Chapter 6 - A New Life, But the Same Memories “I’m gonna be honest. Wasn’t expecting the week to turn out like this.” Leon admitted. “Heh. I don’t know about you, hun, but this development isn’t so bad. It’s been a while since I’ve last been away from Treasure Town.” “Yep, that’s true.” The Pikachu was lying with his back against the wooden wagon. He shifted himself to properly sit straight up and look at the Sylveon. “Are you sure you’re okay, dear? I know you’ve said you were before, but I just wanted to make sure. Considering how important the town is to you.” “Don’t worry. I’m a bit nervous being far from home, yes. But being close to you is enough to remember I’m always home as long as I’m by the most handsome Pikachu around.” Dylan patted the rodent’s arm. “Awwww, you big flattering fluff ball!” He reached out his arm and quickly rubbed Dylan’s head in a teasing and caring manner. With each stroke he brought his head down further closer to the Pikachu’s lap, allowing for easy access for pats. “All in all, I’m excited. Never been this far from home.” Leon looked into the horizon. “Yeah, me neither.” Dylan stared at the same vista. Their bodies trembled through the bumps and shakes of the cart. Their destination was close. They didn’t need to ask for the distance, with the change in scenery being a big giveaway. The sprawling woods parted way to a bright sandy beach, shining under the orange glow of the setting sun. The calm sound of waves breaking and slowing down against the sand was a sight to behold. They felt lucky, for although it wasn’t a vacation, they felt lucky for the opportunity to come all the way to the beach, even if it was for work. “We’re almost there! Get your belongings ready and steady!” The Tauros announced from the front. “As you say, Mister Tucker. Thank you for the ride out here!” Dylan said towards the older Pokémon. “Hahahaha. It’s no trouble, boys. Been a while since I’ve last come to these parts. It was a nice excuse to have some off time from work.” He let out a hearty laugh, his voice still very upbeat. They both smiled as they grabbed their bags, looking towards the towering building amongst the sand. A bright set of letters glowed and sparkled amidst the darkening sky, spelling “New Marine Resort”. “Woooooow…” Both Leon and Dylan were in awe at the sight. The building wasn’t as tall as the department stores and other big structures in their town, but it more than made up for it with flair. The sprawling hotel was 4 stories tall and several rows long. On each floor, there were about 8 rooms, all with their own comfy veranda for a prime spot to look out to the calm ocean, furnished with comfy and silky chairs and sturdy tables. And that was just the front of it! “Damn, this place rules.” Leon couldn’t help but let the observation slip. His eyes could barely process all the architecture the place had to offer. “How did Audrey get us such a nice place?” “Being a Guildmaster must have its perks, I guess.” Dylan raised his elbows. “C’mon! We gotta let the owner know we’re here. The sooner we get it done, the quicker we get some rest from this trip.” Leon nodded and followed along with his boyfriend. The two Pokémon approached the building, with its size towering over them the closer they got to the front entrance. The door was made out of transparent glass, allowing the duo to see all that was inside. Leon took a step at the carpet in front of the door, and just like that it slid over to the side, granting entrance to the pair. Dylan remarked. “Guess this place received some nice investment. It’s not everyday you see automatic doors.” He beckoned towards the Pikachu as he took his first steps inside. “It isn’t? Back in my world this was the usual for most highly populated stores and shopping complexes. I think it was invented over seventy years ago when I left…” Leon followed the Sylveon into the building. Dylan would point out the interesting fact and ask for more details, but the sudden chill that cut through his fur distracted him. “Woooooo… Wow, it suddenly got cold. I know it’s still spring, but it shouldn’t be this cold, even at night…” “You’re right… Damn, made my fur stand on edge.” Leon hugged himself to try and keep some warmth. It wasn’t cold per say, but the temperature drop caught them both off-guard. “Did someone use an ice-type move or something in here…?” “Close. We actually developed a machine that can store up the power of Ice-type moves and preserve it for later use. Through complicated mechanisms and use of other tinkering from great engineers, we were able to come up with this device to keep the interior of a building chilly even if the outside was scolding hot.” The sudden rush of technological exposition caught the ears of the guildmates, drawing their sights to the side, where a proud avian Pokémon stood in front of them. His arms and legs were slender, his hair seemed as smooth as a pillow after brushing, and his multicolored tail was the most eye-grabbing sight of his. Each strand of feathers was of a vibrant and shiny coloration. It sported several colors from a glistening and dazzling purple to a deep and eye-catching red. “Ummm, hello good sir. Are you…?” Dylan asked, but couldn’t complete his question before an answer arrived. “Why yes! My name’s Folia. Co-owner and director of the newly established New Marine Resort. Miss Audrey informed me of your schedule and so I stationed myself to wait for your arrival. I hope the trip hasn’t been dreadful.” “N-Not at all, Mister Folia. It was smooth road after smooth road.” Leon answered absented-mindly, inspecting the bird from toe to hair. “Ummmm… I hope this isn’t rude, sir. But I don’t recognize your species…” “Hoho, don’t worry, dear.” His laugh was just as smooth as the rest of his personality. “I’m a Quaquaval. Water and Flying type, if you’d also want to know that. My species isn’t local to the continent, so it’s normal you wouldn’t know from the get up.” “I see! Wow, even after settling down and doing some exploring, I never stop meeting new Pokémon. It’s as if new species just show up out of the blue.” Leon said while rubbing his head awkwardly. “Haha, it sure feels like it sometimes.” He covered his mouth briefly to conceal his giggle. ”Either way. Welcome to New Marine Resort. I’m very glad you accepted to help us with our new experiments and technological practices.” “Not at all, mister! When Audrey gave us the rundown on how your hotel needed help with electricity we felt like we should help out. Well… Leon at least, I’m not sure I’ll be able to help on that front.” Dylan said, trying his best to remain optimistic about his position. “Aaaaaw, don’t worry, hun. We do need every helping paw we can get. I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully, just as your electric friend will.” The taller Quaquaval kneeled, bringing down his paw to pat Dylan’s head in a reassuring tone. It did work, leaving a faint smile on the Sylveon’s face. “Well, should we start right now? It’s still a couple hours before dinner time, right?” Leon said while bringing with him his bag. “Oh no, no, no. Absolutely not. Now that the sun is almost down, you could get yourselves hurt while moving stuff or dealing with equipment. You should rest up for tomorrow. It’ll be a long day.” “Are you sure-” Leon asked before he was interrupted by Folia clapping his feathered hands. “Huuuuun! Could you help me over here? Could you lead our guests to their rooms? I gotta go make sure everything’s right at the beach.” The handsome peacock yelled from the room while hurrying over to the other side of the hall. “Sure thing. I’ll be right theeeeere.” Another voice yelled out from somewhere else. Leon noticed that, just like Folia, the voice was very masculine. Before the Pikachu could process any further a green feline walked out from a nearby door, hurrying over to them with a spring in his step. “Good evening! You must be here from Folia’s request, right? Let me grab your bags and show me to your room!” Upon closer inspection Leon managed to get a good look at the new acquaintance. A feline-looking Pokémon with green-fur, standing on his hind