Heartfelt Evolution
Several months have passed since the tragic death of Pikachu. As promised, Ash guided Dawn throughout the Hoenn region as she honed her skills as a Coordinator. Once Dawn felt her skills had been sharpened enough, she and Ash returned to Sinnoh so he could begin his Sinnoh League challenge. Now with the Coal and Forest Badges in his possession, Ash and Dawn arrived in the bustling city of Hearthome where all of the Sinnoh region's Pokémon Contests took place.
"Hoo... Made it at last..." Dawn panted, clearly exhausted from their long trek through the tunnels of Mt. Coronet. Ash nodded, "I'm pretty beat too... Where can we grab a bite to eat?" Dawn replied, "First thing's first. Let's find a hotel and relax for the rest of the day. We've earned it." Freya, who was riding on Ash's shoulder, seemed equally interested in relaxing for the remainder of the day. With a sway in their steps, the group of three shuffled towards the nearest hotel.
There was a light thud as Ash fell backwards onto his hotel room's bed. "Man, I'm beat..." A second later, Freya hopped up onto the bed and fell backwards onto it in the exact same fashion, her head parallel to Ash's. The Trainer and his Buneary sighed together in exhaustion, relieved to put their feet up to rest for the first time in days. Ash gently scratched his furry friend on the head, "You were great back in Oreburgh and Eterna City. I'm amazed you managed to bring down Roark's Rampardos." Freya giggled lightly, a faint blush under her brown fur.
A short while later, Ash and Freya munched on a carrot cake they were sharing for dessert. "Consider this your little reward for you working so hard for the past few months." Ash grinned as he winked at Freya. The Buneary blushed, touched by her Trainer's kindness. He then added, "Tomorrow, let's just chill and have a good time here. We can check out the Gym another day. Sound good to you?" Freya nodded readily, nearly squealing in joy. Ash patted her on the head in response, "I think I know just the place. But first, we chill tonight."
Later that night, Ash fell onto his bed backwards, fresh out of the shower. In his arms was Freya, her fur barely dry. The Buneary snuggled with her Trainer, feeling somewhat mischievous from seeing him nude while in the shower. Not thinking much of it, Ash reached over for his new Pokétch and switched over to its map function. "I checked this out earlier and found a place called 'Amity Square' at the northern edge of the city. Wanna check it out tomorrow?" Freya replied with a light squeal of approval. "OK then. But first thing's first. Time to turn in for the night." Ash pulled the covers over him and his little Buneary before turning off the lamp nearby, letting out a yawn in the process. "Goodnight, Freya." Trainer and Buneary fell asleep together in a warm embrace.
The following morning, Ash and Freya accompanied Dawn to the Contest Hall. But as soon as the Coordinator got caught up in the registration and excitement among the other Trainers who were present, Ash grabbed Freya and made a run for Amity Square. Fortunately, Dawn did not notice her two friends vanish from the lobby. The two friends soon reached the gates leading into the popular Amity Square. But before they could pass through, the receptionist spoke up. "Excuse me, sir. Only certain Pokémon are permitted out of their Poké Balls while inside Amity Square." Ash then held out Freya, "Are Buneary allowed?" The receptionist nodded, "Yes, they are. Enjoy yourselves." Not needing to be told twice, Ash carried his Buneary into Amity Square.
"Whoa... Nice place they've got here." Ash smiled as he glanced around. Amity Square was filled with ponds, trees, and small grassy fields, giving the impression of a well-maintained private park. Many other Trainers were strolling about with their Pokémon, which consisted mostly of smaller species that were physically adorable. "We'll fit right in." Ash set Freya down and strolled about with her at his side. Having seldom had any time to themselves in open places, the two friends relished their time together, walking everywhere just to enjoy each other's company.
Before long, Ash caught the attention of a girl strolling through Amity Square with her Monferno. About the same age as Ash, she had waist-length black hair and deep blue eyes. "Whoa, who's the cutie?" After eyeing Ash for a moment, the girl got an amorous gleam in her eye and quietly approached him. She surprised him by sneaking up from behind and placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hey there, cutie. You new around here?" The startled Trainer faced her, "Huh?! Who's..... Oh. Um, yeah. I first got here yesterday." The girl giggled, "I thought I didn't recognize you. I'm a regular here, so I'm quick to notice new arrivals. The name's Tina. What's your name?" Ash replied, "Me? I'm Ash Ketchum."
