//------------------------------// // Chapter 49 // Story: A New World, a New Way // by zeusdemigod131 //------------------------------// Abby Trombley was basically Belle’s best friend. She and Gene had met her and Kasai by chance one night and they had really hit it off, especially after Abby had revealed she and Kasai were in a very loving relationship. Afterwards, they had had the good fortune to run into the pair several times, and even set up meetings on a few occasions. It had been nice, and had given the team some semblance of a more normal life, and friends who they could actually see from time to time. It was for all these reasons, and many more, that Belle was elated when mage had announced Abby was at the door, and why she had her arms wrapped around the Ninetales while she licked her face. Belle chuckled and reluctantly let go of her friend before stepping out of the doorway. “Come right in, I’ll be right back with my dear mate.” Belle disappeared in a flash of blue. “Whoa!” Gene stumbled backwards as Belle appeared in front of him. “Where’s the fire Belle?” “Gene... Abby and Kasai are downstairs,” Belle said. Gene’s eyes widened and he shouted. “WHO’S DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW?!” Not waiting for Belle to explain, Gene rushed downstairs to see a familiar Arcanine and a Ninetales he assumed was Abby staring at him. “Abby! Kasai!” He said happily. “I can’t believe you’re here!” “Thought we’d get left behind on Earth?” Abby inquired playfully as she rushed up to him and got up on her hind legs to give him a lick on the face as she had done with Belle. “And here I was hoping you’d be a Lopunny with thighs of steel for Belle to appreciate, for once, heh.” Belle stepped down stairs just in time to hear that comment. “That would have been...” she blushed lightly, “interesting. But I’m happy with him just the way he is.” She kissed Gene on the cheek. Gene rolled his eyes, he liked his thighs just the way were. “So, how have you guys been?” “Oh you know, adapting to a new world, getting ready to start a family, you know the usual,” Kasai replied with a smile. “Yep, getting pregnant, making love, stopping riots, fun times,” Abby agreed, giving Gene another lick on the cheek before she got down and showed off her rather prominent belly. “Any day now the egg is due.” Belle smiled calmly, doing her best to hide her shock and excitement. “Lucky you,” She put a hand over her own belly. “I still have a few months.” Mage’s eyes widened and she turned to Belle, giving her a ‘What the heck?’ Look, for not telling her sooner. “Figured you would,” Abby said slyly. “You two are just as active as Kasai and I are, heh.” Gene chuckled. “Yeah, well, aside from that, we’ve been helping the Princesses, met Twilight our first day here, and we,” he smiled at Belle and grabbed her hand before held both of theirs up, showing off their rings. “We finally had our wedding.” Kasai’s eyes lit up. “Really? Well congratulations! I’m sorry we missed it, it must’ve been a memorable day for the two of you.” “You had your wedding without us there?” Abby asked, pouting up at Belle. “And here I thought we were friends,” she added jokingly. Belle laughed. “To be fair, Pinkie kinda sprung it on us too.” She explained. “We didn't know it was happening until the day before the actual wedding,” Gene added, shaking his head. “... really?” Abby replied in confusion.. The couple nodded. “Pinkie’s a great mare,” Belle said. “And an even better friend, but when it comes to any kind of celebration she can go kinda...” “Overboard?” Mage supplied. “Crazy,” Belle and Gene completed together. Kasai and Abby glanced at each other. “We really probably don’t want her to meet Vivi...” Kasai noted to Abby. “Yeah... I don’t think that even mom could keep them from taking over the entire country beneath a party tent...” Abby agreed. “Mom?” Gene asked. “I thought-” He bit his lip and stopped himself. Abby had told him that her parents had died when she was in her teens. Abby let out a small sigh. “Yeah... is there anywhere in here that we can sit down? It turns out that Kasai and I have a lot to tell you... see... we may have lied a little bit when we first met you...” Gene and Belle looked at each other with confusion, then at their friends with concern. “This way.” Gene and Belle led them to Rarity’s waiting/living room and over to the pair of couches around the coffee table. “What exactly did you lie about?” Gene asked. Abby and Kasai had told them a lot, so guessing what it was... Abby let out another sigh. “Look, I want you two to promise us something... you can’t freak out when we tell you this, not until we’re absolutely done okay?” Abby looked... scared more than anything else. Gene wondered just what she had lied to them about. “We promise,” they said together. “I promise too,” Mage added. “In case anyone was wondering.” Kasai frowned. “Alright... there’s no real good way to say it but... Abby is a Ranger.” “A Top Ranger, Pokephilia division,” Abby added one of her tails twirling around Kasai’s for comfort. “My main