//------------------------------// // Interlude Part 2 // Story: A New World, a New Ranger // by ed2481 //------------------------------// Abby blinked awake and found herself looking at a familiar sight. Namely, Kasai’s blissed out, completely content sleeping face. She loved that face and so to show her love for it, she bent down and gave him a little kiss. Then she rolled off of him and let out a yawn before wandering off to do a little bit of morning activity and returning to the camp, restarting the fire and reaching into her pack for some supplies. Before too long, she had a whole Magikarp cooking over a small portable stove in a buttered pan. The night before had been... really fun actually. She now knew all she needed to about Gene and Belle, and also knew that her fellow Rangers’ efforts chasing after them was completely wasted in terms of both time and money. She let out a small sigh and shook her head, it was only a little after dawn so she didn’t expect anyone other than herself to be up for a while, or, well, Kasai would be too once the fish got further along, but that was all. “Morning,” a voice said from behind her. Abby turned to see Gene stretching and stepping out of his tent. “Something smells good, what’cha making?” Abby jumped in surprise, thankfully she wasn’t holding the skillet when she had, and then smiled as she glanced over at Gene. “Kasai’s breakfast,” she said, gesturing at the whole Magikarp. Gene nodded, then thought for a second. “You like pancakes?” “Whoever doesn’t should be stoned,” Abby replied jokingly. Gene smiled and turned back into the tent, a second later he emerged with a large box of pancake mix, a mixing bowl, a spatula and another portable stove. “Then I’m makin’ pancakes,” He said with a smile before beginning his work. “Sounds like a plan to me,” Abby said as she flipped the Magikarp on to its other side to let it cook. “It’ll be nice not to have to try and tune out my great beast of a mate as he eats and I cook myself something.” Gene chuckled and poured the first pancake onto the stove. “I do this every morning, it’s a good thing I don’t mind cooking.” “Yeah, makes sense,” Abby said with a nod before frowning. “How many Pokemon do you have with you by the way?” “Six counting Belle, but Mage doesn’t always eat,” Gene answered. “I caught them all before the wedding fiasco, and since I can’t drop any of them off... anywhere, I keep them with me all the time.” “Makes sense,” Abby said with a small nod as she frowned. “At the moment, Lex is at the spa, he may hate getting touched but he adores getting groomed... probably comes from growing up on a breeding farm. Justice is off looking for, and I’m quoting here ‘birds of a feather interested in some night flying with a brave soldier bird’ and like I said last night, Axel and trees don’t match well.” Gene chuckled. “I’m sure my team’s gonna love meeting you but... Draco’s a little protective of me, and Mage takes some getting used to,” he thought for a second, then added. “And don’t let Webber near anything electrical.” “I’m sure I’ll enjoy all of them,” Abby said with a small chuckle. “Oh, and if a Braviery swoops in out of nowhere, don’t attack him, that’s just Justice.” “Noted,” Gene said with a nod, flipping one of the pancakes off the grill. “How many Pokemon do you have with you again?” “Three at the moment, four if Justice shows up but I wouldn’t worry about feeding him,” Abby answered. “Probably caught himself a Stantler or something.” “Got it,” Gene poured some more batter onto the stove. Abby smiled and as she finished cooking the Magikarp, Kasai awoke, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. With a grin he trotted over to Abby, gave her a lick on the lips, and then cocked his head at the Magikarp, his tongue flopping out the side of his mouth. Abby looked at him, quirking her lips as if to say ‘do you want this?’ Kasai let out a small whine and pouted, his eyes getting much bigger in the process. Abby smiled and leaned down to give him a kiss before placing the pan on the ground in front of him and without waiting a single second, Kasai began to devour the fish. “He’s very stomach motivated,” Abby explained to Gene who’d been watching the display with wry amusement. “I can see that,” Gene said, flipping over one of the pancakes. “I’m gonna get Belle, you mind making sure these don’t burn?” “Not at all,” Abby said, walking over to take his place in front of the griddle and relieving him of the spatula. “Thanks, be right back,” Gene walked back to the tent and ducked inside. “Belle,” He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Time to get up sweetie.” The Gardevoir