Letting out a weary yawn, Chris smacked his lips as he and his companions made their way along, following the country road that sprawled on ahead of them. With his staff in hand, he casually strolled as Midna sat perched atop his staff with its legs crossed, its eyes heavy and head bobbing as the imp teetered on the brink of dozing off. "Another day..." he muttered, stretching his arms out before relaxing them with a sigh. "Everyone feeling okay?" he asked, glancing toward Bounsweet who yawned as well with an "mm" in response. Showing a smirk, he reached up and gave her a scratch on the cheek. "You know... I'm real glad I ran into you." he chuckled, causing her to blink at him curiously. "No matter where we go, you always make the air smell so nice... Kinda fruity, but a lot like flowers... It reminds me of the Valley back home. The outdoors always have a soothing aroma to it, but you make it seem more... Nostalgic... So thank you." he nodded, causing Bounsweet to smile with slight sweat showing. "She does that naturally, it's a weird thing to compliment her for..." Zorua point out, now limping by his side. "Wadaya mean?" Chris scowled. "Gee, you smell great! Thanks for smelling like that!" she explained, wording his praise in her own way to point out the awkwardness of it. Hearing his words repeat in such a manner, Chris blushed slightly while focusing ahead. "I didn't mean for it to sound that way... I was just bein' nice..." he grumbled. "Hey, just pointing it out." Zorua shrugged while Bounsweet let out nervous sounds and smiled to assure she appreciated it nonetheless. "Midna, how you doin'?" he asked, looking at the tiny imp as it jolt from being called and looked back at him.
Waving its hand, it let out a casual grumble to assure it was fine before looking ahead and yawning as well. "Seems we all feel sluggish today." Chris sighed. "Some of us for more reasons than others..." he thought to himself while looking back. "Sera...? Doin' okay?" he asked, causing the fox to raise and let out a chipper bark, having been resting with Sliggoo on his rucksack. Looking at her eye, the swelling had already started going down as he focused on the trail before them and started flashing back to the prior day. Once he'd returned to town after attacking the kidnappers, he recalled having to explain to Bounsweet and Sliggoo what had occurred, the two shocked to discover the events and abuse Sera had gone though. Thinking back, Chris reflected on the moment he'd offered to erase her memories as well. Having sat Sera on his bed in the hotel room, he'd squatted down with Midna in his palm and explained how it would work, only for the fox to show horror in her expression and refuse adamantly, hiding her head under one of the pillows. Recalling this, Chris couldn't help but smirk at the bravery that came with holding onto such memories as he walked along, looking toward Zorua as he flashed back to her explanation. "She'd rather live with the memory of being taken and harmed by those humans, than forget the way you came after her and took her back." Zorua had explained as Sera's hind-end stuck up from under the pillow, revealing how dearly Sera held Chris in her mind. Letting out a chuckle, the sound made Zorua twitch an ear and raise an eyebrow as she limped alongside him. "What?" she asked. "Ah, nothing really." he assured, looking at the canopy above them.
"You're walking closer to me today, you know?" he asked. "How could I not? You're going so slow. It would mean I'd have to stand still and wait for you to move." she point out with a scowl. With a smirk on his face, Chris thought back to the way he'd called Zorua into the hall at the hotel, leaving the others in the room as he closed the door and stood alone with her. "What is it now?" she'd asked, looking up at him. "I've done enough for you, haven't I?" she added, sitting with a scowl. Looking down at her, Chris squat and nodded. "You did a lot for me today... For me, and for her." he point out. "About the way me and Midna treated you... I'm sorry." he apologized in a sincere tone. "When it comes to my friends, my family... I get that way." he explained, scratching his cheek as he glanced away. "So you have a personality disorder, big deal. I already know you're weird." Zorua shrugged, causing him to scowl at her before sighing. "I'll take that." he surrendered, looking down before focusing on her again. "...I really wanted to say..." he paused, reaching his hand out to her making her eyes widen slightly, looking at it before focusing on him. "Thank you... Zorua... I mean it." he nodded a second time. "I never forget it when I owe a debt, especially when it involves someone helping my family. I got Sera back thanks to you telling me where to go... I won't forget that." he assured as she looked him in the eye. "What I said, about how I get when it comes to friends and all... It goes for you too. I've got your back, since you had mine." he finished. Though she merely looked at him for a moment, the Pokemon finally accepted his offer and gave him her paw, shaking his hand with her own as his flashback came to an end.
"You were in a pretty big hurry to leave that town this morning." Zorua point out, causing him to raise an eyebrow before looking ahead. "We had to... Sticking around would have been too risky after what happened." he affirmed. "Didn't you need supplies? You dropped what you had and left without getting anything else." Zorua reminded. "There should be places to get stuff along the way. Until then, I can just forage. Towns are a convenience for me, not really a necessity. I was raised to rely on the land." Chris assured, looking around. "Which is why it's a good thing a lot of our region is full of woods and forests. Even with all the development, there's still plenty of nature left to find supplies in if needed." he added with a smirk. "Though... I was looking forward to putting a meal or two together using the herbs and spices they had... That was good stuff..." he suddenly slumped. "The thing about towns is, you can find goods from places all over, you can get things you can't find in our region. A few items they had you have to pay pretty high for to have imported, so it's a good way to cut out the middle-man." he added, his sudden trade-talk leaving the girls tilting their heads. Noticing this, Chris let out a nervous laugh, offering to explain. "You see... The place I come from... It kind of acts as its own territory now." he began. "Three years ago, the place I grew up in was destroyed... And with nothing left, no buildings, no life at all... My home was like a bowl full of nothing but ash, emptiness trapped within nine huge mountains that act like a wall of sorts... That in mind, me and a lot of my friends came together, and decided to rebuild the whole area, worked together to restore the nature too." he smirked.