paws and covering most of his face in a black mask. “H-Hello!” From a single greeting, he managed to get it all. “Why hello there, you two. My name’s Arsène. A Meowscarada. Very glad to meet you.” “Good evening, Mister Arsène. Don’t worry! We can carry our own luggage.” Dylan felt a bit flustered letting himself be helped like that. “Oh no need to worry. I’m a professional at this. I won’t break a sweat.” The Meowscarada snapped his finger, and at the next moment both of their bags were gone. “W-Wha!” They both said in conjoined surprise. “They should be in your rooms by now. Let’s go and you’ll see them yourselves.” The feline motioned for them to follow, which they did without protest. While walking to their rooms, the couple got to climb 2 flights of stairs then walk a surprisingly long hallway. It seemed a bit smaller from the outside. But while this caught the Pikachu’s eyes, there was something else that was burning in his curiosity. Something he couldn’t help but slip out. “Are you and Folia married?” “Leon!” Dylan stopped in his tracks. “You know it’s rude to ask such private questions out of the blue.” The Sylveon said in more of a concerned tone than anything else. “Hahaha. Don’t worry, we get asked that a lot. Yes, we’re both married. We’ll be celebrating eight years next month.” Arsène’s tongue was calm, but both could notice the glee in his voice from sharing such a fact. “What about you two? Boyfriends?” They both blushed. “How could you tell?” Leon asked. “I mean, you both got matching accessories. Not super hard to tell.” Their blush deepened, but with it came a sense of joy for both. Still, Leon wanted to know more. “If you don’t mind me asking… Did you struggle? Like, getting to tell him or waiting for a confession?” “Oh. You have no idea.” Arsène stifled a giggle. “Worst part is I knew he was in love with me for over a year. I could tell from his eyes. But whenever he would try and make a move, he would get cold feet. But I didn’t mind that. I knew he was trying, and how important it was to him. I loved him, so I waited.” “After what I feel was like a year, he finally did it. He invited me to his house where he brought and constructed his machines. I thought he was just gonna show me another invention like always, but instead I got greeted to low lights, candles, and a quaint dinner at a small table. The way he seemed so embarrassed and yet so determined was an amazing sight. I’ll never forget his quivered eyes behind his round glasses as he confessed to me. Before he could even expect an answer I had already tied my Yo-yo to him and was hugging his goofy self.” As he finished telling the story, the feline stopped in front of their destined door. “Oops. Sorry, guess I get to ramble a bit when it comes to love stories. Hope I didn’t bother you.” “N-No, not at all! It was a very lovely story.” Leon answered honestly. “Agreed. So romantic and precious. Aaaaaah, so dreamy.” Dylan couldn’t help but daydream about the scenario. It seemed straight from a romance novel. Arsène just giggled as he opened the door with a key. Once he opened, the pair could see their luggage safe and sound besides their single bed. A grin of sheer pride was plastered all over the Meowscarada’s face. They made their way inside as the feline went to close the door. “If you need anything, just come find us and we’ll arrange what you need. Dinner will be in an hour. Be sure to go there.” Before he could fully close it, Leon yelled out. “Wait. Mister Arsène. Could I ask you one last thing?” “Sure!” The Meowscarada left it open enough for his head to fit through. Leon fidgeted a bit. “D-Did you never get cold feet. Or doubts. Like… how did you know he was the one? How did you know your feelings were the real deal…?” Arsène sighed with a grin at the question. “Well, Leon. That was easy. I just listened to my feelings. And they let me know what was right. Simple as that.” “...Listening to your feelings…” Leon looked down, deep in thought. That was a face Arsène recognized. “I’ll let you both unpack. We got some good food soon. See you.” As soon as he was done, he closed the door, leaving the two partners alone in the moonlit room. The room wasn’t anything luxurious, but it was comfy. A big double bed with soft sheets and comfy pillows, a large sofa at the side facing a big wooden table. And most important, the outer wall had a glass door leading directly to a veranda with a view to the sea. That whole room was very lovely. As they got to explore their accommodations, Leon noticed Dylan shivering a bit. “Dylan, are you feeling okay?” “O-Oh. It’s nothing, hun… I’m just feeling a bit cold. Guess that cold machine from Folia really works, huh?” Dylan tried to play it off as he grabbed some small bags from his luggage, containing stuff like toothbrushes, shampoo and other daily necessities. For as much as Dylan tried to act normal, Leon could tell he must have been freezing. With that much body mass, even through so much thick fur and quite well-developed thighs, he was still feeling cold. The Pikachu hesitated for a bit as he looked towards his own luggage, wondering if he really should do it now. It still wasn’t perfect or anything, but… it was worth a shot. If it helped him even a little. While Dylan was kneeled at the floor grabbing something, he felt something blurring his vision for a moment. Normally he would flinch or evade it, but knowing that only Leon was there, he ignored his instincts and let Leon do his thing. In a matter of a second, he felt less cold. Dylan opened his eyes to notice Leon was looking right at him. “Do you like it?” the Pikachu asked. The Sylveon felt confused for a second before he tried to touch his chest with his paw and felt it obstructed by something soft. He looked down. There was a scarf tied around his neck. “W-Wha-?” “So… I know it’s been just a few weeks, but I got some lessons from Clover and I’ve been training while you were asleep. I wanted to make it a surprise once I perfected it… but seeing you freezing made me think maybe I could lend it to you. Sorry if it’s still mostly a bunch of rags.” The scarf in question was clearly not something made by a professional. There were quite a couple of small holes sprinkled throughout the fabric. Clear stitches indicated quite clearly where the material had been put together. The patterns were off and random, a complete storm of chaos. Not to mention it was way too big, even for Dylan, having to be tied around his neck several times so it wouldn’t drag through the floor. “S-Sorry if it feels nasty. I know I’m not good yet, and I probably should have waited a few more weeks, heck, maybe even a few months before I got to show it to you. It’s all ragged, and stitched up, and screwed up. Heck, it must feel itchy, doesn’t it? I probably should have gone and looked for something else. Maybe there was a shop around here for me to buy you something. Crap, I messed up, didn’t I? I’m sorry, I’ll just take it off of you and throw it out-” Leon’s onslaught was cut short by Dylan’s surprising embrace around his warm torso. He felt confused. “Thank you, Leon. This is the best gift ever. I love it.” Dylan said with his eyes closed, embracing his loved one while the scarf shared its heat with them both. Although he didn’t understand how or why Dylan enjoyed the scarf so much, he decided to relent and hug him back, feeling a tinge of relief course through his body, as well as some pride. Arsène’s words lingered in his head as they spent the remainder of their time hugging one another. Nothing else mattered but each another in their room. But their presence. But their true love. _________________ Leon stretched out his arms, feeling the strain from sleeping for several hours. His eyes felt heavy and he couldn’t contain a yawn to escape his mouth. “Bwaaaaah… Man… I think eating that whole pie might have been a mistake…” He complained as he rubbed his paw over his tummy. “Told you so, hun. I know we don’t often get to eat that well, but you really overdid it last night.” Dylan commented while laying in bed. He was using one of his larger ribbons to hold onto a brush to groom his