"So... We still going in the right direction...?" Chris asked as he walked along, looking at the map on his device as they veered slightly off course. Turning his head, he focused on Brionne behind him, hitching a ride in his rucksack as had become the norm to keep her from having to drag herself along the ground. With her eyes shut, she let out a quiet "mm" type of sound, focusing on an unknown target until opening her eyes and nodding at him. "Okay then... Sure you don't wanna share with us exactly where we're going?" Chris smiled nervously, looking around them while Sera and Zorua followed by his feet, the two focusing on their surroundings as well. "Pretty off the beaten path..." Zorua point out. "Brionne seems pretty set on where she wants to go. She doesn't usually show this kind of interest in stuff so I'd like to see what has her so drawn." Chris reminded, getting a small smile from the Pokemon guiding them in his rucksack. Riding atop his head, with her figure sticking along the back of it, Sliggoo let out a satisfied sigh as the wind blew. "Ya' can't see, but your other senses are pretty sharp. Bet it feels good for you in particular." Chris chuckled, causing the Pokemon to let out another satisfied noise. Atop her head, Midna sat with its legs crossed and a hand against its forehead, looking around with a grin from having such a high perspective. "On top of the world, eh'?" Chris smirked, getting a cackle from the imp. Looking ahead, Valora was strutting along with a kick in her step and confidence in her expression, playing the leader as she looked back on occasion with a noise to check on the group, each time getting an "We're fine!" from Chris and a wave as they moved along.
Since her evolution and the cake he'd given her, Valora had taken on a bolder personality than before, wanting to live up not only to her own evolution, but Chris's thoughts of her as well as she placed herself as the defense of the group, often walking ahead of them and keeping lookout for potential trouble. With an endearing smile on his face, Chris was proud of the way she'd gone from quivering under his cloak to holding her head high as the lead, a change that was so sudden, it took his thoughts back to memories of years prior and the way he'd often reflect on the growth of his original companions. Similar to them, he felt the same admiration for their changes, though just the same couldn't help but miss the way they once were. From having Serenity patting his head to her humming tunes as she rode on his shoulders, to cradling Alicia as he fed her special meals, there was a pleasure, a closeness of its own kind to having such reliant companions, though he knew it was wrong to wish for time to revert them. Just the same as dependent followers, there was a rewarding pride that came with watching as they stand on their own and move ahead, as though there were twinges of loneliness from it, just the same there was an admiration, a respect to it that couldn't be ignored, finding himself grinning from the way Valora was strutting along her merry way. Looking back and noticing his expression, she tilt her head with a curious noise. "Oh, nothing... Just proud of you is all." Chris praised, making her blink before facing forward, a smile from ear to ear as her head swelled all the more from his compliment, the kick in her step returning as she led them along with a "come on!" noise and a wave, making Zorua raise her brow.
"Rather cocky now for someone scared of a wafting leaf not long ago..." she point out. "Hey now, she's done great!" Chris affirmed, making Valora look back again. "Oh, nothing." he waved with a smile, making her focus ahead once more. "You should focus more on your own growth you've made." he added, returning his focus to the limping Pokemon by his side. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Think about it." Chris answered, continuing on as she paused and tilt her head behind him. Suddenly hearing a chipper bark, he turned his attention to Sera as she trot merrily along, a smile beaming from her wanting praise of her own. "Heh... Yeah, you're growing too kiddo." he grinned, getting another bark from her as she held her own chin high in an "Im'ma big girl!" type of manner. "You know..." he added, pausing as he focused ahead while the young fox looked up at him curiously. "The way you attacked the other day... I'm surprised you have that kind of capability, being so young." he point out. "Your mom... I dunno much about her, we only met for a moment, but I could tell she was definitely strong... She was in rough shape when I came across her, yet she was still hanging on for your sake. You've inherited that power, I'd say." he speculated, making Sera look ahead in silence, thinking over his words and having never known her mother at the same time. "I can say this much, she'd be proud!" Chris grinned again, the fatherly warmth on his face easing away whatever twinges of loneliness she'd felt from thinking about her mother as she smiled once more, wagging her tail with her usual chipper bark.
As time went on, Brionne point them in one direction, then another, leading them along a winding route that was neither near, nor' too far from Chris's original path, and as they walked, a cloudy overcast gradually drift in above them, drawing their attention as they walked. "Bah... This time of year..." Chris muttered. "And... Where will we take shelter this time?" Zorua asked. "I may have to pitch a tent somewhere... Doesn't look like it'll be too serious though. During this season we always have spotty stuff coming and going, so we may not even need a tent if it passes quick enough. The canopy should do the trick." he assured, looking at the branches above them. "How much further is this place you wanna go?" he asked, looking back as Brionne closed her eyes again before finally responding. "She claims it's not much further." Zorua translated. "Okay then..." Chris nodded as they moved along. Sure enough however, they found themselves met with the gradual plipping of rain, beginning as a sprinkle before steadily increasing. Just as he'd said, though it picked up, the rain was calm giving the trees ample coverage to keep the group decently dry, and as they stood beneath one of the towering works of nature, they watched the leaves bounce from the impact of the rain, with trickles falling around them through their coverage. With one drop hitting Sera on the nose, she let out a sneeze and shook her head, causing Zorua to smirk with a "heh" remark only for a drop to hit her nose as well, making her blink allowing Sera to raise her nose smugly with a "hmph!" of her own, a scowl showing on Zorua's face before shaking her head as well. Wanting out of the rucksack, Chris set it down and let Brionne crawl free, watching as she made her way out from under their coverage.
