On their way back to the limo, Gerald and Gardevoir each took half of the wheelchairs remains, carrying it along to the limo with Servine leading Gardevoir along with a vine around her waist. "Ha ha... Hard to believe it..." Chris muttered, looking at the chairs pieces and down at his own legs, suddenly stumbling causing him to pause for a moment and take a few breaths before continuing on. "Seems in the end, even I needed help... To be pushed by someone else..." he chuckled, thinking back on the girls waiting for him at the lab each day and the Aegilash. "We're all human Master Chris, man and Pokemon as well to some degree or another... All beings with a heart need support from another at some point in life." Gerald told him with a nod. "Heh... Yeah... Sorry for you two having to carry the pieces though... I have to put as much focus as I can on walking as it is." he smiled nervously, Gardevoir and Gerald shaking their heads in response. "Not hard. No worry. Just happy you walk." Gardevoir told him with a smile, Servine and Buneary looking him over together and nodding in agreement. "You look a bit... Ahh... How do some say it...? A bit drunk, but you're doing fine after so long." Servine assured, giving him a thumbs up. "I wish I could have been there when you were in the hospital... But still, I'm glad I was here when you went through all the other stuff and walked again!" Buneary told him with a smile and patting his shoulder. "Hey, no worries... I'm glad you didn't have to see me stuck in bed like that. I just wish I could have healed over sooner so these three didn't have to go through so much trouble... Especially Gerald over there..." he replied, the old butler grunting as he sat his half of the wheelchair in the back of the limo. "Oh nonsense sir... You know quite well I've enjoyed every moment with you lot. Even the chaotic moments, truth be told... I haven't enjoyed such a spice in my life for some time. It made this old heart feel young again." he said with a chuckle, helping Gardevoir put her half of the chair in the back as well. "That aside... Where shall we dispose of the chair?" he asked. "Oh... I'm gonna have it shipped to my grandpas cabin... I thought it would make a nice souvenir after everything that's happened." he smiled, carefully climbing into the limo with a grunt and plopping down with a relieved sigh.
"You know... I'm kinda developing a thing for souvenirs lately... I hate getting free stuff so much, but at the same time it's nice to be able to have things to remember where you've been... People you've met and all that... Especially when a souvenir can make you look pretty good!" he chuckled, looking over his lab coat and giving a thumbs up. "Pretty good? Getting ahead of ourselves aren't we?" Servine replied, smirking before nodding and waving her hand. "Yes... It does have its charm I admit." she added, Buneary nodding as Gardevoir sat and felt him over. "Feel comfortable... That good." she told him as Gerald climbed in the front. "Yes well, we'd best be on our way then. Can't be too late on the final day of your training!" he reminded while driving off. "Ahh... Right... About it being the last day and all... Err... I'm still gonna have to go to the lab everyday though..." he told the group, each facing him with a "...do what now?" expression on their faces. "S... Sorry!! But..." he paused, poking his fingers together nervously. "Walking was only half the reason I've been there... There's a whole separate thing the professor and I've been working on that we've really gotta finish... Remember?" he asked, the girls sighing as Gerald nodded. "Right... That little side project of yours we've been kept in the dark about..." he muttered. "Well, sorry to tell you but this is the last time I'll be going there. I'd like to do other things now that you're on your feet again." Servine told him with her nose up. "Yeah... I bet... All of you would probably like to do other things aside wait for me by now." Chris replied with a nervous smile while rummaging through his rucksack. "Lets see... Where's...? Ah! Found it..." he muttered, pulling out his grandfathers Pokeball and looking it over before pulling his staff up. Looking over the end of it, he nodded before working the ball onto the end of the staff, grunting as he tried pressing it into the carving he made to hold it securely in place. "Come on... You... Fit... In..." he grumbled, pausing when a loud click came from the end of the staff. "Ah hah!! Got it!!" he grinned, trying to wiggle the ball only for it to remain snugly in place. "Hey hey!! It actually worked..." he laughed, holding the staff out for the girls and Gerald to see before allowing Gardevoir to feel it over. "Now he doesn't have to be cooped up in the rucksack along with the other stuff... He can always be right out here with us wherever we go..." he said, feeling the Pokeball over with a warm smile. "What a touching sentiment." Gerald replied with a nod, smirking in approval. "That's not all... I also made a placeholder for..." he muttered with a pause, reaching in his rucksack once again and pulling out the bracelet containing the Mega Stone.
"I don't really have a use for it... But it's still pretty cool looking... So thought it couldn't hurt to embed it in the staff too." he added before working it into the hole he carved, the stone suddenly snapping in place as well. "Give it a test... And... Yeah, it's in there alright." he chuckled, holding it out once more for the girls to see only for them to jolt and freeze up in response, clutching their chests with a blush on their faces while looking at the stone. "O... Oy... Still acting that way?" he asked, tilting his head and looking it over himself. "Well... Maybe the stone is kind of like a... Vampire and garlic thing... It'll intimidate other Pokemon and keep them at bay maybe." he smirked, tapping on the stone as Gardevoir reached over and felt along his staff, putting her hand over his where the stone was with a sudden smile on her face. "Huh...? Well... At least not all of you are intimidated by it!" he chuckled, rubbing her on the head. "It isn't intimidation really..." Servine told him, fidgeting with a shy look. "Something about it... I can't explain it but it's exciting... When you hold it up to us and hold it close to yourself. It just makes you feel... Perhaps like everything will be alright? It isn't a bad feeling at all... Quite the opposite actually. Perhaps anticipation is the better word...?" she tried to explain, Buneary thinking it over herself. "It makes your heart suddenly beat really, really fast... You feel like something amazing is about to happen..." she added, tilting her head and crossing her arms. "I didn't feel anything like that when the other human had it though... It's weird... I only get that feeling when you have it." she told him, Servine raising an eyebrow at her before nodding. "Same here really..." she agreed, Gardevoir poking her fingers together shyly. "Good feeling... Happy and excited feeling... Kind of same feeling get when we in be...mph!!" she shout as Chris quickly covered her mouth. "In BEST mood! Yeah, I agree!" he laughed nervously as Gardevoir blinked wide eyed in confusion, the others looking at one another before smiling and shaking their heads as he pulled away with an embarrassed groan. "Geez... Watch what you say will ya...?" he told her, the shy tone in his voice causing Gardevoir to blush and smile from ear to ear before giving him a sudden hug. "You too cute..." she said, rubbing him on the head causing Chris to flush and quickly pull away. "Bah!! I'm not a pet!! Don't be like Servine..." he gurmbled, causing the girls to laugh as Gerald shook his head with a chuckle of his own. "Young love..." he muttered.
