Author's Notes:

This is part two of two of my crossover with Evowizard25 and his story A New World, A New Conflict.
It also contains SPOILERS for that story! This is your last chance to turn back before you get spoiled, again!
This is the chapter that will either make or break my reader count, I feel. And you'll see why. We flirt very hard with the rating system in this chapter. We buy it a drink and suggest that we take the rating system back to our place in this chapter. And then we come close to describing things in this chapter, but I think I'm good. Possibly.

Vincent turned and walked up the stairs, and not a moment later, a Scizor with barely-noticeable thicker chitin walked down and looked from both the Kirlia in the lobby to the hole in the wall. Slung across his back was a huge brown sack of some sort, filled with round objects. “Do I...want to know?”

“That depends,” Lia grinned deviously. “Do you like having your sanity?”

Sam slowly blinked before extending a claw. “Permit me to introduce myself. Sam, also known as Subject Thirty-Six. Sanity’s not something I was exposed to in large doses if you know our story.”

“I’m Lia,” the little Kirlia smiled cutely at him and shook his claw with her hand. “I’m a general in my big brother’s army.”

“Nice to meet you Lia. And I’m guessing we could swap horror stories all day, but that’s not why I’m here. I said I’d have some Berries for some Zebras I met, any idea if they’re here?”

“They’re right outside,” Lia chirped. “My big brother is having them repair the wall...and trying to get them to install lasers in it. Preferably green ones.”

Sam blinked a few times and actually looked at the hole before pointedly looking back at Lia. “Nope. Not asking. Not even thinking of going out there anymore until the crazy has passed. Do you think you could get one of them to come in so I can avoid going out?”

“Crazy passed?” Lia sent him a deadpanned gaze. “You don’t know us well enough, do you?” She shook her head. “But I can get one of them in here. PERUI, FRONT AND CENTER!” She roared in her voice.

As quick as lighting, one of the zebra soldiers was before her saluting. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Berries,” Lia pointed at the bag Sam was carrying. This prompted the Scizor to shrug it over his shoulder and drop it to the ground before them.

“Now we’ve only just started, really, but we do have a few extras, so we can give you a few basic ones for yourself. These grow quickly as compared to local crops, and ponies and Pokemon alike should find them enjoyable.” Sam pulled out a clawful carefully. “Cheri, Chesto, Persim, Oran, Leppa, Aspear, Pecha, Rawst.” He then carefully put them back in the bag and nodded. “Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.”

“Well….” Perui blinked slowly. “There goes the starvation problems...Lucky Equestrians have everything.”

Sam shot a deadpan glare at Perui before opening his mouth. He then seemed to reconsider and closed it before shaking his head and looking at Lia. “Think he should know?”

Lia just shrugged. “Eh, if you want.”

Sam nodded and turned back to Perui before crouching down so that they were eye to eye. He then began to whisper so that the others would only just be able to hear him. “One I consider my little brother was forced...forced...by a madman to inject me with a solution that, for all he knew, would end up killing me. Say we have it easy again, I dare you.”

Perui looked at Sam with wide eyes. “What the hay? Inject? Kill? Solution? That stuff happens in Equestria?”

“It happened on Earth,” Sam gently corrected. “Us and thirty-five others had the misfortune to not die at the hands of that psychopath. Eight-hundred and fourteen found release from him in death. We’re not native Equestrians, and we have not had it easy. Nor does every pony. They have a better shot, true, but we’ve seen the darker side. You’re just as speciest towards ponies as they are towards Pokemon.”

Perui huffed. “Well excuse me for not exactly being all friendly with ponies. They don’t have to worry about death twenty four seven. They have cushy lives and full bellies. You had a hard life, I understand. You aren’t native and they fear you. I’ve lived my whole life here and I am a zebra. You wouldn’t see us building such great cities like this one. Oh yes, we’ve got some, but they don’t flash and dazzle and pour booze at every corner.”

“Vincent said a few things to me when we were allowed to interact,” Sam mused. “And this one fits well with our constant attempts to escape. Along with your situation. ‘Be the change you want to see in the world. The past only defines the future if you let it.’”

He then stood back up and stared down at Perui before expounding on the saying. “You’re caught in an endless cycle of ‘this is what was, this is what is, this is what will be, and this is my role because of these things, and I will perpetuate this cycle for the next...and the next.’ If you don’t act to make a better, brighter future, then you better start looking in the mirror, all you zebras, as to why you don’t seem to see one. We were caught in a security system that never shut off and kept us shut in, and we never lost hope.”

“We haven’t lost hope,” Perui shot back. “We have our King and the Commander. They’ll fix it.” He grabbed the bag and put it over his shoulder. “And I’ll fight and die to make it happen. I’m a soldier. That’s what I’m supposed to do.”

“Don’t place your hope in people,” Sam said softly. “Place your hope in your home, your nation, in the idea of a brighter tomorrow. People can be killed. Ideas...ideas don’t die unless you let them. Fight for your leaders, but place your hope in the intangible things you fight for.”

“I fight for my king and the commander,” Perui frowned. “If they die, Zebrica’s bright future dies with them. That’s a fact.”

