CH 107 - Hangover And Amnesia
The next morning, Chris found himself abruptly woken from a horrific nightmare, tossing and turning on the bed and clutching is throat, his lungs failing to take in air until his eyes shot open and he let out a massive gasp, shooting up and shouting in a state of panic. Covered in sweat, his expression was pale with a look of terror on his face, having suffered a night of torment at the hands of his memories haunting him once more. "G-Girls...!!" he panicked, looking around the room and finding Serenity nearby on her knees, huddled over a trash can while Rose could be seen next to the bed, her head hung over the small trash can next to it. "G-Girls...?" he repeat, blinking at them confused as the two let out nauseous groans in response. Looking around, he saw the door to the bathroom shut, raising an eyebrow before jolting and clutching his head with a hiss, overcome by a throbbing pain. "O-Owwww ow ow owww..." he whined, letting out another hiss before opening an eye and looking at the girls again. "Wh-What the hell...?" he asked, trying to push through the pain in his head as he moved to the side of the bed and sat, trying to rub away the throbbing. "H-Hey, think I need that." Chris coaxed, feeling sick himself and touching Rose on the back only for the rabbit to hurl into her trash can in response. "Ah geez! S-Serenity, can I borrow yours?" he asked, the Pokemon raising her head with a dazed "huh? in response before her eyes widened and she quickly pushed her face back into the trash, both girls going through a sick spell causing Chris's eye to twitch. "Oh that's not helping." he groaned, rubbing his stomach before standing, finding his sense of balance out of whack as he stumbled and gripped one of the posts of the bed.
Groaning, he let out a hic before hissing as another wave of pain rushed through his head, causing him to clutch it once more before looking down at himself and noticing he was still exposed, his eyes shooting open before snatching pillows off the bed and covering himself. "G-Geez!! The hell?!" he panicked, his loud voice giving himself another round of pain in his head making him wince. "Bathroom... Use the toilet." he muttered, heading toward the door and giving it a kick with his foot. "Hey, Alicia, you in there? My stomach's killin' me." he called out, only to get an agitated "Good!!" from the other side before hearing the sound of the snake hurling as well. "S-Seriously? Everyone's spewin'?" he muttered, his stomach gurgling making him groan with a slightly nauseous look of his own. "Oh man... What'd we have last night?" he groaned, heading back to the bed and noticing his clothes tossed about, keeping a pillow over the front of his body as he tossed the other on the bed and gathered his outfit. Sitting back on the side of the bed, he groggily pushed himself through getting dressed, straightening up his clothes as he stood before looking at himself in a mirror. "Actually, what happened last night in general?" he asked, noticing his weary and reddened eyes, looking at himself up close before letting out a sudden urk making his eyes shoot open before rushing to the cabinets and finding a box of trash bags, urking once more as he rushed to open a bag before shoving his face in just a split second before going through his own spell, Serenity and Rose looking at him weakly only for the sight to sicken them once more. "O-Oh God... What'd we ea...!!" he tried to ask before showing his face in the bag again.
After a moment, Chris lift his head with a groan and made his way to the balcony, sliding the door open and stepping out thinking the fresh air of the icy atmosphere would do him some good, the light from the morning sun just barely starting to show in the horizon as he took a deep breath to try and settle his stomach, shuddering from the frigid air. "Whatever it was, it was bad..." he muttered, leaning over the railing while still thinking they'd eaten something that didn't agree with them the night before. Trying to think, he found himself suffering another round of throbbing in his head trying to recollect what had occurred only to draw a blurry blank. "I dunno, I remember sitting with Gerald... Something about the Captain?" he asked himself. Looking around, he squint his eyes when his gaze met with the lights of the town before him. "Gah, everything's either really off or really sensitive." he muttered before heading back into the room, rubbing his stomach and feeling safe enough to tie his bag and leave it on the balcony. "H-Hey, either of you know what happened last night?" he asked, Serenity and Rose lifting their heads with a confused, albeit groggy, looks in response. "Wh-What mean what happen?" Serenity asked. "Yeah, don't you kn-know?" Rose added, the two urking and covering their mouths, trying to ease back their nausea. "I-I can't remember a thing. I know there was something about me spending time with Gerald but, other than that and... I think some call? I can't remember a thing. It's all hazy and tryin' to remember just... Hurts, it hurts bad." he explained, rubbing his head again. "I've got a killer migraine for some reason. My balance is off, those small lights out there felt like they killed my eye. Everything feels off for some reason." he point out while sitting at the side of the bed again.
"You... You really not remember?" Serenity asked in surprise. "Nothing at all? Not a thing?" Rose asked, blinking at him wide eyed as they both pushed themselves up, rubbing their stomachs with a groan of their own. "Judging by how we all feel, I'm guessing we ate something really bad. You girls are gagging your guts out..." he said, pausing when they jolt and covered their mouths, waving at him in a panic not to mention it. "S-Sorry!! I-I mean, none of us feel good and whatever it was wiped my memory clean off the plate." he point out. "Can you at least tell me what it was we had for dinner? What did I eat?" he asked. Blinking at him, the two looked at one another before a blush spread across their faces, both suddenly facing away from the other embarrassed. "U-Uhh..." Serenity muttered. "You uh, well, we..." Rose added, rubbing her arm nervously. "I-I didn't do anything BAD did I?" he asked, the two jolting and shouting "NO!!" simultaneously making Chris jerk his body back in surprise before clutching his head in pain. "T-Too loud..." he groaned, the two freezing before apologizing. "I disagree!!" they heard Alicia shout from the bathroom. "D-Disagree? That means I did do something?" he asked, looking at the two bewildered. Facing one another, they motioned for Chris to stay on the bed before hurrying to the other side of the room and talking in their Pokemon tongue, making Chris tilt his head and suddenly smelling something in the air. "What's...?" he muttered, looking around before facing the sheets and leaning over, smelling them and noticing various spots were covered in a strange scent, feeling spots in the sheets that were still slightly damp. "Did someone wet the bed?" he thought, looking at the girls.