Once arriving at the lab, the group walked in together causing many scientists to look their way in surprise while making their way to the rehabilitation center. "Well well... The man finally walked in on his own two legs... After the way you went through training, you could have been walking at least a week before now..." Professor Rose said while walking towards the group. "Ahh... Ha ha... Just took a little encouragement to let the chair go... To uh... Cut myself free you could say..." he laughed nervously, thinking back on how he literally lost it by having the chair slashed in front of him. "Well, it's great to see you coming here on foot, well done." she smiled, offering a hand for him to shake before the group continued onward. "You know Chris, thanks to you, our project could really benefit mankind... You've helped us turn something created out of curiosity into something with true purpose... Real potential... We owe you a great deal of debt for your ideas..." she told him, causing Chris to laugh and wave his hand. "Nah... You had something with potential from the start! Only thing I did was re-purpose it a bit." he said with a grin, the group facing the two confused. "Regarding that... Any idea how much longer it should take before its ready for action?" he asked, walking up next to her. "Well... The team's been slaving away nearly nonstop... Some have been so excited they've worked through the night to put the finishing touches on the device. But before anything can be finished, we're going to need..." she paused, looking back. "Oh yeah... We'll need to adjust the thing to fit..." he muttered. "Well... Because of our problem, nothing will be spoiled so we can get that done whenever they're ready." he told Rose with a thumbs up. "Good... Good... I'd say another week or so and we'll be good to go then... After today we'll be finished with you so we can take our time doing the other research as well." she smirked. "You lot have given this lab some real pep in its step... We can't wait to see how everything turns out." she giggled as the others followed behind the two, muttering amongst themselves.
Walking along, Professor Rose examined Chris's staff as they reached the rehabilitation rooms, taking notice of the Mega Stone stuck firmly within. "About that little rock you've got there... We've actually got something that might be of interest to you... In commemoration of what you and that Buneary have endured together that is..." she told him, causing Chris to raise a curious eyebrow. "Look, we really don't need to be given any more stuff... Seriously, we've already been given plenty by this city..." he replied, shaking his head. "Once you're done here and have your battle with the Warden, you'll be leaving us, correct? We all have a right to send you off with something if we choose to do so." she told him, waving a finger towards his face causing him to groan. "Now then, you lot know what to do!" she told the others while taking Buneary from Gerald and heading into the gym with Chris, leaving the rest to sit in the waiting area once more. "Honestly... How rude can one be? Chatting like that in front of others, about matters we know nothing of no less!" Servine scowled, swishing her tail in irritation with her arms crossed. "I'll admit, it would be nice to be let out of the darkness..." Gerald added, sighing while sitting back in a chair. "He knows we not like secrets at all... His secrets cause trouble..." Gardevoir said while facing down. "Such as misguided attempts at thanking us for one which leads to drama... Amongst other... Things... " Servine reminded, suddenly blushing slightly as Gardevoir did the same, Gerald looking at the two and shaking his head with a smile. Throughout the day, the rehabilitation went the same as usual, with Chris and Buneary doing various exercises while Professor Rose repeatedly went up to Chris to go over various sheets and large poster sized pieces of paper, at least, that's what they appeared to be to the others outside the glass wall... But eventually, several scientists suddenly came out of the gym to take Gardevoir inside with them, only for the blind Pokemon to freak out and send them all flying into the air until Chris and Rose rushed out to calm her down. "I told you it was a bad idea to have anyone but me go near her... She uh... Still has that little dislike for human contact we discussed..." he laughed nervously while coaxing Gardevoir to let everyone down, the defensive Pokemon growling while slowly lowering her arms, Gerald and the others blinking in surprise before sighing in relief. "Alright... Just take it easy... We just need you to come with us for a minute." he told her in a gentle voice, the Pokemon clutching his arm tightly and facing different directions cautiously while Professor Rose gave Buneary to Gerald.
Once inside the gym, Chris had her sit while a group surrounded her with clipboards and measuring tape, going over the size of her head together while she clutched his hand tightly to the point the others outside could see him sweating with his eyes shut tightly in pain, biting his lip as the group took rapid notes until they were finished, finally backing away from the paranoid Pokemon allowing Chris to pull his hand away and clutch it with a look of pain and relief combined. "My word... Is he alright...?" Gerald muttered, the others tilting their heads and chatting in their Pokemon tongue causing Gerald to look at them both in surprise. "Ahh... Pardo... Oh, that's right..." he replied, looking at Gardevoir before facing the girls with a nervous laugh. "I'm afraid until she returns I cannot understand you." he reminded them, Servine letting out a groan and shaking her head while Bunearys ears slumped down, a raspy "aww..." noise coming from her in response. After a moment, Chris brought Gardevoir back to the group and let her sit on the couch, the blind Pokemon keeping a firm clutch on his hand once again causing his legs to slightly buckle as he worked her hand away. "G... Geez!! Talk about muscle..." he groaned, shaking his hand to ease the pain. "Not like... Not like at all..." she told him, wiping her head as if it were covered in dirt before holding herself. "C... Come on now... All they needed were a few measurements and stuff... Don't be that way..." he replied. "You know... Don't like anybody touching..." she said, facing down as he sighed and shook his head. "We need your help so you'll have to endure it for a little while... I'll be with you so don't worry about it." he assured her, putting a hand on her shoulder to coax her into relaxing as she nodded with a scowl on her face. "Good girl... I promise they won't do anything bad... We just have to rely on you a little to put the finishing touches on something." he told her while the others looked at the two curiously. "Alright... I'm heading back in now... You gonna be alright?" he asked. Remaining silent, he sighed and turned away to pick up Buneary, only for Gardevoir to reach out and clutch the back of his coat with a blush on her face. "Don't know what doing... Can't read mind because you block out... But when you not tell anything... Not let in mind... Usually for something good... So... Sorry for doing bad..." she told him, only for Chris to smile with a worn out look on his face and put a hand on her hand. "Tossing people in the air and still trying to get in my mind when I've told you time and again it isn't allowed... What am I going to do with you?" he told her as the guilty and confused Pokemon faced down with a sad look. "Oy oy... Forget about it... Just go easy on these people when they need you." he chuckled before heading back into the gym, leaving Gerald and Servine to look at one another bewildered and shrugging.
