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In 2015, 1 January, Los Angeles was turned into a war zone for two days as TV Head an a hand full of Villains assaulted and demolished the metropolis. On the first day the several dozen high ranked Villains, thugs and mercenaries, killed over one hundred thousands people, comprised of civilians, first responders and Heroes. TV Head hijacked major radio stations and local TV networks via radio manipulation and professed his ideology to the world. He said that the U.S. an its Heroes and Villains were nothing but a show now and swore to give the world the greatest show it had ever wanted, effectively declaring war on the U.S.. Between saving civilians, defending evacuation points and fighting the villains, the heroes that were there in the initial attack were kept on their back foot. It wasn't until the second day that Technomancer had organized with the U.S. military and the top twenty heroes for a counter attack. Fighting along the U.S. coast guard and navy, the top ten Heroes were able to push the Villains back out. By the end, over 150,000 thousand died an even more wounded while there was only a handful of Heroes and Villains left standing. The few villains that survived barely made it out with their lives. It was on that first day that Lillian's lover had been murdered at the hands of TV Head with little regard, like an after thought. Over the next month the U.S. was left in shock as politicians and Home Land Security scrambled to decide on how to handle what was considered the largest security break in U.S. history. Fearing a repeat of September 11th, the U.S. government opted to handle the issue with covertness, taking to using a scalpel instead of a hammer. The matter was to be handled with the upmost scrutiny and tactfulness. Not wanting to incite mass hysteria or unrest, the U.S. Government took to managing the issue behind the scenes while assuring the public that it was doing everything in its power to uncover the Villains and their plots. During that time the government platformed and put heroes on a pedestal, praising the heroes for their hard work. Like wise, the media began putting even more attention onto the Heroes of the U.S.. In no time the focus went from how the Government was going to handle the threat to how would the Heroes handle this threat. Some feared losing popularity while others saw it as the perfect chance to earn more of it, but both were put into spotlight. Even though some Heroes were public servants, their affiliation with the government was quickly lost from public sight as the subjects and interviews centered around what the Heroes themselves would do. Despite all the big talk that the government and Heroes were giving, no progress was being made. TV Head's trail was spotless. During that time, TV Head had cemented what would soon be known as the Villains Syndicate in a massive underground network of tunnels that spanned much of the U.S.. Their numbers were small but their resources an interest groups were growing every day. By the end of the month after the attack on L.A., TV Head had refitted and modified a part of the tunnels into what he had dubbed "The Proving Grounds". This place would be where he would nurture the next generation of Villains. He would use this place to teach them while giving refuge and sanctuary to Villains from all over. TV Head had made himself known to the world but he still needed to get the word out about the Villains Syndicate and he knew exactly how to do it. At first, TV Head hadn't noticed, but Lillian had dropped the smallest of seeds onto his hoodie. It wasn't until the flower had started to grow that TV Head noticed an intrusion. The flower, of course, had its own magnetic field that, once grown, was easily detected by TV Head. His magnetic field was like another layer of skin whereas the flower was like noticing a pimple. TV Head recognized the flower and knew then that it was only a matter of time until one the top 10 heroes, Trip Star, was coming after him. He would set a trap and record the slaughter on video for the internet to see as an announcement of the Villains Syndicate's arrival. TV Head rounded up the villains an informed them that they could expect an attack from one of two directions in the tunnels from the Heroes and likely, the military. There was debates and yelling, as some Villains left while others decided to fight the heroes. After that, there was much deliberation on what to do, on whether or not take the fight to the heroes or wait for them to find the Proving Grounds. It was decided to wait to fight on the Proving Grounds on the single fact that the P.G. was the most known territory they had control of. They knew they were safe from sonar or radio signal's down there, so they could use that to their advantage to avoid detection from above ground. With that in mind, two lines were to be set up for either entrance of the P.G. while TV Head would use his radio waves as sonar for the underground tunnels. If the military was detected then they would simply blow up which ever side they were coming from, dropping rubble with not needing to fear being trapped. If it was just Heroes, then the villains could lay in wait to ambush them. The only hole in the plan was that it rested on the idea that the enemy would either detonated a charge or break down a door to get into the tunnels. That or bypass one of the security doors. Either choice would give plenty of notice to the villains to set up. But this plan assumed that Trip Star and whoever she may bring did not have an alternative route that TV Head could not have known about. TV Head could never be too sure, but he doubted those chances. All the Villains would have to do is wait for the signal.

A sadistic smile twisted on Hunter’s lips as he watched the figure in front of him as they seemed to twist on the spot as if lost. To most people, the figure would be barely visible within the dim lighting of the abandoned warehouse as shadows seemed to cling to every surface, unyielding to the meagre light of the mid-afternoon Chicago sun that attempted to peer in through the murky windows. He tilted his head as he continued to observe the man. To Hunter, the man looked pretentious in a rather flashy looking blue and white costume that looked to be something one of those figure skaters would wear. It was skin tight, allowing Hunter to see the curves of their body. He had pale skin that almost seemed to glow, made even more noticeable by his pitch black hair. He had the haughty expression that Hunter had seen on many heroes before. The kind of expression that made him laugh. He watched from the shadows as the hero brought his hand up, a shard of ice appearing in his grip. The man threw the shard, and Hunter watched the projectile as it sailed through the air, before impacting the wall of the warehouse, penetrating deep. It was also nowhere near him. Hunter let out a derisive snort before saying in an almost singsong voice, “Missed me~” He then laughed as the hero quickly turned towards him and threw yet another projectile. But he was too slow. Hunter was in his element, hidden within the shadows of the warehouse which were numerous and all he had to do was move along the shadows, quicker than the hero could run. He shifted until he was standing behind the man, who was completely unaware of the danger that lurked so closeby. He was a fool to have followed Hunter into the warehouse. When he had first confronted Hunter, he had claimed that he was going to bring Hunter to justice, to cash in the bounty that was on his head. And yet the fool knew nothing about the prey he hunted. If this was the standard for heroes, then Hunter was sorely disappointed. This hero wasn’t as entertaining as he had been hoping. In fact he was rather boring, only able to fire these pathetic little ice shards that did no damage to him while he was in the shadows. At this point, Hunter was merely playing with the man. As silent as smoke, he emerged from the shadows before taping the man on the shoulder. Even as the man jumped in surprise, Hunter melded into the shadows, watching as the hero turned around and threw another ice shard that seemed to land where Hunter was however it wasn’t able to do any damage. He laughed again, “You’re so God-damn pathetic. Are you, like… retarded, or something? I thought you were here to cash in my bounty.” Hunter laughed again, mocking the man as he quickly moved away so that he was behind the man again. He emerged from the shadows, bending over as he picked up a piece of wood which he then threw at the hero before shrouding himself in the shadows once again. The wood hit the hero on the head causing him to turn around and shout, “Come on out, you coward!” Hunter couldn’t resist but to roll his eyes, or rather the equivalent of. This hero was beginning to really bore him. He made a tutting sound before he said, “You’re very pathetic, you know. You say that you’re here to collect on the bounty that’s on my head, and you can’t even hit me with the most basic of attacks. You couldn’t fight your way out of a paper bag.” “Shut up.” The hero snarled, “I don’t have to listen to this.” Hunter emerged from the shadows in front of him, his upper lip curled in a snarl of disgust as he tilted his head a little, looking down his nose at the hero, “You know nothing about me. You just saw the dollar signs on my name, and felt the chance to give yourself a feel good wank like all you heroes do. You take down anyone that disagrees with you, and then stand around congratulating yourselves in one massive circle jerk. You’re just a bunch of liars that think of nothing but looking and feeling good. You don’t actually care about helping people and you don’t care about the people that you kill with your incompetence. You’re a bunch of hypocrites.” As Hunter watched, he saw the hero’s face twist in anger before the man threw another shard at him. A tutting sound escaped Hunter as he once again blended into the shadows, causing him to completely evade the attack despite the fact that the shard struck with pinpoint accuracy. In a rather mocking tone, he said, “Let me tell you something, hero. When someone does the same thing over, and over again and expects a different result… that is the definition of insanity. That perfectly describes you… and the rest of your do-nothing organisation.” “I’ll make you pay for that!” The hero growled before running towards where Hunter’s voice had come from. Hunter sighed a little before he moved behind the hero in a flash before he emerged from the shadows. The whites of his eyes had turned a solid black as his own shadow moved across the floor like a sinister snake. As it wrapped around the ankle of the hero, the man tripped and fell to the floor face first with a might crack as his nose collided with the concrete and snapped the bone in half. The man let out a scream of agony, but he didn’t seem to notice the shadowy hand that crept up his leg and torso before wrapping around his neck. Hunter stepped up to the side of the hero, tilting his head a little as he looked down at the hero who twisted on his side to look up at Hunter as blood flowed freely from his nose like a river. The gangster smirked down at his victim and said in a mocking sympathetic tone, “This is the end of your career, I’m afraid.” The shadowy hand on the man's neck suddenly tightened, causing the hero to let out a choking sound. He reached up, attempting to claw at what was strangling him, but his hands met nothing but thin air. Hunter’s sadistic smirk widened as he said, “Just a few more moments, and it’s goodnight.” He squatted down, his gold and black eyes intent on the hero’s face. The hero seemed to realise that these were the last few moments of his life. His blue eyes went wide with panic, the eyeballs bulging from their sockets. His mouth opened and closed, making him look like a gaping fish. His body twitched before he began to writhe on the floor in a pathetic attempt to escape the cold grip of death. But there was nothing he could do, and Hunter watched with a certain glee as the man's struggles began to lessen. His face had turned pale, as his lips turned a shade of blue due to the lack of oxygen. Hunter tightened the grip of the shadow, his own jaw clenching as he watched the hero’s eyes become dim before a lifeless look settled in them as his body went still. Hunter watched for several long minutes before he reached forwards and pressed his fingers against the man’s neck, searching for the tale tell pulse that would indicate that he was still alive. When he could not find it, he pulled his hand away and stood up as his shadow retracted. With a blink of his eyes, the whites had turned to their normal colour. He kicked the body of the hero so that they were on their back before he spat on their corpse. This was not the first hero he had killed, and he felt no remorse for their death. After all, they had been the ones to come after him. Why should he feel bad about defending himself? Besides, he held contempt for heroes in general. He had not been lying when he called heroes liars and hypocrites. They were. All they cared about was making themselves feel good about themselves. It made him feel sick to his stomach because they dared to say that he couldn’t use his Quirk the way he did. Still, at least with the death of this latest hero, his bounty might increase which could mean more heroes will be coming after him. Which meant he could kill more of them and he quite liked that idea.

