Chapter 11 - A New Dawn
Caelas sat on the front balcony, gazing over the trees to where the sun was just beginning to crest the horizon. He had been there for an hour already, just staring out as though something had been calling to him. He wasn't sure, but the green eyed Riolu thought that something was going to happen today. Something big. Was it instinct trying to come out? He shrugged to himself, trying to clear his own mind.
Maybe it was time for something truly meaningful to happen. Life had been pretty comfortable for Caelas, from the times he had spent playing with his friends in Eyllisithek, to being reunited with his dad and the trek they had been on. He smiled, still not taking his eyes off the rising sun. He liked being with Wolf, because while Lucky had done a superb job in raising him he identified with his father more. He could talk to Wolf about things, and Wolf would be able to help.
That didn't mean he didn't love Lucky too. He loved both his parents equally, especially when they could all share Wolf's bed and simply enjoy each other's company. There were times that they insisted he sleep in the common room for a night, for reasons neither of them would tell him. They made sure he didn't feel like they were rejecting him though, just telling him that they needed "mum and dad time." They wouldn't tell him what that was though, Wolf saying that he "would find out when he was older."
At least it gave him a chance to spend time with his other friends. His best friend was Eve, who he had met as a Chimchar but had evolved into an Infernape. This was good, because now they were both fighting types and could relate even easier than before. Eve was always fun to be around, even if sometimes she was sad for no apparent reason. She tried to hide it from him, but he could still see her aura was troubled.
"Hey kid. Couldn't sleep?"
Caelas started, turning to find Machoke sitting down next to him. She was friendly too, her expression as she regarded him reinforcing his view of her. Machoke acted like another mum to him, her fighting kinship with him making it easy enough to accept. Caelas nodded, turning back to the sunrise.
"No." He said, leaning back a little. "I just feel restless, is all." She nodded sympathetically, keeping her eyes on the horizon like him.
"Maybe something is bothering you?" she asked, wanting to help. He shook his head, still not turning to look at her.
"Not really." He replied. "I think something's going to happen though. Not a bad thing, but something important." She smiled, putting one hand on his head and ruffling the fur somewhat. He grinned, looking up at her gentle smile.
"Then there's no sense in dwelling on it." She said, letting her hand fall away from the Riolu's head. "That'll just drive you crazy. Better to deal with it when the time comes." He got up, looking at her with a relieved expression.
"Thanks Machoke." He said, giving her a quick hug. "That makes me feel much better." Silently the pair wandered back inside, wondering if they could catch a few more minutes sleep before breakfast.
***
A few hours later, after breakfast and after Wolf had showered, the team assembled out the front of the house off the edge of the path. They sat in a circle on the grass, letting the breeze stir through it and offset the sun's heat nicely. Wolf sat with his back against the tree that held their home aloft, Lucky on his right side, Caelas sitting on his lap, and Serenity on his left clutching her egg. The rest of the team were arranged in a circle, lounging on the soft earth while Wolf regarded them.
"Okay guys," he began. "You've all been training hard, and I'm proud of you." The pokemon puffed themselves up in pride, always keen to hear praise from Wolf. They knew that he would always speak his mind, so letting them know he was happy with their progress was a great deal.
"You've been a great trainer, and more importantly a great friend." Ivysaur said, to a chorus of confirmations from the others. Wolf grinned, looking at each of his pokemon in turn to let them know that he loved them all.
"I'm glad you think so." He replied, before letting his smile fade a little. "The Star Tournament is going to be nothing like we've ever faced before though. Just getting an invite is cause enough to celebrate, so I don't really care how we place once it starts." The pokemon looked relieved, glad that Wolf would still be happy if they tried their best.
"We'll try to earn that invite Wolf." Jazz piped up, to assent from the others. He nodded, the smile returning.
"Thank you all." He said, letting them feel that pride again. "Thing is, the team for the tournament is set the whole way through. You won't all be participating." At this, nervous glances were exchanged through the group. They all knew that this was the reason Wolf had never caught more than six pokemon for several years, and none of them wanted to let him down by not being at their peak.
"Any idea on how you're going to choose who's going?" Serenity asked, looking at Wolf with a grimace. She certainly didn't envy his decision in this. He nodded slowly, making sure he was answering to all of them.
"I do." He answered. "First off, I'll need the most versatility I can get. That means I won't be doubling up on types if I can help it, which means most of you are fine." Jazz and Ivysaur both sagged in relief, knowing that they were going beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ninetales and Eve glanced worriedly at one another, neither of them liking the idea of competing with one another. Squishy gulped nervously, though Princess remained calm.
"I can help you with which water type you'll be taking." She said, looking at him directly. "Nurse Joy told me that she was sent an invitation to accompany you to the tournament. She's going to be responsible for the health of your pokemon between rounds, and I want to help her with that." Wolf nodded, feeling some relief of his own that at least one decision was out of his hands.
"Good thinking Princess." He said, nodding. "You'll still be playing an important part as well, so we'll be counting on you and Joy." Princess beamed, while Wolf turned to Squishy. "Looks like you're in, Squishy." The Milotic squealed in delight, nuzzling the Floatzel next to her.
"Thanks Princess and Wolf!" she cried, drawing back to beam at them. "I promise I'll try my best for both of you!" Wolf nodded, giving her a confident look.
"That's all I ask, Squishy." He said. Serenity was the next to speak up, a gentle smile on her face.
