Pokemon - Tale of the Guardian Master - CH 149 by ModestImmorality < Submission

Keywords male 1116071, female 1005625, pokemon 175621, rabbit 128992, bunny 105298, pony 102654, girl 85460, boy 74681, horse 57094, males 41870, woman 26743, females 24076, man 17238, the 16773, snake 16670, story 12741, stallion 12360, boys 10775, girls 9003, city 6619, of 6214, lopunny 4432, series 4427, master 4224, men 3610, gardevoir 3277, snivy 2594, women 2584, serpent 2156, kirlia 1222, serperior 1138, buneary 1097, guardian 1034, tale 827, chapter 513, ralts 496, servine 434, rapidash 381, ponyta 367, tale of the guardian master 304, totgm 258

Chapter 149 - Forgetting To Forgive For The Future

"Boy, this REALLY stings..." Chris muttered, still holding his shoulder as the Gastro Acid injected into him through Alicia's fangs continued to boil away as the wound slowly sealed bit by bit. "K-Kinda taking your time, aren't you?" he asked, referring to Ninetales as he looked toward his forehead. "Y-You're gonna be okay, right?" Rose asked, wiping her eyes with a sniffle. "Y-Yeah... Just gotta tough it out. Ninetales said it got into my bones a bit too, gonna take a minute." Chris laughed nervously in response. Inching his hand away, Serenity took another look at the injury. "Could help if need..." she offered. "N-Nah, don't worry about it. I still need to treat you after your fight. Compared to what you girls endured, this is nothing." he assured. "I-I dunno... That was a pretty BIG bite." Rose point out, causing Alicia to weep all the more behind them. "S-Sorry!!" the rabbit panicked, quickly waving her hands. "O-Oy, stop that..." Chris coaxed, looking up at the snake as she hung her head, shaking it in response. "I told you, don't worry about it. You did good, I'm proud of you!" he affirmed before jolting and clutching his shoulder again. "Y-Yep, feel it in the bone now...!!" he hissed as Ninetales fixed the damage within, getting a shaky apology from Alicia in response. "We help you back to carriage, go to cabin now." Serenity insisted, only for Chris to object and remind her he still had work to do, pointing out Derek's team around them and affirming he wanted to get the materials necessary to heal the girls as well. Scowling from his stubbornness, the Pokemon sighed and nodded before offering to guide him along, with Chris letting out another hiss and gripping his shoulder once more as they walked.

Once they returned to the plaza, they noticed Derek being guided into a police car, the officers working his head down through the door and shutting it making his Pokemon and Alicia face away. Watching in silence for a moment as the men and women making the arrest took the time to examine the Snag Machine, a familiar figure stepped out of another police car, making his way up with his cane and a suitcase in hand. Tiny in stature, he looked up at the officers then the device with a wide smile before opening his suitcase and holding it up. Surprisingly, the officers placed the Snag Machine inside, allowing the man to take it as he shut and latched the case. Watching them talk, after a moment one of the officers pointed in the groups direction, causing the man to turn and show a grin before making his way up. Recognizing the person, Serenity began tensing up the closer he got, squeezing Chris's sore arm making him jolt and shout, in turn startling the Pokemon and getting a panicked apology from her. "Well well well, if it isn't my curious acquaintances from the hotel and onsen! So good to see you again!" the man chuckled as officers approached by his sides. "You... That guy, Greevil, right?" Chris asked. "Oh ho! Indeed! So good to be remembered." he smiled with a nod. "Not only has being in your presence allowed me to witness the most phenomenal sha...!!" Greevil began to say, cutting himself off with a "whoop!" while glancing at the officers and Serenity through his glasses and chuckling again. "That is, the most interesting of Pokemon, but it seems you've even gone out of your way to do an old man a grand kindness!" he point out, tapping the suitcase with his cane.