*Left Behind* *Chapter One: The Survivors* Lugia's revival was catastrophic for the Johto region. The beast rose from its home, deep within the Whirl Islands, and laid waste to everything around it. Olivine City's coastline was transformed from a pristine beach to a rubble-peppered disaster area. Further inland, Ecruteak City and the famed Moomoo Ranch were hit with heavy rainfall that forced evacuations. But Cianwood City was ravaged. Goldenrod City was to be the next target for Lugia, but the guardian of the seas was defeated by 2 brave trainers, its progress halted just outside of Olivine City. But their victory was short-lived and pyrrhic. Both were hybrids of human and Pokémon. One was half-Delphox, and the other was half-Cinccino. Together, they drove the terrifying monster to retreat. But, as a final, devastating act of defiance and spite, the guardian beast of the sea called upon the waters in which it resided, ordering their wrath to come forth. While Lugia returned to its dwelling beneath the Whirl Islands, the angry sea it commanded rose to swallow much of southern Olivine in a crashing wall of seawater. What was left was hardly recognisable as the city that once stood there. In fact, were it not for the Glitter Lighthouse still standing, anyone who hadn't seen Olivine City before this event would assume that nothing had ever been there. Amidst the destruction, many bodies lay strewn about, looking ironically not unlike fish in a market. And amongst the dead was the Cinccino hybrid, having drowned when the wave hit. The Delphox hybrid had seemingly vanished, evading death by Lugia's sickening brutality. He was presumed still alive, and some claim to have seen him since the event. But our story does not end here, with one trainer swallowed up by the sea in a fit of tyrannical rage and another supposedly vanished without a trace. Rather, this is the beginning. "...And listeners are reminded to exercise extreme caution if travelling on or near Route 34. The area is still experiencing heavy flooding, and many dangerous wild Pokémon have been seen in the vicinity. In addition, Ilex Forest remains inaccessible, due to downed trees blocking the path. Road crews have been dispatched-" A paw came down, and the eerie robotic voice from the radio was silenced. A Clefable was the cause, and she shook her head in disapproval at the Pachirisu-human hybrid who had been listening. Ironically in shock, she turned to face the feral Clefable. "Treble, what the fuck?! That was important!" She possessed almost platinum-blonde hair that reached just past her shoulders. In her anger at the intrusion, sparks shot from her plump cheeks. Noticeably plump for a human, but she was partially a rodent, and would, of course, naturally have such large cheeks. If one were to try guessing at her identity with a picture of her face as their only reference, the cheeks would give her the appearance that she was overweight, though she certainly wasn't. She wore what could not be mistaken as anything but a maid's outfit, modified to have an opening for her spectacular tail. It reached far past her head before curling around itself, as would a squirrel's tail. Mostly white in colour with a robin's-egg blue streak down the full length, and 3 spiky protrusions near the point at which it curled, this tail was easily her most obvious feature. She glared daggers at the female Clefable who had silenced the radio, but the feral Fairy type didn't falter. "No, Pachi; it wasn't. That was the same emergency broadcast they've had playing on repeat since you turned that thing on this morning; not a damned thing has changed!" Both girls belonged to the Delphox who had gone missing since the Olivine City event, though the anthro was formerly reared by a different trainer. The Cinccino who became a statistic, drowning in the aforementioned incident. However, the Delphox had taken her in long before that. Training, as well as his occupation, made him decently wealthy. Though outdoors, the sky was grey and dreary from the remnants of Lugia's attack, the girls enjoyed not just shelter, but comfort and luxury in the trainer's house. This confrontation, in fact, was taking place in a spacious living room. Though the previous storm had died out, the curtains were still shut, obscuring the outside world with a shroud of silk. A wall-mounted television droned on in the background, tuned into a local news station. Scattered around the walls were photographs of the trainer in question, as well as some framed certificates. Many other Pokémon called this place home, but they were in different rooms at the moment. In one of these bedrooms, in the company of a feral Shuckle, an anthropomorphic Vaporeon lay sick in bed. Similarly clothed to the Pachirisu, she was also raised by the Cinccino boy. She was a sight to behold, though certainly not in a good way, as her entire body exuded a sickly aura. Sweat glued her pitch black hair to her face. Her blue eyes were cloudy with fatigue. Though she had a gorgeous tail, it hung limply over the side of her bed, her tailfin brushing against the floor. "B-Beryl?" Her voice was as weak as her body as she called out to the Shuckle. "Is it ready?" The Shuckle presented her with a small ceramic cup, a little over 3 quarters full of a steaming, blue liquid. "It should be. Sorry; Lum Berries are hard to come by, but I think I made a nice substitute." The ill Vaporeon, clearly not in a position to refuse, gratefully accepted the cup. "I'm sure it's wonderful, sweetie. But I must admit, you have me curious. What's in it?" Even softened and crippled by illness, what still remained of her sweet, kind voice brought a smile to Beryl. "Oh; w-well, it's mostly Oran and Rawst, to help lower your fever and restore your energy." As Beryl explained the nature of the concoction, Vaporeon gently blew on it. "And I added honey, to offset the bitterness." Rawst Berries, especially ones of high quality, tend to have a rather unpleasant, bitter flavour. After thanking her makeshift pharmacist, Vaporeon tipped the cup back with a weak, joking "mazel tov.~" The hot liquid flowed down her throat, and seemed immediately to soothe her volatile insides. Not only that, but... "It's delicious, Beryl!" Lining the fence around an impressive garden were several lines of sand bags. Flooding from Lugia's storm had damaged the garden of this lovely house, and an equally lovely young lady was working to salvage what she could of the remains. Beryl the Shuckle complained about the scarcity of Lum Berries, and she certainly wasn't wrong. Most of the plants had died in the flood, leaving only the more water-resistant ones intact. The girl taking care of the ruined garden gave a solemn shake of her head. The articles of clothing she wore matched the Pachirisu and the Vaporeon, but the colours did not. Her uniform was accented with wine red frills, and her apron, as well as the bow tying it behind her back, were both a deep sort of pine green. Despite the dreary weather, she wore a sun hat with several crimson flowers woven in. That she was originally a Grass type Pokémon would surprise nobody. Specifically, she was a Bellossom. "A damn shame," she pouted. With delicate paws, she sifted through a muddy puddle and retrieved several large Passho Berries. "These, I can save with no problem. But the others,..." her gaze shifted from plant to plant. "I don't know what I can do." Again, she let her eyes scan the drowned garden. She could swear she saw something moving, but not amongst the plants. The garden boasted a manmade pond, which had overflowed from rainwater. Certainly, it contributed to the damage. Carefully, Bellossom advanced on the pond. "H-Hello?" Her voice and her footsteps, the latter of which produced squelching sounds on contact with the muddy ground, were both unsure. The closer she drew to the pond, the more dread she felt in anticipation of what she'd find. She asked again. "Hello? Who's there?" This time, she received an answer. From beneath the pond, a majestic Dragonair rose. A thing of slender beauty, the jewels on her body glittered even in the dim light of the cloudy sky. "I hope you aren't surprised to see me, dearie.~" The Dragonair spoke with an air of regality, but in a vocabulary more playful than condescending. "You, out of all the maids, should know I frequent the garden pond." With a paw over her chest from the initial shock, Bellossom replied. "I don't serve you, first of all. I serve your master. Secondly, you scared the Hell out of me!" Dragonair's response was a chuckle. "Calm down, why don't you? You're as high-strung as your sister!" She punctuated her statement with a playful flick of her bejeweled tail, which resulted in Bellossom being splashed. The maid's uniform took most of it, but it wasn't as though it was dry before that. Or clean, for that matter; she had been tending the garden, after all. Besides, at the moment, she was more concerned by the Dragonair's words than by the slightly dingy water she had just weaponised. "Sister? N-No; I'm not related to anybody here." That earned another laugh from the prideful Dragon type. "The rodent, sweetie.~" Bellossom gave that answer a moment to swirl about in her mind. "The rodent? Dragonair, that doesn't narrow it down a whole lot." There were 3 possible ladies Dragonair could've been referring to, as 3 rodents called the spacious dwelling home. The Pachirisu who had been using the radio obviously was one, but the teasing dragon's side of the family also included 2 beautiful ladies belonging to the chubby-cheeked masses. The Delphox's daughter, and his wife. The wife was a Cinccino, predictably meaning their union produced a Minccino. In this case, however, Dragonair referred to "Pachirisu, honey." "We aren't related," Bellossom repeated. "We were just raised by the same trainer." "And I assume you considered this trainer, Arceus rest his soul, to be a family member," Dragonair continued, unhindered as always by Bellossom's arguements. The maid couldn't argue with such a statement, and her bitter tone softened as she looked down at the ground. "O-Okay. You got me there." Satisfied with her victory, Dragonair laughed before sinking back down beneath the waters of the pond. Bellossom thrust a paw forward, but only grasped air and mist. "Dammit." A Magikarp fillet sizzled in a pan, under the watchful eyes of an anthropomorphic Goodra. "I hope Vappy likes this." She eyed the dish-to-be a bit closer. "Almost. A couple more minutes should do it." She seemed very much at home in the kitchen, in no small part due to the apron on her uniform. She, too, was a maid. The others would more specifically refer to her as the head maid, though she refuted that title. To say that she was a large woman would be a gross understatement. The uniform strained with her every step, only barely containing her colossal frame. But, just as large would be an understatement, to say she was unattractive would be a blatant lie. Poorly hidden by her ill-fitting uniform was a body perhaps more befitting a fertility goddess than a Goodra. Hips that swayed like a hypnotist's watch, and a bosom more than sufficient to instill envy in the majority of the female population. Truly, she was a sight to behold, even despite the slimy nature of her body. Of all of the maids, it's likely she was hurt the most by her master's passing. Even when she