back fur. “Think you’ll be good in time?” “Yeah, should be…” Leon walked back to his boyfriend, laying on his back by his side. “Gotta say, though. You think I’ll do fine? I’ve spent a few months casually practicing with our odd jobs, but I never really did anything to this extent with my electricity…” “You’ll do fine, Leon. I know it’s scary, but I’ll be right there with you. Just trust in your gut and you’ll do great, okay?” He landed one of his paws on Leon’s head. “Are you sure? What if I run out during the middle of it? It’d be so awkward to have come all the way from home to here just for me to fumble it.” Leon’s arms rested atop his eyes, covering his vision to try and calm his nerves. “Hmmmm… Okay, how about this.” Dylan set his brush down to properly sit down on his four paws. “I might not be able to use moves, but I got several lessons back when I didn’t know about that. And you know which one stuck to me the most?” “Which one?” Leon asked, still covering his eyes. The Sylveon said it plainly. “You have to trust in yourself.” “I gotta what, now?” Leon moved up his arm to look up to his partner with an incredulous look. “Believe in yourself!” Dylan repeated. “I know that sounds cheesy, but that’s genuinely what it’s about. If you don’t believe you can generate electricity you won’t be able to. If a Magmar doesn’t have confidence in themselves, their flames will barely have any heat. If a Tailow doesn’t think they can beat their wings fast enough, they won’t produce air for their moves, or even be able to fly!” “So… it’s not quite natural to everyone else? Y’know, to those that weren’t born human.” “Well, it is. But it comes from both sources. Your body knows how to produce the moves and gets experience as you practice, just like you know how to jump, for example. But at the same time, if you don’t believe you can make a jump, you will unconsciously restrain yourself and give yourself a natural limiter.” “Huh…” The Pikachu propped himself up. “That… actually makes a lot of sense. I never really thought about it like that…” “Yeah, it can be weird. I myself don’t fully get it, for obvious reasons. But hey, I’m glad it does resonate with you. Guess I might have a knack for being a teacher.” Dylan stuck out his chest, trying to play it cool like Leon usually did. “Hmmmm. Honestly, I agree. Between the explanation you just gave me and the speech on how cucumbers were better than tomatoes from last month, I’d say you got a knack to keep those around you interested~.” “Oh, stop~.” He brought the Pikachu to him with a big wide hug. Leon giggled from his companions’ affection, enjoying his warmth and tender embrace. “Thanks, Dylan. I do feel better.” Dylan giggled. “Good! And your tummy?” “About as calm as it’ll get. C’mon. We should get ready for our job.” With that, Leon hopped off the bed with a clear landing, beckoning for Dylan to come along. The two locked up the room with their belongings inside and made their way through the corridor and down the stairs to the main hall. Unlike the time they arrived the day prior, which had nary a soul except for Folia and Arsène, this time the hall was quite lively. Over two dozen Pokémon had gathered here. One half were Pokémon of various types, while the other half were Electric types, just like Leon. From bigger species like Electivire and Zebstrika to smaller ones like Dedenne and even a Joltik, the Pikachu got to see many species by walking towards the hall. “Aight. Nerves coming back.” “It’s okay. They might be more seasoned, but we’re all here for the same task. Just relax like we discussed.” Dylan reached out one of his paws to rub against Leon’s shoulder. “Thanks.” That seemed to do the trick. “It’s a shame, tho. I bet Zack would have loved to show off at a time like this.” “Mhmmmm.” the Sylveon nodded. “Colds really come during the worst times. Can’t have anything planned without them butting in.” “Guess our worlds aren’t that different after all.” That little realization gave them some food for thought. But most importantly it was what helped Leon fully relax. “Okay. Let’s make Audrey and Zack proud. Show them that we can handle anything!” He raised his fist towards Dylan. The Sylveon grinned and raised his to give a proper paw-bump, before both of them pulled back and made a “swoosh” sound. They joined the crowd just as Folia entered through one of the side doors, carrying with him a clipboard in his left claw and a pen on the right. His steps were graceful and without worry, truly complementing his gorgeous looks. Or at least Leon thought so, mesmerized by his grace. “Welcome, everyone! It is my utmost pleasure that you have decided to come and contribute to our new project’s development. My name’s Folia, CEO of New Marine Resort, and I’ll be supervising and coordinating your efforts today!” A brief clapping from the Pokémon gathered ensued, with the Quaquaval giving it time to come and go. “Thank you. It brings me joy to see so many Pokémon interested in our scientific endeavors. If this comes to fruition, it could be the start of a new era, to create new habitats and new tourism where once there was none. New residential zones, and it could advance a very important thing to everyone nowadays, lighting!” The CEO clapped his wings. It was just prior to noon, but even still, the lights that turned on his mark helped illuminate the room further. Any spots darkened by shadows were now completely overtaken by light. “And that’s with us in broad daylight. I don’t even have to tell you how convenient it is for the evenings.” He covered his peak with his plumes, playing off a performative laugh. “But, for that, we need Electric-type power. And so, I’ve sent requests all throughout the continent. Hoping the guilds would send me some pioneering souls!” A few cheers came from below, the Electric types getting excited for the need of them in the first place. Leon himself couldn’t help raise his fist in the air and do some cheering as well. “You’ve all read the details from the forms, but I believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to have a refresher: Since the dissolving of the old Marine Resort mystery dungeon, attempts to bring civilization to this area were numerous, but many resulted in failures. For some reason, dissolved grounds from mystery dungeons leave behind some kind of magnetic field that disturbs the use of regular electricity employed in most other regions. You may have a lamp working at a town restaurant, but bring that lamp here and it shall not light at all.” “It might have been the norm nearly a century ago for us to live with just fire and the stars, but with new responsibilities and things to do at night, it’s not something we can just return to. Which brings us to the problem at hand. Now, that is somewhat common knowledge, which is why some of you might have some questions since you’ve arrived. For instance: if the magnetism affects this area, how come the hotel has working lights?” Folia asked the hearing crowd. Some murmurs erupted amidst the crowd, and some tried to guess. “You’re bringing it from outside?” “Used lots of effort to generate even a little bit of it?” “Are you bringing it from underground?” Several Pokémon, electric types and non-electric types alike, pitched in. “All good guesses! Some close, but I’ll explain the finer details!” He clapped his wings thrice, and from the door came Arsène, pushing the metallic box covered by a blanket, grunting from the strain of pushing it. “Thanks, Love.” The Meowscara took a moment to catch his breath, before returning the thumbs up. The feline did a clapping of his own before a tiny trail of smoke rose from the ground, and when it was gone, so was Arsène. “Oooooooooh!” The crowd said, impressed and clapping at the act. Folia just smiled and waved his head. “Show off.” He giggled to himself before addressing the crowd once more. “We are using our electric generators, just like some other spots around the continent. But they wouldn’t work here. That is, without this little bauble of mine.” With that, his wings clutched the cloth and pulled it back, revealing a humming machine with metal rods