Lala was busy with her latest novel, when there was a tap at the door. She pushed the button for the camera, and took notice of how while there were a quantity of 'mon on the front doorstep, it wasn't as though they were forcing their way in, so she buzzed them in. There was the sound of conversation from the front door, so she spoke up to hurry them inside. “If you’d come a little closer, please? The doors only stay open for as long as the button is pushed.”

“Listen to the invisible doormon,” She heard. “They know what they are talking about.” A Seviper slithered inside, followed by the rest.

“Welcome to the Unity Building. Renting, or visiting?” Lala asked as she lifted her claw from the button and took note of how many there were.

“Visiting~” And entered possibly the cutest Gardevoir that ever existed. She smiled and waved. “Hi, I’m Lia,” she pulled a western styled up Lucario with her. “And this is my boyfriend, Lu, and that’s my big brother, Sev.” She nodded to the Seviper. Both males nodded their greetings. “And everyone else is our friends/soldiers.”

Lala’s eyes had a spark of recognition cross them as the names and terms used clicked. “Ah, the PLA, I assume. Well, may I ask who it is you’re here to see?” She blinked and stood up slightly from her chair, taking in the sheer scope of the amount of ‘mon. “And...why you all needed to come see whoever it is you came for?”

“We have come to….” Whatever Sev was about to say was cut off when he was run over by an excited Goodra.

“LALA!” Felicia smiled brightly as she picked up her cohort in a huge, slimy hug. “It’s you! YAY~ I found you.”

Lala couldn’t bring herself to be angry at the large, slimy dragon, but there was only so much of her hugs one could take. “Yes dear, you did. Could you please put me back on the ground?”

“Okay,” Felicia put her friend down, before hopping on the ground. “How’ve you been? Have you seen Weiss? Is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay?”

“Well Vincent met Weiss a few times, according to him, and I believe him. Plus he has a link to Xavier, so if you want to talk to anyone he’s found, it’s only a thought away.” Lala looked back over at Sev, who seemed to be mildly amused at best. “I believe you were about to say something before my fellow chess-piece interrupted you?”

“I’m so glad he’s okay,” another voice piped up, cutting Sev off with it’s sarcasm. Alice, a Vespiquen, walked over. “Lala.”

“Alice,” she responded in no less of a curt tone. “Found someone who can put up with your attitude, I see.”

Alice scowled. “Watch your tongue.”

“Stand down, Alice.” Ag, a rather large Aggron, growled. Alice glared at her, but kept quiet.

“As I was saying,” Sev glared at her, before turning to Lala. “We are here to see the mate of one of my generals.”

Lala hummed. “Do you know the name of who you’re here to see? We have more than a few tenants at the time, pony and Pokemon alike.”

“Oh quit the act,” Alice barked. “You know who we’re here to see. So, bring the dumb Gabite down here so I can get back to my crummy job!”

“That ‘dumb Gabite,’” Lala fired back with more than a glare, “is A) a survivor of the Doctor. B) An escapee of the same Doctor. C) In the possession of more than a few tricks that she picked up surviving looking as she did because of the Doctor’s experiment. D) Was incredibly tempermental, moreso than even you, when she first arrived, and E) now pregnant. So I suggest you either adjust your attitude or your will if you go up to see her, Alice!”

“Pregnant?” Everyone except Alice said in surprise.

“Whoo-wee,” Rio chimed, pulling off his hat with his only remaining arm and waved it around happily. “Lucky fella finally did it. Good on him.” His southern twang held true as the straw in his mouth.

“Look,” Alice scoffed. “I don’t give two shits what happened to her or really anybody. Just bring her down….”

The Vespiquen squawked in surprise when Ag had her by the back of the head and held her firmly in her claws. “Alice, shut up or I’ll let Felicia play with you.”

“Shutting up,” Alice squeaked out.

“Awww,” Felicia pouted. “You never play with me...but I wouldn’t want to play with you for being such a big meanie.”

“Yeah,” Lia glared at her.

“Anyways,” Lala said, regaining their attention. “Christine is in 303, but there are a few things you should know if you want to talk to her. Our insurance only covers so much, after all.”

“I have no idea what this insurance thing is,” Sev rolled his eyes. “But I do not care for it. I shall face whatever is in store and prove triumphant. I am Commander Sev!”

“And I am Bishop Lala, but think of me as someone who knows a bit more about where the big red buttons on the hormonally unbalanced Gabite are if you must,” the Leavanny responded. “Just, really, take my advice. It’d save a few of your scales if things started to go south.”

“Big brother,” Lia pouted. “Please listen. I came all this way to see Lucy and Scep’s mate, but I didn’t come here to see you get hurt….again.”

“Fine,” Sev consented. “But there is no need to worry. I have dealt with pregnant mons all the time.”

“First, the big clue: she’s got Kecleon DNA. If you see her colors start to change, especially if they start shifting to red, that’s your clue that you’re upsetting her. She has control over it most of the time, but when she gets emotional, her skin acts like a mood indicator. Second, try to avoid any mention of doctors or experiments, I’m sure you can tell why. And third, if I were you, I’d let Scep go in first to deal with her.”

“Scep isn’t….” Ag started, before something burst in the door.

Breathing heavily, with a huge sack over his shoulder, was Scep. “I’m…huff….here...Is….She...Alright?”

“SCEP!” Sev smacked him upside the head. “She is unwed and pregnant? PREGNANT?!!!”

“Wait, you guys are here?” Scep looked confused for a moment, before his smile nearly split his face in two. “I’m a dad?...I’M A DAD!”

Lia hugged him. “Congratulations!”

Scep laughed and hugged her back. “Yeah,” he said, before breaking out of the hug. “I gotta see her. Oh, she’ll be so happy with all this stuff I got her.” He gleefully ran into the apartments.

Lala smirked. “She told me he was going to visit, or rather, that he wrote that he was going to visit soon. However, due to her...attitude being a fluctuating thing, I’m back on door duty until she lays, something she isn’t happy about. Give it a minute, I’d say, and then you can go up and knock.”

“Knocking isn’t Scep’s style,” Sev snorted. “I am sure though that all shall go well.”

“...The poor fool,” Ag shook her head sadly.

Upstairs, Scep ran up with a skip in each step. A happy little tune hummed in his throat. He was going to be a dad! He’d never thought he’d be, but here it was and by Arceus he was enjoying the feeling. Forgoing knocking like he usually did, he burst the door open with a kick. “Christine! I’m back, dudette of mine!”

He was greeted with a Flamethrower to the face. If there was one thing you never did, it was startle a former Subject. Doubly so if said Subject was pregnant and full of hormones. After the attack washed over him, he heard a familiar voice. “Scep? Scep, is that...oh Arceus, it is! Oh I am so sorry! Come here!”

However, Scep wasn’t in a position to stand. Being a grass type meant taking a Flamethrower to the face wasn’t exactly something you get back from so easy. Christine saw that, and gathered her mate up, dragging him to the couch and laying him on it. “You should know better, Scep,” she chided her mate. “I mean, surprising me like that? What were you expecting?”

“Not flamethrower,” Scep groaned, trying to make the world stop spinning around him. “Geez dudette, overkill much?”

“There’s a reason the wall opposite my front door is ceramic now,” she responded before heading to the bathroom. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?” she shouted.

“I’ll get back to you when my head stops ringing,” Scep groaned. “I’ll live.”

“Bit made a few things before he left and shared their process with us,” she responded, coming back out with a few jars of what looked like medicinal cream...and what definitely smelled like medicinal cream. “Okay, for a burn, I have plenty of Rawst cream. Should ease the pain. I really doubt you could eat one of the Berries at the moment, but this works nearly as fast.”

“Can’t say I object to you rubbing me down, dudette.” Scep grinned. “Sounds good.”

The Gabite dipped a few claws in the mix and got a generous helping of the foul-smelling stuff before she set the jar down and started to spread it over Scep’s form. “So, you’re back in town,” she commented. “For how long?”

“I was just dropping by for a spell,” Scep grinned. “But then...are you really pregnant?”

One of her claws dropped to her stomach, which had started to swell. “Well it’s either pregnancy, or I’m putting on the weight after a week’s battle with morning sickness a while back,” she snarked. “Seriously, I had you to myself for four days, what did you think was gonna happen?”

“Well,” Scep rubbed the back of his head. “I didn’t know if I could you know….but that doesn’t matter!” Scep laughed and jumped to his feet. Oh that was painful, but he was going to hug his mate if it was the last thing he did. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her nose. “You’re pregnant!”

Christine pushed him back down to the couch and laughed. “Yes, yes I am. Vincent even got me one of those tests to make sure. Now stay down there until I’m done, you still look a little crispy!”

“...I’m gonna be a dad,” Scep grinned. “Can’t believe it happened.”

“And I’m sure being a mother to anything with my ability is going to be an adventure and a half,” Christine said while rolling her eyes. She then narrowed them while looking Scep in his. “Seriously, if you don’t help me raise my kid, I’ll tell it what you look like and set it loose to find you when its old enough.”

“Why would I abandon such a sweet dame like you?” Scep chuckled, though wincing when he did it. “I even got you all this stuff.” He tapped the bag.

Christine blushed, still not used to someone actually thinking she was beautiful or nice and truthful at the same time. “Yeah, I saw. Okay, that should do it,” she said as she surveyed her work. Not a charred inch was visible anymore. “Give the stuff a minute to work, and the burn should be taken care of. In the meantime, I think some Sitrus and Oran Berries are in order next. Need to get you back up to snuff.”

Just then, a certain Seviper slithered on in. “Scep...why am I not surprised you got yourself hurt?”

“Downsides of the job,” Scep replied. Christine had turned quite quickly, looking at the intruder with no small amount of curiosity...and hostility.

“Scep, darling,” she said in a tone that practically oozed sarcasm onto the floor. “Who is this and why is he in my home?”

“He’s the Commander,” Scep said matter of factly. “Pretty much my boss.”

“I am more than your boss,” Sev raised himself up higher. “A Commander is a far superior position than that of a ‘boss’. My power is absolute!”

The Gabite blinked a few times as she took in this snake in her home before responding dryly. “And I’m sure Arceus loves it when you think of him like that. Now if you’ll pardon me, mister Commander, my mate did a stupid thing in startling me, so now I have to fix it.” She walked past him to the kitchen, in search of the Berries that would help Scep regain his strength.

“He does stupid things all the time,” Sev snorted. “He will heal and learn….Let me rephrase that, he will heal.”

“A-men!” Christine shouted. “Though I do have hopes he’ll learn to not startle me like that again. If not, I may have to move to a two-Flamethrower system, to burn the message in. Ah, there you little buggers are. Any preferences, Scep?”

“I thought you already knew my preferences,” Scep smirked in his reply.

“Pretty sure that’ll have to wait until after you eat and heal, serving sex for a snack isn’t exactly advised. Or possible,” was the response he got. “Do you want anything with your Sitrus Berries?”

“Eh,” Scep shrugged. “Raw will do, dudette. We usually eat them like that.”

“Am I interrupting something?” Sev asked. “I get the feeling I am...I don’t really care if I am, but I digress.”

“I gave gecko-boy four days that he won’t soon forget the first time I saw him,” Christine said, walking out with a small bundle of Sitrus Berries and placing them on the table in front of the couch. “And he’s been writing me when he could, with more than a few saucy hints peppered in his reports on where he was and what he was up to, or how much he missed me.”

“I really did,” Scep put in. “Can’t get enough of her, Commander. I mean, see what I said? She’s, like, the sexiest!”

Hearing the honest compliment caused Christine to blush again, turning her head and part of her neck pink before she regained control. “So, I get why you’re here,” she said, leaning in to give Scep a peck on the cheek before turning to the snake in the room, “But I don’t think you told me your actual name...unless Commander is your name. Or why you’re here.”

“I am Sev,” he proclaimed. “Commander of the PLA and head of Zebrica’s forces, only answering to the king himself. I have come here to bless you and and your children, since they are of my general’s stock.”

The Gabite blinked a few times at that before smiling and nodding at the Seviper. “Well, that’s very kind of you, Sev. I’m sure you didn’t have to come here all the way from Zebrica to do so, but thank you for the gesture.” She then turned back to Scep and sighed. “Fine, you were right, apparently they are nice guys after all. I may have had my doubts, but the fact that he came here himself and hasn’t said anything about my weirdness yet puts them in my good books.”

“What weirdness?” Sev blinked in confusion. “You seem pretty normal to me. Oddities are to be expected from being to being….Scep, is there something I should know about your mate?”

In response, Christine lifted an arm and closed her eyes to concentrate. First, she turned just as green as Scep, save for the red line across her middle. Then, she went back to ‘normal’, but had yellow polka-dots scattered across her skin. Once those vanished, she imitated a barber pole for a second or two, went completely invisible save for that unalterable red line, and shimmered back into visibility as her normal self.

“Ta-da,” she said in a slightly drained voice.

“Dudette!” Scep got up quickly. “Are you alright? Stupid question…” He started looking her up and down in worry.

“It’s...not easy...I can do invisible, slight changes...showing off, I’ve got no practice in,” she said, sitting down on the couch and munching on a Sitrus Berry herself. “Plus, that red-and-white one? Yeah, moving colors around like that is real draining if I keep it up for longer than a second.”

“Don’t strain yourself,” Scep scolded. “Dudette, that looked like it took a lot out of you...Oh Arceus, are the kids alright?” He touched her stomach.

“They’ll be fine,” she said, drawing him in for a cuddle session. “I just haven’t had cause to try and really play with my ability for fun before I met you, so...It’s something I don’t have a lot of practice in. It’s like a muscle you don’t exercise, or so Vincent says.”

“Shenanigans aside,” Sev said...which caused Scep and everyone downstairs to start laughing. Sev hissed in anger. “I am here because this oaf forgot to propose...and I wish to formalize your place in the PLA.”

Christine’s look hardened a notch at the mention of the snake asserting his authority over her. “I’d rather you not,” she said. “It wasn’t easy, recovering from my madness or many issues, but I owe Vincent and the ones he’s gathered for giving me a second chance, despite everything I put them through. I’m making a life here for myself and my family-to-be, and I’d like to keep living it here.”

“Why wouldn’t you live here?” Sev blinked in confusion. “Does this place not accept PLA members? I shall have a talk with Vincent immediately.”

“Oh,” Christine said. “I thought you would, I don’t know, drag me back with you when you left if I accepted.”

Sev just looked at her. “....Really? You really thought I would do that?” He glared at Scep, who gulped in fear. “What have you been telling her about me?”

“Nothing,” Scep quickly said.

“Nothing or something,” Sev demanded. “Either which will incur my anger.”

“We did exchange stories to pass the time over those four days,” Christine said. “Some of mine about how life was a living hell for me back on Earth, along with the brighter moments I made happen, and he told me about the things you get up to on a regular basis, which if I have to be honest with you, make you sound about as kooky as the lovechild of the local deity Discord and the Legendary Hoopa.”

“I have no idea who they are, but already they annoy me,” Sev snorted in agitation. “No matter, you, Christine, are hereby made a member of the PLA. You will be given the rank of General, the same as your mate and are allowed to boss around any and all soldiers of Zebrica or outlying PLA forces of lower rank than yourself. You will however, submit to any and all order given by me and by the King of Zebrica. These are the terms of your matedom.”

Christine was breathing deeply, practicing her exercises. Even though it had been a while since the Lab, she still didn’t like anyone asserting their authority over her. Scep was an exception. Slowly, she opened her eyes and gained a mischievous grin. She could work with this. The red slowly faded from her tail that had been lashing about in agitation while Sev had been talking.

“I dunno, I don’t do well with authority, and they don’t deal well with me,” she milked. “I may need to test this new relationship. If I were to tell you to your face that you were being stupid, how well would you take it?”

“I would tell you to do better,” Sev rolled his eyes. “I have been called everything under the sun and moon and from the eternal nothingness of Giratina’s realm. All that and more. Stupid? I can’t even recall a time that the word effected me so.”

“Hmm. If I were to say that I could think of Zubats I respected more than you, I’m pretty sure you’d have something to say,” the Gabite said, examining her claws as though Sev weren’t even there.

Sev glanced at Scep and smirked. “Oh my dear friend, she is perfect for you. I do so hope you learn to handle her fire. She burns with her tongue.”

“Alright, fine, last one then.” She got off the couch and crouched slightly to bring her head to his level. “I have seen a Snorlax who was quicker on the draw than you, and he still launched his trainer a mile away when stepping off of a tree they had both been stuck in, you miserable excuse for an Ekans.” If he didn’t react to this one, she’d be out of ready insults.

“....” Sev frowned. “Ekans?...I have heard that one too many times from miserable Zangoose. I taught them to keep silent. Your words do not make me falter. However, I must know this Snorlax. He sounds mighty.”

“Moreso me for tricking the trainer into the tree in the first place,” Christine said. “I don’t know how he had a Snorlax, or why he used a Snorlax, but he followed his trainer’s command to ‘catch that Gabite’ without even thinking about how he was holding the tree down.” She stood back up and nodded. “Fine. I’ll listen to you, but you’d best listen to me in turn.”

