"Haaah... Another day, another... How many miles?" Chris sighed, looking around as they trek along the winding trail before them. Hearing the feint echo of thunder in the far distance, the group looked at the sky above as clouds began gradually rolling in. "I wouldn't recommend strolling about much longer. The way my fur feels I'd say a nasty one is coming..." Zorua warned as they enjoyed what was left of the sunshine. "I'll find us a place to hunker down, don't worry." Chris assured with a smirk. Continuing down their path, after a moment he felt his shoulder growing stiff, having been holding onto a rope he'd tossed over it. Performing a slight hop as he adjusted it, a noise of agitation came from behind at the opposite end of the rope where Popplio was tied, having bounced and swayed from his actions. "Oh hush, it's your fault anyway." Chris scowled, glancing back as he moved on. "You've been with us a while now and you still keep pulling tricks. If you'd settle down and stop being so spiteful you wouldn't be stuck that way." he lectured. "I'm surprised you're still keeping it with you..." Zorua point out. "Just because it has a bad attitude doesn't mean I'm gonna let it slip off and do something to itself." Chris affirmed. Walking by his opposite side, Sera and Valora looked between him and the dangling Pokemon against his back. Thinking about the past several days, Sera reflected on the way he'd been taking care of their newest, albeit potentially temporary member, particularly a moment he'd struggled to feed the irritable Popplio as he removed the wood from its mouth. "Alright... Now... Just gonna take this out, nice and easy like..." he muttered as he freed its maw. No sooner had he done this however that it immediately retaliated.
Attempting to let out its Hyper Voice, luckily Chris was faster and snatched the Pokemon, holding it outward in a direction opposite of him and the rest as it sent a blast toward the sky. Struggling to muffle it again with the chunk of wood, he was forced to rethink how to deal with Popplio, with Sera's flashback ending when Chris let out a groan, wincing as he looked up at Sliggoo atop his head. "Easy with the movements, you're pullin' my hair." he reminded, causing the Pokemon to smile nervously with an apologetic noise. Looking at Popplio once more, this time it was Valora who thought back on another event. "Look, if you don't eat, you'll die... I can't even get you to drink." Chris scowled as Popplio merely glared at him in a hateful manner. "If it's gonna come to this, then fine." he added before Valora recalled watching him forcefully deal with the Pokemon, holding it firmly while making it open its mouth. While it initially spit out the food it was given, Chris was able to force Popplio to swallow what it was given by tightly holding its mouth shut and keeping its head pulled back, making what it was fed fall down its throat in a wrestling manner. Though it was tedious and the Pokemon snapped at him many times, despite the bites on his hands and near misses of its Hyper Voice he'd still managed to make Popplio eat and drink as needed to survive. With her mind returning to the present, Valora showed an impressed, albeit exhausted smile from the work Chris put in to keep the Pokemon alive and healthy despite its objections. Suddenly hearing him let out a hiss, Zorua looked at him as he examined his hand, some of his fingers wrapped in bandages making her flash back to an event that happened the night before.
Recalling the way he'd absentmindedly left Popplio without its mouth muffled, while he had his back turned and portioned out a meal for it, Zorua remembered spotting the Pokemon extending its tongue, bearing its teeth before attempting to bite it off. Catching sight of this himself, Chris thrust his hand in Popplio's mouth to prevent its suicidal attempt, taking the brunt of its bite himself as the Pokemon clamped down on his fingers, causing a loud crunching sound that sent chills up the girls spines while she merely analyzed what had occurred, seeing the pain in Chris's expressions before gritting his own teeth and forcing Popplio's mouth open before replacing his hand with the length of wood that safely muffled it. "Smarts... Can't believe you..." she suddenly heard him mutter, pulling her own mind back into the present as he waved his hand to ease the throbbing. "Guess if there's some kind of disease making you act up, we'll know soon enough." he added, glancing back at Popplio with a scowl on his face. "Shouldn't you be more concerned about that?" Zorua asked. "Not really... I'm waiting it out to see if there's some kind of reaction. If anything starts happening to me, it's covered." he assured, tapping his chest where his stone was. "Relying on the one's who tried to kill you?" Zorua asked, raising an eyebrow. "That was an accident! They didn't do it on purpose! It was because of this one!" he reminded, pointing his thumb back at Popplio before focusing ahead. With the girls around him focusing on the Popplio dangling along his back, its expression remaining irritated as it kept its eyes in the distance behind them while grumbling, they turned their attention to Chris before looking ahead at the dark clouds in before them.
"Wonder if it's an omen." Zorua point out. "Say what now?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow. "With you around, certain things tend to take on new meaning." she explained. "How is bad weather my doing?!" he snapped. "I didn't say you were the actual cause... I meant it in a metaphorical sense." Zorua scowled. "Ah... Whatever...." Chris muttered as the others looked between him and the clouds, finding themselves pondering if it was a potential omen as well. "I see you..." Chris grumbled, looking at the girls causing them to jolt with a nervous laugh. "Is my own daughter thinking I'm bad luck?" he asked, causing Sera's eyes to widen before rapidly shaking her head. "Uh huh..." he replied, looking at her in a suspicious manner. "...My own is turning against me." he sighed with a slump, causing Sera to groan with her ears slumped while Valora scratched her cheek guiltily. "See? Even they know it." Zorua pushed with a grin. "Bah... I'm ignoring you." Chris affirmed, keeping his focus ahead. "You're going to ignore me?" the Pokemon asked. "Yes!" he repeat. "Then why did you just respond?" Zorua grinned again, this time in a sly and smug manner combined, causing him to twitch an eye with a slight blush. "Quit messin' with me!!" he ordered, getting one of the few laughs out of Zorua as she mocked him with "simple" in response. Suddenly hearing another feint echo of thunder pass their ears from the horizon, Zorua couldn't help but tease with an "Uh oh, he's getting angry..." remark. Twitching his eye again, a pulse could be seen rising from Chris's forehead as he tightened his grip on the rope he held. Looking between the two frenemies, Sera and Valora looked at one another with silent "There they go..." smiles, both slowing slight sweat from their back and forth.
