Looking around the room, Chris and Servines jaws dropped at the chaos before them, Gardevoir facing different directions wide eyed and bewildered from all the commotion. "Oh geez... Uh... Ahh..." Chris muttered, looking around trying to figure out what to do first as the machines controlling the incubation chamber blared and shot records all over the nursery, the few nurses on duty scrambling to pick up the sheets while the others remaining tried containing the wild toddler Pokemon darting all over the place with various sheets in their clutches. "Hurry and gather the notes!! We've got to keep up with the system!!" one of the nurses shout as a light in the incubation chamber flashed red constantly. Continuing to look around nervously, Chris finally took a deep breath and wheeled further into the room. "Um... Hello...? Excuse me? Hi there I... Err... Yo! Ahh..." he stuttered, trying to get the attention of the nurses who constantly zipped past him. After a moment, Servine suddenly shot out her vines and ensnared one of the nurses, yanking her towards them causing the nurse to stumble and sit in front of the group. "H... Hey!! We've no time for...!!" she paused, looking up at Chris and blinking in shock. "D... Doctor!! It's a doctor!!" she shout, the other nurses suddenly freezing and looking in their direction. "Doctor!! The incubation chamber!!" one of the nurses shout. "Please doctor!! The infants!!" another shout, the remaining staff rushing up to him for help. "Wa wa wa... Wait a sec!! V... Volunteer!! I'm a volunteer!!" he shout in panic, waving his hands nervously causing the staff to groan before rushing back to their tasks. "G... Geez... What a welcome..." he muttered, shouting as a Chimchar jumped on his head, blowing a raspberry before jumping off and running away. "Oh man... No wonder the alarm was going crazy in the lobby..." he grumbled, looking around as the nurse ensnared by Servine cleared her throat. "S... Sorry!! I just need an explanation or... Something..." he laughed nervously, having Servine release the nurse as she stood and pat herself off.
"I'm afraid we need more than just a small group of volunteers... With such few staff remaining you won't do us much good..." she replied, suddenly reaching towards a Machop as it ran by with one of the records only to rip the sheet in half, one part in her hand and the other still with the Machop as it shoved the other half in its mouth and taunt the nurse. "Oh dear... When the incubation chamber started malfunctioning we tried repairing the controls manually but we released the infants from their cages in the process... With so many Pokemon loose and only a handful of staff to catch them all, it's nearly impossible... We've contained a few but we've got to repair the chamber simultaneously... We need the others..." she said nervously, holding up her half of the sheet while sweating. "These infants are so susceptible to harm and infection... And if we can't repair the egg chamber soon... Th... There are thousands of eggs inside!!" she panicked, suddenly shouting and running off towards the Pokemon clutching records from the machine. "S... Susceptible...? Eggs? D... Die...?" he replied, raising a finger with an "uuuuhhhh..." expression. "Th... The chamber will shut down soon!! It's too unstable!!" a nurse amongst a trio at the controls shout. "Can't we send them to another center?!" another replied. "Transporters are down!! The damage just keeps spreading!!" a third shout as the controls sparked. "One at a time... One at a time..." Chris muttered, starting to lose himself in thought while clutching his head with a hand. "Okay... Okay... The infants... The chamber... We've got... How many nurses...? Ahh... H... Hold it!!" he shout, suddenly reaching next to him and pulling Gardevoir close, grabbing her wrist and aiming her hand forward. "Psychic! Freeze!! Use it!!" he shout, Gardevoir flushing in surprise from the sudden contact before nodding and releasing a wave of energy from her hand where he aimed it causing a nurse to halt in her steps, her foot inches from landing on a group of Exeggcute as they looked up at the foot blinking in surprise before passing out. "Whooo... Close call..." he groaned, pointing towards the Exeggcute causing the nurse to look down and laugh nervously before stepping back as Gardevoir released her. "Thank you..." he sighed, patting Gardevoir on the arm causing her to smile and poke her fingers. "It nothing! Not know what I did but... It nothing!" she giggled.
"These nurses are as out of control as the Pokemon... You've got chaos clashing with chaos in this place..." he muttered. "Alright... First thing's first... The nurses..." he thought, putting his fingers in his mouth before letting out a loud whistle causing the infant Pokemon to freeze in surprise and cover their ears, the nurses jumping and facing him as the Pokemon recovered from the noise and ran amok once again. "Alright! Uhh... G... Group... Huddle?" he said, motioning for the nurses to gather. Looking at one another nervously, they nodded and quickly gathered. "Alright... So we've got a ton of baby Pokemon going crazy in here and an incubator on the fritz... Now as far as the eggs go, I'm clueless with tech... But the infants are a different story. Think, what gets them under control? What do they find irresistible?" he asked, the nurses thinking it over. "Come on! Maternal instincts! You're nurses, professionals!!" he shout. "M... Music...?" one replied. "Toys...?" another added. "Warm milk...?" a third answered. "Good... Good... All great ideas... But we need the right KIND of music and toys though... We've gotta sooth them, not excite them... Ahh..." he paused, the controls for the nursery suddenly starting to smoke causing the cages to open and close rapidly while the incubators alarm blared all the louder, the infants making loud sounds in response as if it were a game. "C... Crap... Ahh... Just wait... Uhh... I've got it! Gardevoir, you're no professional, but think you could strum up a small tune that would get a bunch of infants attention? You've got that guitar in the limo right?" he asked. "Ahh! Uhh... Not sure if..." she replied nervously, poking her fingers shyly. "Then it's settled. You and Servine, go fetch it while we keep brainstorming... Hop to it!" he said, clapping his hands causing Gardevoir to jolt and nod, running off into a wall causing Chris to hit his face with his hand and groan as Servine snickered and Buneary let out a raspy "ooohhh.." sound while wincing. "WITH Servine... Gardevoir..." he reminded her as she rubbed her face and laughed embarrassed. "R... Right... Can't see... How you forget you blind?" she replied, flushing in humiliation as Servine went up to her and offered a vine. "Come on then... I don't need to call you anything after that..." she snickered once again as Gardevoir faced down with a groan, tugging her bangs down as they left the nursery.