"That thing, it's yours?" Chris scowled. "Indeed it is! You see dear boy, consider it a little tit-for-tat arranged with the powers that be. A sort of bail-bond, if you will. I travel the many regions allowing researchers to tinker with these devices, learn how they work and how they could be used as a counter-measure against certain Pokemon that remain on the market... While it's true my organization has long since shuttered, there are those who managed to weasel their way along with portions of research that have allowed them to produce more of said Pokemon on the sly..." Greevil revealed. "Wait... You mean they're STILL doing that?!" Chris asked in surprise. "Let me affirm it's not under my orders, I've nothing to do with it." Greevil point out sternly. "However, yes, there are some rats out there who got away with our data and worked their way along into discovering how to make the Pokemon that my organization used to produce en masse for themselves. Powerful things, creatures with hearts shuttered in darkness... It's a temptation..." he paused, glancing at Serenity again with a grin. "Very, VERY hard to resist..." he reminded, causing her to inch behind Chris warily. "Y-You weird!!" she panicked. "Ha ha, forgive an old man." Greevil apologized. "It's a complex process nearly impossible to perform correctly. As a result, only a very tiny amount of the Pokemon my organization used to produce are put on the market each year, meaning like the most difficult of drugs to obtain, they fetch and extraordinarily high price from those looking for an easy ticket to the top, desiring to take advantage of the power a heartless Pokemon can possess." he explained. "I must confess, my true purpose was delivering this device, happening across you when we first met was just a treat." he added.

"I'd seen you and your Pokemon's exploits on the news. And after discovering you were heading toward this very city, the same as I, naturally it only made sense that I'd greet you and offer a friendly hand." Greevil smiled before setting his suitcase down and reaching up for a shake. "Only this time, I offer it in thanks instead. This device was stolen from me, you see. And now it's back where it belongs." he affirmed as Chris skeptically shook the man's hand. "Not sure where it belongs is too safe either..." he replied warily, causing Greevil to blink before laughing. "You ARE a smart boy!" he agreed. "It does one good to have a keen eye." the tiny man nodded. "The powers that be in each region use the research garnered from these devices to create special duplicates for select agents who make it their career to track and capture the Pokemon with shuttered hearts and restore them. They've decided to give it a shot here as well and look into the device should the need for it arise in this region. Up to this point I don't believe Ureaxion had to worry as no such Pokemon had been spotted..." he point out while taking his suitcase in hand once more and turning. "One has to wonder what made them decide to look into it now...?" he finished, glancing back with a hinting smirk before making his way along with a farewell, thanking the group once more for helping return the device. Watching him leave, after a moment Chris glanced back at Serenity, the Pokemon in a wary state herself before he returned his focus to Derek, noticing the officers preparing to leave. Looking down, Chris nodded and suddenly began approaching the car, making the girls and other Pokemon show looks of surprise before following behind.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - A Final Lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stZ2zIcM_9k
Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

Once he was next to the door where Derek sat within, the two locked eyes as one of the officers attempted to coax Chris back, only to be met with resistance when he asked to talk to the prisoner within. Looking at one another, the officers also looked at the Pokemon that had been with Derek, silently thinking over the request before nodding and having the driver roll the window down. "...Hey." Chris greeted, only for Derek to face away in agitation. "You know, this isn't the worst thing that could happen to you." Chris affirmed, Alicia looking at him before glancing at Derek and facing away. Noticing Chris talking with Derek, one of the reporters approached and silently instructed for her cameraman to film the meeting. "Look, whether you wanna admit it or not, I saved your life. In more ways than you might be thinking." Chris affirmed, Serenity and Rose looking at him curiously. "You know that saying about us only being human?" he point out, only for Derek to suddenly turn and tell him to go away in a profane manner. Looking at the prisoner, Chris took a breath and shook his head. "Listen kid, fact is we really are only human. But as far as Pokemon go..." he paused, looking at the girls before facing down and returning his focus to Derek. "Fact of the matter is, they're as different as can be, when it comes to what they can do to someone, especially a person they don't like." Chris point out. "How long do you think you could have gone on treating Pokemon that way before one of them finally retaliated? And when one finally did, what if the others decided to join in?" Chris asked. "Most of the Pokemon in this world are way bigger than humans, way more powerful. But because of their patience, folks take it for granted and assume they'll accept any treatment." he point out.

