Story Notes:
This story has been bouncing around my head for a while now, I'm not sure but I'm fairly certain that this idea is origonal if nothing else.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.
Chapter 16
Crystal quickly led Simon back to the storage room having to detour through the main hall as one of the passages she would have used was too small for Simon to fit through.
Simon smiled and sniffed, the combined scents of all the different kinds of berries producing a strange potent aroma "I guess this is it?" he asked rhetorically before stepping through the door.
Crystal giggled slightly and followed Simon through the door.
Simon looked around for Gemma, his eyes passing over the piles of berries a hundred or so of the more common types whilst the rarer varieties only boasted three or four specimens, he eventually found her in a corner next to a large pile of Oran berries. She was sitting down with a small group of Eevee and Poochyena, her back to the door, sorting through the yield of the latest harvest and chatting happily to the others about what it was like being caught. The two who where facing the door paused when they spotted them and fell silent their eyes them they moved, however no-one else noticed this and they continued to chat merrily, unaware of their visitors.
Simon skirted around a pile of Pecha berries heading for Gemma pausing a few steps behind her and after a seconds hesitation, deciding how best to greet her, smiled "Hey Gemma"
Gemma jumped slightly looking over her shoulder she smiled at Simon blushing very slightly "Oh, hey Simon, Crystal"
Crystal gave a small smile and a small nod in return
"So what brings you two here?" Gemma asked standing up and turning around
"We need to talk to you." Simon explained smiling
Gemma nodded "Oh alright"
Crystal smiled "Do you know where Pisces is? We need to find her too"
Gemma smiled, guessing what they wanted to talk about, and giggled softly "I think she's in the lake."
Crystal frowned "What for?" she asked "There are no fish in there as far as I know, a few people claim to have seen a Dragonair or Dratini but I don't think she'd be the one to go looking."
Gemma giggled and shook her head "No it's not like that" she said clearly finding something very funny "but tell me more about this Dratini or Dragonair thing"
Crystal gave a small smile "I'll tell you after you spill about my sister."
Gemma pouted "I asked first." she said
Crystal gave a half smile and turned to Simon "What do you think?"
Gemma giggled softly turning on Simon as well "Well?" she asked
Simon stammered stepping back slightly as he tried to make up his mind eventually he spoke up "I think you should tell us about Pisces and Crystal can explain about this Dratini thing on the way to the cave."
Gemma and Crystal paused mulling his suggestion over before with almost identical small smile on their faces they nodded. "Sounds fair" Gemma said nodding slowly.
Crystal smiled and nodded "Ok then why is my sister in the lake then?" she asked "I heard humour in your voice so I imagine it's a good story?"
Gemma giggled and nodded "Yeah, she insisted that we take her with us on the foraging trip." she paused giggling softly to herself "but we found this Pecha bush overhanging a steep hill she leant out to get some for us, reasoning she could use her tail as a counterweight, but slipped and rolled down the hill." Gemma giggled harder "She was totally caked in mud"
Crystal and Simon where both laughing Simon shaking his head softly "Alright then shall we go find the mud beast?" he joked earning another round of giggles from Crystal and Gemma.
"So spill" Gemma giggled softly as they left the granary behind them
Crystal nodded "Well there's not much to say really" she said softly "Over the time I've been here there have been several pack members who have claimed to have seen a Dragonair or Dratini in the lake" she paused "If memory serves then there where two sightings of the Dragonair and five of Dratini"
Gemma nodded and Simon just absorbed the knowledge "So what sort of things do you mean by sightings"
Crystal gave a half shrug "It depends, some have seen the silhouettes, others claim that they came out of the water and one person even said he had a brief conversation with a Dratini before it swam off again."
Simon chuckled "So does anyone believe them and is that person still here?"
Crystal shook her head "No on both accounts, I don't think the lake is large enough for Dratini and definitely not for a Dragonair. As for Fengir, he died last summer"
Simon nodded "Oh ok" he said making a note to get Pisces to look into it despite Crystal's scepticism.
They made their way to the cave quickly they slipped into the large cavern, pausing for a second to take in the beauty before Simon called out "Pisces?"