job was to track down the most wanted violators and see them brought to justice.” Belle, Mage, and Gene stared at the two in shock. “You’re kidding,” Mage said. “I mean... come on, you can’t be serious.” She said with a nervous laugh. “Dead serious,” Kasai replied, his ears now flat against his face. “The night Abby and I... stumbled into your campsite wasn’t by coincidence, we were there to... well, to judge the two of you.” “Yes...” Abby agreed as she took in a deep breath. “You see, Kasai and I fell in love early... and well... we both knew that there was such a thing as good Pokephilia so we made it our duty to track down the most wanted and judge them. If they were abusive then we took them down, if they weren’t we let them go free and told Hastings that the Union would never catch them... normally it worked well and we never saw them again...” Abby trailed off. “But you two... we became friends with your little family and well... we don’t have many friends.” “So we made a promise that the next time we saw you... we would tell the truth and... we kept putting it off and putting it off and... well, here we are,” Kasai said, glancing his head up at the three. Gene had his eyes closed and was absentmindedly rubbing his ring with one of his fingers. “Well... what now?” He asked mentally to Belle and Mage. “They’re being honest,” Belle thought. “I knew I should have done a mental scan when we met them.” “I’m pretty sure Luke put something in place that would’ve stopped you,” Mage replied, referring to Abby’s Gallade. “Hmm... either way... what do we do know?” Belle asked. “Well,” Gene began. “I... can’t seem to get angry at them.” “You hardly ever get angry,” Mage reminded him. “Which is weird by the way.” “Well yeah but... look, I forgave Solana and Lunick, and they tried to arrest me,” he sighed. “Besides... I don’t want to lose them.” “Same here,” Belle agreed. “Ditto,” Mage added. “Or Luke for that matter.” Pulling out of the mental conversation, Gene spoke. “After all these years,” He began, his voice low, Abby’s ears flicked back reflexively with worry. “After knowing us for so long, did you really think,” Kasai winced at what was about to come, but as Gene opened his eyes he said. “That I could stay mad at you two?” The Arcanine and the Ninetales both blinked in surprise for a moment before smiles slowly grew on their faces. “You’re... you’re not mad?” Abby asked slowly, almost disbelieving what she was hearing. Gene smiled. “I forgave two Rangers who tried to arrest me, and I barely knew them,” he said. “I think I can forgive two of my best friends, especially after they kept the less understanding Rangers off our backs for so long.” Kasai’s smile turned into a grin. “Thanks... I’m glad you understand, heh, in fact... it feels nice to finally let the truth out after all this time.” “Yeah...” Abby said before she moved forwards on the couch and for a brief moment, Gene’s face was covered in slobber before she moved off of him and did the same to Belle. “Hehehe, I love having an excuse to do that.” Belle smiled, then blinked, then blushed as she realized something. “What?” Abby asked her, catching the expression. “Everything I... told you... I told... Ranger,” Belle finished with a squeak as she recalled some of the more... private things she and Abby had talked about. I knew I should have done a mental check! Kasai frowned. “Wait... what?” Abby smirked. “Hey, it’s not like I ever told anyone, honest, look into my mind if you don’t believe me,” she said with a raised eyebrow. Belle frowned slightly, then reached towards Abby’s mind with her own intending to reassure herself- “GAH!” Belle pulled back into her mind as she met a mental block of a rather... private moment between Abby and Kasai. “Abby! What the heck?!” Abby sniggered. “Sorry, couldn’t resist,” she replied. “Luke put that in place a while ago just in case, but seriously, I promise that I haven’t told anyone those things Belle.” I should’ve listened to Mage. Belle, still blushing, sighed. “I believe you,” She said. “I wouldn’t have told you them if I didn’t trust you.” “What are you two talking about?” Gene asked in confusion. “Womanly business,” Abby said aloofly. “You’re missing a few requirements to gain knowledge of it, maybe if you were a Lopunny you might be able to fool us into thinking that you were one, but definitely not as a Gallade.” “I think there are things that we’re just not meant to know Gene,” Kasai said with a shake of his head. Gene looked to his wife, who had apparently become very interested in the light fixtures. “Alright,” he said finally. “So, did you guys come all this way just to talk to us?” “Nope.” Abby replied. “My mom, Kasai and I are going to Canterlot tomorrow to talk to Princess Celestia about setting up a new Ranger Union here in Equestria, minus all the bad Pokephilia laws of course, hopefully, we can find a fairly central town to set things up in... one where I won’t get knocked unconscious by a brick to the head.” Belle stiffened up as she heard that, a surge of sudden anger running down her