"After we started fixing everything up, I decided to split my homeland from the rest of the region you see around us. It became my very own corner of the Earth, and... I guess you could say I became a King, in a way." he added, explaining what exactly a King was to the group, the revelation making Zorua raise an eyebrow. "Before that, I never thought me being someone so important was possible, but... I decided the world needed a place where people and Pokemon who are different could gather, could feel at home in... Where everyone who was cast out by the world, abused and ignored by it, would be safe. And so, after a lot of work, I was given rights to do whatever I wanted with the land, a place to set up my own rules, my own culture... It was a brand new territory, and I gave it the name, the Guardinia Valley..." he smiled, looking at the canopy above once more. "To those who have been cast asunder... Seek the peaks of nine..." he began in an almost chanting tone. "There, you will find a world lost in time rekindled... A place you will be asunder no longer." he finished, the girls eyes widening. "That is the motto for the Valley, and it's what people spread around so others looking for a home know about it and come see." he explained. "Huh... So you fancy yourself a big-shot then?" Zorua smirked. "Not really... Do you see me as one?" Chris shrugged, the Pokemon looking at him for a moment before turning away with her nose up. "Nah... You're more like a beta than an alpha to me." she quipped, causing Chris to let out an "urk" and slump. "...Why does that hit so hard?" he thought to himself before thinking back on Serenity and Alicia, adding "...Oh, right..." in his mind with a sigh. "See? Even you agree." Zorua chuckled.
"I didn't say a word." Chris scowled. "Your body speaks for you." she smirked. Behind him, while he bickered with Zorua, Sera was looking at the back of his head with eyes full of wonder, letting out a quiet "oohh" sound as she thought of the way he looked when he ripped open the door of the van the kidnappers had pulled her into and the way he chased them, followed by the picture of him making a leap through the same door and slamming the thug to the ground. Now knowing the concept of a King, a blush appeared on the young fox before she jumped forward with her paws on his head, making Chris stumble forward with an "oof!" as she stood atop his rucksack on her hind legs, her tail wagging excitedly as she thought of her "Papa" now being a "King" to boot. "Wh-What's got you so spunky all of a sudden?" he asked, Zorua looking at the fox as she barked before rolling her eyes. "She keeps saying "Papa's a King!" over and over... You got her worked up again." Zorua groaned, drooping her ears as Sera kept barking. "Ha ha! That's what got you all hyper?" he asked, looking back as Sera smiled from ear to ear. "Well then... That's right! Your papa's the Kingliest King that ever was a King!" he grinned, suddenly shooting his staff up making Midna jolt and cling to the Pokeball on top, nearly falling off. "All hail King Papa!" he exclaimed, making Sera bark all the more excitedly while her tail rapidly hammered against Sliggoo, the Pokemon responding with quiet "go,go,go,go" noises in response to each whack in an "ow" manner, keeping an eye shut to avoid fur getting caught in it before finally flailing her stubby hands and letting out an irritated shout for Sera to stop, having nearly been knocked off the rucksack making the small fox freeze and look at her before smiling nervously and giving an apologetic noise.
"Wazzup?" Chris asked, lowering his staff and looking back curiously as Sliggoo rubbed its eyes. "You okay?" he asked, only for the Pokemon to scowl at him. "The kid was whacking it with her tail." Zorua point out. "Oh... Oops... Guess I made her a little TOO excited." he replied, giving the slug an apology. "Anyways... Yeah... That's why I was talking about a middle-man and stuff. Running my own territory the way I do, you learn a few things about trading goods and stuff." he point out. "So much for not seeing yourself as a big-shot."Zorua teased. "Oh hush." Chris replied. Making his way onward, the group eventually found themselves stopped by the sound of a vehicle approaching from behind. Looking back, it turned out to be a police car as a duo within noticed them, suddenly turning on their flashing lights as they neared. "...Ah shit..." Chris muttered through his teeth, the officers within sounding their alarm for brief split-second bursts as their vehicle came to a stop before them. Tightening his grip on his staff, Chris tensed slightly as the tinted window on the passenger door lowered, revealing two men in shades looking back at them. "Can I... Help you?" Chris asked as they lowered their shades slightly and scanned him over. "Lower your hood, sir?" the driver asked. Letting out a sigh, he muttered "Ah, man..." before doing as asked, pulling it back before shaking his head to adjust his hair. Now seeing his face clearly, the two men looked at one another with a simultaneous "It's him" comment, nodding at one another before focusing on Chris, looking at the Pokemon with him and spotting Sera as she lift herself on his head with her front paws, looking down at the officers herself with a curious look as her ears twitched. "There it is..." the driver muttered. "Him alright." the passenger repeat. "So... Uh... What's up?" Chris asked, looking at the duo.
"We have something for you." the passenger replied, reaching into his vest making Chris stiffen all the more, with Midna taking a defensive cat-like stance atop his staff, arching its back up with a quiet growl of sorts. Finally pulling his hand out of his vest, the officer held a small bag, suddenly tossing it to Chris with a "Here" remark. Catching it in hand, the bag was transparent and filled with bloodied bullets. "Next time you try to help others, try not to leave so much evidence laying around." the officer warned as Chris blinked in surprise. "E-Excuse me?" he asked. "Those guys you butchered..." the driver began. "We've been after them for a long time. They've caused trouble along half the region. Kidnapping, smuggling, rape..." he point out. "And murder." the passenger chimed in. "A few years ago, my own daughter was taken by them... She was one of their victims who turned up dead." the officer revealed. "This case was a little personal for us. After we talked to locals who saw the scene, none of them would give us an I.D. as to who the person was who chased after and attacked those men. It wasn't until we talked to the mother of the victim who was kidnapped that we managed to get some form of picture as to who you were, and even she wouldn't say much." the driver went on. "It wasn't much beyond telling us what you wore. Then we had those bullets tested and we managed to give you a face to go along with that cloak of yours." he point out. "So... It WAS you then?" the passenger asked as Chris looked at the bullets, nodding as he faced the officers. "It was me." he admit, the men looking at one another. "I don't regret it either, they had it coming, even more based on what you said." he added.