There was another pause, the soft sounds of running water perfectly audible in the silence along with echo's of conversation from the far corners of the elaborate cave system , before "Simon?"
Simon smiled "Hey, you mind coming to shore?"
There was another pause the background noise once again seeming to fill their senses "Sure" came the eventual response
There was another longer pause as Pisces swam for the shore, long powerful strokes of her tail propelling her through the water with a serene grace. She soon made it to shore and leapt out of the water landing slightly unsteadily on her slick paws "Ugh I hate mud" she muttered
"At least you're clean now" Gemma pointed out unable to suppress a small giggle
Pisces gave a small nod "I think I am" she muttered rolling onto her back and looking at Simon "Can you see any mud?" she asked spreading her rear legs and moving her front paws to a side.
Simon blushed heavily as his gaze was drawn to her crotch, after a second of staring he snapped himself out of it, "Only a little" he said leaning over Pisces and gently wiping off some mud on her neck before washing off his hand.
Pisces gave a small murr and rolled back to her feet "Thanks" she said softly "Anyway what did you want me for?"
"Oh right" Crystal said smiling "We want to talk to you two about potential names for our kits" she explained, Simon blushing noticeably when she said our kits, "We'll think them over then name the kits tomorrow." she continued after a brief pause adding a warm smile
Gemma nodded smiling broadly as her suspicions where confirmed "Shall we get going?" she asked
Simon nodded smiling a soft blush colouring his cheeks as he leaned in giving each of them a kiss on the muzzle, leaving Gemma blushing bright red whilst Pisces and Crystal although surprised where wearing little happy smiles.
They quickly found their way back to Simon and Crystal's room and seated themselves haphazardly on the bed, Simon sitting next to Crystal his arm draped gently around her whilst Gemma was laying near the edge of the bed and Pisces was lying splayed out in the top right corner.
Crystal smiled softly "Alright" she said "So Gemma, sis; any ideas?"
Gemma giggled "You could always name on after me" she joked
Simon chuckled softly "Yeah like your ego needs another boost" he retorted making a note to see if he could try and get one named after Gemma as a sort of thank you.
Gemma pouted playfully "My ego isn't big" she defended
Simon chuckled softly leaning in "Of course it is" he joked smiling warmly"If it got any bigger it wouldn't be able to fit in that pretty little head of yours" he added planting a small chaste kiss on her forehead just below the base of her leaf. Gemma blushed heavily her fake indignation disappearing in her embarrassment.
"Your turn" Crystal said giggling softly at Gemma's embarrassment as she nodded to Pisces "Do you have any ideas for names?"
Pisces nodded "Well I was wondering if you wanted to name any of them after our parents?" she said after a moments pause
Crystal nodded "That was one of the things I was really thinking about" she agreed
Simon smiled "What where your parents like?" he asked
Crystal and Pisces both smiled "Well our mother was an Eevee named Cream, dad said it was because her brown colourations took a few weeks to grow in so when she was named she was completely creamy white." Crystal explained gently a small tranquil smile on her face as she recalled her parents
Pisces giggled and nodded "Although she never agreed to it." she pointed out
Simon and Gemma chuckled softly as Crystal giggled at the memory "True" she agreed "but still I think dad was telling the truth."
Simon nodded "And your dad?" he asked
Crystal and Pisces looked at each other, silently deciding who would talk about their father "Well dad was a Flareon" Pisces said "We don't really know much about him since we only saw him once or twice a week, but when he was there he was very friendly and playful."
Crystal nodded "He always seemed sorry he couldn't spend more time with us" she said
Simon nodded smiling "It sounds like you had very good parents, although if you want to name one after your parents I demand the same privilege"
Gemma giggled softly "Equal rights for naming?" she joked "Is that a new law, oh mighty alpha"
Crystal and Pisces descended into giggles at this, Simon swung a fist at Gemma playfully chuckling himself "Yes it is," he said "now bow peon!"
This sent everyone into a giggling fit, after they had calmed down Pisces piped up "You going to tell us about your parents?"