"Problem is, when it comes to their thoughts, their feelings... That's where humans and Pokemon aren't really different at all. Everyone has a breaking point, people and Pokemon, and you don't know how lucky you are that you didn't cross that line with these guys." he affirmed, looking at Derek's team as they listened just as curiously. "Compared to most Pokemon, humans are pretty much the most brittle things in the world. We're twigs at the end of the day... When you think about how Pokemon give us so much authority with that in mind, it really does open up a whole new level of appreciation for how humble they can be, the sacrifices they make for us just so we can have our way. So we can live out our own dreams, follow our ambitions, even transform their homes into our own so we can thrive, even if it's at their expense." Chris revealed, looking back at Derek's team and the girls. "Humans, with all our faults, even with our selfish natures... They still help us, they support us and carry us along, they sacrifice so much so we can exist..." he affirmed. "But it doesn't matter who you are, eventually, you can give too much, you can be taken advantage of too greatly... And snap." he reminded, looking back at Derek sternly. "Not all Pokemon are as giving and forgiving as others. Not all of them have the same standards and expectations. They have different levels of tolerance." he point out. "One example, being Serperior." he paused, causing Alicia to jolt and face away again as he turned his attention toward her. "There's some Pokemon out there that will only accept certain types of people, and if you don't fit the bill, they could do just about anything to show you're not up to snuff... You can't just take Pokemon on a whim and think all of them will bond and obey." he insisted.

"You've seen what the Serperior you and Alicia met in the past did, and now you've seen what Alicia herself could do to you..." Chris reminded, looking at Derek again as he faced away silently. "Tell me... What would you have done if you DID manage to get another one of her species, and it turned out it didn't accept you? That it wouldn't take the abuse you gave to other Pokemon in your team? If you got another one, do you think you could've stood up to it? You really think you could have come out alive if it decided to attack?" Chris asked. "Serperior are smart Pokemon, it could wait until you're asleep in bed, pop out and wring the life out of you. All it would take is a bite in the neck and you're gone kid." Chris warned, sliding his finger across his throat. "After seeing the way your own Pokemon turned against you, do you think they would have even bothered to help you if that happened?" he asked, looking at Derek's team as they nervously faced away with slight sweat showing on their faces, Derek finally looking at them as well. "What goes around, comes around... Despite what you did to Alicia, being honest I'm glad we met so I could stop you before you got yourself killed." Chris affirmed, causing the girls and Derek's team to look at him in surprise once more. "I always teach the girls the value of life, even the life of somebody who did you wrong. I teach them nobody ever has the right to take someones place in this world away, that you should protect and support those who walk in this world alongside us..." he paused, placing his hand on Alicia with a smile. "I teach them that, not through force, but by living the example I want to set for them myself. They watch me, and in ways, it's reflected in who they've become." Chris explained.

"...I'd like to think they've had an influence on me too. Even if I am still kinda hopeless and keep my heart on my sleeve!" he grinned, making Alicia tear up once more and show a small smile. "Alicia stopped me from hurting you, and in turn I stopped her. She told me to believe in her, so I did, even when she was biting me, I still had faith in her, that she could pull herself back and be the better person... She reminded me of my own lessons, and in the end, despite taking that bite outta me... I feel inspired by her, I admire her... I love her." Chris affirmed with a warm smile, forcing Alicia to face away again as more tears welled up in her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks. "...And that's how it is when you take them under your wing, when you welcome Pokemon into your life." he went on. "You can't just expect your Pokemon to grow, you can't just force them into it. You have to be prepared to grow with them... You have to be willing to earn their respect, their love and support. There are Pokemon that might be willing to give that to you from the start, but you should still do everything you can to earn and deserve it either way." Chris insisted, looking at Derek and hoping for a response, only for him to look back before silently facing away once more. "...I know how powerful these girls are. I know how frail I can be. It takes proving your worth, your strength, through your heart and character. Pokemon are like our muscles the way they help us, but without the right heart, the right person to care for and about them... What good are muscles if you neglect them?" he asked. "You have to work together. Grow together, coexist... Why do you think only a tiny number of people ever reach the top, even with Pokemon helping them?" Chris point out.

"It's because, sad as it might be, it's only a tiny amount of people who realize this and live by the same examples, the same code." he affirmed. "Members of the elites in each region, those who become champions, the reason why they are the elites, the reason they are the champions, is because of their harmony, their understanding and their appreciation toward those who got them where they are today. Life is, and always will be, a game of give and take. If all you ever do is take, you'll be given what's coming to you... Hence you're where you are now, and I'm where I am." Chris reminded, looking at the girls and Derek's team while he did the same. "...Whatever happens to you from here, it's not the end..." he went on, looking back at Derek with a nod. "You can start over, go back to square one... Once you've faced whatever you have to face after this, you can have a second chance to do right, by yourself and by whoever you partner with in the future... But you've gotta do it the way I've said, otherwise... I feel bad for what might happen to you one day... It will be a sad, lonely end for you..." Chris finished, Derek facing down as one of the officers pat the top of the car, the driver rolling up the window before heading off. Watching the car vanish down one of the side streets, Chris took another breath and shook his head. "I dunno... Maybe a part of that will stick in his mind..." he muttered before looking at the officers around him, getting a nod as they tipped their hats and walked off. Instructing the cameraman to lower his equipment, the reporter made her way off with her partner as well. "...That nice, what you say." Serenity nodded. "Thanks... Part that sucks is if he ignores it." Chris smiled nervously.