moved into the Delphox's house, she had made a habit of seeing her previous master at least once a day. Whether it was for a cup of tea and a nice chat, or a more intimate outing, they were together for at least a short time whenever possible. She was inconsolable for quite some time after her previous master's death, and she still wasn't comfortable speaking of it. Soon after the move, she was appointed to the position of head maid, due in equal parts to her maturity and experience. She was doubtful the meal she was making would reach the stomach of its intended recipient, but she cooked it anyway. If Vaporeon was too sick to eat it, surely Dragonair would partake. She shook her head as her thoughts drifted to the infirm Vaporeon. Her condition was doubtlessly worthy of pity, but the sad truth was that she had somewhat brought it upon herself. In an attempt to slim down so she could teach her master how to swim, she had quite overdone things, eventually developing a severe eating disorder which had horribly endangered her health. There was a reason Beryl had been keeping watch over her. While the Water type was recovering, it would certainly be a long process, and Beryl's presence could only help. Dinner would be ready soon; besides the fish, Goodra had prepared a variety of dishes for the girls. Some got more food than others, as she still followed the rules her previous master gave as best she could. Vaporeon, still recovering, was to receive the smallest portion, to ensure she could keep it down. Goodra herself would be having some roast Pidgeotto left over from a previous meal, along with a small serving of mixed vegetables and a cup of tea. Despite her weight suggesting otherwise, Goodra didn't eat very large portions. Especially in these times of scarcity, with supplies limited from Lugia's attack. Stores had sold out quickly, so much of what the girls had for food was already in the house beforehand. And, as Goodra looked through the pantry, she sighed. They had food enough to last perhaps a week, but they would need to leave home in search of more soon. She thought to herself about where best to search, but she didn't have much time alone with her thoughts before she felt a sudden chill. She had company, and she knew it in an instant. "Ruri?" She spoke in a very maternal, warm tone of voice. "No use hiding, sweetie.~" From around a corner, a ravishing Alolan Ninetales entered the kitchen. One of the charges of the homeowner, she stood in stark contrast to the Goodra's abundance of blubber. Ruri, an anthro like the Goodra, was slender and gorgeous. "Damn; was I really that obvious?" "Oh, please!" Goodra chided her. "I felt the chill you put into the air a couple of minutes ago, little kit.~" Vapour clouds formed in the air as Ruri laughed. "You flatter me, dear, but I'm far from a kit." "Then you should've taken the compliment." Goodra was clearly too caught up in food preparation to realise that she had just, in essence, called somebody of nearly equal age a child. Or, far more likely, she didn't care. It was common for her to refer to others as "dear," "sweetie," "darling," "honey," and other pet names typically reserved for speaking to a younger audience. Even her previous master received such nicknames. The Delphox didn't mind these nicknames, but it's unlikely he could've stopped her, anyway. As the old saying goes, old habits die hard. Deciding not to pry further and risk angering a literal fire breathing dragon, Ruri changed the subject. "So, how's dinner going?" The maternal smile now firmly back on Goodra's face, she gladly responded. "It's nearly ready, honey. I'll need about 10 more minutes." Ruri nodded. The smells of various food combined into an assault on her sensitive vulpine nose, and she had to leave the kitchen. Just as well, since, with dinner soon to hit the table, she thought she should announce this to the others. Most of them, at least; a portly Wigglytuff anthro was already seated at the dining room table. "Portly," as with calling the Goodra large, may be quite an understatement to describe the Wigglytuff. There were similarities between the two of them - both were maids, both were previouly in service to the Cinccino, and both possessed large frames - but, where Goodra's plumpness was centred on her hips, Wigglytuff's was almost purely in her belly. It can't be said that she was unhealthy; her health was near-impeccable. But her weight gain was certainly caused neither by a curse, nor was it the result of her puffing herself up, as Wigglytuff are quite skilled in doing as a defense mechanism. She was, indeed, legitimately overweight, and she made no effort to deny that. In many ways, she was the antithesis to the sickly Vaporeon. While she was significantly overweight, but healthy, the Vaporeon was malnourished and weak. Even as she sat, waiting for dinner, she was snacking on a Poffin. "You're the chef tonight, Goodra?" she asked, though, with a mouthful of Poffin and jam, it sounded quite unintelligible. "Don't talk with your mouth full, dearie," was Goodra's gentle, scolding response. "But yes. I hope you haven't spoiled your appetite with those treats. I expect you to clean your plate." Somebody only just then entering earshot could be forgiven for thinking that Goodra had told Wigglytuff a hysterical joke, judging by the corpulent lapine's uproarious laughter. "Goodra, did you forget who you're talking to? Has there EVER been a time when I haven't cleaned my plate, except when I was sick?~" To her surprise, her answer came not from the motherly dragon, but from an actual mother. "You didn't exactly starve yourself then, either, hun." Kianna Russet. And in tow was her daughter, Kylie. With the homeowner missing, these 2 were in charge for the time being. Cinccino and Minccino respectively, they were hand-in-hand as they approached the table. "Vaporeon, the poor dear, couldn't have kept down a quarter of what you ate that day," Kianna continued playfully. "Don't be so hard on Auntie," Kylie piped up, though she was clearly being just as playful. Not only that, but Wigglytuff clearly wasn't offended, since she was still laughing. Goodra, on the other hand, greeted them both with a bow. "I trust Ruri told you dinner will be ready soon. Will you be joining us?" Kianna nodded. "Absolutely, dear. Your cooking is divine.~" "You flatter me, mistress," Goodra beamed, clearly blushing as she performed a few last-minute checks of the dishes she made. Apparently, she was satisfied with what she found, as she excused herself, the reason being that she needed "to go get Artemis." Kianna typically sat at the head if the dinner table, and that night was no exception. As for Kylie, since Wigglytuff was the only other one seated, she sat beside the bulging bunny. The figures of the ladies of the house were rather hard to decipher, as the thick, luxurious fur that makes their species so coveted to this day added noticeable size. Thus, it was hard to tell if either mother or child were large or simply particularly thick-furred. But the fact that both were beautiful couldn't be hidden by anything. As they engaged in small talk, Pachirisu and Treble entered the room. The fight over the radio hadn't been forgotten; both shot angry glares at each other after taking their seats. Dragonair was next, but Bellossom didn't follow. She had to change her clothes after having worked in the muddy garden. On her way back inside, Dragonair had met up with her master's Chatot, the only male living in the house in the homeowner's absence, and he too was at the table. Prior to the Lugia incident, the Chatot, affectionately named Pesky, served as an alarm clock for the Delphox. Few could sleep through the shrill cry of a Chatot. Now, though, he helped out however he could. This usually consisted of scavenging for berries. Lately, he had been coming up empty, even from his usual haunts. He joined in the conversation almost immediately after landing on the table; it was a rare moment when Pesky was speechless. "L-Look; I appreciate your help, but I can do this on my own." The Vaporeon's insistance in no way deterred the helpful duo tailing her. A feral Lucario was one of them. Belonging to the Delphox, she possessed a strong sense of justice. Much of her day had been spent training; as would be expected, her fighting skills were admirable. "I'd like to believe that, but last time we left you to your own devices, you-" "I know," Vaporeon cut her off. "I fell down. I'm sick, you two; not a baby!" She felt a soft paw on her shoulder, and knew instantly to whom it belonged. "Sylvie, don't worry about me. I told you; I'm fine." Sure enough, the immaculate, manicured paw was that of one of her fellow maids. A Sylveon anthro, and that, in and of itself, may have been a contributer to why she didn't lash out at the lovely Fairy type. Of all of the maids, Sylveon was the most well-dressed. From head to toe, she was a picture of elegance and femininity. Of course, just being a Sylveon was helpful in that regard. Her pink hair, which reached about the point where her chest and stomach met, was done up with ribbons. Her eyes, lashes pronounced, were a bright, cheery sort of robin's egg blue. Her lips, soft and plump, were painted a rosy pink by lipstick. If anybody wanted to find her, it was a safe bet that she'd be in a bathroom, or otherwise looking into a mirror, with which she was adjusting her makeup. "Sorry," she said with a kind, if a bit airy voice. "We can't take any chances." Vaporeon groaned, but relented. "Fine; if it'll make you 2 feel better." By the time the Vaporeon and her helpers made it to the table, much of it was already set. Not only was Goodra hefting dish after dish in front of the waiting diners, but a feral Braixen was helping her. This was Artemis. Normally caught up with practicing spells, she was more than happy to help Goodra. She did so by levitating some of the dishes. Between the 2 of them, setting the table was an easy task. Artemis brushed sweat off of her fur with a paw. She was still getting the hang of levitation. Dinner was full of chatter and giggling; it was one of the few moments when everybody could pretend the ravaging of their lands had never happened. Perhaps 10 minutes into the meal, however, the sound of silverware against glass was heard. All eyes were on Kianna, who was standing. The clinking sound she had made brought silence over the room. And, when she finally spoke, after a few seconds of visibly trying to find the best words to explain herself, it was decidedly not to give good news. "Everybody, I'm afraid we have a problem." *Author's note* And it begins! This story is being written with permission from the amazing @SMFoxy, using characters from our previous RPs. I apologise for the decline in quality and volume near the end of this chapter. I had been saying for long enough that this would be ready soon, and I finally sat down and immersed myself. There wasn't anything too bad in this chapter, but please be warned that I intend for this to be a very dark story. With that said, I hope you like this, and I hope you want more. The real point of this chapter was kinda to introduce the characters, since we'll be following them for quite some time. Don't worry if you're still in the dark, though. We'll get to know them better as the story goes on. Huge thanks to @SMFoxy, for their help in this.