"I think Happy will be willing to fill my space, Wolf." She ventured, drawing a curious gaze from both the trainer and the Umbreon. "By the time the tournament begins my child will be born, and I'd like to spend some time raising it." Wolf nodded at her reasoning, smiling at Happy as she wagged her tail.
"That settles that part." He mused, thinking it over. "That means Lucky, Ivysaur, Jazz, Happy and Squishy will be taking part. That just leaves..." he trailed off, glancing sidelong at the morose fire pokemon. Both of them had trained furiously since the invitation had arrived, and both of them were eager to show that they deserved the final place in the tournament team. Wolf hated having to choose, because the one who wasn't picked would feel like all their efforts were for nothing. Worse, they might begin to think that he didn't care about them.
"That's it!"
Disturbed from his thoughts, Wolf could only watch as Caelas leaped from his shoulder and bounded into the centre of the group. The assembled pokemon could only watch as Caelas, before Wolf or Lucky could react, began to glow.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lucky whispered, earning little more than a shocked nod from her love. Before their eyes, Caelas' form began to grow and distort, growing until it had nearly doubled in height and broadened in the same way. His limbs lengthened, and from the back of his head two more of the aura sensing glands grew out. All of this happened in less than ten seconds, and once the glow faded the assembled group were looking at a much different pokemon.
Caelas now stood as tall as Lucky, deep green eyes the same as Wolf's own staring out at his shocked friends in some confusion. His chest fur was a light brown, somewhere between Lucky's tan and Wolf's darker brown when he assumed Lucario form. No spikes were visible on his body, although sets of claws identical to Wolf's slid out from the backs of his paws in the same way as his fathers. Caelas had evolved, their son having grown into his Lucario form.
Wolf and Lucky gawked at their son for a few seconds before turning to one another, their faces still showing nothing but surprise. Once they realised that they were both awake, and that they were both sane, Wolf grinned at her in a fit of paternal pride. Lucky smiled warmly back, and before either of them knew what was happening they had both collided with Caelas, Lucky wrapping her arms around her son in a warm hug while Wolf had his left hooked around his son's shoulders while his right gave him a noogie. Caelas laughed, trying to fend them off.
"So this is what it was!" he half shouted, half laughed as his parents kept him pinned in place. Neither of them reacted to the exclamation, instead laughing themselves into a fit. Soon enough the others crowded in, all wanting to share in the family moment or offer their congratulations. It was only as they finally disentangled from each other that Caelas noticed someone hadn't joined in.
"Hey, where'd Eve go?" he asked curiously, the group looking around to find that the Infernape was indeed missing. She had left little trace of her departure, and no one could figure out why she should have left at all.
"I'll have a look for her." Wolf said, letting the close standing pokemon shield him from prying eyes as he transformed into his own Lucario form, taking a quick sniff of the spot she had been occupying and darting off into the forest after her scent.
***
Wolf proceeded through the forest at a much slower pace than he had set off, the Infernape's scent strengthening in his nose as he kept going. She was close, Wolf knew. He was sure that she hadn't wanted to be found, having followed a winding path through the trees and even travelled through the canopy on two occasions. The scent had been faint at those points, but Wolf's patience had won out in the end, though it had taken nearly an hour to do so.
Ahead, in a darker part of the forest, Wolf felt for sure he had found his quarry. A faint light seemed to be shining in one of the densely packed leaves, betraying her presence. Wolf changed back into his true self, not wanting to startle her any more than necessary. He walked to the gnarled trunk of her refuge, grasping a sturdy looking low branch and hoisting himself up slowly. He had no doubt that she could simply take off again and leave him stranded in the forest. He hoped she would be reasonable.
He took a couple of minutes to climb the tree, having spent some of it starting over from the bottom much to his annoyance. Once he finally reached the canopy, he could see Eve leaning against the trunk of the tree, her knees curled up to her chin and arms wrapped around her legs. She gave him only a quick glance as he hauled himself up to join her before burying her face into her legs, but it was enough for Wolf to see the tears streaming down her face. He moved closer, wary that his touch might still be unwelcome. They stayed silent for another minute before Wolf spoke.
"Caelas missed you, you know." He said softly, keeping his eyes on the foliage. She kept silent, prompting him to speak again. "Wanna tell me why you left?" She didn't respond for a few seconds, until she gave a single heaving sob.
"He..." she whimpered, trying to force her voice to work. "He... he looks like you..." Wolf frowned, unable to figure out what that meant to her. "When you rescued me..." She gave another wracking sob before curling tighter into herself. He nodded, seeing her point now. Her friend had become a visible reminder of her tormented past. It would be painful for her to look at him, as well as unavoidable.
"It's okay, Eve." He said soothingly, leaning forward to hold her until she flinched away at his touch. Slowly he drew back, still wanting to comfort her. "Shayne's gone. He can't hurt you anymore." Eve shook her head, causing her to rock on her perch.
"It's not that!" she wailed, causing Wolf's eyes to widen in slight surprise. "You saved me! I can't forget that! I love you, and now I love Caelas!" The words were just as shocking to both of them, as Eve snapped her head up to stare at Wolf in wide eyed fear. She moaned, burying her face again as she realised her own feelings. Wolf let her come to terms with it for a moment, keeping silent while she cried. It wasn't until she lifted her face again that the silence was broken by speech.
"How can I even be near him now?" she asked tearfully. "I love him as more than a friend, but he might not want to be more than friends. What if I lose control and do something awful?" Wolf gripped her shoulder, keeping a firm hold even when she tried to squirm away. She turned to force him away, shrinking under the stern gaze that met her instead.