"Oh man... Anyways..." he continued, only for the controls to suddenly blow on one side, the Pokemon jumping in surprise before applauding as if it were a firework show, causing the nurses to panic and try running off again only for Chris to whistle once more. "Alright, alright!! No more cat and mouse mess!!" he shout, the nurses freezing and groaning. "Warm food... Be it milk or whatever else puts these Pokemon to sleep. Three of you go fetch as much as you can... And toys, think soft and plushy. And gather pleeeenty of blankets and pillows! Two of you, go gather what you can." he ordered, the two groups of nurses nodding before running off, looking back and at each other nervously. "There... So that's a few things taken care of already... Why have this job if you buckle under press..." he paused, cut off by the same Chimchar from before jumping on his head and dancing before blowing another raspberry and running off. "Pressure... Anyways..." he grumbled. "Alright... So that should take care of the Pokemon once they get back... Now for the controls..." he paused, wheeling up to the desk as they sparked and continued smoking. On one side the emergency release was flashing, controlling the cage doors while the other side of the panel, the incubation controls, revealed the temperature inside the chamber rapidly rising and falling continuously. "Alright... Uhh... So it's just one of those red wire, blue wire kind of things right...?" he asked the remaining nurse as she stood behind him nervously. "N... Not exactly... It's far more complicated as these controls managed the entire nurs..." she paused, cut off as the lights in the nursery suddenly flashed off before turning on and off repeatedly like strobe lights. "Ooohhh it's getting worse!!" she panicked as the Pokemon started dancing around like it was a club. "Uhh... Okay..." he muttered, looking around and finding the circuit panel, popping it open only to see countless wires and fuses jumbled all over inside the desk. "Uhh... Okay... Lets see..." he said, looking over the labels. "So... That's the cages... The lights... A/C and heat... Incubator... The transporter too... If this thing keeps messing up, is there a change the damage could spread to other controls in the center?" he asked, looking up at the lights as several blew from the rapid flashing sending sparks flying down to the floor, the infants running around like it was raining glitter.
"It's possible... Everything in the center is wired together in some way or another... It's possible the other systems may try to make up for the malfunctions by taking on the work in the nursery as a backup, but that could quickly overload the other systems, and if they go... The whole center could be one big time bomb... Each system is uniquely programmed to take on specific tasks, and if they take on something they were never intended for..." she replied nervously, cut off and jumping as something blew inside the desk sending smoke bellowing from the open circuit box, Buneary quickly covering her face with her fur. "...Well, what if the nursery was shut down? The other systems wouldn't be able to communicate with this one and overload themselves, right?" he asked, quickly shutting the fuse box as sparks started flying out along with the smoke. "W... We can't do that!!" the nurse panicked as Chris looked over the controls. "The only people who say something can't be done are those unwilling to find a way to work around the risks... Let's see..." he muttered, continuing to look over the controls as Gardevoir and Servine finally returned, the nurses quickly following behind as they stopped at the entrance. "It's gotten worse!!" the nurses panicked as they saw the entire nursery going haywire. "It's under control!! It's under control..." Chris replied, sweating nervously before coughing as a burst of smoke flew in his face. "Okay... I'm heading into the chamber. Once it's shut, you're to shut the whole thing down." he told the nurse by his side. "Wh... What?!! They'll die for certain!!" she shout back. "Just do as I say!! Once the system is down, hurry and call for someone to come and repair this thing... In the meantime, I want all of you to set up a place for these Pokemon to relax in the center of the room. Gardevoir, you'll get their attention with that guitar once everything's ready. Everything else you need to do should be common sense, got it?" he asked, the nurses nodding nervously before rushing off into the nursery, setting blankets and stuffed toys all over the middle of the floor causing the Pokemon to stop and watch curiously. "Alright... So this thing here, it shows the temperature for the chamber right? What's the temperature it's supposed to stay at...?" he asked, the nurse looking it over and giving him a quick explanation as Servine took Gardevoir towards the blankets, the two sitting down in the middle as the Pokemon all over the room tilt their heads curiously. "Alright... So once this thing's shut down, keep an eye on the thermostat. Give a heads up when it's where it should be." Chris told the nurse as she blinked at him bewildered.