"We've been wanting to get hold of those men for a long time... Because of our positions, we'd be forced to follow regulations with detaining them, so officially we wouldn't be able to touch them beyond putting them behind bars even if we had." the driver point out. "What you did to those men, it's something we could only dream of doing. It'd cost us our livelihoods to give them that kind of beating, not to mention likely put us behind bars." the passenger confessed. "Which is why... We'd like to help make sure it doesn't happen to you." the driver assured. "The townsfolk put these together for you, based on what you left at the market." the passenger added, reaching down and pulling out a large bag from the floorboard, handing it out to Chris filled with supplies. "Everyone back at the office pulled together to wipe any record of you clean from the scene... Nobody in town has any intention of revealing you either..." he assured. "Safe travels, and thanks..." the driver nodded before the two faced ahead."...Nakazaki..." he finished before the two drove off as the passenger rolled up his window, leaving the group in the dust behind them. Blinking in surprise, Chris let out a puzzled "Uh" as he held the bullets and supplies, watching the car shrink in the distance before looking down at what he was given. "...Kay?" he added, looking at the girls as they showed the same puzzled expressions. "I... Guess we're in the clear. Or, uh, I am." he smiled nervously before looking toward the vehicle once more. "So those guys had already killed... I wonder how old his daughter was...?" he asked quietly, a somewhat somber look on his face. "You stopped them from being able to do it to anyone else. You did what needed to be done." Zorua assured.
Looking down at her, the Pokemon turned her nose up while looking away. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to pacify you. The point is those humans are out of the picture now. Whoever was hurt or killed found some justice done at least. No point in dwelling on the dead when it's more important to move forward." she insisted. "That's kind of cold..." Chris point out. "No... That's called life." she affirmed, looking up at him. "There's no sense in depressing yourself over those long gone, let alone those you never even knew. It's a needless distraction." Zorua explained. "It doesn't hurt to feel bad about it though. Nobody needs to be that hardened." Chris argued. "Reality often says otherwise." Zorua shrugged. "When you grief over, and pity every little thing, you're never able to go on with your own life. You should just do what you can and move on." she affirmed, looking at him once more. "Just as you've done up to this point. You take care of a bad situation and play the phantom card afterwords. At least, as far as I've seen." she point out. "Well... That's different..." he muttered. "That's self-preservation, precisely my point." Zorua affirmed. "We do our jobs, take care of things, then make ourselves scarce. You don't stick around for trouble to find you, you just deal with it head-on then move on before it can root you down. In that sense, we're not too different." she admit, causing Chris's eyes to widen. "Hold up... Did you just admit we're similar?" he asked, making her roll her eyes. "Should've figured that's all you'd take away from it." she sighed, shaking her head before making her way along, limping ahead of them. Following by her side, Chris nodded with an "Alright, alright..." remark, adding "I get it" as they continued.
As time passed, eventually the inconvenience of toting their bag of supplies got to Chris, and this combined with lugging not only his rucksack, but Sera and Sliggoo both on his back left him stiff as he finally stopped for a breather. "I need to get this stuff sorted out, keeping it in my arm is a pain." he groaned. "Getting weak already?" Zorua smirked. "Oh yeah? You hold it then." Chris scowled, acting as though he was going to drop it on her making the Pokemon stumble aside and jump away. "Uh huh... Thought so." he smirked slyly as she gave him a cold look. "I'll remember that." she warned. "Lets just call it making us all the more even for the eye landing you did." Chris reminded, causing her to glance away with a scowl. Grinning at her response, he suddenly raised his nose and sniffed at the air, murmuring "Hey..." as he turned in different directions. "You girls smell that?" he asked, the group looking at him curiously before sniffing the air, save for Sliggoo who began twitching and adjusting her feelers. "You sure you're not just obsessing over Bounsweet again?" Zorua asked, the remark making the berry-like Pokemon blush while he showed irritation. "No, it's not her." he affirmed as Sera jumped off his rucksack and walked around, sniffing in different directions while Midna turned about like a compass atop his staff. Suddenly both Sera and the imp focused on a single direction, the two collectively pointing and letting out noises in a "there!" manner. Unfortunately, this caused a slight competitive streak to show between them, as both let out an "eh?" and scowled at one another before Sera put a paw on her chest with her nose up, letting out a noise as if to say "I found it first!" only for Midna to stand and pat its own chest, growling in response.
"...What's up between you two?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow as they focused on one another. "Seems they both think they are the better tracker." Zorua explained. "...You're competing over THAT?" he replied, looking at the duo. "For some of our kind, when it comes to our capabilities in hunting we try to take the top podium." Zorua point out. "Though... That thing... I have no idea who's kind IT belongs to..." she added, looking at the tiny imp before focusing on Chris with a raised brow. "How long have you been traveling? You should know about natures like that." she affirmed. "I know all about how competitive Pokemon are! Just uh... In some different ways..." Chris argued, only to glance away and show a slight blush as he thought about the girls, making Zorua tilt her head. "Okay..." she muttered. "Anyway... How about we see where it's coming from?" he asked before heading off the trail and making his way through the trees. The further he went, the stronger the scent became until the group found the leaves around them transitioning to that of flowers and budding blossoms, with the colors shifting from the greenery behind them to tranquil shades of pink and white. "Would ya' look at this..." Chris muttered while Sera's eyes widened, her mouth open as she looked at the flowers that now made up the canopy above them as the sun shining down made them look as if glowing. During this moment of distraction, the small fox found herself tripping over a large stone, landing on her chin which made Midna point and cackle, agitating Sera as she twitched an eye and raised. Shaking her head, she turned and barked at the imp, only for the shadowy creature to act as though pulling down its eyelid and sticking out a long teasing tongue.
"Hey now, behave you two." Chris ordered, giving his staff a slight shake making Midna jolt and grip it tightly before hissing at him for startling it and interrupting its fun while Sera faced ahead with a "hmph!" type of noise, her nose in the air. Shaking his head, Chris let out a sigh and continued along, looking at their blooming surroundings as the glow of whites and pinks surrounded them, looking as though the group were stepping into a realm beyond. "Pretty weird how this whole area is nothing but buds and blossoms... I wonder how it stays like this?" he muttered before noticing Sliggoo stretching her neck high above, following the scent of the canopy and grabbing a mouthful of flowers, retracting her head as she munched with a gleeful look on her face. "Ha... Ha ha... Tastes good?" Chris asked nervously, slight sweat showing as he still worked on coping with her elastic abilities, getting a nod and an "mm!" in response. "This place smells a lot like... Cherry... And vanilla... I bet the petals are like smoothies." he chuckled before looking at a nearby budding branch. "...Maybe...?" he muttered, plucking a large petal from a flower and looking it over. Raising an eyebrow, Zorua watched as he sniffed the petal with a "huh" remark before putting it in his mouth, chewing it curiously before his eyes shot open and his face twisted. "Aw BLAH!!" he exclaimed, shuddering before spitting out the petal and slumping with a groan. "You idiot..." Zorua snickered. "It smelled good!" he affirmed. "If a turd smelled good, would you put THAT in your mouth?" she asked with a wide grin. "Oh shut up." he grumbled, focusing ahead with a blush as the Pokemon laughed at him while Sliggoo helped herself to more flowers. "Have all you want, I'm good." Chris groaned.