Simon shrugged "If you want but it's not exactly riveting material."
Crystal smiled softly leaning up to lick Simon's cheek "It's not like the story of our parents was spellbinding either" she pointed out.
With a small chuckle Simon nodded "Ok I'll tell you" he said happily "Let's see" he muttered "My mum was called Amy" he said "she was a mum" he chuckled "I can't really say much more than that, she loved me and supported me" he gave another warm smile "and of course she embarrassed me to death on more than one occasion."
"And your dad?" Pisces and Crystal enquired nodding understandingly at his description of his mum
"Well my dad..." Simon sighed "I never really knew my dad" he said "mum said he left before I was born" he sighed "I never found any trinkets or anything in mum's apartment after she died, there was nothing to suggest she ever went out with anyone after leaving college." he sighed again "I suppose it must have been a messy breakup."
Crystal and Pisces nodded understanding the concept of growing up without a father but not really understanding what he said about breaking up; in their world the only way you left your life mate was death.
Gemma started giggling softly in the small silence following his speech, when everyone turned to look at her with questioning glances she quickly calmed herself down "Sorry" she said her humour still obvious in her voice "I was just thinking that we came her to talk about names for the kits but we've spent far more time talking about parents."
Crystal and Pisces giggled softly whilst Simon just smiled and shook his head "I guess that shows that we can't be trusted to stay on topic whilst we're together" Pisces giggled
Crystal shrugged "I don't know, we've got quite a few good idea for names now." she smiled "and a good starting point for more."
Simon nodded his agreement rubbing Crystal's head "Yeah" he said softly "Taking all bets that I forget at least two or three of the kits names in the first fortnight!"
"oh me, me!" Gemma piped up giggling softly
Simon rolled his eyes "You can't bet" he defended "you use my money whenever you do so I have nothing to gain!"
"You have nothing to loose either" Gemma pointed out giggling softly
"hmmm true;" Simon conceded "I suppose this is one of those is the glass half full or half empty things isn't it?"
Crystal and Pisces gave him questioning glances not understanding the analogy whilst Gemma just nodded giggling "Yeah it is" she agreed "So can I bet?"
Simon sighed "Fine"
Simon smiled and sniffed, the combined scents of all the different kinds of berries producing a strange potent aroma "I guess this is it?" he asked rhetorically before stepping through the door.
Crystal giggled slightly and followed Simon through the door.
Simon looked around for Gemma, his eyes passing over the piles of berries a hundred or so of the more common types whilst the rarer varieties only boasted three or four specimens, he eventually found her in a corner next to a large pile of Oran berries. She was sitting down with a small group of Eevee and Poochyena, her back to the door, sorting through the yield of the latest harvest and chatting happily to the others about what it was like being caught. The two who where facing the door paused when they spotted them and fell silent their eyes them they moved, however no-one else noticed this and they continued to chat merrily, unaware of their visitors.
Simon skirted around a pile of Pecha berries heading for Gemma pausing a few steps behind her and after a seconds hesitation, deciding how best to greet her, smiled "Hey Gemma"
Gemma jumped slightly looking over her shoulder she smiled at Simon blushing very slightly "Oh, hey Simon, Crystal"
Crystal gave a small smile and a small nod in return
"So what brings you two here?" Gemma asked standing up and turning around
"We need to talk to you." Simon explained smiling
Gemma nodded "Oh alright"
Crystal smiled "Do you know where Pisces is? We need to find her too"
Gemma smiled, guessing what they wanted to talk about, and giggled softly "I think she's in the lake."
Crystal frowned "What for?" she asked "There are no fish in there as far as I know, a few people claim to have seen a Dragonair or Dratini but I don't think she'd be the one to go looking."
Gemma giggled and shook her head "No it's not like that" she said clearly finding something very funny "but tell me more about this Dratini or Dragonair thing"
Crystal gave a small smile "I'll tell you after you spill about my sister."
Gemma pouted "I asked first." she said
Crystal gave a half smile and turned to Simon "What do you think?"