“I listen to everyone,” once again, laughter could be heard to Sev’s words. Sev slashed at the ground in anger. “I appreciate some QUIET!” Immediately, the laughing stopped. “Soldiers these days….Now, when is the wedding? Has he proposed?”

“I don’t need a big fancy wedding,” Christine said. “All I really need is this little tree-lizard here to help raise the offspring he put in my stomach. Especially if they inherit my ability.” She sat back on the couch and grabbed Scep in another hug. “Anything else would just be icing on the cake.”

Sev’s glare bore into Scep. “Never the less, he planted his seed within you. It must be done. That is what mates do. They get married and stay with one another.” He glanced away, looking tired.

“Tell that to Vincent and Lucy. She’s laid her eggs, but they don’t seem to be in a rush to get married themselves,” Christine retorted. “Seriously, just leave this with me,” she said, giving Scep a squeeze, “And I’ll be good.”

“...How good?”

Scep grinned. “Very good.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Oh you’re not out of the doghouse yet, mister,” Christine said without looking at him. “I still have to...punish you for being away so long.” Her voice had dropped into something akin to a ‘husky’ tone.

Sev’s eyes widened. “You seem busy, I shall leave.” He sped out of the room. Meanwhile, Scep was red as a ripe tomato.

“He doesn’t take the topic well, I take it?” the landshark commented in a tone that almost made Scep think she was trying to use Sand-Attack with her voice.

“He’s a bit miffed is all,” Scep said. “Guy loved this Umbreon once. They split for some reason. He ain’t had a good girl since...Well, maybe that pegasus but I don’t know what to make of it.”

“On the one hand I feel sorry for him,” Christine commented. “On the other, I’ve never had the chance to weaponize a sex life before and am loathe to pass up the chance.”

“Well,” Scep chuckled. “I’m glad to help, dudette.”

“Who said you would be helping?” She asked. “I saved up enough from my job and got Bit to tell me where he went for Lucy’s gear. You’ll be lucky if you can move tonight, mister.”

Scep grumbled. “....Wait, is that ‘cause the attack or something else?”

“You’ve been gone for months,” she purred, “And letters are a poor substitute for your presence. Plus there are times I go to bed and all I can think about is how you’re not there to ‘tuck me in.’ Pick your reason.”

Scep looked downcast. “Sorry. Got caught up in stuff. Thievery can be a bit strenuous.”

“Yes, well, let’s see if you got the key to the cuffs already, or if I have a new toy tonight.”

“No cuffs can hold me,” Scep smirked. “Key or no key. I’ll slip right on out and grab my treasure.” He snuck a grope on her behind, causing her tail to reflexively slap his hand away.

“We’ll just have to see about that. Bedroom, march!” she commanded.

Scep stood up and saluted. “Yes ma’am.” He did so, while letting his tail travel along her sides.

Vincent stood gaurd over the eggs that Lucy had left in his care. Surely, they had to be getting close to hatching soon.

Then there was the sensation of pressure from behind him as somebody teleported into the room. “Hello, Vincent Nurem.” The voice was courteous but ‘wrong’ in every sense of the word.

The Kadabra turned and upon seeing Gard, his eyes widened a fraction, and once his mind processed how the voice sounded, a spoon had appeared in his left hand. “I’ve met scant few of the Ralts line during my time on Equus,” he responded, only a hint of fear in his voice. “So I doubt I know you. Would you care to introduce yourself?”

“How very inconsiderate of myself,” the Gardevoir bowed his head. “I am General Gard of the PLA.”

“Oh, Sev’s back in town?” Vincent relaxed just a touch. “Well I did tell him to come by again...didn’t actually expect him to. I oughta go say hello, we parted on better terms than we started. Might I ask why you are here, though?”

“I would believe it’s about my commander’s last stay here,” Gard’s eyes narrowed. “More specifically, your actions.”

“Ah, yeah, not proud of that,” Vincent said, scratching the back of his head with his right hand. “I mean, at the time it made sense. Sev looked to be the sort that listened to and respected those with power, so I just...let mine loose so he would shut up and listen.” The Kadabra looked askance and sighed before looking back at the Gardevoir before him. “I never intended to use that power against any of them, and sometimes I have nightmares where I did. I regret that things played out that way...but I wouldn’t take them back, either.”

“The act of regret is the admittance to failure,” Gard’s aura flared, before he recalled his anger. He was as cool as ever as he stared down the younger Pokemon. “You admit regret. You admit failure, but the fact still remains. Whether you intended to harm my oldest friend, with his sister and my apprentice in his vicinity, does not matter to me. What matters is your lack of self control. You unleashed a technique so willingly and so soon that how could I not help but take ill upon seeing it, feeling their memories. You performed the action and incurred my ire. That is not something anyone should have.”

“I’ve learned since that day,” Vincent said softly, keeping himself in control around his future children. “I was taught by a Gallade about proper control, proper attacks. He stopped me from making my own up, made sure I knew what rules and tricks to follow. And I’m not certain I like your tone, mister Gard, or the things you’re implying. I’d like to retain a good opinion of the PLA, though, so I’ll let you rephrase it before I act on your words.”

“I do not need to rephrase it,” Gard gestured to the Kadabra. As ever, his voice was impassive. “Your actions speak clearly enough that I know where I stand on this matter. Even now, you cling to it. I can feel your anger, do not hide it, boy. You have not been taught finer control, or you choose to ignore said teachings. Either way, perhaps I should pay this master of yours a visit afterwards. A word or two on proper psychic education is in order.”

“I advise you to stop,” Vincent said, channeling the effects of Calm Mind through himself and temporarily tamping down his emotions. “My past laid a vast foundation, and every tutor I have met has only helped me build the walls stronger. Should my control slip even my crude grasp, as I’m sure you would put it, then you would not like the results. Nobody does. And I’ve even gone up against Mewtwo and walked away, so once more, I advise you to rethink your words.”

“You wish to make me suffer?” Gard raised an eyebrow. “Like you did to Business Mind? Boy, when I shred a person’s psyche, I at least do the honor of ending their suffering. It is far less cruel that way.” He scoffed. “No matter what trivial game you play, I have played better against far more experienced foes.”

“Release,” Vincent whispered, letting his strength out again. “One last time. Recant, retreat, or suffer. And I know how I would do that last one to you.”

“Oh I know,” Gard put a hand to his chest. “A stranger. A mon that simply looked out for his cherished ones. Truly I deserve to suffer.” He glared down the young psychic. “Cease this foolishness. I have suffered much, more than you can comprehend. A child lashing out, that is what this is. Do be a smart mon and retract your threat. Perhaps we begin to converse like civilized beings.”

“The overriding theme about this seems to be you getting retribution for a perceived slight. Wake the hell up. I was the son of a monster and forced to watch everything that happened. It’s that past that made me realize what I didn’t want to be. And you still think I would have attacked them?! Until my family is threatened, I wouldn’t hurt a fly. It was a show of force, not a declaration of intent! But you seem to be just like your commander, only listening to power. And believe me, I know how to best hurt even one like you, thanks to something Xavier once showed me.” Vincent’s other hand now had his Twisted Spoon in it, and both were glowing blue. “You think what I did to Business Mind was cruel? I’ve gotten worse since my last few moments as an Abra.”

“The more you talk, the more I actually feel sorry for you.” Gard shook his head. “You claim to have done so without any intent. I believe you, but your actions speak to me clearly. Had he provoked you, and my friend is so good at that, you would shatter him. Do you know how long it took me to put him back together after that Alakazam tore him apart?”

At the mention of it being an Alakazam that had hurt Sev previously, Vincent actually dropped his spoons and his jaw. “I...how did he even stand me?...” He stared for a moment more before shaking his head and fixing his glare back on Gard. “Yes, I wouldn’t have pushed anyone to the sorts of things I did with Mewtwo or Business Mind, not even then. I saved that sort of attack for those that hurt me personally, that hurt my family personally. Even then, the most I would have done would have been pinning him to a wall and putting a tablecloth over his head.”

“Lia would have overreacted,” Gard clicked his tongue in disapproval. “She loves her big brother dearly. She is strong but so inexperienced in the matters of attack and her defenses themselves need improving.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “That girl spends so much time frolicking and making friends...No matter. She would have attacked the moment you moved against Sev. What do you think would have happened then?”

“I probably would have defended myself then,” Vincent said, expanding on the hypothetical situation. “But like I said, even then, I wouldn’t have done the sorts of things that I’ve been told are pure madness to do. I’d probably have made them float in the room and explain themselves before I put them back on the ground at that point.”

“You still don’t get it,” Gard slightly twitched in agitation. “It was your first actions. You did not try and dissuade the situation. Force was your answer. Force is never the answer unless it is in self defense or you are of the wanting of murder...I doubt you have the heart of the second.”

“The wall was burst in, and an army followed in its wake,” Vincent deadpanned. “If that’s not responding to force with force, I don’t know what is. Did you seriously think I would be reasonable upon seeing someone damage my property to such an extent? This is my fucking home, and there are some things I don’t stand for. Damaging it to such an extreme is one of them!”

Gard snorted in derision. “Did you not screen them? Examine their minds? Poke and prod each and everyone of them? Had you done so, you would have seen how little hostile intent there was deep down. That is the proper way. You examine and pick apart a person and must do so in seconds, if not less. Evaluate their threat and if not, let them talk. Invite them for a spot of tea to placate their anger,” Gard snapped his fingers and a teapot flew in the air. A cup appeared before Vincent and himself, floating in mid-air. He lightly poured himself a serving. “Tea soothes the soul.”

“Oh yes, let’s just assume that the human-turned-Pokemon is going to know everything about being a Psychic within a few weeks of having been turned into one,” Vincent said with an eye roll. “Hey Arceus, while you’re up there on that lofty perch of yours, anything else you’d like to assume as being good enough for everyone else, since it’s good enough for you?”

“I do not very much like that tone,” Gard’s voice went icy. “Psychic evaluation should have been among the first lessons your master should have taught you as well as manners. By now, you should be fully aware of the mind at least. How you faced Mewtwo eludes me, boy.”

“Let me give you a synopsis, then,” Vincent said, brushing the floating cup aside. “I was subject 37, the unofficial last test subject in dad’s first horrific experiment to bring ‘mon and man a step closer through genetic manipulation. I was half-Abra for fifteen years, and slightly psychic even then. I only survived by the grace of Xerneas taking pity on me. However, every time I accidentally poked into someone else’s head, I got a massive headache for my troubles. It’s all I can do to not wince when using my psychic voice, much less when trying to take inventory as to who all is in residence, thanks to those fifteen years of Pavlovian training.”

“With further training,” Gard said. “That will go away. I am well aware of your past, Vincent Nurem. I do not need an ‘update’, as it were. You will get the hang of it.”

“Yeah, that goes away when I let my power out like this,” Vincent said, letting a glow take over his right hand before dismissing it. “Trained with a Metagross in a time-accelerated state of mind up in Manehatten. It’s why I have this much strength at this stage in my line...but there’s more than power sealed behind the seal. All of the things he taught me are as well. Until it goes away naturally, the teachings don’t assimilate, and that’ll only happen when I’ve ‘grown into’ this power.”

“Yes, yes,” Gard said. “You have training, and you have power. What you lack is timing. When I was a Kirlia, I knew each and every way I could use my power to break a human being. I did not, because that would simply be rude of me...unless I truly thought otherwise.”

“Ah,” Vincent said, finally nodding. “So you’re not exactly angry that I used my strength. You’re angry I went for it right off the bat, or close enough, and threatened more than just Sev with it. Because doing such a thing was rude.”

“I am a monster,” Gard said matter of factly, sipping from his tea cup. “I cannot survive without the pain of others. My mother’s teachings….leave my murderous habits wanting. I chose to make sure others are not so. You are not a monster, not yet. A monster goes for the kill, a true psychic is patient. A true psychic does not resort to violence and threats so readily. That is the lair of Fighting types.”

“To be fair, in this situation at least, you did show up and start talking about retribution for what I’d done in front of the very delicate next generation of Nurem,” Vincent said, waving behind him at the eggs on the bed. “And if there’s one thing I do well, it’s protect family or those that I see as such. So tell me, o wise master, put yourself in my shoes when I first saw Sev slither into my first real home since Earth through a hole he had put in the wall. What the hell would you have done?”

“I would have grown agitated,” Gard talked as though he was referring to the weather. “And then I would have killed him and his soldiers to relieve my agitation. I would have bent them, smashed them, burst them. Anything I could think of to relieve my tension.” Gard gave Vincent a pointed look. “My anger must be satisfied...Asking such a question of a monster such as myself does not lend you an answer you seek.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Vincent said dryly, “But it also doesn’t surprise or upset me. Like I said, I watched so many friends pass. You can’t really unnerve me, though you are making me question just how you were brought along for the ride. I suppose asking you to look at it like I should have is also equally pointless?”

“You merely know of a few hundred deaths,” Gard took another sip. “My mother forced thousands of them into my heads, amplifying each and every scream so I could know which hurt them more…..and she did it out of love. Can’t rightfully say I can hate her, even when she would provide live demonstrations. This conversation has a point and I believe you ‘may’ have gotten it somehow.”

“Sure have,” Vincent said, summoning a slightly-steaming cup of coffee to his hand, the brewing having only just finished. He took a sip and hummed slightly before continuing. “I’m not going to apologise for how things turned out that day, but I am sorry that I went for the power right off the bat. Like I said, I never would have seriously hurt them. I’ve seen more than my fair share for one my age. I am also sorry for not being as ‘educated’,” he actually set the mug to hover while he made the air-quotes, “As a Psychic normally is, but that situation is going to be resolved, one way or another.” He snagged the mug again and only lightly blinked at having reflexively set it to hover. He shrugged before finishing his declaration. “In summary, I done fucked up, you’ve made me see it, oh, and one last thing. Don’t threaten me again.” If the tone in which the last words were delivered were any colder, the temperature might have dropped a degree or two.

Gard finally grinned. It looked unsettling and strange on his face. “Boy, I may be a monster, but I am a gentleman among monsters. If I had truly threatened you, well…” Gard let that thought linger. “Point is, you have learned your lesson...for the most part. I do however wish to meet this master of yours at a later point. Some finer points in your training must be amended.”

Vincent took another pull of his coffee before he replied. “In reverse order, I’ll direct you to him when the sun crashes into the moon and not a second sooner. He does not need to meet one such as you. I’ve learned my lessons, yes, it’s just a matter of applying them. And if you had truly threatened me, well, I’ll give you a hint. That thing I accidentally did to Business Mind? I think I’ve perfected it and I’ve been working on mixing it with what I did to Mewtwo. I would have used you to test it out.”

Gard shook his head and tutted. “So aggressive, after I only wished to chat. I do not see the harm in a simple meeting, but that is for the morrow. My mate is perhaps growing curious as to where I am.”

“It’s nothing personal,” Vincent amended. “More of a standing thing; I use those that wound me deeply to test out new attacks. So far, I’ve only got two new ones. I’d really rather not make it three if I don’t have to. But go on if you must, as long as you say hello to that wily snake for me as well.”

“Perhaps you should do it yourself,” Gard seemed to be counting down his fingers.

Lo and behold, on the last finger drop, Sev burst into the room. “Gard, Scep’s mate is…”

“Pregnant, I know.” Gard said.

“Be thankful you don’t have to clean up the morning sickness,” Vincent grumbled before looking at Sev. “Hello, you crazy snake, what have you been up to since you left?”

“This and that,” Sev commented. “Fighting a full scale war is a little different than an underground one, not to mention magic, but we make do.”

Vincent raised an eyebrow at Gard, as if to silently say, ‘didn’t you say you had somewhere else to be?’

Gard nodded his head and vanished. Vincent looked at the bedroom door and swung it shut with a wave of his hand. “Sev, I’d like to show you something.” With that, he hopped off the bed and showed the two eggs he’d been sitting in front of to the commander of the PLA.

“....You’re a babysitter?”

Vincent chuckled, low in his throat. “No, you’re looking at the next generation of Nurem, courtesy of Lucy.”

“Ah,” Sev said in understanding. “Yes, truly wonderful for you. I may not know the joys of watching them hatch, but I know the feeling fatherhood. Rejoice in said times...before they become rebellious.”

“Depending on what they turn out to be, that might be harder than you think. Though we have a pretty good idea already.” Vincent smirked and lit up one hand. “Watch. They already know a trick.”

Vincent lightly coated both eggs with his power, just to let them know he was there and watching over them, before letting it fade. It took them a moment, but each responded in their own way. The right one with a blue burst of Aura, and the left one with a similar eldritch blue of psychic strength. It barely lasted for a second before fading in turn.

“You must be proud,” Sev smiled.

“They do something similar whenever Lucy looks at them with Aura Sight,” Vincent said. “Though...I coulda sworn the Abra was on the right…”

“Children take after their parents,” Sev chuckled.

Vincent stared at nothing in particular while whispering something. He then shook his head and looked back at the snake. “Eh, well, not all kids, or at least, I only take after his good parts. And hopefully so will these tykes. So! You’re here, so I’m assuming a good portion of your army is as well. Anyone in particular also want to say hi to me while they’re here?”