at the top and what seemed to be engines inside. “This is my invention: The MFG! Or Magnetic Field Generator for short.” He tapped on the surface, letting the metallic sound ring out. “The reason standard electricity doesn’t work here is because of the magnetic field outside, right? Well, what if there was another field stopping the other one, a field that could properly allow the passage of electricity, without worry? Well, this is what this baby of mine is for.” The reaction this time was quieter. Not for lack of enthusiasm, but from confused grumbles from within the audience, with Dylan included in the mix. Leon did get the gist of it, sort of. Some of its basics were taught to him back at high school, so he got the wording at the very least. “So… What does this mean exactly?” a Flaaffy asked, with her dainty paws raised. “Hmmm… To cut it short: I called you all here to ascertain whether a certain kind of Pokémon can generate the right kind of electricity for the MFG. If it works, we’ll be able to make a bigger field to expand even further into the beach, allowing us to have beach parties and food stands.” He raised his voice a bit for the next part. “And that’s why you’re here! Whether your electricity is compatible or not, just by attempting and contributing to the knowledge, you’ll be compensated for your efforts and time, not to mention you’ll have your name’s etched in science’s never-ending journey throughout history!” Although most didn’t seem to understand the finer details, much like Leon, something about Folia’s charisma really pumped everyone up. All Pokémon in the hall cheered in excitement and joy for what was about to happen. Leon never believed it back then, but hype really was contagious. “Alright. With the explanations out of the way, we should be starting our project. I ask for each group to go to the beach, where the MFG will be set up, and we’ll start our experiment. With twelve electric-types, it’s going to take the whole afternoon, so we’ll take a break midway through it for rest and refreshments.” The Quaquaval clapped one more time. “Alright, y’all. I’ll see you soon. Be ready, and my husband Nahual will be waiting for you with instructions. Break a spark!” He made a bow and excused himself, disappearing into the same door that he and Arsène previously came from. “...Wait, what?” Leon asked, mostly to himself. But Dylan caught the question. “What’s wrong, hun?” “...Did… did he just say Nahual? Wasn’t his husband Arsène?” Leon scratched his head, a tad worried that maybe he misunderstood something about them. “Yes, he did.” Dylan walked back to this mate. “So?” “...So? What do you mean “So?”. He just said he has another husband.” “Yup. And where’s the problem in that?” Dylan cocked his head in confusion. “...Wait. You’re telling me this is common?” Leon’s face was the very definition of confusion at that moment, with his eyebrows raised and eyes squinting. “I wouldn’t call it common, per say. Back in our town, I think there were only monogamous couples as far as I’m aware. But it’s common knowledge that some do feel kinship with more than one partner, and as long as there’s clear communication between all of them and their feelings are heard, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.” Dylan explained, already used to doing it for several topics to his boyfriend, considering the amount of different things there were between the two worlds. “Okay,” Leon said plainly, after a moment. “Huh. You’re usually a bit more resistant to some stuff newer to you.” Dylan commented, remembering some of the recent things he was averse to at first, like males sewing for example. “Eh. Look, I’ve been here for several months now. I think I’m… getting used to it. He has two husbands? Aight. I’ll remember not to mess up.” Leon said with a calm shrug. “Wow. I’m actually really impressed.” Dylan said. Leon grinned. “Impressed enough for a kiss, maybe?” “Oh, I don’t need to be impressed to do that~.” Dylan said in a loving tone, before leaning his head down and giving the Pikachu a tender kiss. Leon kissed him back, smiling once their smooch broke. “Alright. That refilled my energy. Let’s go, love! We don’t know when it’ll be our turn!” Leon took Dylan by his ribbon, clinging onto him and feeling a blush coursing through his cheeks. This was fun. The couple followed the other invitees towards the beach, where Folia was tinkering with the machine towards the center, while Arsène was explaining some things to the first group. The Pikachu and Sylveon got closer to try and listen in on the details. “...That way you’ll generate more electricity, helping us get a larger sample to determine whether your species could generate the needed field. Understood?” The Joltik and Delibird partners nodded. “Yes, sir!” Acquiescing in unison. The Meowscarada smiled. “Next group!” He shouted, not looking in front of him. Leon and Dylan walked up to him while the others were distracted with the first presentation. “Good morning, Mister Arsène.” Dylan said, reaching out a paw to greet him. “Good morning, Dylan. Morning, Leon!” He reached out both of his paws, catching Dylan’s and encouraging the Pikachu to do the same, grabbing them both tightly but warmly. “Do you need any explanations or did you catch it all from the other group?” “Oh, we definitely need a complete explanation. Last thing I want is to go there and make a fool out of myself, hahaha.” Leon forced a little laugh. He wasn’t exactly nervous anymore, but he would be lying if he said he was feeling perfect. “Alright. Let me give you the rundown then.” Arsène reached down to the box next to his paws and grabbed what looked like tissues, handing it over to the pair. “What are these?” The Pikachu asked, curious about the soft material, although he could hazard a guess. “It’s a wool strip. Not very big but it should be enough to make it work.” The Meowscarada said while grabbing a third strip for himself. “What are we supposed to do with this?” Dylan eyed the material in his paws while circling it around, observing the mostly unimpressive tool. “Oh, it’s quite simple. You will continuously rub this wool patch on your partner, Leon, to draw electricity out of him.” The Meowscarada rubbed his piece against his own cheek, giving them a demonstration. “But why? Won’t this just… make us waste his stuff?” Dylan remarked with the limited knowledge he had on the subject. “My, you’re quite smart, Dylan. That is correct. Leon will end up drawing out his electricity in vain and it’ll dissipate. But! That’ll just be a small amount. It’ll be beneficial if his electricity is already being brought out once he touches the machine. That way he can put all that he needs there and help us see if he’s compatible with it. The amount doesn’t matter as of now. We just need to find out if it’ll serve the field in the first place.” Arsène finished the motions on himself. “Try it out! Your turn should be after our break during the half-way point, so you’ll have plenty of demonstrations to get a clearer picture.” “Yes, sir!” The duo answered together, walking away as the Meowscarada bowed to them. The team stopped on the second row of watchers. The other non-electric types seemed to have started already on their partners, rubbing the wool in an up and down motion. Even Dylan could see it getting charged over time. The material would slightly grow and stand upright instead of just dropping down due to gravity. But he did look a bit concerned. “Wouldn’t that shock me as well?” “It shouldn’t. Although it’ll be just like any other source once it’s out of my system, while it’s still within me I should be able to keep it from hurting you. Kinda like instinct, right?” He smiled back at the Sylveon. “...Okay!” Dylan looked to the groups to get an idea of what to do, how they weren’t being too fast and hurting their cheeks, but also just fast enough to actually draw out the crackles. He got to work, starting off slow but building up speed. Leon closed his eyes to concentrate on his abilities. Arsène was right, he could feel the electricity running towards his cheeks, attracted like metal to a magnet. And