The following story contains foul language, depictions of mental disorders, depictions of suicide, and rape. If you find any of these subjects disturbing, TURN AWAY NOW!!!! What follows is a bit of a summary of several roleplays I've done privately with the wonderful @SMFoxy. The story is told by a Jirachi who mistakenly and tragically wasn't careful when granting wishes, and who now has a wish of her own. To make things right with her victims. This is the second time tonight. The second time I've woken up, screaming bloody murder and drenched in sweat. I can't sleep anymore. Not without the nightmares. They won't stop; every fucking night, they come back to haunt me, like ghosts! What did I do to deserve this? Sure, I haven't been perfect, but nobody has! Dammit, I was just doing my job! Arceus put me here to grant wishes, and that's what I did. Can I really be blamed for the times they went wrong? How could I have known their intentions? I'm a Legendary, sure, but there are still things I don't know. I assumed they could relate. I assumed everybody could! I... I just didn't realise the effect I could have on them. 7 acquaintences became victims. Victims of an old saying. "Be careful what you wish for." In one fell swoop, I ruined the lives of a trainer and 6 Pokémon. If I could take it all back, I would. I can. They just need to ask. But they won't. I've caused them too much pain for them to wanna seek my help. But I'd love a chance to apologise. Anything to stop these damned nightmares! They're in them. Always dying. Always dying! Fuck me; I'll never unsee those nightmares, if I live to be 100 years old! The storm that started everything. Was it supernatural? That, I can't answer. The weather is outside of my jurisdiction. But it came from nowhere, and battered Goldenrod City mercilessly. I saw 6 Pokémon huddled around their trainer, in a closet. They begged for safety. But not for themselves. They wanted their trainer to survive. They all survived; so did the house, by some miracle. But I watched them intently that night. They surrounded the boy with affection. He treated them well. Even after everything I've done to them, I'll stand by this until the day I die; he was never abusive to those Pokémon. Quite the opposite, in fact. Rarely does a Pokémon legitimately enjoy waiting on their "master." But all 6 of them did. Their trainer fell asleep long before the storm subsided, but they still kept a close eye on him. It was honestly adorable. They each made a wish. And it was easy for me to grant them; the wishes were all the same. They whispered with each other how much they wanted to repay their master's love. It warmed my heart. I knew I had to help them, so I did. Finally, they settled on a wish. They wanted to be able to serve him properly. They eventually fell asleep, same as their trainer. It was... I think it was a half hour later. Not that it matters. I got started as soon as I was sure they were asleep. Fur and scales became hair and clothing. Their bodies, depending on species, either stretched or shrank. By the time the physical transformations had been completed, all 6 of the former Pokémon were mostly human. They still had their tails, and some other features. Their trainer could already understand them when they spoke their native tongues, but, since it'd be rather odd for them to walk around in public yipping and cooing like the creatures they were moments before, I altered their voices, as well, so they would speak English. This process, by the way, is not painless. None of them were; there's a reason why I waited until they were asleep. By the time I expected they would wake up, most or all of the pain would've gone away. But I wasn't finished yet. They wanted to serve; didn't they? They were all females. Their trainer isn't sexist. He just doesn't care for burly, musclebound brutes. His preference is for femininity, and it showed in his team. Not that he was ever sexually involved with them. He used to use them in battles, like the majority of trainers do. And, before you ask, no. I don't object to battles. There's a difference between contests of strength and skill, and brutal beatings. Yes, there are occasionally injuries from battles. But accidents can happen from the most innocuous of activities. Sweet, innocent Chansey Scouts trip and fall sometimes. It hurts, you cry, you get a bandage and/or a lollipop, and you go about your day. But I digress. The trainer of the Pokémon I had just transformed held a spot in the Johto Hall Of Fame, which he earned when his team defeated the six battle-hardened, vicious Pokémon of the former champion, a trainer who thwarted terrorist attacks, traversed the entire Johto and Kanto regions, and tamed even the guardian of the sea and the sacred winged rainbow. But he didn't battle with them after his victory. Following that tremendous upset, he left competitive battling to focus on the medical field. A passion of his for a long time. In fact, even before the championships were a blip on the radar, he showed decent skills, being able to repair minor wounds, and cure minor ailments. To make extra money, he would moonlight at Pokémon Centres. By the time he was considering going to the Indigo Plateau, he barely needed Pokémon Centres for healing his beloved companions; he could fix everything from cuts and stings to broken bones. It seemed like just the natural progression of things; forgive me, but it brings to mind another old saying. "What're you going to do now?" "I'm going to Disney World!~" He used his fame from winning the championship to secure a job at the Pokémon Centre in his hometown. This boy became one of my victims. He has nothing now. The 6 Pokémon I transformed were a Bellossom, a Goodra, a Pachirisu, a Sylveon, a Vaporeon, and a Wigglytuff. To grant their wishes to be able to serve their master, I turned them into maids. I thought it would go over well with everyone. At least I was right in that respect. For a while, anyway. When they awoke the next morning, they all eagerly began their chores. Vaporeon had the poor luck to be the one to awaken the boy. They had been made to think their roles had always been theirs. I didn't think - damn; that's a theme - I would need to hypnotise him, too. He was furious. Not from being woken up by a beautiful anthropomorphic Vaporeon. But from being waited on. Trainers can sometimes forget that, were it not for the Pokémon they care for, they wouldn't be trainers. Nor can the Pokémon be champions without trainers to teach them the finer points of combat. Everyone has to work together. Of course, every partnership is different; in some cases, the trainer may have a disability, and their Pokémon have to work harder to come out on top. Or vice versa. I've seen deaf trainers win matches because their Pokémon could understand sign language. I've seen Pokémon with impaired vision use their other senses to outwit and topple opponents. But, at the core of everything, it boils down to teamwork. And these 6 girls were well-versed on the subject, before and after their transformations. As crazy as this is going to sound, after all of the praise I've just given their trainer, it's him that doesn't understand that. But the misunderstanding in this case is probably the opposite of what you might expect. See, he doesn't expect these Pokémon to do everything for him; he would prefer to be the one serving them. I should explain that I knew this boy before the storm. Well, saying that I knew him is a bit of an understatement. I would go so far as to say we were friends. I'm not going to reveal his name; I've revealed too much about him already. In fact, to be fair, he was submissive with me, too, so I suppose his behaviour towards his Pokémon shouldn't be so surprising to me. But he explained that it's because I'm a Legendary Pokémon. One of many that keep this world balanced. So maybe he has a point. But he spoiled those Pokémon rotten when he was still a trainer. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I guess, since I grant wishes, I do more or less the same thing anyway. He devoted his life to the care of Pokémon. Studying, healing, and training. But it all came crashing down around him when he tried to play Arceus. The trainer was born fully human; during a rescue mission, he accidentally bonded his soul to an artifact that fused his DNA with that of a female Cinccino. Still, he went on with his life, and even grew to love his new fluff. Until he was raped for it, that is. That was my first mistake; I should've stepped in. I offered him a wish to console him, but couldn't give him what he wished for. With all of his Pokémon being female, he wished to be feminised. Could I have done it? Without a shadow of a doubt. Child's play. But he held a very important job back then - he specialised in emergency medicine when he was a doctor - that would be put in jeopardy if he showed up in a dress and makeup. So I had to refuse. As horrible as this sounds, if he asked again, I'd grant his wish in a heartbeat, now that he's lost his job. Not granting his wish was my second mistake. And, unfortunately, soon after that, he managed to get in far over his head. His mission was noble; the species he had recently become a member of was, and unfortunately remains, severely endangered. The next time I offered him a wish, he made it right away. His wish was for a massive increase in their population. That was a good bit harder. I can warp bodies, minds, inanimate objects, and more. But creating life is something I'm not at all well-versed in. Mew and Shaymin handle that; in retrospect, I should've asked one of them. Preferably Mew; Shaymin didn't get along well with the boy. I knew I owed him, though, so I tried doing things myself. I won't go into specifics, but I messed up. Big time. Again, I should've asked Mew. My name was certainly mud with the boy and his former Pokémon after that, not that I blame them. But, with that, I struck out with the trainer. As ironic as this sounds, I wish the troubles had ended there. Of course, they didn't. The trainer was ruined, but the girls were in good health. Unfortunately, that was about to change. Starting with Vaporeon. Vaporeon, objectively, was hit the hardest. But they all suffered. Those poor girls lost their minds, and a good bit more. Even I couldn't have predicted the horrors that would befall them. In a way, it angers me; it really, truly does. So many evil people in this world, yet an innocent boy and 6 innocent Pokémon were harmed, just for making wishes! A wish to help a loved one, and a wish to save an endangered species. Not exactly scandalous. "But Jirachi! Just make everything better!" Believe me, I want to. But I can't do anything unless the request is worded as a wish. Arceus added that rule. And no, I can't just make the wish myself; it doesn't work. I've tried. As for what happened to the girls - the "horrors that befell them" - it seems each one bears a different curse. Bellossom constantly exudes a ludicrously strong floral scent. Pachirisu cries at the drop of a hat. Wigglytuff is a glutton. Vaporeon is the opposite; she starves herself. Sylveon is addicted to cosmetics. And