“I have made Christine a part of my army,” Sev declared. “A general and I’m trying to get a wedding planned. For some reason, she doesn’t seem keen on it….Oh, and hitting Scep over the head for not proposing.”

“Eh, she was wild before she was taken, and she did her damndest to stay that way once she escaped,” Vincent replied with a shrug. “She never picked up on most civilized things like marriage. She understood the value of reading and things like that, but societal niceties…” here Vincent mimed something falling off a cliff with his hands while making a whistling noise. “Total failure.”

“I know,” Sev snorted. “We shall be here for a few days...We need to get away from the war for a bit.” Sev was silent as though lost in thought, but then shook his head. “Possibly, we might go to Ponyville or some place like that. Of course, that is after Lia gets to meet up with Lucy...She really REALLY wants to meet up with Lucy.”

“Lucy teaches self-defense to the Ponies,” Vincent replied. “She has afternoon class, showing them how to best defend themselves should Pokemon prove to be unreasonable…” Here Vincent looked over at Sev with a slightly raised brow and a smirk before continuing. “She also teaches them the typing system and how to best recognize a Pokemon’s Type, so that they know what their options are.”

“Lia doesn’t need to know how to fight,” Sev scoffed. “She will stay within MY lines where she is safe. I have soldiers that can defend her. Besides, she just wants to thank Lucy for helping get her….” Sev hissed in anger. “Boyfriend.”

“Sev,” Vincent said quite calmly.

“She is still too young for that,” Sev shot at him. “Do not dispute my thoughts.”

“Sev,” the Kadabra repeated.

“Yes,” Sev hissed at him. “I am here. I am talking. I am right.”

“Sev, if you don’t calm down about this topic, I’ll ask Xerneas to get a hold of Cresselia. Y’know, the Legendary Psychic associated with the moon and love? She will probably not take kindly to your meddling.” Vincent idly examined one of his spoons, as though he weren’t talking about Legendary Pokemon.

“I have dealt with a moon goddess enough times to get my bearings,” Sev said. “Luna is a good listener...but I will not back down on this. She is my sister...wait, why are we talking about my sister? She is none of your concern.”

“Because she’s a sweet little girl who cared about her big brother and made sure he had a second chance when said big brother crashed through my wall?” Vincent deadpanned. “I care about her too, y’know. Maybe not as much as a certain overzealous snake, but I care.”

Sev snorted. “I will not lose her….Never again.”

“And that,” Vincent said, “is what I’m talking about. It’s fine to love her, but do you think she’ll thank you from stopping her from doing anything at all? If so, I’m fairly certain I can quite quickly dissuade you of that notion. Yes, she might run and trip and stumble and get cut and hurt if you let her go, but she won’t thank you if you keep her smothered all her life, either. Plus, how is she to find anyone to love if you won’t let her, much less someone that will actually meet up to either of your standards?” Vincent ended his little tirade by bopping Sev on the nose with his spoon. “Think about it,” he stated. “Lucy’s coming back right about now, done with her shift, and I’m going to get to her before Lia does. She deserves at least five seconds of warning.”

Vincent popped out of the room in a flash of blue, leaving Sev alone with the eggs in the bedroom.

“Your father is annoying,” Sev grumbled to the eggs. “....Listen to him. Whatever he does….he cares.” He slithered out of the room. “POST A GUARD AT THE DOOR! WHO KNOWS WHO COULD BE NEAR!”

Lucy walked up to the front door, which buzzed and opened like usual. Upon arriving in the lobby, Vincent’s form appeared and he quickly turned to her. “Love, the PLA is here, including a certain little sis-”

“LUCY!” Suddenly, Lucy was bowled over by a glomping Gardevoir. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Ack!” Lucy said, attempting to push the huggy Gardevoir off of her. “Lia, is that you?”

“Yep,” Lia beamed. “I grew up!” She teleported off and twirled around. “Look, I’m a pretty Gardevoir, like Miss Belle.”

“Ah, so you met them, did you?” Vincent questioned as he helped Lucy up. The Lucario gave her mate a look as she tilted her head.

“If you’re here, who’s with the eg-”

Vincent paled and vanished as suddenly as he had appeared, causing Lucy to let out a sigh.

“For a Kadabra, he can be pretty stupid sometimes,” Lucy said, looking over at Lia with a smirk.

“Boyfriends can be like that,” Lia said, before giggling. “And guess what I have~”

“Ah, did you finally get that Riolu you talked about when you were here last?” Lucy said with a wider smile. “So where is this boyfriend, then?”

Lia snapped her fingers and a country styled Lucario appeared. Lia hugged him. “Lucy, meet Lu. Lu, meet Lucy.”

“Howdy,” Lu tilted his hat in greeting, blushing at how close Lia was.

“Hmm,” Lucy said, looking the fellow Lucario over in much the same way Maylene and her Lucario partner had back at the quarry.

Lu was a little larger than your usual Lucario with a very muscular build. It was obvious he kept in shape and his uniform was neat and proper, even with his added cowboy hat. However, his posture was relaxed, even if he was blushing and glancing at Lia every few seconds. As an experiment, she fired up her Aura Sight, just to see if he noticed the feeling and reacted to it in any way.

“Now missy,” Lu raised an eyebrow. His own aura flared as though preparing a strike, even though his posture was still relaxed. “Ain’t no reason to be pokin’ me with Aura Sight. Not like I’m an Arbok, prepin’ to strike. Ya must be this Lucy, Lia’s been talkin’ about?”

“Mmhmm, and I was just checking on a few things. We girls have to stick together, and I had to make sure Lia caught a fine example of our kind,” Lucy responded before looking back to Lia. “He passes my examination, but I’m no trained,” here she shuddered for a moment before finishing the sentiment. “No trained doctor, so take that as you will.”

Lia fist pumped. “Yes.” She hugged Lu close. “She likes you.”

“Ap!” Lucy put a paw on Lia’s mouth. “I said no such thing. I said he passes. I reserve further judgement based on how well he treats you. At the moment I’m indifferent concerning him, only that I know he’ll stand up to whatever you put him through...within reason.”

“He puts up with a lot,” Lia said. “He can stand anything I have to give him….Well, except my big brother.” Lu tensed up at that.

Lucy hummed a bit. “Well, seeing as how mine is Psychic and I know a few Ground moves, I’m certain we could keep Sev occupied if we had to, but that doesn’t solve the problem.” She looked over at Lu before looking back to Lia. “Ever thought of teaching him Earthquake?”

“My pa taught me,” Lu spoke up. “He knows pretty much all them moves us Lucario’s can learn. Ya can’t do much better than him and there ain’t a critter alive that can rassle him to the ground.”

“Ah, so the problems you’re having are more standing up to him verbally then,” Lucy said with a nod.

“He is my big brother,” Lia said.

“He is the guy who can tackle a daemon,” Lu added.

Lucy snorted and rolled her eyes. “The only one who has any real ‘right’ to meddle in the affairs of love is Cresselia, and even that’s doubtful. No matter what he does, he has no right. No. Right.” Here Lucy emphasized her words by pushing the Lucario and Gardevoir together a little more. “To come between you two if you love each other.”

“I know,” Lia sighed. “But I want his approval.”

“And ah don’t want his blade in my throat,” Lu deadpanned.

“Then stand up for yourselves and tell him he’s overstepping his boundaries,” Lucy said, “Otherwise he’ll think he should control every aspect of your life, Lia. And as someone who’s been through that, I can tell you that you don’t want it.”

“He’s just looking out for me,” Lia sighed once more. “Maybe a bit much.”

“A bit?” Lu spoke up. “Lia, he does it more than a bit….Ain’t a bad guy, but yeah, more than a bit.”

Lucy hugged Lia then and whispered in her ear. “Yes, it probably hurts to think about, and yes, he probably very much loves you. But if he really, truly loves you like family should, he’ll understand when you ask him to back off and let you live your life without his coils smothering every aspect of it. Which you should do, and soon, otherwise it’ll only get worse.”

“Yeah,” Lia then took Lucy’s paws in her own. “But I didn’t come here to talk about my big brother. I wanted to know about you. How’s Vincent?”

“More stable than he used to be, thanks to Luke’s intercession and his mother turning up,” Lucy replied. “Did you know he went up to Canterlot to give Mewtwo a piece of his mind without a second thought as to ‘hey, this might be a bad idea’?”

Lia blinked in confusion. “...He did what?”

“Sounds like a feller with the right mindset,” Lu smirked. “Might want a tussle with him later.”

“Yeah, he’s not allowed to use that move ever again, or so Luke says, but I’ll tell you it’s name and let you infer what it actually was from there. He called it Total Recall.” Lucy waited for the recognition to dawn on their faces.

Lia’s eyes widened. “He didn’t….”

Lucy just nodded. “Weaponized it, and Luke said never to do it again. Can’t blame ‘im. Even the things I went through are bad enough. I don’t wanna think about his.” She shuddered a bit before perking up. “He calmed down quite a bit afterwards, though. Learned proper moves, perfected his ‘psychic chip’ and, well…” Here Lucy actually blushed and looked away before muttering something inaudible.

“Well what?” Lia innocently asked.

Lucy coughed and looked at both Lu and Lia before drawing out her answer. “Well...I...may, just may, mind you...may have gone into...my first heat a few months back.” She said the last part in a rush that nearly made it an incomprehensible mess. Nearly.

Lu blushed and looked at Lia frantically, miming for Lucy to shut up. Lia just tilted her head in confusion. “Your first heat? Was it cold where you’re originally from?”

Lucy slowly turned to look at Lu and asked with as much deadpan possible, “She’s joking, right?”

“What am I joking about?” Lia asked.

“...She isn’t,” Lu said.

“Oh for the love of Xerneas! Y’know what, I’m this close,” Lucy held her paws about a centimeter apart, if that, “From just letting you look at that week from my point of view so you understand what we’re talking about!”

“What are we talking about?” Lia said in desperation. “I’m lost.”

“She hasn’t had the….’talk’ yet,” Lu rubbed the back of his head nervously.

“What ‘talk’?” Lia glared at her boyfriend.

“Right, time to bring you up to speed, little Lia. I’m gonna start thinking about that week, and I give you permission to look at it as well, if only so that you know what we’re all trying not to say.” Lucy closed her eyes as she concentrated.

Lia was confused at first...and then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Her face was fully red and she looked at Lu. “...That’s heat?....That’s what mon’s do when they make weird noises behind doors?”

“Sex? Yes.” Lu gulped in fear.

“.......” Lia seemed to have frozen in place.

“Don’t stop, Lia,” Lucy said. “Look at the emotions behind the actions. Look at how I felt doing it with one I loved. And look to about two weeks back as well...look at what happened as a result.”

“....I did,” Lia was beet red and drooling. “I….no one told me about sex...and…..I want to do it.”

Lu’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“Little Lu, what do you know about a Lucario’s first heat?” Lucy questioned. “Because that’s the sort of thing I just showed your girlfriend.”

Lu shivered in fear. “Ah know about heat….My folk get into it all the time….They usually destroy half the base we’re in before they’re done. Kind of stupid, when Loom gives them pills to stop it. They just like breakin’ stuff, is all.”

“Well supposedly,” Lucy said, looking at Lia’s face and grinning. “Supposedly, the first heat of a Lucario is as bad as it ever gets.” She leaned in to her fellow Fighting-type and whispered in his ear for the next bit. “Vincent had to chain me up to make sure he made it out alive. And I just showed it all to your girlfriend, who has just learned about the deed and has more power than he did.”

“So ah’m gonna….” Lu gulped and pointed to Lia. “...And she’s gonna….”

Lucy stood back up straight and walked around to behind Lia before pushing the Gardevoir towards her boyfriend. “Good luck making it out alive,” Lucy said.

Lia giggled at Lu’s fear. “Don’t worry, Lu. I’m not in heat….I don’t think I am, but if I feel funny and want to tie you to my bed, I’ll let you know.” The way she said it made it sound cute, even with the context. Lu looked up to the sky and whimpered in fear.

“So would you two like a room here, or would you prefer to find one elsewhere? I think there’s a few on floor four that are still open,” Lucy said with more than a little mischievousness to her voice.

“But….” Lu started, before Lia started pulling on him.

“Come on,” she giggled. “I want to try some of that stuff I saw.”

“....Oh Arceus, help me.”

In the hall of Legends, a certain deity was busy going over all the prayers made in his name, before a rather odd one jumped out at him. Looking into it further revealed the details that led up to it, causing Arceus to do one thing in response to the male Lucario’s plea to be delivered from his newly-educated and highly-curious girlfriend.

He elected to laugh.

Later in the day, after Scep had been freed from his confines and quickly done with paying his mate back in kind, the both of them had cleaned themselves up and were now reclining on the couch. The Sceptile was holding one ear to her stomach, still not quite believing that her stomach was swelling with his spawn.

It was a new experience, really. Knowing something so precious was yours. Scep still wasn’t sure how to process it. This feeling was so new and so foreign that he didn’t know how to express it. So, he just kept quiet, listening to any sounds from within.

“Bit for your thoughts,” Christine said suddenly.

“...I’m a dad,” Scep said. “Still getting used to it.”

“Mm, we’ll have plenty of time to get used to it together.” Christine replied, running one set of claws gently over his back. “Still, with what I said after the first two times, along with the four days we spent together, did you really think this could not happen?”

“I’m new to this, dudette.” Scep grumbled. “It’s a lot to take in...I know it was going to happen, but...I don’t know if I’ll be a good dad...If the kids will like me.”

“Hey, the only ones that can know the future for sure are the Legends,” Christine said, putting her claw under her mate’s chin and making him look her in the eyes. “Us mortals have to plod along and make the best of the world, one day at a time. So long as you’re here, giving it your best effort, I promise you, you’ll be a good dad. And I’ll thump you when you’re not,” she finished playfully, beeping his nose with her other set of claws at the end.

“How did I ever live without you?”

“Miserably, I’d imagine,” she fired back with no small amount of snark. “So what’s it gonna be, gecko-boy? Y’gonna stay for the rest of this?” Here the Gabite gestured to her swelling belly.

Scep kissed it. “Definetly.”

“That’s all I ask, then. Now, anything else I should know about Sev?”

“He ain’t gonna do much to us,” Scep chuckled. “He’s loud, but he’s a good guy. He’ll want our kids to be given a ‘PLA’ style education and all that though.”

Christine snorted. “Yeah, well, I didn’t see him under me an hour ago, nor do I see him swelling with eggs, so he can stay out of my kid’s life. I’ll take his wants under advisement, but he’d better have damn good cases if he wants my kids raised his way in the slightest.”

“Eh,” Scep shrugged. “He won’t press it...much.”

“He’d better not, if he knows what’s good for him,” she grumbled. “Now, do you think you can stop him from setting up that marriage thing, or am I doomed to walking down an aisle?”

“You don’t have to,” Scep said. “Your choice really...though you’d look good in that wedding outfit. Love to take one off of you.”

“Flatterer,” she muttered while turning pink. “Okay, y’know what? If you can promise me nothing will blow up, I’ll let him and his soldiers organize one...if only so you can prove that statement of yours.”

Scep frowned...and an explosion could be heard. “Yeah…..no promises.”

“How about this,” she said with an eye roll. “If there are less than four smallish explosions, or only one that rivals that gas line I set on fire, I’ll take it. Any more, and you don’t get your reward after.”

Scep panicked. “Let’s not start talking crazy here.”

“Then get them to keep the explosions down,” Christine said, beeping his nose with a claw again. “I’ve not heard about many romantic weddings lately that had an explosion in them, so clearly they don’t play a factor. I’d like to avoid it if possible.”

“I’ll try,” Scep gave her a quick kiss on the lips, rubbing a hand on her belly. “I’ll try.”

“Good, now go tell them the good news, then tell me what I have to do for my part,” she said. “I’ll be waiting and thinking of you while you’re gone,” she added in her husky tone.

Scep perked up and saluted. “Yes ma’am,” he ran out the door….before going back and kissing her on the cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you back,” she muttered, the blush small but noticeable. “Now get, or I’ll start without you while you’re out!”

Scep was out the door in a flash.

Sam looked up from the podium and took note of the hooded pony. “Ah hello, party of one?” he asked, looking at the door to ensure that there was nobody else following this one pony in.

“I apologize,” the mare said. “I’m not here to eat. I’m here to see Fredrick.”

Sam blinked once, slightly taken aback by the unusual request. “May I ask who is calling for him?”

The zebra took her hood off. Her face, while still pretty, was covered in scars and half her right ear was missing as though someone had sliced it clean through. “My name is Elire. I believe I came here a few months before.”

Sam searched his memory before nodding. “Ah, yes, with a party of other zebras I believe.” He then gestured to the restaurant behind him with one claw and a tilted head. “Are you certain I can’t seat you before I go to retrieve my boss?”

“I’m not….” Elire’s stomach gurgled. “Actually yes. I wonder do you serve pickles served in mustard and sprinkles?”

Sam blinked a few times before recalling Lucy’s ‘cravings’ and grinning madly. “I’ll pass the order along to Fredrick when I get him, ma’am. But if you’d care to follow me to a table, I’d be more than happy to get a hold of him.”