The two Trainers and their Pokémon walked together for some time, Tina asking Ash about his time as a Trainer. But Freya constantly kept a wary eye on the girl, not trusting her at all. "Whoa, you won at the Orange Islands and the Battle Frontier? You're pretty hot stuff!" Tina exclaimed as she heard Ash tell her of his travels. But after a short while, Tina slowly leaned towards Ash's face. "Hot and cute... That's what you are." But just before she could plant a kiss on Ash's cheek, Freya smacked her away with a sudden Pound attack. The Buneary shouted something in her native tongue as she glared jealously at the Trainer, standing between her and Ash.
"Hey! What's your problem?!" Tina shouted, mildly sore from the impact of Freya's ear against her abdomen. Ash asked, "Freya, that's not like you. What's wrong?" However, the Buneary hardly replied, continuing to glare defiantly at the girl who had tried to kiss her Trainer. But Tina soon frowned, "Fine, I see she wants to battle. You up for this, Monferno?" The Fire type jumped forward, clearly willing to accept Freya's challenge. "I don't know what's going on, but OK. Let's do it, Freya!" Ash called, somewhat concerned over what Freya's motives were.
Before Ash could even give an order, Freya made the first move by starting with a Quick Attack. But she was promptly intercepted by a Mach Punch from Tina's Inferno. As the Buneary regained her balance, the Monferno used Taunt to lure her into attacking. Irritated, Freya lashed out with a Jump Kick. However, the Monferno evaded with the use of Protect, causing the Buneary to go sailing into a tree. Freya fell to the ground, mildly stunned from the impact. "Freya, fall back! You can't do this on force alone!" But Tina shouted, "Wrap this up with Close Combat!" Before Ash could say anything, Freya was on the receiving end of a fierce barrage of punches. The Buneary was sent flying to the sidelines, heavily bruised from the dozens of blows she had received. Tina smirked, "Lights out, rodent."
Ash could hardly believe that his star Pokémon was bested so easily. "Freya..." He then yelled at Tina, "Was that really necessary?! What if she's really hurt?!" But Tina replied, "Look, no one's died from one of my Monferno's Close Combat attacks before. But she did get an A for effort.... Huh?!" Much to the surprise of both Trainers, Freya staggered to her feet while swaying from exhaustion. She glared at Tina once again, but soon cast a worried gaze at Ash. With a tear in her eye, the Buneary began to glow. (I won't let her take you away from me.....) A blinding white light engulfed the Buneary as she grew in height. Ash stared, "No way... She's evolving?!"
Freya's ears extended and hung down to her feet as her legs lengthened. As the light receded, Ash flipped out his Pokédex and pointed it at his newly evolved Pokémon. "Lopunny...?" Freya glared at Tina with her black and pink eyes. Despite having evolved, she was still covered in bruises from the beating she had received moments earlier. "Still at it, huh? Monferno, take this rodent down with Mach Punch!" The Fire type dashed towards the Lopunny with its hand curled into a fist. Ash shouted, "Freya, that's enough! You can't win this! Get outta there!" But at the last second, Freya weaved around the Monferno's punch. Tina stared, "No way... At that speed?!" Before her opponent could recover, Freya swung her ears at the Monferno in similar fashion to a flail, striking it with shocking force. The Fire type was sent soaring all the way over to its Trainer, landing in a heap at her feet. Ash gasped, "Was that...Return?"
Tina promptly returned her Monferno to its Poké Ball, being in no shape to continue the battle. But when Freya gave the girl a glare, she screamed, "Forget this! That Lopunny isn't normal!" Without a second thought, Tina made a mad dash towards the closest exit to Amity Square. Once Tina was out of sight, Freya dropped to her knees in exhaustion. Ash ran over to her side and dropped to one knee. "What got into you back there? Why'd you get so ticked off at her?" Much to his surprise, the Lopunny spoke, "Because...I didn't want to lose you to her..."