spine. “Who did what now?” She asked coldly, her eyes glowing blue at the thought of someone attacking her friend. “Long story,” Kasai began. “Don’t worry Arceus already handled it,” “That guy seems to be everywhere now,” Gene noted. “And the rest of the Legendaries are about an hour some walk that way.” He gestured in the general direction of the Everfree. “Hmm, good to know... this might be a good town to set up in...” Abby mused thoughtfully. “And as an added bonus, we can be near some of my favorite friends in the world right?” she asked, nuzzling Gene and then Belle. Gene smiled at the thought of being able to see Abby and Kasai more than once every couple of months or so. “That would be awesome,” he said. “We never got to see you enough back on Earth... granted, now I know why, but still, it’d be great to have you nearby.” “Yeah, and we can introduce you to Abby’s mom... well adoptive mom but it should be interesting,” Kasai said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to it,” Belle said. “And if you’re planning to visit Princess Celestia, you might want to go see Twilight, she’s a Princess too and since she lives here, she’d probably be a big help.” “Hmm, I already have an appointment thanks to Princess Luna... but a little pre-preparation can’t hurt,” Abby said, nodding her head with a smile. “Nice mare Luna... helped me out of a nightmare.” Belle nodded. “We know her,” she said. “Turns out, she’s been helping Darkrai with his... powers, so she’s kinda on a whole ‘nother level.” “Darkrai?” Abby inquired with a deep frown. “Huh... that is a whole ‘nother level... so... other than the two of us both getting knocked up and you two getting married, what have you been getting up to without us? Also, have you seen Cynthia anywhere? Has she forgiven Kasai and I for destroying her bed?” “Well, Cynthia performed the ceremony at our wedding,” Gene said. “And she not the type to hold onto a grudge... wait, how did you... ya know what? Never mind, I don’t think I want to know.” “Probably for the best,” Kasai said with a chuckle. “It was fun,” Abby said with a smirk. Belle and Gene stared at Abby for a moment before they burst out laughing, Abby never really changed did she? Arceus sighed as he shifted through his pocket dimension. “Let’s see... art museum, art museum, statue garden, Hall of Legends,” he was currently trying to figure out what to do with all the knick knacks and do dads that he had picked up when he left Earth, which was a lot of art. Number one on his list of things to get rid of, the Sea Temple. “I’m sure the Hippocampi will like it,” he said with a nod. “Oceania did express interest in meeting Kyogre and Manaphy.” His mind made up, Arceus opened a portal to Marelantis. Right into Oceania’s bedroom. “Pardon the interruption your highness,” Arceus said as he stepped through the portal. “But I was wondering if... are you alright?” Oceania was looking up at him from her bed in disbelief, her mane stuck out in several places. “It is past midnight,” she stated coldly, glaring at Arceus. “Why are you in my room?” “Oh... apologies... I really need to get a better understanding of time,” the two shared a moment of awkward silence, the Arceus said. “Anywho, I have a gift for you, if you’d take it, for being so accepting and forgiving at the World Summit.” Oceania blinked twice. “And this couldn’t have waited until morning.” Arceus said nothing, but smiled at her with his eyes. The Hippocampi sighed. “Very well, what is it?” Arceus widened the portal and positioned it to give Oceania a view of the Sea Temple. “It’s an ocean traveling structure that contains an artifact known as the Sea Crown and was designed to focus Kyogre and Manaphy’s power to help calm the sea, and the Water Pokemon.” “Ohh,” Oceania floated over to the portal and admired the structure. “It’s beautiful... and you’d just give this to us?” “To you more specifically,” Arceus said. “Originally, a subspecies of humans called the People of the Water, chosen ones of Lord Kyogre, resided within the temple, and guarded the Sea Crown... I was wondering if the Hippocampi would like to... take up the mantle?” Oceania turned to Arceus. “You would entrust us with that?” Arceus shrugged. “The guardians of the sea are meant to have the honor of guarding the temple, unless I missed something, that title belongs to you, Queen Oceania.” The mare smiled. “Well... I suppose so... and it is quite lovely, why don’t I take a look around and see the place... perhaps Manaphy or Kyogre could show me around?” Arceus nodded. “As you wish, I’ll contact Kyogre and Manaphy and ask them to give you a tour,” he smiled at her. “I know you’ve been wanting to meet them.” Oceania just smiled and watched as golden space around the Sea Temple faded and was replaced by the ocean as the temple returned to the seas. Draco and River soared above Ponyville side by side, occasionally glancing over at each other and smiling. For flat country land, the little town had surprisingly good thermals, Draco attributed it to however the Pegasus Ponies flew and River didn’t need wings to fly. The two were having a relaxing flight, just enjoying each others company when their flight was intruded upon by an old friend. “Draco! River! It is good to see you both again! It has been quite some time!” Draco wobbled slightly in the air in surprise, while River twisted around to see who had spoken.