“Only if you let it,” Sam repeated softly. “Had I died before I got Vincent or Lucy out, they would have kept fighting, kept trying, because I gave them hope for their future. They would never have let my death stop them. You can’t kill an idea. Hope for that, and fight for the ones that would see it come to life.”

“We don’t have enough hope to go around in Zebrica,” Perui snorted. “Not now. Maybe in times to come...I have to help fix the wall and get these berries back home to feed my kin.”

Sam nodded once. “Plant the seeds and save some. Best start a stockpile early. Never know what will happen. And try to hope again. The greatest crime is choosing not to. It’s essentially giving up on life, but marching on anyways because you’re not ready to die.”

“I’ll die when I raise that damned Alpha Dog’s head on a pike,” Perui grinned. “I’ll die a happy stallion. No regrets there.”

“There’s a Hyena Dog, a really big one, that’s trying to raise an army,” Lia explained. “He’s been a big pain for Zebrica in the last few years, but we stopped him...for now.”

Sam nodded and winced while rubbing at his neck. “I can understand, believe me. Anyways, do take care. I have to go back and make sure the Berries are doing alright up on the roof.”

The Scizor turned and walked up the stairs, and then a Lucario with slightly smaller spikes walked in through the front door, an exasperated look on her face. “Do I want to know?” she asked the room at large.

“That depends,” Lia grinned deviously. “Do you…”

“Oh buck this,” Perui interrupted, storming off. “That catchphrase gets old quick.”

Lia shot her tongue out at him. “Big meanie.”

Lucy looked at the retreating Zebra and raised an eyebrow in Lia’s direction. “I’m guessing he has issues?”

“Don’t we all?” Lia shot back, tilting her head cutely to the side.

“Fair enough,” Lucy chuckled. “Okay, two questions. Are the ones out front fixing the damage or making it worse? I couldn’t tell.”

“Making it better…” Lia started. “Unless you don’t like green lasers.”

Lucy open and shut her mouth a few times before shaking her head. “Nope, not continuing that line of questioning.”

“A lot of people don’t,” Lia offered. “So don’t feel bad about it.”

“I get the feeling you do this a lot,” Lucy mused. “Second question. Is Vincent alright?”

Lia started to sweat and looked around. “Ummm….yes.”

Lucy noticed and sighed before placing a paw on the little Psychic’s shoulder. “Look, I just want to know where my boyfriend is and if he’s unharmed. Everything else is fixable, in time.”

“Well, my big brother got one of his soldiers to bust in a new wall...mostly to make a bigger door...and he distrusts new doorknobs sometimes. That and he thought Vincent could be like his daddy, but we talked it out and that isn’t true. So now he’s sleeping, we’re fixing the wall, and we’re all bestest friends.”

Lucy breathed deeply a few times and pointedly looked away as she got her protective instincts under control. “Just so you know? Insinuating that Vincent could ever be like the Doctor is near the top of the list of ‘horrible things I would hurt you over doing.’ But if you and he talked it out and he saw fit to let you all remain, I’ll withhold my anger. For now.”

“...You still seem angry,” Lia looked a little frightened, ready to bolt if the stranger tried anything to hurt her. “Maybe we could go get ice-cream or something. That always makes me happy.”

Lucy breathed deeply a few more times and took her paw off of Lia’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. My protective nature flares up something awful concerning threats and insults made to Vincent. He’s fine, so that helps. But calling him that hurts him on a level most couldn’t understand. The kind of hurt I am lucky if it goes away. So...please, don’t mention it around him again? He calls himself by his last name because he’s trying to take it back from his father, not tie himself to him.”

“I understand what you mean,” Lia said. “My big brother hates it when people say he’s just like his daddy….His daddy was very mean and hurt people all the time because he didn’t like humans, but he’s dead now so we don’t have to worry. A human shot him….and please don’t scare me like that, miss pretty lady.”

Lucy smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m Lucy. And it was an instinctive reaction. I’m getting better about controlling them, but sometimes, someone pokes just the wrong button, even by accident.”

“I know,” Lia nodded. “I have some friends who are Lucarios...they like to beat each other though, but that’s only for fun and one of them is about my age. He acts weird and keeps turning red when we talk.”

Lucy paled and tried to not think of certain things. She didn’t want to have to explain anything, thank you kindly, and she didn’t know how powerful this psychic was. “Interesting. Well, I have a boyfriend to comfort, so if you don’t mind…”

“What’s it like to have a boyfriend? I asked miss Belle and she said being in love is great.”

Lucy sighed happily as she thought about Vincent. “Having a boyfriend that genuinely cares about you for you...it’s almost indescribable. It’s one of the best things to have happened to me, and I’m glad someone finally got it through his thick head that I liked him like that. I also thank him every day that he accepted my confession for him, and he thanks me back for accepting his.”

“That settles it!” Lia proclaimed. “I, Lia Joy, will get a boyfriend….Now I think I need to just find one. My friend Lu, he’s the Riolu I was talking about, he’s great with finding things...when he isn’t being shy. I don’t know why he does it. Everyone else says he isn’t.”

Lucy merely facepawed and groaned underneath it. “Far be it from me to meddle...but I feel like I have to, kid, otherwise my situation will repeat itself.”

“Meddle?”

Lucy nodded and removed her paw. “Someone finally got it through to Vincent that love can be found in the unexpected places. Both far...and very, very near to you. Something you could stand to learn as well, it seems.” She made sure the bait was nice and thick.