rolled onto her back as her eyes fluttered open. “Morning love,” She greeted upon seeing her mate. She sat up and stretched. “I smell pancakes,” She said, switching to translation. Gene smiled. “Yeah, Abby’s watching the stove while I came to get you, sleepy head,” He leaned forward and kissed Belle on the lips. Belle smiled inwardly until Gene broke the kiss a few moments later. “Come on you,” He said with a laugh, pulling Belle to her feet. Belle rolled her eyes but smiled as she exited the tent, Gene hesitated a moment and grabbed the five Pokeballs laying next to his sleeping bag. “Good morning Abby, Kasai,” Belle greeted. “Morning,” Abby said with a smile. Kasai was muzzle deep in Magikarp, or as he put it, heaven, and barely glanced at her. “Forgive the mutt, he’s kind of focused on filling up his fat stomach as fast as possible.” Belle chuckled as Gene exited the tent. “Alright, I’m back, give me the spatula,” He said jokingly. “I don’t know, this is a nice spatula, I was thinking about keeping it,” Abby returned before handing him the spatula. “But I guess I can bring myself to part with it.” “Your compliance is much appreciated,” Gene said, turning back to the grill. Abby chuckled lightly and glanced at Belle. “Would either of you mind if I brought Rill and Luke out of their balls?” “Not in the least,” Belle said. “Go ahead,” Gene replied. “I can’t wait to meet them.” Abby nodded her head and reached down for a pair of Pokeballs which she aimed at the ground a few feet away and pressed the little buttons. When the red lights had cleared, a shiny, female Flygon was standing there beside a Gallade who looked... incredibly nervous for some reason. “Luke, Rill, meet Belle and Gene,” Abby said, smiling as she gestured from one of her Pokemon to Gene and Belle. “Hello there! It is nice to meet you!” Rill said with a grin. Yes... hello, Luke said, his voice echoing inside of Belle and Gene’s head. Belle smiled. “It’s nice to meet you two as well,” She said, though she raised an eyebrow at Luke, sensing something... off. Gene smiled as he flipped the last of the current batch of pancakes off the grill. “Same here,” he said. “You mind if I let my team out now?” He asked. “Go right ahead,” Abby replied as she watched Kasai move to the halfway point of the large fish. Gene smiled and reached for the five Pokeballs on his belt. Holding all of them in his hands, he tossed them into the air and in a flash of white, five Pokemon found themselves in the clearing. The first was a female Mismagius, beside her was another Flygon, this one male and not shiny, and a male Houndoom, a female Dragonair appeared next to the Flygon, and a male Galvantula next to the Houndoom. “Everyone,” Gene said. “This is Abby, Kasai, Luke, and Rill,” He pointed to each of them in turn. “Everyone else, this is Mage, Draco, Fang, River, and Webber,” He once again indicated each Pokemon. “Hello!” River chirped happily. Mage raised an eyebrow at them and said. “Hey.” Before floating over to Gene. Fang tilted his head, his nostrils flaring. “I smell fish, fish and pancakes,” He said. Draco eyed Rill for a moment, but his gaze didn’t linger for long. “Morning,” was all he said. Webber clicked his chelicerae together before saying. “Greetings, who are you and why are you here?” Gene facepalmed, Webber had never been one to beat around the bush. “Sorry about him,” Gene apologized. “It’s fine,” Abby said as Rill moved closer to the Galvantula. “Hello, I am Rill,” the shiny Flygon said with a smile. “We are out for a camping trip and I believe that Abby and Kasai got too distracted rutting each other into the ground to get us out of the forest before nightfall. That is who we are and why we’re here.” The shock from most of the team was... actually mostly withheld. Fang rolled his eyes while River said. “Good, good for them.” Mage smiled but didn’t say anything and Webber clicked a few more times before answering. “That is an acceptable answer.” The only one who seemed at all shocked was Draco, not so much at the content of the sentence, but the forwardness with which it came. As this was happening, Luke sat down in front of the fire and closed his eyes, the fingers of one hand tapping lightly on his leg. He made no real move to socialize and Belle felt something click into place. Despite the fact that he was sending out psychic messages, his mind was surrounded by literal walls of impenetrable steel. That explains why I didn’t feel the translator link him, Belle mused to herself, wondering for what reason the Gallade had strengthened his mind to a level that rivaled that of an Alakazam’s. Indeed, Luke’s voice said quietly in