“Rill!” She exclaimed happily upon seeing the Shiny Flygon. “It’s good to see you too... what are you doing here?” Draco looked back and rolled his eyes, but smiled. Rill was one of Abby’s Pokemon and was rather... odd, for a Flygon, or a Dragon for that matter. She never ‘beat around the bush’ as the humans put it. Her... candidness, was due to her rather unfortunate past. She had been part of an underground Pokemon fighting ring before Abby had rescued her, along with her Haxorus, Axle. Draco had always found it odd so many of Abby’s Pokemon came from such troubled backgrounds, but he put it out of his mind as Rill continued to speak. “I in particular am here to see you both and inquire if you are with egg yet,” Rill told River with a smile. Draco stopped in midair, and River blushed profusely. “As for my family in general,” Rill continued without stopping. “We are here to confess that we’ve been Rangers all along and did not tell you because we did not want to ruin our friendships nor the protection we were providing you from the rest of the Union.” Draco and River stared at Rill for a moment. “I think,” Draco began. “That we should continue this conversation on land, one more surprise out of you and I’ll end up freezing up from shock.” Not waiting for a reply, Draco began to descend. “Did I say something troubling?” Rill asked with a raised eyebrow. River, still blushing, shook her head. “Just... why don’t you explain...” She realized that there probably wasn’t much else to say. “Just... come on.” River flew after Draco. Once the three Dragons were back on solid ground, RIll spoke again.“I thought that someone as smart as you are you had figured it out Draco,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “Surely you must have found it strange that five out of six of Abby’s team were damaged in some way, such as Luke’s sex slavery and Axle and my own imprisonment and fighting followed by eating of other Pokemon.” Draco winced slightly as his eyes were once again drawn to the almost faded scars that criss crossed Rills body. “I did,” he said with a sigh. “I just thought Abby was either always in the wrong... or right, I guess, place at the wrong-slash-right time.” “I thought she was some kind of superhero,” River said honestly. “And that she rescued Pokemon wherever she went.” “Ah,” Rill said frowning slightly. “Well she did do that and she did kill a man wearing a mask once after he fed her parents to his Hydreigon so I suppose that makes her a superhero... at least, if what Lex has told me about superheros is correct.” River looked at Rill in shock and Draco shook his head. “So then,” he began, trying to change the subject. “Why did Abby track us down in the first place? You said she protected us from the Union.” “To judge upon whether or not Gene was raping Belle,” Rill stated. “It was what she did as a human for those well known Pokephilia criminals. If she had discovered such a thing then she would have arrested him but she did not so he was not,” he shiny Flygon stated as if it was obvious. “Also, are you with egg yet River? I would so very much like to be a Godmother if possible.” River blushed again. “No,” she answered softly. Rill glanced over at Draco. “Are you infertile Draco?” she asked with her usual grace and decorum, ie: none. “I most certainly am not,” Draco said indignantly, huffing and crossing his arms. To think that Rill would even suggest such a thing! Why would she just assume... Oh right, Draco thought to himself. It’s Rill. “Then why is she not with egg?” Rill asked, gesturing at River, who was doing her best to make herself invisible. “I.. we’re... but,” River was having trouble putting her words together. What’s happening? River asked herself, sinking even lower. Draco put a claw on River’s back to comfort her. “We’re taking things slow,” he answered. “Ah, slowness,” Rill said, nodding her head slightly. “Lex and I take it slow as well, but I don’t think we have ever drawn out mating for this long. I’m not actually sure how it is possible without you two being connected come to think of it...” Draco had to resist the urge to facepalm. “Rill, we aren’t mates yet,” he explained. “We’re taking our relationship slow, not the actual mating.” “Oh,” Rill blinked twice. “Have you bitten her and claimed her as your own yet at the very least?” River eeped and ducked a little lower, her face now completely red. Please make her stop. She thought as she hid behind Draco. “Not yet,” Draco said with a sigh. River was still rather young and sensitive, he didn’t want to psych her out and he hadn’t even explained to her the custom that Rill was referring to “Whyever not? It is clear that you belong with and to each other,” Rill stated with a tilt of her head. “The