Goodra is convinced she's the doting mother of her trainer. Huh? Bellossom's fate doesn't sound so bad? She's scrubbed herself raw trying to remove the stench. To no avail. Goodra doesn't sound like she got a bad deal, either. But you don't see her. She has absolutely gone insane. She fills her bedroom with what she insists are framed pictures of the trainer and her. They're all blank. The victim I see in my dreams changes often, but they die the same way each time! And the deaths, in stark contrast to the victims, aren't pretty. Wigglytuff collapses in agony, dead of a heart attack before reaching the Pokémon Centre. Bellossom is mauled by wild Pokémon. She cries out, but nobody is willing to bear her stench to rescue her. Sylveon is taken into an alleyway, raped, then beaten to death after being drugged while on a date. Vaporeon takes a final, shaking breath in her bed before her organs give out from starvation. Pachirisu, the poor dear, has an emotional breakdown and commits suicide by drinking various cleaning chemicals. And Goodra dies of shock upon finding her "child" hanging from a ceiling fan. 7 images, counting the trainer, that I don't think I'll ever get out of my head. For fuck's sake, every fucking dream is a snuff film! I can't take this much longer! I can't help them; I want to. I really, really want to! But I can't unless they make wishes, or someone makes wishes for them. Vaporeon was helped by a kind Delphox who wished her back to good health, but her mind is fried; I have absolutely no doubt that she's still gonna starve to death unless someone wishes her shattered psyche back together. I don't blame the Delphox, though. He and his daughter have hearts of gold, the both of them. I'll go to my grave insisting that he had Vaporeon's best interests at heart. As for his daughter, her wish broke my heart. Her mother died when she was too young to remember her. All she knew of her mother was stories, as though she was brought into this world by a fairytale princess. Of course, she wished for her mother back. And, of course, I granted her wish. Sort of. As it happens, her mother was a Cinccino. I can't resurrect the dead, but I can revive their souls. The poor trainer of the 6 ill-fated girls used to have a Cinccino, whom he had recently rediscovered was living comfortably in a nature preserve after being released. Sacrifices were made, and that Cinccino was given the memories of the young lady's mother. Both of them, and the Delphox, still live happy, healthy lives to this day; lucky them. But for the Delphox and his daughter, I probably would've eaten a shotgun shell quite some time ago. The blood of 7 innocent victims is on my hands, and I can't help them until they ask for it! The Delphox and the trainer are close friends. That's lovely; otherwise, I have a sneaking suspicion the trainer would've been found hanged with his own tail. Maybe that Delphox can turn things around. But, just in case, let me broadcast a plea to everyone reading this. If any of you see a male Cinccino anthro, or any of the 6 maids I mentioned, I beg you. Please, for the love of Arceus, tell them everything will be alright. And tell them I'm sorry, and that I'll do whatever I can to make everything up to them. Oh, and, if you see me, wish for something that benefits one of them. I promise, if you do, I'll give you a second wish. Whatever you want. That's a promise, literally in writing, from a Legendary. Just make the nightmares stop. If you don't feel sorry for me, which you probably shouldn't, at least do something for their sake. As badly as my nightmares have scarred my mind, at least they end when I wake up. I can't say the same for them.

The rule is simple, you poke like your life depend on it and with the only intention on your mind is WINNING! No mercy will be given out on the battlefield and no rule will bind your desire to crush your opponent with absolute needs. Like the queen once said, to everyone: May the best win. By that, I mean I will win. - @Neptune Good luck, I will enjoy crushing anyone that gets in my path of obtaining that crown that the queen doesn't need any longer.

*This is a story posted at the request of Neptune. Kai appears courtesy of SMFoxy. This is set to the song "To The Sky," by Owl City. To clear up confusion, the lyrics are for the parts after them.* It was nearly a year to the day since Shaymin's trainer's tragic death. With Goodra left in charge of the house, Kai and Shaymin were invited to stay. Kai had chosen the guest bedroom, while Shaymin had insisted on the shed in the garden. For the first month, Shaymin was inconsolable. But, with Kai's help, she had mostly gotten over her depression. What's more, Kai had helped her regain her Sky Forme. This day was bittersweet for Shaymin. She barely spoke as she tottered into the dining room to eat from a bowl of kibble left out for her. As much as her trainer thought she deserved the best, she honestly liked the processed pet food. [Shipwrecked in a sea of faces. There's a dreamy world up there. Dear friends in higher places, carry me away from here.] She looked around and saw that the other residents had their gazes fixed on her. She loved them, considering them all to be great friends. But this was the last thing she wanted to see now. She sighed and went back to eating. [Travel light; let the Sun eclipse you 'cause your flight is about to leave, and there's more to this brave adventure than you'd ever believe!] No later had the last morsel disappeared down Shaymin's throat, than she felt a paw on her quill-covered back. She looked up to see Kai, who said only 2 words to her. "It's time." Shaymin's response was similarly terse. "Do I have to?" [Bird's-eye view! Awake the stars, 'cause they're all around you. Wide eyes will always brighten the blue.] After breakfast, everybody, Shaymin included, stepped outside to the front porch. Again, all eyes were on the petite Legendary. She wanted to curl up into a ball and disappear. Run back to the shed. Anything but what she was about to do. Kai's paw was placed on her again, making her jump. There was no turning back. She had to go. [Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery, 'cause, after all, those wings will take you up so high.] "O-Okay," she stuttered. "I'm ready." Kai pulled his paw away, and Shaymin turned to face everyone. 7 in all. And all with smiling faces. Again, not something Shaymin wanted to see in this situation. She gave them a sad nod. [So bid the forest floor goodbye, as you race the wind and take to the sky!] Shaymin began to glow. This transformation was still a bit of a strain to her, and she whimpered as her body shifted and contorted. Once the light faded, she no longer resembled a hedgehog. Now, she could almost be mistaken for an albino reindeer. [You take to the sky!] Reluctantly, and with a final, deeply genuine "thank you" to everybody, she leapt up with her hindpaws, her feathered ears catching the breeze and suspending her in the cool morning air. Tears fell down her face, cutting damp paths through her stark white fur. [On the heels of war and wonder, there's a stormy world up there. You can't whisper above the thunder, but you can fly anywhere.] The tears didn't stop, and Shaymin didn't dare speak. She looked straight up. Her instincts told her a storm was brewing. She knew she could only remain in Sky Forme for as long as the weather was clear. But, with her speed, she was confident she could at least reach the Ruins Of Alph before she would be forced to land. "You can do it!" Kai called out, as if sensing her trepidation. [Purple burst of paper birds; this picture paints a thousand words! So take a breath of myth and mystery, and don't look back!] Kai was right. Shaymin could certainly make the flight to Sinnoh; that wasn't in question. What was, though, was whether Shaymin wanted to fly away. If she dared show her face to the others, they would see she wanted to stay on the ground. The warm, dew covered ground. But, if she hesitated, she'd miss her chance for sure. She shook her head violently, as if trying to dislodge her own hesitation. Finally, she shot high up into the sky. [Bird's-eye view! Awake the stars, 'cause they're all around you. Wide eyes will always brighten the blue.] She could hear her temporary family cheering for her, and, looking down, she could see the whole of the garden that Bellossom kept in such beautiful shape. She took a deep breath, smelling the familiar scent of forthcoming rainfall. [Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery, 'cause, after all, those wings will take you up so high.] Shaymin sped forward, the air whipping against her wing-ears. Soon, she was just a speck to the 7 onlookers that continued cheering. Suddenly, though, she turned around, and lowered her altitude. Skillfully, she flew just over the garden, plucking a single pink flower wth her mouth before departing again. "Sorry, Bellossom!~" [So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind and take to the sky!] She was actually slightly glad, at least in that moment, that she was flying alone. If the others could see where she was going, they'd almost surely try and stop her. The buildings of Goldenrod City glinted below her in the morning sun. Admittedly, it was a beautiful sight. She had every intention of going to Sinnoh, but later. There was something far more important she had to take care of first. She landed in the middle of a cemetary. [There's a realm above the trees where the lost are finally found. So touch your feathers to the breeze and leave the ground.] The gravestone she was looking for - that of her trainer, of course - wasn't far from where she landed. Shaymin hung her head, and released the flower, which fell in front of the gravestone. "I'm sorry. It's time for me to go." [Birds-eye view! Awake the stars, 'cause they're all around you. Wide eyes will always brighten the blue.] Shaymin's voice was choked with tears. "I-I... I didn't want this. I love you, with all my heart! Why did it have... t-to end like this?!" Almost contemptuously, she kicked at the ground. [Chase your dreams, and remember me, sweet bravery, 'cause, after all, those wings will take you up so high!] Not trusting herself to keep from bursting into hysterical tears, Shaymin rose into the air again, just as lightning tore through it. She gasped, knowing what would happen next. She dropped like a stone, hitting the ground with a thud, now back in her Land Forme. [So bid the forest floor goodbye as you race the wind, and take to the sky!] For once, Shaymin wasn't worried by the storm. She got back up to her paws, smiling. She used to be able to fly in storms, but even Kai's training couldn't return that ability to her. She looked up at the suddenly darkened sky. "Thank you." [You take to the sky! You take to the sky!] Shaymin didn't have a choice; she had to stay. She nuzzled the gravestone. "Don't worry; I'm not leaving quite yet." In the midst of everything, she let out a giggle. "It's ironic. You hated storms, but a storm is keeping us together!" Sinnoh would still be there when the storm broke. At that moment, Shaymin was right where she needed to be.