Having been listening to the banter as well, Popplio glanced back at Chris and looked at Zorua the same as the others before subtly glancing toward Sera, the Pokemon he'd been referring to as his "daughter" before returning its focus back to the distance behind them. "Finally done flailing and complaining again?" Chris asked moments later, looking back causing Popplio's fury to return as it glared back at him. "You know, the way you two look really is like a kidnapper..." Zorua suddenly point out. Saying this however didn't go well in a legitimate sense with Chris, who suddenly stopping before unsheathing his staff from his back and pointing it at the taunting Pokemon, giving her a surprisingly ominous glare. "DON'T... Say that again. You hear me?" he warned, causing her to blink at his staff as the mood suddenly shifted. "You ever try to compare me to someone like that a second time..." Chris added as Sera sulked nearby, her tail lowered slightly between her legs. "There's a way to mess with me, and there's a way to REALLY mess with me... Don't cross that line, Zorua." he affirmed. Noticing the way Sera was responding as well, Chris turned his attention to the fox with an "It's okay, she was just teasing" remark in a reassuring tone, putting his staff behind his back once more before lowering himself and petting Sera on the head. "...I appreciate what you've done for us, and me." he suddenly spoke while raising up. "But don't let yourself get so comfortable you lose sight of jokes even you should know are best kept to yourself." he reminded, looking toward Zorua as she looked between him and Sera and thought back on what had happened to the fox. "That's right... So watch your mouth." Chris insisted as if knowing what she was remembering.
Continuing on, Sliggoo showed a wary look of her own, slumping from the sudden argument and threats as she let out a whimper of discomfort from the two not getting along. Hearing this, Chris reached up and rubbed her on the head as well. "It's okay... Forget about it. Everything's fine." he assured, getting a small smile from the Pokemon stuck to his head. With everyone watching him walk past them, Valora looked between him and Zorua before quickly turning and following, with Sera doing the same before looking back with a pouty "Why did you say that...?" type of look on her face, her tail remaining between her legs as Zorua's remark brought back her own memories of being snatched as she followed Chris's side as well. Watching the group proceed without her, Zorua felt a different sort of cloud looming above her head as she was left, one she couldn't comprehend as a slump, however subtle it was, that she'd never shown appeared in her stance. Glancing back at Chris yet again, Popplio had a skeptical look of its own showing before turning its attention to Zorua who failed to notice its gaze. Thinking the Pokemon would stay where she was after the threat, Popplio found itself caught off guard when Zorua suddenly snapped with an "Alright!" before following in a begrudging manner. "Alright what?" Chris asked without stopping nor' looking back. "I don't know... I guess it's whatever." Zorua replied, keeping her eyes averted elsewhere as she closed the distance between them. "What's whatever?" Chris sighed in an irritated yet tired manner from the conversation. "You know! Overstepping or whatever!" Zorua snapped once more. "See?! This is why I kept distance and didn't speak to you!! Your type is so annoying!!" she lectured.
"Sensitive over the most random thing, suddenly shifting attitude..." she went on before averting her focus again with an "ugh..." as she limp along. "A guilty conscious really pisses you off, doesn't it?" Chris asked, glancing at her making the Pokemon show another surprising feature, the ability of a subtle blush as she snarled. "Watch it..." she warned. "What's wrong? Getting randomly sensitive?" Chris asked, suddenly making her pause as she blinked at him once more, standing still as he kept walking. "...We call that a checkmate." he declared, leaving her to stew in her own contradictions, her mouth open slightly before looking down with a scowl, shaking her head and following again. Eventually, the mood within the group returned to its former state as the wind began to kick up, their surroundings gradually darkening as the storm rolled ever closer. "Bit faster than I thought... Seemed to be moving so slow before..." Chris muttered before looking around. Continuing on, as the thunder grew louder and various flashes began to show in the clouds above, the rapidly swaying trees with their ominously rustling leaves revealed a structure towering above them in the distance, one that suddenly revealed a beacon-like light at its peak. "Check that out!" Chris exclaimed, talking above the wind as the group noticed the light as well. Making their way in its direction, the group finally found themselves standing before a Pokemon Center, one featuring a tower behind it with a light that worked to call in travelers both, at night and during threatening weather as they noticed other people arriving as well and rushing inside for shelter. "Guess we don't have a choice!" Chris called out as the wind pushed against Sera and Valora, the two fighting against it.