"Eve, you are nothing like your brother." Wolf stated, his voice quiet but firm. "You won't act in any way like Shayne because you are a kind hearted, loving pokemon. I truly believe that you're incapable of any cruel behaviour. Stop being afraid of being yourself!" The last sentence had its intended effect, snapping Eve's morose demeanour and replacing it with anger towards Wolf. Before he could react, she had his shirt gripped in her hands and was staring him in the eye even while tears still streaked her face.
"How dare you?!" she shrieked in his face, though he glared defiantly back. "I'm not afraid of anything, least of all myself!"
"Then why did you run away?" he demanded, goading her on. She reared back on hand, balled into a fist, and Wolf truly believed she was going to hit him. Several seconds passed, until Eve let go of his shirt. Her arms fell limply to her sides and she sank back onto her knees. Her eyes were still wide, though her anger at Wolf had burnt out. She looked at him helplessly, realising that he was right.
"What can I do?" she whispered, allowing him to hold her now. He guided her to lean against the tree again, letting one of his arms drape around her shoulders and hold her in a soothing embrace. He sat next to her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told Ninetales when she realised she was in love with Princess." Wolf offered, his voice still firm but now also gentle. "I'm sure he would be happy to return your feelings for him. If he doesn't, the worst he can do is say no. In that case, you'll be able to gradually let your feelings for him go." Eve nodded, her eyes unfocussed and cuddling closer to him. Eventually the message sank in to her troubled mind, and the sobs stopped. Wolf loosened his grip on her, letting her make her way to the forest floor again. Once he had joined her, they set off back to Fortree in silence, broken by only a single confession on Eve's part.
"Wolf," she began tentatively. "If... if you had transformed, back on Pummelo, I would have said yes."
***
A few more days had passed, and Wolf was no closer to making a decision. This annoyed Ninetales no end, driving her into a frenzy of training that Wolf had failed to talk her out of. Eve paid little mind to the actions of her erstwhile rival, instead focussing on her own problem. Even in the time that had elapsed since her talk with Wolf, she had still been unable to summon the courage to speak to Caelas. Sometimes it made her want to howl in frustration, others she could barely find the energy to move at all.
Wolf had offered to help her get some time alone with the Lucario, but she had refused with an almost indecent haste. Her fear had bubbled to the surface when he had made the suggestion, driving her further into her shell. This wasn't helped by the nagging feeling that the more she put this off, the further the possibility got from becoming a reality. The perceived time limit scared her more than anything else, forcing her to confront her dilemma.
It wasn't like she hadn't tried. On three separate occasions she had attempted to talk to him but each time the conversation had dissolved into meaningless small talk, leaving her to run off in shame and leaving him confused at her behaviour. Wolf had seen each time, slowly shaking his head at the scene she presented. He had decided that he would intervene, whether or not she wanted his help.
"Jazz, can I talk to you for a second?" the trainer asked next morning, once breakfast was finished and Princess had followed Ninetales in another doomed attempt to restrain her. The Raichu nodded, letting Wolf lead her into his room and gesture for her to sit on the bed. He laid down next to her, scratching the top of her head lightly.
"What's on your mind, Wolf?" she asked, once they were comfortable. He didn't respond right away, instead studying her for a couple of seconds.
"Jazz, have you hit on Caelas in any way since he evolved?" Wolf said, watching a surprised look cross over her face. She blinked, pursing her lips.
"No." She replied, frowning. "I mean if you don't want me to, I won't." Wolf shook his head, a small smile playing across his face.
"That's fine, but I'm sure you've noticed the way Eve's been acting around him." He said, once again waiting for her to respond.
"Oh, definitely." She said, a knowing smile gracing her features. "She's head over heels for him. You want me to leave him for her, right?"
"Sort of." The trainer said, his smile broadening.
***
Eve wandered through the hallway, having spent the morning in the gym with the other pokemon. Caelas had been there too, and despite her best efforts she was unable to close the distance between them privately. Now she ground her teeth together as they left for lunch, once again the milling pokemon preventing her from talking to him.
"Hey Caelas, I wanted to talk to you about something."
The Infernape snapped out of her own thoughts, looking over to where Caelas had stopped to find Jazz standing in front of him, looking up with a suggestive smile on her face. While the other pokemon kept going to the dining room, Eve ducked into a nearby doorway and kept an eye on what was happening.
"Sure Jazz." He replied, getting onto his knees so that they were closer to eye level. Jazz grinned warmly at him, running a paw along his arm.
"You look so much stronger now, more like a male." She purred, teasing the fur on his arm. He looked surprised, but otherwise didn't respond. "You're growing up, kid."
"Uh, I guess." He replied, though his tone suggested he was confused by her behaviour. Her smile only widened, taking the quality of a predator that had just cornered their prey.
"Thing is," she continued. "There are things that grown-ups can do with each other... things that mark them out as grown-up..." she trailed off, a lusty look in her eyes now. Eve's own eyes were narrowed in anger at her forward manner.
"That slut!" She hissed under her breath, though neither of them heard her.
"Like what?" Caelas asked, curiosity and caution mingling in his voice now. Jazz let her gaze slide down his body, along with her paw.
"Oh, I don't know..." she said, her paw trailing down his chest until it reached the top of his shorts. "Things like this, I suppose." She let her paw fall further until she had her prize grasped firmly. Shocked at how brazen she was, Caelas fell backwards and scooted a few feet away, wide eyed and staring.
