Episode 07: The Tri-Named Flareon
Episode 07
"The Tri-Named Flareon"
By Darfix
Hours after discovering the Flareon, Destiny, Darfix, and their currently nameless companion are seen walking through the nearly treeless landscape, en route to Goldenrod Forest. Darfix and Destiny take point, walking close to each other, but not touchingâ�"behind them, the Flareon walks with his head hung lowâ�"
"...look at him, Dar..." Destiny says to him in a whisper, "...we've got to do something, to get his mind off itâ�"maybe he just needs to let it out?" she suggests, tilting her head to him as they walk.
Darfix grits his teeth, "Err...I know if ever I lost you, and someone asked me to explain what happened...I'd probably rip out their jugular..." he says softly, suddenly noting that if this Flareon was like him in personality, he very well might be the one getting his jugular removed! "...heh, I don't think I want to press the matter further..." he adds, swallowing hard.
Destiny rolls her eyes, "I'm at least going to ask his name one last time...try to break the ice, you know?" she replies.
Darfix sighs, closing his eyes and stopping the walk, "...suit yourself, love..." he says softly, seeming pretty confident this would fail.
Destiny rolls her eyes again, and turns to face the Flareon, "...we can stop and rest for a moment, if you don't mindâ�"uh, sayâ�"what did you say your name was?" she asks, perhaps trying to trick the male into replying.
He also stops with the Eevee and the Vulpix, but his gaze doesn't leave the ground in front of him, "...oh, uh...Niktsu (Nick-(light T sound)-Sue)...you can call me Niktsu...or, Nik...or Tsu...whichever suits you best...I've been told my name is hard to say..." he replies with his soft, depressed tone of voice.
Darfix's jaw drops! Destiny was a miracle worker! How did she know he would reply so willingly?
Destiny only flashes a smirk at her bewildered courting partner, and proceeds to walk up to Niktsu. "That's a cute name, Niktsu...I like it. It has a unique sound to it," she says softly, smiling at him, as she sits down at his side, brushing her fur only slightly against his own.
Darfix's expression clearly shows discomfort with how Destiny is attempting to open up this Flareon, but he does still seem impressed at the same time...
Niktsu forms a slight smile after Destiny's comment, "That's sweet of you to say...not many would agree with you, however..." he replies softly.
"Well, let's not worry about them now, this is just you, me, and Darfix..." she speaks to him with a happy tone of voice, "Perhaps we could all sit down, and get to know each other a little better...who would you like to start with?" she asks him gently, "Its up you, we will share what we each feel comfortable sharing...if, that's alright with you?"
Niktsu replies with a gentle nod, as well as a quarter smile, "...actually, if you're willing miss, I'd like to hear your story first..." he requests, "Ifâ�"that's alright?"
Darfix rolls his eyes a little, and mumbles under his breath, "Psh, I saw that one coming a mile away..."
Neither Destiny, nor Niktsu hear Darfix's comment, or so it seems. "Oh, me?" Destiny blushes, accompanied by a feminine giggle, "Well, I guess I could share some of my life with you..." she smiles, looking up at the sky a little, "Hmm, let's see...well, my mother and father, both Ninetales, were, and still are extremely good parents. I haven't seen them in awhile...I really would like to," she says softly, recalling past times while talking. "My father, Taruno...is a very muscular and large male Ninetales..."
Darfix's eyes widen, and his ears wilt upon hearing this, "...large...muscular Ninetales?" he thinks to himself, as Destiny continues.
"He's also extremely protective of me and my mother..." Destiny goes on...
Darfix's jaw drops, "EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE?" he asks himself in his mind, letting a gasp escape his throat. He wishes Destiny had told him that piece of info SOONER!
Destiny smiles, looking up again as she continues, "...and my mother, Yuralaâ�"such a prime example of a Ninetales' beauty. From what I remember, she was such a gorgeous female...which is probably why my father was so protective..." she giggles, still looking up in thought. "Gosh, I miss those twoâ�"we'll have to see them sometime, huh, Darfix?" she asks, now turning to the terrified Eevee in front of her.
"Ohâ�"uhâ�"sure...yeah, Destiny...uh...whatever you say...heh, heh..." he replies with a nervous smile.
Destiny smiles back, and then turns, facing more towards Niktsu, but not directly, "...I wonder if they are still upset with me for...going rogue like I did..." she says softly, aloud, but to herself as she questions this.