"I dunno... The way he looked at the end, I think something clicked." Rose assured with a smile while leaning against his side. "It was a nice speech though." she agreed, Derek's team nodding and letting out various grunts of agreement with grins of their own showing, save Golurk who gave a thumbs up. Nodding back, Chris and the group made their way back to the carriage where Rapidash waited, noticing the massive and hefty Pokemon following before giving Chris an "I don't think so" look. "D-Don't worry, you don't have to pull them." Chris assured with another nervous smile. "You guys just follow us. There's a center nearby I can take you to for some treatment and a transfer." he explained before helping the girls up into the drivers seat. "How shoulder doing?" Serenity asked. "It's fine now, just... Kinda itchy." Chris assured, giving it a slight scratch before opening the carriage door for Alicia, the snake pausing in front of him. "...You okay?" Chris asked, looking up at her curiously. "Are you...?" she replied with a guilty look. "Hey, don't worry about it. All good." he affirmed with a smile, the snake looking down before making her way inside. Once he was settled on the drivers seat as well, Chris began guiding the group along, pulling up a map on his Pokedex and spotting one of the centers. "I not like you going to that place..." Serenity affirmed. "It's only for a minute." Chris assured before using his device to make a call. After a moment, Guile finally answered, looking at Chris in surprise via a hologram. "Well now! This is a surprise! I was just watching your fight on the telly!" the old man smiled. "They really do broadcast everything." Chris smiled back, albeit with slight sweat showing.

"I knew those Pokemon would turn out to be something special. You've all done well for yourselves." Guile praised with a nod, Serenity smirking with her nose up. "So uh... What can I do for you at this late hour?" he asked curiously. "Do you think you could do me a favor? I'd hate to put you out of your way but it's a little important." Chris explained before holding his device out so Guile could look at the Pokemon following. "Oh my, that's quite a team... I saw them around you after the fight. I take it they're yours now then?" Guile asked. "No... I'm not going to keep them." Chris shook his head. "I'd like you to pick them up from the center in your town and take them back to my village close by. The elders could really use a hand I think since I'm not around anymore. They'd be able to help out and look after them... These guys could use a break, and I think being around the elders would do them a world of good." he explained with a smile. "Ha ha... Always the touching one, aren't you?" Guile replied warmly. "It's good to know you haven't changed since our own battle." he added. "Yeah... Boy, that was a while back now." Chris replied. "I do apologize again for sending Serenity there into the sky, that truly was an accident." Guile affirmed. "No worries. I'm sorry for the way she crashed back down on your arena. I was worried about Pangoro!" Chris point out while Serenity crossed her arms with one leg over the other proudly. "But uh, yeah... Could you or maybe someone close to you make the delivery for me? I'll send a message explaining everything to the elders too." he added. "Oh, it's no problem. I'd be glad to do it myself. I could use a little trip really. Haven't done much since visiting Millennium a while back." Guile assured.

Nodding in response, Chris continued talking through his device as they made their trek along the streets, finally reaching the Pokemon Center which put Serenity back into a wary mood. "Not like these places." she reaffirmed. "I'll only be a few minutes, you girls can wait out here while I take care of things." Chris assured, climbing down the carriage before making sure Derek's team had their respective Pokeball's in hand. Nodding, he led the group inside while Serenity quickly made her way to the doors, watching intently through the windows as Chris and the Pokemon approached the nurse at the counter. Speaking to the nurse for a moment, Serenity watched as the woman disappeared behind the counter before giving Chris a paper and pen to write with, allowing him to write a message while the Pokemon sat their Pokeball's on the counter and returned themselves within, allowing the nurse to place them in a machine for recovery. By the time the process was complete, Chris had finished his letter as the nurse returned the Pokeball's allowing Derek's team to pop free and stand at his sides once more, stretching and flexing in relief. Nodding at them, Serenity watched Chris and the Pokemon smile at one another before the nurse suddenly lured him off, the Pokemon following as Serenity's eyes widened and her nails dug into the frame of the entrance. Approaching a machine at the side of the lobby, the nurse went over instructions on the screen before Chris turned to the Pokemon and gave Dragonite the letter he'd written, giving them each another handshake and wishing them luck before the group gave him a collective bow of thanks. Placing each of their Pokeball's in a slot on the machine, the group approached one by one and returned themselves a final time.

