Ausy - Well this was a blast to assist with... the fight coming up is gonna be intense!!
“THEY THINK THEY CAN HURT US?! THEY THINK THEY CAN MAKE US TREMBLE!? AHAHAHAAH! IT SHALL BE THEY WHO TREMBLE!” Axle roared loudly, his eyes full of anger incarnate as he stood before Iris.
“Uh huh,” Iris rolled her eyes and wondered how she had ended up paired with Axle for this mission. “You know the idea is to try not to attack them?”
“OUR ATTEMPTS TO NOT ATTACK THEM SHALL MOVE THE VERY EARTH!” Axle shouted. “THEY WILL NEVER HAVE BEEN PASSIVE AGGRESSIVELY ROARED AT IN SUCH A MANNER!”
Iris chuckled. “You know, my whole thing back on Earth was calming Dragons,” she flexed her fingers and smirked at him. “I wonder if it would work on you.”
Axle looked at her, wounded. “You wouldn’t,” he protested.
“Wouldn’t I?” She taunted back, she really was curious to see if she could still use her Dragon Tamer abilities.
“YOU LOVE ME FOR MY BOISTEROUS EXCLAMATIONS OF GRANDEUR AND SCOPE!” Axle exclaimed. “WITHOUT THEM OUR PASSION WOULD DISSIPATE INTO THE GROUND LIKE RAIN AFTER A STORM!”
Iris chuckled again. “Have you ever considered taking up poetry?” She asked, only half joking. “Admittedly, it would be loud poetry, but still.”
Axle blinked. “Huh... I had not thought of putting my verbal skills to THAT kind of test.” He grinned. “AHAHAHAAH! THANK YOU IRIS! ONCE THIS MATTER IS DEALT WITH AND I HAVE MADE YOU MY MATE I SHALL BECOME A POET OF SUCH MAGNITUDE THAT I BLOT OUT THE SUN WITH MY SHEER EGOOOOOO!”
Iris shook her head, trying to picture Axle as- Iris stopped and blinked. “Wait... what did you just say?” She wasn’t sure she’d heard him right.
“That I would become a poet worthy of legends!” Axle replied, grinning widely. “THERE WILL BE BALLADS THAT SPEAK OF ME!”
Iris shook her head. “The only thing that’ll speak of you is a damage report,” she mumbled. “Let’s just try and find-” Iris stopped when she felt a shiver run down her spine. “Oh no.”
Axle frowned and turned to her. “What is it?” His voice was suddenly completely serious.
“There’s only one person who can creep me out before I even see them,” she told him with a frown. “Grimsley! I know you’re there!”
There were a few seconds of silence before a soft chuckle filled the air. “Quite perceptive of you Iris,” a Liepard purred, stalking out of the brush.
“A Liepard... why am I not surprised?” She glared at the feline. “You know, when Juniper told me you were part of Hastings’ group, I was honestly hoping she was lying to me.”
“Grimsley... Grimsley... do I know a Grimsley?” Axle asked himself, claws tapping out a rhythm on his scales.
“He’s a member of Unova’s Elite Four,” Iris explained. “Dark type specialist.”
“Indeed,” Grimsley said with a smirk. “And who might this be? I’m certain this isn’t your Haxorus.”
“I AM AXLE TROMBLEY! TOP RANGER AND DEFENDER OF THE WEAK!” Axle roared, stomping hard. “WHO ARE YOU WHO SEEKS TO CHALLENGE ME?!”
Grimsley chuckled. “My word Iris, where do you find these characters?” He smiled at Axle. “To answer your question,” as if on cue, a Tyranitar, Krookodile, and Bisharp all stepped into view. “I’m here to bring Gene Phillips to justice.”
“Heh... heh... heh...” Axle chuckled dryly. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OH! Finally! Someone who can challenge me.”
Ignoring Axle for the moment, Iris turned her attention back to Grimsley. The Dark-type specialist was Iris’ least favorite Elite Four member, but he was good at what he did, so she tolerated him. This time, however, he was going to far. “I’m not letting you attack my friend Grimsley,” she said bluntly, a cold edge to her voice. “So just turn around and go back the way you came.”
Grimsley’s tail swished back and forth in the air for a moment as he considered that. “Hm... no. NOW!”
His Tyranitar roared and rushed Axle, tackling the Haxorus out of view, and his other Pokémon followed. Grimsley smirked, but not for long as he felt a clawed hand grasp the scruff of his neck and lift him off the ground. “We’re going to have a talk,” Iris growled. “And for once. You WILL listen to me.”
Grimsley didn’t say anything, not that it really mattered, as Iris was already talking.
"I can’t believe I have to explain this to you Grimsley, you always seemed pretty smart inspite of everything else.” Iris began. “But if I have to, I will. You can't just march into some town and attack someone for falling in love! For caring for another! It's wrong! It's sadistic! And that kind of relationship isn’t even illegal on this planet, so don't start blabbering about law and all that... that stupid stuff!"
Grimsley stood silent for a few seconds, still comically hanging from the Haxorus claw like a kitten, his eyes narrowed and his pupils almost invisible slits as he glared at Iris, seemingly considering what she had just said, "...I see." he murmured, his body relaxing a little in Iris' grasp. "I understand now..."
Iris sighed in relief, the corners of her muzzle twitching in the warmest smile she could muster. "Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to hear you saying that, Grimsley... I know we never saw things quite eye to eye, bu-AAAAAAAH!"
Iris jerked back violently and threw the Liepard away, before falling on her rear, one claw clutching tightly the right side of her face. Grimsley, on the other hand, just twirled midair and landed gracefully on his paws, completely unfazed by the strength and suddenness of his impromptu flight. Then, deaf to the whimpers of pain of the young champion in front of him, he dispelled the last strands of Dark-type energy around the paw he had used to claw at her eye and licked it clean.
