Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.



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PART 1
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Mason lay on the ground next to the Charmeleon. He looked into her grief stricken eyes and wanted desperately to comfort her, but was unsure what to say. With great effort and pain, he slowly managed to sit up next to her, and put a hand on her shoulder.

Ember had stopped sobbing, but her eyes were still forming tears.

"I think..." she started, becoming quiet again for a minute.

"Maybe she loved me after all..." she said looking off into the distance.

Mason processed this for a moment before responding. "Maybe... but it was a shallow love. You told her the truth, Ember. If she had truly loved you as a sister, she would have listened to you and ignored her prejudice towards me."

"...Should she have? After what happened to our mother... how could she? How could I?"

Mason wasn't sure what to say at this.

"You saved my life, Mason. You asked nothing in return. But now I've saved yours... twice... and killed my own sisters in the process."

"No. You didn't kill Jenna. She died from Pierce's wounds! She died because of her own decision to attack me. It had nothing to do with you."

"But I stayed with you... instead of aiding her..."

"...she betrayed you, Ember."

"I... I know." She conceded. "But... she was still my sister! ...and Suzie..."

"It was her choice to ignore you, and attack me."

"But it was my choice to defend you..."

Mason nodded; he understood that she was still very conflicted about him.

"I'd be biased if I said you did the right thing," Mason said seriously, "but no one could blame you for trying to protect someone who saved your life. Your sisters' deaths were not your intention. And you did not murder them in cold blood. They died from their own decisions more then they did from your own."

"You... you're right. But... I can't blame them for their decisions."

"Can you blame yourself for your own?"

"I don't... I don't know."

Ember stared down at Suzie's body; the Charmeleon's face lit by the burning remains of the tent. She slowly turned to Mason, and looked him in the eyes.

Mason let out a soft gasp. He hadn't noticed when she was a Charmander, but she was gorgeous. It only made her despair that much more distressing for him.

Mason knew that Ember needed to know that she had not made a mistake in trusting him. She needed to know for sure that he was different. She would need time, and it would be Mason's actions which spoke for him; not his words.

He decided to take a chance; he turned his body towards her, wincing in slight pain, and slowly embraced her. She startled for a moment, and seemed to pull away. Mason was about to let go, but felt her seize him back in a tight, mutual hug.

Ember hated herself for engorging on Mason's comfort, but found she couldn't resist the offer of a warm, caring shoulder. It was an incredibly... nostalgic feeling...

They remained there for a quarter hour; him sitting, her kneeling, embraced in each other's arms. The warmth of their combined bodies protected them against the waning chill of night. Mason felt hot tears roll down his neck as Ember sobbed her bewilderment.



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PART 2
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When Pierce was released from his ball, there was the inevitable question.

"Woah woah... what?! She evolved?! ...What were you two up to last night?" Pierce asked with a suggestive smirk."

Mason rubbed his neck awkwardly, blushing. Ember put on a similar display of awkwardness.

"Wait, I wasn't being serious!" said Pierce, shocked. "Did you guys actually...?"

"For god's sake Pierce!" Mason shouted, putting face in palm. "You sick bastard." Pierce's playful mood wasn't making it easier to explain the delicate situation.

"Suzie came back and tried to kill me. Ember saved my life and Suzie was... she died, and Ember evolved."

Ember winced at Mason's curtness.

"Oh." Pierce said with sympathy; comprehension dawning on his face. He turned to Ember. "I-I'm sorry."

Ember gave a small appreciative nod.

Pierce looked around for a moment, realising something else was amiss.

"Uh... the tent? Was that... Suzie too?" Pierce asked, examining the burnt remains.

"Yeah," nodded Mason.

"Guess we're going to have to get you to town soon. Can't have you two dying of hypothermia from sleeping through the night without the tent or bag."

"I'm pretty sure we can make it before night..."

"You don't sound convinced," noted Pierce.

"Well it depends... Ember, how badly did Suzie hurt you last night?"

"I... evolving seems to have completely healed me."

Mason nodded. He saw the irony in that it wasn't completely true: part of her would not be healed for a long time.

"We might make it then." He said, biting his lip. As soft and warm as Ember was... they wouldn't stand a chance against night without shelter.

"Lets get going then!" Pierce looked at Ember. "I suppose this is going to be easier on my back. You've grown a bit since last time..."

Ember gave him a tentative smile.



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PART 3
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Although Ember's new found height and strength allowed her and Pierce to carry Mason with greater ease and speed, night was already close upon them, and they had yet to reach town.

Luckily, they had come across a small cave-like rock overhang, and although they still had some daylight to travel by, they decided to stop in order to use it as shelter for the night.

"I don't know, you sure you want to sleep in that hole?" asked Pierce.

"I don't think we have a choice, Pierce. We're not going to make it back before nightfall. We'll have to get there tomorrow."

"Alright, if your sure." Pierce said, eying the small rock shelter.

Pierce and Ember carefully lowered Mason to the ground, so that he lay on his back underneath the enclosure.