After a moment, he finally picked a place to stop and sat his goods on the ground before doing the same with his rucksack and leaning his staff against the tree before him, allowing Sera to jump off once more while Sliggoo crawled along the side of it and made her way up to a nearby bush to feast. "Alright, see what we got..." Chris muttered, beginning to rummage through the bag. "Oh YEAH!! They put the roots in too!!" he exclaimed excitedly, holding them up with a grin. "I've got the spices... Looks like they put in extra stuff too... They really came together for us!" he chuckled while taking out containers and utensils. "I'll just mince some of this up a bit so I can store it..." he added while beginning to hum, pulling out a large lettuce and looking it over before pulling it apart. "Now these are leaves I can stomach." he smirked, using his small cutting board from his rucksack to chop it up before scraping the lettuce in a container. "One lettuce..." he muttered before pulling out carrots with another grin. "Look at that color..." he nodded. Watching curiously, Sera inched forward and sniffed the vegetables. "Wanna see what Papa can really do?" he asked, the young fox nodding before watching as he rapidly diced the carrots, making her eyes widen. "Heads up!" he exclaimed before tossing a piece in the air, causing Sera to tilt her head and catch it in her mouth, munching with a wag of her tail. "That's my girl." he smiled before dicing again. "You don't ever play with knives though, got it?" he affirmed. Getting no response this time, he called her name and looked at the fox, pausing his task as he noticed her ears twitching and redirecting themselves as her attention went elsewhere. "...Sera?" he repeat before noticing Midna perking up as well.
Looking between the two, Chris brushed the carrots into a container of their own before setting his things aside and standing, focusing on their surroundings. "Something going on?" he asked as Sera's ears sulked, turning back to him with a nervous disposition as she point her paw toward the distance. Looking at Chris as well, Midna showed an ominous grin, slight drool appearing from its maw causing his own expression to turn stern and wary. Twitching her ears as well, Zorua looked in the same direction Sera had pointed. "My hearing's probably not as keen as hers is, but it sounds like fighting's going on up ahead." the Pokemon revealed. Looking down at her, Chris took his staff in hand and ordered the girls under his cloak as he put his hood over his head. Doing as told, Sera climbed her way up his body and poked her head out next to his, keeping her ears warily retracted while he lift Bounsweet and tucked her on his opposite shoulder, letting out a whimper of sorts as he called out for Sliggoo, the Pokemon heading in the wrong direction until he spoke up. Once she felt his leg, she crawled up and attached herself to his back. "What about you?" he asked, looking at Zorua as she faced away. "I'm fine. Go if you're going to." she instructed. Nodding, he gripped his staff and started making his way deeper into the blossoming forest, pushing branches and bushes aside as nature thickened around them. After a moment, Chris was able to pick up the sounds of fighting as well, both what sounded akin to bird-like caws of agitation and the odd screaming of those being targeted. Hearing this, Bounsweet began losing her color as she trembled, unnerved by the familiar noises while Sera scoot herself back, using her claws to cling to him.
Finally reaching the source of the commotion, Chris hid behind a thick gathering of bushes as he watched a flock of Toucannon and their earlier forms attacking a large gathering of Cherrim, all of which were in their Sunshine Form's and their Cherubi offspring, with the former fighting as guards to protect the later. Unfortunately, the sheer number of birds impressively outmatched them as many Cherrim lay both, unconscious and dead from the relentless assault. All of the Cherubi were doing their best to avoid the predators as they scurried about on the ground and struggled to hide in their perches above, with many being knocked to the ground for easy targeting. "Those birds... They're not supposed to be here..." Chris muttered as Bounsweet felt as though she was going somewhat cold, causing him to glance at her. "That's right... These must be the same ones who brought you all the way here, aren't they?" he asked, noticing the tears welling up in her eyes as he watched the war before them. "We're heading toward the coast, so they must be doing the same... They're migrating back to Alola..." he added before gripping his staff. "Midna... Scythe..." he ordered, causing the imp to grin before cloaking it in its shadow and extending a lengthy blade, its face shown along it. "Girls, down, and stay." he ordered, causing Sliggoo and Sera to drop at his side while he set Bounsweet between them. "These birds are a pain in the ass... Gonna have to watch those beaks, especially on the Toucannon..." he muttered, taking a breath to ready himself. "Alright... I'll see what I can do." he nodded. "Just gonna go in alone?" Zorua asked, looking up at him. "Do I have a choice?" he asked, glancing at her. "You just stay put and stay safe, look after the others." he ordered.
"I don't want any of you getting hurt, so keep low and keep quiet." he added, looking back at the fight. "Sera's been through enough already, and these birds are the ones who abducted Bounsweet and chased me down... I owe them for that exercise." he affirmed. Noticing a Toucannon charging toward one of the remaining Cherrim while its back was turned, he suddenly charged from the bushes with his staff at the ready. Watching him race into battle as his cloak waft behind him, Sera's eyes widened as the rays of the sun shined upon him, and like a game of baseball Chris sent his staff forward and made contact with the bird, the moment slowing as though time was stopping as the Cherrim he protected turned back, looking up as the Toucannon's eyes shot open in shock and its wings lurched forward from the impact before being sent flying away and smashing into a nearby tree. Standing over the Cherrim, Chris placed his staff across his shoulders with a "Come get some!!" remark, standing proudly as the flock took notice, same as the remaining Cherrim and all the Cherubi. Enraged over his intrusion on their hunt, the flock let out collective screeches and began redirecting themselves, swarming above as Chris took a ready stance. "Don't look at me!! Keep fighting!!" he snapped, causing the remaining Cherrim to jolt and nod before resuming their counters. Using combinations of abilities like Petal Blizzard and Magical Leaf, they did their best to target and take down what birds they could as countless charged at Chris himself. With staff tightly gripped, he began swinging and dodging his way about, managing to catch another Toucannon and using it to knock away several Pikipek and Trumbeak as he swung his staff around himself, sending birds flying from all directions before sending Toucannon flying as well.