Ash nearly fell over in shock at what he just heard. "Wait..... What?" Surprised that she had just heard herself speak, Freya brought a hand over her mouth. "Did that really just come out of me?" Ash nervously nodded, "Yeah, it did. But since when could you speak?" Freya explained, "I've been trying to teach myself to speak in English for months without success. I guess my vocal cords are more developed in this state..." But Ash then asked again, "But...what did you mean? You weren't gonna lose me. I would never abandon you." Before she could explain, Freya grunted as she grasped her shoulder. "Hang on... Let's get you patched up first."
A short while later, Ash gently applied doses of Super Potion to Freya's wounds while they rested in a secluded spot within some berry bushes. "That should do it. So, what did you mean earlier?" Ash asked as he put away his medical supplies. Freya explained, "Remember when we first met? On the ferry to Hoenn? When I almost drowned...?" Ash sighed, "Yeah... The same week that Pikachu drowned....." Freya bowed her head, "He was my first love....." Her Trainer asked, "Really?" The Lopunny replied with a silent nod. After a moment of solemn silence, Freya continued. "I was devastated..... I lost the first person I had ever fallen in love with..... But you... You comforted me. And somehow....you always reminded me of him. But more than anything, you were there to comfort me in my time of need. And in time, I....." She then gazed at Ash with her beautiful black and pink eyes, "I.... I fell in love with you..."
Ash's only response to Freya's confession was a silent stare. The Lopunny slowly curled up in a fetal position of sorts, feeling somewhat ashamed. "I know you must not feel the same about me.... But I thought you should know..." But a moment after Freya looked away, Ash placed his hand on her shoulder. "Freya, I..." The Trainer placed a gentle kiss on the Lopunny's cheek. "I love you too..." Freya gasped, "You... You do?" Ash nodded, "Pikachu was my best friend. We had been together since the day I first became a Pokémon Trainer. We faced so many challenges together and we always stuck through thick and thin. Then....he was gone. I didn't even have the chance to say goodbye..." With a tear in his eye, Ash smiled, "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there for me. I thought you would help fill that hole in my heart. But...it went deeper than that. I fell in love with you, but was too afraid to admit it..." The two lovers, now aware of each other's feelings for each other, embraced each other. Soon, they joined lips for their first kiss.
Hours later, Ash and Freya sat down in their hotel room enjoying an order of carrot cake together. "You feeling any better, Freya?" Ash asked with a hint of concern in his voice. The Lopunny smiled, "I feel much better now that the Super Potion has taken full effect. And this cake helps my stomach feel good too." But a moment later, Freya shyly asked, "Um... May I ask you a favor?" Hr Trainer nodded, "Sure. What's on your mind?" She asked, "May we.....have a more...passionate kiss? I want to know what it's like." Ash blushed madly, "Um... Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt..." He nervously kneeled before the Lopunny and held her in a warm embrace. With some hesitation, the two lovers sealed lips. A moment later, they parted lips and extended their tongues to meet each other's. At first uneasy, the two lovers gave into their desires and closed their eyes, pressing into the kiss. Moments later, they broke the kiss and gazed dozily into each other's eyes. Ash muttered, "You taste like carrot cake..." Freya replied with a blush, "So do you..."
That night, Ash and Freya cuddled in bed after having bathed for the night. The two lovers held hands, the Lopunny nuzzling her Trainer tenderly. But just before they could try to fall asleep, Freya asked, "Ash... Um... How do I say this?" He replied, "Say what? Is something bugging you?" With a nervous smile, Freya asked, "Next time I go into heat....would you...mate with me?" Ash very nearly shouted, but restrained himself and asked, "Are you serious? You want me to...do IT with you?" The Lopunny held his hand, "Yes... I want to...have a litter with you... I love you." Clearly nervous, Ash gulped, "Well... Er... Let's wait until we get back home. I don't think having kids while traveling is very good for them..." Freya readily nodded, "I think you're right. Sure, I'll gladly wait until you think the time is right." The two lovers embraced each other gently, sharing one last kiss before bed. "Sleep tight, dear." Freya said with a blush. Tickled by his lover's way of addressing him, Ash nuzzled her face, "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
Trainer and Pokémon fell into a peaceful slumber in each other's arms, dreaming of their future together.