least you could do is bite her Draco.” At this point, even Draco was blushing. “Rill, how long after you met Lex did you claim him?” He asked, referring to Rill’s own mate. “He was an Eevee at the time so I did not claim him until he had evolved,” Rill said. “As for that, it was after our first flight together that I bit him.” Draco sighed, mostly because he had no real explanation. By all rights, he should have bitten River by now. “You should bite her,” Rill affirmed before glancing down at River. “He should, it is what is done, else it means that any drake could take you from him.” “I would never allow that,” Draco said, growling at the thought. “I did not think you would, I am simply explaining the rules to her,” Rill said blankly. “Have I said something to upset you?” Draco sighed and shook his head again, he never got the hang of talking to Rill, no matter how many times they spoke “Nevermind,” He said. River, still blushing, wrapped around Draco. “What’s she talking about?” Draco sighed, Gene had found River as a Dratini in the Safari Zone, alone, she had no idea where her mother had gone to and, after three days of waiting, she had asked to come with Gene. It was for that reason that the only Flygon Specific customs River knew were what Draco told her. The ones involving mating... he hadn’t. “You see River,” he began. “When a Flygon wants to claim a mate, they bite them, leaving a mark that tells others that they’re taken.” “Indeed, it is why Lex is missing a piece of his ear,” Rill said with a nod. “Some say that it is symbolic, whatever that word means, but I just think of it as my claiming him as my own.” River glanced up at her head wings. “Um... no,” Draco said, noticing her gaze. “I wouldn’t have to bite part of those off, just a small bite on the back of the neck would do.” River winced slightly, then looked up at Draco. “And after that would we... would we mate?” Her blush was still lighting up her face. “Indeed, it will be most wonderful, the orgasms that is,” Rill stated, smiling. “I really would like to be the Godmother if that is possible.” River eeped again and hid her head behind Draco. “Not. Helping.” He stated, glaring at Rill. “Did I say somet-” Rill was cut off when a ribbon suddenly wrapped around her mouth. Draco’s eyes followed the ribbon back to a Sylveon walking towards them. “Hey guys,” Lex said causally to Draco and River, waving a free ribbon at them. “I see Rill has met up with you, and judging by the looks on your faces has said something to embarrass you. We’ll be leaving you alone now,” he smiled and gently urged Rill to follow him as he walked away. “I wasn’t embarrassing them, I was simply inquiring about Godmotherhood,” Rill said as she allowed herself to be led away by Lex. A loud sigh could be heard coming out the Slyveon as the two left the River and Draco to be alone. Draco looked down at River, she had stopped hiding and was looking up at him, her eyes wide and her face still bright red. “Draco?” she asked. Patting her on the head, Draco said. “Only when you’re ready my dear.” Twilight tapped the Thunder Stone strapped into the apparatus and nodded. “Test number three, electric current through Thunder Stone,” she turned to her assistant. “You got that Spike?” Spike nodded. “Yep... now what’s the point of this experiment again?” Twilight sighed. “Juniper and Professor Oak told me the Thunder Stone is useful in making some Electric type Pokemon Evolve,” she tapped her machine with a hoof. “I want to see what happens when you run an electrical current through one.” “Why?” Spike asked. “I want to test how good of a conductor it is,” Twilight explained. “Now no more questions, just write down what I say.” Spike readied the quill and Twilight turned on the machine. Fortunately, nothing exploded. “Off to a good start,” Twilight said with a nod, she took a look at the readings the machine was giving her, and her eyes widened. “That’s... that’s not possible.” “What isn’t possible?” Spike asked, not believing she was doubting something after everything that had happened recently. “The Thunder Stone... it’s actually strengthening the electrical charge!” Twilight exclaimed. “The readings coming out of the stone are almost twice what went into it!” “Cool,” Spike replied nonchalantly. “What does that mean?” “What it means Spike, is that this little rock,” she turned off the machine and held the Thunder Stone up. “Stores electrical energy... or somehow strengthens the electrical energy put into it.” “That could be useful,” Spike said, tapping his chin. “You think it’s work as a battery?” “Spike, if these things work right, they could be used as a source of limitless power!” Twilight exclaimed. “How can you not see how groundbreaking this is?” Spike shrugged. “Maybe cause, and you might be forgetting this, a lot of Pokemon can produce electricity, I mean Gene has a spider that can shoot lightning.” Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “Spike... hand me a Fire Stone, I want to see how much heat it can take before melting... I may need your help with this one.”