“That would be great,” Elire nodded and her stomach gurgled again. “Could you bring them both out...soon?”

Sam nodded and led the mare to a corner table, situating her so that her lower half was obscured. Let’s see how long it takes for him to catch on, the Scizor thought deviously, before going to the kitchen.

“Oh Fredrick, I have a special order for you,” he sing-songed as he stepped foot in what was normally only Mary and the griffon’s domain.

“Oh?” the airborn feline said, turning his head and tilting it.

“Mmhmm. Mare in the corner is looking for pickles coated in mustard, with a sprinkle topping. Goes by the name of Elire.”

Fredrick actually stopped what he was doing before breaking out in as wide a grin as his beak would allow. “She came back,” he whispered. “She came back,” he then repeated in a normal tone of voice. “I...will have that in two minutes. Mary, you’re in charge while I catch up with her!”

“Aren’t I always?” the Shiny Sandslash said with an eye-roll.

“Well my sweet lady Elire,” a familiar voice said from in front of the zebra seated at the table, causing her to look up abruptly and catch sight of a very familiar griffin with a plate of, yes, pickles coated in mustard and sprinkles. “What brings you back to my humble establishment after so long?”

Elire opened her mouth, but closed it. She looked nervous and her remaining good ear twitched back and forth. “...Some things came up.”

Fredrick placed the odd food item that she had requested in front of her and tilted his head. “Did you come here on a vacation, or is it a more permanent thing, like we originally fantasized about?”

“Permanent,” Elire said, though her eyes were intently on the food. Her mouth watered and she attacked it like a savage. Fredrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He was raised better than to comment about such things.

“So my lady, are you looking for lodgings in the city then? I know of a few places that have empty rooms and are decent, if so.”

Elire licked her lips of any remaining bits of food. “I...am looking for a new home. No, I need a new home. If you know anywhere I can stay that’s safe, please tell me!” She was frantic in her motions.

“My lady!” Fredrick walked over and pulled the zebra into a hug. “If you require a place to stay, then look no further. I would of course house you myself, if you desperately need such a place. While a lesser male would ask what you require safety from, I, on the other claw, will merely tell you that the moon would have to fall from the sky before you would be in danger here.”

“I know….” Elire sniffled. “It’s just...Look at me, Fredrick. Just look at me. I’m a ravaged mare.”

“Wasn’t that my job, the last time we met?” he inquired in a deep voice. “But if you’re talking about your souvenirs you seem to have picked up,” Here Fredrick looked her over with a critical eye, “I’ll let you tell the stories behind them at your own pace. You are no less lovely to me, my lady. That will never change.”

“Why?” Elire sniffled louder. “Why do you have to be so nice? Why? Why couldn’t you just be like all the other griffins, huh? Maybe then I wouldn’t have to run away…” Elire then hugged him back, hard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“My dear, as I told you many times, Equestrian citizen, raised on the ideas of tolerance to all walks of life. Being a gentlegriffin was just a part of that upbringing. Your outer appearance may change as you trade bits of yourselves for stories from battle, but inside, I will always see the mare that tamed my wildcat tendencies.” He softly ran one of his claws through her mane then.

“Thank you,” Elire said softly. “I need someone like you now. My home...Zebrica isn’t the best place to live now with the war going on...brother against brother...sisters and fathers...It’s horrible and...I don’t think I can live like that anymore. Too many dead, my friends, my comrades. I’m sick of it.”

“Ah,” Fredrick said softly. “So you leave them all and come here to me. While I am flattered, I do hope you went through all the proper, or at the very least necessary, channels, before you did. I’d hate to have to explain to any officials why your paperwork wasn’t filled out in triplicate.”

Elire blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Immigrating to Equestria, while normally easy,” Fredrick explained, “Is also a long process of filling out the right forms. At least, as my mother tells it. They were happy when all the proper paperwork finally cleared. While I imagine it’s easier for a Zebra to become an Equestrian citizen than a pair of Griffins, there’s still probably a form or two to fill out. You...did do that, right?”

“No,” Elire started to hyperventilate. “The king said he fixed it. I’m Equestrian. Don’t send me back, please Fredrick. I didn’t know. I don’t want to die.” She clutched a hoof to her stomach. “Not my baby...Please no.”

Fredrick pulled her close and started to stroke her mane again, in an effort to calm her. “Shush, shush. First thing tomorrow, we’ll go down to the Guard office, see if there’s anything we need to do, get it all sorted ourselves. I promise you, I won’t send you…” The last few words finally clicked, and Fredrick pulled his head back to look her in the eyes. “Wait. You’re pregnant?”

Elire nodded as she cried. “Yes...it’s half griffin. My people hate your kind, you know. If they found out about my baby, they would….They would….” She cried in fear.

Fredrick pulled her close again. “Oh my dear sweet Lady,” he whispered in her good ear. “No fear from me, and I’ll let none harm you for such a thing.” He pulled back and looked at her again. “Well, I imagine there’s very few griffins you’ve been with, besides myself, of course, so do you know the father?”

Elire slapped him. Hard. “The hay do you think it is? This is your fault!”

Fredrick’s head stayed at an awkward angle for a moment as that sentence processed more fully. Once it did, he rotated it slowly back, a blank expression on his face. “Mine?” he questioned in a flat tone.

“Did you get stupid after I left?” Elire seethed. “Of course it’s yours. What do you take me for, a floozy?”

Fredrick shakily pointed one claw at her stomach. “That, growing inside of you, is my child?” He didn’t seem to quite believe what he was hearing.

“Do you want me to punch you?” Elire held back a hoof. Fredrick just hugged her close and repeated the same sentence over and over again.

“I’m gonna be a dad,” he kept saying. “I’m...I’m gonna be a dad…”

“Yes you are,” Elire nuzzled him. He then moved his head from over her neck to against her stomach, listening intently at the swelling belly.

“Any idea how much longer it’ll be?” he questioned. “Or should we also schedule a hospital visit after the guard one?”

“It should be almost ready,” Elire frowned. “But...it’s a hybrid. I don’t know.”

“Hmm. Well, a quick visit to the hospital should clear up any questions or possible complications,” Fredrick declared. “In fact, we should make that our first visit tomorrow instead of the guard, if it’s so close to term.”

“Okay,” Elire gulped. “You’re taking this all well. I’m scarred, my country is in a civil war, and I can’t go home because I’m carrying your child. Yet, you just take it all in stride.”

“Oh I have no doubt I’ll have a few breakdowns later on,” Fredrick said. “At the moment, that last one sort of eclipses all the rest, and I’m focused on making sure my lovely lady delivers a healthy, happy babe that I can help raise. Once that’s dealt with, I’m sure the other issues will take precedence.” He gently picked up one of Elire’s forehooves and gave it a kiss.

“Okay,” Elire blushed, wiping away her tears. “Thank you.”

“Happy to be of service, my lady. Would you like to reclaim your room now, or would you prefer something else to eat?”

“I’d like a place to rest,” Elire nodded. “If that’s not too much trouble.”

“It is never trouble to house you, my dear. The only real question is if you want companionship tonight or not, and if so, what sort.” The way the griffin winked at her clued the zebra in as to what he was referring to.

“I think that will be acceptable,” Elire smirked. “I just hope you don’t tire so easily. I’ve gotten stronger since I’ve last been here.”

“I would hope so,” Fredrick smirked. “Go on and take either bedroom upstairs, my dear. I still have a restaurant to run, but I promise I will be up as soon as possible.”

Elire nodded and stood up from the table. “Later it is then,” she said, before making her way to the bedroom. She had a slight waddle in her step, since her ‘belly’ was rather bloated.

“Fredrick, if you’re done flirting with your girlfriend, I have an order for an apple pie!”

The griffin sighed at the sound of the Sandslash’s voice. “A chef’s work is never done.”

Lucy hugged her mate a little closer as they both looked at the eggs before them. “They’re going to be a handful when they hatch,” she said.

“Like we didn’t already know that,” Vincent responded. “I only hope we prove capable of wrangling the two of them and that they don’t team up on us.”

“Don’t jinx it,” Lucy said in a serious tone.

The door fell down to the ground with a thud, breaking off its hinges. The Aggron on the other side sighed. “Why doesn’t anyone make sturdy doors?”

Vincent turned to look at the entrance, taking note of the Aggron in the place of where the apartment door used to be. “What is it with you guys and doors?” he questioned with a hint of mischievousness in his voice.

“A lot of things,” she rolled her eyes. “A door killed my parents, doors are aliens, whatever other nonsense you want to choose from. I apologize in advance for my lack of horrific ‘door’ related backstory.”

“It’s fine,” Vincent said with a wave of his hand. “Gives me more opportunities to practice my fine control by putting it back together.”

“And maybe this time, it won’t fall apart when you stop holding it together,” Lucy snarked.

“Owch,” Vincent said, holding a hand over his chest and miming being gravely wounded. “My pride. Ah, but where are my manners?” Vincent summoned, then tilted, his top hat towards the Aggron. “I am Vincent, and this charming Lucario is Lucy, my sister figure, girlfriend and mate. Yourself?”

The Aggron stood up at attention and saluted. “General Ag of the PLA, reporting. I am the commander of the Seventh Division.”

“I don’t think she was here last time,” Lucy mused.

Vincent nodded at Ag’s titles. “Well Ag, may we ask why you’re here?”

“I wanted to check up on you,” Ag said, eyeing him intently. “My mate wished to meet with you and he can be...strenuous on others.”

Lucy turned to look at Vincent and crossed her arms. “Well?” she questioned bluntly.

Vincent held his hands up. “Okay, so I may have met with a Gardevoir named Gard, but it didn’t come to blows at all, though it probably came closer than it should have. It ended up with us comparing our lives and having a...relatively pleasant conversation. So I didn’t think it was something you had to worry about.”

In response, Lucy smacked him upside the head. “You tangled with a more powerful Psychic than yourself, of course I want to know, you nimrod!”

Ag chuckled. “You shouldn’t hide things from your mate, young one. It’s not healthy, especially us Steel ladies.”

“And now I remember why I have that extra-strength headache medication,” Vincent grumbled as he rubbed the back of his head. “Yes, well, we eventually came to an understanding, and out of curiosity...is he as bad as he made himself out to be?”

“Whatever he told you,” Ag said. “It’s not true...He’s worse, but I still love him anyways. I’m honestly surprised he didn’t rip you to shreds. He wasn’t exactly keen on you when he first read Sev’s and Lia’s memories of their encounter with you.”

“Had he tried,” Vincent said in a cold, very cold, voice, “I would have responded in kind. Two words: Total Recall. Think about how that could have gone, miss Ag. Oh, he may have been powerful, but if he actually tried to attack me, I would have taken him down with me.”

“And then I would have dealt with him,” Lucy growled. “Both in helping Vincent get to those that could have put him back together, and helping him against your mate.”

In unison, the two mates said the next line. “You do not mess with our family.”

“And you don’t mess with my family either,” Ag frowned. “But I didn’t come here to threaten you or anything like that. I just came here to make sure he didn’t go too far and that you were alright. Bite my head off, will you.” She snorted in agitation.

“Apologies,” Vincent said after shaking his head. “But Gard wasn’t exactly the most...pleasing ‘mon to deal with. I can count on one hand the ones that I think of as worse than him. How you keep him reigned in at all, I will never know.”

“It’s hard work,” Ag shrugged. “But a mate’s got to do it. Can’t really do much about it, I’m afraid, other than dissuading the act in the first place. He’s rather...unstable, to put it nicely.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Vincent snarked.

“Tell me about it,” Lucy said, once again cuffing Vincent. “This moron went up to Canterlot to give Mewtwo a talking-to after he broke Luke without even a second thought.”

“I said sorry!” the Kadabra tried to defend himself.

“And if Gard did something similar, I’m sure Ag would be taking my side in this!”

“She’s right,” Ag gestured with a claw to Lucy. “I don’t know how many times I’ve had to knock him upside the head for going out alone.”

“Thank you!” Lucy said before turning back to Vincent. “Is that the sort of thing you’re going to teach our kids? Or are you well and truly tamed, mister ‘I’m going to fight a legendary with nothing more than my few powers’?”

“I’m tamed!” Vincent said. “I am so tamed if it keeps you from hitting me again!”

Ag laughed. “You two make fine mate and I apologize for any actions my own has made against you...or will in the future.” Ag frowned, but then smiled. “Oh, but that’s not important right now. How’re the eggs?”

“They’re doing well,” Vincent replied, right before said eggs flared once in response to being mentioned. “And they’re being cheeky,” he added as the flares died down. “Seriously, if they’re this powerful now, I dread to think of what they’ll be like once they’ve hatched.”

Lucy giggled slightly. “Your fault for being so well trained, love. You had to expect some of that to be passed down to our kids.”

“Powerful or not, they seem quite healthy. I’m glad for the two of you,” Ag smiled. “Me and my own mate aren’t...compatible, so…” She tapped her belly. “It’s nice to know that it works for you.”

Vincent opened his mouth to make a comment, thought better of it, and closed it with a simple shrug. Lucy sighed and looked to Ag. “My apologies that you won’t be able to experience this, then,” she said. “It’s...one of the best things to happen to me, and I wish you could.”

“It’s no big deal,” Ag tried to wave the issue away. Her eyes had a ‘distant’ look within them, even with her smile. “I have Gard. I have my soldiers and my position. I’m good….Oh silly me, I’m sorry for bringing you down. Not my intention.”

“I think she forgot who she’s talking to,” Vincent commented. “It’d take more than that to actually disturb us.”

“True,” Lucy said. “But it’s called ‘courtesy’, love, you could practice it.” With that barb delivered, Lucy walked towards Ag and held one of her hands in both of hers. “Well, we appreciate the visit, Ag, and thank you for the check-up on my idiot brother here.”

“I can hear you,” Vincent complained.

“That’s the idea,” Lucy replied. “Is there anything else you’d like to say or do while you’re here?”

“Oh nothing really,” Ag said. “I just wanted to check up on….wait, brother?” Ag blinked in confusion.

“We saw each other as brother and sister when we were held together, though I was human and she a Riolu at the time,” Vincent began explaining.

“Helped that he could understand Pokemon and treated me like family should,” Lucy picked up.

“Did...none of the others tell you our last name?” Vincent cocked his head to the side.

“Well yes,” Ag frowned. “But I thought she just took it because you were mates...Well, don’t I feel silly.” She smiled. “So, spiritual brother and sister, hmm? Quite the bond.”

“Yes,” Lucy said, “And a hard one to surpass when I wanted to clue him in as to what I saw him as. I eventually got it into his head that I wanted us to be more than brother and sister, though.”

“And just in time for these to happen,” Vincent finished by pointing at the eggs behind him.

“It is hard to get through to psychics,” Ag chuckled. “They may be wise to the world, but to their own heart? They are stupid.”

“Sometimes he doesn’t even have that,” Lucy said.

“Still here,” Vincent deadpanned.

“Sometimes he listens to his heart before thinking things through, but that’s part of why I love him,” Lucy finished, causing Vincent to come up behind her and catch her in a hug.

“I’m happy for you two,” Ag said. “I really am, but I have been imposing on you for too long. Take care and watch those eggs. They can be fragile.”

“Say hi to Sev for me,” Vincent said before she vanished out the door.

“Likewise, but to Lia...when she’s done with Lu,” Lucy chuckled, causing Vincent to raise an eyebrow.

“What did you do?” He asked of his mate.

“Oh...not much...just showed her my first Heat,” the Lucario said deviously.

“Oh Xerneas, no,” Vincent replied by facepalming. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope, not joking!”

Ag raced back into the room. “You did what?!!”

“Oh come off it,” Lucy replied with an eye-roll. “Somemon had to tell her. I just showed her the whole experience, including what eventually happens,” at this, Lucy pointed at the eggs behind her. “It’s for the best and you know it.”

“Better than how I learned, but still, what were you thinking, Lucy?” Vincent said from behind the hand he hadn’t removed from his face.

“...You do know Lia’s not going to get pregnant, right?” Ag frowned. “Not compatible. She can’t ever have kids with him.”

“Won’t stop her from trying, if the looks she gave him are any indication,” Lucy said with a sultry smirk. “I’ve never seen a Lucario so scared before.”

“He had every reason,” Ag groaned and rubbed her forehead. “The Commander is going to blow his top when he finds out...That will be a headache I don’t want.”

A Lucario started running for his life through the house from an angry Seviper. Most of the PLA wisely stepped aside and kept out of it. Vincent and Lucy looked at one another as the sounds of the chase filtered to their room, one with the expression of ‘I told you so’ on his face, the other with an eye-roll. Lala was unperturbed; she would only step in if moves started to be used and Vincent wasn’t making an appearance. Wobbuffet joined her in reading the paper, and Jessie, James, and Meowth decided to hunker down in their room until the storm passed. Christine stuck her head out of her room as the chase passed and shouted at the two ‘mon.

“Will you two SHUT UP?!” She screamed at them. “Some of us are PREGNANT HERE and trying to take a NAP!”

“IF YOU GET HER PREGNANT, I WILL SKIN YOU!” Sev shouted at Lu.

“Oh come on!” Lu jumped out of the way of a strike to his tail. “Didn’t ya hear the girl? Naptime!”