Gemma giggled softly turning on Simon as well "Well?" she asked
Simon stammered stepping back slightly as he tried to make up his mind eventually he spoke up "I think you should tell us about Pisces and Crystal can explain about this Dratini thing on the way to the cave."
Gemma and Crystal paused mulling his suggestion over before with almost identical small smile on their faces they nodded. "Sounds fair" Gemma said nodding slowly.
Crystal smiled and nodded "Ok then why is my sister in the lake then?" she asked "I heard humour in your voice so I imagine it's a good story?"
Gemma giggled and nodded "Yeah, she insisted that we take her with us on the foraging trip." she paused giggling softly to herself "but we found this Pecha bush overhanging a steep hill she leant out to get some for us, reasoning she could use her tail as a counterweight, but slipped and rolled down the hill." Gemma giggled harder "She was totally caked in mud"
Crystal and Simon where both laughing Simon shaking his head softly "Alright then shall we go find the mud beast?" he joked earning another round of giggles from Crystal and Gemma.
"So spill" Gemma giggled softly as they left the granary behind them
Crystal nodded "Well there's not much to say really" she said softly "Over the time I've been here there have been several pack members who have claimed to have seen a Dragonair or Dratini in the lake" she paused "If memory serves then there where two sightings of the Dragonair and five of Dratini"
Gemma nodded and Simon just absorbed the knowledge "So what sort of things do you mean by sightings"
Crystal gave a half shrug "It depends, some have seen the silhouettes, others claim that they came out of the water and one person even said he had a brief conversation with a Dratini before it swam off again."
Simon chuckled "So does anyone believe them and is that person still here?"
Crystal shook her head "No on both accounts, I don't think the lake is large enough for Dratini and definitely not for a Dragonair. As for Fengir, he died last summer"
Simon nodded "Oh ok" he said making a note to get Pisces to look into it despite Crystal's scepticism.
They made their way to the cave quickly they slipped into the large cavern, pausing for a second to take in the beauty before Simon called out "Pisces?"
There was another pause, the soft sounds of running water perfectly audible in the silence along with echo's of conversation from the far corners of the elaborate cave system , before "Simon?"
Simon smiled "Hey, you mind coming to shore?"
There was another pause the background noise once again seeming to fill their senses "Sure" came the eventual response
There was another longer pause as Pisces swam for the shore, long powerful strokes of her tail propelling her through the water with a serene grace. She soon made it to shore and leapt out of the water landing slightly unsteadily on her slick paws "Ugh I hate mud" she muttered
"At least you're clean now" Gemma pointed out unable to suppress a small giggle
Pisces gave a small nod "I think I am" she muttered rolling onto her back and looking at Simon "Can you see any mud?" she asked spreading her rear legs and moving her front paws to a side.
Simon blushed heavily as his gaze was drawn to her crotch, after a second of staring he snapped himself out of it, "Only a little" he said leaning over Pisces and gently wiping off some mud on her neck before washing off his hand.
Pisces gave a small murr and rolled back to her feet "Thanks" she said softly "Anyway what did you want me for?"
"Oh right" Crystal said smiling "We want to talk to you two about potential names for our kits" she explained, Simon blushing noticeably when she said our kits, "We'll think them over then name the kits tomorrow." she continued after a brief pause adding a warm smile
Gemma nodded smiling broadly as her suspicions where confirmed "Shall we get going?" she asked
Simon nodded smiling a soft blush colouring his cheeks as he leaned in giving each of them a kiss on the muzzle, leaving Gemma blushing bright red whilst Pisces and Crystal although surprised where wearing little happy smiles.
They quickly found their way back to Simon and Crystal's room and seated themselves haphazardly on the bed, Simon sitting next to Crystal his arm draped gently around her whilst Gemma was laying near the edge of the bed and Pisces was lying splayed out in the top right corner.
Crystal smiled softly "Alright" she said "So Gemma, sis; any ideas?"
Gemma giggled "You could always name on after me" she joked
Simon chuckled softly "Yeah like your ego needs another boost" he retorted making a note to see if he could try and get one named after Gemma as a sort of thank you.