"Maybe that's why they don't wanna tell me. Did one of em' have an accident?" he asked, crossing his arms before jolting and turning pale. "D-Did I?! Is that it?!" he panicked in his mind. Looking himself over, he tugged at the collar of his shirt and sniffed inside, noticing the smell was also coming off his body as he sniffed his arms as well, causing him to turn all the more pale. "I-I did, didn't I?" he panicked before letting out a loud "ah geez!!" of embarrassment, making Serenity and Rose jump in surprise. "Wh-What wrong?! You remember?!" Serenity panicked with a flush. "I totally peed myself didn't I?! That's it isn't it?!" Chris asked, making both Serenity and Rose show a blank expression in response, the two blinking at him before slumping. "Well, something like that happened but..." Rose point out, pausing as Serenity put her hand out and shook her head. "It not what think, not worry. You not wet bed." Serenity assured. "W-Well, he didn't, but..." Rose muttered, poking her fingers with a shy look and a blush while Serenity faced away and crossed her arms with a scowl, blushing as well. "It nothing. Not worry about it. Bed can be cleaned." Serenity affirmed. "I get the feeling something happened you don't wanna talk about..." Chris replied warily. About to press the two, the sound of the toilet flushing could be heard before the bathroom door suddenly opened, causing him to freeze as Alicia slithered out with a groggy and agitated look on her face. "I hope you're satisfied you barbarian. Thanks to you the lot of us are sick!" she snapped, her tone causing Chris to groan and rub his head. "P-Please, not so loud." he complained. "Why should I listen to the petty whines of a beast?" she asked, slithering past and laying across the couch. "This room wreaks, have someone clean up!" she ordered.
Looking at her, Chris showed a look of concern and confusion combined, standing and walking up to the couch. "That's close enough!" the snake snapped without looking at him, causing Chris to jolt. "Wh-What'd I do?! What's with the attitude?" he asked. "Don't feign ignorance! You know all too well what you did!" she lectured, Chris tilting his head. "I-I really don't. I just woke up this morning feelin' bad, everyone was sick, and you're all upset! Plus the others are actin' weird on top of bein' sick... What's going on with you three? What happened last night?" he asked, turning to the others only for Serenity and Rose to glance away. Raising up, Alicia looked at Chris, squinting her eyes at him with a scowl. "...You really mean to say you've no idea what you did to us? To me?" she asked. "D-Did to you? What would I ever do to you?!" Chris panicked. Raising an eyebrow, the snake looked at him for a moment before facing away. "You don't even care, that's why." she replied coldly before slithering off the couch and toward the door. "H-Hey! I care about you girls plenty! What'd I do?!" Chris asked, hurrying after the snake and reaching out only for Alicia to turn and knock him back with her tail, sending Chris stumbling back on the floor. "You stay away from me!!" she snapped before heading out and slamming the door behind her, leaving Chris blinking in surprise. "Sh-She hit me..." he muttered, Serenity and Rose looking at one another once more and rubbing their arms nervously. Sitting up straight, Chris put a hand on his torso where her tail had made impact. Although it wasn't a particularly strong blow, he could tell there was both, restraint and frustration behind it combined, somehow making him feel as though the snake was going easy on him despite her agitation.
"I-I don't get it. What happened last night?" he asked, looking back at the girls. "C-Come on, what'd I do?" he added, the two looking down at him and blushing slightly. "W-Well, things happen. Weird things. You not you last night." Serenity tried to explain. "You were kinda like a Pokemon yourself in a way. You were just... Different for some reason." Rose added. "I was different? What weird things?" he asked, looking at the two and tilting his head before glancing toward the bed and looking down at his collar, pulling it and sniffing himself again before turning pale. "D-Did I...?" he muttered before looking at the two. "D-Did I... Rape you?" he asked, the girls noticing the terror in his face and rapidly shaking their heads. "No no!! Not that!! You not do that!!" Serenity assured. "Y-Yeah!! It was just... You were..." Rose added, fidgeting shyly with a flush on her face. "Something made you really different last night. It's like you were being controlled or something, and we kinda got caught up in it." the rabbit tried to explain. "We... All do things we not expect to do last night. We do things we not normally want to do. But we do it... Not know why. After you come in, you act strange, then all of sudden it like something get in our heads. It make us..." Serenity added, glancing away with a bright flush. "Y-You had all this power, and it got to us and we did stuff. The way you said things, it was really different. I-I'm trying to think of a good way to put it." Rose tried to explain shyly. "You... Say in Pokemon world, Pokemon with most power get what want. Last night, you have lot of power. Could see it all over. You hold back normally, but last night you let out, let it cover you, and it have weird effect on us. It like you..." Serenity point out, pausing out of embarrassment.