Looking at the screen, Chris went through the various commands before pressing a large button that popped up, causing the Pokeball's to hover before vanishing in a digital manner with a flash. Nodding, the nurse looked at the system before smiling, pointing out the group were on their way. Giving a response, Chris spoke with the nurse for a moment, making her blink at him before thinking in silence and nodding. Motioning for him to follow, she led him to the back of the Center, disappearing past a door that made Serenity jolt and quickly give chase, pushing people and Pokemon aside as she rushed to the door and peered inside, seeing Chris enter another room with the nurse. Darting down the hall, Serenity warily kept an eye on her surroundings before peering in and watching as Chris was given several bottles, the nurse instructing him on their usage before heading back toward the door. Quickly returning to her former post, Serenity made sure the two were returning to the lobby along her way, standing back outside the entrance as they returned to the front desk where Chris paid for the bottles. Once he was finished, he gave the nurse a wave and made his way out, causing Serenity to rush back to the seat of the carriage. "Was that necessary?" Rose smiled nervously. "You not know these places like I do. Not trust." Serenity affirmed as Chris approached and made his way back onto his place between them. "Alright! Those guys are on their way to a nice vacation and I've got what I need to get you girls taken care of." he assured, taking one of the bottles from his pocket. "I know you've got issues with places like this so I can use this stuff instead. I'll get things set up back at the cabin." he assured before having Rapidash pull them along once more.

"You doing alright back there?" he asked, looking at Alicia through the window behind them as the snake rest her head along the sofa within away from his sight. "...Sleeping?" Chris muttered before focusing ahead. "So... Those guys will be okay?" Rose asked. "Oh yeah, once Guile picks them up, it's off to the place I grew up. It's so quiet there, and with all those old folks, I think it'll do a lot to help them mellow out and get some real self-worth built back up... Being honest, it'll kinda make me feel better having those Pokemon there with them... I won't deny it might be a little of my own selfishness sending them there but... Ha ha..." Chris confessed with slight sweat showing, scratching his cheek. "I still think they'll be happier though, and eventually they can have new lives with new trainers again if they want!" he affirmed. "They've got so many relatives scattered all over the place, there's an endless supply of trainers heading out into the world to pick from when the time comes. I trust them to make sure those Pokemon have good homes in the village and once they head back into the world." Chris assured, getting a nod from the rabbit as she leaned against him, Serenity doing the same. "It okay if put head here?" she asked, pointing out his shoulder. "Yeah, go ahead." he nodded, letting the Pokemon rest her head as they continued along. Eventually reaching the cabin, Chris backed the carriage into the garage and helped the girls down before offering to let Alicia out, opening the door and poking his head in while calling her name, the snake remaining still for a moment before slowly raising and making her way out with the others, keeping her focus on the floor causing Rose to look at her curiously, Serenity ignoring the behavior as she stretched and sighed.

Looking at the snake himself in concern, Chris decided to leave her to her thoughts for the moment, placing his hand on her in a reassuring manner and smiling before freeing Rapidash from the carriage and guiding the girls toward the front porch, shutting the garage behind them while assuring the stallion he'd be back to feed it and get something for it to drink. Once inside, Chris let the girls relax in the living room while he took the bottles from the nurse and prepared a bath for them, mixing the contents into the water as the tub filled making it give off a faint and green-ish glow. With the scent of herbs wafting from the surface, once the water was ready Chris returned to the living room and instructed the girls to head into the colossal tub so they could recover, explaining that he'd be ordering them dinner in the meantime and having it delivered since their plans at the bazaar had changed. Along their way, Serenity and Rose asked for him to join while Alicia glanced back from within the bathroom, only for him to refuse with a smile and coax them into enjoying the soak instead. Disappointed, the two entered as well and readied themselves for the bath while Alicia looked down again. "Come on, cheer up." Chris coaxed, the snake facing him as he showed a grin. "Head high now!" he insisted, lifting his chin before shutting the door slightly, leaving it cracked in case they needed him as he returned to the living room and plopped on the sofa with a sigh. Pulling his coat and shirt away from his shoulder, he took a look at what remained of the bite, now scarred over for the most part. "Boy... Really turning into a work of art..." he muttered before laughing nervously, thinking about the scars covering the rest of him now as well.