With the rain hitting her, she raised her head with a satisfied look on her face, closing her eyes in silence while the group remained together. "Sure is pretty, ain't she?" he asked, getting a nod from the group save Zorua who merely shrugged and Sliggoo who was distracted by the random drops hitting her from above, facing up while Midna made a leap onto the tree behind them and rest on a branch. While they were distracted by Brionne and the tranquil scenery around them as the scent of the rain began mixing with the surrounding flora, they failed to realize what was happening on top of Chris, as while they were distracted and Midna lazed about above, Sliggoo began dimly glowing as the rain repeatedly slipped through the leafy covering above and plipped on her figure. With that glow growing brighter and brighter, after a moment her figure began to change, making her eyes widen as she slowly began to grow. Feeling a strange stiffness on his shoulders as a result, Chris took notice of a sudden weight bearing down on him more and more, and as he finally took notice of Sliggoo, before he had a chance to respond the Pokemon let off an abrupt, almost explosive flash as drops continued hitting her, catching the rest of the group off guard making them shout and jump away as Sliggoo became instantly massive, seemingly exploding into her final form as it took shape within the blinding light and flattened Chris into the ground, the resulting quake nearly shaking Midna off the tree as the imp panicked and clung to the side of the branch it dangled from while Brionne jerked herself back, looking at the scene wide eyed as Sliggoo let off a final flash and revealed her Goodra form, eyes tightly shut as the glistening light of her evolution slowly vanished around her.
With the entirety of the group dumbfounded by the sizable Pokemon before them, all thoughts of Chris seemingly vanished from their minds as their gazes hovered up her form as she lay her back against the tree, letting out an "owww..." type of noise from her impactful landing upon evolving. Raising up, she rubbed the back of her head with a hiss before slowly opening her eyes, and it was upon doing so that she merely sat in a frozen state, suddenly shocked into a moment of paralysis of sorts as she processed her restored sense of sight. "How the hell did THAT work?!" Zorua finally spoke, awed from such a small slug becoming a behemoth out of nowhere. "I mean... I know how it works but..." she added, walking up to Goodra's side while looking up at her form. "Some of our kind are ridiculous..." she muttered while Valora and Sere both approached, with the young fox curiously poking the plump and likewise jelly-like form their companion now had. Murmuring as if to say "squishy" from the sensation, she stepped back before finally being the first to have Chris snap back into her mind, making her jolt and look around in a panic. Crawling up, Brionne looked at their companions new form as well, struggling to process the abrupt change in size the same as the rest until they took notice of Sera's behavior, the fox whimpering before barking at the group making them panic just the same. "You mean he's...?" Zorua asked before focusing on Goodra's rear. "...Well that would do it." she added, slight sweat showing on her face as the rest started working together in an attempt to push Goodra aside, albeit in a futile manner as Midna looked down from above, unsure of what to think of the mass of Pokemon beneath it as its head tilt side to side like a dog of sorts.
Finally beginning to pull from her frozen state, Goodra raised her hands in a slow, trembling manner, looking down at them before focusing on the scenery in front of her. Beginning to well with tears, the group suddenly heard a muffled groan from beneath the massive Pokemon, making them panic all the more while Goodra jolt and slowly looked down, seeing part of the upper half of Chris lying face down beneath her. Failing to notice the others pushing against her, she slowly pushed herself up and stood, albeit wobbling slightly before turning and looking at Chris as he lay flattened on the soil. Hurrying around him, Valora raised his head, his eyes dazed as he groaned about what hit him before he slipped through her hands, his face back in the dirt as Sera pushed her head against his side in a paranoid manner, whimpering and barking at him. "He's alive?" Zorua asked, limping up and sniffing his head before he groaned again, his body switching as he recovered and struggled to move. Pushing himself up with wobbly arms, once he raised enough Sera shoved her face against his, tearing up in concern as he shook his head with a "woof..." noise and rubbed it. "The hell was...?" he muttered, seeing a pair of feet and thick legs before him making him pause before slowly looking up, seeing the towering Goodra looming over him. "I-Is that...?" he blinked in surprise. Before he could say more, the teary Pokemon suddenly reached down and pulled him up in her arms, getting a "Wuh oh!!" out of Chris before wheezing when she squeezed him with all her might. "T-Too tight... Too tight...!!" he panicked, gasping as he spoke. With the girls panicking once more, Valora and Sera both shouted in their own ways at their overly-emotional companion.
With both Brionne and Zorua watching together, Midna crawled down from the nearby tree and sat beside the two, continuing to tilt its head curiously is it processed Goodra's new body with the little brainpower it had, letting out a groan of confusion and likewise pain from thinking too hard. "I don't get it myself, don't ruin your head trying to." Zorua warned, making the imp sulk and nod. Loosening her hold on Chris, Goodra held him out in the air in front of her, remaining teary eyed with a quivering lip. Smiling nervously from the sight, Chris smiled nervously with slight sweat showing before responding with an "alright" remark, panicking when she suddenly pulled him in with a "Gently!! Gently!!" caution, stopping her from nearly crushing him a second time in her grasp as she held him like a stuffed animal, his cheek squished against her while showing an exhausted look. "You girls are way too fast for me..." he groaned, unable to handle how rapid their growth was. Once she settled down enough, Goodra finally held him out a second time, sniffling before being able to see him again made her start tearing up once more. "Hi, er, Goodra...?" he waved, getting a quivering and drawn out "Goo--oo" noise from her in response. "...We're doing it again, aren't w--oof!" he tried to say, only to find himself against her as she clung to him. Letting out nervous whimpers, Sera approached with her ears sulked, only for Chris to wave and assure her he was alright. "It was just a surprise is all... No harm done!" he smiled. "M-Maybe a little headache later, but..." he laughed nervously while dangling in Goodra's embrace. "Compared to her you look like a toy." Zorua grinned. "I'll remember that." Chris scowled, making her snicker.