"I-I guess you wanted things, and your power appeared and kinda called out to us and gave us this weird kind of command. It's hard to explain but... You were a completely different, well, you last night." Rose added. "I-I kind of like it, last night I see side of you I always want to see, so I not have too much of problem with what happen." Serenity affirmed. "Y-Yeah, it was kinda hot. What we did was weird but something about you made it, well, good. But... Alicia, she..." Rose explained, pausing while facing the door. "Snake not like much. I not say it was rape, but you did force snake down. Make her do things. She give in at end of it, but took time. I like way you treated her though. For me it turn on, but for snake... I not like making feel bad, but you pretty mean to her last night." Serenity revealed, causing Chris to turn pale again before pulling a pose and expression straight from the painting of The Scream and slumping on all fours, almost as if a dark cloud had appeared over his head. "W-Well keep in mind she did enjoy it in the end!" Rose point out reassuringly. "That doesn't matter!!" Chris snapped back making the rabbit jump back in surprise. "Ooohhh maaaaaan..." Chris groaned, sitting in a slumped position on the floor before the two. "I forced her down? What... What else did I do to her?" he asked, the two flushing brightly. "W-We not able to say that." Serenity replied, clearing her throat shyly. "Th-There's no way I could say it!!" Rose panicked, waving her hands quickly before facing down embarrassed. "But... I can say you made us get on top of her... Then we did lots of things..." the rabbit point out while fidgeting. "You kinda made her watch you do stuff with us, and you made her do stuff too." she added before letting out a squeal and shouting "so embarrassing!!" before facing away with a giggle.
Continuing to sit with a slump, Chris groaned in a depressed state, unable to recall what he'd done the night before as the two Pokemon fidget with happy looks on their faces. "How am I gonna make it up to her? How do you make up for something you don't even remember?!" he panicked before jolting wide eyed. "I-I told her I didn't remember! Isn't that even worse? That IS worse!!" he panicked as he shot up and paced in a circle. "Oh man, oh man oh man. Bad, bad bad bad." he muttered, feeling another round of pain running through his head making him pause and groan. Seeing this, the girls paused their fidgeting and tilt their heads. "You okay? Not look good." Serenity point out. "D-Don't worry about me! I gotta find a way to fix things!" he replied before pacing again. "What did I do...?" he asked himself, trying to recall whatever possible. "He really can't remember, it makes me feel bad." Rose point out. "It make me feel bad because he not remember how he..." Serenity added before showing an awkward smile. "Don't be that way!" Rose lectured, nudging the Pokemon making Serenity jolt and apologize. "I-I admit that's a downer for me too... He was good last night." she agreed before the two looked at him again. After a moment, Serenity crossed her arms before walking up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder with a sudden "hey!" making Chris freeze and face her. "Let me see if can find memories." she nodded. "F-Find them? Y-You mean go in my head?" he asked, Serenity nodding once more. "C-Can you?!" he asked, taking her hands in his making the Pokemon jolt and blush in surprise. "N-Not promise but can try." she replied. Letting out a sigh of relief, Chris agreed, allowing the Pokemon to hold his head between her hands while closing her eyes before opening them wide, showing them glowing a bright color of white with just a hint of pink as she searched through his mind.
"W-Well?" he asked as her hands released a small aura. "Not find ye...!!" she replied before suddenly snickering and biting her lip, her cheeks bulging as she went through his memories. "H-Hey!! Don't go looking at stuff you're not supposed to!!" he lectured, the Pokemon apologizing while continuing her search. Finding the most recent memories, she showed a sudden serious look before an expression of surprise appeared, moving her hands around his head while tilting her own curiously. "That weird..." she muttered. "Wh-What?! Wadaya see?!" he panicked. "I not see anything, that what weird. I see some memories from yesterday, but up to certain point, memories I find all blurry. Not able to see clear. It like you there, memories here, but at same time, you not there, memories not here. I not understand..." she explained, continuing to feel around his head as if perhaps it was the positioning of her hands that was off. "A-Any luck?" he asked, the Pokemon showing a determined look with a scowl on her face before it gradually fade into a defeated expression. "I have no luck. No matter how hard try, can't see memories. It all a big blur." she sighed before pulling her hands away, her eyes returning to normal. "It really true, you really not remember at all. You not have memories TO remember." she point out. "No way... So he's right! He really doesn't know anything..." Rose chimed in, walking up to the two and looking up at Chris. "I don't get it, you said the memories were there though. So how can they not be there at the same time?" she asked. "Memories like bubbles. You can see inside. But memories from last night, they like bubbles filled with smoke. All blurry and weird inside. Memories not complete, best way to explain is broken. They no good." Serenity tried to explain.
"Aw maaaan, how am I supposed to apologize when I can't remember anything I'm apologizing for?!" he began to panic again. "I not worry too much. Snake mad now for way you treated but she get over it." Serenity assured with a wave of her hand. "B-Being forced down and made to do things isn't something you just get over!!" Chris lectured, making her jolt in surprise before glancing away. "W-Well I not know what else to say! We not have problem with it, we like it! Why let her ruin it?" she asked with her arms crossed in agitation. "Agh... I'm gonna clean up right quick. I can't go out smelling like this so gimme a minute." Chris replied before hurrying into the bathroom, leaving Serenity and Rose alone. "I guess this is kinda different... Making her do things like that is a lot different than making her do something like try a new food she doesn't know about or making her go somewhere like this. It's a lot more of a personal thing I guess." Rose point out. "So he act like man for one night, not reason to be way she acting! He make it worth doing for us, why complain for making feel good?" Serenity asked with a scowl. "I-I know, I know." Rose slumped. "This is a hard thing to talk about..." she added with a sigh. Sitting together on the couch to wait for him, both suddenly jolt in surprise when they heard a knock at the door moments later. "I bet that snake now." Serenity scowled. "I-I'll get it." Rose offered, hurrying off the couch and to the door before peeking outside. "Ah, m-madam Rose, good morning to you." Gerald smiled nervously. "O-Oh, hello." Rose replied, blinking in surprise before opening the door further. "Is something wrong?" she asked, welcoming the butler in, noticing he was toting Chris's normal clothes and staff.