Once their time was up, Chris returned to the group alongside Professor Rose as she went over a few things with the scientists by her side, giving him a chance to sit with a plop between Gardevoir and Servine, the snake bouncing in the air with a shout and landing on his head trembling while Gardevoir shout and nearly swat him across the face, only for Chris to duck causing Servine to take the blow and get knocked off his head, falling behind the couch. "Ahhhh... Ha ha... Oops..." he smiled nervously, looking back at the snake as she lay groaning and rubbing her head. Reaching out cautiously, Gardevoir felt him over and sighed in relief. "S... Sorry... Startle me..." she told him before gasping and feeling his face over. "D... Did I hit you.?!" she suddenly shout as he quickly backed away. "N... Not me!! You... Kinda knocked Servine for a spin though..." he replied, looking back as she walked around the couch with a wobble in her step before sitting with a plop on the carpet. "Oh... Well that okay then..." she replied with a breath of relief, causing the snake to gasp from the insult. "What on Earth have I done to deserve THAT statement?! Should have let you choke back then at this rate..." she grumbled. "Ngh... You two will never quit... Seriously, say you're sorry. BOTH of you..." he told Gardevoir, the blind Pokemon letting out a sigh before doing so, Servine grumbling and putting her nose up. "Yes yes. Whatever and all that." she replied, waving her hand. "Don't let it get to you too much Master Chris, these girls have been stuck together sitting here for weeks now while you've recovered... They're merely... Ahh... Let's just say a bit... Tense with each other... It doesn't help considering how jealous they've been of you and Buneary as well..." he revealed, the two girls screaming "shut up!!!" simultaneously with a flush on their faces, Chris and the rabbit blinking in surprise before Buneary blushed and poked her fingers together. "...Jealous of me? Wow..." she muttered, looking up at Chris and letting out a raspy giggle as the two Pokemon crossed their arms in frustration. "Well... Those two HAVE sat here for your sake nearly every day since you began your exercises..." Professor Rose added, walking up to the group as the staff returned to the gym. "I can't say I blame them for being on a thin line with one another. They've really put themselves aside quite well for you for some time now... And while I respect how highly you regard them as one of our own kind, they ARE species of Pokemon nonetheless and have very different natures than us, to some degree or another... A different level of patience between themselves... Perhaps the fuss is out of a growing expectation for you to return the favor in some way? I'm aware that sounds selfish, but most of the Pokemon in our world love attention, and jealousy often pops up in countless cases... I'm sure they don't truly mean to come off as hateful or anything, especially considering they've gone this long as it is without fighting... It's certainly commendable as not once have I seen Pokemon behave this way... This lot definitely have a genuine appreciation towards you." she told him, looking at the Pokemon as they faced down in silence. "Ah... Well... I already intended to return the favor somehow..." he replied, rubbing the back of his head with a guilty look. "Oh of that I'm well aware..." she replied, pausing and giving him a smile before patting his shoulder. "I'm well aware..." she repeat.
"Professor Rose, we've brought you the item you requested..." one of the female scientists said as a group walked up, the woman carrying a small box in her hands before handing it over to the Professor. "Ahh... Thank you..." she replied, opening it up and smirking before looking at Chris. "Alright young man... Up until now you've done a lot for this city... In both good and... Interesting ways..." she laughed nervously as Chris raised an eyebrow. "Uhh... This isn't a reverse proposal thing is it...?"he asked with a nervous smile, causing Rose to flush as the scientists snickered and giggled behind her. "N... NO!!! Just stay silent!!" she snapped back, causing him to jump wide eyed in surprise as Gardevoir and Buneary hit themselves on the face, Servine snickering and muttering "stupid..." while Gerald groaned and shook his head. "As I was saying... You've done a remarkable thing for all of us at the laboratory as well... Thanks to you we've got a project in our hands that could revolutionize so many things... So we've got something to give you ourselves as a thank you for all the progress you've made, for all of us and yourself." she finished with a sigh, shaking her head while closing the small box and handing it to him. "Uhh... Right... Th... Thanks..." he replied nervously, slowly opening it and finding a small stone inside with different shades of brown within. "Another one...?" he muttered, carefully taking it out and looking it over. "Huh... Wadaya think girls?" he asked, holding it out to Servine only for her to touch and sniff it before backing away with a shrug. "I've got nothing... Just a pretty rock to me..." she replied as he gave it to Gardevoir. "Round... Smooth... Nice present..." she said in a bored voice, feeling for Gerald and offering to let him hold it. "Aahhh... I know why you two aren't reacting to it..." he chuckled before handing it back to Chris. "One of our researchers discovered that when working in the Kalos Region and we've been doing research on it ever since... But considering you've helped provide us with a much more ambitious project to research, we've decided to toss it your way." she told him with a smirk and a thumbs up. "Thanks but... What is it?" he asked, looking it over as the Professor shook her head. "So you've got a Key Stone yet have no idea about the stones that go with it... Whoo boy... What a man you've got under your wing... You haven't taught him about these things yet?" she laughed while looking towards Gerald, the old butler smiling nervously and waving his hand. "Alright, listen up, and listen well..." she began, taking it and holding it up along with his staff. "What you've got is the Key Stone in here... Now this stone, its called Lopunnite and it'll help your little friend there gain what you could call a..." she said, cut off as Chris put his hand up. "Now I get it... A boost of power... I know some stuff... Earn the love of a Pokemon and earn super powers..." he muttered, taking it back with a sigh while looking it over and shaking his head, looking at Buneary as the Professor blinked at him in surprise. "Ah... Yes that... Would be the case..." she replied as he looked it over again with a scowl.
"I... I apologize... This isn't something you want...? Why do you have a Key Stone then...?" she asked with a bewildered and concerned look on her face. "That guy, the Warden gave it to me so his son wouldn't have it and misuse it..." he replied. "So... This is the stone you use?" he asked, handing the Lopunnite to Buneary causing her to flush in an instant, her eyes widening as she looked at it and gulped. "I uh... Didn't think anyone had a bad reaction to those objects... They've done great things so far." Rose said while sitting in a chair across from Chris. "These stones are the exact same thing as paying someone for love in my opinion... Just more twisted... With money you pay someone for love because you want it bad enough to do so, and it's just as wrong to do that... With these things YOU are the one who gets paid for making a Pokemon care about you... Not even scientists understand the negative things it can do to the relationship between humans and Pokemon...? Humans across the world... Faking how they feel... Faking actually caring for a Pokemon just so these stones will work... I have even less hope for people if not even you scientists think about that or care... Even you... All you think about is the "positive" things they've done...? Don't tell me this laboratory intends to just dig these up hand them out to people too..." he said, looking back at Buneary as she faced up at him silently, Gardevoir and Servine listening along with Gerald and the others. "Man... I've given that speech twice now... I told the same thing to the Warden just about." he sighed, rubbing the back of his head as Buneary rubbed the stone with a touched look on her face. "We really... Haven't taken that into consideration very much... Nobody has really..." Rose replied as the scientists behind her began muttering towards one another. "Well... I can see why the Warden wanted you to have that Key Stone even though he considers you a bit of a criminal then..." she added, sitting back and crossing her arms. "Yeah... But there's another problem, especially with taking this stone in particular..." he replied, suddenly rubbing Buneary on the head. "She isn't a fighter... What good is a stone that gives a Pokemon super powers if one, they don't sit well with me, and secondly, I'm not going to let the Pokemon it works with fight? Buneary hates battling... That's why she was abused before. I'm not gonna let her travel with me just to have her do that and ruin her time with me too..." he added, suddenly taking it from Buneary as she started tearing up and handing it back towards Rose. "You want my advice? Crush the thing and quit trying to...!!" he said with a pause, both he and the Professor startled by Buneary suddenly jumping on his arm and clutching his hand with the stone inside, shaking her head as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Wh... Wadaya doing...?" he asked, pulling her back onto his lap with a confused and surprised look as she held the stone in her arms while hicking and shaking her head. "Looks like she actually wants to keep it..." Rose replied, the small rabbit nodding causing Chris to show a nervous look. "But... Well..." he muttered before letting out a sigh and shaking his head. "Honestly... You girls just make me take everything people wanna hand out, don't you...?" he said, sitting silently for a moment as the others waited for his response. "Aaagh... Alright, alright... I'll keep the stone..." he told Buneary, the rabbit looking up at him with watery eyes before turning and giving him a hug as the others nodded with smiles on their faces. "But you listen here. Don't you go thinking I'm gonna let you do anything you don't wanna do just because we've got some lousy stone, you got that?" he assured her with a scowl, Buneary wiping her eyes and nodding with a smile. "Good... All this is to me is a souvenir, nothing more, nothing less... The heart comes before power in this family." he reminded her while holding his hand out for the stone, tucking it away in his pocket with a grumble. "At least with me it won't go to some careless person... I want you to keep all of this in mind, you got me?" he told Rose and the scientists with a stern glare, all of them nodding in response. "Good... Now lets get going, I'm hung...AGH!!" he shout as Gardevoir suddenly gave him a tight hug, Servine walking up along the back of the couch and patting him on the head with a "good boy..." comment. "S... Seriously!! You girls don't have to get so... Close... When I say stuff..." he told them, blushing embarrassed and scratching his cheek as all three laughed around him. "Haaah... That's our lad..." Gerald muttered towards Rose with a chuckle as she and the others watched the group. "He's a good guy for sure... Really cheesy... But good..." she replied, nodding as the others started jotting down notes before walking off.