“I AM THE MASTER OF NAPTIME!” Sev shouted back as he kept slashing at Lu. “I decide when it is said time for the nap, you miserable excuse for a Pokemon.”

“I SWEAR, Sev, if you don’t tone it down, I will drop-kick you to the fucking MOON to get some peace and quiet!” Christine yelled as they actually turned into her room.

“I will not be silenced until I take this mon’s life like he took my sister’s innocence.” Sev countered.

“ I didn’t say SILENT, I said softer than a freakin’ TRAIN, you numbskull,” she muttered as she closed the door and turned back to her bed. “Where in the hell is Scep? I need him to get me some headache medication. It’s too early for this Tauros-shit.”

“I sent him to get a bracelet so he could propose like a proper mon,” Sev snorted. “He will be back….”

Scep crashed through a window, rolled on the floor, and jumped to his feet. “I got it!” He held up an intricate, dark blue bracelet with the symbol of the moon in the middle. “Well, that was easy to find.”

“You’re paying to fix that window,” Christine said as she rummaged in the bathroom. “Argh, why does Vincent not stock anyone’s bathroom but his own with headache pills? Love, could you get me some?”

Scep sighed. “Fine,” he walked back to the door. “I’ll just give you your gift later.”

“Please do,” Christine said as she went to the kitchen for a glass of water. “Preferably when your commander stops chasing that Lucario and causing enough racket for Giratina to hear it in the Distortion Realm.”

“Which reminds me,” Sev said. “GARD!” Said Pokemon appeared. “Open up a portal to the purple realm. I wish for Giratina to deal with this pest.”

Gard rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. Instantly, one of the nearby mirrors turned purple until a visage of a lounging Giratina appeared.

Giratina blinked in surprise, before gasping. “No...For father’s sake, can’t I just get a little peace and quiet?”

“Get rid of him,” Sev pointed to Lu, ignoring Giratina’s plight like he always did.

“For the last time,” Giratina grumbled. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“But we are friends.”

Giratina was silent for a moment. “.......We are the complete opposite of friends! Every cell of my body cries in fury whenever I gaze upon you, you slithering worm!”

Sev laughed. “Your jokes are amusing, but I do not care for them at the moment. I wish…”

“No,” Giratina growled. “I’m not dealing with this now.” He closed the portal.

“....Jerk,” Sev snorted.

“...Love, did that psychic just open a portal to the Distortion Realm, just so your commander could argue with Giratina?” To say Christine was slightly shaken would be an understatement: she was actually scared, mostly because she had nothing to fall back on if said psychic turned his attention to her except for her ability.

“He does it all the time,” Scep shrugged. “Ain’t nothing unusual….Are you alright?” Scep quickly went to her side.

“Oh I’m just peachy,” she said in a falsely cheerful voice. “Would you two like to continue your chase somewhere far away from me?” she questioned the Lucario and Seviper while glancing at Gard.

“Ah’d…..” Lu raised his hand.

“NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR OPINION!” Sev shouted at him with an accusative gesture with his tail.

“Ah care,” Lu’s mother, Cari, growled at Sev. The mother Lucario was straightening out her dress. Her arms were flexed dangerously.

“Look, I don’t care what this is about or where you all argue about this, just leave me and my mate alone, or so help me, the next person who talks is getting a super-effective move shoved up their asses!” the pregnant Gabite growled. “Am I fucking clear?”

“She’ll do it,” Scep said.

“Don’t doubt it,” Rio laughed. “Ya should have heard the things Cari said when she was carrying my litters.”

“And ah meant every word,” Cari walked over to Christine. “Now hun, ya shouldn’t be walkin’ out so willy nilly in this state. Ya need rest….and a pair of earmuffs.”

“Agreed, along with some headache medication. But first, you three!” Christine pointed at Gard, Sev, and Lu. “Out! Out out out!”

Gard teleported himself and Sev. “Ah didn’t do anythin’!” Lu said.

Sev teleported back. “You did!” The two disappeared.

“And you!” She pointed at Scep. “Headache pills! I don’t care where, just don’t get me any of Vincent’s personal supply! I made that mistake once, never again. Out!”

Scep yelped and ran out the door.

“...Is it a bad time to mention this?” Cari pulled out a small bottle of pain reliever. “Dealin’ with everyone is kind of tirin’ sometimes. This’ll clear that headache of yers in a jiffy.”

“I’ll stash them for later, let him feel useful,” Christine said, snagging the bottle. “But don’t you and your mate have a boy to be defending?”

“He needs to fight his own battle,” Rio snorted and crossed his only arm over his chest. “That’s the Lucario way.”

“And that’s how I lived my whole life outside the lab. Spoiler alert: it sucked. Even if it’s just for moral support, you should at least find him,” Christine fired back to the male of the pair.

“He needs to fight,” Rio shot back. “That’s how ya grow strong. He’ll pull through, mark my words.”

“Considering the things Scep says Sev’s survived before, I wouldn’t be too sure,” Christine said. “I mean, most ‘mon are squished when Groudon step on them. Like I said, even if it’s just to let him know you care, you should be there. I’d have given anything for involved parents in my life,” she finished softly, a hint of a tear in one eye.

Rio scoffed and walked away.

Cari sighed. “Don’t take it to heart, hun. He’s a stubborn mon. Always has been, especially since he lost his arm.”

“Just…” she wiped the moisture away. “Just find him and be there for him. Please.”

“Wish ah could,” Cari pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away Christine’s tears. “My kin always like to go running off and fightin’ all the time. Ah’m guilty of it too. Don’t you worry. My son’ll be okay and this will all be water under the bridge. How it normally works.”

“I hope you’re right,” she said. “Oh Arceus, I hope you’re right.”

Vincent had just finished the day’s paper and his cup of coffee in the lobby. “Well, things finally seem to be improving in this city,” he commented. “Not a single anti-Pokemon story today for a month straight. I like that trend.”

“It’s a good one to have, but being complacent invites disaster,” Lala commented. “What of the PLA being in town?”

“Surprisingly little news about that,” the psychic said. “Though I get the feeling that our headaches are not over by a long shot.”

Just then, a battered Lu ran into the lobby. He coughed, wiping the dirt off his coat. “Finally made it.”

Vincent blinked a few times. “Did I...miss something?” he asked of the world at large.

“Commander….” Lu huffed as he tried to calm down his breathing. “Sister….Me….Bed….”

Vincent processed the statement and nodded a few times. “Yeah, that’d about do it. Wait, where is he?” The absence of a certain large snake from the lobby had piqued the Kadabra’s curiosity.

“He’s….”

Lu’s statement was cut off when Sev smashed into him. Looming over the Lucario, Sev raised his bladed tail as though to strike. His fangs leaked poisons more than able to kill Lu. “Now, shall we talk?”

“Sev, if you so much as move in any direction other than letting this young boy go, I swear to you, you will not like what I do next,” Vincent said calmly from his chair as he sent his mug back to the kitchen for a refill. “Your move. Make it a good one.”

“Do not tell me what to do,” Sev hissed back. “She is my sister, not yours. This is between me and this...mon.”

“And this is my house,” Vincent thundered back. “You will obey my rules, or you will suffer for breaking them.”

“Fine,” Sev wrapped his coils around Lu’s legs. “We shall take this matter outside.”

The doors swung shut and were held that way in a familiar blue glow. “I’d rather you didn’t bring murder to my doorstep,” Vincent said, one hand alight. “Now are you going to talk this out calmly, or am I going to have to get serious?” His mug returned, and his other hand made sure it was well-mixed with his normal spoon as he raised an eyebrow at the two disagreeing ‘mon in the lobby.

“Murder?” Sev laughed. “That is too good for him. No, he will suffer and he will live with it. I gave him an order and he disobeyed it.”

“But she was givin’ me that look and ah…..” Lu blushed.

“....You want me to end you?” Sev shouted in his face.

“I could ask the same, Sev,” Vincent replied, letting a little glow loose. “Control yourself. You’re not the only one to walk away from a Legendary meeting anymore. Now what is the nature of your disagreement?”

“He mated my sister!” Sev shouted, in his anger, he thrashed Lu about.

“Alright, time out, kiddies,” Vincent said, raising his glowing hand higher. In a tugging motion, Lu and Sev were separated from one another and forced to opposite sides of the room. “You two sit in those corners until you agree to behave. Moving from them will not be tolerated.”

“Oh come on!” Lu threw his hands up in the air in frustration. “Why am ah being punished?”

“You want I should let him loose?” Vincent replied without looking at Lu. “Fair and balanced punishment is how I roll: You get loose, so does he.”

“.....Ah’m good,” Lu squeaked out.

“Now Sev, remember what I said about loving your sister a bit too much?” Vincent turned to the snake next.

“I don’t love her too much,” Sev shouted. “My love is grandiose and good natured. There is never enough of it.”

“Then I guess the next question I should be asking is: why don’t you trust her?”

“I am her big brother,” Sev hissed in anger. “I am the only male that should be in her life. None other!”

“So you really don’t trust her to make any decisions on her own?” Vincent questioned with a raised brow. “Or have you taught her nothing about making good choices?”

“I will not lose her again!” Sev thrashed. “Not again, never again.”

“Then don’t you think it’d be a good idea if someone else watched her when you couldn’t?” Vincent said while gesturing at Lu. “Someone she liked, loved even?”

“I allowed him to be her boyfriend, not to mate her.” Sev shot at him. “He hasn’t even proposed.”

“Neither have I or Lucy, despite my mother’s subtle attempts to steer us in that direction,” Vincent riposted. “Yet she’s had my eggs, we’re about to be parents. Nobody said you had to get married for nature to do its thing.”

“I am above nature,” Sev scoffed. “I command the forces of thousands of individuals. I wish something to be so, it is done. I wish for my sister to remain pure, I want it to be followed. You couldn’t keep it in your pants!” He pointed at Lu. “MY SISTER, YOU INGRATE!”

“She was very persuasive,” Lu tried to point out, gulping in fear.

“Sev, calm yourself. Lu, if I ask, will you submit to a slight Hypnosis, so that you cannot answer our questions with anything but the truth?” Vincent tried to mediate the situation with what few techniques he had.

“Just don’t do anythin’ fishy,” Lu said. “Don’t want no stuff like barkin’ at bell tolls or somethin’ like that.”

“Sev, will you believe me when I say such a thing has been done?” Vincent turned to the angry snake in the opposite corner.

“I made Gard do that once,” Sev chuckled. “Hilarious...Wait, what?”

“If I make Lu answer your questions with nothing but the truth, will you believe him?” Vincent clarified.

“...Can I still smack him around regardless?”

“We can work that out later, depending on his answers,” Vincent replied. “If he’s being honest about not being totally at fault, he has nothing to fear.”

“Do it,” Sev said.

Vincent raised his spoon to point at Lu and focused on the results he wanted from the technique first. Once he had it down, he shaped his power and closed his eyes. “Hypnosis,” he whispered, sending the Lucario into a daze from which it would be too much trouble to make up a lie. “Begin your questioning, Sev.”

“......Do you know the Muffin Man?” Sev asked.

“No,” Lu said.

“Drat,” Sev growled. “Finally a straight answer off the bat and it’s no. I WILL FIND YOU MUFFIN MAN! YOU CAN’T HIDE YOUR MUFFINS FROM ME!”

“You’re forgetting the issue at hand,” Vincent said. “Lu, at any point in time, did you tell Lia about the topic of sex?”

“Before or after she tackled me to the bed?” Lu asked.

“Answer it both ways,” the Kadabra said with a slight smirk.

“Not a time before,” Lu said. “And a little after. Not an expert on it myself.”

Vincent looked to see how Sev took the answer Lu had given to the question. Sev’s jaw was clenched and his glare killer.

“Lu, do you know who did tell Lia about the topic?” Vincent hastened to continue the questioning, in hopes that Sev would still listen.

“Lucy,” Lu said. “She showed Lia all her heat memories...Lia wanted to do them afterwards.”

“Ah,” he said with a nod. “Well, I’m sorry if any of it was unpleasant for you, not everyone likes bondage. Now, the final question.” He took a breath and composed it properly before he asked it.

“Had Lia not been told about the topic, would you ever do such acts with her?”

“Hell yeah, ah would.” Lu nodded. “Ah love that girl from the bottom of my heart. Don’t know this ‘bondage’ ya mentioned was though.”

“So mister Sev,” Vincent said, turning to the snake. “You have information. He didn’t ‘ruin’ your sister, and he loves her. Probably more than enough to keep her as safe as possible. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that love doesn’t listen to reason, orders, or the law. Trying to fight this will only make her miserable.”

Sev was silent for a moment, just staring at Lu. Finally, he opened his mouth. “Mask her scent. I do not want to smell her on you ever again….And the same for her. Hide the smell, for if I ever smell her stink of you, I will make you pay.”

“What if ah propose, later on?” Lu questioned the snake. It probably took him a good amount of effort to ask the question instead of answering them.

“If you had stopped and done that before this whole mess, maybe I wouldn’t be so angry.” Sev hissed. “Instead you rushed into this, without my consent. My anger is justified.”

“Sev, play nice,” Vincent warned. “Otherwise I’ll tell Lia on you.” Sev snorted in answer. “Now if you two agree to not even try to kill each other, I suppose I can let you out of your corners now. Lu?”

“Yeah?”

“Promise to behave and obey your commander’s new rules regarding your new relationship?”

“Promise,” Lu put a paw to his heart.

“Sev?” The Kadabra looked to the snake with an eyebrow quirked.

“Yes,” Sev gave him an annoyed glance.

“Your word, if you please,” Vincent said, waving a spoon about lazily. “Promise to behave and not try to kill Lu here?”

“I will resist the urge.”

“That’s about as good as I’m going to get from you, so fine.” Vincent lowered his glowing hand finally, and the doors swung open. “Oh, and well done on resisting leaving your corner, Sev. Lu, wake up,” the Kadabra more or less commanded the hypnotised Lucario, ending his technique over Lu’s mind.

“GAH!” Lu fell over. “Darn psychic stuff.”

“Yeah, I feel that way too. Only constantly,” Vincent commented. “...Sev, if I hear from Lucy about you threatening her in any way for getting rid of Lia’s innocence, once again, you won’t like what I do. Talk to her, sure. Express your disappointment, fine. But threaten her, and I will not be happy with you.”

Sev nodded through his glare. “Of course...Vincent.”

“I’m so glad we understand one another.” The Kadabra took a swig of his coffee and made a face. “Bleh, too cold.” The psychic looked over his mug at the snake before continuing. “For the record, I do not approve of how she did it, so you have my blessing to talk to her and tell her your disappointment in her. Just keep the murderous rage in check when you do.”

“I will,” Sev slithered off. Vincent looked to Lu with a raised eyebrow, a question clearly behind his expression, though he kept silent for the moment, waiting to see if the Lucario would ask.

“What?” Lu asked.

“His sister?” Vincent deadpanned. “I can’t decide if you have balls to rival the Orbs of Groudon and Kyogre, or a death wish.”

“Lia can be very, very persistent,” Lu shivered. “Can’t much argue with her...and she’s so cute...and sexy and...gotta say a bit of both, but ain’t nothin’ makin’ me regret it.”

“Fair enough,” the psychic replied with a shrug. “I get something similar when I think about Lucy.” Once he recalled how Lia’d lost her innocence, he looked over to Lu with a smirk. “So, she saw all of that week, huh? Boy, if she pulls out any straps and chains, you’d best pray she’s merciful.”

Lu paled. “She ain’t gonna do that.”

“You say that now,” Vincent replied, bolting his coffee down and pulling a face. “But mark my words, she saw more than enough of what it was like to receive...she may just do it to you once she finds the novelty shop in town.”

“Nope,” Lu shook his head. “Nope, nope, just nope.”

His only response was Vincent’s laughter as he vanished in a flash of blue light.

Scep smiled as he strolled through the hallway to his mate’s room, medicine in hand. It felt nice, being helpful. A part of him wanted to burst in, but another part of him said that he should learn from his mistakes and knock….

Too bad he was a bad learner.

Scep quickly opened the door and jumped inside. “I got the medicine!”

“You’re just lucky you’re all the way over there!” Christine replied from her bedroom in a slightly panicked tone. “Otherwise you’d have been fried, again! What did I tell you not to do?!”

“Not to surprise you,” Scep pouted.

“Uxie bless, but the boy can learn! So you got me some pills for my headache?”

“Yep,” Scep walked into the bedroom. “All prepped and ready.”

The Gabite reached out with one claw and made a grabby motion while her eyes were closed, attempting to block out any pain-inducing light. The fact that she was on her back gave Scep a lovely view, but he tore his eyes away for the time being.

He quickly put the bottle into her hands. “Here you go, dudette...Is it that bad?”

She rolled over and read the instructions while popping the lid off. “Hmm...okay, just the one then.” She shook one pill free of the bottle and threw it into her mouth, gulping it down and sticking her tongue out. “Bleh, horrible taste.” She then looked to Scep. “It’s pretty bad, yeah...Get me a glass of water to wash that taste out with?”

In no time at all, Scep gave his mate her glass. “Sorry.”