"I now understand that, despite your young age, you are already as far gone as your master, Alder, little child. No shame, no dignity... you probably never really faced any hardship at all to reach your undeserved station...” Grimsley sneered.
"You said that I cannot punish those... ‘friends’ of yours just for falling in love. Indeed, you're right, that's not the reason why I'm after them." Iris looked up in confusion and no small amount of rage, just to see the Liepard tail flicker away in her corner of vision. She turned to follow Grimsley, seeing that he had started to pace around the Shiny Haxorus, making no noise whatsoever. The shadows of the trees he stepped gave the impression of somehow becoming darker and sticking to his lithe form, making him harder to see than it should have been.
"It is true that is foolish to persecute someone just because of their feelings... despite how much even I could claim to have my own under control, even I can never escape them, not even the most disgusting, self destructing ones. The thrill of the risk, the shivering of knowing your life or even your future is in danger, the excitement I feel in battle or challenging my own luck... I am slave to them as anyone else, if not even more." While Grimsley kept speaking, he started to walk right behind her. Iris tried to stand up, feeling light headed and vaguely nauseous as she held one claw on her burning eye while keeping her still good one on the Dark-type feline. Hit by a dizzy wave, she stumbled a moment, and looked down to keep herself from falling.
"As long as we keep those feelings and wishes hidden, there is no problem... as long as we have some saving grace to counterbalance the infamy they cause, they can be overlooked... like me. When I acknowledged my gambling addiction, yes, I'm fully aware of my problem, I knew of the ruin it would bring on myself and my family's name... not to mention it would have destroyed my finances... that's why I entered the League... that's why I became an Elite Four. As a top trainer of Unova, I gained a new, greater status to replace what I had lost, and my generous paychecks and investments kept my money loss balanced..." When Iris looked up again, she couldn't find him anymore. The shadows of the whole forest had started to look completely ink-black and imperscrutable, and his voice seemed to come from each of them. Under all her draconic rage, the arrogant fury she was feeling, a little sliver of fear dropped in her stomach.
"What Gene Phillips did, however, is made them known to everyone else... to try to marry his own Pokémon and make his own little disgusting secret public without considering a way out... he threw away his reason and dignity as a human being, and acted following exclusively those feelings with no filter whatsoever... like a wild, savage Pokémon... like an animal...
He stained the good name of humanity itself!" As he finished speaking, Iris could finally hear some real anger in the Liepard voice, breaking the cultured, controlled tone Grimsley always used, polished and clean like glass and as much as sharp.
She wondered how much of that slip had been calculated just to scare her even further. Grimsley was far from stupid, he knew he couldn't win in a direct confrontation with a Dragon, suddenly, feeling a little colder inside. Everything he had done so far, even letting her catch him, the talking, the pacing, giving her time to recover, everything had been aimed to scare and destabilize her, cheap shot to her now bleeding eye included.
He had ridiculed her by letting her believe to have the control of the situation. Since. The. Beginning.
"Grimsley!" Iris bellowed, feeling her draconic pride wounded and bleeding. "You shall not mock me anymore! This stops now! I am your Champion! I am the Great Dragon Master of Unova! I am the Head of the Unova League!" With each sentence she took a heavy powerful step towards the bigger tree in front of her, her strength increased by her rage and the pain in her eye now forgotten. As she got close enough, her claws grasped the thick trunk digging in the hardwood.
"And unless you want to face my fury, you will-" She pulled the trunk towards her, and the noise of old, deep roots breaking could be heard from the other side as it tilted towards her.
"-obey-" She tilted her head and stretched her neck, before she brought down the axe blades in her mouth on the tree, cleaving through it with a loud crack.
"-ME!" She turned around, the tree clutched between her claws for a short time before she just threw several hundreds pounds of dense, heavy wood high in the air and crashing down on other, smaller tree that immediately broke under the weight with a cacophony of creaking splinters.
Iris stood there, the plates on her body shifting rhythmically, pushed by the heavy breaths she took. All the rage, the betrayal, the fear that had caused her to snap started to recede, and the red haze that had seeped in her vision cleared slightly, leaving her feel tired and ashamed for the outburst.
Then, a soft, almost imperceptible weight on her left shoulder, a warm breath on the side of her face, and a familiar voice, slick as oil and black as tar, whispering softly in her ear.
"Wanna... bet on it? ...Swagger...”
The world became blood red, and Iris with it.
Axle plodded back to where he’d left Iris, covered in dried blood. At this point he wasn’t sure how much of it was his, and how much of it belonged to Grimsley’s Pokémon but that didn’t really matter.
The clearing looked like a bulldozer had run through it, repeatedly, and in the middle of the wreckage was Iris, screaming incoherently at the top of her lungs. Axle groaned. He’d known she wasn’t fully in control of her rage but he thought she had more control then... that. A white hot spike of concern and anger welled up in his chest as he moved his head back and forth across the clearing, looking for the one responsible.
“Oh... you’re back,” Grimsley’s voice said in disappointment from one of the few trees still standing. “I thought you’d be gone longer.”
Dark types, Axle thought disparagingly as he glanced towards where the relatively unscathed Liepard was lounging on a tree branch. He began to go over his options. Hmm, not enough juice left for a real fight... Iris is down and locked in a tantrum spiral and is liable to kill someone... and the smarmy bastard is lounging on a tree branch...
“It didn’t take me that long to kill them,” Axle stated gruffly. “They were pathetic things, barely worthy of their titles.” He looked towards the Liepard. “Died gargling too, heh, I stamped out their throats and they drowned in their own blood.”