"I'll take anything over dealing with this." Zorua added, wincing an eye as the wind suddenly slammed against her, causing the Pokemon to stumble slightly. "This part of the region is bad about weather like this..." Chris admit while looking at the sky. "Well, everyone okay with hunkering down here then?" he asked, turning to look at the girls. However, in doing so he not only turned his back to the Center, but Popplio as well, causing the Pokemon's eyes to shoot open when it realized where they were. Suddenly freezing up, it's pupils gradually began to tremble as Chris let out a groan, the wind pushing against Sliggoo atop his head who in turn pulled at his hair as she kept a firm grip on him with her underside. "W-Well... Lets go then..." he instructed, wincing slightly as Sliggoo loosened her hold. Turning and making his way toward the building, Chris found himself suddenly met with relentless hysteria as Popplio began screaming and flailing behind him, shaking itself to and fro and thrashing about in a manner beyond any fit it had shown thus far. "H-Hey!! Easy!!" Chris snapped as the Pokemon managed to land a blow on his face, swinging itself in a manner that allowed it to deliver a smack against his cheek as he looked back. Finally recalling the way the Pokemon reacted to the mere mention of a Center, he looked at the building waiting for them as well as the ever swelling storm above as he struggled to keep hold of the rope connected to Popplio, weighing the risk of staying in the open compared to dealing with the maddened Pokemon's tantrum. "We going in or not?! We need to go somewhere!" Zorua affirmed, walking up to his side before Sera was suddenly blown against her, causing both to tumble atop one another.
With another blast of thunder roaring from above, Sera let out a scared shout while kicking and flailing, causing her hind legs to beat against Zorua's face who in turn kicked back with an agitated "Quit it!!" remark, the two forcing themselves apart while Valora took hold of Chris's cloak with a hand over her face to avoid being blown away. Between the girls being battered and tossed by the wind and the Pokemon falling into hysteria behind him, Chris grit his teeth before shouting Midna's name, causing the imp to rise from his cloak with a drowsy groan as it poked itself out from his hood before blinking in surprise at their now ominous surroundings. "I need you to do me a favor!" Chris instructed, giving the imp orders in a quiet manner before it nodded and crawled its way out of his hood and made its way toward Popplio, jumping onto the Pokemon's head making it jolt and freeze once more. Looming over its forehead, Midna looked at its face while showing a grin, causing Popplio to sweat before the imp reshaped its face into a giant eye. Using the same manner of hypnosis as was used days prior, Midna forced the Pokemon into a lethargic state, calming Popplio until its eyes finally shut, lulled into slumber allowing Chris to sigh in relief. "Hate going against my word but between worrying about its hangups and making sure all of us are safe, I've gotta choose between what's more important." he explained as Midna returned beneath his hood with a grin. "Thanks buddy." Chris nodded, giving the imp a rub on the head. Looking around, Chris finally made his way toward the Center before them, the girls following as the entrance slid open granting them access within. Once they were in the middle of the lobby, the rain finally bottomed out behind them.
Hearing it beating against the building, they looked back to find the outdoors shrouded as people rushed in all the faster, covering their heads with coats and backpacks as they arrived drenched by the storm. "And you said it was an omen." Chris smirked, looking at Zorua as she raised an eyebrow. "I'd say getting in here right before things started was GOOD luck." he nodded. Rolling her eyes, she looked around as did the others, curious of their surroundings within the sanitized and glistening Center around them. "Guess we'll take out place over here..." Chris muttered, noticing a sofa near a large potted plant. Approaching it, he coaxed Sliggoo off his head, allowing her to settle herself by the plant while the others took their own places on the cushions. "You know you're being looked at?" Zorua point out, making Chris pause with an "eh?" before looking at others around them, finding people taking notice of the bound Popplio dangling against his back. "Ah... Right..." he muttered, setting the Pokemon on the couch as well before removing his rucksack and resting it on the floor against the sofa. "Okay, everyone good?" he asked, looking at the girls and getting a nod as Valora sat back with a stretch, Sera raising her head with a yawn while Sliggoo took a leaf from the nearby plant in its mouth and casually munched. "It is a chance though..." Chris muttered, looking at Popplio before focusing on the reception desk, noticing the nurse talking to others who'd arrived. Turning his attention back to the Pokemon, he debated on whether to have it examined or not, given he'd already brought it within the Center after saying he wouldn't. "...I've done this much." he thought to himself, looking back toward the nurse.
Finally nodding, he lift Popplio and carried it up to the reception desk, the sight of the bound Pokemon making those already there inch back as he lay it before the nurse, causing her to blink in surprise. "Would you... Look at it for me?" Chris asked, causing her to look at him confused. "I found it a few days ago... The way it behaves is off so I've had to be careful with it..." he explained. "It keeps trying to hurt itself and likes to bite folks. I've kept it like this for its own good, and mine, being honest." he went on. "Right now it's under hypnosis, so it should stay like this until you're done. Just in case I'd try to keep it restrained to be safe though if I were you." he instructed. With the nurse nodding and agreeing to examine the Pokemon, she placed it on a cart and had a Chansey wheel it off alongside another nurse, leaving him at the desk as others continued looking at him until he turned their way, causing the crowd to avert their focus elsewhere as he returned to the group. "I guess that's that..." Chris sighed, sitting with a plop between the girls. "So you're having it checked out after all?" Zorua asked. "Yeah... Might as well." he nodded. Strolling onto his lap, Sera let out a yawn and lay herself across it, causing him to smirk and pet her. "Tuckered out huh?" Chris chuckled, getting a weary groan from the fox. Looking toward Valora, she too seemed heavy-eyed as she relaxed. "Wanna rest?" he asked, holding his arm up as he offered to let her rest against him. Blushing slightly, the Pokemon fidget before he pulled her against his side, making her tense up as he placed his hand on her head. Showing a small smile, she closed her eyes and let herself relax as Zorua lay near his opposite side, continuing to look around.