She gulped the water down and sighed. “Oooh, there we go, that’s better.” She then patted the bed next to her, an invitation if there ever was one. Taking heed, Scep crawled into bed, making sure not to bounce so as to not upset her headache anymore.

“So,” Christine said while drawing her mate close. “Was there something you wanted to say before I sent you off for medication?”

“Yeah,” Scep blushed, shaking a bit. “I know we’re already mates and all, but….” Scep held up the bracelet. “Will you marry me?” His voice was as shaky as ever.

“Oh you silly gecko,” the Gabite whispered as she looked at the bracelet. Smiling softly and blushing no small amount, as evidenced by her pink face, she held out her right arm before replying. “Of course I will.”

Scep’s face broke out into a happy go lucky grin and he wrapped her up in a hug. He kissed her deeply. She returned the hug and played with him in the kiss for a bit before she pushed him back and held up her arm again, clearing her throat and looking at the bracelet still in his hands pointedly.

“Right,” Scep wrapped the large bracelet around her arm and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, love,” she replied as she examined the jewelry. “Where did you get this? It looks real expensive. Like, royalty expensive.”

“I stole it from that Luna chick,” Scep waved his hand. “No biggee.”

If you listened closely, you could almost hear the sound of Christine’s brain trying to shift from one gear to the next, slipping, and crashing. “You did what,” she stated blankly, as though unwilling to believe it.

“It’s not like Princess Luna doesn’t have any more of that stuff,” Scep rolled his eyes.

“You stole from an immortal moon deity.” She’d finally found traction again. “The only way this could be worse is if you also went after something from Celestia, Twilight, and Cadence.”

Scep was tapping a golden jewel with a quill. “Cadance?”

“...Yes, apparently the one alicorn you haven’t pissed off,” Christine said. “She’s in charge of the Crystal Empire up north and the local deity of love.”

Scep hummed in thought, stroking his chin. “What to do,” he thought aloud.

“Okay, look,” Christine said, holding up the arm with the bracelet. “This...is all very flattering, but the only way...only way, I’m going to let you continue practicing your trade under this roof is if you take every precaution to not anger the local deities. I’d rather not have a mate who’d end up smitten for his insolence.”

“That’s a tall order,” Scep frowned. “It’s not like they would smite me. I’ve stolen from some of the biggest names back in the old world, maybe a deity or two.”

“Yeah, and if the princesses in charge of the sun, moon, or magic itself decide to take offense to what you’ve done, that’ll leave me as a single mom, and we know where that road ends,” Christine said, with a dangerous glint in her eyes.

“You don’t have to be like that, dudette.” Scep whimpered. “I’ll be good.”

“Good,” Christine deflated slightly before looking at the bracelet. “Okay, let’s compromise. You take these things, get near-replicas made, and return one of them to the ones that are probably missing them, so that they don’t burst down the door in the middle of the night and haul you away. And also, don’t tell me which one I have. I’d really rather not know.”

Scep looked away. “Okay,” he sighed and started to get out of the bed, before being pulled into a hug.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am flattered, but society seems to love their laws and lines. Any that end up with you dead or gone if they catch you? Don’t cross. Got it?” She beeped his nose with one claw as she finished.

“Ain’t planning on those, dudette.” Scep smiled. “So, we cool?”

“Tell your teammates that the wedding’s on as long as they keep the explosions down like we discussed, get this job done, and we’re golden. I might even reward you,” she purred.

Scep blushed. “Okay, will do.” He gave her a hasty salute.

“Hurry back, lover,” she stated before letting him go. After carefully getting out of bed, and giving her a quick kiss on the lips, he rushed out of the room.

Lucy was meditating on the roof, practicing her moves in her mind's eye, when she picked up on a familiar aura coming onto the roof with her. She didn't even turn around to greet the 'mon, or open her eyes. “Hello, Sev,” she said.

“I would return said ‘hello’ in other times. Now isn’t one of them,” Sev hissed in anger.

“There is always time to be courteous. Such as taking a bow before a duel,” Lucy replied, moving from the punch she had just given to a kick at some invisible opponent.

“Courtesy is granted to those who deserve it,” Sev narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, for those who destroy the innocence of others, what ‘courtesy’ should I give them?”

“Ah, you are here about my educating Lia in the more base matters of Life,” Lucy said, still not opening her eyes, and giving a backhand to yet another adversary she was battling in her mind.

“Education?” Sev asked. “Is that what you were doing? Your views are misconstrued. My sister was not ready.”

“There were far worse ways she could have been taught, Sev,” Lucy replied softly, miming out an Aura Sphere. “Do you know who and what Vincent’s replacement father figure is?”

“No.”

“Luke was a Ralts when he was taken to a brothel and forced into being a whore,” Lucy stated bluntly. “He escaped on the day of his Evolution to a Kirlia. That...is one of the worse ways to be taught. Do you know how Vincent learned?”

“Ah yes...that practice,” Sev snarled. “It was one we tried to snuff out. By snuff out, I mean lining them up and ‘tearing’ them down.” He chuckled darkly. “But how did Vincent learn from this?”

“Vincent developed a technique, early in his time here, that he calls Ping. It’s basically him skimming minds in a large radius. It was only later that he learned how to refine it. He unleashed it here, once, in the sin city of Equus, near dusk. Just imagine what he picked up that night.” Lucy ducked under something before punching in Sev’s direction, her paw stopping a hair away from his scales.

Sev didn’t flinch. “I imagine, but that doesn’t have anything to do with my sister.”

“I taught her the best week of my life, what it felt like to do it with the one I love, and I showed her all the consequences, up to me laying. In the previous cases I outlined, the ones being taught were taught with no love, no care. That was not the case for your sister.” Lucy threw another few punches in seemingly random directions before bowing and turning back to Sev, finally opening her eyes.

“You showed her sex,” Sev hissed, narrowing his eyes. “And thus parking a male to take her.”

“I showed her love,” Lucy clarified. “And had I done nothing, when would you have? Because you can’t shut the world out forever. Sooner or later, she would have used her powers to find out anyways. With the resources available to me, I showed her in the best possible way. I could have told her to Ping the city. I could have made it awkward and explained it verbally. I chose to show her love.”

“Without permission,” Sev hissed. “I will be honest. I knew I could not keep the topic away from her. I prayed I could, but I knew otherwise. My family is my life. I have lost my sister twice to outside forces. The risk is great.”

“Which is why I showed her love,” Lucy said. “There was no mention of casual sex, or flings, or anything like that. All I showed her was what one could do with one they loved truly, deeply. And if you love her, you still won’t lose her. At best, you’ll have to share her.”

Sev clenched his jaw. “Difficult... Dangerous actions you play, Lucy. However...I am forgiving. Lia would not like her ‘bestest’ friend of Las Pegasus harmed. I cannot lift my blade against you, but my anger is known.”

“You’ll change your tune should you become an uncle, I’m sure,” Lucy said with a smirk. “Is there anything else I should know about, or has the great and glorious Sev run out of topics?”

“For now,” Sev turned. “...Try not to cross me again.”

“Save the talk on drinking for a later time, got it,” Lucy replied. Sev let out a loud, agitated hiss as he slithered off. “That snake is too uptight,” she muttered. “Next form,” she said as she closed her eyes again.

“So…” another voice, a gruff, battle hardened one with a country twang made itself known, “ya are the one who got my boy laid.”

Lucy flicked her Aura Sight over to the roof, and saw another Lucario there. One older and wiser than her, scarred, but ready to do more fighting. His right arm had a strong presence about it, but only a ghost remained of the left, and she realized he’d lost its physical companion some time ago.

“That would depend on who your boy is,” Lucy replied as she started her next form, fighting off the mental projections of Maylene and her Lucario partner.

“Don’t go playin’ those high an’ mighty ‘sage’ mantra,” Rio snorted. “That just gives us scrappin’ Lucario a bad image.”

“I am anything but,” Lucy said. “This is merely the side effect of being raised by a Porygon-2, who dealt with giving out information...but only exactly the information you asked for. I learned quite quickly to ask the right questions, especially when Vincent picked up the habit as well.”

“My boy Lu,” Rio started. “Ah want to know what ya did. That boy is skittish. Ain’t no way he got her by himself.”

“To be blunt, I know all the ways being educated about sex can go wrong,” Lucy stated while keeping up her practice. “From Sam, to myself, to Luke, to Vincent. Mine is probably the most mild of cases out of the four of them. I took the chance to head off Lia learning in a wrong fashion by showing her my first heat, and what Vincent and I did. From there, it was all her.”

“Youngin’,” Rio snorted. “Don’t ya know what heat does to us? Lia ain’t a fighter, nor does she got the nerve for it. I don’t rightly mind you helpin’ my boy get some. I do mind when ya go do stuff like that.”

“Which would you have preferred, then?” Lucy said while practicing her kicks. “That she learn like Vincent, and have the City of Sin teach her all at once via her skimming their minds with her powers? Or perhaps Sam and myself could teach her second-hand knowledge from the pervert that taught him. I dread to imagine Luke’s scenario playing out with her, so I’ll not even mention it in detail. I showed her how a Kadabra dealt with my heat, how much I love him, and all the consequences and emotions from that time. What she did what that knowledge was her business.”

“Ain’t my place to tell ya’ll youngin’s how to live,” Rio grinned. “It is my place to see how ya fight. So, ya a scrapper?”

“Barely,” Lucy said, finishing her form with a mimed Aura Sphere, bowing, and turning to face Rio and opening her eyes. “The aforementioned Porygon-2 was in charge of a combat simulator and of teaching me and the others Moves when deemed necessary. It is only thanks to Maylene and her Lucario partner that I learned anything about what it means to be a Lucario. I have kept up with my practice ever since, but I don’t get in many fights. I mostly teach self-defence to the ponies, in an effort to help them understand, and thus stop fearing, us.”

“Youngin, is that it?” Rio snorted. “Fightin’ is in our blood. Can’t deny that. Why, when ah was yer age, ah was fightin’ mons left and right.”

“There is more to life than fighting everymon you meet,” Lucy said. “Likewise, there is more to being Psychic than having a brain. Vincent and I balance one another.”

Rio shook his head. “Meanin’ no offense, but ya got to be one of those pansy Lucarios. Ah’m a scrapper and ah think ah’ve outlived ‘em all. So don’t go lecturin’ this ol’ mon any.”

“I did not intend to lecture, merely share my views. It may be true I look at life as a series of balances, but that is not the only way to look at it.” Lucy rotated some of her joints, cracking a few of them and grinning. “And if you think I’m a pansy, well, it has been some time since I last sparred with a member of our kind.”

Rio laughed. “So ya do have some fire in ya. Good, ya'll need it.” Rio cocked himself into a fighting posture. “First things first, thanks for givin’ that boy some aid. Arceus knows that he couldn’t do it himself and the Commander would’ve had my head if I told Lia...that. So, just wanted to say a bit of thanks before ah whooped yer flank, little missy.”

“Underestimating me would be a fatal mistake,” Lucy said, holding a pose herself. “At least, were this more than a spar, anyways. Let’s try and keep the damage to a minimum, otherwise James will not be pleased that we ruined his garden.”

“This won’t last long,” Rio grinned. “So give this ol’ coot a nice fall.” His aura surged around him. “Ladies first.”

“Going for that right off the bat?” Lucy mused. “There are other ways, you know.” A glowing bone materialized in her right paw. “And there is no place for such niceties on the field of battle. You’re just lucky I know better than to surge into attacking an unfamiliar foe.”

“Missy,” Rio laughed. “Ah’m given ya a sportin’ chance. If this was a battle, ah’d already have floored ya and smashed that head of yers. This ain’t, but ya are goin’ to be sore. Still, ya don’t want nice talk? Alright then.” With that said, Rio rushed her with Extreme Speed and at her side in no time with a Power-Up Punch.

The attack did sting, but the only sign that Lucy showed of the pain was twitching as the blow landed. She turned and unleashed a Counter, punching the older Lucario just below the chest spike. “Try again,” she said with a grin.

The second the words left her mouth, Rio kicked out her legs with ‘Low Sweep’ and smashed a ‘Bone Rush’ into her stomach. She gasped as she hit the roof back-first and hissed as the bone impacted her chest. Not good! She needed something...and she grinned as the solution came to her. Bringing her legs into play as well, she used all four limbs and gave the older ‘Cario some ‘Close Combat’.

Rio jumped backwards after the first few hits, giving them some distance. Normally, he could have blocked such a move with his arms, but….Giving his stump a small glance, he scowled. Lucy sprung back to her feet once she’d gotten space again and turned to face Rio, watching for another Low Sweep and preparing a few ideas on how to counter one. Rio just opened his mouth and a turquoise ball appeared before he let a simple breath as the ‘Dragon Pulse’ shot forth at her at break neck speed. With an added bonus, he fired a pulsing ‘Aura Sphere’ to boot.

Lucy crossed her arms in front of her face when the Dragon Pulse came at her, but she failed to take notice of the Aura Sphere until her senses warned her that it was nearly too late. She growled and used Extreme Speed, taking the hit on one of her arms that didn’t quite get out of the way in time, spinning her around like a top before coming to a rest facing Rio once more. “Okay, credit where it’s due, that was clever of you,” she complimented. “Might have to steal that trick of yours.”

“‘Course it was,” Rio grinned. “There’s a reason ah’ve got these white patches of fur, little missy.” He bowed his head. “Pleasure to help. Got to teach ya bouncin’ whipper snappers a thin’ or two. Arceus knows what’ll happen when ah’m gone.”

“Then let me show you a thing or two I’ve learned as well,” she said, before overlapping Extreme Speed with Quick Attack, ready to dodge his next attack. “Our training has been unorthodox, but we keep at it, making or improving our strategies every time to overcome our shortcomings.” She finally reached for the Aura herself, letting her dreadlocks and eyes glow blue as she observed the older ‘mon.

Rio’s body now had a red hue to it, signaling a ‘Strength’ move. With the added strength, his Extreme Speed move was boosted, making his nearly a blue in motion. His hand glowed white as he thrust his fist forward, performing ‘Brick Break’. Lucy merely moved to the right, dodging the move with hairs to spare, recalling how Sam had done similar when Checkmate had trained the both of them. Taking advantage of the close quarters, she swung one of her legs out in a Low Sweep of her own, hoping to catch the elder off-guard.

Rio yelped when the attack his his leg, knocking him off balance. The increased speed and power made him roll along the ground for a bit, before he jumped to his feet. He held his hand outwards and pointed a ‘Aura Sphere’ at her. However, he didn’t fire it. Instead, his eyes glowed blue and his hackles raised. The Aura Sphere held in place...and was quickly joined by seven others as Rio formed them in a circle in seconds. With a grin, and a slight push, the orbs short forward.

The other half of that training suddenly surface in Lucy’s mind, but she wanted anything but to let the spheres hit her! She rewound a bit and recalled what it had felt like to hit the rocks just right to cause them to stop without breaking, smirking as she did. Coating her paws in the Aura, Lucy looked at the incoming attacks and prepared to alter their courses. Each one, she either tapped, punched, or shoved just so so that she wasn’t put in any danger. Of course, there was the first one that she canceled by punching it just a little too hard, hoping equal and opposite forces would cancel out and not hurt...which was proven wrong as it exploded and covered the roof in dust, and her with not a few lances of pain. The rest went well enough, and she considered how best to respond.

The dust cloud lingered for a few moments longer, before Lucy spoke up.

“Not bad. The most I can do is two, so yours is pretty impressive, actually.”

As it cleared, she had one large Aura Sphere hovering over each paw, looking at Rio with a determined expression.

“While that’s another trick I’ll have to steal, I think the one I have is more than enough for right now.”

“Ah, good one,” Rio nodded. “I remember doin’ two, but one is enough.” Holding his own arm out, a light blue ball formed in it. The ‘Focus Blast’ grew to a considerable size. “Draw.”

“You underestimate me,” Lucy said, dismissing the Aura Spheres and crouching. “I don’t lose so easily.” She’d not had cause to use it before, but if Bit had been right, she could still pull up Me First and win this. “However, I’d rather you be able to walk off this roof, so concede and I’ll let you.”

Rio threw his head back in barking laughter. “Ya’ve got guts, kid. Ah like that. Kind of reminds me of Cari, ‘cept not as bitchy.” He launched the attack. In response, Lucy launched herself forwards, grabbed ahold of it, looked taken aback that it was actually working, and then fired it right back at him.

“Me First,” she explained in the split second she had before it hit.

Rio’s eyes widened and his body glowed red. Thrusting his paw forward, a red energy shield formed around him and blocked the attack. Casting the shield away with the attack gone, he smirked. “Won’t win that easy.”

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure that would work. Bit essentially ‘downloaded’ the moveset a Lucario ‘should’ know into my head with Vincent’s help, and I’ve been working on using some of them so that they aren’t so foreign to me. That was the first time I tried that one, though I’m glad it did work.” She hopped back a few feet and resumed her ready pose. “So do try again, I’d love to see what else I ‘can’ do.”

Rio closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. Suddenly, several glowing swords formed around him and circled him about. Finally, they crossed over each other and he glowed red.