"Alright then... I need you to stay here, alright?" he asked, gently lifting Buneary off his lap and sitting her on the desk. Tilting her head and making a raspy "eh...?" noise in response, he rubbed her on the head with a smile. "Just sit there and watch... I want you to see what a people who really care about Pokemon can do!" he smiled with a thumbs up. Nodding at him in response with a worried look, Chris started wheeling himself towards the chamber, while back at the entrance, Gerald was doing his best to keep up with everything going on at the front desk as well, continuing to work like a pro as the nurse watched him in amazement. "A... Are you certain you don't need my help?" the nurse asked nervously, Gerald laughing and waving his hand in response while sweating. "Oh nonsense madam! I used to do this type of thing professionally for some time before taking on my current career. I've dealt with far worse scenarios than this!" he replied, giving her a thumbs up. "Very well... Wouldn't you at least like some wa... wa wa... wa... WARDEN?!!" she shout, suddenly shooting up from her chair with a solute as Gerald jumped in surprise, looking towards the entrance as the warden and one of his officers walked into the lobby. "Oh dear... Not not..." Gerald muttered, quickly adjusting his clothes and bowing as he walked up. "Yes... Good day, both of you..." he replied with a nod, glancing towards Gerald. "Surprised to see you so hard at work here... What's going on?" he asked as the nurse laughed nervously. "Th... There was an emergency you see. Most of our staff has gone off to control the situation so he offered to aid us, along with several other generous souls." the nurse answered with a nervous bow. "As if I had to guess... If you're here... He's here as well, correct?" the Warden asked, raising his eyebrow as Gerald crossed his arms. "I'll not have you causing trouble... We're here to help, nothing more. We're all this facility has at the moment..." Gerald replied firmly, the Warden facing him with a serious look before suddenly smirking slightly. "Not very professional of you to speak to someone above your status in such a manner... But then again, I like a man with moxy..." the Warden said, raising a hand.
"But you can be at ease butler... I'm merely here to check on the Buneary that was taken in by this center not long ago. Where may I find it?" the Warden asked as the nurse blinked at him in surprise. "Well... The one under our care was taken by the same gentleman helping us in the nursery at the moment... If it belongs to you, we could gather the necessary paperwork..." she said, cut off as the Warden raised a hand again and shook his head. "That's not necessary... I'm aware the young man aiding you intended on taking it. I merely didn't know when he would... Since both he and the Buneary in question are here, kindly direct me to the nursery." the Warden said, the nurse bowing in response. "Yes sir... Just follow the hall over there and you'll wind up at the nursery entrance. B... But please be careful! The nursery is in a chaotic state at the moment." she warned, the Warden and officer nodding in response before heading down the hall. "Oh dear... I do hope Master Chris can focus with him around..." Gerald muttered as the nurse watched the Warden and officer before looking at Gerald confused. "Did something happen between that young man and the Warden?" she asked, Gerald jolting and waving his head with a nervous laugh. "Oh heavens... It's nothing to fret over madam... Ah... I really should get back to work!" he said, gathering the papers that had built up before returning to the phone. "Sir... I do remember hearing something on the communicators about a poison epidemic at one of the local Pokemon cafes... That's likely where all of the nurses went, as we've sent several officers to the location as well to aid the victims." the officer told him as he strolled through the hall. "Right... So he came here for the Buneary and took it upon himself to aid the center simultaneously... Not many men do so much without an expectation for something in return..." the Warden replied, crossing his arms as they came to the end of the hall and faced the double doors leading into the nursery.
"This is the Millennium News, covering the strange visitor from afar once again as he works to avert a crisis at one of our fair cities Pokemon centers..." they heard the reporter say as she stood at the doors, watching through the windows along with her team as things continued flashing while alarms could still be heard blaring inside. "...I see the governors interest in him hasn't died down either. They're still on his tail..." the Warden muttered, walking up behind the team before clearing his throat loudly, causing them to jump and face him, the camera man nearly hitting him with the end of his camera only for the Warden to hold a hand up and block it. "Move aside..." he ordered, the crew blinking at him in surprise before nervously stepping back as the Warden walked up to the doors, the officer doing the same and looking through the windows together. "Alright... I'm heading in! You all know what to do!" he told the nurses, getting a nod from them all in response as several stood at the controls while others gathered around Gardevoir and Servine. "I can't believe our own medical staff is this incompetent in a crisis... Relying on civilian aid for something they should be trained to handle themselves..." the Warden muttered as the news crew backed away. "Surprising development! The city's top Warden, who's prison the man we've been watching recently broke into, has just arrived on scene to see the action for himself...!!" the reporter said in a hushed tone, motioning for the cameraman to focus on the Warden as the officer glanced back at them. "Sir... Should I...?" she asked, the Warden shaking his head. "Leave them be... I don't care about them." he replied firmly, glancing back himself with a grunt before the two faced the windows once again.
Inside the room, Chris opened the chamber door and wheeled himself inside, groaning from the bursts of heat and jolting when the system suddenly blast frigid air into the chamber. "Th... These eggs could already be done for..." he muttered, closing the door behind him and wheeling into the middle of the chamber. "Alright then... You in there Ninetails...?" he asked, looking up at his forehead as the nurses watched him through the glass wall, tilting their heads confused. "Of course I am you fool... I'm ALWAYS here..." he heard its voice echo. "Tch... Yeah... Except for the other night..." he scowled. "ASIDES moments such as that... Don't be smart with me..." it replied harshly. "Yeah yeah... Look, probably don't need to explain it, but we've got an issue..." he said, pausing while looking at the countless eggs lining the wall in rows upon rows. "Yes... The unborn lot... The life within them has yet to fade, but it won't be long..." Ninetails told him. "Well... That's where we come in... Mind lending me a bit of your juice? This... Qualifies as an emergency, right?" he laughed nervously, Ninetails remaining silent in his mind. "Uh... R... Right? Come on!! They're eggs!!" he shout, cut off as Ninetails sent a ping through his mind. "Keep calm... I never denied your request... I was merely reflecting on what you may consider an emergency after the other night and destroying the Pokeball belonging to that Buneary with my power just to look cool..." it replied, causing Chris to jolt and flush embarrassed. "Hey hey!!" he shout back, hitting his own head causing the nurses outside to look at one another with raised eyebrows. "Stop acting foolish before those humans put YOU in a center... I'll allow it, but don't squander it either..." it told him firmly as Chris let out a sigh and smiled. "Thanks... For a second I thought you were turning cold on me..." he said, rubbing the back of his head with a smile. "Yes... I'm turning cold... The being who just helped you get... What do humans call it...? Laid...?" it asked, causing Chris to flush once again. "S... Stop talking that way!! You sound like a smart aleck mother... And you're wasting time!!" he scowled. "I'm not wasting time... I already told you I would allow it... You're the one risking lives..." Ninetails replied, Chris sensing a smug smirk on Ninetails face causing him to grumble. "Do what you wish... And worry not, I didn't mind your use of my power for either purpose... Just don't let it make you think it's alright to use it more often than necessary either..." it reminded him as Chris nodded. "Alright, alright, lets do this then... Thanks..." he said, scowling as he sensed Ninetails chuckling at him and shaking its head within his mind.