her head. Also, a suggestion, do not think quite so loudly. Belle stared in shock for a moment before regaining herself. I don’t suppose you’re going to answer my question? Are you? She felt like she knew the answer before it came. My past is my own, the Gallade said as he stealthily snagged a pancake in his aura and brought it over to float in front of him, cutting it into a half dozen smaller pieces without opening his eyes. Let us just say that I have my reasons. Belle nodded. Of course, I did not mean to pry. For a Psychic-type, their mind was their most private place, to protect it like Luke had usually meant they didn’t want anyone to see what they were hiding. Thank you, though I take no offense at your prying attempt, Belle, the Gallade said and she thought she detected just the slightest bit of humor in his mental voice as his fingers continued to fidget. It is to be expected, I am unusual... I know that very well. Belle frowned at the comment before turning back to Gene, he was currently trying to get his spatula, and his hat, back from Mage. I don’t think I’m one to judge the oddity of another, She said with a chuckle. For which I thank you a second time... the Gallade trailed off for just a moment before adding. All you may know of my past is that no matter what she is, Abby is a person who loves Pokemon above all else. That much should be sufficient. Belle looked confused for a moment, an idea gathering in her mind before she pushed it aside. No, there’s no way that could be it again, She told herself as she walked over to Gene, pulling his hat and spatula from the Ghost-type. Meanwhile, Draco was sunning himself not far from the fire, one eye cracked open, observing Rill as she interacted with the rest of his family. Two things stuck out about her, one was her attitude, though that could be due to any number of things, the other was the faint scar tissue scattered across her body. Either you’ve been very unlucky in battle, He thought. Or else you have quite a story to tell. “You are watching me closely,” Rill said as she walked closer to him. “I apologize, but I am already spoken for.” Draco chuckled as he sat up. “That much I already know,” He said. Though it was faint, he could smell her mate’s scent on her. “But... you interest me, you don’t act like the other Dragons I’ve met.” “Oh?” Rill asked, tilting her head to the side. “Is it because I am not a loud brute constantly thundering for some male to rutt me till I faint? Or destroying a city or some such?” Draco’s eyes widened in shock, that hadn’t been what he meant at all. “What? No!” He replied. “Oh,” Rill said, blinking twice. “Then what were you referring too?” Draco blinked in surprise. “It’s well... sentences like that, or when you introduced yourself to Webber,” He explained. “I didn’t spend much time with other Dragons as a Vibrava or Trapinch, but I was lucky enough to meet those belonging to Lady Iris, as well as Champion Cynthia’s Garchomp.” He shook his head. “None of them spoke as... crassly, as you.” “Huh?” Rill asked with a frown. “Do you mean that I am speaking as if I was a fool?” Draco bit his lip, that last part had come out wrong. “No... I didn’t mean to insinuate...” He sighed. “My apologies Miss Rill, what I meant was... you come right out with whatever you mean to say, you don’t.... I believe the human term is ‘sugar coat’ anything.” Rill cocked her head to the side. “Ah, it’s a metaphor,” she said after a moment. “I understand what you are trying to explain. Where I was raised. You were direct with what you said. Otherwise you were not to be trusted.” “Strange custom,” Draco commented, scratching his chin. “But I can respect being forward with ones words, I spent my early years on my own in the deserts of Hoenn, so I was often alone with my thoughts.” “Ah,” Rill nodded and settled down beside him. “In my case, being in a cage and forced to fight to the death leads to directness, you understand?” Draco had to stop the shout that threatened to rise from his throat. He looked at Rill again, at the faded scar tissue that most wouldn’t even notice. “I...” he stammered. “I understand,” He wasn’t going to pry into Rill’s past if she was unwilling to share. “Thank you,” Rill said with a smile, as if what she’d just said wasn’t one of the most awful things Draco had ever heard. “I am simply happy that I am free to be with my Lex and my Abby who rescued me. I did not like being a prize.” Draco nodded and made a note to hug Gene later, he didn’t tell his adopted hatch-mate just how much he meant to him enough. Back at the grill, Gene flipped the last of the pancakes onto the plate he was holding. “Alright