once he hit his cheeks, he paid close attention not to let them fly out. It was surprisingly easy. It reminded him of breathing exercises when hyperventilating. As long as he kept some attention to it, he could feel it getting stored around his red cheeks. While some was bound to spill out, it was too low a current to actually harm Dylan in any way. Leon breathed easy. “Phew. I think I got it.” “Good. Open your eyes and let’s watch how the others do it. I’ll keep you prepped up!” Dylan said before the couple looked towards the center of the beach, where the Joltik, for someone so small, was releasing quite a bit of electricity. Leon breathed in deep and let his instincts take the reins. His eyes were open and he was still bringing it out, and nothing seemed to be hitting Dylan. So far so good. Now that he could see properly, he could take in the sight of such a tiny creature, barely a speck in size, producing such a massive cloud of jolts and crackles all around them. The Joltik was with their eyes closed, focused on the task at hand, while their Cinccino partner stood quite a way beside him. And yet, the MFG didn’t seem to react to it properly. There was a dial and a visual indicator of how much that energy seemed to respond. And for as intense of a show as it was, the dial just barely moved from its starting position. “Okay, that’s enough.” Folia said from the sidelines. The Joltik’s face eased up a bit as their thunderous energy seemed to calm down, until the sight was back to just an ordinary beach. “Was that no good?” The small bug asked. “Oh, it was plenty good! Just seems that it wasn’t quite what the generator needed. No need for shame, though! I could feel my feathers sting from all the way back here. Just gotta know where to harness it and you’ll be going places, okay?” The Quaquaval tried to console the Joltik, kneeling down to get closer. “I see! Oh well. Guess I’ll just go back to frying some suckers then.” The Joltik laughed, and the crowd behind them laughed as well. “That confidence is great. Keep that up.” He smiled and looked towards the other. “Alright, next up. We got plenty of those for today. Let’s keep up the tempo!” They all acknowledged it, and the next guest stepped forward to try their paws at it. A Jolteon this time. The experiment followed the same procedure, ending up in the same conclusion, with Folia cheering them up despite the lack of success. “Guess not many of us will be able to do it, huh?” Leon said while getting his cheeks rubbed. “Seems so. At least we’re getting paid regardless, so, there’s no need to be nervous.” Dylan commented while keeping his duty up. “I guess. Still, it would be cool to be able to contribute, y’know? Even if we got paid, it would feel like a bit of a waste if we couldn’t help at all.” Leon sighed. “You’ll find out once you try. Just relax and let me treat you.” Dylan said, patting the Pikachu’s back with his ribbons while keeping at it with his paws. The Electivire they noticed before walked back to the crowd, as he was able to move the dial a bit, but not enough to call it compatible. The next one was a Pawmo, walking meekly towards the machine accompanied by his Vullaby companion. He seemed just as nervous as Leon was a while ago. Seeing that he wasn’t the only participant who was nervous made him ease up a bit. But he didn’t expect what happened next. Once the Pawmo put his paws over the charging center, he concentrated all his power into it, breathing steadily and closing his eyes. And the moment he started, the counter immediately moved half-way through the panel. “Huh?” Leon couldn’t help but gasp, amidst the crowd doing the same as him. “Well, well. Guess we have a hit~” Folia smiled as the counter reached the point he wanted to see. “100%”. “W-What’s going on?” The Vullaby asked, her feathers standing on edge from the sheer quantity of electricity flowing out. “Your friend’s energy is compatible. The others didn’t match much, but it seems your friend here is one of those that we need.” He smiled towards the smaller avian, and changed his look towards the rodent. “That’s enough.” He said calmly, planting a careful wing on the Pawmo’s shoulder. “Huh?!” His eyes opened in a startled manner, realizing that those words were meant for him. “Oh, okay.” He breathed in and let his body stop the flow, and so the surges slowed down until the counter returned to zero. “Well, folks. Now we got a clear example of what a success looks like. Let’s give a round of applause towards our friend here.” Folia said as he started clapping his wings. His face was content and it showed. “Woooooooo!” And so, the applause erupted, both helpers and electric-types alike cheering the Pawmo on. “Oh, stop it, you guys, hahaha…” The rodent said while scratching his head in shyness. “Alright, we got a few more before our break. Let’s get this done!” Nothing too noteworthy happened for the remainder of those experiments. The last subjects for that period didn’t manage to move the dial whatsoever. With that, Folia clapped his wings, dismissing everyone. “Thank you all for your cooperation. We’ll be taking a break now for lunch and a rest. Make sure to notify me and Arsène of your planned whereabouts so we can send in your meal.” With that, the crowd slowly dispersed after each one approached the Quaquaval to talk to him and then went their way. Leon and Dylan were the last ones to approach him. “You two seem to be doing a good job. I’m sure you’ll give us quite a shock to remember, Leon.” Folia smiled, patting Leon on the head. Usually, Leon would swat someone patting him, but with him so full of static, he decided not to risk it. “So, any plans on where you’ll rest up?” Leon just nodded, allowing Dylan to share their plans. “Yes. We’ll be hanging out by the shore. We have a beach back at Treasure Town, but not nearly as big as this one, so, we wanna enjoy being somewhere new.” Dylan said, pointing to one of the available tables by the sea. “Very well! Just enjoy your time and relax. Nahual should bring it to you in no time. Anything you can’t eat?” Folia asked. “Nothing in particular, no. Although I’d appreciate some ginger in whatever the food is.” Leon asked, the request being acquiesced by Folia’s nod. “Also, if you don’t mind me asking… Is Nahual your other husband?” “Quite a shrewd one, aren’t you?” The duck couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he’s my hubby as well. He’s a childhood friend of ours and he’s been around for our whole lives. We love him tons. Although I could tell he had feelings for me for a while, he didn’t speak on them because he was afraid of butting in with what me and Arsène have.” “It’s not common, after all. Harboring those feelings towards someone that already has a mate must be terrifying. The thoughts of ruining what they have to sate your own feelings, and the consequences of that.” Dylan added. “Indeed. And he never made a move because of that. So when I noticed, and discussed it with Arsène, we decided to open our wings. We were always fond of him. Calling him our best friend wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Heck, looking back on it, I definitely loved him. So I was the one to make the move, for a change.” His eyes shivered a bit in remembrance of nostalgic memories. “You asked him out?” Leon said with clear excitement in his androgynous voice. “Mhmmm. Confessing your feelings and asking for a date was hard, even though it was my second time doing it. To be frank, even knowing his feelings, I was terrified of messing it up and hurting him. But I’m glad I did it. He was reluctant at first, but once we went on our first date and had fun, things went smoothly from there.” “But… isn’t it hard having two husbands? Isn’t jealousy a problem?” Leon asked. “It can be. Which is why it’s so important we communicate our thoughts to one another. We have to express how we feel and what we want, without reservation. Honesty and the will to try harder for one another is why our marriage is so happy even to this day.” Folia’s face softened. He seemed to hold those memories in high regard. “How long have you been married? Arsène told