"Uh, I don't know if that's such a good idea right now!" he stammered out, keeping just out of her reach. She shrugged, her smile not once faltering.
"Hmm, maybe you're right." She mused, turning to wander back to the dining room. "Well, the offer's on the table anyway, so just ask any time you want to take it up." Caelas stayed where he was for a few seconds longer before he got slowly to his feet and followed her. Eve stood rooted to the spot, trembling with barely contained fury. How could Jazz do something like that?!
It wasn't until Wolf came looking for her that she snapped out of the red haze clouding her mind, the realisation that if she didn't act that someone else would galvanising her into action.
***
"Caelas, I need to talk to you."
The Lucario looked up from his dinner, seeing that Eve had come over to stand next to him. He looked at her, his mouth full while he nodded for her to continue. She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet, dragging him away from the group and out to the front balcony. He didn't resist, though he rolled his eyes while she wasn't looking. Almost everyone had wanted to talk to him at some point since he'd evolved, and Eve had tried several times.
"Okay, so what's up?" he asked once they were outside and Eve had shut the door behind them. She stayed silent for a few seconds, before looking back at him. He was startled to see tears in her eyes.
"Caelas, do you still like me?" she asked quietly. His jaw dropped at the question, perplexed as to why she would ask that.
"Of course!" he cried, unable to think what would have prompted this question. "Why wouldn't I like you?" Her eyes fell, the Infernape feeling ashamed at her actions since he had evolved.
"I wasn't being friendly." She murmured, looking quite miserable. "I wasn't being social, and I thought you might think that I didn't like you anymore."
"That's hardly true." He interjected, putting one paw on her shoulder. "I admit I didn't know why you weren't there after I evolved, but I figured you had something important to do." She shook her head, a sad smile appearing on her face.
"I have nothing more important to do than be with you." She whispered, taking a tentative step towards him. "It's just that, when you evolved... you reminded me of Wolf when he saved me. Between that and the friendship we already shared, something else..." She was only a few inches from him now, though something kept him from drawing back.
"Something else?" he asked, his voice no louder than hers.
"Yes, Caelas." She replied, not taking her eyes off his own. "Caelas... I love you." She leaned in slowly, unsure of just what she was supposed to do. Finally their lips met, and she was kissing him with an enthusiasm that offset her lack of experience. His eyes were wide, shocked at her actions, until instinct asserted itself and he returned her kiss. They brushed their lips along each others, arms snaking up to bring them into a loving embrace. For what seemed like a blissful eternity they kept their hold on one another, until the need for air broke them apart. Panting heavily, they grinned awkwardly at each other.
"Wow..." Caelas murmured, his eyes twinkling. "That was... nice." Eve looked down, embarrassed.
"Really?" she asked, blushing furiously. "That was my first kiss." They both knew it was his first as well, though Eve felt she needed to tell him he was her first. She held him close, their arms clutching each other tight.
"So, does this mean we're a couple?" Caelas asked her, his muzzle right next to her ear. She nodded, not wanting to speak now. No words were needed.
***
The next morning Caelas was out on the balcony again, having spent an enjoyable night with Eve. Though she wanted to take each step slowly, he respected her wishes and didn't rush along with anything. Secretly, he was glad that she wanted to wait. He was afraid that if they were to have sex now, that he would disappoint her with his inexperience.
"Morning, Caelas."
The Lucario looked over his shoulder to see Wolf exiting the house, moving to lean on the rail next to him. "You look a little troubled. Anything I can help with?" Caelas looked back over the trees, smiling.
"I guess so, dad." He replied, pausing as he considered the best way to voice the problem. "I'm a little worried about when Eve wants to take things further. I mean, we were getting our kissing right after a while, but I don't know if I can do well on my first time." Wolf took in the words for a minute, wanting to be sure his advice was sound.
"It's natural to be worried." He answered, following his son's gaze out over the trees. "You care about her. If you want to be sure about it, pay attention to her. Don't just stampede right into her, take the time to explore her fully. Paws and tongues can do just as much to make her feel good." Caelas nodded, happy to listen to Wolf's wisdom. Once he had evolved, the pokemon had acted more openly around him, speaking about these things without having to answer too many awkward questions in return.
"I see." He offered, letting them both admire the natural view of Fortree City. "Thanks dad." Wolf smiled, letting them just enjoy each other's company. The moment was only disturbed when shouts came from the house, followed swiftly by Ninetales as she exited and headed for the stairs.
"No time to chat boys, I need to keep training." She said as she blew past them, Princess hot on her heels.
"Ninetales! It's not healthy to train so much!" the Floatzel cried, a note of desperation in her voice. Wolf moved to stop the fire pokemon, chasing her down the stairs as fast as he could. When they reached the bottom Wolf made a diving leap that caught her around the midsection, trying to slow her down.
"Get off me Wolf!" she yelled, squirming in his grip. "I have to train!"
"Ninetales, it's fine! I don't want to be in the Star Tournament team."
Both trainer and fire hound looked up to the balcony where Eve stood next to Caelas and Princess, looking down at the pair with a gentle smile. Ninetales frowned, but stopped moving.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes." Eve replied, one arm finding its way around Caelas. "I don't think I could focus enough on training."
"Thank heavens!" Ninetales howled, practically collapsing under the weight of her fatigue. "I don't think I could take much more!" Wolf dragged himself up into a sitting position, running a comforting hand down the exhausted pokemon's back.