"Hey, you..." a voice suddenly called out, making the group raise their awareness as the girls straightened. Looking up, Chris saw a man standing before him. "You brought in that Popplio, right? Where'd you find it?" he asked, making Chris raise an eyebrow. "A little ways from here... Few days down the path toward the south. Why?" he answered. "Few days...? I lost one around the same time... I think it's mine." the man revealed. Merely looking at him for a moment, Chris stood and instructed the girls to stay on the sofa before motioning for the man to follow, heading for a nearby corner. "You said you lost it? How?" Chris asked. "I caught it back at the coast. It was alone and wandering around like it had nowhere to go so I took it with me." the man explained. "Acted weird though... Seems like it got worse after I caught it. Kept trying dumb stuff, and when I tried to get it to battle? Just let itself get thrashed, like it didn't even care." he revealed. "After everything that happened I brought it here and that's when it got away. The nurses here found something and mentioned surgery, and next thing I knew, there was a commotion coming from the back and that's when I found out it got away from them." he went on. "They found something...?" Chris muttered, rubbing his chin. "So there IS something wrong..." he added. "Did they say what it was?" he asked. "They said it was something easy to take care of, mentioned it was common... Something about having to decide stuff. I didn't pay much attention after the noise started." the man shrugged. "Decide...? Maybe it's the tonsils?" Chris pondered. "No... It wouldn't use Hyper Voice if that's the case." he sighed. "It did that to you too?" the man asked, causing Chris to glance at him.
"Yeah... Hurt too, pretty powerful." he nodded. "You're telling me, almost caused a landslide that crushed me. I kept it put away after that until I got here." the man revealed, scratching his head in agitation. "Being honest, I'm not even sure why I stuck around. After it went missing I figured it'd turn up somehow but it's hard to say whether I really want it at this point. Only caught it since I like its evolution's but that one's just too much hassle." he scowled. "Can you prove it's yours?" Chris asked. "Yeah, here." the man nodded, taking out a Pokeball and clicking its button which enlarged it. "Since it's registered to it, if it's mine the reaction will be proof enough." he assured. "Alright then... If it's yours, what's your plan if you take it?" Chris pressed, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. "It's like I said, not even sure if it's worth it. If it's gonna stay crazy all the time, I'll probably just leave it somewhere, let it be weird on its own." the man shrugged. "I'm a trainer, not a therapist." he added. "...What's your name?" Chris asked, looking at him with an idea in mind. "Name's Tak." he replied before crossing his arms. "I should have known something was up the way it was acting at the beach... That's what happens when you rush into something." he nodded, slightly lecturing himself with his own words. As the two spoke, despite his instructions the girls approached the two men, leaving Sliggoo to munch on the plant by the sofa while they hid behind the large vase of another. "...Well then, since you don't think you want it..." Chris finally spoke, looking down for a moment before looking at Tak with his brow raised again. "...Sell it?" he asked, his words making the girls eyes widen. "Eh...? Sell?" Tak replied, his interest peaked.
"I don't trade, but if you're willing to let it go... I think both of us would feel better taking care of it this way. That way you're not just dumping a Pokemon on the curb and I don't have to worry about what happens to it after you take it away." Chris affirmed. "If you just dump it, or if I just take it, that just makes it seem like it's worthless... I'd like to do something that proves it has value if nothing else." he offered. "You're serious? You want a Pokemon like that?" Tak asked, unable to take the offer seriously. "I want to make sure it stays safe, put it that way." Chris corrected. "It has a habit of trying to kill itself... It's suicidal for some reason and unless someone keeps a constant focus on it, that Pokemon will do any and everything to accomplish that." he revealed. "The thing's that crazy now?" Tak replied, blinking at him before turning away and scratching his head once more. "Issues is one thing but that..." he muttered. "...I'll let you name your price." Chris assured, taking out his Pokedex and flipping it open. "I can wire you the money easily once we see if it's the one you lost, got yours?" he asked, making Tak look at the device in his hands before taking out his own, looking it over as he debated the decision. "...You wanna buy a suicidal Pokemon...?" he asked. "I made the offer didn't I?" Chris affirmed. With the both looking at the eyes of the other, just as Tak opened his mouth to respond a doctor returned with Popplio on the cart from before by his side, adjusting his glasses while looking over a clipboard before scanning the room. "We'll find out then..." Tak nodded, with Chris doing the same before the two approached the reception desk. "Who's the owner?" the doctor asked. "We'll find that out now." Chris replied, looking at Tak before stepping aside.