Once the group made their way towards the limo, Chris stopped at the exit and looked down at his legs and Buneary before glancing towards Rose. "I'm uh... Sorry for the strong reaction over the stone... I do appreciate the thought. Hope I didn't uh... You know... Hurt any feelings too badly... Yours or anyone else in there..." he told her as the others climbed into the limo. "Hey, don't worry about it! You proved you aren't so one dimensional after all AND put some new thoughts in our own minds as well!" she replied with a grin, giving him a slap on the back. "Err... Thanks? Appreciate the understanding... I hope this doesn't do anything to us regarding the..." he paused as Rose raised a hand. "No need to worry, everything's just fine. You run along now and get yourselves something good. We've got plenty of work to finish up on starting tomorrow now that the rehabilitation is finished." she told him with a thumbs up. Nodding at one another, Chris joined the others in the limo and head off into the city, leaving Rose at the entrance of the lab waving until they were out of sight. "...I suppose he isn't wrong about those stones. Perhaps it'd be best to get in touch with Oak and Sycamore about that..." she muttered while turning and heading inside, rubbing her head while sinking deep into thought. Inside the limo, Chris had already started chipping away at his staff once again, carving out a spot to insert the Lopunnite despite his thoughts toward it, wanting to do something for Buneary as he took it from his pocket and held it against the hole for measurement. "I'm... Sorry for making you take something you didn't want..." she told him with a guilty look on her face. "Bah... No worries... I'm just glad I got to tell some important people besides the Warden how important it is that they treat Pokemon with more respect than they do... Professor Rose is a good person but she especially needed to be reminded of the bad these things can cause along with the good... The more people know of the harm they can cause, the more responsible they'll be in the long run, at least with who they let use these things..." he replied, finally finishing the hole in his staff for the Lopunnite. "Alright... Now to press aaannnd..." he muttered as it suddenly popped into place. "Alright... Good good..." he nodded, trying to wiggle the stone to no avail. "Well... There you go... A new souvenir to remind us of everything we went through to stand on our own two feet again." he chuckled, lowering the top of his staff towards Buneary so she could feel the stone. "Thank you..." she replied with a smile, touching it silently as Gardevoir and Servine muttered between one another.
"S... So... Uh... I sounded pretty cool again, yeah?" he asked with a grin, the two shooting up before facing away embarrassed. "Err... Yeaaaaah...?" he asked again. "You sound nice... It sweet... But all you focus on... Buneary lately..." Gardevoir replied, poking her fingers with her face down. "Quite right... We've each sat around for you just as long as the other has... And to top it off, SHE'S been with you half the time it seems..." Servine added, pointing at the small rabbit causing her to blink and smile nervously. "Well... Yeah... With me going through training... You two make it sound like we've been running off having a bunch of dates together..." he scowled with his arms crossed, Buneary looking up at him in surprise with a flush on her face. "Date...?" she asked, causing him to jump and sweat slightly. "Ah... Ha ha... Sorry... I say stupid stuff when frustrated..." he replied, tapping himself on the head as she looked down and fidget shyly. "Oh please... A date with HIM is the last thing a girl wants... You should hear about what he tried to do for us before you came into the grou...pmph!!" she shout, cut off as Chris grabbed her and covered her mouth. "Alright alright!! I get it so don't humiliate me!!" he told her, the snake blinking in surprise before flushing brightly from being pulled against him. "Geez... I'll make things up to you girls I promise... Just give a guy some time to finish what he's gotta do... You'll get what you want soon enough, just hang on a little longer for me..." he told them, letting Servine go as she rubbed her snout. "Rude... No need to go yanking someone about..." she muttered, sitting with a plop next to him. "Man... After months I'm finally back on my feet and you girls can't even be happy about that for very long... Come on, cut me some slack. Besides, everything I'm doing is for you girls as it is... You tell me ONE thing I've done for myself since we've met... Just because I spend a bunch of time helping Buneary get better, you act like I've never spent any time with you two... Like nothings ever been done for you." he scowled, the two facing down with guilty looks. "I spent a lot of time getting the both of you back on your feet as well... Are you telling me I'm supposed to care about you two but not bother with any other people or Pokemon who need me? You both know that isn't really a choice I can make... I have to go where I'm needed. I thought you girls accepted that?" he asked, the two jolting and letting out a groan with an "oh yeah..." from the reminder.
Letting out a sigh, he pat both Gardevoir and Servine on the head. "You girls know how much I care. Stop acting like you've been forgotten just because I've been busy." he assured them before lifting his staff back up and looking it over. "Jealousy... Envy... Very ugly things... The last thing either of you should want to do is let something so pathetic get the better of you. Don't disappoint someone who thinks so much of you by letting nasty things like that catch hold of you two." he lectured as Gerald watched through the mirror. "I know you girls care about me, and you SHOULD know how much I care about you... So just be patient and I promise you'll all get something awesome for all the waiting you've had to do..." he assured. Facing him, the girls nodded in response and gave an apology, only for Chris to wave his hand in response. "Just keep behaving a little longer for me... Good things are coming, I promise." he replied. "Ha ha! You know Master Chris... I swear you lot truly do remind me of a normal, everyday family... I wish I could see more people living with their Pokemon as you do." he chuckled. "Bah... We're nothing all that special. Just a guy dealing with a bunch of frustrated girls... Or maybe children is the better word." he replied with a chuckle, giving Servine a smirk, the two crossing their arms with a scowl as Buneary scratched her cheek, unsure of how to respond to the situation. "I've never had anyone jealous over me... I know its bad but... Its also kinda nice..." she replied quietly while poking her fingers together. "The only thing anyone has done to me in the past is treat me kinda bad because I'm not a fighter... Before meeting that other human, even other Pokemon treated me just as badly... I've just always wanted to make friends... I've never thought of myself as worth much because of that. But being treated so nice by you... Having other girls jealous over me... It actually feels pretty good..." she told them with a raspy giggle, wiping a tear from her eye. "Huh... I guess... Jealousy is good for something after all...?" Chris replied with a surprised look before showing a loving smile and rubbing Buneary on the head. "So that means you two... Did something right by being the way you were... I suppose..." he added, the two facing down with embarrassed looks as he gave them a rub on the head as well. "Didn't expect to hear that kind of response to the situation... Then again I've got three very different girls by my side now, soooo I guess there's bound to be things that surprise me all the more from here on..." he muttered before suddenly clapping his hands together causing the group to jump in surprise. "Alright then, enough mushy stuff... Yo Gerald! Got any other great places to eat at around here?!" he shout with a grin, suddenly pulling the three close in his arms for a group hug as the old butler laughed in response. "I know just the place..." he replied with a thumbs up, the girls flushing as he held them close and gave them noogies.