“Both far and very, very near to me?” Lia tapped her chin and gasped. “A mystery! It’ll be like one of those Agatha Christie novels.”

Lucy sighed and took a knee. “No...it’s a metaphor, kid. Finding love far away means looking for it all over. Whereas finding love nearby means it was always there in a person close to you, you just didn’t think to look there. Which one do you think applies to your situation and mine?”

“Well you fell for, let’s see, your brother?” Lia eyes widened. “But I only have one brother….ewwww. No, not Sev.”

Lucy sputtered a bit. “Okay, three things. One, please don’t go poking into my head again without my permission. Two, Vincent and I aren’t related by blood, we merely called each other brother and sister, because we were brother and sister in captivity. And three, you don’t have to look that close, but you have mentioned someone close to you multiple times...someone who shows all the typical signs I did when I loved Vincent and he didn’t know it.”

“Sorry, miss Lucy,” Lia wrung her hands. “I sometimes forget about the ‘no reading minds without permission’ rule my mommy said. And my brother and me aren’t related by blood. My mommy is Nurse Joy, so she’s not either. And are you implying Lu? You can’t be. He’s my best friend.”

Lucy merely smiled wide before replying. “And what do you think Vincent and I were before we became boyfriend and girlfriend? Strangers? A relationship built on trust is best, because you know the other person would never hurt you. Friendships evolve, bonds change, over time, much like Pokemon do.”

“But we’re just friends….” Lia frowned. “He never said anything about that kind of stuff.”

Lucy gently got to her knees in front of the Kirlia and smiled a far softer smile. “Because he’s afraid of losing you if he does,” Lucy said. “He’s afraid that if he tries to change the bond between you, that you won’t like it, and he’ll lose you as a friend. So though he may stand idly by and not say it, rest assured, he does like you. He just can’t say it without fear.”

Lia crossed her arms and pouted. “Fear? I wouldn’t hate him. I’d never ‘not’ be his friend….but are you really sure he like likes me?”

Lucy nodded before explaining. “I was like that around Vincent. I wanted to talk to him, wanted to tell him how I felt, but I was afraid, constantly, of losing my brother, my best friend, forever. That he wouldn’t, couldn’t, return my feelings in the same way. It would have hurt worse than anything if he didn’t, and the fear kept me silent. The fear of losing him to another, of spending my life alone because the one I loved didn’t love me back. The same fear holds your friend Lu now...and the question you have to ask yourself is, what are you going to do about it?”

Lia stomped a foot in determination. “Be his girlfriend, kiss him, and then when we get older, go to another room and make weird noises….I have no idea why though.”

Lucy stifled a laugh and desperately kept the imagery out of her head. “You’ll find out when you’re older. But I’d ask your mother over your brother. Perhaps by mentioning you’re going after a boyfriend, she’ll open up about what adults do in that other room to make those noises. But if she doesn’t, you’d best respect that.”

“Okay,” Lia nodded. “So...should I just go up and kiss him and say he’s my boyfriend now?”

Lucy shook her head. “Nope. Ask him what he thinks of you...then of what he really thinks of you, and if he tries to deflect the question, tell him how you feel about him. That’ll draw his own confession out. Or at least, it did for me.”

Lia frowned. “Well, I kind of already know what he thinks, but I didn’t know he liked me like that. I mean, he did try and save me from those Hyena Dogs. He was so brave.” She swooned a little. “Oh my gosh, I am an idiot for not seeing this before.”

Lucy gently bopped Lia on the nose. “Yep. But the reason you’re asking is because ‘supposedly,’ you don’t know about his feelings. You want to get him to confess, not confess that you already know about his feelings. That undermines it totally. Make him confess to you, and do the same for him. And from there, love is an adventure you take together.”

“I kind of just want to relax for a bit,” Lia sighed. “Maybe we could travel down a slow moving river in a small boat so we could cuddle. Something nice, with slow music and no monsters. For the love of Arceus, I am sick of monsters ruining everything.”

“A good first or second date idea,” Lucy commented. “Buuut you’re not going to snag your boy sitting here. Oh, and word of advice? If your brother is protective of you, then never leave your boyfriend alone with him unless you want to torture him.”

Lia blanched. “Duly noted.”

“Now g’on,” Lucy said with a wink before standing straight again. “Go get your boy. I have to make sure mine is still as intact as he was this morning.”

“I will,” Lia grinned. “And you’re invited to the wedding. Oh, it’s going to be so big and awesome. You’ll love it.”

Lucy merely sighed as she watched the Kirlia run out the front door with a skip in her step.

“Was I that young?” She questioned herself before shaking her head.

“Nah…”

“So my lady zebra,” Fredrick said as the duo returned to his restaurant, “What did you think of your tour of the sights of Las Pegasus?”

“Not bad,” Elire smiled. “Not bad at all, chicken.”

“I’m glad to have lived up to your oh-so-high expectations, mi’lady,” Fredrick shot back. “Might I offer you a nightcap before showing you home?”

“You mean the blimp?” Elire shook her head. “Nah, we’re here overnight. I was thinking of finding a little hotel to stay in. One of those fancy ones. Might as well make use of some of the king’s money while I can.”