Letting him approach the still unconscious Pokemon, he held out his Pokeball, allowing it to scan Popplio before it let out a chime and the white portion flashed green. "Yep... It's the one..." Tak nodded. "Guess that's it then..." Chris sighed, turning to him with his Pokedex still in hand. "Well...? What do you say?" he asked, reaffirming his offer. "You really wanna do this, don't you?" Tak asked. "How much?" Chris insisted. Taking a moment to look at Popplio, Tak let out a sigh before focusing on Chris again. "That thing's really turned suicidal? No joking?" he asked. "You said it yourself, it didn't care when it got beaten in battle." Chris reminded. Finding himself frustrated over catching a Pokemon he'd wanted, only to wind up with one carrying more over its shoulders than he bargained for, Tak showed a begrudging expression before finally relaxing with an "Alright" in response. "Well then?" Chris asked, going through his applications and typing in what was needed. "...Five." Tak offered. "Hundred?" Chris replied, glancing up. "...Five G..." Tak corrected, making Chris raise his brow once more. "You want five thousand...?" he asked, noticing the man averting his focus in an uncertain manner as their devices connected. Noticing the signal on his screen confirming a transfer was ready, Chris glanced at Tak again before setting the amount and sending it off. "...Well?" Tak asked, only to jolt when his own device let off a chime. Looking at it in surprise, he brought up his account and found the money loaded on, his eyes widened before turning his focus back to Chris, unsure of how to respond. "My end is taken care of... Pokeball, please?" Chris asked, his hand out.
"Y-You seriously...?" Tak asked. "I'm always serious about this kind of thing." Chris replied, once again asking for Popplio's Pokeball with his hand remaining out in waiting. "Hey man, that amount was..." Tak hesitated, only to cause Chris to show agitation. "You made a deal and that's that. Just hand it over." he insisted. Looking at the Pokeball once more, Tak nervously gave it to Chris, and as he did, time seemed to slow to a degree as Popplio finally opened its eyes, groggily groaning before noticing the two men, with the sight of Tak making it freeze wide eyed before noticing him giving the Pokeball to Chris. Looking at his device again, Tak made a "That much..." remark. "Don't waste it." Chris instructed. "Oh ho! A fair trade is it?" the doctor suddenly chimed in with a smile. "I can certainly say this species can be extraordinary with the right treatment." he chuckled, making Popplio turn its attention toward the man, suddenly remembering the doctor as its pupils began trembling. "Right treatment...?" Chris asked. "Yes... You see, Popplio and its evolutionary line share a common... Defect... In its genetic makeup." the doctor revealed, drawing Tak's attention as well as both failed to notice Popplio's awareness. "Due to their highly feminine traits, more often than not they have a... Problem... During development, one which leaves many incapable of being assigned a specific gender." the doctor went on. "As we know, there are traits given to males and females alike, however, this species has a tendency to find themselves born with both, male and female anatomy." he point out, using his finger to demonstrate as he slipped it through a circle he made with his opposite hand to signal he was referring to genitalia.
"As research shows, when their kind are born in this manner, or rather, are hermaphrodites, their clan and even their own parents cast them out. It's basically how they prevent this type of offspring from spreading its influence to the others in their group. With the risk of being born in this way as high as it already is, most seem to find it's more worthwhile to cast out even their own children than risk the odds of having more hermaphrodites show up among their ranks increased. We suppose in their minds, a hermaphrodite has a much more elevated risk of creating more of them with others in their clan, so they take steps to prevent this." the doctor clarified. "That's..." Chris muttered. "Pretty gross..." Tak added, showing an uncomfortable look on his face making Chris look at him. "Hey man... You bought it. I didn't make you, it was the other way around." he reminded. "Yes, I know." Chris scowled. "Anyway, what we do for these creatures is corrective surgery." the doctor smiled, making the two turn their attention back to him. "What now?" Chris asked. "Yes! You see, based on which you prefer, we can remove the unwanted genitalia!" the doctor assured with a warm grin. "Aw come on!" Tak groaned with a face full of grimace, put off by the image. With tears welling in its eyes, Popplio began sniffling, finally drawing the groups attention. "Hey now... Don't." Chris coaxed, about to reach out when the doctor suddenly asked "So... How shall we fix it?" with a grin remaining. Though it was intended with warmth and kindness, from Chris's perspective it was something else entirely, and just as the final words "fix it" escaped the doctor's mouth, a bolt of lightening crashed down just outside the center.
With the power knocked for a split moment as the crackling roar of the lightening shook the Center, the doctors glasses let out an eerie flash of their own as the lights returned as quick as they'd vanished. "Oh my... This is a bad one..." he muttered, turning his head toward the nearby windows. Hearing these words itself, tears began streaming down Popplio's face as its body trembled, rattled by the remark. Suddenly losing any grasp of sanity it had, or potentially reclaimed since being taken in by Chris, the miserable Pokemon began wailing in a loud manner, thrashing on the cart and shaking its head fervently as it weep and screamed at the top of its lungs. "...It keeps saying to let it die..." Zorua translated, limping up to Chris's side. "Begging now, actually..." she affirmed. "I-I can't handle this... Good luck." Tak spoke up, stepping his way back before walking off elsewhere in the lobby. "Don't worry! I assure you this is common." the doctor smiled, slight sweat showing as he reached out and held Popplio down making Chris's eyes widen. "It's because of how they are treated. After we correct it, trust me, it will simmer down." he assured. "C-Correct it...?" Chris asked. "Oh! Yes! Male or female?" the doctor asked with a nod, giving Chris the option. With Popplio turning all the more mad, horror and the will to die revealed itself more than ever in its tearful eyes as it helplessly screamed for its demise. Reflecting on everything the doctor had said, as the girls gathered by his feet Chris suddenly reached out and snatched the doctor by the coat in his fist, catching the man off guard as he blinked with an "eh?" as Chris pulled his face close to his own, causing the doctor to spot the ominous imp hiding within Chris's hood as it grinned and its red eyes glowed.