After this, Chris spent the next two weeks at the laboratory for the most part from dawn until dusk, fervently working on the hidden project he and Professor Rose had begun alongside one another. The only difference in the situation being instead of having the girls and Gerald waiting for him, he insisted the old butler keep themselves preoccupied in the city during his time at the lab, something that confused them and aroused their curiosity all the more... Now and then, he would have Gerald bring the girls back to the lab during his stay, taking Gardevoir into the lab with him only for her to be returned to the group after each brief disappearance more bewildered than ever each time... "Good heavens madam... You mean to tell me he's spirited you away countless times, yet you've still no idea whats going on...?" Gerald asked during one of their cruises through the city. "No... Can't read any minds... It weird... When get inside certain room, it like... All my abilities... Gone... Can't do anything... But hear lots of talking... Never understand though... They put things around head and mess with face a lot... Make sit still... Really creepy..." she answered, making motions with her hands to demonstrate. "Chris say something about making perfect fit... But beyond that, lots of noise... Like fire... Things being hit... Make loud noises... Really give headache..." she added, shuddering from the experiences before taking a deep breath to relax. "Sounds to me like they're getting ready to turn you into Frankenstein..." Servine snickered, running her fingers along Gardevoirs side and making a ghost sound causing a shudder to run up her spine before trying to swipe at the snake, only for Servine to dodge and blow a raspberry. "Not funny!!" she snapped in response. "Oh do settle down you two... If Master Chris is involved, rest assured nothing bad will come of this. I'm sure he intends on doing... Something... To somehow benefit in some way..." Gerald told the bunch. "That weird part... He the one putting stuff on head and touching face the most..." she replied, mumbling to herself before quickly shaking her head and lifting up her guitar to distract herself with. "Well... I'm not really certain what to tell you madam... Just have faith..." he replied, getting a silent nod out of Gardevoir in response. "Well... From what I've learned, hes always doing good things... So this has to be a good thing too." Buneary told the group, nodding with a smile. "Yes... But that being the case, it makes things pretty boring for me..." Servine replied with a shrug. "His secrets... Really weird... First he try to show us human way to be nice to girls... Now he take me to lab, not explain anything... Let people do strange things around me... Feel... Scary..." Gardevoir muttered. "Trust him... Always will... But really not like his secrets... Least not this time..." she added.
"Oh madam... Do hush now.... You should feel ashamed for having any sense of fear." Gerald lectured, causing the group to face him. "Perhaps his attempts at doing things for you ladies is a tad misguided, but it's always with the best intentions nonetheless! He'd never allow harm of any sort to come to any of you. All this talk of what he does being weird and not liking his efforts on your behalf... Especially after how frequently he makes speeches revolving the well being of each and every one of you... Shape up Gardevoir, you hear me?" he told her sternly, leaving out his usual honorific making the group blink in surprise as Gardevoir faced down with a guilty nod. "Good... Now lets try to figure out where to go nex...!!" he said with a pause, jumping as the phone in the limo rang. "Oh... That must be him now..." Gerald muttered before picking up the line. "Yes...? Ah hah... You certainly sound... Oh! Ms. Rose, you as well? Hello to you... Ready...? For wha... I see... Alright..." he said, the girls facing him curiously while he slowed the limo to a stop. "Understood... Heavens! Calm down... No no, we're not too far... Right... We'll be there soon." he said before hanging up. "Well then... They're certainly excited..." he muttered with a surprised look on his face before looking around and changing direction. "What's going on? Do tell..." Servine asked, raising an eyebrow as Gardevoir and Buneary tilt their heads. "Well... It would appear whatever they've been working on is finally complete... They've requested we return to the laboratory post haste..." he replied. "It appears we're going to learn about this project of theirs at last... I do hope it doesn't turn out below expectations..." he added. "That's certainly out of the blue... Whatever it is, I hope they don't put their excitement before common sense. It's never wise to reveal something before it's truly ready." Servine said while waving a finger. "But... You've been as curious as the rest of us... You're ready to find out just as much as we are." Buneary replied with a smile, the snake jolting and scowling in response.
Along the way to the lab, the girls kept a lookout for the towering structure in anticipation, climbing atop the seats and pressing their faces against the window with their tails swishing about, Gardevoir remaining still and nervously clutching the cushion tightly. "Well... Two out of three isn't bad... Really madam, relax..." Gerald reminded Gardevoir, the Pokemon showing a nervous smile in response. "There it is!! We're back!!" Buneary shout while hopping excitedly causing Gardevoir to jump and dig her nails into the cushion all the more. "Oh do calm down... I was just teasing you a while ago..." Servine scowled, rolling her eyes before looking at the laboratory towering above the trees and nearby buildings. "Keep in mind what Gerald said... He's not going to do anything weird or whatever." Servine added with a nod, only to pause when thinking about the night he set up for them once more and sweat slightly. "Well... Certainly nothing stranger than what he's already done..." she laughed nervously, Buneary looking at the two and tilting her head. "Nobody's really explained what he did to me yet... Why does everybody keep mentioning whatever that was he did...?" she asked, only for the snake to go silent with a blush, Gardevoir remaining silent due to her nervous state, ignoring the two with slight sweat on her face.
Arriving at the entrance, the group were welcomed by Chris and Professor Rose standing side by side, along with seemingly most of the staff from the Millennium Laboratory surrounding them and gathering from behind. "Good heavens... I take it your surprise is special indeed..." Gerald told the two while stepping out of the limo and looking over the crowd with a shocked look on his face. "Oh... Definitely gonna be big." Chris replied with a grin, giving the old butler a thumbs up as he let out the others, getting the same look from Servine and Buneary as they climbed out together. "A lot of... People..." the small rabbit muttered, stepping behind Servine only for the snake to grumble and swat her away using her tail. "I like my space thank you..." she replied, walking up to Chris and climbing her way up his staff and along his shoulders. "Ha ha... Sorry for the intimidation..." he told Buneary with a nervous smile, reaching down and lifting her up in his arm. "That's two... Where's the guest of honor?" the Professor asked, looking inside the limo where Gardevoir remained, seemingly glued to her seat. "Ahh... She knows something's up..." Chris chuckled, walking up and poking his head in. "Come on out! I've got something really amazing waiting for all of you! That is... WE do, I mean..." he assured her, looking back at Rose with a nervous laugh. Taking a deep breath, she nodded before slowly making her way out of the limo, reaching out for him and clutching his arm tightly while stepping out next to him. "We've got everyone from the lab just about... And we've got a bunch of people waiting for us inside too!" he told the group, pointing towards the buildings upper levels causing Gerald and the girls to look at one another bewildered while Gardevoir faced down nervously. "Who... There...? What... Happening...?" she asked. "Something we'd all like to know..." Servine grumbled, crossing her arms. "Well... Since so many of our friends came to see me during my rehabilitation, I thought it would be a waste to have them here only to up and leave and miss everything... So I decided to ask them if they could take a short vacation and stick around behind the scenes so they could be here to see the big surprise too! On me of course..." he chuckled, taking out his card and letting Gardevoir feel it over. "Worth every penny to have all our pals take part..." he told the confused Pokemon before putting the card away. "Alright everyone! It's time for the main event! You know how long we've spent preparing for this, so move along!" Rose told the crowd, shooing them inside as Chris and the others followed behind.