"Hoo... Made it at last..." Dawn panted, clearly exhausted from their long trek through the tunnels of Mt. Coronet. Ash nodded, "I'm pretty beat too... Where can we grab a bite to eat?" Dawn replied, "First thing's first. Let's find a hotel and relax for the rest of the day. We've earned it." Freya, who was riding on Ash's shoulder, seemed equally interested in relaxing for the remainder of the day. With a sway in their steps, the group of three shuffled towards the nearest hotel.
There was a light thud as Ash fell backwards onto his hotel room's bed. "Man, I'm beat..." A second later, Freya hopped up onto the bed and fell backwards onto it in the exact same fashion, her head parallel to Ash's. The Trainer and his Buneary sighed together in exhaustion, relieved to put their feet up to rest for the first time in days. Ash gently scratched his furry friend on the head, "You were great back in Oreburgh and Eterna City. I'm amazed you managed to bring down Roark's Rampardos." Freya giggled lightly, a faint blush under her brown fur.
A short while later, Ash and Freya munched on a carrot cake they were sharing for dessert. "Consider this your little reward for you working so hard for the past few months." Ash grinned as he winked at Freya. The Buneary blushed, touched by her Trainer's kindness. He then added, "Tomorrow, let's just chill and have a good time here. We can check out the Gym another day. Sound good to you?" Freya nodded readily, nearly squealing in joy. Ash patted her on the head in response, "I think I know just the place. But first, we chill tonight."
Later that night, Ash fell onto his bed backwards, fresh out of the shower. In his arms was Freya, her fur barely dry. The Buneary snuggled with her Trainer, feeling somewhat mischievous from seeing him nude while in the shower. Not thinking much of it, Ash reached over for his new Pokétch and switched over to its map function. "I checked this out earlier and found a place called 'Amity Square' at the northern edge of the city. Wanna check it out tomorrow?" Freya replied with a light squeal of approval. "OK then. But first thing's first. Time to turn in for the night." Ash pulled the covers over him and his little Buneary before turning off the lamp nearby, letting out a yawn in the process. "Goodnight, Freya." Trainer and Buneary fell asleep together in a warm embrace.
The following morning, Ash and Freya accompanied Dawn to the Contest Hall. But as soon as the Coordinator got caught up in the registration and excitement among the other Trainers who were present, Ash grabbed Freya and made a run for Amity Square. Fortunately, Dawn did not notice her two friends vanish from the lobby. The two friends soon reached the gates leading into the popular Amity Square. But before they could pass through, the receptionist spoke up. "Excuse me, sir. Only certain Pokémon are permitted out of their Poké Balls while inside Amity Square." Ash then held out Freya, "Are Buneary allowed?" The receptionist nodded, "Yes, they are. Enjoy yourselves." Not needing to be told twice, Ash carried his Buneary into Amity Square.
"Whoa... Nice place they've got here." Ash smiled as he glanced around. Amity Square was filled with ponds, trees, and small grassy fields, giving the impression of a well-maintained private park. Many other Trainers were strolling about with their Pokémon, which consisted mostly of smaller species that were physically adorable. "We'll fit right in." Ash set Freya down and strolled about with her at his side. Having seldom had any time to themselves in open places, the two friends relished their time together, walking everywhere just to enjoy each other's company.
Before long, Ash caught the attention of a girl strolling through Amity Square with her Monferno. About the same age as Ash, she had waist-length black hair and deep blue eyes. "Whoa, who's the cutie?" After eyeing Ash for a moment, the girl got an amorous gleam in her eye and quietly approached him. She surprised him by sneaking up from behind and placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hey there, cutie. You new around here?" The startled Trainer faced her, "Huh?! Who's..... Oh. Um, yeah. I first got here yesterday." The girl giggled, "I thought I didn't recognize you. I'm a regular here, so I'm quick to notice new arrivals. The name's Tina. What's your name?" Ash replied, "Me? I'm Ash Ketchum."