"Well, being honest, it's nice you survived." she assured. "Thanks." he replied. "Hey, uh... Goodra?" he called, patting her arm, only to get an "Uh uh!" type of noise as she shook her head, pulling him in all the more making Chris sigh. "...I just wanted to say, congrats on evolving again." he smiled, surrendering to her neediness as she held him out, showing a smile from being able to see him only for her lips to quiver before pulling him back in as she swung him to and fro in her embrace, further emphasizing his toy-like appearance. Looking at one another, the girls weren't sure how they felt about the clingy behavior, especially given Goodra's size and her newfound strength that came with it which had already put Chris's smaller frame at risk. Approaching her itself, Midna looked up at Goodra before showing a grin and attempting to leap onto her, wanting to perch on her head only to lose its grasp and slip about. Growing frustrated, it climbed a nearby tree and attempted to jump atop Goodra's head, cackling in victory only to slip in a banana-esque manner once it landed and fall to the ground, making Goodra pause and look up curiously. Blinking in surprise, Midna grit its teeth in frustration, standing and waving its fist at the Pokemon while cackling in fury from being denied its fun. Hearing this, Goodra looked down and noticed its now tiny appearance compared to her. With a wide smile, she held Chris in one arm and attempted to reach down and pick up the imp, only for her looming presence to cast a shadow on the creature and turn it from raving to fearful, its eyes widening like an ant before a falling mountain. Rapidly shaking its head, Midna waved its hands in objection before racing off, hiding in the nearby brush for safety.
"Y-You scared it..." Chris muttered in shock. "Nothing's ever..." he added as Goodra blinked in confusion, having wanted only to cuddle the creature before returning her focus to Chris and giving him another squeeze instead, making his cheeks bulge as she giggled happily. "I-I'm happy for you, like I said... But... Easy on the grip..." he struggled. "I have a feeling you're going to be stuck like that for a while..." Zorua point out, Brionne sweating slightly while Sera and Valora showed looks of, not so much annoyance, but perhaps jealousy over the way Goodra was helping herself to Chris, once again swaying him to and fro as she cuddled him. "Well... She hasn't been able to see for a long while... You can't blame her for the excitement." he smiled nervously. "It's something we've all kinda been waiting for, her most of all... We'll let her have her moment, kay'?" he asked, Sera and Valora looking at one another before glancing away with their own cheeks slightly puffed in agitation. "I had another friend who was blind once... I understand how important it is, how she feels having her sight, so just be patient." he coaxed with a smile, Brionne remembering what he'd revealed to her and showing a small smile as well.. Holding him out yet again, Goodra looked at Chris and gave him an endearing look, making him pause and go silent. Pulling him back, this time however it was done slowly, making him blink with an "uhh..." before the Pokemon gave him a kiss on the cheek, his eyes shooting open while Sera and Valora showed the same look, their jaws dropping while Zorua's curiosity peaked. "Hello..." she muttered while Brionne glanced away, clearing her throat while trying not to gawk like the others.
Pulling him back, Goodra smiled lovingly at Chris as he showed the lightest blush, another "uhh..." escaping his lips as he tried to process the act himself. Nodding at him, she let out several noises which made Zorua's ears twitch. "She says thank you for taking care of her. Apparently that's her gesture as a reward." she translated. "N-No problem." Chris smiled, slight sweat showing with his hand raised, suddenly having a jolt run through him as he thought of how the girls would have reacted to the scene, suddenly feeling glad Serenity in particular wasn't anywhere near as he let out a nervous laugh. "I'm flattered, but..." he began, only to be cut off when Sera began furiously barking, Valora joining in and shouting at the affectionate Goodra before them. Hearing this, she was finally snapped back into awareness of her surroundings and looked at the two, puzzled by their behavior as she blinked at the two. Walking up to her, they continued their rants for what she'd done in front of them, making Zorua all the more intrigued while Brionne watched in shock from such envy revolving a human. Letting out nervous sounds, Goodra tried to respond, only to inch back as the two intimidated her. "H-Hey now! Easy!" Chris tried to coax, attempting to diffuse the hostility between them, only to pause when he heard Goodra letting out scared and hurt noises. Looking at her, she was beginning to tear up as she stepped further back from the two, finally slowly setting Chris down before, despite her massive size comparison, meekly trying to curl and hide behind him, her tears beginning to stream while letting out quivering noises of fear. "H-Hey now..." he tried to coax, only to hear Sera growling in front of him while Valora maintained an agitated look.
Looking at the two, he then focused on the way Goodra was lowering her head submissively behind him, making Chris show a sudden look of agitation before putting his foot down, giving a sharp "Enough!" order, catching the two off guard from his stance and tone. Looking up at his face, Sera's aura turned wary as she lowered her ears and inched back, giving a quiet whimper from having his stern side legitimately directed at her for the first time while Valora glanced away and fidget guiltily. "We're not raising your heads just so you can put down others... When it comes to our friends especially." he lectured, making the two look at Goodra who continued trembling with tears in her eyes as she remained curled and lowered behind him. "You girls have made me proud of you and I've praised you for it, don't make me regret that." he added, both letting out quiet noises in apology. "She just evolved, she's excited... You should know just how she feels most of all Valora, so it's not me you should be apologizing to. It's like I said, she's been blind on top of everything... How would you feel if you couldn't see anything, then out of nowhere you got your vision back?" he asked, looking at the two. "Well?" he pushed, stepping aside making Goodra jolt as she was left exposed. Now sulking themselves, both approached the timid Pokemon before them and apologized once more while Chris let out a sigh, looking around before spotting his staff nearby, having flung it away when he was flattened. Picking it up, he looked it over before setting it against the tree where his belongings were before turning back to the others, watching as Goodra raised while Sera and Valora maintained their guilty expressions.
"Alright, lets move on then." he instructed, approaching as he took a tissue out of his pocket. "No more sad faces or anything like that. We'll let this one go and start fresh again, deal?" he asked, getting a nod from the two while he reached up and wiped Goodra's eyes for her, the Pokemon lowering for easier reach. "There we go... That's a good girl." he smiled as she sniffled with a nod, giving another meek sound in thanks. However, as he wiped and pat along her eyes, Chris began noticing it wasn't tears alone he was collecting. Pulling the tissue away, he gave it a curious look, making the group look at him while Goodra tilt her head. "Ah... Sorry... It's just..." he muttered before rubbing his thumb along the fabric. "...Not tears?" he added, looking up at Goodra before focusing on her form. Now noticing a slight glisten to it, however subtle it was, he'd thought it was merely the rain that had landed on her, dampening her body in the process, but as he reached out, asking "You mind?" in the process, he felt her skin and rubbed along it, tucking the tissue in his pocket before examining around her curiously. From her stomach to her back, even along her tail, his behavior intrigued the girls all the more while Goodra blushed, reacting in various ways depending on where he touched, biting her lip and letting out quiet sounds before tearing up and trembling when he examined her thighs, a somewhat foggy look beginning to show in her expression as he finally pulled away, her tense stance slowly relaxing as she gave a timid coo of sorts. "What's that all about?" Zorua asked, both she and Brionne approaching alongside the others. "Its her body..." he replied, looking at his hands and rubbing his fingers together.