Despite himself, Grimsley tensed. “I... you’re lying, I know you are.”
“I was raised in an arena until the age of twenty five where I killed every single day or I didn’t get fed,” Axle replied, a blood thirsty smile crossing his lips. “Your Tyranitar was delicious by the way, such rich flavor beneath those stony scales.” Axle licked his bloody lips.
A low growl came from Grimsley. “Impossible, my team hasn’t been beaten since those brats in Team Plasma disbanded.” He glared down at Axle, prepared to pounce if necessary.
A deep throaty laugh left Axle’s throat. “Heh... heh... heh...” The big dragon’s eyes locked on Grimsley’s. “Then you’ve never had any real competitors. They were weak... and after all... would I be standing here right now if I hadn’t killed them?” He grinned wider. “Have you ever seen what happens when you split a Bisharp’s armor open down the middle? It’s so hilarious to watch them try to keep their intestines from spilling out, and oh, the smell.” His grin got so wide that it was only by a miracle that his face didn’t crack. “To die for.”
Grimsley finally dropped his facade as he jumped from the tree and landed on the ground in front of Axle. “You monster,” he growled. “I’ll have your head for this, no one messes with my-”
“HYPERBEAM!” Axle’s maw opened and a beam of pure energy lanced out. Grimsley only had time for his eyes to widen before the beam slammed into his head and he was thrown into the ground, his ears ringing.
“Oh Arceus,” the Liepard groaned, struggling to get to his feet. “My head.”
Axle took a moment to recover before he stomped over to the Liepard and reached down with a clawed hand. “Several things. Firstly, your team is bloodied but fine.” He walked over to a tree and slammed Grimsley into it with a crunch. “Secondly, you’re not going to cause anyone in town any more problems.” He slammed him into the tree again. “And thirdly...” He brought Grimsley up to his face. “NO ONE HURTS MY MATE! DRAGON PULSE!” A blast of fiery energy slammed into Grimsley’s face and Axle threw the cat to the ground, walking over to Iris.
“I HATE, Dragons,” Grimsley groaned before passing out.
Axle looked down at Iris’ writhing form and sighed before taking in a deep breath. “IRIS! FIND YOUR CENTER AMIDST THE STORM OF EMOTIONS THAT IS CONSUMING YOUR MIND! YOU ARE STRONGER THEN IT! YOU BATHE IN THE BLOOD OF YOUR ENEMIES! NOT YOUR OWN! YOU ARE A CHAMPION OF DRAGONS! DO NOT WASTE YOUR REPUTATION AWAY THROUGH THIS CHILDISH TANTRUM!” He roared, moving his head as close to hers as he could without getting it cut off.
Iris stared up at Axle, her breathing ragged and her eyes still red with rage.
Oh hell, he thought to himself. This is going to get me my head chopped off.
He reached down and rapidly grabbed Iris by the rocking shoulders and pulled her to her feet. Then without missing a beat one of his arms lashed out and slapped her twice across the face. As she reeled backwards, Axle swept forwards and brought his mouth down on hers in his best kiss.
Iris’ body went rigged, her feet locking in the ground beneath her, her legs stiffening and refusing to move. She blinked once, twice, and the rage faded from her eyes. Looking around for a moment, she locked eyes with Axle, then. “Gah!” She jumped backwards. “What- what the hell!?!”
“You went into a tantrum spiral thanks to something that fleabag did,” Axle said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the unconscious Liepard. “I took down his three cronies, came back and knocked him out, and then kissed you.” He frowned and let out a sigh. “And now if you’ll excuse me for a moment I have a lecture to give you.” His eyes turned red. “WHAT IN ARCEUS’ NAME WERE YOU DOING YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A DRAGON?! I FOUND YOU SCREAMING AND THRASHING AROUND ON THE GROUND LIKE A BEACHED MAGIKARP SCREAMING MORE THAN ABBY DOES WITH KASAI ON TOP OF HER!” He took a big step forwards. “ARE YOU A DRAGON MASTER OR A CONFUSED TOTODILE?!”
Iris shrunk back and rubbed her head. “I don’t know what happened, I had Grimsley then he started ranting, and... I think he hit me with Swagger,” she shook her head. “After that, everything is a blur up until you kissed me.”
Axle snorted once and moved forwards so that he could look her right in the eye. “That is no excuse!” He exclaimed before his tone softened. “And it made me very worried to see my mate to be on the ground. Please don’t scare me like that in such a foolish manner again.”
“Sorry, sorry I... wait, what did you just say?” She asked in confusion.
“That at some point you are going to be my mate and I do not like the sight of you thrashing on the ground like a Poliwhirl on a frying pan,” Axle said, smiling and moving forwards to give her a lick on the cheek. “Besides, it’s embarrassing for both you as a Dragon Master and me as the one training you.”
Iris didn’t know what to say, she just... drew a blank. “Okay, I’m gonna take Grimsley back to Ponyville and give him to the Princesses,” she walked over to the unconscious Liepard and slung him over her shoulder.
“I shall join you, I’m probably going to pass out from blood loss in the next half hour so I’d prefer to do it in a town,” Axle said, walking up to her, a smile on his face. “Expect the challenge to come once your training is complete.”
“... challenge... oh right, you wanted to battle me,” she remembered her first encounter with Axle... about a week ago.
“Indeed, for the right to mate,” Axle said with a nod of his head. “And to see which of us is the one in control of the mating.”
Iris sputtered out a response. “You... I... oh Arceus.”
Axle nodded. “Indeed, I think he will hear of it at some point,” he smiled. He then leaned over and licked her cheek again. “Worry about that in the future. Let’s keep moving before my body gives out and you have to drag me to town too.”
Iris groaned, it was going to be a long day.