Hearing so many people walking so closely, Gardevoir clutched Chris's arm tighter and tighter the further they went, biting her lip along the way as he tried to maintain a relaxed smile. "You're... Gonna turn my arm purple..." he told her, causing Gardevoir to gasp and let him go. "S... Sorry... Not talking... Lot of people... Nervous..." she told him. "Ahh... That's alright... We're almost there." he replied, rubbing her on the head with a chuckle. "Don't worry... This is a surprise that's gonna change all of our lives, and for the better!" he laughed, pressing a thumbs up against her hand before handing his staff to Gerald and holding her hand to guide her along, causing Gardevoir to blush wide eyed and clutch her chest while following with a nod. "Master Chris... Are you sure you don't need...?" Gerald asked, handing out the staff after seeing him stumble several times. "N... Nah... This is kinda about as good as I'm gonna get, but I can handle this much nonetheless." he assured with a nod, Buneary and Servine looking at him with a look of curiosity and concern combined. "Not... Walk better...?" Gardevoir asked while continuing to follow, having felt his missteps from holding hands. "No worries! The only thing I care about is being on my feet again period. I really owe you girls for all the support... And this is my first big step in repaying you! For that and everything else you've done just for sticking by my side, especially knowing where life could throw us because of a certain someone..." he chuckled, looking up at his forehead before stopping at a pair of double doors with the others. "Besides... Don't you remember? I made you a promise, and I intend to make it happen! Right here and now..." he told her, causing the group to jump in surprise. "You mean... You've found a way...?" Gerald asked, wide eyed and in shock once again. "Yep... Pretty much! And its all thanks to the Professor and the others!" he laughed with a thumbs up. Nodding at the staff, they opened the double doors and went in together, standing in a large room with a huge machine in the center surrounded by controls. "Alright everyone... Head inside the viewing room with our guests while we prepare everything in here!" Rose ordered the staff, pointing out the window where Guile and Lia sat alongside the Warden and several officers, N, the Pokemon center receptionist and several of her own staff, even the head of the city and his receptionist were sitting patiently! Along with the news crew he had tailing Chris since the roller coaster fiasco... "Oh... And they aren't the only ones... The screen please!" Rose ordered, the staff suddenly turning on the giant monitor mounted on the wall on the other side of the room, showing a split view of the Millennium Hospitals playroom with the children and staff shouting and waving at the group, the other half of the screen remaining covered in static. "Odd... Hold on while we fix the problem." Rose muttered to Chris, heading to the controls and making a call as the staff went into the waiting room as ordered.
"You too Gerald... You go with him girls." he told Buneary and Servine, handing them both to him with a wave. "A... Are you certain...? What IS all this...?" Gerald asked, only for Chris to turn him and give him a nudge towards the doors. "Go on... Go on!! You'll see!!" he grinned, giving a final thumbs up as they went inside and the staff closed the doors behind them. On the screen, all of the children were shouting for Gardevoir, causing the Pokemon to jump in a defensive pose and face different directions in a panic. "Relax, relax!!" Chris assured her, easing her arms down with a nervous laugh. "The kids from the hospital... We've got them on a TV screen... They're gonna watch what's about to happen too." he explained, walking her towards the monitor and helping her wave back. "Any luck with the other side?" Chris asked, Rose waving with her hand while continuing to talk on the phone. "Alright sir... Time to get ready..." one of the scientists told him, leading the two up to the machine and sitting each of them in a chair connected to it. "Alright... This is it..." Chris muttered with a deep breath. "Chris... What going on...? Really scared..." Gardevoir asked, her voice shaking along with her body as he reached over to her and held her hand. "Don't worry... I'm right here with you... Everything's gonna be just fine..." he assured her as she clutched his hand tightly in response. Walking up to Chris, Professor Rose lowered a device over his head, positioning a part connected to it resembling a steampunk-esque monocle over one of his eyes. "They should have the second screen up any second..." she muttered in his ear with a nod before heading over to Gardevoir, lowering an identical device over her head with the same monocle attachment positioned over her eye as well, causing the already terrified Pokemon to whimper. "Shhh... Everything's fine... Now listen to me... In a minute, these people are going to turn on the thing that turns off your psychic abilities... That way if you get nervous, you won't mess up the machine by mistake... This is a one shot deal, so we've gotta make sure nothing goes wrong... Alright...?" he explained, Gardevoir gulping with a raspy "yes" in response.
After Rose and the staff checked everything over a few times, Chris and the others suddenly saw the second half of the monitor flash on, revealing the elders back in his village along with his grandfathers Pokemon, all gathered with anxious looks on their faces before letting out a sudden cheer together from being able to see him. "Its my home Gardevoir! Everyone there will get to see this too!" he laughed, waving at the screen as she raised a trembling hand herself before lowering her arm and clutching the arm of her chair. "Good to see you all!! I hope the team who showed up gave you enough of an explanation of everything..." he said with a nervous smile, the group nodding in response and giving a thumbs up. "Alright everybody! We're ready to start her up!" Rose shout, walking up to Chris and Gardevoir to check the devices on their heads one last time. "...You know we can't guarantee this will work... Even with all of us working together on it... It's still 50-50 at best..." she muttered in Chris's ear. "If this fails... We don't know what it could do to you... This machine will focus on you before her... So you'll be the one harmed if the first half of the project goes... Wrong... You're 100% on this...? No regrets...?" she asked. "Hey... This is the only wish she's ever had... And I made a promise to make it come true... I don't go back on my word Rose. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, for us and all of you... Right...? I'll take the chance..." he replied with a smirk as she stepped back. "Alright... Well then..." she said with a pause, returning to the controls as the staff dimmed the lights and mute the monitor in front of them. "Good luck... To all of us..." she finished, picking up a communicator and turning on the intercoms. "Attention staff, we're shutting down all non-essential portions of the laboratory! The Celebi Project is about to activate! I repeat, we're activating Project Celebi! Please bear with us until we're finished!" she said, sending the announcement throughout the structure before hovering her hand over a lever. "Here we go..."