everyone, breakfast!” He knew half of them had been pilfering pancakes while his back was turned, but he still had plenty left. Fang was the first to walk up to Gene, the Houndoom sitting down at his trainers feet. “Hey Fang,” Gene said, rubbing his Pokemon’s head before passing him a few pancakes. “Dig in.” As the Houndoom dug in, Abby knelt down beside him and began to gently stroke his fur. “Wow, you’re a handsome hound aren’t you Fang?” she asked in appreciation. The Houndoom’s spiked tail wagged at the compliment. “I like to think so,” he said, smiling softly. Abby continued to pet him and chuckled softly. “Heheh, you should, if Kasai and I weren’t so close, then he’d probably have to worry about a little competition,” the woman said before glancing at Kasai who was eyeing her and giving him a playful wink. Kasai rolled his eyes. “Oh Abby... you drive me insane sometimes,” he muttered as he walked over to Fang and plopped down beside him. “Ignore my mate, she’s just trying to be an ass,” he added before his great head moved over and pushed Abby away. “Off with you.” Abby chuckled and got to her feet. “It’s like you didn’t want my help making friends or something,” she called over her shoulder as she walked over to the fire. Kasai let out a sigh and turned to Fang. “Sorry.” Fang shrugged. “It’s no problem,” He smiled softly. “It’s better than how people normally react.” “Really?” Kasai asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve never met a bad Houndoom in my life outside of a few wild ones.” Fang sighed again. “It’s more that whenever I go somewhere with Gene, or when he uses me in battle, people always seem to avoid me, or give me a dirty look, or root against me,” Fang thought back to his early days in Mauville. “But it’s better than how it used to be, so I don’t complain.” “Ah, I know how that feels,” Kasai said with a small shake of his head. “Living with a pack of Growlithes after running away from your original masters doesn’t really ‘endear’ you to anyone.” Fang raised an eyebrow. “You had a master before Abby?” “Mhm, twins,” Kasai answered with a nod of his head. “Really young twins who really shouldn’t have had a Pokemon yet... not to mention having to split one so they were always pulling my fur out fighting over me.” Fang winced. “My condolences,” He said. “No terror exists on this earth like that of twin toddlers.” Kasai shivered. “Yeah, tell me about it... but luckily Abby found me and got me out of the Ursaring trap.” Fang winced again. “Ouch,” he said, shaking his head. “Yeah, months of PT only to lose the leg a dozen years later and have to have even more PT,” Kasai grumbled, shaking his metallic leg. “You seem to have quite a knack for finding either very bad, or very good luck,” Fang said with a light chuckle. “Every time Abby and I rutt, I count it as another notch of good luck,” Kasai said, a happy smile forming on his face. “I’ve outdone the ‘bad luck’ notches by a lot, hehe, so it’s really knot a problem.” Fang chuckled again and wolfed down another pancake. “Truthfully I’ve had good luck ever since Gene found me,” He admitted. “Everything’s been great... aside from the wedding, of course.” “Yeah, I heard about that,” Kasai agreed, nodding his head. “I’m still not sure why they tried it, No offense, but it seems like a lot of risk for not much payoff. For Abby and I, we just know that we’re mates. We don’t need a ceremony to tell us it.” Fang hmf’d. “Tell me about it,” He sighed. “I think it was because they had found that two of the worlds most influential occupants supported relationships like theirs,” Fang explained. “Gene can be very romantic at times, and Belle’s quite emotional, at least with him, put that all together and they didn’t see the obvious dangers clearly enough.” “Ah,” Kasai said, nodding his head a little. “Makes sense, I’m just glad that Abby never tried something like that... too many risks for not enough reward. I’d hate to have the Rangers after us... know too many of em.” Fang raised an eyebrow at Kasai. “That so?” he asked curiously. “Yeah, got to know a bunch during my PT for my leg,” Kasai answered, shaking his prosthetic lightly. “Not much more to do when you’re laying around all day in between bursts of exercise then talk to others right?” “True enough,” Fang conceded. “We never stuck in one place that long even before the wedding,” Fang added. “Made a few friends but nothing too close.” “We’re mostly the same way really, always on the move though we usually stay around for a week or so depending on the place,” Kasai said with a small shrug. "Usually we make more enemies then friends because some people notice how touchy