Shooting through the bushes where the girls were, it landed harshly before them in an unconscious state, bawking awkwardly as the girls looked down at it. "He's not doing too bad, I guess..." Zorua muttered. Focusing on the bird, Bounsweet remained pale and wide eyed, catching Zorua's attention as she took notice of her cowardice. "Hey..." she called, making the Pokemon jump nervously before facing her. "What's your problem?" Zorua asked, causing her to shut her eyes and shake her head. Showing a scowl, Zorua returned her focus to the fight as Chris took on several Bullet Seed attacks, jerking himself about and wincing before retaliating with more swings, knocking those who attacked him away. Suddenly lunging his staff skyward, Chris ordered "Whip!!" making Midna cackle before gleefully sending out countless shadowy tentacle-like protrusion from its blade and lashing out in all directions, mercilessly whipping away at the flock around him. Taking it upon itself to have a snack, it sneakily snatched several Pikipek and jerked them into itself, using the sound of its whips to hide the sound of it crunching on its live meal before ending its retaliation as the flock momentarily backed away. "I forgot how many there were..." Chris muttered before noticing a Trumbeak trying to take off with a Cherubi. Gritting his teeth, Chris hurled his staff at the bird and impaled it with the blade before the scythe stuck itself in a tree, Trumbeak stuck with the blade running through it, now deceased as its beak limply opened and released the Cherubi, allowing it to rush off into nearby brush. "There's that side of him again..." Zorua murmured, showing a small smirk. "Maybe he's not TOO beta." she chuckled as he jerked his staff out of the tree, causing Pikipek to slide off the blade.
Seeing their comrade in this state, the remaining flock screeched in all the more rage as their attention began turning purely on Chris, swarming above like a hurricane of wrath. "Oh...? Did that piss you off...?" Chris asked, looking up. "I'd wager all the Pokemon who knew the ones you hurt and took away felt the same... Enjoy the karma." he sneered, standing ready to take them on. "Come on then!! Try fighting someone who can give you a REAL challenge!!" he pushed as the flock suddenly collectively swarmed down toward him, forcing him to duck as the breeze from their speed make his cloak rapidly waft in his crouched position before dodging and beginning his retaliation, rapidly spinning his scythe like a baton in various directions at a rapid pace as though he was suddenly breaking out in a dance, albeit one of war while the Cherrim gathered around his feet as backup, working together to shoot down the flock in all directions, keeping his back covered as he had for one of their own. "Keep it up!! To live, you FIGHT!!" he roared before catching yet another Toucannon in his scythe and slamming it to the ground, leaving it unconscious as he focused on the rest. Watching the fight as well, Bounsweet's disposition changed slightly as she heard his words. "...Feeling better?" Zorua asked, taking notice of her change, making the Pokemon look at her again. "You know, nobody likes a coward, and more often than not, they tend to die." Zorua point out. "Those Pokemon out there are no bigger than you, yet look at all the effort they're putting into that battle." she added, making Bounsweet watch again. "And not only do they fight, they repay his aid by fighting with him, to protect their own, and him." she affirmed as Bounsweet focused on the Cherrim at his feet.
"The way I see it, what you owe him isn't much different... Shouldn't it be you out there too? Doing something to make him protecting you worthwhile?" she asked. "I mean, I guess it's none of my business, but it's a bit iffy to me for a man to spend his time doing all the protecting. Seems kind of pathetic to me." she added in a cold, albeit honest manner as they heard Chris shouting, with more Bullet Seed attacks impacting him while some hit the Cherrim, causing Chris to take on a defensive stance and turn, crouching over them to endure more of the attack to keep them from further damage as his back was impaled, forcing him to grit his teeth and bear the onslaught. Seeing this, the Cherrim suddenly made a leap from beneath him, surrounding him with some jumping atop his back and collectively retaliating with their Petal Blizzard's to ward off the flock, giving Chris a chance to shake off the pain and stand as the Cherrim jumped off his back, looking at him with collective nods as he did the same. In the bushes, Sera teared up as she watched the attack on him and the way the Pokemon protected him until the small fox finally charged in herself, racing up to Chris and perching herself on his shoulder. "S-Sera?! What are you doing?!" he panicked. While his focus was on her, a collection of Pikipek charged down, ready to impale him as Sera grit her teeth. Forming cinders in her mouth, the small fox suddenly gathered its fire in its maw and unleashed a powerful Flamethrower, torching the birds as their eyes shot open before falling like ashy leaves, her Flamethrower wafting away as she shut her mouth. "S-Sera..." Chris muttered in surprise, blinking at the fox as she jumped to the ground and looked back with a confident bark, taking on a fighting stance of her own.
Seeing this, Bounsweet's demeanor further changed as Zorua limped up. "If you ask me, that should have been you... How many times has he had to protect you by now?" she asked. "I've seen a few of the times he had to stand up for your sake because you attracted predators. I bet it happened a lot more before I started following you guys... Considering you'd be dead by this point, doesn't it make sense to make sure he doesn't die?" she point out. "Those things out there, all those Pokemon aren't much different than you. Kind of like looking in a mirror, really." Zorua shrugged. "Problem is, the reflection's better than the real thing, I think..." she finished, looking at Bounsweet as her eyes widened. Flashing back, she thought of what he'd said when he was first given Sera as an egg. "You've got to keep moving forward..." his voice echoed in her mind as she watched him swatting away at the attacking flock. "If you work hard enough, you can tip the scales in your favor..." his voice echoed again as the Cherrim continued firing their attacks alongside Sera who sent repeated bursts of fire at her targets. "Bravery..." his voice echoed as she looked at Sera. "Strength..." he echoed again as she looked at Chris himself. "Compassion..." he echoed once more as she watched them defending the Cherubi together. "It's up to you in the end... What will you do...?" his voice echoed as she watched him leap in the air to stop a Toucannon that had snatched a pair of Cherubi, shouting "No you DON"T!!" as he impaled it with his scythe and slammed it to the ground, yanking his blade free from its body as the Cherubi ran from its limp beak off to safety while he stood tall once more. "Value yourself... Use your worth to help others discover their own..." his voice echoed in Bounsweet's mind.