"He left his belongings in my room last night after changing into the outfit I brought, I thought it best to return them post haste. On the way, I passed madam Alicia who seemed a tad... Agitated. Has something happened?" he asked, Rose and Serenity looking at one another. "W-Well, kinda." the rabbit nodded. "Oh dear..." Gerald muttered, setting Chris's things on a nearby table. "He came into the room last night and was really different compared to normal." Rose point out. "When he first walk in, he smell funny too. We not know what happen before he come back, and when I try to find out, his memories no good. All blurry... You know what happen? What make him way he was?" Serenity asked, walking up with her arms crossed. "I-I'm afraid it's my fault." Gerald confessed with slight sweat on his face. "I thought it appropriate to enjoy a spot of brandy last night, that's alcohol you see, and he joined in and had a bit too much." he explained. "W-We both did, admittedly. I'm ashamed for allowing him to touch so much of the stuff... I'm terribly sorry." he apologized. "Alcohol?" the two replied simultaneously, tilting their heads. "I-It's a drink that makes one feel relaxed. When one drinks too much, it affects them in often unsavory ways. It can alter ones personality, their behavior can be drastically different than usual... Brandy is a very potent type of alcohol as well, and it being his first time, I'm afraid he likely couldn't handle it." he explained. "Th-Then again, we went through two bottles of the stuff. It affected me as well by the time we were finished. Being honest, I can't even remember much. Once we went through several glasses, things became a blur." he confessed, scratching his cheek nervously.
"Alcohol make you forget? You not have memory?" Serenity asked. "I-Indeed madam. When one has too much, it also has an affect on his or her memories. They can be altered, or wiped out entirely. Has he had any similar issues?" the butler asked. "Y-Yeah. He doesn't really remember anything from last night. It's kind of disappointing actually." Rose replied. "At least we know what cause things." Serenity nodded, thanking Gerald as he looked around the room. "D-Do forgive me, but what IS that aroma wafting about? It smells rather ghastly." he point out, the girls jolting before rushing to the trash cans and quickly tying the bags. "W-We not feel too good this morning. We all get sick... Sorry." Serenity apologized. "You were sick again?" Gerald asked, blinking in surprise. "Y-Yeah, and this time we all got sick. I think she spread it to us last night." Rose point out. Looking at the two, he faced Serenity and raised an eyebrow. "Wh-What wrong?" she asked. "You know madam, in my line of work, there are various things I've learned to recognize... Would it be too rude of me to ask if I might check something? Just for a moment?" he asked, Serenity blinking at him and nodding. "O-Okay, what want to check?" she asked as the butler walked up, looking her over curiously. "Mmm... I noticed it the other day. There's something different about you that wasn't there before." he point out, the Pokemon tensing up from his closeness as he squat and looked closely at her stomach. "I'm going to put some pressure on a few points, try to remain still." he coaxed while reaching out, causing Serenity to jolt and tighten her fists as his fingers pressed into her stomach. "Ah huh..." he muttered, feeling around and pressing different spots making Serenity jolt and flinch.
Guiding his touch further down her torso, he continued pressing around with a focused look on his face, almost as if he were looking through her as he felt around. "Right around here... Little bit." he muttered before facing Rose and motioning for the rabbit to come over. Pointing at herself, she blinked curiously before nodding and doing as told. "Now I'll do the same to you. Give me a moment." he nodded before feeling around her stomach and lower torso as well, pressing several spots making her jolt and snicker from the sensation. "That tickles." she replied. "Beg pardon, just satisfying a bit of curiosity." he assured before going back to Serenity, switching between the two as he found a specific spot on each worth focusing on, feeling and pressing around. "...About a week in it feels like..." he muttered before backing away and standing. "Alright then, I appreciate it." he nodded with a smile, the two blinking at him bewildered. "What was all the muttering about? What about a week?" Rose asked, tilting her head curiously. "Why want to touch so much?" Serenity added, looking down and poking her stomach. "Find something wrong? Reason why we sick?" she asked. "Don't be concerned madam. Rest assured you're a tad ill, but not for a bad reason. Give it time, you'll see." he chuckled, not wanting to spoil what was to come. Turning away, he rubbed his chin with a smirk. "It seems it happened around the same time, that means madam Alicia is likely a week in herself... They'll have them around the same time." he nodded. "I not like secrets, if know what making us sick, tell us!" Serenity scowled in agitation. "N-Not to worry madam! They're all good things rest assured! The sickness, the moods, trust me. It all leads to something grand!" Gerald assured with a smile. "Getting sick is grand?" Rose asked with a doubtful look on her face, unable to see how throwing up could be a good thing.
