understand you… I can never understand you… you are so…"
"Hey, surely I'm not that bad. Maybe if you paid more attention you would…"
I didn't let him finish his sentence, as my lips forcefully smashed back into his with a newfound sense of vigor. I refused to let up, not even a bit as I pulled him back onto the bed, Ahmed covering me as we began to make out passionately. A spark of something began to grow inside of me, traversing in my mind as a burning heat emerged in my lower regions, instinct screaming to grasp tight and never let go. It wasn't long before we had switched places, my legs holding my lover in place as we pressed deeping into our kiss. Soon enough, though, the lack of air made itself apparent, and we finally separated, a thin strand of saliva connecting us that immediately fell away. Our breaths were ragged, our limbs entangled as we enjoyed our collective and growing passion. That burning heat began to flare up inside me again, the rational part of my mind slowly fading away as a raw form of lust hardened in my chest and loins. Ahmed seemed to notice the growing mad glint in my eyes, his expression growing more worried as my breaths grew more hectic, interspersed with the occasional primal grunt. "Uh… Zephira?" he asked timidly, his upper body rising in growing worry.
No! He wasn't going anywhere!
With a wild snarl, I pushed him back on the bed, staring into his increasingly terrified eyes without a word to spare. This was my moment. He needed to know who was the dominant one here, and I tried to make myself very clear who was in charge now. Ahmed only nodded nervously, knowing what he could be in for if he dared to resist me.
As soon as I was satisfied that my male was aware of his place, I began to scoot backward, my mind laser-focused on the prize sitting below me. My eyes sharpened on his red shorts, a noticeable tent in the fabric making itself known. I let out a sultry purr as I continued, pleasure lighting up my brain as I grasped the hem in my strong jaws, slipping them down slowly and carefully. I wanted to make this moment last, the last barrier between trainer and Pokemon slipping away. Ahmed, careful not to set me off, helped me by lifting his butt off the mattress, his shorts falling away as I tossed them away into the aether. My sole attention was now focused on the object in front of me, the dark stick throbbing in space as it now stood to attention. A bit of drool began to escape from my mouth, licking it away as I drew in for a closer look. I took the liberty to take in its scent, the oddly alluring yet musky odor filed away in my brain. Slowly and carefully, my long tongue darted out to get a taste, my tip meeting his tip as I savored his distinct flavor. I could feel my trainer jerk up a bit upon contact, that animal instinct flaring up again as I placed my paws on his waist, pressing them down hard as I continued. My jaws then opened up wide, my lustful demons now tired of waiting, as I took in the entire length in one go. I could pick up Ahmed's scattered moans as I basted the entire length with my salivating organ, my buds unable to fathom his zest as I let out a long purr slash moan, something wet and throbbing beginning to stir in my crotch as I continued.
Soon enough, however, Ahmed couldn't resist anymore and began to jerk himself inside of my mouth, the tip contacting the opening of my throat as I began to gag at his sudden movement. My surprise, however, was quickly replaced by another wave of primal rage surging in my chest. In a flash, I pushed him back onto the bed, a feral growl escaping my lips, my claws outstretched on the sides of his head. I bore my gaze into his eyes, reminding him once more of who held the cards. The look in his eyes said it all; when you mate with something like us, you better know damn well where your place is. Once I was satisfied, my anger began to ebb, a slow smile now crawling across my lips.
Time for the main event.
Setting my paws on his shoulders, and minding my claws, I raised my hindquarters into the air, lining myself up with the stick poking underneath me. I instinctively began to roll my hips, forward and back, rubbing my throbbing opening with that sweet tip, savoring the feeling before I took things beyond the point of no return. Ahmed began to moan slightly, pleased at the feeling yet frustrated that I was holding off. Well, enough of all this teasing. I was getting antsy, too, and I haven't been the most accommodating partner so far.
Time to change that.
My paws pressed deeper into the mattress, our eyes locking with each other as our genitals finally lined up in place. Spreading my legs just a bit, I slowly began to lower myself onto his length, my labia gently parting to welcome him inside. An electric pulse began firing through my heart as he entered slowly, my breaths quickly growing labored and frenzied as he reached a quarter in, then a third, then the halfway point. A jerk in my mind tore through my senses as I felt him reach my cervix, the head pushing against the puckered opening as it began to spasm uncontrollably. My eyes widened in sudden pleasure at the alien feeling, my mind going blank as my legs gave out. And, in one movement, I slammed down hard on his pelvis, his member smashing through my second hole as we both released heated screams into the night, raw desire etched into the lift of our voices.