us you’ll be celebrating 8 years soon.” Dylan couldn’t hide his smile any longer. He was very invested in the story. “We’ve been married for … 5 years now.” Folia counted on his wings. “It’s been a wonderful journey. It did take us a while to get used to it, though. Being married to two loves of my life is something that has required lots of my attention and cooperation. It isn’t easy, not by a long-shot… But I wouldn’t trade this life for anything else in the whole world.” Leon could feel his heart beat in tune with Folia’s words. For as much as he wanted to pretend, he was just as much of a romantic as Dylan was deep down, so hearing such a declaration of duty and love from his host couldn’t help but move him a bit. A tear escaped his eyes and the Pikachu wiped it before the Quaquaval could notice, although not fast enough to avoid his mate noticing, who only smiled in response. “I see. I can’t wait to meet him! I’m sure he’ll be just as amazing as you both!!!” Leon said out loud before sprinting a few steps. “We’ll be waiting over there! See ya, Folia!” He waved back before dashing towards the far off table. “W-Wait! Leon! Don’t forget me heeeeeere!” The Sylveon screamed at him before chasing after. Folia smiled. “Ah. Young love. Really takes me back.” His words but a soft whisper beneath his beak. _________________ Half an hour passed. And true to their word, they were committed to enjoying some of the beach by doing what they did best. Sleeping! The pair had borrowed a towel from the hotel which they laid upon, feeling the softness of the sand and tapestry combined. They spooned against one another in a calm rest, their breathing steady as they dozed through that wonderful noon. It was the perfect condition for a nap. Leon was beside the one he loved the most, enjoying the calm sea breeze and the sun rays bathing the two in that warm embrace. Even while asleep, the Pikachu could feel his partner’s heartbeat, bringing him to the next level of comfiness. Alas, with steps heard coming towards them and Leon’s own tummy rumbling from hunger, he was bound to wake up. He grunted and softly raised his upper body, trying his best to not stir Dylan from his sleep, which he seemed to do with success. He shook his head to regain his composure and to clear his mind before he properly stood up. “Whew. Guess it’s time for lunch, huh?” Leon stretched out his arms, grunting from the exertion on his body. “Alright, time to aaaaaaAAAAAAH!” Leon screamed as he turned around. “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!” The encroaching Pokémon screamed just the same, almost letting the tray of food on their head fall to the sand. The screaming was just the ticket to make Dylan wake up. “L-Leon? What’s going on?!?” The Sylveon stood up in a hurry to witness the scene before him. The Pikachu, with his fur on edge and arms to the side in a spooked pose, and a Skeledirge, their front legs in the air with their face in just as much shock as the electric type. “What’s going on?” “I-I’m so sorry. I was just bringing your food. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The feminine yet strong-sounding voice from the crocodilian Pokémon calmed the Pikachu. “G-Gosh, I’m so sorry.” Leon approached the fire type to reach out his paw. “I shouldn’t have screamed like that. I’m really sorry.” “Hahahaha, it’s no worries, hun. I guess my face isn’t the most subtle when taking care of guests.” The Skeledirge said, bringing attention to the skull-like painting just beneath the plate of food being held on top. “Phew. What a way to wake up, hahaha…” Dylan played it off, stretching his legs before coming closer to the crocodile. “Oh, you must be Nahual, correct? Folia’s husband.” “Hmmmm? I think you’re mistaken, Dylan.” Leon said. “I mean, Folia said husband, right? But our fellow here is a girl.” “O-Oh, hahaha… I can see why you’d think that…” The Skeledirge said with some laughter. “Yes, my name is Nahual. I am indeed a man, and Folia’s husband.” “Huh?” Leon said that in a clearly confused tone. “But… You sound like a wo-” Before the Pikachu could say anything else, the Sylveon jumped in with his ribbons and covered Leon’s mouth. “S-Sorry. My boyfriend is a bit new to the region, so he still isn’t used to everything. Please forgive him.” “Hahahahahaha! Don’t worry, dear. It happens from time to time. It’s an honest mistake, after all. And now you’re aware of it.” He let out a hearty laughter. Even for someone of his size, his voice was quite heavy and powerful. “Oh, right, your food!” He got closer to the wooden table and dropped it off. The tray contained some simple snacks like fried potatoes, curd cheese on a stick and boiled corn, all steaming and fresh. “I hope you enjoy it. I’m still getting used to the recipes, but if there’s anything you dislike, don’t be afraid to let me know.” Nahual smiled towards the two guests. “Thanks a bunch, Nahual! We’ll let you know what we think once we finish eating.” Dylan said while keeping Leon close and mouth-cuffed with ribbons. They all exchanged farewells, and once the Sylveon saw that the Skeledirge was far enough, he let the Pikachu go. Leon let out a couple of coughs. “Gah, jeez, Dylan. What was that for?” “Ummmm… You… weren’t aware that asking something like that, or at least in the way that you were phrasing it, would kinda make it sound a bit bad?” Dylan tried to explain, not exactly sure where the misunderstanding could be if there was one. “How so?” Leon sat down by the table, grabbing one of the cheese sticks and grabbing a bite out of it. “It’s just that he sounded very feminine, so I didn’t realize he was a man.” “Y-Yeah, that’s fair. But you shouldn’t assume otherwise if someone says that. If you let some of your natural voice spill, would you like it if people called you a girl?” The Sylveon was thinking of ways to kindly explain it to the Pikachu. “No!!! Of course not! I’m the manliest man you’ll ever see!” Leon said before biting another piece of the cheese. Dylan sat down beside him, grabbing some of the corn and biting the cob hard, some of it’s chunks coming along besides just the seeds. “Exactly. He’s… a similar case.” Although very subtle, Leon’s face grimaced a bit. “So… he’s like me, a human brought to the Pokémon world?” He tried to hide his face by grabbing another corn cob. “N-No, silly…” Dylan had to force a nervous laugh. “He’s… someone that’s not the same gender as their body! Or something like that. Nahual’s trans.” Leon gulped, hard. “Trans, huh? Neat. I thought it was just something of a special case for me. Like being trapped in the wrong kind of body when being brought to this world.” “That’s a fair guess, I’d say. So… were there no trans humans back in your world?” Dylan asked as nicely as he could. And although calm, Leon’s voice seemed to harbor something… “Y-Yeah, there were. Plenty in fact. They got a lot of attention, thanks to stuff likeThey got a lot of attention, thanks to stuff like “TV” and “Social Media”. But… I don’t know, it’s been, what? Almost a year since I arrived here. After spending so much time with different kinds of Pokémon and none of them being transgender, I… thought there just weren’t any here in this world.” Dylan could sense the hesitation in his voice. It didn’t sound malicious, but it felt… tense, maybe. “Oh no, that’s not the case! Maybe because Treasure Town is still somewhat of a secluded part of the world, all things considered, but Pokémons discovering themselves with the opposite gender, or maybe no gender, or maybe even both, or maybe many other possibilities, is a somewhat common thing to see. Although I personally haven’t seen any cases either, besides textbooks. That is, until I met you-” The moment Dylan said those words he felt like he made a huge mistake. “I see. Welp, it’s almost time for the experiment to continue. We should go.” During their talk, the pair had mostly wolfed down all the food, and with Leon feeling full, he stood up and started making his way towards the group already re-forming in front of the hotel. “Dammit. I- Leon, wait up!” The Sylveon grabbed the towel and the wool scrap they were using just a