Abby and I are. That, and other Pokemon tend to stare at us a lot, you know, because of the smell?” “Yeah, you kind of reek of her,” Fang commented with a small chuckle. “Good thing you’re not always around Rangers eh?” “Yeah, good thing,” Kasai agreed with a nod of his head. In the distance, Abby smiled as she watched Kasai and Fang chat, happy to have spurred her love forwards towards more friends. Not that he had trouble making those anyways, but she liked to know that she helped him. It was then that she noticed Belle was standing a little off to the side. Well, she was beside Gene, but she didn’t really seem to be paying attention to much of anything going on around her. Instead, she appeared to be in deep thought about something. Abby raised an eyebrow and decided to investigate. “A Poke for your thoughts?” Abby asked the Gardevoir as she came to stand beside her. “Hmm? Oh, Abby, I didn’t hear you...” Belle said slowly, blinking twice, causing both Mage and Gene to look at her. “Are you okay Belle?” Gene asked seriously, a line of worry on his face. “Ever since you came over here you’ve been acting... worried.” “Yeah, really high strung too,” Mage added. “I’m fine...” Belle said before she glanced at Abby. “Abby... what’s wrong with Luke?” “Ah... that,” Abby murmured, frowning faintly before she glanced at the three. “You sure you want to hear? It’s not exactly pretty.” “I would very much like to know what could cause someone to train their bodies and minds to be that... strong,” Belle answered with a swift nod. “Huh?” Gene asked with a frown. “Gene, he has a mind stronger than most Alakazams,” Belle answered, her brows furrowing. “And the way that he uses his powers for everything and the precision with which he does? I’m not sure if I could replicate it for very long.” “Wow, that’s pretty powerful,” Mage observed before glancing at Abby. “Now I’m interested too.” “Well, alright, just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Abby said with a small shrug before glancing at Gene. “Is there anyone here who you wouldn’t want to hear something absolutely horrific?” “They’ve been through a lot,” Gene answered simply. “Alright... let’s see... it was I want to say four years ago,” Abby said, her vision drifting off into the distance as she recounted the events. “Kasai and I were walking down the street when we heard mental screaming and before we knew it, there was an absolutely terrified Kirlia curled up in front of us, hugging my leg and screaming in my mind for help.” She let out a long breath. “Before either of us really knew what was happening, a man with a Honchkrow and an Absol ran up to us and demanded that we stop bothering their Kirlia,” the woman continued. “When I pointed out that he was currently begging in my head to do anything but that and that I was going to do no such thing, they took offense.” Abby’s eyes narrowed and quicker than Gene ever expected possible of her, she drew a rather large knife from a concealed spot on her waist. “Kasai took care of the Absol and Justice, who was gliding around at the time, took care of the Honchkrow,” she said as she held the knife casually in her hands. “I took care of the one man who tried to attack me, non-vital strike to the shoulder, but it put him down, and the other one ran away.” “They actually tried to physically assault you over it?” Gene asked, his eyes widening. “Yeah, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Abby said, casually putting away the knife in a single movement. “As it turns out... once I got Luke to a Pokemon Center and had a chance to actually talk to him...” her eyes closed. “Belle, Gene... I want you to understand something that I’ve come to accept because of Luke. For every dozen or so Pokephilic relationships there are that are based on love... there are several which aren’t. It’s one of the reasons that the laws exist, it’s just not really talked about because most people don’t like to acknowledge that it happens.” “Which ones are you talking about exactly?” Gene asked, a deep frown on his lips. “Sexual slavery,” Abby said bluntly. “Until the age of six, Luke was a sex slave at an underground Pokemon Brothel. More specifically, one catering to pedophilic men who wanted a child.” She said in such a matter of fact way that it took a second to hit the three listeners in the gut, but when it did, Mage nearly dropped out of the air, Belle’s face paled and Gene... Gene just stared at her. “What-what?!” the man stuttered. “They stole his egg from his mother’s nest and raised him from the day he was born to be a ‘breeder’,” Abby answered, her voice still matter of fact but edged with a hard