Gene fidgeted as he watched the seconds on the clock tick by. “It’s been too long,” he said nervously. “He should’ve gotten back by now.”
“I’m sure Draco is fine Gene,” Belle assured her husband. “And besides, we don’t want to upset River anymore than she already is.”
Gene sighed and looked down at River. The Dragonair was wrapped around his body so much so that he could barely move enough to pet her head in his lap.
“Yeah... you’re right,” he said, more trying to assure himself than anything else. “He’s a Dragon, he’ll be fine.” I hope.
“H-he was going to fight an Electivire,” River told them again, her voice cracking. “That means he has an advantage right?”
Belle nodded and smiled at River reassuringly. “That’s right, so there’s no reason to-” she was interrupted by a solid thump, of something smacking against the door.
No one moved for a moment, then Belle pulled the door open and a familiar, but very beaten looking Flygon fell into the room.
River screamed. “DRACO!” She unraveled from around Gene so quickly her tail wiped his face. “No, no, no, no!” The Dragonair was crying as she reached him and nuzzled his face. “Please be okay... you have to be okay.”
Draco opened his left eye, and for the first time River noticed his right lens was cracked. She let out a little sobbing sound and nuzzled him again.
“Don’t... look so sad... my dear,” Draco said with a soft smile. “No... two-bit.... thunder monkey... is gonna beat... me.” He sounded exhausted, and yet, he still made River smile.
“Thank Arceus you’re safe,” she said, placing her tail partially over him.
“River?” Belle said, coming up behind her. “I’m gonna move him to the couch, hopefully he’ll be more comfortable there.
River nodded and retreated from Draco, allowing Belle to pick him up in her Psychic. She placed him so his bad wing was lying against his side, while his good one was draped over the back of the couch. Gene sat down next to him and Draco placed his head on the Gallade’s lap.
“Draco... who did this to you?” Gene asked, sounding somewhat distant.
“Lt... Surge,” Draco said with a sigh. “Strong... even for an... Electivire...”
Gene wanted to ask more, but Belle put a hand on his shoulder. “He needs sleep,” she told him. “And time to heal.”
Gene stared at her for a second, then nodded. Belle placed a hand on Draco’s forehead, and before he could protest, the Flygon was drifting off to sleep.
“Gene, Belle?” Rarity’s voice called from upstairs. “Who was at the... oh dear heavens!” She gasped when she spotted Draco, lying bruised and broken on the couch. She ignored her first thought about removing blood stains and tried to remember if she had anything that might be helpful. “I think I have a first-aid kit upstairs,” she recalled buying one soon after Sweetie Belle joined the Crusaders. “Why don’t I go see if I can track it down?”
Gene smiled at the mare. “Thanks Rarity... you’re the best.”
Rarity smiled. “Oh perish the thought.”
“No,” he said seriously. “I mean it. You didn’t have to let us stay with you, but you opened your home to me and my family, you made my suit and Belle’s dress for our wedding, and stood up to that prick of a Prince for us... and you’ve only known us for a few weeks,” he shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough.”
Rarity smiled softly at Gene before walking over to him. “Gene... it doesn’t matter how long I’ve known you, you’re my friends. And I’ve really enjoyed having you around these past few weeks,” Rarity laughed lightly. “Even if they have been rather hectic.”
Gene chuckled and smiled at Rarity. “Still... thank you so much for everything you’ve done.”
“You’re very welcome Gene,” she said with a smile. “Now, why don’t I see if I can find that first-aid kit hm?”
“I’ll help look,” River volunteered. “I wanna help him.”
Rarity smiled at the Dragonair and nodded. “This way then.” She said, leading River up the stairs.
Gene sighed and had just gone back to rubbing Draco’s antenna gently when there was a knock at the door. “Oh who’s there now?” Belle asked, pulling the door open and revealing Seth and his Absol, Selena, along with Applejack and a mare Gene remembered from the wedding but whose name escaped him at the moment.
“Apple Fritter,” Belle reminded him mentally.
He nodded. “Hey Seth,” Gene said softly. Seth took one look at the Draco and nodded to Fritter. The mare moving over to the opposite side of the dragon and begun to apply a Super Potion to his more serious wounds.
“Things are never boring when you’re involved huh?” Seth replied lightly as he walked in. “I take it you heard about the town’s newest guest?”
Gene sighed and rubbed Draco’s head. “Jackass has had it out for me for years... seriously, it’s like I’m his white Wailord or something,” he shook his head. “But this is going to far.”
Seth nodded as he took a seat next to the couch, wincing slightly as he sat. “I have to agree with you there. And it’s a pity, the man has accomplished a great deal of good in his life...” The Luxray sighed as Applejack placed a hoof on his shoulder. “But he’s just so damned set in his ways, it’s blinding him to the truth.”
“... I didn’t want this to happen,” Gene said sadly. “I just wanted to be with Belle... why is the universe so against that?”
“Gene,” Belle put a hand on her husband's shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay, we’ve dealt with Rangers before.”
“They never tried to kill my family though,” he said coldly.
“And they won’t, I won’t let anything happen to you guys,” Seth said adamantly. “I’m sure Hastings isn’t beyond the point of reason, even Koga listened eventually...”
“After he poisoned you and Chrissie nearly fried that bug ‘o his,” Apple Fritter responded as she finished treating Draco.
“That too,” Seth replied with a sigh.
For a moment, Gene was silent. “I’m so tired of everyone risking themselves for me,” he said with a sigh. “Cynthia and Iris back on Earth, they could’ve been arrested. I didn’t even know HALF of what Abby and Kasai were up to, and you...” he locked eyes with Seth. “You gave up on your dreams to try and help people like me... and what was I doing? Hiding in the woods like some coward.”