"It's not much... Probably not like others... But..." he muttered before looking up at the dazed Pokemon before him. Though in his mind he merely examined her after making a discovery, to Goodra she'd just been felt up from head to toe by a male she had a particular liking for, leaving the Pokemon with a quickened pulse. "Take a look at this!" he suddenly spoke, holding his hands out making Goodra tense a second time, biting her lip anticipating being felt again only for Chris to stand puzzled, blinking with an "eh?" from her response. "You okay?" he asked, making her let out an "eh?" noise of her own before opening an eye, looking down at him as she opened the other. "Look, see?" he repeat, holding his hands up letting her see the slickness covering them. "This isn't from the rain, you're producing your own coat now!" he grinned, Goodra looking at his hands curiously before her eyes slowly widened. "That's right! You were kinda making a little in your last form, but now it's just the way it should be! At least, for the most part." he chuckled as she looked down at herself and raised her own arms, sliding her hands along them before feeling her stomach. "Now that I think about it..." Chris muttered, looking himself over as he realized his cloak was covered as well. "...Ah well, small price to pay, it'll clean easy enough." he chuckled before looking up at Goodra again. "Guess you really won't be needing medicine now... Good for you." Chris nodded. Pausing when she heard this, Goodra turned her attention to him for a moment, causing him to let out a curious "mm?" as he gave a smile. Thinking back on all the care he'd given her as a Goomy, then all the attention and treats she got as a Sliggoo, she found herself tearing up once more, her lips quivering the same as before.
"U-Uhh..." Chris replied warily, the girls looking at one another while Zorua sighed. "So that's the type she's become..." she point out. "Wadaya mean?" Chris asked, looking at her before Goodra called out in a pitiful tone, drawing his attention as she held her arms back out, wanting another hug. "A-Again?" Chris sweat, Valora scratching her cheek while Sera sulked slightly. Despite this, neither showed further objection after his lecture on the matter, with Sera in particular wanting to stay in his good grace more than any as he gave an "alright" response, letting the hefty Pokemon pull him back up in her arms and cuddle him. "I've always heard your kind were huggers." he chuckled. Though she did produce a slime of sorts now, it wasn't an amount, nor' a texture that was particularly troublesome, as unlike others of her kind, the coating on her was less sticky and more akin to a watery aloe of sorts, with the amount being enough to make one slick, but not necessarily messy to any degree that couldn't simply dry. This further helped in Chris's willingness to let the needy Pokemon have her attention, and as she thought back more on his affection toward her, from constant massages to sweets like the recent cake, she found herself tightening her hold on him subconsciously, making Chris pat her arm with an "easy there" reminder which saved him from another crushing scenario as she loosened her grasp with an apologetic sound, smiling at him nervously in a way to say she didn't know her strength. Eventually, the group finally continued onward with the rain having ceased, though this time in a slightly... Different manner than the way they'd traveled previously, as while the girls went on as usual, Brionne in his rucksack and Midna having perched on Sera's head...
As far as Chris himself, he was letting Goodra carry him, dangling him from her arms like a child holding a puppy as she waddled along. With shyness and humiliation combined in his expression, he muttered something about why he could never say no after having surrendered to her clingy behavior. On her back, in Chris's place she carried his rucksack as well, the straps adjusted to their brink as it stretched to fit her. This left Brionne in a difficult situation of her own, unsure of how she felt having another Pokemon carrying her in such a way, though in turn this also made her ponder about why Chris carrying her didn't cause the same sensation, leaving her both, incapable and unwilling to object, nor' complain since either way, it saved her from having to drag and hop along the ground. "You know... Following you becomes more worth it every day..." Zorua teased with a sly grin, looking up at Chris in his submissive, teddy-bear state. "Shut up.." he grumbled, a slight blush showing. "I think I'll remember this for a long time." she added. "You want dinner?" Chris warned, scowling at the pint-sized teaser. "Hey, at least you're interesting, more than I can say about most." she praised, though Chris wasn't sure how he should take the comment under this particular circumstance. Following by Goodra's sides as well, Sera and Valora were having a difficult time of their own coming to terms with Chris being lugged about in such a manner, with both trying to maintain their perceptions of him while watching the man they'd idolized submitting himself to such treatment, dangled like little more than a toy as Goodra looked around awe-stricken by all of their colorful surroundings, swooning in the excitement from her restored vision.
"A-Aren't you tired of this yet?" Chris asked with a nervous smile, only to get a "Nuh-uh!" type of noise from Goodra as she cuddled him all the more, rubbing her cheek on his head making him groan, sweat showing while responding with an "alright" as she waddled on, giggling and humming merrily along her way with a spring in her step. It wasn't long after this that the group finally reached their destination, with Brionne calling out and insisting they stop in her own manner as they stood in an area surrounded by mounds of soil and stone alike. "This is it?" Zorua asked, sitting and looking around while Sera and Valora let out curious noises, examining the area as well. "D-Down now please." Chris coaxed, getting a disappointed "aww..." type of response from Goomy as she set him down with a lonely look. "Geez... Don't give me that, you've carried me long enough haven't you?" he smiled nervously, trying to make a plan out in his mind of how he was going to manage her newfound character and mannerisms. Taking his belongings from her, he set the rucksack down, letting Brionne climb out before stretching with a sigh of relief. "So uh... Looking for something in particular?" he asked, scanning their surroundings the same as the others. Nodding in response, Brionne point her flipper in the direction ahead of them while Goodra spotted something herself in the same area. "Okay... Well, let's...!!" Chris spoke, only to be cut off when he was held by Goodra again. "H-Hey now! I said...!!" he tried to respond, only to pause when he realized he was being lift not with her arms, but her antennae this time as she raised him high above them in the air, making him blink in surprise. "O-Oh..." he muttered before spotting something as well.