Pulling the lever, the power throughout the structure could be heard shutting down, as though the building itself were groaning throughout its walls. "Power off... Beginning phase one... Activation..." Rose said, pushing up on a second lever causing the machine to slowly come to life behind the two, countless monitors flashing on all around them with one featuring what looked like Chris's face next to Gardevoirs. "Device activated... Checking power... All is stable..." Rose said as Gardevoir bit her lip. "Hey... Don't worry..." Chris assured her, giving her hand a tighter grasp. "This is it... Your wish... My promise... It's about to come true..." he told the terrified Pokemon with a chuckle. "Beginning phase two... Suppression of psychic abilities..." Rose announced, flipping several switches just as Gardevoir was about to say something, only for her Pokemon voice to come out causing her to whimper with a tear in her eye. "Alright... This is it everyone..." Rose announced, looking at the viewing room and the monitor showing the rest watching with a nod before facing Chris. "Whatever you do, don't blink your left eye during the process... Keep it open as wide as you can to make the task easier on the machine..." she warned. "Got it... Start her up Professor..." he replied with a thumbs up. "You're a brave man... Beginning stage three..." she paused, hovering her hand over another switch. "...Extraction of sight..." she finished with a deep breath, nodding at the staff while flipping it. Looking at Chris and the monitor showing his face, he dug his nails into the chair nervously as the machine began to roar behind them, with various noises and beeping coming from every direction as the device on his head began glowing. Looking into the monocle-esque attachment, Chris saw countless tiny lights and lasers come to life as if it were taking pictures of his eye and scanning it. "Keep it open... Wide as you can..." Rose reminded as they watched the monitor. "Everything normal... System stable... Extraction commencing... 1%... 5%... 10%..." one of the scientists announced as Chris watched the lights and lasers in the monocle begin to blur. "So... The man's willing to surrender that much..." the Warden muttered, rubbing his chin while watching. "Extraordinary... To think he would go so far..." Gerald added, watching in awe as Buneary and Servine stood against the glass wide eyed. "Ha ha... That's him for you... Never met a human like em'..." N said, crossing his arms with a proud smirk. "My my... How proud I am to have his painting on my wall... I knew he would do great things..." Guile chuckled, nodding with a smile of his own. "Sure hope the thing doesn't mess up..." Lia added, the rest looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "Whaaat?! I'm serious!! This is risky stuff!!" she replied as they continued watching.
"Extraction at 50%... 60%... 65%... How you holding up Chris?" Rose asked, getting a thumbs up from him in response. Looking through the monocle, he could barely make anything out as the lasers started blurring in what seemed like thousands of directions. "Professor, we've hit 80%, ready?" one of the women asked. "Alright... Beginning phase four... Total extraction... Here we go!" she shout, suddenly pressing one of the large buttons on her control panel causing an alarm to sound from the machine. In response, Gardevoir started to panic, only for Chris to tug on her hand. "Stay calm... Stay calm!! This is just part of everything... Relax..." he assured her, rubbing the back of her hand as the monocle began glowing, sending a bright light into his eye. After a moment, the light he saw suddenly vanished in a flash, appearing to him as though his eye had been literally sucked out as the machine slowly calmed down behind them, a sudden burst of steam erupting from the top as if it were letting out a sigh of relief of its own as the staff did the same. "You alright Chris...? Its done on your side." Rose told him. "Everything's fine... Kinda dark, but fine!" he laughed as they brightened the lights in the room. "Alright... Lets give the machine a moment to prep everything..." she said, walking up to Chris and lifting the device from his head and looking in his eye. "No physical damage... I was afraid it might hurt you in some way... That's excellent... So there's nothing...?" she asked, Chris rubbing his eye and shaking his head in response. "Dark as a cave at night." he answered as Gardevoir sat facing him, tilting her head with a concerned look as everyone on the monitor and in the viewing room gave him a thumbs up and applaud. After a moment of checking over the machine and Gardevoirs side of the device, an alarm began to sound as several monitors turned green. "Well... Time for the second part... Are you ready for some magic Gardevoir...?" Rose chuckled, giving her shoulder a pat. "Scared... Scared... Scared...!!" she replied, tears streaming from her eyes as she trembled from head to toe. "Hey now... You're finally going to see the world! Now listen... We need you to stay calm... Alright...? You've got to keep still... Keep your right eye open, this side here, nice and wide for us... You do that, and I promise everything will go just fine... You've got my word..." she assured the Pokemon with a firm hand shake. "It doesn't hurt at all... I swear it... And don't forget, I'm right here with you..." Chris reminded her, standing and getting down on a knee in front of her before holding her hands together in his. "Alright then... Do it Professor..." he said with a nod. "Alright... Here we go everyone..." she replied while returning to the controls and standing in front of the other half controlling Gardevoirs device, activating the program to suppress Gardevoirs abilities once again. Dimming the lights and muting the monitor with everyone watching once again, she hovered her hand over the lever on Gardevoirs controls. "Beginning phase five... Restoration... Begin!" she ordered, pushing up the lever causing the machine to roar once more and activate the device over Gardevoirs head, causing it to glow the same as Chris's had. "Scanning now... Double checking compatibility... Conversion successful... Power... Within permissible parameters... Success rate... Still in the green, but down to 40% nonetheless... Continue anyways?" one of the men asked, Rose looking at Chris as he nodded firmly. "Alright... Do it!" she ordered, flipping various switches as the staff input various commands into the system causing the monocle over Gardevoirs eye to begin glowing as well. "Its begun Professor... Restoration activating smoothly... Level of restoration... 1%... 3%... 5%... 8%... 13%..." one of the women began counting as Gardevoir jolt in her seat, making terrified sounds as Chris held her hands tightly. "Stay still!! Keep your eye open... Just let the machine work... I'm here... I'm here." he reminded, pulling her hands up and giving them a kiss before rubbing them gently.
"30%... 36%... 42%... How's everything going? Give us a thumbs up if you feel alright Gardevoir!" Rose said, looking towards the Pokemon nervously as she raised a trembling thumbs up in response before clutching Chris's hand as she made terrified noises, squeezing his hands tighter and tighter as her percentage of vision increased and she saw the lasers and lights flashing around her eye. "Professor, we've reached 50%!!" one of the women shout excitedly, looking over the monitor showing Gardevoirs face, a bar filling in her right eye more and more. "Power still in the green... Dipping towards yellow... Odds of success at 38%..." another said, the group looking over various monitors nervously. "Half way there... Come on... Come onnn..." Rose muttered as everybody in the viewing room and watching through the large monitor watched, seemingly frozen in anticipation as the machine started roaring louder from the strain of converting sight between a human and Pokemon. "It'll work... It'll work..." Chris muttered, keeping a firm grasp on Gardevoirs hands while looking up at the machine. "Hold together... Come on..." he thought to himself. "We've passed 60% Professor and climbing!!! 62%... 65%... 69%... Passing 70%!!! We're in the yellow, but it's still climbing, system remaining stable!!!" another shout excitedly. Watching the monitors, everyone in the waiting room and watching through the monitor began standing one by one, holding each others hands as the staff watched and did the same before counting together. "71%!!! 74%!!! 77%!!! 80%!!!" they shout in unison as the device on Gardevoir began glowing brighter and brighter. "This is it everyone!!!" Rose shout, hovering her hand over another large button on the control panel with a trembling hand. "This is it... This is it...!!! The worlds FIRST transplant without surgery... We're doing it... If this works... We'll have created a revolution... In both technology, and medicine..." she muttered with a deep breath. "Here we go... Here we go!!! FINAL phase... Total restoration!!!" she shout, the staff joining her and pressing the button together causing the machine to let out a final roar of power, creating a flash so bright from the device on Gardevoir they had to shield their eyes. "Almost there Professor!! Still in yellow... Climbing... Climbing... We're in the red!!" one of the men shout as the machine bellowed steam and began trembling, causing the room to shake as alarms went off. "Steady... Steady... Steeeaaady....!!!" she shout with her hand up, carefully watching over the monitors with a hand shielding her eyes from the light.