“Gene, don’t say that,” Belle tried to calm him down.
“I’m so tired of feeling useless...”
Seth frowned as he got up and crossed the space between him and Gene, before placing a large paw on his chest. “You wanted nothing but happiness for Bell and yourself. It’s not a crime to want that, and I have never regretted my life choices. I don’t know Abby and Kasai all that well, but I’m positive that they’d say the same.” He removed his paw but never broke eye contact. “No matter what happens, I would never accuse you of being a coward, and neither would anyone else here. I have faith that things will work out for the best.”
Gene smiled at Seth. “Thanks, I needed a pep talk,” the Gallade stood up and smiled widely. “Cause otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to say this but... Belle? Let’s go beat up Professor Hastings.”
Seth’s eyes widened and he applied his paw to his face. This was not the intended result. Still...
“Well, I guess I’ll come help then. I do owe him a smack for a couple of things myself.”
Belle chuckled and formed a Shadow Ball in her hand. “You’ll have to get in line.” She said darkly.
“Perfect, that’s me, Belle, Seth, and... anyone else wanna come?”
Selena nodded as she moved up next to her trainer. “I guess I have to, if only to make sure my idiot trainer doesn’t get himself killed.”
“Ah reckon ah should find the others,” Applejack added. “We may not have the Elements of Harmony anymore, but me an’ mah friends can still kick flank.”
“This one still has a few injuries that need patching,” Fritter replied, motioning to Draco. “I’ll bandage him up and catch up with you guys.”
Seth nodded and gave his marefriend a brief, but passionate kiss. “Thanks Fritter.”
“Great,” Gene said, still smiling. “Aj, Rarity is upstairs, tell her we’ll be back soon with an unconscious Conkeldurr.”
“Sounds like fun,” Applejack smiled. “Just, don’t do anything rash y’hear? Ah don’t want mah friends gettin’ hurt.” She spared a glance at Seth and Fritter. “Any of mah friends.”
“We’ll try our best,” Seth smiled.
“We’ll be fine,” Gene said with certainty. “Belle has a double type advantage on him, plus,” he smiled rubbed his wedding ring/Mega Stone. “I’ll have a little surprise ready for him.”
Seth spied the stone, remembering the events of the wedding. “Good thing I’m packing as well,” he smiled, touching his own Keystone. “Now, let’s go take a Professor to school!”
Professor Juniper was trying her best to stay calm.
This was not an easy thing to do, as apparently Gene and Belle had gone off to fight Hastings.
“He’s never gone looking for trouble before,” she mused as she floated past several ponies on her way out of town. “It’s alright, he’s got Belle with him... Arceus, I hope she doesn’t kill anyone, I don’t think a self defense claim will hold once they found out she can put people to sleep.” She shook her head. “Where are you two?”
“Missing something Miss?” A familiar old voice said, catching her attention.
Looking up, Juniper found that she was floating a few feet from a Abomasnow with a rather moustache. “Professor Rowan?” She’d heard from Twilight the elder Professor was around, but she’d failed to mention what Pokémon he’d become.
Professor Rowan smiled and nodded. “It’s good to see you again Professor Juniper... a Beheeyem hm?”
Aurea sighed. “Yes, I know, it fits,” she glared at Rowan. “And just what do you think you’re doing?”
Rowan blinked. “I was on my way to meet with Princess Twilight, I heard that she lives in the tree near the center of town.”
Aurea shook her head. “No, not at this moment, I meant what were you thinking teaming up with Hastings, trying to arrest an innocent man,” she paused, then whacked him on the back of the head. “Whom I happen to be friends with by the way.”
Rowan rubbed the back of his head. “I suppose I deserved that, but you must believe me, in my stance against Poképhilia, I had the Pokémon’s best interest in mind.”
“That’s what they all say, then the Rangers brainwash them into hating their Trainers, and put down the ones who won’t listen.” Being a Regional Professor entitled a lot of things, most of it was research money and a laboratory, or responsibility, but it also gave Juniper access to information the public wasn’t. Including the Ranger Unions statics.
Rowan shook his head again. “Walk with me Juniper,” he said, continuing his walk towards Ponyville. Aurea followed, though somewhat reluctantly. “Have you ever considered why Pokémon are in different Egg Groups Juniper?”
Aurea thought on that for a second. “Similar biologies, or in some cases lack of biologies,” she shrugged. “That was always Elm’s thing, if you're curious you can go ask Mew, she apparently did create life.”
The Abomasnow chuckled. “Tempting, but not the point. As you just said, Pokémon have different biologies that could prevent breeding between certain species. Now this could be for numerous reasons, but, considering we know that Pokémon were designed, we can imply that they weren’t meant to breed with certain Pokémon.” He paused to let that sink in for a moment. “The only reason I can think of for this, is that it might be dangerous for certain species of Pokémon to breed with one another.”
Aurea had to admit, there was some evidence for that, Pokémon like Muk and Swalot rarely actually bred, rather they split off portions of themselves to form their pre-evolved forms, and Ghost Pokémon could almost never breed with a biological Pokémon.
“Okay, fine,” Aurea admitted. “But what does that have to do with Gene and Belle?”
“Well, humans and Pokémon, even ones in the Human-like Egg Group can’t breed,” Rowan said simply. “So the same danger might apply.”
Aurea had to stop to think about that one. “... you think a human and a Pokémon mating could endanger the Pokémon?” She asked, slightly confused.
“Or the human, I suppose,” Rowan added. “We don’t know how their... ahem, genetic material might react with each other.”
Aurea froze. He didn’t just imply... oh sweet Arceus he did! She shook herself off and spoke. “While that idea is... logical, I suppose, there are no facts supporting it.”