Just ahead of them, something could be seen wafting into the air above the mounds, making Chris let out a "huh" before patting her antennae, making Goodra lower him back to the ground before she giggled and swayed in an "I'm helpful!" manner. "Th-Thanks for that." Chris smiled, offering a rub on her head making the Pokemon sigh while Sera twitched a furious eye from another Pokemon stealing his pats, letting out the quietest growl she could. "Looks like there's somethin' just over the next mound or two, lets check it out!" Chris smirked, motioning for the group to follow as he took his belongings and led them along. "Now... What are you trying to...?" he muttered, eager to finally see what Brionne's insistence was all about. Turning the final mound before their destination, the group stopped to find a natural hot spring before them, making Chris's eyes widen. "S-Seriously...?" he asked, looking at Brionne making her blink at him with a "what?" type of noise. "You could sense this all the way from where we were? You know how long it took to reach this place?" he asked, making her smile and sweat slightly. "I-I'm not complaining though! This was worth the trip! It's just... You could pinpoint this...?" he added, looking back at the spring. "Something like this isn't even marked on my map..." he muttered before taking his device out and scowling at it. "Been a while since I've seen one of these." Zorua point out, limping up beside him. "Eh? You know about these places?" Chris asked. "My old man was a traveler, I told you he was an Absol, where he went, I went for some time. I've been to a few springs like this while lurking here and there." she shrugged. "Well, we know where we're camping tonight then!" Chris grinned.
Approaching curiously, the spring was surrounded by rocks, with streams of water trickling down from the rocky mound before them. "Guess this place is so hilly because it's active..." Chris thought, looking around while Sera sniffed at the steam rising from the water, lowering her head as she reached her paw out and pat at its surface, jerking it back from the heat before slowly trying to place it in the water, a shudder running through her before letting out a sigh and smiling with a blush on her face. "Hey now!" Chris lectured, making her jump. "We'll all enjoy it soon enough. I love ya kiddo but you're not gonna take a dip before this guy!" he grinned, instructing her to return as he decided on a place for his belongings. Pouting her lips with her cheeks puffed, she made a noise as if to grumble "No fair Papa..." before approaching as told, frustrated from being made to wait yet obeying just the same. Working to set up camp, Valora helped by keeping stakes in place for Chris to hammer into the ground, securing their tent while Sera struggled to unfasten the sleeping bag tied to his rucksack, finally managing to do so making it roll off. Using her head, she pushed it along toward the tent, with Chris spotting her and smirking from her efforts. "That's a good girl." he praised, making her pause and raise her head from behind the bag, barking in response with her tail wagging. Pushing it once more, she took it inside the tent as he finished hammering the final stake, wiping his forehead before rubbing the top of Valora's head with a "thanks!" for her help, the Pokemon smiling with an "mm!" in response, nodding happily. Seeing all the praise the two were getting, Goodra looked at Chris's rucksack and got an idea of her own for how to help.
Picking it up, she carried it to him, holding it out with a warm call making him turn, only to see his belongings right in front of his face making him jolt in surprise. "U-Uhh... Thanks?" he smiled, slight sweat showing as she smiled in turn. Instructing her to put it in the tent, she nodded and attempted to go inside while Chris's back was turned, having put little thought into her size compared to their sleeping quarters. Within the tent itself, Sera was finishing up laying out the sleeping bag, nudging it about before turning to see Goodra looming in, making her eyes widen. Smiling again with a "Hello!" type of noise, as her hips neared the entrance she found herself blocked due to her size, making the Pokemon pause with an "eh?" and look back. "So... I'm thinking about cooking some kabobs tonight. Fry up some vegetables, sprinkle the right seasoning, maybe a little sauce slapped on em'... You girls haven't tried that before, have ya'?" Chris asked, getting heads shook in response. "What is that exactly?" Zorua asked. "They're basically..." he replied, pausing as he reached for his device again, only to hear the tent behind him struggling. Turning back, all he saw was Goodra's rear sticking out massively from the strained tent, the stakes at their limit as she tried to push further in, resulting in her rump swaying and bouncing about as she tried to shift herself and fit making Chris flush. "...Shit..." he muttered from the sight. Gawking briefly from the jiggling show before him, he quickly corrected himself when Valora puffed out her cheeks in agitation and gave him a push, snapping in a lecturing manner from the way he was acting. "S-Sorry!!" he panicked. "There something about you we don't know?" Zorua asked with a sly grin.
"Sh-Shut up!" Chris insisted while Brionne recalled his revelation and glanced away with a blush from his interest in Pokemon, further proving his words were true in her mind as she kept what he'd told her about his family a secret. Suddenly hearing a loud ripping, the group paused and focused on the tent, with Valora going silent in mid-lecture while watching as Goodra gave herself one final push before the tent split, several stakes yanking from the ground in the process as she sprang up and froze wide eyed, the two halves of the tent falling from her back and partially dangling from her tail. Looking up at her, Sera gave a "seriously...?" kind of look, scowling at the destructive woman before her. "Err..." Chris muttered. "There goes that." Zorua sighed. Finally looking down, Goodra realized the damage she'd caused and began tearing up again, her lips returning to their quivering state before sitting with a thud and beginning to sob out of shame and embarrassment alike. Twitching her ears, Zorua slumped with an "ugh" from the Pokemon's whining. "She says what good is seeing again if she's too fat to do anything..." Zorua revealed, making Chris turn to her before focusing on Goodra again. "Well... She is a big girl now..." he admit. "Her species is kind of a tank when it comes to fighting and stuff but... Makes you think of the costs in cases like this... The struggle is real." he point out with a nervous laugh. Reaching back, Goodra took part of the tent in her hands, looking at it in a pouty manner before sobbing again. "Oy oy, enough of that." Chris coaxed, approaching the miserable girl and placing his hand on her, making her look at him in a guilty manner. "Come on now, it's not that bad." he assured with a smile.