"Mason," said Ember, "you should let Pierce rest and treat him with the remaining burn ointment. I'll gather some wood for the night."

"Hey, I don't need to rest!" protested Pierce, but Ember was already walking away.

Pierce made to follow her, but Mason stopped him.

"I think she needs some time alone, Pierce. And she's right, I need to treat your burns again. My weight on your back probably doesn't do much good for the healing process."

"I'm fine-OW!" Pierce winced, as Mason gave him a firm slap on his sensitive burnt underbelly.

"Hey! That was uncalled for!"

"But I proved my point." Mason laughed.

Pierce grumbled.

"Here, pass me the ointment."

Pierce passed it to him, and slowly laid himself on his side, presenting his thorny back to Mason.

"Lucky I kept my backpack outside the tent last night," said Mason, as he slowly applied the ointment to the Nidorino's back.

"You sure you can do this?" asked Pierce. "You can barely sit up!"

"You've gone through enough pain; it's only fair if I have to go through a bit myself."

"You don't have to..."

"You can't exactly do it yourself. You may be a lot stronger then me Pierce, but I have the advantage of long limbs with opposable thumbs."

"Yeah sure, rub that in. You can't possibly know how envious I am of that."

Mason laughed, trying to avoid cutting himself as he applied the ointment to Pierce's sharp spines.

"You know, that feels kind of nice," Pierce commented.

"Well I'll be sure to get an attractive nurse to give you a professional rubdown when we get back to town," Mason laughed. "Alright, turn over."

Pierce complied, turning his belly towards Mason. "I don't know. I think you might give those nurses a run for their money. Besides, they aren't very attractive to me. I'd go for a Nidorina over a nurse any day."

Mason absentmindedly began to apply the lotion to Pierce's chest. He thought about how the Nidorino really hadn't had much of a relationship with any female before.

"Ow! Hey! You're pressing too hard!"

Mason snapped himself out of his thoughts and focused on being gentle.

Pierce groaned softly, "Theeeere we go. You almost made me take my compliment back!" He chuckled.

"Sorry," said Mason, wincing a bit at the pain of using his arm. He stopped and surveyed Pierce's belly for a moment, and noticed something that made him cringe.

"Oh god Pierce, that looks painful."

Pierce tilted his head down to look at what Mason was talking about.

"Oh... uh, yeah. Don't worry about that." Pierce reddened.

Mason slowly continued rubbing down the Nidorino's belly. "But I can't just leave it untreated..." He hesitated when he saw that it was slightly engorged.

Pierce suddenly jolted away from Mason, and onto his feet. "Yes you can!" he barked. "Fuck off!"

Mason was stunned.

Pierce looked at Mason's shocked face and composed himself. "Shit. I-I'm sorry."

"I didn't even-" Mason began.

"No... look sorry, I don't know what came over me." Pierce's cheeks were bright red.

"It's awkward, I understand. But it needs treatment."

Pierce sighed. "Yeah." He lay back down slowly, belly facing Mason, and looked away.

Mason carefully applied the ointment to the sensitive sheath, using as little pressure as possible to rub it in. Still, Pierce winced and bared his teeth slightly at the touch. Mason felt his face flush with blood as his finished, lightly cupping the Nidorino's purple spheres as he applied the ointment to Pierce's final parts. Mason caught a glimpse of something pink before Pierce jolted back up.

Their eyes met for a second before they both looked away uncomfortably, Mason rubbing his neck.



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PART 4
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Night had fallen and Ember had brought back a large stockpile of wood, taking several additional trips into the forest to bring the full load. The fire was now blazing, partly underneath the rocky overhang.

Ember sat in front of the fire in deep thought, going over the events of the last few days, trying to make sense of the enormous transition her life had made. With her mother captured, and her sisters dead, she felt lost and alone. And Mason, a human, had saved her, comforted her, caring for her as only her mother ever had.

Yet she could not shake the troublesome voice in the back of her head, the voice of fear, reminding her that Mason, for all his acts of kindness, could be playing her like a fiddle, like a corrupt but masterful musician: an emotional con man who knows exactly how to manipulate the strings.

She wondered though, if such a musician's music could ever sound as sweet as music which is played from the soul.

Her evolution provided a profound bittersweetness; she had always dreamed of becoming a Charmeleon, becoming more like her mother and gaining strength and independence. But she had gained her new strength by betraying her sisters and siding with a human, which made her feel like she was also betraying her mother.

She felt secured however, by her position of power. Mason could play his "music" all he liked, but ultimately, if she found him to be untruthful she could leave him to die alone, or outright murder him. The idea of murdering humans was not alien to her, but now the thought sent a chill down her spine: how many more lives would be lost because of her?

"Ember?..." asked a soft familiar voice. It was a memory of her lost sister, a sister who had hated her, but a sister who she still loved in the strangest way.

"Is that you..?" Except, she realised, it wasn't a memory. She looked beyond the flames to see a figure dimly lit by the fire.

Guilt, joy, fear, and dread all took hold of Ember's body at the same moment, preventing her to move or speak.