"You... You're sick..." Chris growled, bearing his teeth before shoving the doctor aside, sending him sliding along the floor while everyone in the lobby gasped from the assault, the girls showing surprise of their own. "Sir! You can't...!" the nurse that had been tending the reception desk tried to lecture, only to freeze when Chris turned his attention toward her with rage in his eyes before reaching out and taking the maddened Popplio in his arms. "We're leaving!" he snapped, suddenly turning and making his way up to his belongings. Startling Sliggoo as he lift her while she tried reaching out for another leaf, Chris tucked her under his cloak, instructing her to take hold so she didn't get battered by the rain outside. "What are you...?" Zorua asked as the others gathered. Struggling to keep hold of Popplio, he opened his rucksack as everyone around them watched. "Sera, Valora, Zorua, in here." he instructed. "Excuse me?" Zorua asked. "I said we're leaving! At least being in here will keep you from getting tossed around out there!" Chris point out in agitation. Not used to seeing him so agitated, Sera and Valora looked at one another warily before climbing in, shuffling things about to make room. "I'm not getting in there." Zorua scowled before Popplio's failing suddenly intensified. "Zorua please!! Just once!!" Chris snapped again, looking at her as she gave him another surprised look. Letting out a sigh, she looked at Valora and Sera before groaning and making her way up to the bag, with both helping her in. "This is ridiculous..." she muttered. "My thoughts exactly." Chris agreed before lifting his rucksack on his back. "Put the top over your heads." he instructed, Valora reaching for the flap and pulling it over them.
Making his way to the door, Chris paused as it slid open, causing a gust to burst through as rain hammered down and thunder echoed. With Popplio remaining hysteric and his cloak rapidly swaying from the breeze, the presence he gave had everyone averting their focus as he looked around. Spotting at Tak particular, when their eyes met he merely looked away, instead focusing guiltily on his device as he looked at the money he'd accepted for the tormented Pokemon. "Think before you capture Pokemon from now on... When you take one into your life, you're taking everything about it as well, faults, problems and all. Whether you..." Chris paused, turning back as the doctor stood with the help of the nurse at the desk. "Or anyone else want to admit it, Pokemon ARE people! They have thoughts, feelings, a will of their own! When you treat them like tools, when you take it upon yourself to decide how they should be, when you force them, how they should look, who they are, into some personal mold, it's no different than doing the same to another human and it causes the same hurt in them as it does all of us! This is the result of doing that!" he affirmed, showing Popplio for all in the lobby to see. "And you..." he growled, looking at the doctor. "Being so comfortable to take it upon yourself to rip a Pokemon apart to suit the desires of the one who captured it... Talking about how normal you can make it... What kind of bastard are you...?" Chris asked. "It's acting like this because you want to mutilate it!! You claim it'd be calm after you tore it apart?! It'd be destroyed, that's why!! It wouldn't have a mind, a will left to fight anymore!!" he affirmed. "It'd be a shell, an empty husk operated on without its own feelings considered!" he went on.
"Pokemon Center my foot... This is a madhouse!!" Chris point out. "Thinking things can be solved with surgery, that you can just fix someone with a little operation... How far back in time are these places?!" he finished, turning back toward the doors while holding Popplio close, his hand on its head as it sobbed. "...I'm sorry..." he muttered before lowering his head and running out of the building, leaving everyone behind to look at one another as he made his way along against the force of the storm. With tears in her own eyes, Sera let out a quiet "Papa's angry..." type of whimper within the rucksack. Smiling nervously, Valora put her arm around the fox with an "It's okay" noise. Looking at the two, Zorua turned her attention back to the center, peering out from under the flap of the rucksack as the rain hammered down on it with her focus on the glowing Center behind them. Under his cloak, Sliggoo clung to him as her feelers twitched and adjusted, her own concern showing as she heard Popplio's fit and reflected on the speech she'd heard from Chris as his feet splashed along the drenched surface beneath them. Eventually, he managed to find a boulder with a large enough overhang to shelter them from the weather off the side of the trail, allowing him to stop and catch his breath from his extended sprint. Setting his rucksack down against the wall of the boulder, the girls climbed out with a stretch while he instructed Sliggoo to make her way down as well, the group gathering by him as he turned and looked at the rain in silence, still holding Popplio who'd all but spent its energy as it hicked in a still and surrendering manner. Rubbing its head, after a moment Chris got on his knees and placed Popplio on the ground.