"It's nothing I can't fix! And tell you what, how about the next town we see, I buy us a new tent that's perfect for you too?" he offered, giving a warm grin making her sniffle and let out another sulky noise. "I'll admit, you're a big girl now... But that isn't a bad thing! If anything else, it just means there's more about you to love!" he assured. "I don't think that was the best analogy to use with her..." Zorua warned. "Wadaya mean?" Chris asked, looking back at her while Goodra looked down at him wide eyed, a blush on her face as she let out a quiet sound as if to ask "love?" while he was distracted. With a smile spreading from ear to ear, Goodra suddenly reached out and pulled Chris up in her arms, cuddling him excitedly as she let out touched noises, her eyes teary out of joy rather than depression from his remark. Grunting from the tightness, he wheezed for her to calm down while reminding her of her strength as she rubbed her cheek affectionately on his head. Below them, Sera was looking around at the remains of their tent before sitting with a frustrated plop of her own, scowling in displeasure from Goodra being pampered despite doing something bad, leaving her with a twinge of jealousy for the way Chris was looking past the incident. "S-So no more crying, right?" he asked, Goodra giving him a happy "mm!" in response, nodding as she set him down. Noticing the look on Sera's face, Chris squat down and gave her a pet. "I know it doesn't seem fair, but you can't punish somebody for an accident... She couldn't help what happened, and I'd be the same way with you if you had some kinda accident. It's only fair... If we get mad at her for things like this, it would be like saying we hate who she is now... Does that sound right to you?" he asked, making her eyes widen.
Quickly shaking her head in response, Chris praised her with a "good girl" remark, ruffling her head before standing making her return to her chipper state, tail wagging with a smile of her own showing. "And that goes for everyone... I don't want anyone getting upset toward another because of who or what they are. Things happen that we just can't help, that's life. What matters is accepting things and people as they are and moving on, end of story." he affirmed, his words making Zorua raise an eyebrow while Brionne nodded. "By this point, nobody should understand that more than the lot of you, right?" he asked. "You preach too much." Zorua point out. "Not the first time I've heard that." Chris smirked before looking around, finding his rucksack by their now exposed sleeping bag. "Alright... Tell ya what, you can help me with this!" he instructed, taking out a small case and having Goodra hold it. Opening it, inside were various sewing supplies, allowing him to begin work on patching their tent back together as she remained sitting by his side. Approaching him, the girls watched curiously as he revealed his talents, glancing at them and showing a smirk as he worked. "An--nd... Done!" he finally spoke, setting his supplies back in their case before showing off their tent. "It's not permanent, but it'll do until we reach the next town." he grinned, the girls letting out "oo--oh" sounds while Valora clapped in surprise, the only exception being Zorua who nodded with a "not bad" response. "Thanks for holding the case!" Chris added, getting a gleeful sound from Goodra in response from being helpful to him. Once the tent was set back in place, he looked it over once more before setting a place up for cooking, Valora helping with setting stones in a circle.
Noticing when Chris was foraging for fallen wood to use for a fire, Goodra looked at some nearby fallen wood as well and decided to help once more, and as Chris squat and set the wood he'd gathered in place, the mighty Pokemon called out behind him, making Chris turn before shouting in a panic and falling back as he saw the large trunk of a fallen tree looming over him. "Th-That's a LOT of wood..." he muttered, his nerves calming as he stood and looked it over. "I... Appreciate the thought, but I don't think we need that much." he smiled with slight sweat on his face, his response making Goodra sulk with an "aw..." type of noise. "Well..." Chris paused, looking around. "We don't really have a place to sit here... We could use it as a bench I guess!" he suggested, putty a smile back on Goodra's face as he had her lay it by where the fire would be. Looking it over, he took a seat with a relaxed sigh, making Goodra tilt her head before joining at his side. Seeing this, Valora showed a look of displeasure on her face, the boldness of her now hulking companion putting an inferior sting in her heart. Not wanting to be outdone, she approached Chris as well and sat on his opposite side, waving at him with a "Hiya!" type of noise before sitting straight in a proud manner. "Well hello to you too." Chris chuckled, rubbing her on the head. In doing so, this brought back her shyness as her head shrank between her shoulders, a reddened look on her face while Sera walked up in front of him, looking at the two girls before letting out a lonely whine, her ears miserably pulled back. Seeing this, Chris couldn't resist a "C'mere you" response, lifting her and laying her on his lap before giving her a loving pet.
Sighing in satisfaction, she glanced at Valora and gave her a smug grin of sorts, an expression that said all too well "I win" as she took the best spot, the Pokemon blinking in surprise before scowling at the small fox in an "Excuse me...?" manner, her hands on her hips. Putting her nose up, Sera let out a "hmph!" type of noise before barking happily at Chris, giving him a smile causing him to scratch under her chin, making her swoon. Agitated over this, Valora leaned against Chris's side in a (plop) type of manner, drawing his attention as he blinked at her with an "eh?" before placing his arm around her, holding her against him making the Pokemon smile. This in turn made Sera the one with a scowl on her face. Watching from nearby, Brionne tilt her head, still coming to terms with the behavior between them while Zorua smirked silently. "Too bad the old man didn't meet him." she suddenly spoke, making Brionne jolt before looking at her. "Nothing, you like him too?" Zorua asked, glancing at her. Returning her focus to him, Brionne remained silent before looking down in thought. "You've been with us for a bit now... What's holding you back? No offense, but you don't strike me as the solitary type. Take it from someone who is." she point out, making Brionne mutter uncomfortably in response. "So what?" Zorua asked. "We're all different here. I'm missing an arm, we have a giant crybaby now, he's a human who's the adoptive father of a spoiled fox, we have a wuss of a berry suddenly acting tough, and... Whatever that Midna thing he carries around is. In your case, you just have a few extra bells and whistles, big deal, you fit in fine." she waved reassuringly, Brionne looking at her in surprise from such a casual way of putting her condition.