"That's okay, Ninetales." He said soothingly. "How about you have a break today? You can sleep in my bed."
Maybe it was time for something truly meaningful to happen. Life had been pretty comfortable for Caelas, from the times he had spent playing with his friends in Eyllisithek, to being reunited with his dad and the trek they had been on. He smiled, still not taking his eyes off the rising sun. He liked being with Wolf, because while Lucky had done a superb job in raising him he identified with his father more. He could talk to Wolf about things, and Wolf would be able to help.
That didn't mean he didn't love Lucky too. He loved both his parents equally, especially when they could all share Wolf's bed and simply enjoy each other's company. There were times that they insisted he sleep in the common room for a night, for reasons neither of them would tell him. They made sure he didn't feel like they were rejecting him though, just telling him that they needed "mum and dad time." They wouldn't tell him what that was though, Wolf saying that he "would find out when he was older."
At least it gave him a chance to spend time with his other friends. His best friend was Eve, who he had met as a Chimchar but had evolved into an Infernape. This was good, because now they were both fighting types and could relate even easier than before. Eve was always fun to be around, even if sometimes she was sad for no apparent reason. She tried to hide it from him, but he could still see her aura was troubled.
"Hey kid. Couldn't sleep?"
Caelas started, turning to find Machoke sitting down next to him. She was friendly too, her expression as she regarded him reinforcing his view of her. Machoke acted like another mum to him, her fighting kinship with him making it easy enough to accept. Caelas nodded, turning back to the sunrise.
"No." He said, leaning back a little. "I just feel restless, is all." She nodded sympathetically, keeping her eyes on the horizon like him.
"Maybe something is bothering you?" she asked, wanting to help. He shook his head, still not turning to look at her.
"Not really." He replied. "I think something's going to happen though. Not a bad thing, but something important." She smiled, putting one hand on his head and ruffling the fur somewhat. He grinned, looking up at her gentle smile.
"Then there's no sense in dwelling on it." She said, letting her hand fall away from the Riolu's head. "That'll just drive you crazy. Better to deal with it when the time comes." He got up, looking at her with a relieved expression.
"Thanks Machoke." He said, giving her a quick hug. "That makes me feel much better." Silently the pair wandered back inside, wondering if they could catch a few more minutes sleep before breakfast.
***
A few hours later, after breakfast and after Wolf had showered, the team assembled out the front of the house off the edge of the path. They sat in a circle on the grass, letting the breeze stir through it and offset the sun's heat nicely. Wolf sat with his back against the tree that held their home aloft, Lucky on his right side, Caelas sitting on his lap, and Serenity on his left clutching her egg. The rest of the team were arranged in a circle, lounging on the soft earth while Wolf regarded them.
"Okay guys," he began. "You've all been training hard, and I'm proud of you." The pokemon puffed themselves up in pride, always keen to hear praise from Wolf. They knew that he would always speak his mind, so letting them know he was happy with their progress was a great deal.
"You've been a great trainer, and more importantly a great friend." Ivysaur said, to a chorus of confirmations from the others. Wolf grinned, looking at each of his pokemon in turn to let them know that he loved them all.
"I'm glad you think so." He replied, before letting his smile fade a little. "The Star Tournament is going to be nothing like we've ever faced before though. Just getting an invite is cause enough to celebrate, so I don't really care how we place once it starts." The pokemon looked relieved, glad that Wolf would still be happy if they tried their best.
"We'll try to earn that invite Wolf." Jazz piped up, to assent from the others. He nodded, the smile returning.
"Thank you all." He said, letting them feel that pride again. "Thing is, the team for the tournament is set the whole way through. You won't all be participating." At this, nervous glances were exchanged through the group. They all knew that this was the reason Wolf had never caught more than six pokemon for several years, and none of them wanted to let him down by not being at their peak.
"Any idea on how you're going to choose who's going?" Serenity asked, looking at Wolf with a grimace. She certainly didn't envy his decision in this. He nodded slowly, making sure he was answering to all of them.
"I do." He answered. "First off, I'll need the most versatility I can get. That means I won't be doubling up on types if I can help it, which means most of you are fine." Jazz and Ivysaur both sagged in relief, knowing that they were going beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ninetales and Eve glanced worriedly at one another, neither of them liking the idea of competing with one another. Squishy gulped nervously, though Princess remained calm.
"I can help you with which water type you'll be taking." She said, looking at him directly. "Nurse Joy told me that she was sent an invitation to accompany you to the tournament. She's going to be responsible for the health of your pokemon between rounds, and I want to help her with that." Wolf nodded, feeling some relief of his own that at least one decision was out of his hands.
"Good thinking Princess." He said, nodding. "You'll still be playing an important part as well, so we'll be counting on you and Joy." Princess beamed, while Wolf turned to Squishy. "Looks like you're in, Squishy." The Milotic squealed in delight, nuzzling the Floatzel next to her.
"Thanks Princess and Wolf!" she cried, drawing back to beam at them. "I promise I'll try my best for both of you!" Wolf nodded, giving her a confident look.
"That's all I ask, Squishy." He said. Serenity was the next to speak up, a gentle smile on her face.
"I think Happy will be willing to fill my space, Wolf." She ventured, drawing a curious gaze from both the trainer and the Umbreon. "By the time the tournament begins my child will be born, and I'd like to spend some time raising it." Wolf nodded at her reasoning, smiling at Happy as she wagged her tail.