while ago, before following Leon, feeling like something was off. By the time Sylveon had caught up, the crowd had already gathered once more, and Folia was tinkering with the MFG, while all the participants talked to one another. Dylan caught for a moment some of the electric types asking the Pawmo how he seemed to do it and what was different, but he was too far to catch any of it, not to mention how his attention was lying elsewhere. Leon was at the front of the crowd, waiting for his turn. His face seemed serious. Not quite angry, but one that was focused on a single objective. One not willing to be distracted. And Dylan was worried upon seeing Leon like that. “H-Hey, babe. Are you okay? I’m sorry if I said anything wrong back-” “There’s nothing wrong, Dylan.” His voice seemed calm and serious. “We should just get this over with. The sooner we’re done the sooner we get paid and can go home.” “H-Home? But we just got here. I mean, sure, we only have until tomorrow paid, but I was thinking maybe we could book another day for us. You know, to relax and all.” Dylan tried to remain cool, albeit his worry only grew with each word. “I don’t think so, Dylan… I’m… not sure I want to be here anymore.” He admitted. For a brief second, Dylan saw Leon’s eyes quiver, but it was so brief he couldn’t tell if it actually happened or if it was just a trick of the light. Regardless, he didn’t know what to say. Could he really try and appease Leon, when he didn’t even know what was making him like that? “Alright, everyone. Thank you for your patience!” Folia announced, turning towards the group of Pokémon. “I hope you had an enjoyable lunch. Nahual’s new to making this much food, so until we hire a more sizable cooking staff, he’s doing all he can.” “Hey, it’s way better than the stuff I can make myself!” The Electivere said out loud, drawing a hearty laugh from the crowd, including Folia. “Hahaha, that’s great to hear. Well, if your bellies are full, then I assume we can keep up with our task?” His question was followed by an immediate reply of approval from the crowd, excited for the upcoming session. “Alright. If the next volunteer could come up, please.” That was the queue, and without a moment’s hesitation, Leon made his way towards the host. “L-Leon, wait!” Dylan tried to grab onto him, but stopped right before, fearing that it could bring them some unwanted attention. The way the Pikachu walked might have been swift, but the Sylveon could notice it wasn’t his usual stride. This wasn’t just determination. There was something else as well. “Alright, let’s get this over with.” Leon said, drawing some excitement from the crowd behind him. His eyes were laser-focused on the energy receptor of the machine. “Leon, hun, are you doing okay?” Folia seemed to notice something was amiss as well, whispering those words to the Pikachu. He might have asked, but he received no reply. He sighed and let it slide, hoping it wasn’t anything major. He shifted his tone to be loud enough for all the Pokémon there. “You may start.” Leon acquiesced, closed his eyes, and let the energy flow through. Just like he had been doing all morning. Just like he had been doing for months now. Just flow it out. Flow it out. Flow… it… out… But nothing was happening. Leon’s heart tightened a bit. He took a deep breath and tried again. He forced his body into moving the electricity within him outward. And yet not a single watt left his cheeks. All it achieved was making him sweat. “Tsk.” “Whenever you’re ready, dear.” The Quaquaval said it in a hushed tone, so it wouldn’t put too much pressure on him in front of the others. Regardless, those words still seemed to not achieve their intended results. “I-I’m trying…!” Leon whispered back, in a clearly agitated tone. “I’ll just… try harder!” He focused every inch of his body into that act, trying to replicate what he had been doing for so long now. Why was it not working? How could that happen? Why now? How? Why? Why?? Why?!?! His sweat grew cold. His face contorted in discomfort. His fur stood on edge. His pack paws clinged to the ground. His front paws clenched in a painful way. Those were all very subtle details that none could really notice, that is, besides Dylan. He had seen it before. Leon was struggling. Inside. If he kept it up he could faint. He could be out cold for hours. Maybe even worse. “LEON! STOP!!” Dylan screamed with all his might from within the crowd. The voice seemed to snap Leon out of it. His breathing was erratic, he could feel his fur damp with his own exertion, his strength leaving him. “W-What?” Most eyes were on the Sylveon who had screamed, while Folia’s were on the poor Pikachu. “Leon… If you’re not feeling well, we can postpone it. There’s no shame in it…” Leon had heard barely any words from his host. There was only one he recognized that hit him deep. Shame. The Pikachu’s eyes grew wild, and before anyone could say any other word, the electric type had bolted, completely running off in a surprising display of speed. Some were confused about what happened, save for his partner and host who were watching everything. “Leon! Wait for me!” Dylan soon chased after him, leaving the group of confused Pokémon behind. Dylan might have become much more physically fit and agile ever since he became a team with Leon, but he was still no match for the rodent. They’ve been training together a lot, but Dylan was quite surprised on how much faster Leon was now compared to when they first started. If only he wasn’t using this speed to run away from him… The Sylveon knew that had to be the case, for he followed Leon as best he could, but during the first turn, he had already completely lost him. “Leooooooooon!” He screamed, trying in vain to grab his attention. “Dangit, where did he go…” He looked down while recovering his stamina, only to notice something that should have been fairly obvious earlier. With the intensity in his spring and how fast he was going, he had to be digging his paws deep into the sand, which left clear pawprints for Dylan to follow. “Alright. Just wait for me, love.” He said before following the trail. The sprint kept for what felt like a long chunk of time. Maybe half an hour? That was the guess Dylan made from the sun’s position shifting ever since the chase started. And his muscles started to strain under such a taxing undertaking. Still, he continued. He kept running and running, until the footsteps disappeared. The sand that allowed the pawprints was no longer present. Now there was only a rock-solid surface from the natural stone formation from the old mystery dungeon. But there wasn’t any need to worry, for the place Leon went was very apparent. Before the Sylveon stood a dark archway in the rock wall. Dylan knew it couldn’t be a mystery dungeon, for the place had ceased to operate as such for so long. Must have been remnants. But one thing was for certain: he had to go inside. “Leon…” He said to himself before stepping into the dark entrance, steadying his breathing and courage for the walk ahead. He never told Leon before, but he wasn’t great with dark places. Something about not being able to see what was right in front of him was terrifying. Thankfully, it wasn’t pitch black inside, due to some blue glowing ores that emanated some light from it. Still, it made him uneasy with so many blind spots. “Leoooooon? Are you here????” Dylan shouted, hoping to hear a response. But nothing. He kept on and one, with not a soul in sight. Once his worries were beginning to nag at him, he heard something faint. His ear twitched as he tried hearing it again. He stepped forward a bit and heard it once more, a wet sound. Accompanied by… crying. Dylan didn’t shout, instead using the sound to lead him to his destination. With each step, the sound became clearer and clearer. Clear crying from someone, from Leon, accompanied by the sounds of water dropping and reverberating through the cave walls, his tears. Soon enough, there he was. Leon, sitting by the cave wall, leaning his back against it as his face contorted into ugly looks, just like a kid would do when they were bawling their eyes out. He