"What? I just don't care is all." Zorua shrugged. "Anyone who knows how to mind their own business would be the same. Have any of them, especially that guy treated you badly or any different than they treat one another since you were stuck with us?" she asked, making Brionne look at the group again. "Even when he was rough on you at first, all he wanted to do was save your life, help you out and all... Go on, being honest, you're just taking up my space over here." Zorua smirked, making the Pokemon look at her before showing a small smile and nodding. Looking at Chris's back, she took a breath before making her way along, circling the log they'd gathered on before Chris spotted her. "Well, hello to you too." he smiled warmly, making her look up at him and nod as her own small smile remained. "I gotta say, I really owe you one for bringing us here... Next town we're in, I'm gonna get you something special! You name it, and it's yours! My treat!" he offered with a grin while the others looked at her and smiled as well, letting out sounds of their own thanks making Brionne look away shyly and nod. After relaxing for a moment, Chris finally began putting their meal together, and as time ticked away and the sun went into its setting phase, he served the girls his own signature kabobs, the spices a mixture of mildly spicy and slightly sweet to keep the flavor balanced with a subtle coating of barbeque that had their eyes lighting up. Given both Sera and Brionne weren't exactly the best at holding them, Chris patiently plucked the contents from their sticks and fed the two himself, albeit with some hesitation from Brionne out of her own inexperience still with someone genuinely wanting to bond with her, leaving some resistance seated deep within.
Nonetheless, progress was progress, and Chris enjoyed every moment as he offered her a bite of potato with a genuine smile that had her blushing slightly. Noticing this, he gave an "you sure are cute" remark, catching her off guard and making her choke in the middle of swallowing, her eyes shooting open making him panic and pat her back. Finally managing to swallow, the Pokemon waved him away and quickly turned, catching her breath with a deeper redness to her face, both from his remark and from embarrassing herself by choking because of his words in front of everyone. Letting out a muffled, yet concerned noise from her cheeks being stuffed, Goodra wondered if she was okay while holding several kabob's in each hand, making Brionne show a smile and slight sweat, giving an assuring noise in response. Nearby, eating on her own terms, Zorua munched on the various vegetables he'd picked off several sticks and placed on a small plate for her, thinking back on when he'd made her choke in a similar way while thinking "he has bad habits..." to herself. By the time everyone was finished, they were all sighing and rubbing their stomachs in satisfaction, with Goodra and Valora sitting against the log they'd sat on while Sera and Brionne lay on their backs, the former letting out a small burp in turn causing a tiny flame to waft from her mouth, quickly covering it with a "s'cuse me" type of noise with an embarrassed look of her own. "Hey, that's a compliment!" Chris grinned, making her groan and glance away. "Heh... Don't worry about it." he waved. "So... Everyone full?" he asked, getting a wave from everyone while Zorua merely yawned. Rubbing her stomach, Goodra has an impressive pile of sticks by her side as she seemingly glowed from having a full belly.
"Well then, my turn!" he chuckled, making the girls jolt wide eyed as they raised and watched him begin serving himself. Realizing he'd been feeding them the entire time, particularly Sera and Brionne, twinges of guilt ran through them as the group sulked while Zorua merely sighed and relaxed, caring that she was full more-so than who ate first given her eat-or-be-eaten type of nature. Nearby Midna was the same, still keeping its distance from Goodra as it picked its teeth with part of a stick from one of its kabobs while perched on a branch. Once his plate was ready, Chris sat with an eager look on his face, about to take a bite only to notice the girls and pause. "Err... What?" he asked, blinking at them. "You... Want more?" he asked, holding it out. With this act making them flash back to when he'd given up his food to the pups and went hungry, this made Sera and Valora panic and start shouting at him, making Chris jolt in surprise, Goodra and Brionne looking at the two before looking at him and making insistent noises of their own. "They're telling you that you need to eat too." Zorua explained. "I-I am eating!" Chris assured. "Not like that... They mean you should've already been eating. Seems they don't like you eating after them like that." she clarified. "I-I don't mind! I like making sure everyone's full!" he assured, only for Brionne to sigh in an "honestly..." manner while Goodra let out a concerned noise, Sera and Valora looking up at him with eyes full of worry. "O-Okay, okay... Stop with that." Chris smiled nervously, sweat showing as they pushed him to eat. Finally taking a bite, Sera and Valora sighed before looking at one another and facing Chris, realizing they had to take care of him while Goodra and Brionne showed the same look in their own ways.
Looking at her pile of sticks that were once full of all the food he'd made for her in particular, Goodra found herself touched even more-so than the others given how much patience he had to make so much for her before he even had a bite. Once he was done eating and set his plate aside in satisfaction, Goodra approached from behind and tapped his shoulder, making him look back before she gave him another hug, this time bending over to do so instead of pulling him in the air. Pausing wide eyed, he let out an "eh?" from her embrace until she finally let him go and stepped back with a smile. Letting out a noise, Zorua point out she was saying "thank you" making Goodra nod. "No... Problem?" Chris replied, unsure of exactly what the added thanks was for yet smiling back at her nonetheless. With Goodra speaking once more, Zorua translated and explained she thought he was a good person, making Chris smirk. "Eh, not perfect, but I try." he chuckled before standing with a stretch. "Alright... We'll give the grub a chance to settle, then how about we try out that spring?" he asked, getting nods from everyone as he made his way into their tent, eventually returning in his robe he'd gotten on his previous journey. "Man... Hardly ever wear this..." he muttered, looking over how new it still seemed. Looking at him curiously, the girls rarely saw him in anything different than his usual attire, watching as he returned with a smirk. "Pretty nice, eh? I got it way up north when I stopped by another hot spring at the time, that one was way up in the mountains." he explained. "Way up north?" Zorua asked. "Yeah, already been across the ocean once. It was an... Interesting ride..." he replied, thinking back on his last trip on a ship.