“And there are no facts supporting that it’s safe either,” Rowan pointed out, earning him a deadpan look from Juniper.
“Really?” She deadpanned. “That’s your argument?”
“It’s perfectly valid,” He defended. “Humans are intended to mate with humans because thats how their reproductive system works. If a trainer mates with their Pokémon, they don’t know what could happen, and are therefore risking their Pokémon’s life,” he crossed his arms. “Ergo, they’re abusing their Pokémon by risking their safety like that, and that’s why Poképhilia isn’t allowed.”
Juniper sighed, in a way, what he was saying made sense, but then again, she knew better. “Alright, as logical as that may sound, there are a few problems with your theory,” she cleared her throat. “First off, you’re assuming Mew meant to make them unable to breed, which is a lot of credit to give to someone who has the same mentality as a child. Second off, Poképhilia has been around since before Arceus was imprisoned, and it was perfectly legal then, when a God who literally moved Heaven and Earth to protect his Pokémon could do just about whatever he wanted... I’ll let you work the rest out. Third, Gene and Belle have been in a sexual relationship for almost eight years, and Belle is amazingly healthy, even for a Gardevoir,” she smiled. “I assume this is because of the love she gets from Gene.”
As Aurea prepared to deliver her final blow, she smirked. “And finally, above everything else,” she paused and glared at Rowan. “There are no more humans, everyone is a Pokémon now, and most are able to breed with their lovers, I heard from Twilight that Belle’s pregnant, so that entire argument-”
“Was to explain why I was with Hastings in the first place,” Rowan said crassly, arms crossed. “I know it holds very little weight now, and, unlike Lieutenant Surge, I don’t want to separate former humans from their new families.”
“... Oh,” Aurea said sheepishly. “Then... why are you looking for Twilight?”
“I just wanted to speak with her,” Rowan said, arms still crossed. “I did show up with what equates to a terrorist group yesterday, and I have no desire to go to prison.”
“Ah... sorry then,” Aurea floated to one side of the path. “I can take you to Twilight’s if you want?”
“It would be much appreciated,” Rowan said, following after her.
“Okay, I’ll admit my plan my have had a little hiccup,” Gene admitted. “But I’m still feeling optimistic about this.”
Belle pursed her lips and put a hand on his shoulder. “Gene, honey,” she said gently. “I’m really glad you’re not feeling upset anymore, and I love that you’re taking charge... but we’ve been looking for Hastings for almost forty minutes now, and we have no idea where he is... you think maybe it’s time to head back? Make sure the others don’t start to worry.”
Gene frowned. “But I don’t want to give up...”
“Running around like headless Farfetch’d won’t get us anywhere either,” Seth replied. He’d been trying to sniff out the Professor, but without a scent to go by, it could have been one of the hundreds of smells he’d already picked up. “And a thought occurs, if Hastings is gunning for you so bad, wouldn’t the better plan be to let him come to you?”
“That would involve a concrete column carrying colossus coming into Ponyville... this seemed like a better idea at the time,” Gene shrugged.
“Nice alliteration,” Seth chuckled. “But between our Pokémon, his typing alone isn’t much of a threat, plus if the rest of us are to go by, then I doubt that he’d be any good at actual combat.”
“But that makes him more dangerous,” Selena pointed out. “Especially if there are ponies around. They could get hurt by accident.”
“Suddenly sending Rika away doesn’t seem like a good idea,” Seth muttered. “Wait... I have Koga back at the library. I bet he could tell us where Hastings is!”
“Um... about that,” Gene said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. “Draco said they all kinda... scattered, when he started that Sandstorm.”
“Of course they did,” Seth groused and frowned. “Still, he’s bound to turn up eventually and us wasting effort like this will just tire us out. Seriously, it’s not like he’s gonna just walk around that corner.”
Gene frowned, then perked up and snapped his fingers. “Belle can find him,” he said, smiling again. “You can psychic... scan... sense him... right?”
Belle thought on that, and fought the urge to facepalm. “That would’ve saved so much time.” Clasping her hands together, Belle closed her eyes and expanded her psychic reach over to clearing, then further, searching until she pinpointed him. “Got him.” She said with a smile.
Hastings wasn’t sure what to do anymore, his entire plan had fallen apart...and as if to add insult to injury, its been barely a day after his ultimatum to Princess Twilight. His Rangers had abandoned him, and he was lost and alone. “If they had just handed over that little pervert,” he growled. “None of this would’ve happened,” He growled. He still couldn’t understand why the Ponies refused to just give him up. Not to mention how far they were going for a known criminal. The forest felt eerily quiet, even the sounds of the birds had stopped, but Hastings still wasn’t giving up. He was determined to find a way to make the ponies see that he was right.
Taking a break from his trek through the forest, Hastings leaned against his concrete cane. It wasn’t as nice as his wooden one back on Earth, but it felt just as light to him. Thinking about Earth brought a frown to the Professors face. “Stupid Arceus,” he muttered. “Interfering with humanity... how big headed must one be to label themselves a god?” He shook his head and sighed. “I just need to focus on finding the boy right now.”
“Looking for me?”
Hastings turned towards the sound of the voice and saw, to his surprise, that same Gallade he'd met in Manehattan leaning against one of the trees, his eyes peering out at him from under the brim of his hat. “Gene Phillips,” he said as he narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with contempt. “What an unpleasant surprise.”
Gene frowned at the Conkeldurr. “That’s not my name Hastings,” Gene took a few steps forward, still glaring at Hastings. “And we need to talk.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve seen the error of your ways, and have decided to turn yourself in for your disgusting crim-OW!” Hastings rubbed his right eye, having just been hit with a rock.