We just settled there, trying to catch our bearings, for a good amount of time, the only sound in the room being our shared gasps as we basked in our newfound connection. I could feel my vaginal walls gripping his cock snugly, the flesh pulsing tightly before letting go once more. This was it. We had crossed the barrier and into new territory. Whether it was for good or bad we didn't know, nor did we care. All we could think about was the other person, of how that feeling of flesh meeting flesh felt between us.
The next moments passed like a blur, the buzzing pleasure of mating wiping away all the details that could or should have been preserved. All I could recall was that way feeling of my trainer pounding my insides, the feeling of my womb and passage being penetrated time and time again resonating through my entire form. The entire world, its entire history, my life, his life, the battle, our struggles and tragedies, nothing of the sort mattered to me anymore. I couldn't even remember what had come before or what I had done today; why I was here or what led up to his. No, the only thought that inhabited my mind was him, my Ahmed, my sweet and stupid Ahmed to which my all belonged, and to all of mine belonged to him.
Soon enough, however, my pleasure and his pleasure began to reach a breaking point. Our escalating pants and grunts beginning to emanate like pulses in the dark, unrestrained and unrelenting, no amount of force or fear being able to stem the coming tide. My slick walls began to quiver in winding waves of pleasure, gripping Ahmed's member like a vice, begging him to finish inside, to make me truly his, to give himself and all himself to me. I wanted that more than anything in this moment, to feel that final release that would mark us for life. Then, I felt it: his hands drifting to mine, his palms resting on my sides, taking me in as I slammed down further than I ever had, a lightning bolt striking my brain as he fully hinted into me. The dam finally broke, my walls constricting like a python as I screeched into the heavens, a gush of fluid leaking from my opening as I rode my climax. In tandem, and with a final groan of pleasure, Ahmed also let go, and I felt him throbbing uncontrollably before finally releasing, ropes and ropes of sticky sperm filling my womb as we finished. I felt my insides begin to burst as I was filled up completely, our collective fluids now leaking out from our crotches as we rode it all out. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of bliss, we had finally discharged all we had, a wave of exhaustion overcoming me as soon as it was all over. With the grace of a sack of potatoes, I collapsed onto my trainer's chest, snuggling into his neck as I let out happy whimpers of pleasure. With the end of our mating, however, came a new sense of clarity.
And that clarity… wasn't pretty.
"Oh… oh my g…" I began to stammer, rising as I assessed the damage. The scratches were the least of my worries, what was worse was how I acted. It was beyond a little forceful. It was almost like…
"Ahmed, I'm so so sorry!" I began to yell, shaking my head with growing unease at the thing I had been just a few minutes before. "I wasn't thinking, it was like I was possessed! I didn't mean to threaten you, to hurt you! I was…"
A finger pressed against my muzzle, shutting me up as Ahmed began to speak up. "Zeph, it's…" he said, struggling to sit up against his own pain and fatigue. "It's fine. Guess we gotta consider this stuff in the future, yeah?"
"Future?" I replied, negative thoughts bouncing in my head. "After what just happened? Ahmed, I don't think that's a good idea. I don't know if I can control myself…"
"Well, we won't know until we try some more, right? Come on…" he whispered, pulling me in a tight hug as he stroked my back. "You know you want more of this. I know I do."
I perked up, my gaze falling into his at his last remark. "R…really? But… I'm an animal… a vicious beast."
"But…?" he replied, his calloused hands rising to my cheeks as he held my gaze. "I can be a beast too. All men are."
I let out an unintentional giggle, despite my desire to hate his words with all my heart. There he was. Here to save me once again. Just like always.
"You really are an idiot," I said, a small smile creeping across my face, a genuine grin born of love. "Don't blame me if you get mauled to death."
"Yeah, I think I can take that risk," he replied, bringing my face closer as our noses touched. "Just promise to take it easy when you do, yeah?"
My smile grew wider, my legs wrapping around his back as I gave him doe eyes. "Well, I guess if it's you."
My look faltered for a moment, a thought bubbling up in my mind as I considered it.
"Ahmed…"
"Zeph?"
"Promise me?" I said, looking into his eyes with a mix of hope and worry. "Promise me… you'll never leave me. Please?"
Ahmed only smiled in response, a smirk that struck my heart to my core. "It's a promise, Zeph."
I grinned widely, tears beginning to trickle out as I began to sob loudly, a sound borne of true love and happiness. Our lips then met once again, wild and passionate, as we pressed together like sardines in a can, neither of us wanting to let go, to allow this moment to end.
Just another day in the story of our lives. The wonderful life of a certain Linoone, the human she loves…
…and the rest that needs no say.