"...Almost ready. Almooossst... NOW!!! Shut it down!!!" she ordered. Quickly working together, they turned off the machine and everything connected, causing it to let out another sudden burst of steam as if sighing in relief itself alongside everyone watching. "...So that's it? How does everything look...?" Chris asked, standing and facing the scientists nervously as Gardevoir kept a firm clutch on his hands. "From here it looks like everything went smoothly... I'm a little concerned about the last few seconds however..." she replied as the group walked up to the two. "Gardevoir...? You hear me? Are you alright...?" Rose asked, putting her hand on the Pokemons shoulder once more. "F... Fine... Terrified... But fine..." she replied as Rose began adjusting the device on her head to remove it. "NO!!! Not here!!!" Chris shout, causing everyone to jump in surprise. "What?!! What wrong?!!" Gardevoir panicked, suddenly feeling her head over. "Nothing!! Just don't take it off yet... Not here..." he repeat, gently pulling her arms down as everyone in the viewing room were allowed out and into the lab. "So... You actually did it..." the Warden muttered, walking up and looking him in the eye, seeing the color gone with a glaze over it. "I can't believe it... In all my years, I've never seen a man do such a thing... Especially when the odds were so... Even for a fellow human..." Gerald added, walking up and looking him over with a shocked face. "What in heavens name did you do...?" Servine asked, slithering up onto Geralds shoulder and looking him over as well, going wide eyed and gasping when she looked at his eye. "Y... Your..." she muttered as N and the others walked up behind them. "You're a man of many miracles..." N smiled, holding his hand out and shaking Chris's with a nod. "I've met some pretty good people in this world since my journey began... But after what I've just seen, you may be the best yet..." he chuckled as Rose detached the device on Gardevoir from the machine and helped her stand.
"Well... We can't be certain if everything worked right just yet..." Chris replied, taking his staff from Gerald before allowing Gardevoir to cling to his arm once again. "My eye... Feel strange... I'm scared..." she said, the group looking at her as Chris held her hand. "Don't worry... That's not a bad thing..." he assured her as Buneary went up and looked at him curiously. "Ahh... There you are..." he chuckled as Gerald lift her up. "...Eye..." she muttered, putting her paw over one of her eyes causing him to laugh nervously. "Yeah... Gonna have to get used to it..." he replied. Looking towards the professor, the Pokemon center staff and Warden were keeping her busy with conversation, going over the machine and everything it did while everybody continued watching them on the monitor above. "I really want to thank all of you for coming together to see this for me... I really appreciate it..." he smiled while waving. "What happens now...?" one of the children asked. "Don't worry... You'll all get that answer very soon." he assured with a nod, patting Gardevoirs hand as she faced different directions bewildered. "Don't just leave us in the dark here!! Who are all these people? Introduce us to your Pokemon!!" one of the elders on the other side of the screen said. "Ah... I'm sorry... Gerald, girls, come on up!" he smirked, motioning for them to come close. "This is my new family! Gardevoir and Servine... Buneary..." he said, pausing as his grandfathers Lopunny pushed her way towards the screen letting out a loud "aaawwww!!!" noise and waving, Buneary blinking and waving nervously in response. "And this is Gerald, as much family to me as the rest." he chuckled, putting an arm around the old butler and giving him a soft punch on the arm. "Oh heavens Master Chris, don't embarrass an old man..." he chuckled, bowing at the villagers. "You've got an amazing young man here. You should all be very proud!" he grinned, the elders laughing and nodding in response along with his grandfathers Pokemon. "So... What are we doing next exactly...?" Rose asked while walking up behind the group, the others following behind her. "Well... If this thing actually worked, I want to take off the device somewhere better than this... Somewhere really nice and scenic, ya know? There's another part of my promise that's real important." he grinned, rubbing the back of his head embarrassed causing the rest to blink at him confused. "Ha ha... You'll all see... Could you patch them through something more... Portable?" he asked Rose, getting a nod in response as she had a laptop brought up, showing the kids and elders on the screen before shutting off the large monitor. "We're ready when you are then I suppose..." she replied, getting a nod from him in response. "Come on then everyone! To the top of the laboratory!!" he shout excitedly, leading everyone with Gardevoir sticking close to his side along the way. "Chris... What have... You done...?" she asked as he walked along. "Something that's gonna make your life a dream come true..." he replied, the curious Pokemon nodding and facing down nervously. Once everybody was at the top of the laboratory, they walked along the roof until Chris had the group stop near the edge as he positioned Gardevoir between some of the staff. "Alright... Gerald, you here... Ahh... Rose and N... Here... No over there... Riiight... Guile, Lia, right there... Little more... Err... Do you mind... Warden...?" he asked, getting everybody positioned together along with the nurses and police, the scientists positioned around the group before Chris stood in front of everyone. "Is it necessary to involve me in this...?" the Warden asked with his arms crossed. "Well... Why not? You're our friend too... If you weren't a good guy, you wouldn't have given me a chance to go, and I wouldn't have this, even if you do consider me a criminal..." he smiled in response, pointing out the Key Stone in his staff. "...You're a strange man. But at least you're one I can respect, I suppose..." he nodded. Having Rose hold the laptop screen up towards Gardevoir, he motioned for everyone to show a smile before giving the two scientists by Gardevoirs sides the thumbs up. "Alright... Remove it..." he said, the two working together to unfasten everything before pulling it off.
With her eyes tightly shut, Gardevoir remained still for a moment as the two joined the others standing before her. Slowly opening them, just enough to squint through her eyelids, they suddenly shot open wide as she froze up with a shocked look on her face. Standing with one eye glazed over and one eye full of life, tears began welling up as she looked at Chris, who was smiling warmly and waving. "You said when you could see... The first thing you wanted was to see me smile... Right? I thought I would make it even better and have all the people we've met smiling alongside me..." he told her, holding an arm out to show off the others surrounding him, a view of the city engulfed by the setting sun behind them all as tears started streaming down her face. "I... I... I ca..." she stuttered.
"You can see... I told you I'd find a way... I kept my promise..." he replied, holding his arms out to give her a hug as the others watched full of excitement and pride...
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...
That was a rough ride I tell you :) and the cliff hanger made me want to scream at you ! Do not normally get emotionally wrapped up in things but of all the Characters Gardevoir deserves for this to 100% okay.
That was a rough ride I tell you :) and the cliff hanger made me want to scream at you ! Do not norm
wow. Absolutely amazing chapter! you keep getting better and better the more you write. I seriously want someone with studio experience to try to animate this into a full series because this easily surpasses the original material! keep up the incredible work. i will keep eagerly awaiting every chapter.
wow. Absolutely amazing chapter! you keep getting better and better the more you write. I seriously