The two Trainers and their Pokémon walked together for some time, Tina asking Ash about his time as a Trainer. But Freya constantly kept a wary eye on the girl, not trusting her at all. "Whoa, you won at the Orange Islands and the Battle Frontier? You're pretty hot stuff!" Tina exclaimed as she heard Ash tell her of his travels. But after a short while, Tina slowly leaned towards Ash's face. "Hot and cute... That's what you are." But just before she could plant a kiss on Ash's cheek, Freya smacked her away with a sudden Pound attack. The Buneary shouted something in her native tongue as she glared jealously at the Trainer, standing between her and Ash.
"Hey! What's your problem?!" Tina shouted, mildly sore from the impact of Freya's ear against her abdomen. Ash asked, "Freya, that's not like you. What's wrong?" However, the Buneary hardly replied, continuing to glare defiantly at the girl who had tried to kiss her Trainer. But Tina soon frowned, "Fine, I see she wants to battle. You up for this, Monferno?" The Fire type jumped forward, clearly willing to accept Freya's challenge. "I don't know what's going on, but OK. Let's do it, Freya!" Ash called, somewhat concerned over what Freya's motives were.
Before Ash could even give an order, Freya made the first move by starting with a Quick Attack. But she was promptly intercepted by a Mach Punch from Tina's Inferno. As the Buneary regained her balance, the Monferno used Taunt to lure her into attacking. Irritated, Freya lashed out with a Jump Kick. However, the Monferno evaded with the use of Protect, causing the Buneary to go sailing into a tree. Freya fell to the ground, mildly stunned from the impact. "Freya, fall back! You can't do this on force alone!" But Tina shouted, "Wrap this up with Close Combat!" Before Ash could say anything, Freya was on the receiving end of a fierce barrage of punches. The Buneary was sent flying to the sidelines, heavily bruised from the dozens of blows she had received. Tina smirked, "Lights out, rodent."
Ash could hardly believe that his star Pokémon was bested so easily. "Freya..." He then yelled at Tina, "Was that really necessary?! What if she's really hurt?!" But Tina replied, "Look, no one's died from one of my Monferno's Close Combat attacks before. But she did get an A for effort.... Huh?!" Much to the surprise of both Trainers, Freya staggered to her feet while swaying from exhaustion. She glared at Tina once again, but soon cast a worried gaze at Ash. With a tear in her eye, the Buneary began to glow. (I won't let her take you away from me.....) A blinding white light engulfed the Buneary as she grew in height. Ash stared, "No way... She's evolving?!"
Freya's ears extended and hung down to her feet as her legs lengthened. As the light receded, Ash flipped out his Pokédex and pointed it at his newly evolved Pokémon. "Lopunny...?" Freya glared at Tina with her black and pink eyes. Despite having evolved, she was still covered in bruises from the beating she had received moments earlier. "Still at it, huh? Monferno, take this rodent down with Mach Punch!" The Fire type dashed towards the Lopunny with its hand curled into a fist. Ash shouted, "Freya, that's enough! You can't win this! Get outta there!" But at the last second, Freya weaved around the Monferno's punch. Tina stared, "No way... At that speed?!" Before her opponent could recover, Freya swung her ears at the Monferno in similar fashion to a flail, striking it with shocking force. The Fire type was sent soaring all the way over to its Trainer, landing in a heap at her feet. Ash gasped, "Was that...Return?"
Tina promptly returned her Monferno to its Poké Ball, being in no shape to continue the battle. But when Freya gave the girl a glare, she screamed, "Forget this! That Lopunny isn't normal!" Without a second thought, Tina made a mad dash towards the closest exit to Amity Square. Once Tina was out of sight, Freya dropped to her knees in exhaustion. Ash ran over to her side and dropped to one knee. "What got into you back there? Why'd you get so ticked off at her?" Much to his surprise, the Lopunny spoke, "Because...I didn't want to lose you to her..."