“No.” Gene said firmly, floating a few stones in a circle above his hand. “You’re not going to insult me, or my friends, and unless you want me to take out your other eye, don’t you DARE insult my relationship with my wife.”
Hastings scoffed as he pulled his hand away from his face. “Relationship my-OW!” Hastings rubbed his forehead.
“I warned you,” Gene said with a smirk.
Hastings growled. “Why you little runt!” The Conkeldurr stood up and approached Gene. “I will not be assaulted by some perverted criminal like yourself!”
Professor Hastings took another step towards Gene, and suddenly found himself struggling to stay upright as his cane was yanked away from him.
“Please refrain from insulting my husband,” Belle said, stepping out from behind a tree. “Or I’ll be forced to do something much worse than this.”
Incredibly, Hastings glare actually softened when he saw Belle. “So,” the Professor said softly, turning his gaze back to Gene. “You brought your Gardevoir to protect you?” He smirked.
Belle chuckled. “No, I just tagged along,” she said with a smile. “He knows he’d be lost without me.” Belle shoved Hastings’ cane back at him and walked over to Gene, planting a kiss on his cheek as she stopped next to him.
“I can take care of myself,” Gene mumbled.
“I’m still waiting for proof of that,” Belle said jokingly.
Gene frowned while Belle laughed, and Hastings appeared to be getting visibly sicker.
Seeing this, Belle frowned. “You know, I’ve never understood people like you,” she admitted. “You act like you treat Pokémon as equals, and yet, in every way it counts, you don’t. You don’t think I can feel love on the same level you do, so you say that people like Gene, people like Abby, corrupted and brainwashed me, when in truth,” her eyes glowed blue and Hastings felt a something pressing down on his skull. “It’d be MUCH easier for me to do it to you.”
Hastings shuddered as the feeling began to increase. “Belle,” Gene said, worry in his voice. “That’s enough.”
Almost reluctantly, Belle withdrew her powers. “I want you to understand one thing Hastings. I. Love. Gene. That is it. He didn’t brainwash me, he’s never ONCE hurt me, and the truth of the matter is that you’ve done more damage to me emotionally than he ever has.” The Gardevoir took a deep breath and leaned against her husband, happy that for once she had managed to shut up a-
“Do you?”
I swear, I’m gonna tear his mind out!
“Do you really love him?” Hastings asked, a smug grin on his face. “Or is it only because of what you are that you feel connected to him?”
“Nope, I love him,” Belle said, wrapping Gene’s arms around her. “He’s the light of my life.”
Gene smiled at Belle, then looked back at Hastings. “What are you even getting at? You’ve never tried to blame the Pokémon in a relationship before.”
“And I’m not,” Hastings assured them. “I’m saying this is why Pokémon need to be protected from people like you. She obviously doesn’t know any better.”
Belle gritted her teeth. She hated when people said she wouldn’t understand something because she was a Pokémon.
Hastings didn’t seem to care. “You see, Gardevoir’s are especially open to emotions, even more so when they spend a large amount of time around a single person.”
Shut up, shut up, shut up.
“And thus, they bond with their trainers rather easily,” Hastings looked at Gene as if he were something revolting. “Even when they shouldn’t.”
Don’t you dare.
“So it’s obvious that well Belle sensed the... unnatural attraction you had towards her, she latched onto it, grew up with it, and eventually, it grew into... this.” He gestured towards Gene, who was holding Belle tightly in his arms. Belle was shaking. “But I promise, Belle, if you come with me, if you leave him behind, I can find a way to help you,” he smiled at her. “I can make you well again.”
Belle’s shaking stopped and she opened her eyes. Looking up at Hastings, she smiled.
Hastings felt a chill run through his body. Seconds later, he felt a stabbing pain shoot through his mind.
“You. Bastard.” Belle spat in his mind, Teleporting out of Gene’s arms and in front of the Conkeldurr. “You arrogant. Idiotic. Egotistical. BASTARD!”
Psychic energy erupted around Belle’s body. “HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT?!” Hastings was on the ground now, his body paralyzed. “WHAT AM I TO YOU?! SOME MINDLESS ANIMAL?! INCAPABLE OF WHATEVER YOU DECIDE IS A REAL EMOTION, SIMPLY BECAUSE I LOOK DIFFERENT!?”
Hastings couldn’t respond, and Belle was now standing over him, a pinkish glow in her left hand. “I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP! ALL I NEED IS GENE! AND YOU ARE THE ONE REASON WHY WE COULDN’T BE HAPPY BACK ON EARTH!” She smiled and laughed. “But that’s okay now, we’re not on Earth, and Gene’s a Pokémon,” she stared down at Hastings. “And the fact that you were wrong just burns you inside doesn’t it? Gene, and me... and our children, we’ll be happy forever, and you... you’ll be the same bitter old man you’ve always been inside.”
Belle turned away from him and released him from her power. “... Abby and Seth are wrong about you, you’re not a good man, you’re just... nothing.”
Hastings gritted his teeth. “Why you...” he grabbed his cane and swung it around, but was interrupted by a large black paw, stopping the cane from striking the hysterical Gardevoir.
“Belle, you need to calm down,” Seth said gently, not even sparing a glance at Hastings for the moment. “While you have made some valid points, you need to stop before you takes things too far and do something you’ll regret.” The Luxray took a breath as he looked down at the Conkeldurr and his gaze hardened. “And you, striking at a Pokémon out of anger. Is that what the head of the former Ranger Union has become? If you keep this up, I will be forced to place you under arrest!”
Hastings blinked once, then frowned. “And who the heck are you then?” He asked, standing himself up and leaning heavily on his cane.
Oh! This was going to be interesting. The Luxray stared back at him, and a small smile crossed his muzzle. “Me? I am Captain Seth Alexi Crescent, of the Crescent Division of the Royal Canterlot Guard.”