Fredrick tutted in the back of his throat. “Pity. I can only think of three that are any good, when you look behind the scenes at how they’re actually run, and you have to make a reservation at least a week in advance to have a room.” He then looked around shiftily and sighed before hanging his head. “And if I proffer the first alternative that comes to mind, I believe I’ll end up with a hoof to my beak.”

“You mean your place?” Elire asked. “Hey, I don’t want to spend another night with a bunch of sweaty guys who snore all night long. I’ll take what I can get.”

Fredrick smirked slightly. “Oh good. I live upstairs, so not much travel time to get you there.” With that, the griffon opened up a door in the back of the kitchen to reveal a set of previously-unseen stairs. “Ladies first.”

“Only because you like peeking,” Elire chuckled as she trotted up.

“My dear, I do not peek. I only observe such delicacies when freely proffered. I’ll have you know I avert my eyes from such locations when a female goes before me, unless she’s going before me to my bedroom for very different reasons than you are. By the way, first door on the right.”

Elire hummed as she came to the door. “I bet you couldn’t wait to get me in there,” she smirked.

“Quite true, but seeing as how you’ve expressed no such interest in myself with word or deed, I’ll be in the guest bedroom just across the hall,” the griffon said. “I do hope my housekeeping meets with your approval, mi’lady.”

Elire rolled her eyes. “Oh shut it with the chivalry and help me out of my armor. Chafes like nothing else.”

“Were I not chivalrous, I would be betraying some of the things my father imparted to me, so no, I don’t think I shall stop,” Fredrick said while winking. “Though as you request, I shall aid you in removing your gear. Talons do make such a task far easier.”

Elire snorted, whipping her tail across her backplates. “We’ll see.”

In just a moment’s time, Fredrick had located and pulled apart one of the straps keeping her back armor together. “You were saying, milady?” Were his voice any more smug, she could have tasted it on the air.

Elire pouted. “Okay, you won that.”

The rest of the straps came apart in a trice, and the back armor thudded off of her form into the ground. “You know, I was dreadfully wrong earlier,” the griffon said in a hushed tone. “You’re not beautiful. You’re a goddess.”

“Oh stop it,” Elire grunted. “I’m not that pretty. You don’t have to make up stuff like that.”

“Beauty is more than just what you look like. It’s how you hold yourself, take care of yourself. It’s what you do throughout your entire day and life that defines who you are, and taking pride in that and your self? That is true beauty.”

“Well….” Elire didn’t know how to respond, other than to blush. She then noticed that the griffon had placed his rear half on the floor and carefully positioned his front legs between that and her eyes, shifting slightly to keep it there.

“I apologize, milady, but it seems a situation has developed, and I must leave you for the night to avoid offending you.”

“Well, you’re not offending me. Quite the opposite really….and you mean those things you said? No lies?”

Fredrick nodded and carefully lifted one of his talons to his chest. “My word as an Equestrian Citizen, dear lady. I never lie about a lady’s beauty. It would be an offense against that which my mother taught me. Still, I should leave you be for the night.”

“You don’t have to go,” Elire spoke up. “I’m used to sharing a room.”

Fredrick sighed before accepting his fate regarding saying the next words. “Including sharing the room with a very aroused male?”

“I’m in the army,” Elire deadpanned.

“Ah,” Fredrick nodded. “But here’s there only the one bed, barely large enough for two. I can tell you right now, we share that bed, you will feel things regarding griffons you did not know before. Things you may not want to know.”

“I can take it,” Elire snorted. “And if it’s too small, I’ll just lay on you. You seem big enough.”

Fredrick blinked a few times before giving his largest grin. “Who was it who said that zebras don’t just throw themselves at strangers?”

Elire sputtered, blushing. “I am not throwing myself onto you, chicken. I am simply resting with you in close proximity. Besides, I haven’t even done that stuff yet so I wouldn’t know exactly how to do it.”

“Hm,” Fredrick said with a nod. “I can offer you lessons, of a sort, that would keep your maidenhood intact, but still give you pleasure like no other. True, ‘twould be frustrating for me, but a mare like yourself deserves to know.”

“Pleasure like no other?” Elire chuckled. “You? Really? You’re pulling my leg.”

Fredrick’s grin grew wider as he held up his talons and said, “You have no idea what I can do to you with these. Even dull.”

“I’m not afraid of your claws.”

“Oh no,” he said, his expression never faltering. “But by tomorrow morning, you’ll wonder how you lived without them, if you let me. How much of what happens tonight depends on you, but I would be so very remiss if you did not walk out my door a wiser mare for your time here.”

“A wiser mare?” Elire looked him over before sauntering over to the bed, her flank shook too and fro slightly as she walked. She hopped onto the bed. “Prove it, chicken. Come on.”

Fredrick walked up behind her and sighed softly. “By all that is good, I’m not sure what I did to deserve another zebra in my bed, but I will make sure you remember this time, milady Elire. Now…” He brought his claws close to his prize. “This is how I start for mares like you...don’t be afraid to scream or yell, it lets me know I’m doing a good job.”

“I doubt you’ll get more than a squeal out of me,” Elire shot at him playfully, whipping her tail gently across his beak.