The world is a scary place. For the longest time, I wondered why people would say that. I felt love and happiness, so I didn't understand how this world could be so scary, when I saw beauty in it. I still see beauty, but not as much light, or happiness. And I understand now why the world is scary. Not to mention why I didn't understand it before. Because I had you. I loved you, and that hasn't changed. I saw you were hurt, and I wanted to help. I promised you. I promised to always be by your side when you needed me. But I broke that promise, and I've never forgiven myself. You were hurting so much. It hurt me, too, but I'll never pretend to understand your sadness. But I truly kept you in my heart, and I still do. I always will. But I guess I shouldn't use that word. The word "always," that is. I turned that into a swear word when I wasn't there that day. I tried to make it up to you, by spending time with you. I stayed beside you for so long, hoping for forgiveness. Not from you, but from myself. And it never happened. I'd give anything to turn back time. To be by your side in your darkest hour. I know it can't happen. But I won't forget you. When you left, it felt like you took the sunlight with you. My entire world fell apart, and, even now, I walk around in this lonely world with a feeling I can describe best as a bitter chill. A chill that permeates my every cell. You were my warmth, whether you wanted to believe it or not, and I know you didn't. I gave up trying to count the number of times you told me I should find someone better. That I deserved better. That you weren't good enough. No. I saw the signs. But I didn't help. It would've been so simple for me to make you happy. I was selfish. I worried what others would think, and I left you alone, to fall deeper into depression. Into abuse. If anybody was undeserving, it was me. I know you wouldn't have wanted me to cry. But I can't do anything else. If I lived for 100 years, I could never apologise enough. But I'll start, anyway. I'm sorry. I told you that the monster of a girl who put you in the situation that made you need me in the first place was unworthy of you. May she rot in the bowels of Hell for what she did to you. But I think I hurt you even more than she did. You trusted me, and I ran away with that trust. I cry every day thinking of how easily I could've saved you. I see beauty, but I can't feel anything anymore. Except sadness. Deep, crushing sadness. And that chill. That damned chill! I'll never find anybody else. I don't wanna even try. On that day, when you left this world by your own hand,... When I lost you, I lost myself. I know we'll be together again someday. But someday is too long. I hate to use this word again, but I can't think of another way to say it. I love you, and I promise, whatever that's worth now, that you'll always be in my heart. Author's note~ Don't worry; I'm not suicidal. And I'm not mourning the loss of a loved one. I just wrote this from boredom. I don't wanna say it's an inside joke, because it isn't a joke. But it's something only SMFoxy and I will truly get. But the basic story is this. A girl falls in love with a boy who's married to an abusive woman. He ends up hospitalised, and the girl can't make it to the hospital to see him, like she promised to do when she promised to always be there for him. The boy recovers, but the abuse doesn't stop. The girl tries to offer comfort, but the damage has been done already, and the boy is mentally and emotionally scarred. A shell of his former self, thinking he doesn't deserve her love. Eventually, he commits suicide. All in all, I think this was an hour's work.

*Chapter 10: Broken Hearts* Shaymin awoke with a start mere minutes later, to Kevin yelling at her. "Shaymin! Shaymin, get up! Wake up!" "Mew Christ; I'm up!" Shaymin moaned. She wearily turned to look at where Tyler had been earlier, but he still hadn't returned. "What's... What's going on? A-And - yawn - where's Tyler?" "That's just it," Kevin answered, with an urgent tone. "Sakura found him in the bathroom, unconscious!" The instant Kevin finished his sentence, Shaymin leapt from the bed. She ran for the door, but, as Kevin was already there, she didn't get far. "Sorry, but I already called 911," Kevin explained. "The paramedics will be here any second, and you need to hide." "Absolutely not! Let me out!" Shaymin insisted. "If they see you, we're gonna have more problems that we don't need," Kevin argued. "Now, hide!" Kevin's voice was quite official-sounding, but Shaymin was completely undeterred. If anything, Shaymin only got more stubborn. Arceus Himself literally couldn't keep her away from her love, and she certainly wouldn't be impeded by a mere human. "I'll ask nicely, then. Kevin, please, let me out of here; I need to see Tyler." Unfortunately, neither demands nor politeness would sway Kevin. "Sorry, Shay. Don't worry, though; he's in good hands. Ellie's got him." That was all Shaymin needed to hear. Honestly, if Kevin had begun the conversation by informing her that her beloved Tyler was being looked after by the very person they - and Kevin, especially, being a police officer - should've been keeping him away from, she would've done exactly what she was about to do right then. "Alright, then; if she's looking after him, I guess there's only one thing to do." Before Kevin could even ask what that thing was, he was hit point-blank by a sphere of neon green energy, which threw him backwards with such force, the bedroom door splintered when he fell into it. With her only show of remorse being a "you-did-this-to-yourself" shake of her head, Shaymin stepped over Kevin's sprawled out body and ran to the bathroom. It occurred to her that any paramedic in their right mind would ask why there was a broken door, but, at the moment, it didn't matter to her. The bathroom door was open, for good and obvious reasons, so Shaymin didn't have to break it like she did to the bedroom door. She was no less inclined when she entered the bathroom, however, to attack than she was earlier. Sure enough, Eleanor and Prudence were knelt beside Tyler's body. Shaymin took a moment, not even paying mind to the girls' questions of what the loud bang they heard earlier was from, to steel herself for what she was about to see. Or what she thought she was about to see. She didn't know it, but what was happening was rather close to a role reversal. Where, before, Tyler was standing over her, she would soon be, for lack of a better term, standing over him. The difference, however, was quite obvious. Shaymin had almost no idea what was wrong, or how to help. Nonetheless, she was determined to be by his side, and what she had to do was obvious. Eleanor began asking her again what she was doing, but Shaymin interrupted her with a dark, sinister snarl. "Get. Out. Of. Here." Shaymin knew, or, at least, part of her did, that the odds of her, as small as she was, intimidating Eleanor were slim. Prudence, however, knew well enough to leave the room. She knew that, as soon as the thought occurred to Shaymin that, as a Legendary, she wielded immense power, Eleanor would almost definitely get killed. Unsurprisingly, the response Shaymin received for her threat was a scoff, followed by "not a chance, mate!". As furious as she was, and for good reason, Shaymin couldn't help but laugh as she took a few steps toward Eleanor, then fixed her with an angry glare. "Wanna bet?" Shaymin wanted nothing more at that moment than to assault the abusive girl in front of her. Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance; just as she was preparing to pounce, she heard sirens wailing in the distance. Before she scurried off to find a hiding place, though, she gave Eleanor a dire warning. "If he doesn't make it through this, you're next." As she left, she kept her head held high. It wasn't obvious to anyone but herself that she was choking up, tears spilling down her face. "Please!" she whispered pleadingly. "Don't take him from me! You granted my wish and brought me back so I could be with him. He means the world to me, and You know that. I'm begging You; don't take him away!" To escape detection, she hid in the backyard, blending in incredibly well with a flowerbed. There she stayed as the paramedics carried the love and light of her life away. Despite begging and pleading, Shaymin couldn't join the others. She suffered an agonising wait while they went to the hospital. Each minute seemed an hour as she worriedly padded around the house. "This isn't fair!" she finally decided, in a childish whine she wouldn't have dared to speak in, were she not certain she was the only one who could hear it. Despite her age, she still was a child at heart. And she wished, besides the obvious desire of Tyler's safe return, that she was young enough to justify curling up in his lap and sobbing hysterically. As had been commonplace lately, the obvious reality slipped her mind; age be damned, she was small enough to still manage a good cuddle and cry without causing Tyler any discomfort. "He doesn't deserve this!" she continued, referring, of course, to Tyler. "I should be there with him; not that bitch!" Even calling Eleanor a bitch didn't seem to sum up the hatred Shaymin held towards her, but she didn't feel comfortable uttering the 4-letter word that better described it; she swallowed, then shook her head, as if trying to dislodge the word from her thoughts. "I-If he..." Shaymin whimpered tearfully. "I-I-If he d-doesn't make it,... I-I'll..." What she would do, she didn't get to say; so preoccupied was she, she didn't notice Kevin entering the living room, until he actually spoke to her. In fact, she was visibly shocked when he did. "Shaymin,... I'm sorry, but I have some bad news." The tone Kevin spoke in was sad and serious; Shaymin knew in an instant he wasn't kidding. However, she could only formulate a single question. "Where's Tyler?" Kevin let out a heavy sigh, then sat down on a nearby couch and beckoned Shaymin to join him, which