Taking out his Pokedex, he started looking through a list of places that delivered food, adding "least it's not a turn off for the others..." under his breath. "Lets see... Not pizza, dunno about pasta either..." he thought while browsing the nearby options. Eventually, he finally made his decision and placed his orders, calling the office so those on duty would know to let the deliverer through the gate. Standing with a stretch, Chris made his way out to feed and water Rapidash, giving the stallion another thanks for pulling them around before leaving him be for the night, shutting the garage once more and returning to the front porch of the cabin. Deciding to stay outside, he cracked the front door so he could keep an ear out for the girls as he leaned over the railing, looking around at the snow under the streetlights. "...Shouldn't you speak with Alicia?" a voice suddenly echoed in his mind. "Ah, there you are." Chris smirked, looking toward his forehead before shaking his head. "No... I think it's best she has time to recover in her own space... Everything that happened was pretty extreme for her. I've already said enough to get her worked up too... Best to leave her be, I think." he nodded. "I'm not sure either of us really feels like anymore drama tonight... Important thing is everyone turned out okay." he added. "Not certain one would call being put in a cell okay." the fox point out. "It's a harsh lesson but it's better than being killed the way that Derek guy could've been tonight, or in the future by something else." Chris affirmed before looking at his hands. "I must admit, it was surprising to see you so eager to attack that human yourself." Ninetales replied. "...Still coping with that myself." Chris confessed, showing an uncomfortable look while rubbing his hands together.

"Never felt like that before... I mean, maybe I've been annoyed, and I know there was that time with Rose's other trainer, but I wasn't really in control back then... This time it was all me, I actually WANTED to..." he went on. "I don't feel it was completely unjustified. He did strike many a nerve." the fox assured. "Still, shouldn't go trying to pound a guys face in with a fist full of fire just because he talked shit... Glad the girls came back when they did." Chris sighed, looking at his hands again. "I still gotta work on controlling things when I get riled up." he affirmed. "Well, if it's any consolation, at least you weren't blowing things up this time. You've improved." Ninetales praised, causing Chris to smile slightly. "Appreciate it..." he nodded while looking up at the lights swaying in the sky. In the bathroom, Serenity was resting against the side of the tub, her arms out along the rim with a sigh of relief while Rose blew bubbles from under the surface, having submerged herself before rising up with a relieved sigh of her own, sitting close by against the side as well. Alicia lay on the opposite end of the tub however, still silent as she lay her chin on the rim while remaining lost in her thoughts. "This nice... Good stuff." Serenity admit, taking some water in her hands and splashing it against her face. "It's like we never even battled!" Rose giggled, lifting her arms for a stretch and lowering herself. "I like the smell too..." she sighed once more. "It not bad. It a little strong, but do the job." Serenity nodded before the two looked at the snake. "...You okay?" Rose asked in concern, getting an "mm" in response. "...I admit, you do good in fight." Serenity praised with a nod, getting a second "mm" from the half-listening Pokemon as she kept her eyes closed.