line of steel. “Every day, he would be forced to service only Arceus knows how many men with barely a break for food or to use the restroom, and it wasn’t just the humans. Remember that Absol that Kasai took care of? He was Luke’s ‘enforcer’ and whenever Luke tried to do something other than what he was told, the bastard cut him and then forced Luke to service him.” By this point, Belle, Gene and Mage were staring between Abby and Luke, their faces lacking color. “The day he’d escaped was the day he became a Kirlia, his evolution was not a fun one,” the woman said before letting out a sigh and glancing at Luke. “Sorry Luke.” It was bound to come up sooner or later, Luke answered before he closed his eyes and went back to staring at the fire. “So yeah, that’s why Luke’s mind is a fortress and why he has a hatred for people touching him,” Abby finished her tale and was met by dead silence. Belle looked even paler than normal, and Mage looked like she was going to be sick. Gene was shocked silent and had his fists clenched. “I...” He began. “I don’t even know what to say.” He slipped his hand into Belle’s. Belle glanced at Luke again and tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I... I shouldn’t have asked.” It is no matter... it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last, he answered in her mind. It is the price I pay for my protection and continued happiness. For a moment no one said anything, then Mage partially broke the silence as she grumbled. “I’m trying to throw up, but I don’t have a stomach.” “Yeah, I would if I hadn’t been there...” Abby trailed off and shook her head before saying. “Anyways... that’s why while I hate the fact that there are ones that target me and Kasai, and you and Belle... I can’t bring myself to hate all Pokephilia laws or the Rangers who hunt down those responsible.” Then she glanced at Belle’s tears and reached into her pocket to pull out a surprisingly clean hanke and passed it to the Gardevoir. “Sorry for making you cry and ruining the morning Belle.” Belle dabbed her eyes but restrained herself from blowing her nose on it. “It’s... it’s alright... you warned me... it’s just... who would... who would do that?!” “Evil people,” Gene said through gritted teeth. “Yeah, bastards,” Abby agreed with a nod as she accepted the hanke back from Belle and stuffed it back in her pocket. She glanced around the clearing to see that most everyone was done with whatever chats they’d been having and shook her head. “Anyways, I should probably be getting a move on, these letters won’t deliver themselves you know?” she asked with a small chuckle. “Now if only I knew where Justice wa-” A Braviary’s scree split the air and before Gene knew what was happening, an incredibly Braviary had landed on Abby’s shoulder. He was a shiny with prominent blue and yellow markings. A grin split his face as Abby stumbled slightly to the side and he steadied her with a flap of his monstrously large wings. “You were looking for me?” the Braviary asked her with a grin on his large beek. “You... are... such... an... ASS!” Abby exclaimed with a grunt as she shoved the large Braviary off of her shoulder and he landed on the ground beside her, easily coming up to the woman’s height. “No Abby, I’m a soldier of fortune and a defender of Justice!” Justice said with a smirk. “And as it happened, fortune told me to return to you just as you needed me.” Abby rolled her eyes and glanced at Gene and Belle. “Gene, Belle, meet Justice, my self proclaimed ‘soldier bird’.” “Ah, hello to you both,” Justice said, giving them a bow of his head. “It’s nice to meet you, Abby needs more friends.” “Um... same to you,” Gene said, the emotional whiplash of what was happening hitting him hard. “Ass,” Abby grumbled to Justice before smacking him lightly on the back of the head. “Have a good night?” “Indeed I did,” Justice replied, a grin on his face. “So, are we delivering letters of some kind?” “Yeah, yeah we are! We’re going to meet Cynthia!” Abby exclaimed with a grin before she pulled out three Pokeballs. “Okay guys, time to go!” before she had finished talking, the three beams of red light shot out and ‘captured’ Luke, Rill, and Kasai within them and Abby stowed them on her belt. Then she turned to Gene and Belle. “It was great meeting you two, along with the rest of your team. We should do this again.” With that said, she leapt onto Justice’s back and the giant bird took off into the sky leaving a fairly befuddled campsite behind them. “... they’re a rather odd group,” River observed from where she’d come to hang out next to Draco. “But nice.” “Dangerous too... very dangerous,” Draco murmured.