"What's he doing in there...?" the officer asked, looking at the Warden bewildered. "Got me... The mans put himself in the middle of an oven just to bonk and talk to himself... Perhaps we should have detained him..." he replied, shaking his head as the nurses inside muttered toward one another. "Pardon sir but... May we... Get a shot in the room...?" the reporter asked, the Warden grunting in response. "You'll get your shot once I'm through here. Until then just stand there and shut up... You stalkers are an unnecessary distraction..." he ordered firmly, the crew jolting and stepping back with a nervous laugh as the reporter waved her hand in front of her throat, signalling to cut the response from the recording. "Pardon sir but... Aren't we... Doing the same as them...?" the officer asked, causing the Warden to jolt with slight sweat on his face. "We're the law! We're merely keeping an eye on a possible threat!" he replied, slightly grumbling after a moment while watching as the officer nodded with a nervous smile and watched as well. "U... Um... So... Is everything... Alright...?" one of the nurses asked while speaking into the mic on the desk, sending her voice through a speaker in the chamber. "Y... Yeah!! Sorry! Just uh... Mentally preparing myself!!" Chris laughed nervously, his voice coming from the mic in response. "He sound funny..." Gardevoir muttered towards Servine. "That's because he's in a different room..." she replied. "But... How we hear then...?" she asked. "Ugh... Just keep quiet..." Servine replied with a groan, crossing her arms as Gardevoir puffed out her cheeks with a frustrated "hrmph!" in response. "Alright... When I count to three, shut down the nursery! After that, wait a few seconds and start playing your guitar Gardevoir!" Chris ordered, getting a nod from everyone in response. Looking through the glass, Buneary continued tilting her head confused, curiously poking the mic his voice came through as well. "Alright then... Ready...?" he said, holding his hand out. "One... Two... Three!!" he shout, the nurses nodding together before suddenly shutting down the system, causing the cages to freeze and the room to go dark, the sound of the incubation chamber shutting down echoing in the darkness simultaneously. "What's this...?!" the warden said, cupping his hands over the window trying to see in as the officer did the same. "I knew it... No man does so much without expecting something... That's why he wanted to volunteer in the nursery and gain access to the chamber... Robbery...!!" he muttered loudly, catching the attention of the news crew behind them. "Hear that fellas? That guys at it again...!! An egg thief..." she said in a hushed tone, motioning for them to record once again. Inside the room, the Pokemon were shouting in a panic, the sound of them running into things herd from every direction with only the light from the entrance dimly shining in as the nurses panicked. "The system...!! T... Turn it back on!!" a nurse suddenly panicked, only to stop when another grabbed her wrist. "No... Look...!!" the other nurse shout, pointing towards the pitch black chamber before them as a dim glow appeared.
As the nurses watched, they were surprised as Gardevoir began playing her guitar, the Pokemon jumping from the startle before facing the direction of the music, slowly going silent as they listened. "Hey... They calmed down..." one of the nurses muttered, squinting to get a look at them as the glow in the chamber slowly grew brighter and brighter. "Sir... Inside where the eggs are... See that light...?" the officer asked, pointing it out as the Warden nodded. "Something's up... We'll charge in soon..." he told her, putting his hand on his gun as the officer nodded in agreement, reaching for hers as well while they continued watching. "Alright... Slow and steady... Sloooow and steady..." Chris muttered as the aura of his tails and ears slowly came into view, the glow around him continuing to brighten until the chamber was brightly lit, a golden glow filling the dark nursery as well causing the Pokemon to look towards the chamber in surprise as Buneary watched with wide eyes as well, letting out a quiet and raspy "ooohhhh....!!" sound in response, the nurses doing the same. With the gentle glow now filling the nursery, the Pokemon smiled and started sitting around Gardevoir and Servine, listening to the music while looking at the shimmering, and seemingly calming, light coming from the chamber. "Extraordinary... It's beautiful..." one of the nurses said, all of them watching awe struck as a thin aura slowly swirled around the thermostat on the control panel, causing it to suddenly flicker on showing the temperature inside rising gradually in a gold color instead of red. "L... Look!!" one of the nurses quickly point out, the others noticing as well. "Tch... If a little light show impresses them, seeing him take on a truck would have killed them..." Servine muttered, shaking her head as Gardevoir continued strumming away. "Remember this feeling... Sensed it before... Chris using powers again... Doing more good..." she said with a sigh, showing a relaxed smile and nodding. "That our Chris... That our master..." she giggled, Servine scowling before turning up her nose. "YOUR master... Watch it..." she replied, slightly blushing while scratching her cheek. "Yours..." she repeated before showing a slight smile of her own and nodding, knowing Gardevoir couldn't see.