"The lot of you will be ill on and off for some time, mostly in the morning hours, but the reason will be all too clear soon enough. You don't need me to explain it." Gerald assured. "Now then, about Chris and his memories..." he began, cut off when the bathroom door suddenly opened and Chris stepped out, wrapped in a towel while using another to dry his hair. "Man, dunno why but that shower really cleared my head somehow." he sighed in relief before pausing when he noticed Gerald with the girls, blinking for a moment before raising a hand. "H-Hey there." he greeted. "Y-Yes, good morning to you." Gerald smiled. "I brought your belongings that were left in my room, however as far as a clean change of clothing I'm afraid the rest of your things are still locked away in the carriage." he point out. "I-It's alright, what I wore yesterday should still be plenty clean. It won't kill me." he assured before taking his things from the table. "You uh, didn't see Alicia by chance?" he asked, the butler jolting and clearing his throat nervously. "I-Indeed, she passed by while I was on my way here. It was as if I wasn't present when she passed, she merely rushed by." he point out. "Geez, hope she didn't go outside anywhere, I haven't charged that thing you gave her..." Chris replied in a worried tone, looking toward the balcony for a moment before shaking his head. "A-Anyway, let me get dressed right quick. Be right back." he nodded, returning to the bathroom while Gerald and the girls looked at one another. "Dear me, I certainly hope she didn't run outside. It's cold enough during the daylight, and it's certainly frigid during the wee hours of the morning." he point out. "Snake not that stupid." Serenity scowled. "I-I hope not anyway." Rose smiled nervously.
After a moment, Chris returned with his normal outfit on, straightening his coat with staff in hand. Seeing this, Serenity and Rose couldn't help but smile at the familiar look. "You surprise us in new clothes, but still really like those." Serenity nodded. "R-Really? But this is the stuff I wear all the time. I thought it was a pretty bland style." he replied, looking himself over. "I guess that's why we like it so much. You always wear the same style of clothes so it makes us more comfortable when you wear that kinda stuff instead." Rose point out. "Well, thanks for liking what I wear! But, more importantly, we've really gotta find Alicia, I don't like the thought of her rushing out anywhere because of a bad attitude and winding up in bad shape." Chris affirmed before scratching his cheek nervously. "Especially since the bad attitude's my fault..." he added. "Pardon me for pressing the matter, but what exactly DID happen last night? It was only a quick passing glance, but one could tell there was a strange mixture of embarrassment and anger in madam Alicia's expression." Gerald point out. "I-I have no idea. The only thing I know is what the girls told me, and all I got from that was a pushed Alicia down and did things to all of them. I don't know any details beyond that..." Chris explained. "I-It hard to go in detail. It not easy to say. Not able to." Serenity explained, fidgeting with a blush on her face. "Y-Yeah, that's real private stuff for one. Secondly it's just... Everything that happened, it's impossible to repeat." Rose added with a giggly squeal, holding her cheeks with a blush on her face as well. "Dear me..." Gerald smiled with slight sweat on his face. "W-Well, perhaps with a bit of explanation all will be well." he assured, putting a hand on Chris's shoulder.
"Madam Alicia is a sensitive one at heart, but she's also the understanding type if one uses the right words at the right time. I know you well my boy, I've no doubt you'll find a means of patching things up perfectly." he assured with a thumbs up. "Th-Thanks for the vote of confidence." Chris smiled nervously. "You're not gonna come with us though?" he asked. "I'm sorry, but it's as I stated the other day. I must be on my way back to the mansion. We've much to do with little time to do it. Believe me, if I felt it necessary I'd remain here until all was well. I'd like to lend a hand, but I've faith in you and your capabilities of keeping things stable between you and yours here. After all, a man learns best when one is willing to let him handle things like this on his own. Pampering from an outside source will do neither you nor' yours any good. I'd wager my presence would only agitate madam Alicia as well... Relying on me for such a thing as this would likely make you less of a man in her eyes, and we don't want that, do we?" Gerald point out, Chris nodding in response. "G-Guess that's true. It'd be kinda like hiding behind your back in a way." he agreed. "That's a good man! You'll be fine, as will she. Neither of us know the details of what happened last night, but we do know one incident alone isn't enough to push any of these ladies away from you. It might take work to fix, but it won't chase them away. Not that I can promise the same should you continue making mistakes! Love is a strong bridge, but not invincible!" Gerald warned, causing Chris to jolt and rapidly shake his head. "Good man. What say you do us both a favor and never touch alcohol again, alright? At the most only a VERY minimal amount if necessary!" the butler instructed, making Chris tilt his head.
"Alcohol...? Say what now?" he asked, showing a blank look on his face making Gerald pause and look at him just as bewildered. "Good heavens, how much of your memory did you lose...?" he asked, surprised the damage goes back so far. "I dunno, stuff like sitting with you and talking some I remember, but most details are pretty vague... Oh yeah, did we get a call?" he asked, the butler taking a step back and blinking at Chris before nodding. "I-Indeed we did, you spoke with that Captain Rostron fellow. You don't remember any details of that either?" he asked, Chris crossing his arms to think it over only to groan and rub his head. "N-Nah, gives me too much of a headache tryin' to think too much at the moment." he replied, the butler scratching his cheek with a guilty look. "Dear me... Really, I can't say how sorry I am enough. I should've known better than to let you touch any of that brandy." the butler apologized. "B-Brandy?! Me?!" Chris asked in surprise. "You were in a pretty miserable state last night, rather stricken with grief and frustration. Next thing I knew you were asking for a taste of the brandy I was helping myself to and things... Were rather interesting from that point on you could say. In fact, you managed to down two bottles of the stuff." Gerald explained, glancing away embarrassed. "A-Although admittedly I helped. The both of us were rather careless. I'm at a loss myself about various details of the night, but the extent of damage done to my memories is certainly far less severe than your own. I really suggest you avoid the stuff my boy, you're simply far too ill prepared for its effects. Your tolerance truly is terrible." he point out. "W-Well yeah, never touched it... I seriously drank? THAT much?" he asked, Gerald smiling nervously an apologizing once more.