she refused to do. Knowing he couldn't keep the truth from her, he didn't bother. "Look, Shay... I'm sorry; there was nothing the doctors could do." All Shaymin needed to hear was "I'm sorry." She knew full well that very rarely is that followed by good news. She took a few steps back and shook her head. "You're lying." "I wish I was," Kevin replied. "The doctors said an aneurysm burst in his chest. He was gone before he got to the hospital." To say that Shaymin cried was an understatement; Kevin hadn't heard such heart-wrenching wailing in his life. He reached out to pet her, but she jerked away. Then, both to Shaymin's delight and fury at once, Eleanor walked in. "Oi! Shay, are you al- BLOODY HELL!!!!!!" In an instant, Shaymin was upon her. Shaymin's teeth and claws weren't incredibly sharp, but her assault still left some wounds. Kevin was quick to respond, and, all at once, Shaymin yelped as she fell to the floor with a soft thud, and began twitching violently. Kevin had hit her with a stun gun. Eleanor, battered and cut up, leaned against the wall, shaking in fear. "Thanks for that, mate." The next week, leading up to Tyler's funeral, was horrific for Shaymin. Sleep was fitful and came with much effort, when it came at all. She had night terrors constantly, causing Kevin and Prudence to drown out her wailing with a radio. Obviously, they also got precious little sleep. Shaymin refused all offers of food, and barely even took her medicine. Losing Tyler destroyed her. When she wasn't crying and screaming, she spent the week in a stupor. Her body was repaired, but she may as well have been in Kalos, as little as she seemed to notice anything. It took until the day of the funeral for her to engage in an active conversation. "I'm going with you." "Absolutely not," Kevin said firmly. "Are you out of your mind?!" "I have been, since he died," Shaymin answered, unwavering. "And I'm going, if I have to crawl on my hindpaws!" "And what will you do when everyone sees a wild Shaymin?!" Kevin demanded. "You'll be inside a Poké Ball before you know what hit you!" Shaymin scoffed at that. "Only if I let them catch me! More to the point, Kevin, you can't tell me what to do!" Their argument continued for some time before Kevin finally gave in, reasoning that, if Shaymin wanted to get caught, it was up to her. Despite being so vehement about attending Tyler's funeral, Shaymin kept herself scarce throughout the service. The amount of willpower it took her not to violently murder Eleanor was ridiculous. Instead, she occupied herself by looking around at the people who had gathered to mourn. She recognised Whitney straight away, and gave a slight smile, which was returned with a look of solemn understanding. Whitney didn't bring attention to Shaymin's presence; it didn't even surprise her very much. Having been Tyler's girlfriend in the past, she knew Shaymin's heartbreak almost as much as her own. Shaymin silently cursed the rarity of her own species; she wanted to sit in Whitney's lap. Instead, she could only return the pink-haired girl's gaze with a pleading look, and mouth the words "don't tell anyone," to which Whitney responded with an equally silent "don't worry; I won't," before gesturing as though she was pushing down on the air with one hand. Shaymin understood this as a signal to stay down to avoid detection. She did so, crawling beneath Kevin's chair and curled up, resembling an innocuous, flowering bush. This was a brilliant disguise, as the funeral was held outdoors. She kept quiet and still for a good portion of the funeral, but even she couldn't hold her peace indefinitely. The instant the casket was buried, she took off at a full sprint towards the gravestone. Kevin wasn't quick enough to subdue her, and Eleanor didn't care one way or the other. Shaymin's presence didn't go unnoticed. Several people threw Poké Balls at her. She made no attempt to dodge, so she got pelted as she ran. An astonishing thing happened, though. The Poké Balls that hit her didn't open; they recognised her as already having a trainer. So it was as she ran to her beloved's resting place. Finally, she stopped running, only to collapse and cry, like she did several times before from her illness. This time, though, pure emotion was behind her tears. "This isn't fair! After all he did,... he... We were... supposed to be together! A-And now..." It was as if Shaymin only fully realised the situation when she spoke of it. "HE'S GONE!!!!!!" she wailed, bringing over half of the crowd to tears. She was so distraught, she failed to notice that she had undergone an amazing transformation! She was considerably taller, and resembled a reindeer, rather than a hedgehog. She kept her white fur, save for her paws and what used to be her quills. Those were green, and her quills looked more like medium-length hair. Her ears had grown immensely, resembling a cross between a Latias' wings and a fleur-de-lis. The pink flowers that adorned her had changed into what appeared to be a crimson scarf made of flower petals. "I was supposed to watch over him,... a-and keep him safe. B-B-But I... I guess I couldn't do it. Not even for the person who meant more to me than anyone and anything else in the world!" Shaymin didn't look back at the crowd as she cried. She couldn't bear to turn her back on Tyler. His death darkened her entire outlook on life. She didn't have the willpower to do anything but sob hysterically and repeat several confessions of her love. Tyler's tragic passing rocked everyone who knew him as a kind, compassionate soul. However, in the aftermath, life eventually returned to normal for Kevin and Eleanor. Shaymin wasn't the same afterwards. *Epilogue: Where Are They Now?* Tyler's body was exhumed only a few days after the funeral, and brought to the hospital for an autopsy. His cause of death was something that could hardly have been predicted. Hypertension, brought on by his tumultuous relationship with Eleanor, led to an asymptomatic aortic aneurysm. Because Tyler was too busy, he didn't bother to get checked, and the aneurysm worsened, leading up to an aortic dissection, closely followed by aortic rupture. The autopsy was also able to confirm that Eleanor had abused him; several marks hadn't fully healed, and there was quite a bit of evidence of sexual abuse, as well. As a result, Eleanor was incarcerated for domestic violence. She was also stripped of a diamond-shaped pin(a Plain Badge, given to trainers who triumph over Whitney, the Goldenrod City Gym Leader.), as well as a Poké Ball containing a Cinccino. Both of those items belonged to Tyler, and the badge was set in his grave once he was laid back to rest. Tyler's gravestone read as follows: "Dr. Tyler Miller Loved by many, but died of a broken heart." Carved below that was "I'll never forget you, Ty.", next to which was a heart. Shaymin had used her Magical Leaf attack for carving. As for Eleanor, she was soon released on bail. Shaymin spiralled into a deep depression she never returned from. She spent the rest of her life guarding Tyler's grave. Her life was a very short one, however. She was still sick, and, because she didn't take her medicine, she passed away after a violent episode of vomiting. As her soul departed, the earth itself sprang to life, yielding a breathtaking abundance of flowers. Even Arceus wept openly at Shaymin's unfailing devotion. Whitney was given Tyler's Cinccino to take care of, and she did a fantastic job of doing so. Tragically, her life was also cut short; she fell from the second story balcony of her house and broke her neck. She was pregnant, and doctors were able to save her baby. Whitney's boyfriend was unjustly imprisoned for her death. Kevin, shaken up from the knowledge that Eleanor contributed to Tyler's death, dedicated his life to betterment. He eventually became a police chief, and was able to reopen the case Whitney's boyfriend was imprisoned for, and get him released. Afterwards, Kevin and his lovely daughter lived together happily with their son, Arthur. Team Espus remained the Orre League champions for several years, before losing in a match against Michael and Wes, the previous champions. Team Espus won the titles back in the next event. The story of Tyler and Shaymin was told again and again, through the ages. Their tragic, yet heartwarming tale served as a message, and as proof that love knows no boundaries. *Author's note* Well, that's it! Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. And thanks, Neptune and Wolfie, for allowing me to include you. This has been a journey for me; in fact, as far as I can remember, it's only the 4th multi-chapter story I've finished. The end may come as a shock, but I wanted this to end badly. I wanted to show that the good guys don't always win. So, as much as you may hate me for killing 3 pivotal characters, please understand that I had planned it like that for some time. Also, I was hoping someone would get this reference before I had to explain it, but I've kept you amazing people in the dark way too long. The Eleanor Miller in this story is a humanised version of the character of the same name from The Chipettes. I don't hate her; in fact, she's one of my favourite characters from the entire AATC franchise. She was responsible for some of my favourite moments in The Squeakquel, Chipwrecked, and The Road Chip. I wrote her as a bitch and a nymphomaniac because that's how the real Kevin thought she should be. Aortic rupture was chosen for Tyler's cause of death because it's practically asymptomatic until it's too late to do something about it. Shaymin died of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, obviously. And, of course, Whitney took a nasty spill. Side note, I'm not too fond of redheads usually, but there are exceptions, and Whitney is adorable! And, of course, I had to at least try and add continuity from the "official" canon. Well, I suppose the important question is do you like it? If so, would you like to see more? Backstory, alternate universe, etc.