"Sir... I don't think..." the officer said, pulling her hand away from her gun as the Warden nodded. "Neither do I... Shocking as it may be..." he replied, pulling his hand away from his gun as well. "That light inside... You guys see that...? It isn't natural..." the reporter muttered, the two men nodding and trying to see in as well yet unwilling to get any closer to the Warden. "Whatever's going on in there, it's gotta be big..." she added, looking around and motioning for the two men to quickly follow. Inside the room, the nurses watched the thermostat continue to rise in temperature. "Almost there... Almost... H... He's got it!! Tell him he's got it!!" a nurse shout, another nodding and running up to the door, giving it a loud knock causing Chris to jolt and look at the nurses at the controls as they waved their hands and gave thumbs up. "Looks like I got it under control in here..." he muttered, looking towards the speaker causing part of his aura to swirl around it. "Alright! Now hurry out and call for repairs! I'll keep the heat where it's supposed to be in the meantime! Hurry up though! And start feeding the Pokemon before Gardevoir's fingers get raw already!" he said, the nurses jumping in surprise from hearing his voice come out of the powerless mic. Nodding, one of the nurses rushed out while others gathered all of the bottles and food, bringing them up to the infants and carefully feeding them one by one as they lay and relaxed on the pillows and blankets, looking around the room at the shimmering light and watching Gardevoir play, even making Servine yawn from the atmosphere.
"C... Can you hear us as well...?" one of the nurses asked, speaking into the mic causing Chris to nod from within the chamber. "Pardon if this is a bad time but... How are you...?" she asked, pausing as he smiled. "It's a curse that turned out to be a blessing is all..." he chuckled, waving his hand. "My old man helped a certain Pokemon out a long time ago... And this Pokemon made it so I could travel around and help out whenever needed... Being able to use abilities like this was just a... Coincidental bonus you could say..." he answered, the nurses tilting their heads curiously wanting to know more. "I'm just a regular traveler with an odd quirk is all." he laughed, Servine raising an eyebrow. "Yeah... Odd..." she muttered, smirking before Gardevoir gave her a sudden nudge with her elbow and grunt. "Bah..." she replied, waving a hand as Buneary continued watching Chris silently. "Would you like to get closer...?" one of the nurse asked, leaning towards her with a smile. Looking up nervously, Buneary nodded before being lift into the nurses arm and taken to the wall, allowing her to look at him up close with her hand on the glass. "It's specially made so you don't feel the heat from the outside." she told Buneary with a giggle. "My... He must be burning up in there... It's safe to enter for a brief time, but long term can take quite a toll..." she said quietly as he sat in his chair, closing his eyes while keeping the room at a steady temperature. After a moment, the nurse who went for the phone returned, muttering to the group at the controls and pointing towards the entrance, exposing the Warden and officer as they jolt and moved away from the windows nervously. Looking at one another, they decided to leave them be as they kept monitoring the chambers temperature, continuously letting Chris know when it got too hot or cold while waiting for the repair crew to arrive while around Gardevoir and Servine, the Pokemon were drifting off one by one, allowing the nurses to carefully gather them up one by one and put them back in their cages, each in their own bed within. "His ideas actually worked..." one of the nurses muttered. "Yeah... We could have thought of that if we had kept ourselves from panicking like that..." another added, the group nodding with a sigh.
Eventually, the repair crew arrived and went to work on the system, keeping a curious eye on the chamber simultaneously as they saw the man inside glowing with ears and tails, their curiosity causing them to question the nurses only for them to shrug just as confused. Once they were finished, they backed away with a nod, allowing the nurses to take over once more. "Alright sir... The repairs are complete and we're ready to reboot the system." they told Chris through the mic, getting a nod from him in response as Gardevoir sighed and finally quit playing, blowing on her fingers and rubbing them with a groan. "That's what you get for playing so badly..." Servine said, waving her hand with a smirk. "I did best!! You do way worse..." Gardevoir replied, sticking her tongue out as the snake shrugged. "I've no interest in instruments, so it doesn't concern me..." she replied with a yawn. "See...? So terrible it nearly put me to sleep..." she added, not wanting to admit she had nearly been lulled to sleep herself. After a moment, the nurses count to three and boot up the system, causing the remaining lights above to flicker on and the locks on the cages to click simultaneously, followed by the sound of the chamber starting up as well allowing Chris to let out a long sigh from within, his glow flashing away along with his transparent ears and tails. Wheeling towards the exit, he struggled to touch the wheels due to the heat of the metal, quickly making his way out and blowing on his hands as the nurse shut the door. "It worked!! The systems repaired and everything's back to normal!" she told him, quickly shaking his hand as the other nurses gathered around. "We've no idea how you really did that, but we can't thank you and the Pokemon who gave you those abilities enough!!" another said, causing Chris to laugh nervously as he felt the cocky attitude of Ninetails within his mind, not wanting it to gain more of an ego than it already had yet not brave enough to say so. "Th... Thanks but... No need to thank, ya know?" he told them, waving his hand as the nurse with Buneary carried her up. "Ah! So... What did ya think?" he asked with a smile. Letting out raspy noises while waving its arm, Chris laughed and tapped his forehead. "You've got to use your thoughts..." he reminded her, causing the small rabbit to blush embarrassed and fidget shyly. "You looked... Cool... You saved all those... Um..." she told him with a smile, pausing shyly as the nurses blinked in surprise. "Isn't that telepathy?!" one asked in a shocked tone. "Oh! Uh... Yeah... Thanks to Gardevoir over there... Isn't she the best?" he laughed, causing Gardevoir to jolt and flush wide eyed, quickly shaking her head. "I... It nothing!! No need to say that!!" she replied, waving her hands as Servine looked away and stuck out her tongue. "Ha ha... See, she makes this kind of bubble of energy around herself so that Servine and Buneary can communicate with us too. Apparently not even the professor here in the city has seen a Pokemon do that with its abilities before... I think its cool because, on top of being able to communicate, it also let me hear how beautiful Servine over there sounds and how cute Bunearys voice is!" he laughed, giving the rabbit a poke on the nose as she glowed while Servine stood proudly with a grin. "Yes... Be it body or voice, I'm truly a being of brilliance!" she said with a laugh, Gardevoir crossing her arms. "Being of snooty-ness..." she murmured, Servine swatting her with her leaf and crossing her arms.