"Ah man... No wonder I woke up so off. At first even standin' felt weird. Now it's just a headache bugging me and, well, a little dizziness." Chris groaned, rubbing and shaking his head. "A-Anyways, so you said you're getting ready to leave huh?" he asked. "Indeed, my things are already in a taxi out front. I'll be off to the nearby airport in a moment, then it's a few hours over the sea before I'm back at Millennium City once more. I wanted to bid you and yours farewell before leaving and return your belongings, I'm just sorry I allowed you to indulge so much last night." the butler apologized. "N-No worries. I shouldn't have been so weak...!!" Chris replied, pausing with a jolt as if something had come back to him. "Something the matter?" Gerald asked. "N-No, dunno why but it's like I had a sudden flashback... Problem is I dunno what I was flashin' back to. Something about what I said rang a bell for some reason." he explained, crossing his arms and trying to think about it only to sigh and shake his head. "No good... It was something though. Just feel like that line was important for some reason." he shrugged, recalling what Ninetales had lectured him about the night before yet unable to paint a clear image of the memory in his mind, only remembering a connection between weakness and alcohol. "Very well then... It's best you go seek out madam Alicia now. I'm ready to leave, so would you like to see me off as you search?" Gerald asked, Chris nodding in response before asking the girls if they wanted to come, the two nodding and joining at his sides. Heading out, Chris froze when they stepped into the hall, quickly hurrying back into the room and collecting the trash bags before returning, Gerald and the girls quickly facing away with sweat on their faces.
"D-Don't wanna make Isabelle have to deal with it. O-Or that Richard guy especially." he point out, the girls jolting and glancing away nervously and nodding in agreement. "I'll just put this where it's supposed to be once we get downstairs." he nodded, heading off in front while the three followed behind. Looking around as they progressed, once they reached the lobby Chris and the group paused and scanned the area, Alicia nowhere to be seen throughout the inn as they went up to the reception area. "Oh! Good morning! Up early?" Isabelle asked, walking out from the kitchen. "Y-Yeah, had kind of a rough one so far." Chris replied. "Oh dear, is everything alright? Why are you toting so many bags? We do the cleaning for our guests you know, plus we have staff come in to help several times a week. You didn't have to go through that much trouble." she smiled. "W-We were kinda sick this morning." Chris explained, the girls giving an apology. "All of you? I can understand you and Gerald being a bit queasy considering how much you drank last night, but what on Earth could've caused the girls to get sick?" Isabelle asked, looking at Serenity and Rose in surprise. "We not know. I sick yesterday before we get here, then this morning we all sick. Think it my fault, might have spread." Serenity explained with a guilty look, scratching her cheek nervously. "Dear me, something contagious? We'll have to do a thorough sanitizing..." Isabelle replied nervously, only for Gerald to clear his throat before making his way next to Isabelle, speaking silently in her ear making Chris and the girls tilt their heads. "What's up with that?" Chris asked as Gerald backed away, Isabelle blinking wide eyed before facing the butler.
"R-Really? Truly?" she asked, pointing a finger at Serenity and Rose, the butler nodding with a smirk. "Ohhh my my my! Isn't that exciting!" she grinned. "B-Being sick is exciting? What's the deal?" Chris asked. "Oh, nothing at all dearie. Don't you fret!' Isabelle assured, waving her hand with a giggle. "Oh how I envy youth." she sighed, Chris and the girls looking at one another and shrugging in confusion. "A-Anyway, mind tellin' me where I can toss these bags? And did you see Alicia pass by down here?" he asked, Isabelle looking at him for a moment before patting her fist on her hand and looking as if a light bulb had gone off over her head. "I do believe I did! While making my way into the kitchen to check on the meals for our guests, I do remember seeing a large figure hurry by in the corner of my eye, went out the front entrance over there. Perhaps that was her?" she asked. "Oh man, she did go out?" Chris muttered nervously, Serenity letting out a sigh and shaking her head. "That stupid snake for you." she shrugged. "You said you needed to charge that thing, right?" Rose asked nervously. "Y-Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. She can't handle it out there without some kinda protection." Chris point out. "With my taxi out front, the driver could likely point out where she went. There should be a trail in the snow as well, she is rather large and there aren't any reports of snowfall happening again until later this evening, so nothing should've covered it." Gerald assured. "That's one good thing about snow, stuff's way easier to track." Chris nodded. "Would you like my husband to give you a hand? I'd be glad to take over meal preparations for a bit." Isabelle offered. "N-No thanks. It's something best done on my own. Gerald point that out a bit ago." Chris replied, waving his hand and thanking her anyway.