"That settles that part." He mused, thinking it over. "That means Lucky, Ivysaur, Jazz, Happy and Squishy will be taking part. That just leaves..." he trailed off, glancing sidelong at the morose fire pokemon. Both of them had trained furiously since the invitation had arrived, and both of them were eager to show that they deserved the final place in the tournament team. Wolf hated having to choose, because the one who wasn't picked would feel like all their efforts were for nothing. Worse, they might begin to think that he didn't care about them.
"That's it!"
Disturbed from his thoughts, Wolf could only watch as Caelas leaped from his shoulder and bounded into the centre of the group. The assembled pokemon could only watch as Caelas, before Wolf or Lucky could react, began to glow.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lucky whispered, earning little more than a shocked nod from her love. Before their eyes, Caelas' form began to grow and distort, growing until it had nearly doubled in height and broadened in the same way. His limbs lengthened, and from the back of his head two more of the aura sensing glands grew out. All of this happened in less than ten seconds, and once the glow faded the assembled group were looking at a much different pokemon.
Caelas now stood as tall as Lucky, deep green eyes the same as Wolf's own staring out at his shocked friends in some confusion. His chest fur was a light brown, somewhere between Lucky's tan and Wolf's darker brown when he assumed Lucario form. No spikes were visible on his body, although sets of claws identical to Wolf's slid out from the backs of his paws in the same way as his fathers. Caelas had evolved, their son having grown into his Lucario form.
Wolf and Lucky gawked at their son for a few seconds before turning to one another, their faces still showing nothing but surprise. Once they realised that they were both awake, and that they were both sane, Wolf grinned at her in a fit of paternal pride. Lucky smiled warmly back, and before either of them knew what was happening they had both collided with Caelas, Lucky wrapping her arms around her son in a warm hug while Wolf had his left hooked around his son's shoulders while his right gave him a noogie. Caelas laughed, trying to fend them off.
"So this is what it was!" he half shouted, half laughed as his parents kept him pinned in place. Neither of them reacted to the exclamation, instead laughing themselves into a fit. Soon enough the others crowded in, all wanting to share in the family moment or offer their congratulations. It was only as they finally disentangled from each other that Caelas noticed someone hadn't joined in.
"Hey, where'd Eve go?" he asked curiously, the group looking around to find that the Infernape was indeed missing. She had left little trace of her departure, and no one could figure out why she should have left at all.
"I'll have a look for her." Wolf said, letting the close standing pokemon shield him from prying eyes as he transformed into his own Lucario form, taking a quick sniff of the spot she had been occupying and darting off into the forest after her scent.
***
Wolf proceeded through the forest at a much slower pace than he had set off, the Infernape's scent strengthening in his nose as he kept going. She was close, Wolf knew. He was sure that she hadn't wanted to be found, having followed a winding path through the trees and even travelled through the canopy on two occasions. The scent had been faint at those points, but Wolf's patience had won out in the end, though it had taken nearly an hour to do so.
Ahead, in a darker part of the forest, Wolf felt for sure he had found his quarry. A faint light seemed to be shining in one of the densely packed leaves, betraying her presence. Wolf changed back into his true self, not wanting to startle her any more than necessary. He walked to the gnarled trunk of her refuge, grasping a sturdy looking low branch and hoisting himself up slowly. He had no doubt that she could simply take off again and leave him stranded in the forest. He hoped she would be reasonable.
He took a couple of minutes to climb the tree, having spent some of it starting over from the bottom much to his annoyance. Once he finally reached the canopy, he could see Eve leaning against the trunk of the tree, her knees curled up to her chin and arms wrapped around her legs. She gave him only a quick glance as he hauled himself up to join her before burying her face into her legs, but it was enough for Wolf to see the tears streaming down her face. He moved closer, wary that his touch might still be unwelcome. They stayed silent for another minute before Wolf spoke.
"Caelas missed you, you know." He said softly, keeping his eyes on the foliage. She kept silent, prompting him to speak again. "Wanna tell me why you left?" She didn't respond for a few seconds, until she gave a single heaving sob.
"He..." she whimpered, trying to force her voice to work. "He... he looks like you..." Wolf frowned, unable to figure out what that meant to her. "When you rescued me..." She gave another wracking sob before curling tighter into herself. He nodded, seeing her point now. Her friend had become a visible reminder of her tormented past. It would be painful for her to look at him, as well as unavoidable.
"It's okay, Eve." He said soothingly, leaning forward to hold her until she flinched away at his touch. Slowly he drew back, still wanting to comfort her. "Shayne's gone. He can't hurt you anymore." Eve shook her head, causing her to rock on her perch.
"It's not that!" she wailed, causing Wolf's eyes to widen in slight surprise. "You saved me! I can't forget that! I love you, and now I love Caelas!" The words were just as shocking to both of them, as Eve snapped her head up to stare at Wolf in wide eyed fear. She moaned, burying her face again as she realised her own feelings. Wolf let her come to terms with it for a moment, keeping silent while she cried. It wasn't until she lifted her face again that the silence was broken by speech.
"How can I even be near him now?" she asked tearfully. "I love him as more than a friend, but he might not want to be more than friends. What if I lose control and do something awful?" Wolf gripped her shoulder, keeping a firm hold even when she tried to squirm away. She turned to force him away, shrinking under the stern gaze that met her instead.