“Swords Dance,” Lucy appraised with a nod. “Not a bad choice.” She closed her eyes and focused her mind, using Nasty Plot to figure out a better plan of attack. Rio opened his eyes and fired a pulsing Aura Sphere. Lucy snapped her eyes open upon detecting the incoming attack and fired off her own in response, causing another explosion and dust cloud to cover the roof.

Using the cover, Rio rushed forward with Extreme Speed and knocked her legs out from under her with Low Sweep and fired an Aura Sphere point blank into her back. She groaned from all the pain, but was still smiling. Oh, yes, this hurt. But he’d opened up a strategy.

“Reversal!” she all but shouted, bouncing back up and punching Rio with renewed vigor. “Thanks for making it an effective option!” She turned her pain into strength, giving it back to the male that had given it to her in the first place.

Rio’s eyes glowed blue as he used Detect. He dodged the incoming blows, almost dancing around every swing. “Ya have so much to learn.” He opened his mouth and fired Dragon Pulse.

Lucy grunted as the familiar wave of energy pounded into her. “Yeah, Bit’s the one that breaks convention all the time by keeping quiet. Freaky and scary, considering his moves and power. I prefer to at least warn you when I’m going to punch you in the face. Speaking of which,” she said, keeping the Force Palm a surprise right up until it hit Rio in the chest, “I can do it too, I just normally don’t.”

Rio stumbled back and held his paw to his chest. His whole body winced and shook. A haggard, deathly cough escaped his lips, to which he coughed into his paw. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he grinned. “Good punch….” He coughed a few more times and shook his head to clear it again.

“Glad you think so,” Lucy panted as she took a knee, the pain finally getting to her. “Well, I think I’ve got one more good move in me, then I’ll definately need a healer. You?”

Rio’s coughs still were sickly as ever, but he nodded. “Can’t...keep me down.” He thrust his paw forward and fired a Focus Blast. Lucy, on the other hand, opened her jaw and tried something new. Firing up two Aura Spheres on her paws, she attempted to build up a third in her mouth, which met with some minor success. It wasn’t as large as the other two, but it would serve. She set all three on an intercept course with the attack headed her way and braced for impact in case they weren’t enough.

Rio quickly raised ‘Quick Guard’ again to block the spheres and ran forward with Extreme Speed, a Brick Break at the ready, and smashed it into Lucy. She responded by grunting and falling to the roof, her eyes screwed shut in pain.

Rio quickly stomped her chest with Strength active, pinning her down. An Aura Sphere was aimed at her head as he peered down at the younger mon under his feet. “Nice try.”

She apparently had one last trick up her sleeve. She twisted and threw a Reversal-powered punch up and behind herself...but she probably should have aimed higher, or at all. Rio dodged it, clearing his malehood from danger, and smashed her with his built up Aura Sphere. Finally falling limp, Lucy was forced to admit defeat when she could no longer retain consciousness.

Rio smiled down at the younger mon. “Good game, kid.” Rio coughed into his paw again, pulling back to see it stained with blood. Scowling, he hastily took out a bottle...while his coughing got worse. Pulling the top off with his aura, he swallowed a couple of pills. His breathing somewhat improved. Putting the bottle back, he picked Lucy up and over his shoulder. He hummed a battle tune as he walked inside.

Outside the building, soldiers, both pokemon and zebra, worked on constructing the runway and wedding attire for the upcoming event. Lia and Felicia were the ones in charge, but they were nice and helpful to the soldiers. Alice...was grumbling as Ag watched her work the more trivial jobs. Gard just sat and watched it all with some tea in hand. Everyone else, generals included, worked normally.

“Pardon me,” an elderly female voice said from near the entryway, “But unless I miss my guess, you’re the PLA, right?”

An old Bellossom was at the doorway, taking in everything going on with a faint hint of amusement around her mouth.

Sev turned to meet her. “Yes and I am it’s Commander, the great and powerful Sev! Who might you be?”

The lady did a small curtsy with her grass skirt. “I’m Jeanne, dear. Mother of Vincent. Might I trouble you for a favor?”

“What is it?” Sev raised an eyebrow. “A favor asked of me can be meddlesome for some and deadly to others. Clarify.”

“Well, indulge an old woman in her curiosity, but this looks like you’re preparing to wed someone,” she said, giving a sweeping gesture to the proceedings.

“The only old woman I shall indulge is my mother,” Sev rolled his eyes. “But yes it is. My general is to be wed.”

The Bellossom smiled a little wider. “Oh, wonderful. To that nice Christine girl, if I’m not mistaken. Could I possibly convince you to add a couple to your list?”

“I AM NOT WEDDING MY SISTER OFF, MOTHER!” Sev shouted in rage, before closing his mouth. “Uhhhh….okay, ignore that outburst. Who?”

“Well, despite my meddling, my subtle hints, and my not so subtle hints, Vincent and Lucy seem to think they don’t need to be wed,” Jeanne said with a huff. “While I agree that they don’t need it, it’s quite literally the only thing they haven’t done. It just makes sense to me that they would get wed at this point. So if you could be a dear and do them while you’re here, I would appreciate it.”

“It shall be done,” Sev chuckled. “What can I say, I can’t say no to an elderly female. I blame my mother for that.”

“Thank you dear.” Jeanne said turning to go back in the house. Before she went inside, she spoke up one last time. “Oh, and if he gets angry at you for trying, feel free to blame me. I would love to see the look on his face.”

If reptiles could sweat, Scep would be filling buckets right now. He shakily stood in front of Sev who was acting as the ‘preacher’ and tugged at his suit’s neck. Scep was okay with it. Pretty much all the PLA soldiers had him bless the pair as they said their vows. Sev usually filled his soldiers with confidence...in a manner of speaking. However, he wasn’t so ‘confident’ now. He gulped as he readied himself for whatever came next. Gard tapped his fingers over the piano keys to get his bearing, before playing a wedding tune.

Lia was off in the audience, crying. “I love weddings,” she hugged her boyfriend close. “So emotional.” Lu groaned, rolling his eyes.

Vincent chuckled, and Lucy nudged her fellow Lucario. “The correct response is to hug her back,” she whispered in his ear.

Lu sighed and hugged Lia close...as she used him as a personal handkerchief to blow her nose against. “The things ah do for love.”

Christine was in her gown, waiting for the cue she’d been told about, and trying to ensure that her colors weren’t fluctuating wildly due to her emotions. “I...I can do this,” she whispered. “I can...do this...Oh Arceus, what if-”

She was cut off by the feeling of Jeanne’s hand on her leg, causing her to look down at the plant. Said elder was smiling. “It’s going to be okay, dear,” she said softly, and the Gabite nodded a few times while breathing deeply.

“It’ll be okay,” she whispered, then repeated in a louder tone. “Hey, Jeanne? Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it, dear. Now go get that boy of yours.”

Gard’s playing got louder and more intense. The notes grew more intricate as though he was playing a one mon symphony. Ag growled and smacked him upside the head. “It’s a wedding, not a concert.”

Gard grumbled. “Excuse me for lending a little class to it,” he started playing at a normal speed. He switched it to ‘Here comes the bride’. Upon hearing the iconic notes, Christine nodded again and walked through the doors, becoming visible to all in her gown for the first time. Her gown was form fitting and showed off her body in an appealing light, while not actually showing it lending the owner the modesty. It was sharp and crisp, fitting in a military, but also warm and welcoming. The bride could move well enough in it. The light violet dress complimented her natural color quite well, and she slowly walked down the aisle until she was standing next to Scep in front of Sev. She gave him a quick glance and a smile before looking back at the Commander.

Scep’s jaw was agape and he was redder than ever.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sev began. “And those who have no gender, because the world has a sick sense of humor. I would like to bring to your attention these mons before you who have decided to place themselves in a holy union. A union that none can dare tear apart. Their love for one another is great and the future may see it grow such heights. Be in awe and maybe a twinge of jealousy.”

The Gabite rolled her eyes and ended looking at her mate across the aisle, the way she held herself asked the question she dare not vocalize, ‘Is he always like this?’

Scep shook himself out of his stupor and nodded. In response, Christine lightly cleared her throat to hopefully re-rail the Commander’s train of thought to the matter at hand.

“Right,” Sev said. “Grand speeches later, wedding now. Scep,” Sev turned to his general. “Do you take Christine to be your mate for life, to handle with care, to never break her heart, to last through sickness and health to the end of your days?”

“I do,” Scep said firmly. Christine lightly blushed as he affirmed what she already knew, turning her face pink.

“Christine,” Sev turned to her. “Do you take Scep to be your mate for life, to handle with care, to never break his heart, to last through sickness and health to the end of your days?”

“You know,” she said, drawing her answer out a little bit, “Any other ‘mon would wonder what I was doing, marrying one of yours,” she winked at the snake to show she didn’t mean it. “But seeing as how he was one of the first ones to be honest with me once I was on the road to recovery and told me that I was beautiful, along with all the things he’s done for me since, not to mention this,” here her claws lightly touched her swelled stomach, “I’m fairly sure the answer was yes a long time ago, but yes, I do.”

“Really?” Sev gestured to Scep. “This guy? Can’t see what you want with him. He is a thieving nuisance.”

“Hey,” Scep glared at him, to which Sev laughed. Scep grumbled at his commander’s teasing.

“Oh I’m well aware,” Christine muttered, showing off the bracelet on her right arm. “But since he stole my heart and my womb, I’m making him responsible for it. Sorry Sev, he’s mine now.”

“Good riddance,” Sev slapped Scep in the back with his tail. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Take this idiot, he’s yours now.” He said the last part to Christine. Her response was to grab Scep and draw him in for a kiss right away, to which the entire chapel cheered.

“SO BEAUTIFUL!” Lia shouted, crying lakes worth of tears as she blew into a handkerchief Lu had brought her. Lu was rubbing her back affectionately, chuckling.

“Well,” Vincent said to Lucy, “I can see why mother keeps talking about pushing us into one, but we don’t really need it, do we?”

“Eh,” Lucy replied. “I’ll take one or leave one, but I’ll stand with you come hell or high water.”

Sev smiled at the kissing pair. “Yes, great times….You can breath now…..Seriously, you can stop….Sweet Arceus, don’t go that far! Get a room!”

Christine eventually came up for air and glared at Sev. “I’d love to see you up here one day and be told to stop,” she hissed at him. “But until that day, butt out.”

Sev rolled his eyes and slithered off. “Yes, well, the past is the past. The future is now.”

Scep pulled Christine in for another kiss, before pulling back and picking her up bridal style.

“Onwards!” she cheered from her new position. “But first,” she said, tapping his arm to get him to stop for a moment. “To the PLA...Thank you for doing this!”

“It was our pleasure,” Sev bowed his head and so did all of his soldiers.

“SO BEAUTIFUL!” Lia cried.

“Now Scep, I do believe you have a promise to keep,” the Dragon prodded her mate verbally.

Scep grinned and rushed off into the building with his mate in his arms. “SEE YA DUDES AND DUDETTES!” He cheered as he sped on.

“I am so glad we got actual effective soundproof insulation installed,” Vincent said with a blank look on his face.

“Wasn’t that shortly after…” Lucy trailed off.

“Shortly after he came around the first time, yes,” Vincent replied. “Let’s hope it stands up to the test.”

“Test?” Loom poked his head up near Vincents. “Did you say test? I do believe I might be able to help with the whole soundproof installation.” He held up a screwdriver...that was glowing.

“Aheh,” Vincent said, a drop of sweat appearing on his forehead. “I may not be a student of the sciences, but generally, if something is glowing like that, isn’t the correct response to run away really fast?”

“Nope,” Loom shook his head. “Whatever those guys say, it’s not true. Glowing objects are quite safe and easy to use. Why, I’ve made my fair share of them.”

“And that’s supposed to inspire confidence?” Lucy said, her eyes half-lidded in irritation.

“Regardless,” Vincent said with a wave of his hand. “If you’d like to examine our current ‘soundproof’ insulation to determine if it’d actually be effective, all I ask is that you choose a vacant apartment and put everything back the way you found it when you’re done.” Better to let the mad scientist run his experiments than try to stop them. That sort of philosophy applied really well to...most of the PLA, really.

“The way I find it?” Loom tapped his chin. “That’s a new one. Maybe I’ll follow it, maybe not. Can’t stop science when it gets flowing.” He chuckled madly.

Sev was interrupted from observing the group around him by an elderly Bellossom standing on a chair, waving at him to get his attention, then pointing at the Kadabra and Lucario couple not too far away. Sev nodded and slithered on over to Vincent and Lucy. “I am glad to see you two here on the most happiest of occasions.”

“Like we’d miss a fellow Subject getting the happiest day of her life,” Lucy replied.

“Mostly, it was to shut my mother up. She said she would either pester us about a wedding, or we could attend this one,” Vincent clarified with a roll of his eyes.

“Well, that doesn’t hurt either,” Lucy admitted with a snicker.

“And why are you so against a holy union such as this?” Sev questioned. “The union of two mons is a time most cherished. Marriage is not just a fancy title, it is bliss.”

“See, normally I wouldn’t have cared one way or the other and might have just gone along with it,” Vincent replied in a softer tone. “But that word. Holy. As in blessed by Arceus, right?”

“Actually, we switched to Luna.” Sev pointed his nose up into the air. “She is best goddess.”

Vincent blinked and calmed himself. “Oh. Okay. It’s just...there’s a reason I swear by Xerneas and not him.”

“Plus,” Lucy stated, drawing the Kadabra close and hugging him from behind, “We don’t need a fancy piece of paper to tell everyone else what’s pretty plain to see. I’m ambivalent, but I think this numbskull is openly hostile to the idea.”

“No,” Sev deadpanned. “He is hostile to Arceus. I would have his head if you had said that to me a year ago. Now, however...I choose to follow a god who actually acknowledges me.” Sev hissed in anger and looked away. “Team Plasma...really?”

“Xerneas held me together for fifteen years,” Vincent said. “When my replacement father figure was broken by one of his Legendaries, the Alpha did nothing. He is no Legend or God of mine.”

“I worshipped the ground he walked on,” Sev said. “Yes, he couldn’t do anything in his prison, but to be openly mocked? To be ‘oh, that guy’ to my god? No, I choose to follow Luna. She came to me in my dreams. She made me feel like I actually mattered. She cares for me and I will follow her to Tartarus if I have to.”

“Yes, well,” Vincent said with a cough. “So long as it’s not in his name...I might consider such a thing,” the Kadabra mused, his eyes dancing as he performed some mental calculations.

“You won’t regret it,” Sev smiled. “While you pick out the date, I shall be tending to the rest of the party goers.” He slithered off, only to be accosted by Jeanne again.

“What was that?” she hissed in an excellent imitation of him.

“What was what?”

“Why are they not up at the altar now?” She waved at said altar. “You’re all here, this is perfect!”

“Fine,” Sev said. “You want to rush it at the last moment? Alright,” he grumbled as he slithered over back to the pair.

“Yes?” Vincent said as he turned back to the commander with a raised eyebrow. “Forget something?”

“Yes,” Sev said. “I just remembered something very naggingly important. If you wish, I could marry you two now. It would be of no trouble. We have everything set up for it.”

Silence fell in the room as the pair of them considered the offer, before slowly, Lucy got up and tugged Vincent to his feet. “Lucy?” he questioned.

“It’ll be fine, Vincent,” she reassured him, before starting to lead him up to the altar. She turned to nod as Sev once the pair of them were mobile.

“Vincent and Lucy,” Sev started...to which he was interrupted by Lia’s wailing. “I am tempted to leave her out of the next wedding.” He grumbled.

“A bad idea if it ends up being hers,” Lucy said with a bit of cheek to her voice.

Sev rolled his eyes with an aggravated hiss. “Do you Lucy take Vincent to be your mate for life, to handle with care, to never break his heart, to last through sickness and health to the end of your days?”

“I do,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze to draw him back to reality.

“Do you Vincent take Lucy to be your mate for life, to handle with care, to never break her heart, to last through sickness and health to the end of your days?” Sev questioned.

“I…” Vincent looked Lucy in the eyes and smiled softly. “I absolutely do.”

“Then I pronounce you husband and wife,” Sev declared. “May Luna watch over you and Xerneas bless you with good health.”

“....Wait, did you just skip my piano?” Gard glared at Sev.

“Just go with it,” Sev said as the rest of the PLA cheered.

“Sudden,” Vincent said, “But I’ll not complain.”

Lucy tilted her head as she observed an elderly plant slip out of the party and giggled softly. “Oh, she’s good,” she whispered. Upon seeing Vincent’s confused face, she drew him close and pecked him on the lips. “Just go with it,” she told her mate and husband.

“...I can do that,” Vincent replied.

Lia teleported over and glomped Lucy. She wailed into her coat. “I’m so happy for you!”

Lu just sighed and gave Vincent a tip of his hat. “Good job, partner.”

“Glad for my skeleton now,” Lucy said, helping Lia turn her bone-crushing, were she a Fighting-Type, hug into a normal one and returning it.

“And this is why the females are in charge of relationships,” Vincent replied to Lu. “Before you know it, you end up married with kids, and it’s all their fault.”

“Yes,” Sev chuckled. “Speak such words in front of females. I’m sure that’s going to win you favors.”