As they continued talking, the Warden crossed his arms in silence. "What do you make of that, sir...?" the officer asked, looking up at him as he nodded. "...Suppose he's a good man, but I wonder..." he paused, rubbing his chin as the officer blinked and tilt her head. "Sir...?" she asked in a curious tone. "Just a sudden curiosity... Come." he ordered, motioning for her to follow as he pushed open the door and went inside, surprising the officer as she quickly followed behind. "Oh... H... Hello sir!! one of the nurses said, quickly bowing as the others faced him and did the same. "No need for that... Excuse me..." he replied, motioning for them to move aside. Nodding nervously, they stepped away allowing the Warden to walk up to Chris as he teased Buneary, laughing as the small Pokemon hid her face shyly while he poked and tickled her in the nurses arms. "Hello again..." he said, causing Chris to jolt as the nurse quickly backed away with Buneary, both she and Servine freezing as they saw him in front of Chris. "Uhhh... H... Hi th..." he paused as he looked up, seeing the Warden with his hand in his vest, shooting up his hands immediately in response. "D... DON'T SHOOT!!! I haven't done anything wrong!!!" he shout, the sudden statement causing Gardevoir to drop her guitar and shoot up on her feet with eyes glowing. "WHAT GOING ON?!!!" she screamed, the Warden standing in silence. "Rash as ever... Calm down..." he told the two, his voice causing Gardevoir's eyes to widen. "That voice... You... Warden... You... You follow us?!! You come for him?!!" she shout as Servine quickly led her up to Chris, climbing onto his lap and clutching his shirt while Gardevoir felt her way around him and stood between him and the Warden. "NOT taking anywhere!! Only do good!! You touch I attack!!" she warned as Chris turned pale and sweat nervously, Buneary letting out a whimper while reaching out to Chris, the nurse nodding and placing her on his lap alongside Servine. "G... Gardevoooiiir... Ca... Calm doooowwwn..." he told her, trying to coax her into relaxing while holding her arm. "He's smart... I'm not here to take anyone..." he told the group, slowly pulling his hand out of his vest causing Chris to flinch with his arms up, only to see him pull out a bracelet. "I'm here to offer a gift..." he added, holding it out for Gardevoir to feel as Chris looked it over. "You... Want to give me an accessory...?" he asked, both surprised and confused, the Warden letting out a grunt. "It's no meager accessory..." he told Chris in am irritated tone. After a moment, Gardevoir touched a certain part of the bracelet and suddenly let out a gasp, pulling her hands away and clutching her chest with wide eyes. "What... Is that...?" she asked as the Warden smirked.
"They key to the bridge between man and Pokemon..." he replied, holding it out to Chris, allowing him to take it and look it over himself. "Key to a bridge...? Looks like an average bracelet to me... Well... Asides..." he paused, looking over the round stone with a strange insignia on it surrounded by a rainbow of colors. "Pretty stone though... What do you expect me to do with it though?" he asked, looking up at the Warden as Servine and Buneary looked it over as well, both of them touching the stone only to gasp and quickly pull away with the same expression Gardevoir had shown. "Geez... It scares the crap out of them... Sorry but... I don't think I want it..." he told the Warden, holding it out only for Gardevoir to grab his arm and quickly shake her head, the two Pokemon on his lap clutching his shirt and shaking their heads as well. "Wh... What...?" he asked, blinking at them bewildered. "So... It's not bad?" he asked, the two Pokemon focusing on the bracelet as Gardevoir felt it over again, freezing when her fingers touched the stone. "Ahhh... They're intimidated... For good reason... It has the capability to unlock a power within these Pokemon they would never be able tap into on their own..." he chuckled, the nurses gathering around and looking it over as well. "Oh my... That's one of the Key Stones we've seen lately... They were discovered not long ago and ever since they've become all the rage with trainers in several regions..." one of the nurses said, Chris tilting his head in response. "Key Stone...? How does it even work or... Whatever...?" he asked, pulling it close to him again to look it over. With the stone now near his chest, the three Pokemon suddenly started clutching their own chests tightly, blushing and breathing slowly, yet heavily simultaneously as if oddly anticipating something. "G... Geez... You girls are freakin' me out a little..." he said, lowering the bracelet causing them to jolt and shake their heads, taking a deep breath of relief. "I see..." the Warden muttered, looking over all three Pokemon.