"Eve, you are nothing like your brother." Wolf stated, his voice quiet but firm. "You won't act in any way like Shayne because you are a kind hearted, loving pokemon. I truly believe that you're incapable of any cruel behaviour. Stop being afraid of being yourself!" The last sentence had its intended effect, snapping Eve's morose demeanour and replacing it with anger towards Wolf. Before he could react, she had his shirt gripped in her hands and was staring him in the eye even while tears still streaked her face.
"How dare you?!" she shrieked in his face, though he glared defiantly back. "I'm not afraid of anything, least of all myself!"
"Then why did you run away?" he demanded, goading her on. She reared back on hand, balled into a fist, and Wolf truly believed she was going to hit him. Several seconds passed, until Eve let go of his shirt. Her arms fell limply to her sides and she sank back onto her knees. Her eyes were still wide, though her anger at Wolf had burnt out. She looked at him helplessly, realising that he was right.
"What can I do?" she whispered, allowing him to hold her now. He guided her to lean against the tree again, letting one of his arms drape around her shoulders and hold her in a soothing embrace. He sat next to her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told Ninetales when she realised she was in love with Princess." Wolf offered, his voice still firm but now also gentle. "I'm sure he would be happy to return your feelings for him. If he doesn't, the worst he can do is say no. In that case, you'll be able to gradually let your feelings for him go." Eve nodded, her eyes unfocussed and cuddling closer to him. Eventually the message sank in to her troubled mind, and the sobs stopped. Wolf loosened his grip on her, letting her make her way to the forest floor again. Once he had joined her, they set off back to Fortree in silence, broken by only a single confession on Eve's part.
"Wolf," she began tentatively. "If... if you had transformed, back on Pummelo, I would have said yes."
***
A few more days had passed, and Wolf was no closer to making a decision. This annoyed Ninetales no end, driving her into a frenzy of training that Wolf had failed to talk her out of. Eve paid little mind to the actions of her erstwhile rival, instead focussing on her own problem. Even in the time that had elapsed since her talk with Wolf, she had still been unable to summon the courage to speak to Caelas. Sometimes it made her want to howl in frustration, others she could barely find the energy to move at all.
Wolf had offered to help her get some time alone with the Lucario, but she had refused with an almost indecent haste. Her fear had bubbled to the surface when he had made the suggestion, driving her further into her shell. This wasn't helped by the nagging feeling that the more she put this off, the further the possibility got from becoming a reality. The perceived time limit scared her more than anything else, forcing her to confront her dilemma.
It wasn't like she hadn't tried. On three separate occasions she had attempted to talk to him but each time the conversation had dissolved into meaningless small talk, leaving her to run off in shame and leaving him confused at her behaviour. Wolf had seen each time, slowly shaking his head at the scene she presented. He had decided that he would intervene, whether or not she wanted his help.
"Jazz, can I talk to you for a second?" the trainer asked next morning, once breakfast was finished and Princess had followed Ninetales in another doomed attempt to restrain her. The Raichu nodded, letting Wolf lead her into his room and gesture for her to sit on the bed. He laid down next to her, scratching the top of her head lightly.
"What's on your mind, Wolf?" she asked, once they were comfortable. He didn't respond right away, instead studying her for a couple of seconds.
"Jazz, have you hit on Caelas in any way since he evolved?" Wolf said, watching a surprised look cross over her face. She blinked, pursing her lips.
"No." She replied, frowning. "I mean if you don't want me to, I won't." Wolf shook his head, a small smile playing across his face.
"That's fine, but I'm sure you've noticed the way Eve's been acting around him." He said, once again waiting for her to respond.
"Oh, definitely." She said, a knowing smile gracing her features. "She's head over heels for him. You want me to leave him for her, right?"
"Sort of." The trainer said, his smile broadening.
***
Eve wandered through the hallway, having spent the morning in the gym with the other pokemon. Caelas had been there too, and despite her best efforts she was unable to close the distance between them privately. Now she ground her teeth together as they left for lunch, once again the milling pokemon preventing her from talking to him.
"Hey Caelas, I wanted to talk to you about something."
The Infernape snapped out of her own thoughts, looking over to where Caelas had stopped to find Jazz standing in front of him, looking up with a suggestive smile on her face. While the other pokemon kept going to the dining room, Eve ducked into a nearby doorway and kept an eye on what was happening.
"Sure Jazz." He replied, getting onto his knees so that they were closer to eye level. Jazz grinned warmly at him, running a paw along his arm.
"You look so much stronger now, more like a male." She purred, teasing the fur on his arm. He looked surprised, but otherwise didn't respond. "You're growing up, kid."
"Uh, I guess." He replied, though his tone suggested he was confused by her behaviour. Her smile only widened, taking the quality of a predator that had just cornered their prey.
"Thing is," she continued. "There are things that grown-ups can do with each other... things that mark them out as grown-up..." she trailed off, a lusty look in her eyes now. Eve's own eyes were narrowed in anger at her forward manner.
"That slut!" She hissed under her breath, though neither of them heard her.
"Like what?" Caelas asked, curiosity and caution mingling in his voice now. Jazz let her gaze slide down his body, along with her paw.
"Oh, I don't know..." she said, her paw trailing down his chest until it reached the top of his shorts. "Things like this, I suppose." She let her paw fall further until she had her prize grasped firmly. Shocked at how brazen she was, Caelas fell backwards and scooted a few feet away, wide eyed and staring.
"Uh, I don't know if that's such a good idea right now!" he stammered out, keeping just out of her reach. She shrugged, her smile not once faltering.