"I've done my fair share of traveling." he added with a shrug as he sat on the log and shift the cinders of their fire, adding a few more branches while he relaxed until the time came for a dip. Heading to the spring, he squat and sank his hand in first, moving it about before standing with a nod. "Alright, you girls ready?" he asked, motioning for them to come over. As they neared, they were caught off guard when they heard the sound of Chris shifting his sash, suddenly beginning to strip his robe off making their eyes widen and a collective redness appear on their faces as he set his robe on a nearby boulder, standing in shorts alone and showing off his scarred figure as a result. "Alright... Lets..." he began, pausing when he noticed their stares making him smile in a somber manner and slightly turn, rubbing his arm warily. "I-I know... Mind not staring too much?" he asked, making them realize his expression and panic. "It's okay... It's hard not to notice." he replied. "Just not used to being looked at so strongly by a group like that." he added, scratching his cheek shyly before making his way into the spring, taking his time as he began walking about to test the various depths. "Oh yeah, this is just fine. Come on in!" he motioned. Beginning to step in as well Sera and Valora took their time before gradually sitting against the edge, bliss in their expressions as they sighed and relaxed. Standing atop the boulder Chris had sat his robe on, Brionne took a breath before making a leap and diving into the spring, popping up with a sigh of her own. "Boy, you can adjust that quick?" Chris asked in surprise, getting an "mm!" and a nod. "Well, nice dive then!" he grinned, offering a thumbs up before taking a seat himself.
"Yo! Come join us for a bit Zorua!" he called out with a wave. "I'm fine thank you!" she replied, content with resting at the spot she'd chosen. "Oh come on, just for a little bit can't help. Besides, you could use it..." Chris teased, showing his own sly grin making the Pokemon scowl. "...Excuse me...?" she asked, her ears pulled back. "Hey, if that's the type you are, then whatever... Is that why you keep a distance?" Chris quipped, making the Pokemon twitch an eye before sighing and limping her way over, rolling her eyes in the process. "Ah, see? I knew you'd come around." Chris chuckled, getting a "Don't push it..." response. As she neared the spring however, the ground suddenly began to rumble, making her pause with a "What the...?" as she looked down before finding herself passed by Goodra, the eager Pokemon racing up to the spring. With their eyes widening, Chris and the girls panicked as she raced up, and next thing they knew she made a leap through the air before crashing down in the center of the spring, sending the water, along with those around her flying in different directions. While Chris was pushed toward the side, Sera found herself splashing down on one of the surrounding boulders while Valora and Brionne landed in the nearby grass, the former landing face down while the later rolled slightly upon her landing. Even Zorua was caught up in the surprise as a wave of the water splashed down on her, leaving her standing with her fur drenched like a ragged mop of sorts and eyes widened. In the center of the spring, Goodra raised her arms with a "That was fun!" kind of shout, giggling merrily before looking around, finding her companions missing save for Chris who was showing a nervous smile.
"Y-Yep... Big girl..." he laughed while the others raised with a groan. Having noticed Zorua as well, Chris gave an "sorry about that" apology, only to get a dagger-like glare from the Pokemon before she turned and limped off, dripping all over the ground as she randomly shook her hind legs like a drenched feline. Letting out an "are you okay?" noise as she looked at everyone, Goodra showed concern and guilt alike as Valora and Brionne made their way back, the later trying to shake water out of her ear along the way while Sera stood on the boulder she'd landed on and rapidly shook her body, sending water flying around her. With a saddened look on her face, Goodra gave an apologetic noise as Valora and Sera scowled at her, with Chris reminding them to be easy with her as she was still coming to terms with her new body. Having merely wanted to have fun in the way Brionne did when she dived in, Goodra fell back into a sulky state from her size causing trouble again, slumping where she sat while looking down shamefully. "I-It's okay, no harm done! Right everyone?" Chris asked, making Sera and Valora sigh to compose themselves before showing a smile and nodding, with Brionne having already returned to the water with another sigh of her own relief. "There, you see? Everyone's good!" Chris assured as Sera and Valora returned to the water as well. Nodding in response, Goodra then looked toward Zorua who sat in a slumped manner, a scowl remaining on her face as she shuddered and let out a sudden sneeze. "Oop... Better take care of that..." Chris muttered. About to get out, instead Goodra went past him and made her way back to the tent, carefully pushing her upper half in before pulling back with Chris's rucksack and rummaging.
Taking out a towel, Goodra made her way toward Zorua while the group watched, with Chris looking surprised in particular. "Would ya' look at that..." he spoke quietly as she made her way up to the hardened loner. Noticing her from the corner of her eye, Zorua snapped with a "What now?!" remark, only to pause when Goodra jolt back before nervously holding out the towel with trembling arms and a teary look on her face, letting out a guilty noise in apology. "Seriously....? All that mass and you're acting like that...?" Zorua groaned, frustrated over someone with such potential power acting so submissive. Nonetheless, glancing back at her miserable appearance and trembling figure, Zorua sighed and softened herself ever so slightly, muttering "fine" before adding "Just put it down" in response to Goodra's gesture, making her nod before doing as told. Stepping back, she rubbed her hands together nervously, letting out another apologetic noise. "Forget it... Get back in the spring." Zorua ordered before biting the towel and tossing it on herself. Nodding in response, Goodra began sulking her way along, making Zorua glance at her from beneath the towel and offer "thanks" as well, making her pause and look back before showing a smile and nodding. "Aww... She was nice to her..." Chris chuckled as Goodra returned and joined them. "That was a nice thing you did. It was brave too!" he praised, offering to rub her head making her swoon from the doting reward. "Being serious, you alright Zorua?" he called out as she lay under the towel. "I'll be fine no thanks to you! Don't push me again!" she insisted, having been choked, and now drenched in an unintended manner because of his coaxing behavior.
"Yeah... I guess I should leave you be for a while. My bad." Chris apologized, realizing the result of his pushing himself. "Get closer to the fire, it'll help too." he added, only for Zorua to lay with her back to him. "Can't win all your battles I guess..." he muttered before looking at the others and showing a smirk. "Well... Lets enjoy, shall we?" he asked, getting a nod from everyone as they relaxed. Glancing at them while they were distracted, Zorua made her way up to the fire and lay before showing a small smirk, watching as the group enjoyed themselves before resting her head and watching the embers, only to let out a second sneeze and growl...