“Oh don’t worry,” the griffon said softly as he began his most pleasant task, “I’ll be keeping score.”

“No, I’ll be keeping score,” Elire smirked. “Maybe you’ll be the one screaming by the night’s over.”

“That would require you to reciprocate, with experience,” Fredrick mused. “And I’ve already stated that tonight is going to be about teaching you, the virgin, about sex. Now shush and take your lesson, teacher’s order.”

“I don’t remember these kind of lessons in school.” Elire grinned. “Is there going to be a pop quiz later?”

“Only if you’re a very good or very naughty mare,” the griffon whispered right in her ear. “Now how about this for variety?”

“Oooh~ Elire likes. Elire likes very much.”

“They always do.”

Lucy sat next to Vincent, holding him as he slowly began to cry himself out. There was more this time, I know it. Picking at or removing the seal for even a short period of time is starting to look like a bad idea. A very bad one. I'm remembering more and more, and it hurts.

The Lucario sighed and held her boyfriend a bit closer. "What is it you say? Somebody has to remember? Remember, and fight their legacy?"

The Kadabra sniffed once before nodding and adding to his sister's statements. Otherwise, they died for nothing. The things I've seen and heard...I'm not a real doctor, but I would be surprised if the things he did weren't at least applicable to a medical school here.

Lucy smiled and softly beeped the Kadabra's nose. "First a detective, then a landlord, now a doctor? Make up your mind as to what you want your job to be, Vincent."

He groused at that. Hey, I already have. Landlord is going to be a full-time thing. I might look into becoming a private eye once things settle down in Las Pegasus, but even if I do, it'll only be a side job. Improving public relations between ponies and Pokemon...that's my real goal. That's what I want. The fact that I'd be darn good at being a private eye is only a side benefit.

Lucy chuckled softly. "So you'd go looking for the secrets of others, eh? What about your own? What secrets do you have, my love? What do you want?"

The Pyschic sat up and hugged Lucy close before replying. I have all I want right here, he said.

He didn't see Lucy's small frown, though...

Elire panted on the bed, Fredrick not far from joining her. He’d nearly had to wear himself out, but, personal mission accomplished: he had a still-technically virgin mare in his bed that was all worn out, sticky, sweaty, and very, very happy. He smiled before sighing and turning to the door. Time to head back to the guest room. She’d thank him later, he was sure.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Elire spoke up. The griffon turned back to see she’d propped herself up with one hoof.

“To my bed,” he replied. “I’ve done all I can while making sure you retain your maidenhead, and you’ve no experience in reciprocation, so I’m off to deal with my issues in isolation.”

Elire glared at him. “No, you’re dealing with your issues here. That is an order.”

“First of all, not in your chain of command,” Fredrick shot back. “And second, you just watching won’t be very worth your while. And I’m not forcing you into anything, so I really see no reason to remain.”

“Hmph, don’t see any reason to remain,” Elire scoffed. “You really are a chicken, you know that?”

“I am NOT touching you like that without permission,” the griffon stated plainly. “That’s the fastest way to disrespect both my parents teachings and the law. And you’ve said nothing regarding giving me such permission.”

“You just finger fucked me,” Elire rolled her eyes. “Permission was given.”

“For that, yes. This,” he gestured to his lower half, “is a bit more bothersome.”

“Oh for the love of our gods,” Elire tackled him, pinning him to the bed. “Do I bucking have to talk baby talk to your face to make you see the bucking obvious?”

“No, just give me permission to buck you, the still-technically-virgin, into next week with all of me. Otherwise I’ll pick myself up and walk out that door.”

Elire growled and kissed him hard. Pulling back she looked him in the eyes. “Do it. Do it so hard I won’t be able to walk straight for days. Just bucking do it, chicken.”

Fredrick grinned and grabbed a hold of her flanks with both claws. “Well then, hold on to your name and mine, cause I’d like for you to remember something when all’s said and done.”

Vincent had recovered rather quickly, all things considered. He walked down to the foyer and saw that the wall had been patched up. This gave him hope for a moment, and then he walked out the front door.

A green beam of energy shot right over Vincent’s head. “YES!” Sev shouted. “The lasers work….Now I just need to make them not shoot the owners.”

Vincent slowly raised a hand. Question. Why are there lasers, and do they pose a danger?

“No,” Sev said, before a Sableye soldier was struck with one of the lasers, throwing him to the ground. “Possibly….He’s not dead.”

“Owww.” The Sableye groaned. “It’s alright.”

...Please tell me there’s some sort of targeting system hooked up to them. Please. To say the Kadabra was desperate would be like saying water was slightly damp.

Sev blinked slowly for a few seconds. “A targeting system?....That could work.”

...Might I inquire as to just what the hell you ARE using for them to aim, then?

“Motion sensors,” Sev moved his head out of the way of a blast. “Very slow motion sensors apparently. I’ll need to get new ones.”

Vincent merely smiled as he felt a certain connection come close. Oh, that’s okay. One of my friends is here, he can help. I’ll have him work on it. Oh Bit! Take care on the approach, we apparently have lasers now!

A Porygon-Z floated into view from down the road and calmly dodged an incoming laser. “Interesting. These devices, when linked, could be useful, were I manning them. Or even if I merely rewrote whatever they are using to aim. What are they using, do you know?”