"Alright then... I do hope you find her quickly. As far as the trash, you'll find the bin for it at the side of the building. They pick up trash this afternoon so we needn't worry about any smells. Feel free to toss it there while you look for Alicia." Isabelle smiled. "I'll do that then, thanks." Chris nodded. "Well then, shall we be on our way?" Gerald asked, Chris and the girls nodding before heading toward the exit. However, just as they reached the door, a loud and gruff voice shout out, causing them to freeze before turning, seeing Richard walking up from the kitchen before standing in front of Chris, looming over with his arms crossed and an irritated look. "S-S-Sir?" Chris asked, sweating slightly with his eyes widened, still awestruck by the size of the man. "Takes a sorry man to get drunk and abuse a woman." he point out, causing Chris to jolt. "N-No need for that my good man." Gerald smiled nervously, only for the grizzly behemoth to toss a glare the butlers way. "Takes a sorry man to let a younger one who's never had any alcohol get so drunk." Richard lectured, making Gerald let out an "urk!" of sorts and glance away with a guilty look. "If she doesn't forgive you, that's what you deserve. Don't force the lady to let things go by tryin' to get pity or cause guilt. Don't make excuses. You wanna be a real man, just fess up, apologize as best ya' can, and let her decide how to react on her own time. Don't push her to forgive ya'. And if she wants space, you give it to her, you got me?" he asked, Chris inching back nervously and nodding. "You're a rookie. Don't go messin' up again. A lady can love ya' more than anything in the world, and still run away if you mess up too much. Don't push your luck." he warned before heading back into the kitchen, leaving Chris sweating in silence and simply nodding in response.
"Come now Richard, was that necessary?" Isabelle asked, scowling at her husband. "Don't wanna see em' ruin a good thing. Needs to learn to appreciate what he's got better, be more careful." Richard replied, turning back causing Chris to jolt before entering the kitchen, Isabelle apologizing to the group. "N-No worries." Chris waved with a nervous smile, turning toward the door and scratching his cheek. "G-Geez..." he muttered, feeling a sharp sting inside from her husbands words before heading out. "Kinda ruined their views of me, didn't I?" Chris asked, Gerald glancing away nervously. "We both did my boy. I must admit though, Richard wasn't wrong." the butler affirmed, Chris nodding in response. "So, that's your ride huh?" he asked, the group walking up to the taxi as the driver stepped out with a bow. "That'd be it... I must apologize again for allowing last night to occur." Gerald repeat with a bow. "H-Hey, we're both at fault. I shouldn't have touched the stuff in the first place. I might not remember doing it, but believe you me I'll never do it again." Chris assured. "I'd say it's for the best... Well, then, I suppose I'll be on my way." Gerald nodded, the two looking at one another for a moment before suddenly embracing. "I'm sure gonna miss ya'. Hope we see each other again soon." Chris smiled. "Indeed dear boy. You do your best at fixing things between yourself and madam Alicia so next time we meet everything's as it should be. You and yours should always be together and happy. I know you can do it." the butler assured with a thumbs up, giving Chris a pat on the back. "Until next time then?" he asked, offering a hand. Taking it, Chris nodded with a "yeah" in response before the driver let Gerald into the car, the butler rolling down his window and offering another wave.
"All of you, take care. If ever you need anything, the master and his wife along with myself and many others are always here for you. All you need to do is call and we'll do whatever we can." he assured, Chris and the girls nodding in response. "It good to see again. Not many humans I can say that too." Serenity waved. "Hope we meet again soon!" Rose waved with a grin. "I'm flattered madam Serenity, and to you as well madam Rose." Gerald chuckled before bidding Chris farewell as the driver returned to his seat and started driving off. "And there he goes..." Chris muttered, continuing to wave with a slightly somber looking smile. "We meet again, not worry." Serenity assured, patting him on the shoulder. "Yeah! And you've still got us!" Rose added, holding his hand. "Heh, yeah. Just hope I can keep all of you." he replied, looking around nervously. "We've gotta find...!!" he added, pausing when they heard Gerald shouting as the taxi drove off, his head out the window. "By the way, congratulations!!!" he shout with a grin, waving once more before pulling his head back in and rolling up the window causing Chris and the girls to let out a collective "huh?" and blink in bewilderment. "What's that about?" he asked, looking at the girls. "I not know. Don't ask me." Serenity shrugged. "Me neither... He's kinda weird today." Rose added, Chris looking at the two and tilting his head confused before turning and watching the taxi disappear into the town. "Well... Guess we'll start searchin' then." he muttered before making his way around the inn. Along the way, he noticed a large trail left in the snow by Alicia that went along the same path they were walking, with Chris pausing at the bins to toss away the bags he'd been toting.
"Looks like she's around back somewhere." he point out. "I not think she go far. If she did then snake really stupid." Serenity scoffed. "I really don't think calling her stupid so much is necessary." Rose point out. "I gotta agree with her. You could talk a bit nicer about her. You owe her that much." Chris point out, causing Serenity to cross her arms and face away with a scowl. "She saved both of us too you know. Remember back when you were still a Kirlia and she helped you by getting that food out of your throat? And she dived into the sea for me so you owe her at least a little more respect." he reminded, Serenity thinking back and letting out a sigh with a nod. "Okay, okay. Guess not call stupid AS much." she agreed. "How about not at all? That'd be nice." Rose point out. "I work on it." Serenity scowled. "Alright, just forget about it for the time being. Right now we gotta find her before anything happens." Chris affirmed as they followed her trail, heading to the back of the inn and noticing it went toward the barn. "Huh, she must've went to the carriage." he muttered. "Cold bad for her, should have known." Serenity point out. "Yep, didn't go far. Just enough for some privacy." Rose added. "Y-Yeah... Hope she doesn't mind giving up some of that privacy long enough for me to apologize properly at least." Chris nodded before they made their way along. Heading into the barn, they found the lights of the carriage on and heard the heater running, while Rapidash was standing in a stall munching on some hay left by Gerald, looking at the group and scowling before shaking its head and continuing its meal. Walking up to the carriage, Chris knocked on the door, calling out to the snake only to get an irritated "go away!!" in response.