Gemma pouted playfully "My ego isn't big" she defended
Simon chuckled softly leaning in "Of course it is" he joked smiling warmly"If it got any bigger it wouldn't be able to fit in that pretty little head of yours" he added planting a small chaste kiss on her forehead just below the base of her leaf. Gemma blushed heavily her fake indignation disappearing in her embarrassment.
"Your turn" Crystal said giggling softly at Gemma's embarrassment as she nodded to Pisces "Do you have any ideas for names?"
Pisces nodded "Well I was wondering if you wanted to name any of them after our parents?" she said after a moments pause
Crystal nodded "That was one of the things I was really thinking about" she agreed
Simon smiled "What where your parents like?" he asked
Crystal and Pisces both smiled "Well our mother was an Eevee named Cream, dad said it was because her brown colourations took a few weeks to grow in so when she was named she was completely creamy white." Crystal explained gently a small tranquil smile on her face as she recalled her parents
Pisces giggled and nodded "Although she never agreed to it." she pointed out
Simon and Gemma chuckled softly as Crystal giggled at the memory "True" she agreed "but still I think dad was telling the truth."
Simon nodded "And your dad?" he asked
Crystal and Pisces looked at each other, silently deciding who would talk about their father "Well dad was a Flareon" Pisces said "We don't really know much about him since we only saw him once or twice a week, but when he was there he was very friendly and playful."
Crystal nodded "He always seemed sorry he couldn't spend more time with us" she said
Simon nodded smiling "It sounds like you had very good parents, although if you want to name one after your parents I demand the same privilege"
Gemma giggled softly "Equal rights for naming?" she joked "Is that a new law, oh mighty alpha"
Crystal and Pisces descended into giggles at this, Simon swung a fist at Gemma playfully chuckling himself "Yes it is," he said "now bow peon!"
This sent everyone into a giggling fit, after they had calmed down Pisces piped up "You going to tell us about your parents?"
Simon shrugged "If you want but it's not exactly riveting material."
Crystal smiled softly leaning up to lick Simon's cheek "It's not like the story of our parents was spellbinding either" she pointed out.
With a small chuckle Simon nodded "Ok I'll tell you" he said happily "Let's see" he muttered "My mum was called Amy" he said "she was a mum" he chuckled "I can't really say much more than that, she loved me and supported me" he gave another warm smile "and of course she embarrassed me to death on more than one occasion."
"And your dad?" Pisces and Crystal enquired nodding understandingly at his description of his mum
"Well my dad..." Simon sighed "I never really knew my dad" he said "mum said he left before I was born" he sighed "I never found any trinkets or anything in mum's apartment after she died, there was nothing to suggest she ever went out with anyone after leaving college." he sighed again "I suppose it must have been a messy breakup."
Crystal and Pisces nodded understanding the concept of growing up without a father but not really understanding what he said about breaking up; in their world the only way you left your life mate was death.
Gemma started giggling softly in the small silence following his speech, when everyone turned to look at her with questioning glances she quickly calmed herself down "Sorry" she said her humour still obvious in her voice "I was just thinking that we came her to talk about names for the kits but we've spent far more time talking about parents."
Crystal and Pisces giggled softly whilst Simon just smiled and shook his head "I guess that shows that we can't be trusted to stay on topic whilst we're together" Pisces giggled
Crystal shrugged "I don't know, we've got quite a few good idea for names now." she smiled "and a good starting point for more."
Simon nodded his agreement rubbing Crystal's head "Yeah" he said softly "Taking all bets that I forget at least two or three of the kits names in the first fortnight!"
"oh me, me!" Gemma piped up giggling softly
Simon rolled his eyes "You can't bet" he defended "you use my money whenever you do so I have nothing to gain!"
"You have nothing to loose either" Gemma pointed out giggling softly
"hmmm true;" Simon conceded "I suppose this is one of those is the glass half full or half empty things isn't it?"
Crystal and Pisces gave him questioning glances not understanding the analogy whilst Gemma just nodded giggling "Yeah it is" she agreed "So can I bet?"
Simon sighed "Fine"