Motion sensors. Old ones or slow ones, take your pick.

Bit nodded and drew close to the house, searching for a laser. It took a moment, but when he located it, he blinked a few times and shook his head. “I do not possess sufficient functions or permissions on my own, the ones regarding security systems have been locked. Vincent, if you would?”

The Kadabra sighed and said the next words in a very drained voice. Subject sixteen, this is master Vincent.

The Porygon blinked again, his yellow eyes turned green, and he held himself ramrod straight. “Online, master Vincent. What can this unit do for you?”

This building now possesses a laser defense system, but the motion tracking it uses is old and outdated. Upgrade it and take command of it, to fire only on mine.

The Porygon-Z nodded once. “Understood.” He then turned back to the laser and scanned it. “Estimated time for upgrade: Ten minutes, with the proper parts. Where can this unit obtain said parts?”

“Proper part?” Sev thought out loud. “Perhaps we could use scrap, like most of the parts were made up of, or some of the king’s own more ‘unique’ additions. Or buy them.”

Bit turned his head first, and then his body, in Sev’s direction, before dinging once. “If this unit is directed to the proper scrap materials, then the parts can be either found or made. Where is this scrap?”

“Private First Class Snore!” Sev shouted.

Just then, a burly Snorlax came along, carrying quite an odd assortment of junk, placing it at their feet. Bit dinged at the sight, his eyes bathing the pile in a green glow as he scanned it, before letting out a chime.

“Parts or the correct scrap detected. Please stand back while this unit proceeds to work.”

“You cannot order me,” Sev shot back…. “Everyone stand back while he does his thing. This is my idea!”

As the Pokemon stood to one side, Vincent looked on with an aura of extreme sadness. Even as Bit pulled metal from the pile and began to use his...unique assortment of moves to fuse and weld the parts to the lasers, Vincent didn’t cheer up at all.

The Doctor broke him, he whispered. An Up-Grade and Dubious Disk at the same time. Imagine Evolving, but still feeling it all happening. The pain was second to what the Doctor did next. Bit was stuck in the mainframe of the lab for the next eight years. Programmed to respond to the Doctor’s voice. Forced to do his every order.

“I will make sure to add that to the ever larger points against humanity,” Sev hissed in anger. “But why are you moping still? I built you a laser house. A LASER HOUSE! A smile would do.”

Because I had to use HIS system. I wish it was never there. I wish Bit was free to access all of his functions. I...I loathe having this power. Having Bit TRUST me with this power. I could order him to do anything, and he would. I could tell him to delete his own memory, to save himself the pain...and he WOULD. Nobody should have that level of control over another.

“Well then why don’t you mozy onto a train and ask Arceus?” Sev asked. “Poof, problem solved………..On second thought, that is kind of cheap.”

No kidding, Vincent said. Plus, you’re talking about the wrong Legendary. Genesect would probably be our best bet. Or the Regis. Or their ‘father,’ Regigigas. They deal with information in a similar manner to Bit. But Genesect is on a little mission right now, most likely, and good luck getting the Regis to feel anything.

“Then you are in a pickle,” Sev said. “A very bad kind of pickle. The kind of pickle that has been left out for too long in the sun, thrown into the garbage, taken out and bitten and then thrown into the woods because the guy realized that he was eating out of the garbage.”

...Your metaphors tend to get away from you, I’ve noticed. Perhaps that’s what she meant by ‘he grows on you.’ Vincent actually laughed. It was a weak and strangled thing, but it was there. And yes, we are in a spot of bother. One of our own doing. Someone has to find the families of the victims and tell them their fate. Genesect volunteered.

“And what was Bit doing when you talked with Genesect?”

Giving that information to the Regi Trio in exchange for a highlighted history of Earth, as told by the Regis.

Sev frowned. “All of Earth’s history?”

Not all, Vincent clarified. Just what the Regis had access to before they were sealed, and only the highlights. There is no way he could hold ALL the information without a computer to dump it into.

“Good,” Sev huffed. “If there is one thing I would like nothing better for is that my father is forgotten. I do not want his history marring my own.”

Vincent slowly turned to look at the Seviper before laughing, long and low.

“What’s so funny, human?”

The Kadabra finally got himself under control before looking at Sev with a twinkle in his eye and a smile. And with those words, I forgive you. For we’re far more alike than we realized.

Sev gasped. “I’M GOING TO GROW A MUSTACHE! QUICK! GET LOOM TO MAKE AN ANTIDOTE OR SOMETHING!”

Vincent laughed again before waving his hand. No, no. I mean that quite frankly, the only thing that could please me in my life more than Lucy and I becoming a thing is for the connotations between my last name and the last one to hold it to be forgotten forever.

“What last one? I only know of one Nurem and he’s right in front of me. Do not think of confusing me, for I cannot be confused.”

Vincent blinked a few times before sighing. I’m not sure if you’re being the sort of honest that I was looking for, or just being yourself.

Sev laughed. “Perhaps both, human. Besides, there may have been more Nurem’s on Earth, but here, you are the only definition of the name ‘Nurem’. Make the most of that….and don’t become a scientist. You are a much better baker….”

“Negotiator.” Lia shouted.

“I know what I said,” Sev shot back.