Niktsu nods, having listened to every word that escaped her little maw, "...they do seem like wonderful parents. Umm...could you tell me a little of your rogue life?" he asks curiously, one of his ears twitching a little as he does.
Destiny blinks, turning to face Niktsu in the eyes now, "...well, there isn't really too much to tell, other than, meeting Darfix while I was a rogue..." she says, "...I was attacked by a Grimer, andâ�"he saved me..." she finishes softly with a shrug, not wanting to get into detail.
Niktsu quirks a brow, "...you couldn't fight off a Grimer, but an Eevee could?" he asks, looking amazed. That's one strong Eevee...
"Well, noâ�"err...you see, he was an Umbreon then..." she replies, biting done on her tongue gently, hoping this didn't complicate things further...
Darfix sighs, "Well, I guess its my turn, seeing as how you're going to want to know why I am no longer an Umbreon, eh?" he asks, facing the Flareon.
"...yes, Iâ�"would be very interested in this little magic trick of yours, Eevee..." Niktsu says softly.
"Well, then I'll be brief on my childhood. Basically, my mother, Kisuna, an Umbreon, was my only parent. Sure, sure, the bastard ass Mightyena, Serko was there, but he did nothing but flee in the sight of terror, when we needed him most..." Darfix growls, "So yeah, my mother dies and I am left alone..." he says quickly, and coldlyâ�"trying to hold back any sign that it upset him. He didn't want to look weak in front of this male.
"...that's awful...so you know what it's like then..." Niktsu comments, frowning, "Please...continue..."
Darfix doesn't waste time getting back to his story, "So anywayâ�"I miraculously manage to survive without my mother, until I am able to get along on my own...this is when I battle, and train mostâ�"I NEVER wanted to be unable to help someone I loved most again..." he states in a promising tone of voice, "So anyway, I eventually get stronger, and one night, I felt really funny...and began to transform. I turned into my mother's form, and Umbreon...I was so thrilled that day!" he adds, a smile showing temporarily on his maw. "Then, one day...I'm padding through the forest, when I notice a beautiful little Vulpix, being attacked by a Grimer...he wasn't about to take no for an answer it seemed...he was, trying to force himself on her..."
Destiny's jaw drops! She didn't think Darfix would be THIS honest! Howeverâ�"if he was this honest, maybe it would make Niktsu feel he should be honest too?
"I blew his ass off her with a psychic attack. The cur didn't even know what hit him! But after that, I saved the damsel, and we've been journeying companions ever since..." Darfix finishes, sighing a deep sigh as he recalls some of his past with that speech.
Niktsu nods, having listened to Darfix's entire story too, "...you two sure have endured some hardships...but how was it you transformed...back into an Eevee?" Niktsu asks.
Darfix yips, "Oh, yeahâ�"that!" he replies quickly, "...well, uhâ�"well...naturally, Destiny wasn't very trusting of males after that incident...especially towards those much more powerful than her..." he starts, "...as much as I wanted to be her protector, I realized...I might just be scaring her every day..." he adds, though being VERY vague about his reasons. "...so, Iâ�"made a deal with a Noctowl, who stole some weird stone from somewhere. It transformed me back into an Eevee...it's kind of like those special stones, but opposite..." Darfix explains.
"Oh...uh...that would explain it then...yeah..." Niktsu replies, nodding as he does so. "...I hope that deal doesn't come back to haunt you someday..." he adds, seeming to know that the deal was hastily made, and not thought out well.
Darfix grits his teeth, and nods, "...yeah...uh..." he sighs at a loss of words.
"So, Niktsuâ�"we told you our stories, would you mind sharing yours with us?" Destiny asks, tilting her head in attempt to be cute as possibleâ�"which would be yet another reason for Niktsu not to lie to her...
Niktsu swallows hard, removing the lump in his throat. He sighs, and seems to tense up a little bit, his tail swaying back and forth at an eerily slow pace, "...you wantâ�"to hear MY story...hmm?" he asks softly, but nods in reply to his own question. "Ok, umm...that's fair enough I guess, you both shared some deep memories with me...I shall comply..." he responds, taking a deep breath, readying himself to speak. Destiny and Darfix, wait patiently, and yet, excitedly for what might slip out of this male Flareon's maw...
To Be Continued...