"It seems they already have the potential to use it's ability to some degree... The necessary materials just aren't there to make anything happen..." he said, the group looking at him as he backed away. "That bracelet... Or rather, the Key Stone embedded within it, can grant Pokemon a power never before seen, provided they've both, grown and bond enough with the human by their side, and you have the right Mega Stone as well... Your Pokemon hold onto them, allowing the Key Stone to work..." he explained as Chris blinked at the bracelet. "So... You get the right stone... And get your Pokemon to bond with you... And they get super powers?" he asked, the Warden nodding in reponse. "Sums it up... Bond with them, train them... And you're repaid with seemingly limitless power." he replied, grinning with his fist clenched in front of him while raising an eyebrow. "A fine gift, wouldn't you say?" he asked, chuckling as he crossed his arms. Looking it over, Chris noticed a look of concern on Bunearys face, the small rabbit suddenly looking away from the bracelet. "Actually..." he said, pausing while holding the bracelet out towards the Warden once again. "Not really..." he added, the Wardens grin slowly fading as his eyes widened, the officer and nurses, along with the Pokemon showing shocked expressions simultaneously. "Wh... What? Are you insane?" he asked, Chris shaking his head in response. "I'm not with these girls to unlock some ultimate power or anything... I don't want anything in return for caring about them and helping them out and all... I want them to grow so they can have a better future... Forget the bad stuff in the past and have a good life. I don't need something that has no meaning to me... A Pokemons heart is way more important than some lousy stone..." he said, handing it back to the Warden who looked down at his hand in silence. "Seriously, THAT'S the kind of thing they're just tossing around now...? People will just toy with a Pokemons heart to unlock something they don't even deserve with that kind of thing... That's the OPPOSITE of what people need to do if they want to improve the relationship between us and them! You're not supposed to get any kind of payment for getting a Pokemon to like you!" he said, waving his hand and crossing his arms. "If anything, it's infuriating... Knowing people are gonna use that kind of thing more and more all over the world... Get a Pokemon to like you, get special powers... GREAT message..." he said in an irritated tone.
Hearing this, the three Pokemon were tearing up and clutching their chests once again, sniffling as the nurses and officer did the same, Chris looking at them all with a wide eyed "...crap...!!" expression on his face. "I... I'm sorry!! Not taking it is the right thing to do!! I just don't want rewarded for caring is all!!" he told them nervously, waving his hands thinking he did something wrong by rejecting the stone. "You... Idiot..." Servine said, wiping her eyes as Gardevoir felt for his hand. "Servine right... Stupid... Perfect name..." she said, clutching his hand and laughing while wiping her eyes as well. "I... I'm sorry!! If it's that bad I'll take it!! J... Just quit crying!!" he said nervously, thinking he hurt them while reaching up and wiping her eyes and wiping Servines with his shirt, Buneary hiding her face as he tried to wipe hers by pulling down her ear with her good arm once more. "Ah geez... I always mess up... I'm sorry..." he told them in a guilty tone, rubbing his head as the three Pokemon shook their heads before Gardevoir and Servine suddenly gave him a hug, Buneary letting go of her ear and clutching his shirt shyly with a smile on her face. "Ah... Ahh...? So... I did... The right thing...?" he asked, unable to keep up with the emotional scene as the nurses looked at one another and suddenly shout simultaneously "Hoooopeleeeees!!!" causing Gardevoir and Servine to snicker and suddenly burst out in laughter as he groaned and slumped his head, Buneary looking up and tilting her head confused as the Pokemon woke up in their cages and tilt their heads curiously. "There's that name again..." he murmured, shaking his head while the Warden looked at them all and down at Chris. "...And now it truly is a gift..." he said, tossing it on Chris's lap causing him to jolt and look up. "Wh... Wha?" he asked, letting out an "urk!!" as Gardevoir squeezed his neck tightly in her embrace, coughing as she let go with a "sorry!!" while smiling, patting his shoulder and giggling.
"...What you said holds a lot of truth, which is why I'd prefer it if you held onto that. Whether you use it or not, I couldn't care..." he said, crossing his arms and shaking his head before looking down. "That bracelet... It belonged to my son the same as that Buneary... I had hoped his response to having such a thing would have been the same as yours, but unfortunately it turned out to be the opposite..." he admitted, letting out a sigh. "Once again you've reminded me how far I let my own boy stray from the right path... Would have been nice if he turned out like you..." he added as Chris smiled nervously. "I'm... Sorry...? Rest assured, I had plenty of help turning out this way." he replied, waving his hand before picking up the bracelet again. "I'll uh... Do my best to make sure it isn't misused... But you're sure you wouldn't rather give it someone more intent on taking advantage of it? They're bound to be people like me that also have an interest in this stuff out there..." he told the Warden, only for him to shake his head in response. "That's why you need it... Maybe teach others how they should properly use and feel about Key Stones on your travels..." he told Chris before looking into the chamber. "...You did good, for a while I took you for a thief only doing something good to make off with eggs worth who knows how much... Glad I was wrong..." he said, putting his hands in his pockets. "And... I'm glad I didn't contain you... I look forward to our battle..." he added, turning and heading towards the exit. "Ah... Yeah... Well err... Thanks for the... Stone and all..." Chris replied, looking it over again as the Warden glanced back with a nod. "If you battle as good as you make a speech, I'm looking forward to having a run for my money for a change... Don't disappoint..." he said before motioning for the officer to follow. "Until then... Keep impressing people..." he finished, heading out the door as the officer paused and turned. "Gotta say... I've never seen him talk to his own son that way... Not bad sir..." she told Chris with a bow, waving before the Warden suddenly shout for her, causing the officer to jump and rush out the door. "I feel like... I might be causing some trouble between him and his son... More than intended..." Chris laughed nervously, scratching his cheek as he put the bracelet in his coat pocket, only to pause and take it back out. "Oh yeah... I should return the coat to you guys... And the nurse outfit and all..." he said, looking himself and Gardevoir over only for the nurses to laugh and wave their hands.