I actually would appreciate it if you stopped using the word human when you spoke to me. Both because I am a Kadabra now, and because I was sort of half-Abra my whole human life. It’s only thanks to Xerneas I lived.

“Eh,” Sev shrugged. “Force of habit….human.” He laughed again.

Vincent sighed and rolled his eyes as Bit dinged a few times and floated closer. “Upgrade complete, master Vincent. When shall the system be set to fire?”

Grant control of the system to your normal level of functioning, Vincent started, and I’ll set it when you drop out of administration mode.

Bit beeped alarmingly. “Warning: you are about to give control of the [laser defense system] to this unit’s normal level of function. Please confirm with your voice identity code if this is what you wish to do.”

Subject sixteen, this is master Vincent. Give your normal level of operation control of the laser defense system.

The program would whirr and grind alarmingly for the next few moments, and would fall silent for about ten seconds afterwards. Just as one of the soldiers would think to ask ‘that’ question, the Porygon-Z spoke up again. “Transfer complete. Shall this unit drop out of administration mode?”

If you’d like.

Bit blinked, his green eyes returning to their normal yellow before closing while his head shook a few times. “Well, that was in-”

He cut himself off as he realized what was new in his systems. “You...gave control of the lasers to me?”

You gave control of yourself to me, Vincent replied. I’m trying to return the gesture. Is it working?

Silence reigned for a second before Bit lunged at the Kadabra and gripped him in a death-hug. “I...I don’t know what to say.”

Sev watched the duo in silence for a while. “Do you need a moment?”

Bit shook his head and detached himself from Vincent a moment later. “No...I’m good. And thank you all for installing it. And thank you, Vincent, for trusting me. I will try to prove myself worthy of that trust.”

You already have. The Kadabra turned back to the Seviper and his troops. Well...I wouldn’t call us friends, precisely. But I do have a saying for the parting that I think fits. ‘Let us part much better strangers, and look forward to the next meeting, whenever that may be.’

“We all shall,” Sev grinned. “But let it be known that I am the best stranger.”

Vincent sighed, but smiled and nodded. Just...take care out there. I would like to meet you in the flesh another day.

“You will. I very much doubt anyone will pierce this hide anytime soon.”

And with a final exchanging of pleasantries, the odd family saw the army of zebras and Pokemon off.

Meanwhile, in a certain bedroom, two lovers, one new to the game, and one an old hat at it, had finally finished their romp. Only one of them was still remotely capable of complex sentences.

“So, how was that?” Fredrick asked of the zebra mare now lying beneath him.

Elire just smiled and cooed as she nuzzled underneath his chin.

“I have to say, were I ever the type to consider settling down with just one partner, you would definitely be the one,” the griffon idly stated, drawing his claws down her stomach.

“M-m-maybe you should,” Elire breathed out, rubbing her muzzle in the nape of his neck.

“I probably should look into it,” he conceded. “And you’re definitely one of the best I ever had. Not only are you a smart military mare, but you’re funny, witty, and capable of handling even half of my tricks before you got to this state. Doesn’t hurt that you’re drop-dead gorgeous out of your armor. Seriously, how did you not get snapped up back home?”

“I...I never really thought about it,” Elire blushed and looked away. “Never came up.”

“It really should have,” Fredrick stated. “Otherwise all the males back home were doing you a disservice by not complimenting you when they saw you. So how was your first sexual experience, my dear Elire?”

“Best thing ever,” Elire nuzzled further into him. “Thank you so much.”

“Oh don’t thank me yet,” he said with a wicked grin. “That was round one. Give me ten minutes, and we can go again.”

“Ten minutes?” Elire softly whined, pecking his beak.

“It takes time for males to recharge,” he whispered into her ear. “Though, considering it’s you, I might be able to cut it down a few. Just keep being your sexy self, and we’ll be going again in seven, max.”

“Hmmm,” Elire rubbed her cheek against his. “You do know how to make me feel special, don’t you?” She gently whispered.

“It is a trick I picked up: always compliment the lady.” He rubbed one claw down her side before continuing. “But another is to never, ever lie. All the things I said just now? True. Were you the sort to try for it, you might-could tame this wildcat. The stallions of the town would thank you if you did, I’m sure.”

“Maybe I will,” Elire smirked. “You do need someone to keep you in line. Someone with the proper...training.”

“Heh,” Fredrick laughed. “Perhaps I should train you, then. Actually, let’s make a wager, shall we?”

“Do go on,” Elire rubbed her hooves softly over his chest.

“If you can remember and say more than just my name and yours after the next round, I’ll go steady with you and train you in all the ways I know of how to keep up with me and my...wonderful, devious tricks for bed.”

“I’ll take that wager.”

“Aaah, but fail, and I don’t go steady with you, my dear. At least, not until you succeed, and I’ll always let you try again.” Here he softly nibbled at her neck with his beak.

Elire moaned with his touches. “I’ll remember, you cheeky chicken. I’m not just going to give you my virginity and walk away….You’re lucky my sword isn’t here….maybe I can use yours.”

“Oh look at that, yes, you may. And you would not be the first.”

Elire lightly conked him upside the head. “I think it would be in your best interest ‘not’ to mention that so casually. I am no throwaway harlot.”