"Each day you walk this Earth... Take each step with pride... " his voice went on as she watched him dash toward a group of Trumbeak trying to reach a group of Cherubi in a nearby tree, with Chris demanding "Pay attention!!" to the predators as he swat at them, making them separate and lose sight of the Cherubi as they hid elsewhere in the branches, drawing their focus back to him. "What others say... Never let it change who you are, or what you believe in..." Bounsweet heard him say in her mind. "Some folks think I'm foolish..." he echoed as she looked at Zorua, then focused back on the fight. "What others say and think... It'll never change me because I'm happy with the person I've turned out to be..." his voice rang in her mind, bringing tears to Bounsweet's eyes as she clenched her teeth. "He said he didn't have a choice but to go out there alone..." Zorua point out, snapping Bounsweet's attention back to her. "But is that really the case?" she asked, looking at the berry-like creature before her. Turning back to the fight, Bounsweet watched as Sera used Chris's back as a springboard and used a flurry of Scratches against several Pikipek that were attempting to drive their beaks into Chris from behind, the fox landing as the birds well and letting out a proud snort with her head high. "I'm gonna have a talk with you later for getting involved you know!" Chris lectured, causing her to jolt and look back with a nervous smile. "You're a bad girl, not listening to your Papa like that." he added before swiping away at several Trumbeak's and resting his staff across his shoulders again. "But just this once... You being a bad girl kinda helped your Papa out, so FOR NOW, thanks kiddo." he nodded with a smirk, giving a thumbs up causing her ears to shoot up before barking and wagging her tail excitedly. "Just don't make a habit out of it! I don't want you in trouble!" he reminded.
Nodding in response, the fox turned as a Toucannon nearly snatched her, only for Chris to slam the bird down in front of her with his bare hand. "Oh HELL no..." he sneered, looming over the Pokemon as it looked up at him while flailing beneath his grip before he stood and tossed it up, giving it a home-run smash with his staff sending it flying unconsciously beyond the trees. "NOBODY touches my kid!!" he affirmed, setting the bottom of his staff firmly on the ground with the aura of a protective rooster. With her eyes lit up once more, Sera's tail wagged again before their fight continued. Watching with her own eyes lit up, Bounsweet nearly took a step from the bushes, only to hesitate as she struggled with her trauma. Shutting her eyes tightly, she suddenly recollected what he'd said to Sliggoo just days prior. "I took you under my care, because I care..." his voice echoed, making her eyes shoot open. "It makes me feel good... Being able to help you... Protecting you..." she heard in her mind as he guided several Cherubi into the brush while fending off the flock. "There's nothing more important to me than you being healthy and safe... A man's friends are like his family, his greatest treasure... Mine matters to me more than anything in the world..." his voice finished, making her tear up all the more as she watched Sera get shot by the seeds of a Trumbeak, making Chris turn only to get shot by the seeds of others, shielding his face with his arm as the remaining Cherrim tried to defend both as fatigue began showing in the strained Pokemon around them. "Damn it... How many ARE there?!" Chris snapped, continuing to swing at the birds swarming the area. "So, you gonna..." Zorua spoke up, only to pause with a "Wuh oh..." remark.
Hearing rustling behind her, Bounsweet turned to find the Toucannon that had been knocked out looming over her, with Zorua sitting nearby with a drop of sweat showing, though her expression remained calm and casual. Looking up at the bird, Bounsweet saw it smirk, letting out a quiet caw in a "Well well..." manner, acting familiar with the berry before it. Her eyes widening, Bounsweet let out a "You..." type of murmur as the bird licked its beak hungrily, stepping up closer to the meal it had previously lost. Suddenly thrusting its wings out like a wall, the Toucannon was ready to finish what it'd started as Bounsweet remained still. Hearing the sounds of the fighting behind her and reflecting on all that Chris had said and done for her and others combined. Facing down, she grit her teeth once more, while to the bird it appeared as though she were surrendering. With its tongue out and drool seeping from its maw, Toucannon lunged at her only for Bounsweet to scream and lunge back at it, smashing her head into its chin making the bird crush its own tongue between its beak, squirts of blood spewing from it as it found itself sent back and thud to the ground, covering its beak with its wings and flailing about in pain while Bounsweet stumbled back. "Lookie there, you did something for once." Zorua smirked, giving a nod as she shook off the sensation from headbutting the bird. Watching it as it rolled about and kept its face covered, Bounsweet had an "...I did that?" look on her face, suddenly gasping and hopping about gleefully with repeated "I did it!" noises while Toucannon pushed itself up and spread its wings once more, blood dripping from its beak as it cawed in a growling manner, making Bounsweet pause and look at it with a sneer.
Stepping toward her, Toucannon made a noise as if to say "Little pest..." as it neared her. Having stood up to the very bird that had attacked and taken her in the first place, Bounsweet felt her pulse racing as the Pokemon began heating its beak and lunged itself toward her a second time, only for her to dodge causing its beak to slam into the ground. With it now stuck and hind end in the air, Bounsweet ran up and performed a Rapid Spin from behind, using its body to whack the bird in the backside and send it flying over the bushes, landing in front of Chris and the others with a groan. "...Eh...?" Chris muttered, blinking in surprise before some of the Pikipek swarmed his face and scratched at him, drawing his focus back to the fight. "So, how does it feel?" Zorua asked, limping up to Bounsweet as she wobbled dizzily before shaking her head and letting out a confident grunt. "You could do more, you know..." Zorua reminded, turning her attention to the fight. "You really wanna prove something, go help them." she suggested. Turning toward the rest as well, Bounsweet looked at Chris and the others fighting against the flock before focusing on the Toucannon she'd just taken out. With another look of confidence, she readied herself to charge in the same as Sera had, though before she could she found a different sort of warmth running through her as light began radiating from her berry-like form. Seeing this, Zorua's eye's widened for a moment before giving an "Hope yours is more useful" quip in regards to her evolution before looking at Sliggoo who'd been distracted the entire time trying to grasp everything that was going on, with all the sounds from so many and in every direction it had her head spinning as she slumped with a groan.