Ash nearly fell over in shock at what he just heard. "Wait..... What?" Surprised that she had just heard herself speak, Freya brought a hand over her mouth. "Did that really just come out of me?" Ash nervously nodded, "Yeah, it did. But since when could you speak?" Freya explained, "I've been trying to teach myself to speak in English for months without success. I guess my vocal cords are more developed in this state..." But Ash then asked again, "But...what did you mean? You weren't gonna lose me. I would never abandon you." Before she could explain, Freya grunted as she grasped her shoulder. "Hang on... Let's get you patched up first."
A short while later, Ash gently applied doses of Super Potion to Freya's wounds while they rested in a secluded spot within some berry bushes. "That should do it. So, what did you mean earlier?" Ash asked as he put away his medical supplies. Freya explained, "Remember when we first met? On the ferry to Hoenn? When I almost drowned...?" Ash sighed, "Yeah... The same week that Pikachu drowned....." Freya bowed her head, "He was my first love....." Her Trainer asked, "Really?" The Lopunny replied with a silent nod. After a moment of solemn silence, Freya continued. "I was devastated..... I lost the first person I had ever fallen in love with..... But you... You comforted me. And somehow....you always reminded me of him. But more than anything, you were there to comfort me in my time of need. And in time, I....." She then gazed at Ash with her beautiful black and pink eyes, "I.... I fell in love with you..."
Ash's only response to Freya's confession was a silent stare. The Lopunny slowly curled up in a fetal position of sorts, feeling somewhat ashamed. "I know you must not feel the same about me.... But I thought you should know..." But a moment after Freya looked away, Ash placed his hand on her shoulder. "Freya, I..." The Trainer placed a gentle kiss on the Lopunny's cheek. "I love you too..." Freya gasped, "You... You do?" Ash nodded, "Pikachu was my best friend. We had been together since the day I first became a Pokémon Trainer. We faced so many challenges together and we always stuck through thick and thin. Then....he was gone. I didn't even have the chance to say goodbye..." With a tear in his eye, Ash smiled, "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there for me. I thought you would help fill that hole in my heart. But...it went deeper than that. I fell in love with you, but was too afraid to admit it..." The two lovers, now aware of each other's feelings for each other, embraced each other. Soon, they joined lips for their first kiss.
Hours later, Ash and Freya sat down in their hotel room enjoying an order of carrot cake together. "You feeling any better, Freya?" Ash asked with a hint of concern in his voice. The Lopunny smiled, "I feel much better now that the Super Potion has taken full effect. And this cake helps my stomach feel good too." But a moment later, Freya shyly asked, "Um... May I ask you a favor?" Hr Trainer nodded, "Sure. What's on your mind?" She asked, "May we.....have a more...passionate kiss? I want to know what it's like." Ash blushed madly, "Um... Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt..." He nervously kneeled before the Lopunny and held her in a warm embrace. With some hesitation, the two lovers sealed lips. A moment later, they parted lips and extended their tongues to meet each other's. At first uneasy, the two lovers gave into their desires and closed their eyes, pressing into the kiss. Moments later, they broke the kiss and gazed dozily into each other's eyes. Ash muttered, "You taste like carrot cake..." Freya replied with a blush, "So do you..."
That night, Ash and Freya cuddled in bed after having bathed for the night. The two lovers held hands, the Lopunny nuzzling her Trainer tenderly. But just before they could try to fall asleep, Freya asked, "Ash... Um... How do I say this?" He replied, "Say what? Is something bugging you?" With a nervous smile, Freya asked, "Next time I go into heat....would you...mate with me?" Ash very nearly shouted, but restrained himself and asked, "Are you serious? You want me to...do IT with you?" The Lopunny held his hand, "Yes... I want to...have a litter with you... I love you." Clearly nervous, Ash gulped, "Well... Er... Let's wait until we get back home. I don't think having kids while traveling is very good for them..." Freya readily nodded, "I think you're right. Sure, I'll gladly wait until you think the time is right." The two lovers embraced each other gently, sharing one last kiss before bed. "Sleep tight, dear." Freya said with a blush. Tickled by his lover's way of addressing him, Ash nuzzled her face, "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
Trainer and Pokémon fell into a peaceful slumber in each other's arms, dreaming of their future together.