“Neither were any of the others. Beautiful in their own rights, but apparently they all had one major flaw.”

He leaned in and whispered the next line as their lovemaking resumed. “They weren’t you.”

“A...AH! a little heavy on the cheese,” Elire chuckled through her moans.

“Yes, well, only you have a chance to tame this cat,” Fredrick stated. “But I’ll not make it easy on you!”

“I like a challenge~”

No further intelligible words were exchanged that night, nor did they need to be.

Morning came, bright and early to Fredrick’s. He groaned and felt something shift under him. Something warm and furry. His mind snapped back to the night previous and smiled. Such a beautiful mare. He then frowned as he noticed something. Which one of us won? I can’t recall…

Elire yawned, coming back to the waking world. “I’m up…” She nuzzled the griffon on top of her. “Morning.”

“Good morning to you as well, milady. The bathroom is just down the hall if you wish to freshen up, and I’ll see about breakfast...assuming the little chef will let me in ‘her’ kitchen.” Fredrick got off of Elire and stretched in his room, hearing several joints roll and pop before he was done.

“So,” Elire yawned. “Did I win that wager? This is your game afterall.” She got up and started to stretch. Though, she took it slowly.

“You know,” he said, “It was such a whirlwind night, I can’t recall the end of it. And seeing as how you can’t either, or you wouldn’t have asked, I’m forced to call a tie.” He drew closer to her form and smirked wickedly.

“As such,” he breathed while nibbling at her ears, “I’ll refrain from sleeping with another until you return to me, but you’d best try your damndest when you do, because the wager will resume then.”

“A tie?” Elire gave him her best puppy dog pout. “Are you sure? I’m pretty sure I was winning, you chicken.”

“Pretty sure. If I can’t recall the end of our second session, it’ll have to go down as undecided. Though, if you’re willing to put breakfast off for a bit, the shower is big enough for two…”

“Hose me down, feather head~” Elire giggled and squirmed out from under him. She flicked her tail and winked back at him. “Don’t keep me waiting.” She laughed and trotted into the shower room.

“Oh don’t even bother closing that door, I am right on that pretty little tail of yours.”

The sounds from the shower woke Mary up, who grumbled, then slowly walked from the second guest bedroom, the one she’d commandeered once she started living there, and down to the kitchen. Morning-after pancakes, her special recipe. Probably a contributing factor that she’d seen the same mare come back to him three times.

It took the two of them at least half an hour before they came down. Possibly because they were getting dirty at the same time as they were getting clean. The griffon looked both enthused and sad, if such a thing could be possible, whereas the zebra was smug and happy as all get-out.

“So my dear Elire, you appear to have finally won my little wager.”

“There was no doubt about that,” Elire smirked.

“Oh, there was in my mind,” Fredrick countered between bites of pancake. “I was hoping to get you back to being insensitate, like after our first round, but clearly, when I was describing your list of virtues, I should have added, ‘Has the stamina of five mares’ in there.”

“When you have to run miles of desert with Hyena Dogs on your tail, you grow a little Stamina.”

“An excellent exercise regimen, perhaps I should augment my own with some jogging every once in a while. After all, I’m going to need to if you intend to keep me for yourself and return home at the same time.”

Elire tapped her chin. “Who knows really. The king is rather lenient. Perhaps I could convince him of a post here. A liaison of sorts.”

The griffon chuckled, low in his throat. “Oh, I bet you would. And what would you be doing at this post, miss liaison?”

“Teaching a few Zebrican tricks to some of the locals.”

Fredrick reached over and ran one claw down her neck. “Would one of them be how best to squirm and moan under a larger gryphon?”

Elire mock glared at him. “Don’t push your luck.” She leaned into his touch.

“Oh, my dear, sweet lady. I never push my luck. I make openings to exploit.” He ran his claws back up and scratched behind her ears.

“Exploit away~”

“Only if you promise to come back to me, however long or whatever it takes. Then I’ll gladly take you again and again before you simply must go…” The claws had drifted to her tail and toyed with it.

“I’ll come back,” Elire purred. “You bet your beak I will.”

“Then an honest bird I shall remain. Bolt down your breakfast, milady, and let us retire to my room for however long we have…”

“You had me at ‘then’,” Elire nuzzled him. The pancakes vanished in a flash, and Mary was stunned for a moment.

“Playbird, going steady?” She then scoffed. “Yeah, when Spoink Fly.”

She then began to wish for earplugs as the sounds from above drifted down to her kitchen.

“...Okay, maybe when Slugma Swim.”

Lucy knelt, her head bowed in what she hoped was the right direction to be facing Arceus' Temple. She didn't know if that would help any, but she wanted to take every precaution as she softly whispered her prayer.

After Vincent had brushed her off, she'd gone to Bit with a simple question. If there was anything in any of his files that he could dredge up that Vincent might want from Earth that he didn't currently have. Only one thing came up. A name.

"Arceus," she whispered. "I don't know if you can hear me. I don't know if you can help. I don't even know if what I'm after is even possible anymore. But if there is even the shred of a chance, I beg you...please. Jeanne. Jeanne Nurem, she once was. She gave birth to Vincent fifteen years ago. Please Arceus, if you can...a mother deserves to see her child again after so long."

Author's Other Notes:
...I feel dirty...