Meanwhile, as Bounsweet's body gradually glowed brighter, int he clearing Chris and Sera had started exhausting themselves the same as the Cherrim, with Midna beginning to groan and have difficulty maintaining its blade form along his staff due to being swung to and fro and spun around. "H-Hang in there buddy..." Chris pant while Sera let off another blast of fire, only for it to waft away just before reaching a Trumbeak as she tried to catch her breath. "Sorry girl... Guess your Papa got in over his head here..." Chris apologized, smiling nervously at the fox, only for her to look back and shake her head with an "It's okay" bark. Finally noticing a glow growing larger and brighter nearby, both he and Sera turned their attention toward the bushes where the others were. Letting himself get distracted, a nearby Toucannon found an opening as its beak glowed like lava before rapidly diving toward Chris from behind. "What is...?" he muttered, about to head toward the bushes only to hear the Toucannon's screech. About to turn, once again time seemingly slowed to a near halt as a bright figure suddenly shot from the bushes like a bullet, rocketing past Chris in the air before crashing down on the Toucannon, halting its attack and smashing it to the ground. "Who the...?!" he asked, looking at the shining figure before him as Sera did the same, their eyes wide in surprise while the flock above briefly paused their attack, confused by the sudden arrival of the figure. With her evolution finishing, suddenly the light around what was Bounsweet let off a flash, causing Chris and Sera to avert their eyes before finding their companion, now a Steenee in front of them. Looking down at the bird, she had a furious look on her face as it flailed beneath her foot.
"Th-That's..." Chris muttered while Sera let out an "ooohhh" of surprise, the Cherrim around them looking just as intrigued. Looking back, Steenee smirked at the two before focusing on Chris and giving him a wink, giggling from his response as he jolt slightly from the act with a slight blush on his face. Looking back down, Steenee pulled her leg back and gave the Toucannon a swift kick, sending it tumbling back before she focused on the flock above, a bold look in her expression as the stubs at the end of her arms balled into fists. Looking at one another, Chris and Sera nodded before taking on another fighting stance, the Cherrim doing the same now that a new ally had arrived. "...Really you, isn't it?" Chris asked, getting an "mm!" and a nod from Steenee, causing him to smirk. "You look good... Welcome to the team!" he praised. Hearing this, Steenee's eyes widened as a blush appeared on her face, though with her back to the group the expression was out of sight. Shaking her head to rid herself of the redness, she braced for the attack as the flock began circling once more, returning to its hurricane-like appearance as the wind kicked up once more. Feeling this and seeing all the petals blowing about around them, Steenee caught one of them and looked at it for a moment, an idea forming in her mind as Chris and the others were about to charge off. Giving a shout, she shot her hand out, looking back in an insistent manner for them to stay. "Wh-What?" Chris asked as she looked at the petal again before releasing it and calling out to the bushes. Poking her head out, Zorua listened as Steenee quickly chattered. Nodding, Zorua looked at Chris as he raised an eyebrow. "She's gonna take care of what's left of them!" she explained.
"H-How...?" Chris asked before having to fight back several Pikipek's and Trumbeak's, with the remaining Toucannon beginning to keep a distance while forming a plot of their own. "Something about the wind and all... She wants everyone to get ready!" Zorua answered as he and Sera looked at Steenee curiously, getting a smirk from her and what appeared to be a thumbs-up of sorts. "She needs time so she wants you to play defense for her!" Zorua affirmed. "O-Okay..." Chris nodded before he and Sera along with the Cherrim surrounded her. Beginning to focus, Steenee put her hands together while what appeared to be Synthesis glowed around her, catching Chris by surprise. "An evolution and an inherited ability...?" he muttered, glancing toward Zorua with a smirk. "Always full of surprises, Pokemon..." he thought to himself. However, their pause was cut short when the flock finally resumed their attack. "Just a little more, alright?!" he asked, glancing at Midna's face in his blade as it grunt assuredly. Responding with their own retaliation, Chris started batting and slicing away at the birds, beginning another baton-like dance around Steenee while skillfully avoiding Sera and the Cherrim around his feet, acting as the main barrier while Sera and the Cherrim took on long-range roles, with the fox releasing bursts of fire while the Cherrim grouped together and shot in a collective direction based on where the flock was trying to charge from, strengthening what was left of their resistance by working together through their fatigue. Taking down countless more Pokemon, there seemed to be more birds than blades of grass on the ground as their struggle began nearing its end.
Sensing this themselves as their numbers continued to dwindle, the Toucannon in charge let out collective screeches and caws, drawing the attention of the flock as they backed away and spiraled together above. "...What?" Chris muttered, watching as the birds heard out their orders. Beginning to screech and carry on, they suddenly went into hunting mode and ignored the group, rapidly racing about trying to take as many Cherubi as possible. "Sh-Shit!! They're trying to take off with a haul!!" Chris panicked before racing toward the birds. Bashing and cutting them down as best he could, he managed to save countless Cherubi from the maws of the ravenous hunters, with Sera and the Cherrim coming to the aid of countless others. "Midna!! FEAST!!" Chris finally ordered, using his last and gruesome resort as dozens got out of reach with Pokemon in their beaks. Hurling his staff toward the sky, it rapidly spun like a saw as Midna cackled gleefully, the imp suddenly halting his staff in mid-air as the blade it formed retracted until only his blackened staff itself was left. Next thing the everyone knew, a curdling ear piercing scream escaped the imp as it unleashed the full ferocity of its power, hundreds of shadowy tendrils lashing out from the staff as though demons from hell were attempting to escape. Startled by this, many in the flock dropped their Cherubi while others maintained their hold and attempted to make distance, only for Midna to begin snatching the pitiful feathered creatures and yank them into it from all directions, absorbing them whole in split seconds rather than merely eating them while screaming and cackling excitedly as though having been set free and regressing into a mindless and ravenous frenzy.