Hastings blinked once, then shook his head. “Of course, the misled Poképhiles rights activist,” he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Why wouldn’t you show up now, with the way things are going, I should’ve expected this... and did they really make you an officer?”
“Stopped an insane unicorn that was mind-controlling Pokémon, almost foiled a Phantom Fox heist, built better relations between Pokémon and Ponies in Canterlot... but, who’s counting right?” The Luxray chose to ignore Hasting’s little jab, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t heard it all before. “But seriously... don’t you think enough is enough? What will this accomplish? What do you get out of breaking up two Pokémon that love one another?”
The Professor huffed. “This isn’t about species anymore, it’s about upholding our laws, I will not allow criminals to go unpunished simply because some big-headed Pokémon decided to mess up humanity!”
“Oh just accept that Arceus is a God,” Belle said with a sigh. “Or is your sense of human superiority so high you can’t accept that a Pokémon created the universe?”
Seth sighed as he looked at the former Professor. “It doesn’t matter what you think of Arceus, end result is that he did what he did, we’re here now. Our laws no longer apply, and if you really want to get technical...” Seth cleared his throat and stared at him. “Since the individuals known as Gene Phillips and Belle Phillips were married in Equestria, they are recognised as Equestrian citizens. They are bound by Equestria laws and thus your argument is invalid. Should you wish to apply your laws, then they would have to be returned to the place of the crime... Earth.” He smiled at that last part. “So yeah, best of luck with that~”
Hastings tightened his grip on his cane. “I’ve devoted my life to helping Pokémon,” he said through gritted teeth. “To stopping people like him, it’s how I was raised, and now... now I’m just suppose to stop?”
“You’ve done a lot of good Albert,” Seth said, not once raising his tone. “You invented the Capture Styler, a device that harmlessly calms an enraged Pokémon. You created the Ranger’s, that have saved countless lives of both Pokémon and humans. But think, I mean stop and really think. Why are you doing this? Are you doing what you think is best for them? Or what you think is best for you? Does anyone really have the right to make a decision like that?”
“I.... heh, this is suppose to be simple,” Hastings said, shaking his head. “The Union was supposed to arrest you, rehabilitate your Pokémon... that was suppose to be it,” his eyes fell on Gene. “You weren’t suppose to avoid us for so long, you certainly weren’t suppose to get the Champions on your side... and that wedding,” he scoffed. “I had Regional law agencies and the International Police on my case for weeks after that, and somehow, you even turned some of my top Rangers against me.”
“Actually, Abby and Kasai were together before we met them,” Gene corrected him. “And we didn’t know they were Rangers until we got here, so you can’t blame me for that.”
He glared at Gene for a second before continuing. “I ended up working on your case personally, first case I’ve worked in decades. I tried to piece everything together, find something, anything that proved you’d abused your team... but as reports and interviews came in... I. Got. Nothing.” He stamped the ground with his cane angrily. “Oh sweet Arceus, that was that Gene? But... he seemed so nice,” he said in a mocking voice. “I’m sorry sir, but the Gardevoir just seemed so... normal.” He growled and stamped the ground again. “NOTHING!”
Gene tapped his chin contemplatively. “Hmm... did you ever consider that might be because I DIDN’T abuse my team... my family?”
Hasting’s shook his head and continued. “You somehow managed to trick or otherwise convince everyone you met into thinking you were a normal Trainer for three years after the wedding, and I still don’t know how long before that.”
“Four,” Belle said with a smirk. “And it would’ve been longer, but someone was too dense to realize I liked him.”
“I thought you were just being clingy and protective,” Gene defended.
“STOP IT!” Hastings shouted, slamming the ground again. “You may have fooled everyone else, with your cute little act, with that sweet facade you put up, but you won’t fool me, I’ve seen what you people are capable of, I know how you work. It’s why I’ve devoted so much time into stopping sicko’s like you... no Pokémon should ever have to suffer like that... like she did.”
“She?” Gene asked in confusion.
Hastings gritted his teeth. “My partner... my dear little Mienfoo,” he looked away for a second and wiped his eyes before turning back to Gene. “But that doesn’t matter now,” he said with a smile. “I’m calling it, if I can take you out, if I can bring you to justice... then I can finally retire.” The Conkeldurr laughed and glared at Gene. “So... will you turn yourself in?”
Gene glared back at Hastings and his arm blades extended. “I’m NOT leaving my wife.”
Hastings sighed, as if he’d been expecting something like that. “Very well.” The Conkeldurr shifted his cane from one hand to the other, as if testing its weight before swinging it at Gene and Belle.
It bounced off of Belle’s force field, much to Hastings surprise, and Gene stepped forward. “You know, Abby asked me not to hurt you... well, I think it was more aimed at Belle, but now I’m thinking,” his eyes flashed blue. “That she should've been more worried about me.”
Belle stepped forward and stood next to her husband. “Because let me tell you something Professor, I will not be separated from Belle. In case you didn’t hear her before, I’m going to be a father soon... and I will not let you keep me from my children,” Gene smiled and rubbed his wedding ring... his Key Stone. “So let me show you something Hastings,” he grabbed Belle’s hand. “Let me prove to you just how strong our bond really is.”
He grabbed Belle and pulled her into his arms. “Belle, my love,” he said gently, leaning in close before whispering in her ear. “It’s time to Mega Evolve.” He closed the last few inches between his lips and hers and kissed her deeply as a sphere of energy so bright that everyone else in the area had to look away enveloped the couple.
When the light show finally faded, the sight left Hastings staring, and Seth smirking.
“Get ready,” Gene, now in his Mega form alongside Belle in her own, said. “Cause here we come!”