"Hmm, maybe you're right." She mused, turning to wander back to the dining room. "Well, the offer's on the table anyway, so just ask any time you want to take it up." Caelas stayed where he was for a few seconds longer before he got slowly to his feet and followed her. Eve stood rooted to the spot, trembling with barely contained fury. How could Jazz do something like that?!
It wasn't until Wolf came looking for her that she snapped out of the red haze clouding her mind, the realisation that if she didn't act that someone else would galvanising her into action.
***
"Caelas, I need to talk to you."
The Lucario looked up from his dinner, seeing that Eve had come over to stand next to him. He looked at her, his mouth full while he nodded for her to continue. She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet, dragging him away from the group and out to the front balcony. He didn't resist, though he rolled his eyes while she wasn't looking. Almost everyone had wanted to talk to him at some point since he'd evolved, and Eve had tried several times.
"Okay, so what's up?" he asked once they were outside and Eve had shut the door behind them. She stayed silent for a few seconds, before looking back at him. He was startled to see tears in her eyes.
"Caelas, do you still like me?" she asked quietly. His jaw dropped at the question, perplexed as to why she would ask that.
"Of course!" he cried, unable to think what would have prompted this question. "Why wouldn't I like you?" Her eyes fell, the Infernape feeling ashamed at her actions since he had evolved.
"I wasn't being friendly." She murmured, looking quite miserable. "I wasn't being social, and I thought you might think that I didn't like you anymore."
"That's hardly true." He interjected, putting one paw on her shoulder. "I admit I didn't know why you weren't there after I evolved, but I figured you had something important to do." She shook her head, a sad smile appearing on her face.
"I have nothing more important to do than be with you." She whispered, taking a tentative step towards him. "It's just that, when you evolved... you reminded me of Wolf when he saved me. Between that and the friendship we already shared, something else..." She was only a few inches from him now, though something kept him from drawing back.
"Something else?" he asked, his voice no louder than hers.
"Yes, Caelas." She replied, not taking her eyes off his own. "Caelas... I love you." She leaned in slowly, unsure of just what she was supposed to do. Finally their lips met, and she was kissing him with an enthusiasm that offset her lack of experience. His eyes were wide, shocked at her actions, until instinct asserted itself and he returned her kiss. They brushed their lips along each others, arms snaking up to bring them into a loving embrace. For what seemed like a blissful eternity they kept their hold on one another, until the need for air broke them apart. Panting heavily, they grinned awkwardly at each other.
"Wow..." Caelas murmured, his eyes twinkling. "That was... nice." Eve looked down, embarrassed.
"Really?" she asked, blushing furiously. "That was my first kiss." They both knew it was his first as well, though Eve felt she needed to tell him he was her first. She held him close, their arms clutching each other tight.
"So, does this mean we're a couple?" Caelas asked her, his muzzle right next to her ear. She nodded, not wanting to speak now. No words were needed.
***
The next morning Caelas was out on the balcony again, having spent an enjoyable night with Eve. Though she wanted to take each step slowly, he respected her wishes and didn't rush along with anything. Secretly, he was glad that she wanted to wait. He was afraid that if they were to have sex now, that he would disappoint her with his inexperience.
"Morning, Caelas."
The Lucario looked over his shoulder to see Wolf exiting the house, moving to lean on the rail next to him. "You look a little troubled. Anything I can help with?" Caelas looked back over the trees, smiling.
"I guess so, dad." He replied, pausing as he considered the best way to voice the problem. "I'm a little worried about when Eve wants to take things further. I mean, we were getting our kissing right after a while, but I don't know if I can do well on my first time." Wolf took in the words for a minute, wanting to be sure his advice was sound.
"It's natural to be worried." He answered, following his son's gaze out over the trees. "You care about her. If you want to be sure about it, pay attention to her. Don't just stampede right into her, take the time to explore her fully. Paws and tongues can do just as much to make her feel good." Caelas nodded, happy to listen to Wolf's wisdom. Once he had evolved, the pokemon had acted more openly around him, speaking about these things without having to answer too many awkward questions in return.
"I see." He offered, letting them both admire the natural view of Fortree City. "Thanks dad." Wolf smiled, letting them just enjoy each other's company. The moment was only disturbed when shouts came from the house, followed swiftly by Ninetales as she exited and headed for the stairs.
"No time to chat boys, I need to keep training." She said as she blew past them, Princess hot on her heels.
"Ninetales! It's not healthy to train so much!" the Floatzel cried, a note of desperation in her voice. Wolf moved to stop the fire pokemon, chasing her down the stairs as fast as he could. When they reached the bottom Wolf made a diving leap that caught her around the midsection, trying to slow her down.
"Get off me Wolf!" she yelled, squirming in his grip. "I have to train!"
"Ninetales, it's fine! I don't want to be in the Star Tournament team."
Both trainer and fire hound looked up to the balcony where Eve stood next to Caelas and Princess, looking down at the pair with a gentle smile. Ninetales frowned, but stopped moving.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes." Eve replied, one arm finding its way around Caelas. "I don't think I could focus enough on training."
"Thank heavens!" Ninetales howled, practically collapsing under the weight of her fatigue. "I don't think I could take much more!" Wolf dragged himself up into a sitting position, running a comforting hand down the exhausted pokemon's back.
"That's okay, Ninetales." He said soothingly. "How about you have a break today? You can sleep in my bed."