Watching curiously, the girls poked their heads out from behind him as he began untying the Pokemon, setting it free from its binds. "What's your plan?" Zorua asked, only for Chris to stay silent as he finished removing the rope and set it aside. Reaching around Popplio's neck, he unfastened the cloth holding the wood in its mouth, setting it aside leaving the Pokemon free where it lay. Merely sobbing for a moment, it finally settled enough to realize it could move freely, causing it to slowly rise with its teeth clenched. While its head raised however, Chris positioned himself on his hands and knees, lowering himself while Midna crawled out from his hood, sitting atop a nearby stone as Popplio's eyes widened. No longer trapped with an object in its mouth, the Pokemon could finally retaliate, and after what it'd been put through, it was all too ready to do so, wanting to unleash its emotions and revenge with the loudest blast it could muster. Taking a deep breath, Popplio began slowly opening its mouth before suddenly turning toward Chris, and just as it was about to unleash its Hyper Voice, it abruptly paused when it noticed Chris bowing before it, his forehead on the ground. With its mouth remaining open, it slowly shut as it looked at him with tears still streaming from its eyes while showing a look of hatred toward him. "...I'm sorry..." Chris apologized, prostrating himself as the girls watched in shock. "I'm sorry, I really am." he repeat. "I went against my word, took you inside that place, and found out things that were none of my business to know... I'm sorry." he affirmed, causing Popplio to clench its teeth. "...I'm sorry..." he repeat. Now snarling at him, Popplio suddenly snapped, screaming at him in rage.
"It says you should've left it alone." Zorua began translating. "Say's the way you've treated it is no better than the way everyone else has." she added, only for Popplio to turn its focus on her. "Hey, don't bark at me, how else is he supposed to understand?" Zorua asked, pointing out the block between them before the Pokemon went on with its rant. "Says it already endured being abandoned by its own, then it had to deal with being captured and forced to go to that Center where humans wanted to cut it apart. Says it had a right to attack you for forcing it to live after everything it had to endure." Zorua went on. "Not only did you force it to live, you forced it to come with you, and you forced it back to the same Center it got away from, and had the same human threaten to cut it apart a second time." she translated before going on about how he used Midna to force it to go into the Center as well, hammering the way Chris abused it into his mind. Turning toward Valora, it went on other tangents about how if they'd left it alone, there wouldn't have been a need for her to kick it around among other lectures it gave. Letting it get everything out, Chris remained in his position the entirety of the time until Popplio finally stopped, catching its breath after its tirade. Speaking once more, Zorua translated asking "Why did you do this to me? Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" to which Chris grit his own teeth. "I can't let you do that to yourself!" he affirmed, keeping his head down. "I know what happens when you're alone, I know what happens when the world's against you..." he explained. "When you feel abandoned... When you hate, and hate, and hate, when everyone and everything is an enemy to you..." he went on, flashing back to his demise and everything revolving Serenity and Alicia.
"I... I can't just let that happen to someone! Not... Not when I think I can stop it..." he confessed. "The way I treated you... I'm sorry for that... But I didn't know any other way!" he apologized. "When so many abuse you, when all you can do is hate, when you feel stuck in a corner while everyone turns their back to you..." he went on. "For most of my life, I lived thinking my own family abandoned me too... So I know... I know it hurts!" Chris revealed, the girls looking at him in surprise. "There's people I love who wound up like you in the past... They wanted to end everything just like you do, and it took everything I had to prevent that..." he confessed. "We fought, and fought... Over and over it took all we had to get past our hate. For the one's I love to overcome their desire to die... And that's why... That's why I don't want to let you do it so easily either!" he affirmed, finally looking up with his own tears streaming. "I'm sorry Popplio, but please believe me, I understand!" he insisted. "I've lived my life feeling like an outcast... The one's I love, they were the same. We've all been abused and cast out in our own ways, but we're still here! That's why..." he paused, lowering his head back to the ground. "Please... Forgive me... Forgive me and don't give up!" he pleaded. "Fighting is hard... God I know it's hard... But if you can just make it through, I swear a day will come that will make it worth it. A day where everything bad will be behind you and only good things will come!" he assured. "I'm sorry for what I did... I just want you to live... Please..." he begged again, the girls unsure of how to process the way he was lowering himself so greatly for the Pokemon before him, a feat most would never see a human commit to for a Pokemon.
Looking at him for a moment, Popplio barked in agitation, causing Zorua to raise an eyebrow. "Don't you get it? Don't you see what I am? My kind refuses me and your kind only wants to change me. Why live in a world where everybody, no matter who they are abuses you? Why live in a world where just because you're born wrong, nobody wants anything to do with you?" she translated. "You weren't born wrong!!" Chris snapped, raising his head again. Between the tears on his face and his teeth clenched in frustration, Popplio reeled its rage back slightly as it blinked at him. "Who cares about how you're born?! Who cares about what you are?!" he added. "There's no way to be born right!! I've seen people who were born WAY worse off than you!! People who have REAL problems!!" Chris insisted, thinking back to the kids he'd met back in Yulema City years prior. "People who can barely move their bodies, people missing arms and legs, people who can't even speak... And even WITH their problems, they still kept going! They didn't quit even with everybody pushing them around, making fun of them and casting them out... If all the people I've met, if all the people I've come to love can fight like that, you can too!!" Chris lectured, keeping his eyes on Popplio's as it inched back slightly. "Look at me! Look at all I've done for you!" he point out, showing off his bandaged hands. "Maybe the way I brought you along was wrong, but didn't the way I tried to keep you alive and healthy mean at least a little?!" he asked. "I know keeping you tied up was bad... But all you wanted to do was attack us! What were we supposed to do?! What was I supposed to do?!" he went on. "You wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, kept doing anything you could to die... I didn't keep you that way to torture you! I did it because I was trying to save you!" Chris insisted.