*Chapter 9: Keep The Faith* "Click-thud! Click-thud!" Again and again, Tyler attempted defibrillation, becoming more desperate for success with each failure. Despite his undeniable skills, Tyler didn't have a perfect survival record for his patients. Over the course of his career, he had lost patients, but it was incredibly rare. There was his daughter, who died before Tyler could find out what was wrong. Then, there was the Sylveon. She was brought into the Centre with horrific injuries, which her trainer claimed she suffered as the result of a battle. Tyler soon discovered, however, that the injuries were, in truth, the result of abuse. The Sylveon died from her injuries. The trainer attempted to flee the Pokémon Centre, but he was cornered and taken into police custody. Of course, what Tyler was dealing with now was far different. And, of course, the stakes were far higher. Tyler didn't think he'd be able to bear the sorrow and guilt he'd feel if Shaymin died right in front of him. Determined to avoid that outcome by any means necessary, he kept trying. Just as Shaymin had done in her dream, Tyler realised that one of the most important things in the world to him was right in front of him. "C'mon," he pleaded, as Shaymin convulsed yet again from another shock. "You're too young, Shaymin; you have so much to live for!" He hung his head in sadness. "Don't go... Y-You... You can't..." Tragically, he was interrupted by the worst sound he could possibly have heard at that moment: a long, high, steady tone. Shaymin's heart stopped. Tyler couldn't believe his eyes. It was over. After everything Shaymin had been through, she died of something altogether unrelated to her condition. It was completely unfair! Tyler wanted to scream, and he had every reason to do so. But he didn't. He knew it wouldn't solve anything. Nothing would anymore. Shaymin was dead. That horrific truth began to sink in. Tyler dropped the defibrillator paddles he was holding, leaving them to dangle by the cords with which they were attached to the main machine. "No... Shaymin, no!" He shut the music off, then, in a show of emotion that belied his years of experience, began to cry. "You didn't deserve this, Shaymin. It shouldn't have ended like this! You had so much left to do with your life! You could've found a mate, or learned how to fly again!" His crying became louder, as he realised the injustices he had forced upon her recently. Or, at least, what he perceived to be injustices; were Shaymin still alive, she would doubtless have told him that she wasn't angered in the slightest by what he was talking about, and that she had, in fact, forgotten a great deal of it. "I know you can't hear me," Tyler continued, "but I'm sorry. You just wanted to help, and I shunned you for it("You most certainly did not!" Shaymin would've assured him, if she was alive.)! It's my fault you can't fly anymore, in the first place("What?! Oh, come on; you don't honestly believe that, do you?")!" Standard procedure requires doctors to wait 10 minutes after cessation of a patient's vital signs before declaring them dead. As such, Tyler didn't disconnect Shaymin from the monitors that she was attached to, which, by that point, were showing absence of life from all angles. No respiration, no heartbeat. The flatline tone rang out, unbroken, but Tyler didn't pay much mind to it. What mattered, of course, was who it was supposed to be showing vital signs for. As Tyler made short work of stitching up the entry incision he made at the start of the operation, a fairly dark realisation dawned on him. The irony of the situation, too, was not lost on him. For some time, Shaymin was in what Tyler assumed must surely have been agony. Wretched sickness that, as Kevin had said, not even a murderer was deserving of. Shaymin had slept, but what she had couldn't have been restful. As Shaymin lay motionless on the operating table, though, Tyler couldn't help but notice that she finally looked peaceful, how she hadn't looked in about 2 weeks. That was another thing that Tyler realised. It had taken only a matter of weeks for a microscopic organism to cut Shaymin's young life short. Not to mention, it had certainly taken even less time than that to put her through Hell. If there was anything Tyler could take solace in, it was that he assumed Shaymin was finally in a better place. He made the assumption simply to clear his conscience, which was much more cluttered than it had reason to be. In this case, however, he was correct. *Meanwhile...* Shaymin fell unconscious after her ordeal in the park. When she regained her senses, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of seraphic calm so powerful, she sighed as though somebody had placed her into a hot spring after a snowball fight. Her sigh was the only thing she could hear; wherever she was, it was silent. Slowly, she opened her eyes, hoping she would wake up and be back at the park with Tyler. She didn't get a good look at her surroundings, though, because she was immediately met with a stark white light, which made her quickly shut her eyes, then inhale sharply. "Wh-What the? What's going on?" She hadn't expected a response, since she believed herself to be alone. Therefore, when she got a response, in the form of a booming male voice greeting her and calling her by her name, she scrambled to her paws. "Who's there?!" The voice responded with a deep chuckle before speaking. "Calm yourself, and open your eyes." Shaymin didn't calm down, but she opened her eyes. What she saw when her emerald eyes adjusted to the light certainly didn't calm her down either. "Arceus?!" Indeed, standing before her was Arceus. Even on all fours, He towered over Shaymin's petite body. Shaymin, however, was, for good reason, preoccupied, and decided to skip formalities. "What happened? The last thing I remember, I was at the park with Tyler, and I started getting shocked!" "I'm sorry I'm the one who has to tell you this, Shaymin," Arceus said, with a sorrowful tone of voice that showed He meant it, "but that was merely a dream. Tell Me, Shaymin; what is the last thing you remember before going to the park?" The presence of Arceus, coupled with still not knowing what had brought her in front of Him, had muddled Shaymin's short-term memory. "Umm,... I-I think... yeah; I was at the Pokémon Centre. Tyler put something over my mouth, and I guess I fell asleep." Arceus nodded. "Precisely. You're still there, Shaymin." At these words, Shaymin's expression brightened. "So, this is a dream, too? But wait; why are You here, then?" "No, no, My child," Arceus corrected her. "Your heart stopped during the operation; you're dead, Shaymin." Shaymin wasn't incredibly surprised by Arceus' explanation; she hadn't had the heart to tell Tyler, with all he was doing for her, but she had known she was living on borrowed time, as it was. Thus, the gasp that escaped her throat was not due to realisation of her fate, but for Tyler, who had tried so very hard to keep her alive. For all Shaymin knew, her beloved was mourning not only her tragic death, but also the sad fact that he would now have nobody to comfort him as he lay in bed, wounded by Eleanor, as was commonplace. In fact, Shaymin remembered several nights when, fearful for Tyler's life, she had stood guard over him until he awoke the next morning. "If she ever does this to you again,..." she had said more than once as a vague threat. In the past, Tyler had helped Shaymin with far more than attempting to fight off a debilitating illness. As such, she felt that the least she could do to show the gratitude that her species exemplified was to offer someone so dear to her comfort and kindness in the dark moments of his life. "What happens now?" Shaymin asked simply. Arceus smiled warmly at her before speaking. "You lived a life of adventure, thankfulness, and, certainly, love. Your reward will be eternity in paradise. In addition, you shall be granted any single request." Such words are what many hope to hear, but, to Shaymin, they were almost meaningless. She shook her head in refusal. "What troubles you in a time that should be joyful?" Arceus asked her, in a voice of legitimate confusion. "Surely, you are not denying yourself Heaven, My dear?" Even against Arceus Himself, Shaymin didn't falter. She spoke with a calm, yet defiant, tone of voice that surprised even herself. "I'm afraid You're mistaken; You can't take me to paradise. At least, not the way I assume You mean that." "Oh, really?" Arceus challenged, advancing on her. "And how did you interpret My meaning that led to this?" "You wanna take me with You," Shaymin answered. "But where You'd take me would be Heaven in name only. You see, my Heaven is the pretty boy back on Earth. If I get to have a request granted, I know what I want, without a doubt. Let me go back." Hearing such confidence coming from such a small, innocuous source took Arceus quite aback. He could tell in an instant that the goddess of flowers was absolutely serious. Nevertheless, He made a fruitless attempt to change her mind. "I can return you to your body, if you wish, but is it truly what you want?" No sooner did the words leave Him, than Shaymin nodded. "I'm absolutely sure. Tyler needs me, and..." Finally, her voice wavered and cracked. It was as if what she said next either caused painful memories to resurface, or was new even to her. "I... I-I need him, too. Please, Arceus; bring me back to him!" There was nothing more Arceus could do, and He knew it, so He nodded. "Your words and your devotion have touched My heart. It is clear to Me that the love you have for this boy transcends even My comprehension. I would be a fool not to reunite you with him." Meanwhile, Tyler's gaze shifted between Shaymin and a clock on the wall. "C'mon, Shaymin; please don't let it end like this!" he pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "I don't... I... I don't wanna have to pull the plug on a Legendary." Only a few of the allotted 10 minutes had passed, but, to Tyler, it seemed much longer. The flatline tone still filled the room, and, to Tyler, the situation seemed hopeless, until, suddenly, the heart monitor began a rhythmic beeping once more. Tyler leapt to his feet. "No way! Her heart rate is... back to normal." He checked the various other devices Shaymin was connected to. "Respiration has resumed,... circulation has returned,... I don't believe it! She's back!" For the while that followed, Tyler had offered Shaymin several treats, which she politely refused. Finally, to placate her loved one, and thinking that she might have a renewed hunger when the medicine began working, she made only a single request. She asked Tyler to make her favourite breakfast, which was pancakes, following her healing. Tyler happily and immediately agreed. In addition, Tyler suggested, and Shaymin agreed, that they both spend the night in the guest bedroom. Shaymin was first to get into the bed, and she waited patiently for Tyler. The instant that Tyler was in bed, Shaymin curled up beside him, nuzzling against his neck. "Thank you, Tyler," she whispered lovingly. "Thank you for everything. Without you, I don't know where I'd be." "I appreciate it," Tyler began, "but I think you're giving me way too much-" "Stop it," Shaymin interrupted him. "Quit doing that to yourself. Shying away from the recognition you deserve, apologising like crazy for little things,... Has Eleanor ruined your self-worth to that extent?" She didn't tell him about her encounter with Arceus; she didn't want him to think that he had absolutely nothing to do with her healing. In response to her question about Eleanor, Tyler sighed. "I'd... rather not talk about her right now, if it's all the same to you. You're right, though; I should be more confident. After all, I'm in bed with the most beautiful Pokemon in the world; I must've done SOMETHING right!" Shaymin blushed and giggled. "Aww! You're so sweet! No wonder I love you so much!" The next few minutes were full of a serene calm. It was as though the air itself was full of the unorthodox couple's love. However, Shaymin, who was nearly asleep, opened her tired eyes upon hearing the rustling of the blanket. "Huh? What's... You okay, Tyler?" "Yeah; I'm alright," Tyler answered in a whisper. "I just forgot, I have to take my makeup off." With that, he got out of bed. "It's dangerous to sleep with makeup on." Shaymin gave a tired nod and a yawn in response. "Alright, then." She watched, as best she could in the dark, as Tyler walked away. She wanted to stay awake until he returned, but, as the gravity of what happened ran through her mind, she found herself unable to stay awake any longer. *Author's note* And this is why doctors shouldn't get romantically involved with patients. In Tyler's defense, though, that Shaymin needs to have a warning label. "Warning: Contains excessive sweetness. Not recommended for people with diabetes." Well, I suppose the important thing is that she's gonna be alright. So, you can put down your guns now. Anyway, this chapter's alternate name is "Living On A Prayer." I'm sorry it took so long, but I got busy and forgot where my priorities lie. I'll start work on Chapter 10, which will be the finale, right away.