Sev’s words rung true, as Vincent found himself slapped upside the head lightly by Lucy’s one free arm. “Takes two to tango, mister, and I didn’t exactly see you complaining.”

“What about on day one?” Vincent shot back, causing Lucy to blush and turn away.

“Stop being a meanie,” Lia conjured a rolled up newspaper and started swatting Vincent with it.

“Ackpth!” he said, covering his head. “I give, I give!” He turned to Lu and mouthed the words ‘see what I mean?’

“I saw that!” Lia said, and then two more newspapers appeared and helped the first. Lu sweatdropped and shrugged with a chuckle.

Lucy gently poked Lia’s nose with one paw. “Okay, I think he gets it, dear. Please stop assaulting my mate.”

Lia pouted. “But it’s fun~”

Lu paled and looked upwards. “Why me?”

“Because the universe hates you,” Sev glared down at the younger mon. He slithered off with angry grumbles in tail.

“Okay Lia, seriously, stop,” Lucy said. “It’s my job to punish him, not yours.”

“Alright,” Lia relented. She gave Vincent a pointed glare. “But you’ve got to be nicer, mister. This is my bestest friend here you were talking about.”

“Mine as well,” Vincent replied. “That’s why I can get away with saying things like that, we know they’re all in good fun.”

“Okay,” Lia smiled and got out of the hug. “Now that you’re married, what now? Romantic honeymoon?”

“First we have to wait for our eggs to hatch,” Lucy said. “Then, maybe.”

“I swear, those two are going to be nothing but trouble once they do,” Vincent sighed.

“Oh my gosh!” Lia squealed. “Can I see them? Huh, huh, huh?” She was bouncing in place.

“Easy!” Lucy said. “Promise to be calm around them, and sure, we can show them to you two.”

“I promise,” Lia put a hand to her heart and the other upwards. Vincent looked to Lu with a slight tilt of his head, as if asking the same question without saying a word. Lu simply nodded.

“Right,” Vincent said, one hand aglow. “Party of four to our place?”

“Did someone say party?” Felicia spoke up, looming over the group with a smile.

“...This...is gonna be involved, isn’t it?” Vincent asked dryly.

“Yes!” Lia cheered, clapping her hands together gleefully.

Vincent thought for a moment before a devious smirk crossed his face. “Say...Felicia, was it?” Vincent asked, using his power to skim the dragon’s name from her mind. “You know what I don’t see here? A reception party with a nice big cake or snack bar for all these ‘mon. Why don’t you fix that?”

Felicia gasped and sped off faster than a Goodra should have been able to.

“Aaaand with her distracted, shall we?” Vincent smirked as he held up his glowing hand again.

“Do it, do it, do it,” Lia chanted, shaking in anxiety. “Come on, show me the babies!”

Vincent paused for a moment before looking at Lia. “Coming from you, that sounds really wrong.” After that, they vanished and reappeared in his living room, which was thankfully free of obstruction.

“Why?” Lia looked confused.

“Probably because he has a dirty mind, dear,” Lucy said with a snicker. She then walked over to their bedroom and slowly opened the door, sighing and smiling as she did.

Lia turned into the happiest, cutest, most squealing Gardevoir ever when she saw the eggs. “SO CUTE~”

In response, the eggs flared up with their strength, once, twice, and before a third time happened, Lucy clamped a paw over her friend’s mouth. “Shh!” she quietly hushed. “Loud or high pitched noises, they don’t like!”

“Aww,” Lia pouted when Lucy took her paw away. “Okay….Are they due soon? You know, hatching?”

“Well it has been a few weeks since they were laid,” Vincent idly mused, “So while they could hatch any day...now…”

He was interrupted by the sounds of cracking coming from the bed. The eggs shook back and forth as lines crisscrossed their forms.

Apparently, the answer was yes, they were due soon. Like, now levels of soon.

Lia fist-pumped. “Ah yeah, the babies are coming. Ooh, I can’t wait to hold them, and squeeze them, are you naming one George?”

“It depends on what gender they are,” Lucy said, watching the eggs crack and shake even more. “We had a few names picked out for both species and gender, but…”

“What are you doing, talking about names?” Lia rushed over and stood over the eggs. She gestured wildly to them. “The babies are coming!”

Vincent and Lucy nodded and drew close as well, just in time for the last of the egg’s integrity to fall away. Peace reigned in the room as the two baby ‘mon were revealed.

On the right, a little baby Abra, his eyes blinking and taking in everything around him. On the left, a baby Riolu, already attempting to stand up so he could see who else was in the room. The Riolu turned to look at the Abra, and the two of them babbled at one another before hugging each other.

“Awww~” Lia brought her hands to her face. “They like each other already.”

Lucy softly drew close and gathered them both up in her arms, keeping them close to one another. “Hey there,” she said in a tone that was just as gentle. “Hey you two. I’m your mother. Hi.”

“Congratulations,” Lu cheered, slapping Vincent in the back hard enough to floor him. “...Sorry about that.”

Vincent slowly picked himself up to see both of his kids playing with Lucy’s face. “Yes, that’s me,” she said, giggling softly before gently returning them to her arms. “And that over there is your father,” she continued, pointing the two newborns at Vincent. They looked at him with wide eyes, and he crouched down to their level.

“Well hello there,” he said in a tone similar to Lucy’s. “I’m your dad.” He didn’t get much further than that before both of his sons developed a sudden interest in his mustache. They grabbed ahold of one side each and babbled as they tugged on it.

“Why do I get the feeling that my facial hair is going to be their favorite toy?” Vincent sighed.

“‘Cause it’s funny,” Lia put her hands over her mouth as she giggled. Vincent gently took his sons from Lucy’s grasp, if only to lessen the tugging on his mustache, and softly cradled his children.

Lu softly tugged on Lia’s arm. “Ah think it’s time we left. Don’t want to intrude and all.”

“Nonsense,” Lucy said. “You should at least be present for the naming. Vincent and I agreed that we’d name the ones that took after us, so, Vincent?”

The Kadabra nodded and gently moved the Abra to in front of his face. “You, my fine boy...I think I’ll call you Loki.”

Lucy slowly pulled the Riolu away from his father’s mustache, so as not to cause Vincent too much pain. Once the tuft of hair was released, Lucy held her son in front of her face and smiled. “I think...I’ll call you Richard.”

Lia blinked in confusion, before she remembered something. “Oh right, human names and all. Sorry, we kind of give our kids names based around our species. Lu, out of Lucario, and Lia out of Kirlia.”

“Yeah, kinda noticed,” Vincent said. “But at least this time, when I’m naming something, it’ll stick around.”

Lucy put one paw on his shoulder, the other occupied with cradling Richard against her chest. “And now,” she said, “you get to help me take care of two kids. Let’s just hope they behave.”

...Were anyone watching, they would have seen the two newborns look at each other and wink after that statement.

“Sorry, did we miss it?” Vincent said, walking up to the zeppelin that Sev was standing in front of and cradling his son in one arm.

“We didn’t want to Teleport willy-nilly anymore,” Lucy clarified, also carrying her son and walking up.

“They hatched?” Sev smiled. “Oh most wondrous. It is always nice to see new mons born into this world. I can’t wait to see them in action when the time comes.”

The Abra burbled and made reaching motions with his hands towards Sev, and Vincent looked to the Commander with a raised brow. “He apparently wants to see you a little closer. Is that fine with you?”

Sev peered closer to the little mon. “Hello? I am Commander Sev, leader of the PLA, nice to meet you.”

In response, the small Psychic grabbed a hold of his face and giggled. It wasn’t so much as words as concepts and ideas that Sev heard then. Something about a nice silly snake, and it sounded like it was coming from the one now attached to his front.

Sev grinned, even with the Abra grabbing his face. “Aren’t you a clever one.”

In response, the Abra showed Sev a few snippets of last night, of his parents looking around for him...and finding nothing but illusionary Abras. He giggled again and changed his hold so that he was sitting on top of Sev’s head.

“You are not a hat, little mon.” Sev snorted in amusement. “Nor is my head a chair. You are daring, if I was to put a word to it. A perfect quality of a soldier.”

“Yes, well, let’s hope that if he does choose to fight, it’ll be when he understands the concept better,” Vincent said, gently taking a hold of his son again. “Say goodbye to Sev, Loki.”

The named Abra waved at the commander again before returning to playing with his father’s mustache. Lucy turned so that the Riolu she carried could see Sev, and the little Fighting-type looked at the snake with wide eyes.

“And another being of aura appears,” Sev chuckled. “I would say that your kind springs from the ground.”

“Oh no, trust me, I know exactly where they sprang from,” Lucy groused, swearing that it’d be years if ever she and Vincent would have more kids. Laying had not been easy or painless. The Riolu stretched out one paw towards Sev, apparently wanting to touch the snake without leaving his mother’s arms.

Sev gently touched the Riolu’s paw with his snout. He gave the mon a small grin. “Hello.”

The Riolu smiled as well...then lifted his paw as high as he could and brought it back down to smash onto the snake’s snout with not inconsiderable force.

Sev pulled back his snout and rubbed it with his tail. “Oh good...a little Rio.” He grumbled. “He has power, I give him that.”

“That’s just Richard’s way of saying hello,” Lucy sighed. “He did it to Sam...and Jeanne...and even us.” The Riolu nodded and snuggled back into his mother’s chest. “Those that can stand it, he likes.”

Sev grinned. “A fighter, eh?” He looked down at the Riolu. “I’m sure to be seeing you in the future, young one. I need mon like you.”

Richard looked up and reached up again, this time running his paw along the snake’s scales gently and blinking at the different sensation. Apparently, he was fascinated with Sev’s skin.

Sev chuckled. “Yes, snake hide is nice to touch. Probably the best hide of them all, but I’m probably just playing favorites.”

Vincent looked back to the zeppelin and sighed. “I think they’re waiting on you, now,” he stated morosely. “And they only just got to meet their uncle Sev.”

“Nonsense,” Sev said. “I have enough time.”

Just then, a PLA Rhydon came and stood at attention at Sev. Throwing him a salute, he said, “Ready to depart, Commander.”

Sev sighed and saluted back. “Thank you, Captain Rhy. That will be all.”

“Hail Commander!” Captain Rhy said, before marching back inside.

“It seems that you are right,” Sev said. “I shall be back one day. No accursed traitor or daemon is killing me any time soon.”

“They better not,” Vincent joked. “Otherwise I’d let Bit find you, drag your sorry carcass back, and make it explain itself.”

“I’m not sure if that was a joke or not,” Lucy commented. “Do try to make sure he doesn’t make good on that promise?”

“I will,” Sev said, before slithering on inside the zeppelin. “Good bye, until next time.”

Vincent and Lucy turned to see the other Generals of the PLA behind them, having observed the scene with them and Sev.

“Take care now,” Rio tilted his hat and glanced at the little Riolu. “Ah expect ya to be as good a fighter as yer mom. Gotta keep the fightin’ spirit, youngin’.”

In response, Richard babbled and raised a paw to point at the other Lucario, much like he had with Sev.

Rio grinned and touched the Riolu’s paw with his only one. He tickled the little ones aura, causing him to coo at the unfamiliar sensation. However, that didn’t stop him from giving the elder his normal greeting, and Rio found his paw the victim of Richard’s strength.

Rio barked in laughter. “That’s the way to do it.” He patted the little one’s head, before walking away. “Ah expect to see ya in a few years, kid. Bring that kind of attitude.”

Though the elder wouldn’t see it, Richard’s face morphed into one of resolve, which looked very unusual on a child of his age, before he nodded once. After which, he turned back to look at the other Generals.

Cari smiled down at him and cooed. “Ain’t ya cute,” she tickled the little mon under his chin. Thus distracted, the Riolu neglected to give her his usual greeting, too busy giggling. Lucy raised an eyebrow at Cari.

“I’m going to have to remember that,” she commented as she focused on holding her squirming son.

“Ya learn a thin’ or two after pushin’ out fifteen,” Cari gave the younger Lucario a warm smile.

“Fif...teen?” To say that Lucy was shocked that she would have so many was an understatement: she couldn’t comprehend going through the pain of laying the eggs that many times.

“Ah’m hardier than most females,” Cari chuckled. “Takes one to handle Rio. Hurts, but ah don’t regret a single one of my kids. Ah think you might know the feeling a little bit.”

“Two at once was something I have no hurry to experience again,” Lucy said dryly. “Hell, Vincent and I have agreed that we’ll wait for these two to grow up before we even think about any more.”

“And I know better than to think otherwise,” Vincent commented, earning him a slap from Lucy’s free arm. “Yes dear,” he said afterwards.

Cari frowned, but kept petting Richard. She gave him a sad glance. “Just...watch out fer him, okay. Promise me? It...hurts to lose even one of them.”

Vincent and Lucy exchanged a quick, sad glance, before they nodded and looked back to Cari. “We’ll let them be hurt when hell freezes over,” Lucy stated.

“And not a moment sooner,” Vincent added. Richard just grabbed a hold of Cari’s paw and smiled up at her.

Cari smiled, tearing up a little. “Ah know,” she gave Richard a little nuzzle. “Ah gotta go, little guy. Yer Uncle Rio’s probably trashin’ the airship now.”

The Riolu nodded and let go of Cari’s paw, babbling something as he did.

“Take care now,” Cari waved at them, before entering the airship.

Ag smiled and nodded at the two. “I’m just going to keep it brief,” she said. “Sev’s going to get antsy if we keep him waiting too long.”

Vincent nodded and looked over to Gard as well, a slight shiver running down his spine at the sight of the stronger psychic. “I know all too we...Loki, get that illusion off of Ag’s head.”

Ag chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve dealt with plenty of psychic-type kids before. Doesn’t bother me any.”

Vincent sighed and shifted his arms, causing the illusionary Abra on Ag’s head to fade away while the real one reappeared in his arms. “That’s his way of either messing with us, or saying he wants something: he puts an illusion of himself near what he wants.”

Ag smirked and glanced at Gard. “Looks like you have competition,” she chuckled as Gard rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“So yeah, you two take care,” Vincent said, only quickly glancing at Gard to include him in that statement. “And take care around doors, not all of them are built for you,” he chuckled at the memory of Ag showing up via door-destruction.

Ag laughed and waved as she walked off. Gard simply walked by, before stopping and tilting his head towards Vincent. “Until next time,” he said.

“Take care of yourself,” Vincent said back, before muttering under his breath. “Because Xerneas knows what would happen if you didn’t.”

Gard narrowed his eyes. “Indeed,” he glanced at the little Abra in his arms. “A strong child. Do try and teach him properly.”

“No fear,” Vincent said as the older psychic finally boarded. “Too many examples of what not to do, after all,” he said while rolling his eyes before the next general came up.

Loom carried a bag full of large scrolls over his shoulder. “Thanks for the beautiful tech,” he chuckled with a mad glint in his eyes.

“You didn’t break anything, did you?” Lucy asked, a bit of worry in her voice. “Bit would track you down to the ends of the earth if you did.”

“I merely deduced what he did with my designs,” Loom snorted. “Ingenius, I give him that. Still, they were originally mine so I have a right to glance over any future variations. Rest assured, I put everything back where it was….hopefully.” He shrugged.

“Yes, well, if you see an angry Porygon-Z coming at you and firing beams of elemental power, I advise you to run in the other direction,” Vincent said. “An angry Bit is not to be trifled with.”

Loom gulped. “It was nice meeting you,” he sped into the airship.

“And it was nice knowing him,” Lucy commented. “I do hope everything works when Bit comes back.”

Lia, with Lu in tow, walked up. “See you, BFF!” Lia smiled. Richard looked up at Lia and Lu and made his usual grabby motions, clearly eager to say hello to the pair.

Lia made to shake it, when Lu grabbed her hand. “Trust me…”

Lia pouted and took her hand out of his grasp. “Stop being a worrywart. He’s a baby,” she cooed. “A cute baby. Hello, I’m your Auntie Lia.” She touched his paws with her own hands.

Richard looked up to her face and dropped his jaw, apparently stunned by how pretty she was that he forewent his usual greeting.

“See,” Lia turned and smirked at her boyfriend. “He’s harmless. Now you.”

Lu rolled his eyes and touched his own paw against Richards, playfully brushing his aura against the baby. Richard’s entire form flared up briefly in response, causing him to giggle at the feeling. The boy then got a mischievous glint to his eye. Putting one paw under Lu’s, he raised his other and brought it smashing down, sandwiching the older Aura Pokemon’s paw between his.

Lu grit his teeth against the pain. “Yep...Just like me when ah was a kid.”

“We’re going to have to stick a warning label on him at this rate,” Lucy sighed. “Take care you two. Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do if you can avoid it.”

“I probably will~” Lia giggled as she pulled her boyfriend along. The new parents watched the last of the PLA board the zeppelin, which slowly started to raise and take them on to their next destination.

“And he didn’t call me human once,” Vincent mused. “Progress.”

“TILL NEXT TIME, HUMAN!” Sev stuck his head out of one of the windows.

“Never mind,” Vincent said with a sigh and a smile. “Two steps forward, one step back.”

Author's Notes:

I had to dig this one up from a year ago.