Jenna stepped forwards, her figure coming further into the firelight. Ember noticed she was in bad shape, limping slightly as she walked, but she was obviously very much alive.

Mason gasped, but didn't speak.

Jenna inspected Ember and Mason with a deep loathing glare.

"It is you." Jenna said, looking straight at Ember. "You've evolved..."

"I... I thought you died! Suzie-"

"Where is she?" Jenna interrupted.

"S- she..." Ember gave an exasperated sigh, there was no use pretending. "I- I killed her- but I didn't want to! She attacked Mason and she wouldn't listen to me and..."

Jenna gave a small, almost defeated sigh. "I expected as much."

"Please! I- I don't want to fight you! I don't want to kill you too!"

"I'm in no condition to fight you, sister. It was Suzie's own decisions that led to her death. She fought for you, sister. To bring you back to her. But if I were to fight you now I would die without reason."

Ember stared at Jenna, astonished at her sister's lack of hostility. A sharp twinge of guilt for her actions was followed by a sense of relief: she would not have to choose between a sister's life and Mason's for a second time. Perhaps she would need not be responsible for yet another death.

"Suzie told me you died..."

"I told you Ember, she wanted you to come back. She thought my death would inspire empathy, and convince you to choose her over... him." Jenna sneered.

"I didn't have to choose! I could have helped Mason reach town and then have come back to her."

"She obviously didn't think that this... Mason would let you escape so easily."

"I don't need to escape, he hasn't captured me Jenna! You and Suzie chose to sacrifice me in order to save your own lives. It was... a logical move, but one I can't forgive. Is it impossible to understand that I might feel compelled to help a human who saved my life after being so betrayed?"

Jenna stood silent for several minutes.

"I... I suppose I can't blame you. But you can't trust this human. Perhaps he has shown you kindness, but to what end? He wants you to trust him, and to become a willing slave, brainwashed to believe you're some sort of friend."

"Jenna, I understand that's possible, but right now, he has no power over me. He is severely injured, and completely reliant on me. Even the Nidorino is injured. Once Mason is safe, I can make my own decision on what to do. But... I think... I think he actually might be different... maybe... maybe they aren't all like that, Jenna."

Jenna limped forwards and sat next to Ember.

"You overpower him physically Ember, not emotionally. I see you've already become attached to him, more then you may realise. Think Ember. Why is this boy here in this forest at all? Why is he equipped with a strong Nidorino and those spheres which are designed to imprison. Why is he here, Ember? For what ever other reason then to add to his collection?"

Ember tried to find the words to defend Mason, but realised that she didn't know the answer to the question. Maybe Jenna, along with the niggling voice in the back of her head, were right.

"Why do you suddenly care about me anyways?" exclaimed Ember,

"It's true that I've shown little love towards you in the recent years, but you're the only one I have left... I would be a fool to not at least try to protect you from the same fate as our mother."

Mason watched the two sisters talk, unable to understand their language. He had become tense after seeing Jenna arrive, but was slowly calming down, hearing little hostility in her voice or actions, and also seeing her injured state. Pierce, who lay beside him, whispered brief explanations to him.

"Jenna... Come with us. You can help me keep my head." said Ember softly.

Jenna appeared to think about this. "It's interesting that you would want me to come with you, Ember. Also that you would think I would like to help you help this boy."

"Maybe you're right... maybe I am being tricked. But I need to do this. I need to repay this debt and help him live. Would you like to feel indebted to a human, a constant nagging feeling in the back of your head? Maybe you and I can start afresh after this is done with, perhaps you are right. Maybe I'm not clear minded enough to avoid being tricked."

"...Perhaps I will come. But I'm not going to lie, sister, I won't pretend that I suddenly care greatly for you, and I would come partly for my own survival... as I have little chance without you or Suzie... but perhaps your offer holds some value... for both of us."

Ember nodded, a bit surprised at Jenna's agreement. "But Jenna... Do you think... that... that maybe you could ever trust a human?" Ember asked, knowing the answer.

"N..." Jenna paused for a moment, "...maybe." Jenna pointed at Mason "If he could ever be true to his word, to the story you've convinced yourself of, I would still never be able to trust him. But maybe... if... if he could get mom back... if he could leave us to live free together..."

Ember was stunned, she hadn't considered the possibility... she had long ago given up hope...

"But we can't blind ourselves with false hope and fantasy, Ember. As a bleak apology and chance of a fresh start, I will help you avoid the trap this boy may have set for you."Chapter End Notes:Sorry about being dead for so long. I hope to get back to writing chapters more frequently.

Goddammit, will Ember ever be able to trust Mason? Will Jenna screw everything up? Is Mason actually worth trusting? Just how awkward will the following days be? Will Pierce ever find love? Or more importantly, will anyone ever get some goddamn sex? Even I'm not completly sure of any of this!

Thank you loyal readers! I'd love suggestions, on both my writing, and the actual plot. I think this (VERY!) strange project of mine is allowing me to improve my writing skills considerably.

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