Scowling, the response made Serenity snap with a "Hey!!" in response, causing Alicia to jolt and panic before focusing on her frenemy, asking "What?" in response to the snap back to reality. "Rabbit ask if you okay, I say you do good in fight. Pay attention." Serenity scowled, tapping her forehead and getting an apology from Alicia in response. "So what wrong with you? Just beat crappy human, Chris do good thing for you, not do bad yourself. Why you act this way? You act like you not want to win or something... You want to go back to other human?" Serenity asked. "N-No!! Of course not!!" Alicia assured before looking away. "I'm just... At a loss at the moment. A loss of how I feel, of... What to say..." she explained, thinking back on her crunching her fangs into Chris's shoulder making the snake wince. "What... Does one think, or say, after that? After what I did? How does one feel proud of a victory when I followed it up with that?" she asked. "I did something extraordinarily painful to him, yet all he did was soothe me, show that ridiculous smile of his and talk about love..." she point out, facing down. "I-I appreciate it at heart, but in my mind I can't... I don't know. For him to go that far..." she sighed. "Snake was doing what she do best, being stupid. He step in and make wise up, what wrong with that? Even though you still pretty stupid." Serenity point out with a shrug. "It like what he do for me, back when I evolve and go crazy... He almost die then but still help me come to sense... That who he is, that how he is." she reminded. "No matter what you're going through, no matter the risk, even for himself, he'll always stand up for you and help. That's one reason we love him so much, isn't it?" Rose smiled. Looking at the two, Alicia nodded before looking away again.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - To Love A Human
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrSGV9sju_o
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"It's just... Difficult for me to comprehend... I put him through such torment... I suppose he could have yelled at me or... Something...?" Alicia point out, Serenity raising an eyebrow. "Snake trying to say she feel bad because he not punish you?" she asked. "I-Is that it...?" Alicia asked, looking at the Pokemon before facing down. "I-I'm not sure. Being punished wouldn't do any good either, I don't think..." the snake sighed, looking at the water. "Here I am after biting him to the bone, soaking in luxury, still being shown the same smiles, still being told to keep my chin up... Acting as though I did no wrong..." she point out. "I-I feel as though I should be guilty, I think I should be guilty, yet I'm being denied that, being told to be happy, forget things even happened... I want to be happy, but I feel like I shouldn't..." she tried to explain before resting her chin on the rim of the tub again with a groan. "It's so difficult being with a human, one like him..." the snake finished, a strange mixture of somberness and peace in her eyes. Looking at one another, Serenity and Rose both faced down themselves, looking at the surface of the water as its glow continued to heal and soothe them. "You know, Chris is kinda like this stuff!" Rose suddenly point out, cupping her hands together and lifting the water in her hands. "Sometimes we fight, sometimes we do bad things... Maybe stuff we regret, but no matter what he's always there to help! Always there to make us feel better!" she affirmed before getting an idea and suddenly smacking her hands down into the water, making it splash everywhere and on the others. "Wh-What that for?!" Serenity snapped. "Sometimes we might do something that shakes things up, things that bother or annoy one another... Maybe even something that hurts..." Rose went on, pointing out the surface.

"But like this stuff, if you give it time, kinda like Chris it all smooths out, it goes back to normal." she smiled as the rippling surface returned to its still and motionless state. "We do things that might be bad from time to time, but as long as we really love and care about each other, we'll always find a way to get past stuff and stick together, ways to be happy and appreciate one another... Ways to make each other feel better in the end. Sometimes we have to do things that hurt to help each other, but... That's kinda what life is, isn't it?" the rabbit asked, the girls looking at one another. "A strange analogy... Methinks he's rubbing off on you." Alicia point out. "I don't think being like him is a bad thing though." Rose affirmed with a giggle, the snake looking back at the water while lifting her tail, watching it stream off and trickle back down to the surface as she thought over the comparison. "...He really does brush things off rather easily, doesn't he...? Just lets it flow right off..." Alicia muttered. "We not very likely friends, not likely family. It take human like him to keep girls like us together. Without right person, we kill each other by now." Serenity point out, Alicia looking at her and showing a smirk. "Can't deny that." she nodded. "That's why he's one in a million!" Rose grinned. "...The only one, I'd imagine..." Alicia replied, somewhat speaking to herself as she looked at the water again with a small smile. "An interesting thought, how out of all the beings in this world, he's the one we wound up with." she added before her smile slowly vanished into another somber look. "And yet, how much do we truly understand what he says and does...?" Alicia asked, the girls giving her a curious look once more.

"What talk about now?" Serenity asked. "Out of all he does and says for us, despite how we've vowed to do so in the past, how much have we really done to understand him...?" Alicia explained. "We swear we love him, and we take part in what he desires out of that affection, but do we really... Try to understand things as much as we should?" she added. "The most recent thing being that tree of his out there... We dressed it up, sang a song... But did we really put in enough effort to grasp it all...?" she point out, thinking about the lyrics Chris sang to them and comparing the Silver and Gold tune to recent events, from him taking them shopping to her feelings when she was almost kidnapped, then stopped and supported by Chris when she tried to attack Derek for his actions, suddenly letting out a sniffle and quickly clearing her throat. "J-Just something to think about." she affirmed, the girls looking at one another and nodding. Once they felt they were finished, the girls left the bath and dried themselves off with nearby towels, Serenity tossing one on Alicia's head for her to use with her vines with a smirk making her scowl while Rose offered to help dry the rest of her off with a second towel, getting a thanks from the snake. With a pull of the plug in the tub, the girls returned to the living room as Serenity restored her outer layer of skin, donning her normal appearance once more. Looking around, the girls noticed Chris on the porch via the window before focusing on Alicia as she slithered up to the tree, making her way beneath and plugging it in with her mouth. Inching back, she looked at its glowing and twinkling appearance as the two joined her at her sides, looking at it for themselves making Serenity smirk while Rose giggled happily.