"Keep it all as a thanks from us! Another souvenir for your travels!" they told him, shaking his hands as he laughed nervously. "I... I really don't think I can take so many gifts in one day... The bracelet is a big enough surprise as it is..." he told them as Gardevoir felt her clothes over and showed a sad look. "Ahh... But..." he said, looking at her and letting out a sigh. "Agh... It couldn't hurt..." he finished, Gardevoir perking up and smiling as he shook his head with a chuckle. As the group wrapped up everything with the staff, they were about to leave when suddenly the news crew fell into the room through the back door, blinking at Chris and the others as they turned and blinked back at them in surprise. "Oh... You again... H... Hey..." Chris told them with a nervous wave. Looking at everyone and one another, the crew suddenly shot up and bowed before dashing out of the nursery the way they came in, leaving the door open behind them as the Pokemon looked at one another through the caged just as bewildered as Chris and the nurses. "...I reeeeaaaally am starting to yearn for the solitude of traveling again. This city stuff really isn't for me at all... I've got people and problems popping up at every turn..." he sighed, the nurses laughing nervously and patting him on the shoulder. "Don't complain about your life Mr. "My curse is a blessing..." he suddenly heard Ninetails echo in his mind, laughing at him as he scowled and grumbled in response.
Shaking his head, one of the nurses brought Gardevoir her guitar before finally leaving the nursery as the staff wrapped everything up at the controls and with the repair crew, allowing Chris to relax for a moment in the hallway as Gardevoir pushed him along... That is... Until they got to the lobby and found Gerald in the state the nurse was in when they arrived, the nurse now taking over his role as he sat out of it in the chair behind the desk...
A young man named Chris, now 23, discovered he was the one chosen to carry a curse passed onto him through his bloodline by a Ninetails his grandfather saved long ago, having grabbed its sacred tails to save it from falling to its demise. Burdened with this fate, Chris accepts it and allows the curse to guide him freely in life, destined to forever put others before himself, to forever follow the path the curse guides him along towards those in need most...
Along his journey thus far, Chris has come across a Ralts who was abandoned by its former trainer for being blind, hurled off the edge of a cliff that has since evolved into a full fledged Gardevoir, with the mysterious and terrifying ability to use the power of a Shadow Pokemon... As well as a Snivy who has since become a Servine, abandoned by its former trainer for refusing to evolve after a terrifying battle it had with a Serperior that left it mentally scarred.
Chris has met many people and Pokemon alike along his journey, each left as inspired by his presence as the last... He's taught Gardevoir and Servine the worth in every living being, sacrificed himself to save them after a deadly attack by a pack of Houndoom, hurling himself off a cliff and nearly dying... Provided a hospital full of children an awe inspiring play room full of wonders any child would adore... And has inspired the mysterious N from the Pokemon series as well, finding Chris a worthy man of keeping an eye on along his journey...
Now, Chris lingers on the line between hero and criminal, having broken the law by invading the largest prison in his region to free their newest friend, a Buneary that was abused by her former trainer, now an inmate thanks to Chris... In the process, he took the trainers other Pokemon as well, stripping away his right to be a trainer for his brutal crimes against his own Pokemon.
Luckily temporarily pardoned for his crimes by the prisons Warden, and ironically the inmates father, Chris is now under orders to remain within Millennium City until he faces the Warden in a gym battle to determine if he will remain a free man, or will spend time behind bars...
Great Chapter as always! I have bet on Rotom to appear, after reading what was going on with the control device. Lost the bet. I think two interesting things have been mentioned in passing. First Chris is not brave enough to blame Ninetails, and second all three Pokemon reacted to the Key Stone. I don’t know if every Pokemon would react to the Key Stone in this situation, but I hope Nintendo announces Mega Serperior soon. One more thing. Really beautiful words from Chris on the whole Mega Evolution topic.
Great Chapter as always! I have bet on Rotom to appear, after reading what was going on with the con
If you notice, while the Warden held it they only reacted when touching the Key Stone directly, but once it was in Chris's hands, they reacted to it without any contact with the Key Stone, thus signifying all three having a "heart-to-heart" link with Chris you could say, emphasized by how strongly they reacted when he held the Key Stone close to his chest.
So not every Pokemon would react to the Key Stone in this scenario, no. Unless touching it directly. Without having a link by the person wielding the Key Stone it merely gives off an intimidating aura you could say, it isn't bad, but it isn't welcoming either. But held by a person a Pokemon does have a link with, it's more of an exciting sensation.
If you notice, while the Warden held it they only reacted when touching the Key Stone directly, but
Great chapter. I like how he is just going around solving everyone's problems, heheh. The Warden seems like a pretty good guy, if a little paranoid and stern.
Great chapter. I like how he is just going around solving everyone's problems, heheh. The Warden see