Strangely enough, it somehow managed to tell which was prey, as while the birds vanished from sight, Cherubi were sent flying from the darkness in his staff as though being spat out all over the place, raining down into the trees below. Unfortunately, this form took a hefty toll on Midna, as while its stomach was filled, its energy was rapidly sapped until suddenly its tendrils froze, quivering hesitantly just before it was unable to keep itself in the air and began dropping back toward Chris, with all the tendrils vanishing like ash as it fell. Splitting away from his staff, the length of wood continued dropping while Midna let out a groggy groan beside it, trying to reach out before it dozed off into a state akin to hibernation. Stumbling about, Chris managed to catch both before they hit the ground, thanking the imp as the remainder of the flock circled above, not a single Cherubi to be found. "Looks like you lose!!" Chris exclaimed, grinning in a boastful manner. "Is that wise?" Zorua asked from the bushes. "They still have numbers, even if they have regressed..." she added. About to respond, the flock above screeched furiously as they formed a final hurricane of rage above the forest. Behind the group, Steenee finally opened her eyes, looking up in a focused manner as the birds began blocking out the sunlight, stripping her Synthesis of its bountiful rays as the light turned to shadow around them, save for occasional beams of light that shot through their feathery numbers around them. "Told you..." Zorua sighed. "We're ready... Right everyone?" Chris asked, getting a nod from Sera while the Cherrim did the same, gathering together and facing a singular direction above. "This is it, so when they get close enough, we strike together!" he affirmed.
Holding his staff out, he suddenly blinked at its flimsier wooden form, now lacking Midna's bracing cover causing him to sweat slightly. "O-Oops..." he muttered, looking at the imp dozing in his cradled arm. "That's why I don't like using that order..." he slumped as Sera and the Cherrim stepped in front of him, looking back with collective smirks. Behind them all, Steenee stood with the radiant glow formed from all the energy she'd collected, and letting out a shout, the group turned to her together as she held her arms out in a "Move aside..." manner, walking past them as she focused on their attackers above. Ready to have her revenge for what they'd done, both to her and the Pokemon around them, she clenched her fists once more, shutting her eyes as she let out a drawn focusing noise, her form glowing all the brighter as the calyx atop her head waft in a breeze she began to kick up. "S-So what are you gonna do...?" Chris asked, the others looking at one another before noticing the flock shooting down together. "Here they come!" he point out, holding his staff at the ready. "Hope you can hold out, ol' buddy..." he muttered, looking at its length before the screeching from above drew his focus. Continuing to ready herself, once the flock was close enough Steenee's eyes shot open before she faced up and suddenly rocket in their direction, rapidly spinning after a powerful leap to do so. Along her way past the branches of the forest, Steenee took with her the endless petals from the ground and trees alike, creating her own hurricane . Once she was finally ready, she began an impressive Rapid Spin as she hovered in place, combining it with Leaf Storm, Magical Leaf, and Razor Leaf to create a mass storm of petals to end them all.
Embedding her hurricane with all the energy she'd gathered from her Synthesis, the oncoming flock found themselves helplessly drawn in by the wind she stirred, acting as the core of the hurricane as it grew and grew above Chris and the others. "Fuckin' shit..." he muttered, shielding his eyes from all the dirt being kicked up from the wind. With the limitless petals at her disposal, Steenee brutally finished off what was left of the birds, beating and slicing them in what could only be described as a pureeing manner as the forest fed her attack, each petal like that of the thinnest blade. Once she was finished, Steenee curled into a ball before extending her arms and legs, arching back with a vengeful scream as her attack exploded around her with a thunderous echo from the sudden burst of wind. Sending her petals flying in all directions, as well as all of the birds, the petals themselves returned to normal and softly began drifting down while the Pokemon rapidly fell, raining down around the group with countless thudding sounds like something from that of an apocalyptic setting before the petals waft down around them like the calm after a storm, blanketing the ground and likewise the birds. "Ge---ez..." Chris thought to himself in a drawn out manner, surprised the Steenee above them actually managed to finish off the flock in one fell attack, something even Midna was short of being capable of. Looking up, she could be seen floating as her aura faded, with Chris thinking back to a similar attack he'd seen performed by Serenity and Alicia together years prior in Yulema City before she too began a free-fall back to the ground. Panicking again, Chris set his staff and Midna on the ground before scurrying about, his arms extended until finally catching the exhausted Pokemon.
Looking down at her, he blinked in surprise as she let out a woozy groan, finally looking up at him with heavy eyes. "Y-You're the same Bounsweet, right...? The one we've had with us...?" Chris asked, getting a weakened smile and a nod in response. Looking around, he was at a slight loss given her demeanor before the battle they endured, unsure of how to handle her sudden shift in character to the warrior they'd just witnessed. "I-I dunno how it happened but..." he paused, looking down at her. "Thank you..." he nodded. Hearing this, she shook her head before slowly reaching up and touching his cheek, giving a quiet noise as though to say "No, thank you..." in response, her smile remaining in an endearing sense as she looked at him. Turning his attention once more to the birds around them, after a moment he looked at Steenee with a nod, taking her hand in his as he cradled her. "A name, you wanted one too, right?" he asked, causing her to let out an "Eh?" type of noise as she groggily tilt her head. "After what you just did... How about... Valora?" he asked, causing her eyes to widen slightly. "It means strong, and brave... A protector." he explained. "I don't know how you got that kinda power out of nowhere, but... An act like that deserves a name to go with it." he affirmed. Continuing to look at him, after a moment she looked up and made a noise as if to say the name herself, appearing to think it over curiously before showing another smile and giving a nod of approval. "Well then... Valora it is..." Chris nodded back.
Giggling in response, she made a noise as if to say her name a second time before finally passing out, her face tilting against him as she dozed. Nearby, Midna began to wake and rose from beneath the petals, rubbing its head with a groan before letting out a loud belch and showing a nauseous expression, covering its mouth with an "urp" of sorts while all around the rescued Cherubi began inching their way out of hiding, gathering around them as the Cherrim suddenly collapsed together as well from exhaustion, with Zorua finally approaching from the nearby brush alongside Sliggoo who was left looking around in a blindly puzzled manner...