Thinking about the song Chris had sang once more, the lyrics ran through Alicia's mind as she began flashing back to memories of Derek's abuse, followed by meeting Chris himself and all that happened after, from being cradled in his arms and tended to despite her condition. Remembering his touch when he went out of his way to feed her, tears started appearing in the corners of the snakes eyes as she thought back to going through rehab with Chris, running with him and being coaxed into her second form within the same embrace she'd felt when he'd spend countless hours carrying her along his journey. Looking at all the dangling streamers, Alicia though back to the cliff and how it felt being in his arms when he was willing to use his own body to cushion her fall. As more tears slowly welled up along the bottom of her eyes, she remembered all the things he'd bought for her on top of the affection and support he'd given, from ribbons to jewelry, sewing outfits for her including the scarf she donned each day, the time and work he put into making it touching her as well as she noticed the banner they'd made for him and the figurines on the mantle. Continuing to watch, the girls remained silent as the snake browsed through the memories represented by the figures. After a moment, she thought back to when she passed out from being in the ocean, only to wake and find Chris sobbing before her when she came to and leaping excitedly into the hot tub he'd used to revive her when he'd discovered she was conscious. Still thinking about his song at the same time, she remembered their dates when he played a butler for her, then at the onsen when he took her to the restaurant and gave her the scarf to wear as a surprise, remembering his words of not wanting her left out.

With her tears finally rolling free from her eyes, they trailed down her face as she returned her focus to the tree, her lips beginning to tremble as she pictured them decorating it together and singing before it. Finally feeling his song resonate within along with the purpose of the tree they set up, after a moment Alicia found herself lowering her head and biting her lip while hicking and whimpering, the girls about to approach only to wind up startled when the snake lift her head back and began loudly sobbing uncontrollably, the sudden noise making Chris jolt outside and quickly dart in, pausing at the door in surprise. With what had just happened now running through her mind, from being able to stand up to Derek, to Chris supporting her even in a wild state, everything he'd said and the way he supported and freed the other Pokemon from Derek the same as he'd done for her pushed Alicia's emotions back over the brink, the snake unable to stop the memories from repeating themselves in her mind as his song harmoniously matched with all that had occurred between them. Finally understanding it all, the walls within her that had prevented being able to appreciate things like the tree before her shattered away as she thought of the life she'd been given compared to the past. Having not only evolved into the form she'd been formally terrified of, but being capable of standing up to the man who'd tormented her, all of it left Alicia in emotional shambles, though in the greatest way a woman could be as Chris nervously approached, wondering what had happened as Rose smiled nervously, Serenity showing slight sweat as the two assured him everything was fine and tried to explain her behavior as best they could.

Letting Alicia pour everything out, Chris placed a hand on the snake while looking up at her. Looking back at him, Alicia was unable to put together coherent words, try as she might as he once again allowed her to feel his touch, as soothing and reassuring as it ever was the same as the loving smile he gave her once more to assure the snake everything would be alright. Lowering her head, Alicia coaxed him into holding her as she continued releasing her emotions, sobbing in his embrace as he gave her a calm "there there..." remark and softly pat the back of her neck. Watching the two bond, Serenity crossed her arms with a surprising smirk, Rose taking notice and giving her a nudge with a "Not angry?" tease. Shaking her head, Serenity replied with "It okay this time" and started looking at the figurines and banner herself before turning back to the tree, Rose curiously doing the same as they looked at the decorations and shared the same satisfied smile.

"...We have pretty good life." Serenity nodded. "We really do." Rose agreed with a grin before they looked back at Chris and Alicia, the snake biting her lip while trying to reel in her emotions as best she could, only for Chris to continue encouraging her to let things out as much as she wanted as he tenderly rubbed her head...

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Pokemon - Tale of the Guardian Master - CH 149

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