"...Hate me all you want for what I did to you, but at least I did it because I had the heart to care. Refusing to let you kill yourself and doing what I had to, yeah, it was a tough call to make. I admit I probably overstepped myself with a lot of choices I made... But at least you're still here..." he assured before reaching in his coat and taking out the Pokeball registered to Popplio, holding it out. "See this?" he asked, causing it to glance away. "That's right, I got this from the guy who captured you in the first place. And I paid a lot of money for it too." he reminded. With Popplio grumbling in response, Zorua twitched her ear, translating with "So you bought me?" as everyone listened. "Yeah... That's right... And it was a high price I paid too." Chris repeat. "You wanna know why I did it?" he asked, causing Popplio to look at him again before watching as red sparks shot around his hand. Hearing his clutch on the ball tighten, all of a sudden it began to crack all over before shattering in his grip, the pieces falling and scattering about on the ground confusing the group and Popplio alike. "I paid a high price for you to prove you had worth, and not as an item for trade..." he paused, raising up and sitting on his knees. "But as a person worth paying for to keep alive. I bought you so I could look out for you... It's an investment to prove you can make it, that you can make something out of yourself." Chris explained with a nod. "I bought you so I could help you along the way to reaching that point... That Pokeball is a shackle that ties you to the concept that you're just something less than human." he point out before reaching to the ropes he'd kept her bound with. "Just like these tied you to the concept that you were crazy and a threat to us... Now you're free from both." he assured.
"...I'm not perfect with how I handle things, with how I handle others, but I'm willing to accept you as you are and help you overcome what happened to you, overcome how you feel about yourself." he went on. "...I know what you are now, and believe me, it doesn't bother me. I don't want to change that, I don't want to change who you are as a person. I just want to change the way you value life, the way you value yourself... Ask these girls here, it's like a habit at this point." Chris assured, pointing his thumb toward them making Sera and Valora smile, Sliggoo tilting her head curiously before smiling as well while Zorua faced away with a grunt. "If you ask me he's just annoying." she replied. "Well... Some people feel that way..." Chris scowled, wiping his eyes before clearing his throat and returning his focus to the Popplio before him. "...Please? Will you... Let me try?" he asked. "Let me show you that you CAN be accepted, that it IS okay to be what you are. None of us care about that. In our own ways we're no different than you, so... If you feel like such an outcast, be an outcast with us. We know what it's like." he assured as he and the girls looked at one another. "You're not being bound by anything here. You're not being forced... I know my word won't mean much after what I did to you but... If you'll believe me just this once, I swear I'll do my best to make you see staying alive isn't such a bad thing, and that you can have someone behind you at least." he offered. Merely looking at him and the girls for a moment, Popplio suddenly began opening its mouth, putting them on edge as Chris leaned back with an arm up in defense, only for the Pokemon to let out a sigh and shake its head in frustration, unsure of what to do.
Gradually relaxing, Chris lowered his arm and looked at Popplio as it faced away, looking at the ground. "...I really don't care what you are. I care about the person, what they're like, what they make of themselves... I just want you to give me a chance... If nothing else, so I can make up for the way I treated you until now too... Please let me?" he asked, the Pokemon looking back at him before looking down again. "For what it's worth..." Zorua spoke, limping up to Popplio and sitting next to it. "He IS annoying, but... He's interesting at the same time. If he wasn't worth watching I wouldn't be here." she affirmed. "Thanks for the... Confidence?" Chris replied, unsure of how to take her remark while Sera walked up and started talking as well in her own chipper and barking manner. Looking at her, Popplio raised an eyebrow before jolting when Valora approached, inching back with its teeth grit while remembering the kick it suffered from her, only to pause when she bowed and gave an apologetic sound. Relaxing slightly, Popplio scowled skeptically before Sliggoo crawled up, bumping into the Pokemon by accident making it bark in agitation. Flailing her stubs and making nervous noises, Sliggoo apologized as well while making noises to remind of her blindness before smiling again. Looking at them all, Popplio returned its attention toward Chris as he remained sitting on his knees. "None of us exactly... Fit in... With others here, so we just kind of stick together and support ourselves instead... Will you let me support you?" he asked. "If nobody else wants you... I'll want you. If you can't find a reason to live, let me be your reason... I swear I'll make you staying with me, making you decide not to die, worth it." he assured.
"...I don't care about your body, it's the heart that matters. What kind of heart do you have?" he asked, continuing to look at the Pokemon as it faced down again, thinking everything over. "He really is a melodramatic fool, but he does give some impressive support to whomever is unlucky enough to be stuck with him." Zorua nodded. "Are you trying to help or make me look worse?" Chris scowled. "Eh, both." Zorua replied with a smirk, the girls chattering around Popplio once more. Looking at them all, the Pokemon turned its attention toward Chris, looking up at him as he gave a nod. "It's like I said... I bought you because I value your life and want to protect it... Now let me help you value your own... Please?" he asked once more. With nowhere else to go and nobody missing it, Popplio looked down a final time before giving Chris a nod, making him sigh in relief before smiling. "Well then... Welcome to the party, Popplio... It's a pleasure." he nodded back, the girls chattering excitedly around the Pokemon while Zorua limped off past Chris.
"...Thank you, again." he muttered quietly. "Yeah yeah... That's my deed for what I said earlier." she replied just as quietly, her praising him being her means of an apology for striking his nerve earlier in the day...