"L-Listen to me! I don't remember anything that happened! I give you my word that's the truth!" he assured. "You proved last night your words mean nothing!!" the snake snapped. "I know I messed up last night!! Gerald helped fill in a few things... I got drunk with him and I obviously did stupid things because of it! I'm not a drinker and because of that it really messed me up! I don't even remember drinking! That's how bad it screwed with my mind!" he explained. "I screwed up last night. I did things I shouldn't have because of things I had going on in my head and it caused me to make a mistake! I'm not saying you have to, but I'm asking you to forgive me for what I did last night... Even if I don't remember anything, I'm serious when I say I'm sorry for everything I did! Whether you forgive me or not I promise to do my best to make up for it. If you want me to stay away from you then I will. I'll stay away as long as you want!" he affirmed. "How am I supposed to accept an apology from you when you keep saying how you remember nothing? What good is apologizing if you don't remember what you're apologizing for?! That makes the apology empty!" the snake snapped. "You humiliated me! You degraded me and lowered me to the level of a mere toy for your satisfaction! There was no feeling! No care! Just self gratification! You placed yourself atop of me as if I were nothing but something for you to own and control!" she argued. Stepping up, Serenity and Rose were about to say something, only for Chris to reach out his arm and object, shaking his head. "If you want to stay away from me now, I understand. If you want me to back off and avoid you, then I will." Chris assured.
"I had to spend the entire night trying to clean the filth off and out of my body you defiled me with. You did things to me I specifically objected to!" Alicia snapped. "You enjoy it!!" Serenity suddenly argued. "You go crazy when he do things!! Not act like didn't enjoy!! You just want pity!! Want pampered!!" she added. "Who are you to butt into this?! You're disgusting!! How could you enjoy any of that?!" the snake snapped. "I-It's just in our nature. We couldn't help finding attraction in what he did to us. It was really amazing in the moment... You did feel the same you know." Rose affirmed. "You're sick in the head that's why you liked it!! You enjoy torture!!" Alicia argued, making the rabbit jolt and face down. Twitching an eye, Serenity was about to rip open the carriage, forming sharp claws only for Chris to halt her again. "That's enough, she's right. You two need to stay out of this one." he affirmed, the two looking at him before backing away, albeit begrudgingly. "I'm sorry Alicia, that's all I can say. I really screwed up. I was weak and that weakness hurt you in the end. I did things I'd never do in my right mind, and that's why I can say it won't happen again, because I won't drink again. That's a lesson I've learned, and whether my word means anything to you now or not, that's a promise I can make." he assured. "Shouldn't have to promise not to drink something that help you. Two of us like what it do to you, why let one mess up?" Serenity asked in agitation. "Because one of you means the same to me as the rest of you. This isn't a majority rules thing. I'm not going to let myself do anything that causes any of you this kind of pain. It's not who I am." he affirmed, facing the door again. "It's not who I am. Hurting you isn't who I am. You know that. And if not, if you don't believe me, then there's something I definitely did wrong along the way." he point out.
"Are you finished?" the snake asked, Chris responding with a "yeah" while looking around. "I'm gonna get us set up to move outta here. I wanna get everything ready for our trip ahead. Once we're done shopping, we'll head off toward the mountains. I'll have Serenity and Rose ride with me in the front so you can have some time to yourself, alright?" he asked, looking at the door only for Alicia to respond with silence. "That thing around your neck, it needs charg...!!" he added, cut off when Alicia told him she'd figured it out on her own and was already charging it herself. "A-Alright then. I'll head back into the inn and let Isabelle know we're leaving." he replied before squatting and fidgeting with the lock on the storage area beneath the carriage, finally opening it and pulling out their belongings. "It's gonna be kinda cold so put this on." he instructed, handing Serenity her white fur coat. "I had it fixed up on the ship after bein' out in the storm like it was. How is it?" he asked, the Pokemon's eyes sparkling before excitedly donning it and holding herself. "Mmm... It good." she smiled. "Rose, you want your dress? I dunno how well your fur keeps the cold off ya." he asked, the rabbit looking herself over. "I'll wear it. The brown one from our date, right?" she asked, Chris nodding and pulling it out. "Here you go! These outfits will make you girls look like the cutest things in town." he chuckled as Rose worked her way into her dress before adjusting it. "Still feels funny wearing clothes, but it's nice." she giggled. "Alright then, you two stay here with the carriage and I'll be back in a few." he instructed. "With it, not in it!!" Alicia shout. "Y-Yeah." Chris agreed, Serenity and Rose scowling at the carriage before sighing and climbing up into the front.
"Not gonna be able to handle snake like this." Serenity muttered with her arms crossed. "It's my fault so let her be. She has every right to be upset. I'm lucky she didn't hit me more than she did." Chris affirmed while putting their belongings back in the bottom of the carriage and locking them away. "I'll be back." he nodded while heading out of the barn, the two relaxing in the front seat while Alicia glanced out one of the windows from within and faced down silently, agitation remaining on her face along with a hint of confusion, the snake left at a loss of what to think of the situation herself...