was just crying to himself, deep within this abandoned cave, where no one could see him. Or well, where only one could see him. “Leon…” Dylan said softly, slowly approaching his boyfriend. The Pikachu turned toward him with fright. He looked as if he was about to bolt once more. But, his face softened up in sadness and he just went back to his position of crying. Dylan approached him, but chose not to touch him. It didn’t seem like it was what he needed in that situation. He also knew not to ask if he was okay, that was more than clear to see. Instead, he just sat nearby. For a few minutes, none exchanged a word. Dylan just let Leon cry. Didn’t interrupt him. Didn’t even bring him into a hug. No, he felt like he needed to get that out of his system. And right now he wanted to do it himself. Until eventually… “I’m sorry…” Leon said under his breath. “Sorry for what?” Dylan answered. “For running. For making you chase me all the way out here.” He said, his voice crestfallen and slightly rough from all the crying. “Eh, no need to worry. It had been a while since I last had a jog. You know how I like to skimp on my workouts.” He said it matter-of-factly. Not too playfully. “I’m sorry for being so harsh after we met Nahual.” “Hey, it’s okay. I know some stuff is still alien to you, even though our worlds share so many concepts. I’m used to it, and I’m sure he didn’t take any offense from it.” “I’m sorry for failing at the experiment. For making a mess of both myself and you out there.” “Hey now, it’s okay. It’s something that happens. Back when I was a kid, I’d hear Margaret complain how she could’t even extend her vines if her mood was too out there.” “I’m sorry for failing you.” “You didn’t fail me, Leon. Not at-” “I’m sorry for being who I am.” “You know I love-” “I HATE MYSELF!” That scream came from the deepest reaches of Leon’s soul. It was so loud that caught Dylan off-guard, making him stumble backward. It took him a second for him to realize what Leon had just admitted. The implications of it. He remained silent. “I hate that I feel like this. That I have to… go through this torment every single day…” Leon looked towards his body. Towards lower down his body, where something seemed to be missing for him. “But you know what I hate most? The fact that I don’t even know who I am anymore.” “I used to be Leon. The funny guy at school who would crack jokes. Who would take up any challenge or dare. The guy who was full of himself yet didn’t try to belittle anyone. I was ‘the man,’ the most courageous guy among my group of friends. And yet, I never felt good about it. I would put up a front, but whenever someone called me the man, I’d just take it and store it inside, hoping eventually it’d sit right with me. But it didn’t. It never did. It just felt worse and worse with each and every day.” “I’d ask my dad why I felt like that, but instead of getting to understand why, I only got the typical responses for him. ‘You should be proud of being called that. Being called a man is the most important step of growing up.’ He said that, and I’d believe him, but it wouldn’t make the pain any easier. It’d just be something I told myself whenever I was called that. I never felt okay with myself. Felt like something was wrong. With me. Deep inside. And for the longest part of my life I thought that was something everyone had to put up with. But… that changed one day.” “There was this one girl in class that… discovered that she wasn’t actually a girl. Said she knew she was a guy deep inside. She told the entire class about it. And save for the usual unsavory types, everyone accepted her. It was my first time getting to witness that, so I just followed suit and congratulated her alongside my friends and the rest of class. Curious, I asked my dad… Something I shouldn’t have done.” “That night, he berated me. Screaming at me for congratulating a friend for defying the matters of basic biology. For convincing her that she wasn’t a girl. That I was complicit in doing something heinous. For defying God's creation. For sinning my worst sin in my entire life. That went on for hours. And I could feel his words getting deeper and deeper into me.” “The next day… My dad went to the school board. Saying that allowing a student to contaminate the other kids with those degenerate thoughts would only endanger our lives. That the student in question was nothing but a danger to us. And so… after a month of my dad being busy all around town… he finally got her expelled.” “When we found out, we just… sat there, completely surprised. She was a close friend of the class. She had been someone we shared our lives with. Someone that deserved our respect. She didn’t, no… He didn’t deserve to be targeted like that. And you know the worst part?” Leon looked into Dylan’s eyes, his words heavy with anguish. “They never found out it was because of my father. Because of me.” Dylan’s eyes quivered. Leon seemed so distraught. “They never found out. My father was as sneaky as possible with it, and I wasn’t about to let them know I was the reason our friend had just been booted, forced to go to another school. I might not have been punished by the others, but I was never able to forgive myself for that.” “Leon, you-” “And you know what’s even worse? My father ever since taught me the dangers of the trans. He didn’t care about gay or bi guys, but something about transgender people really made him upset. He’d lecture me and make comments about how they were the rot of society. How they should be outcasts and vilified. How they should be thrown out for such sinful thoughts. Those were just the mildest of his comments…” “So imagine my complete fright when, after my friends and I graduated from high school and we were having a farewell party of sorts, after I got dared to wear a dress from my friend’s mom, to look goofy. To look stupid. To look dumb. That was the moment I felt the most comfortable in my entire life.” Leon grit his teeth. “I knew it wasn’t just the clothing. No, if that was it, I could just wear them in secret when going out. No, when I saw myself in the mirror wearing a dress, right by my friend who was also wearing one, when I saw us side by side… that I wished I was like her… That fleeting thought never once left my head.” Dylan remained silent for the whole conversation. He really didn’t know what to say. “Of course I got some laughs and jokes out of it from my friends, but after that… I didn’t want to be around anyone anymore. I had already moved out from my father’s place, being incentivized to be independent or whatever, but for two whole months I refused to see anyone. I only saw the people that would bring me food from take-outs. That was it. And that’s when it happened. The day before my first outing into college, I was sent here, and met you…” Leon looked towards Dylan with a small glance of relief. “I didn’t have to be there anymore. To be forced into hiding my thoughts. Of being exposed to other influences. I thought I was safe here. I could be in love with you and never again think about those ideas… And then we met Nahual…” Dylan nipped at his own lip. “But Leon, I’m not your father. I wouldn’t berate you like-” “THAT’S NOT THE POINT, DYLAN!” Leon stood up in surprising speed. His voice was the loudest he’d ever been. “That’s not it! You might say that, But I don’t know what’s true anymore! I might not hold fondness for my dad, But most of what I know came from him! …What’s to say he’s right?! What if he is? What if entertaining those thoughts hurt me?! What if I make a mistake I can never take back. What if… I become a freak?” Leon fell to his knees, tears once again falling down his cheeks. Seconds passed without anyone moving. Just the echoes of the scream and the sobbing occupied that space. “I’m so scared, Dylan… I don’t want to lose who I am. I’m afraid of not being Leon anymore. I’m afraid of giving ears to those words. I’m afraid of disappointing my friends. I’m afraid of disappointing you… I’m afraid, Dylan…” His tears intensified. Although he didn’t know the right words, there were things Dylan knew by fact. He stepped forward, and with his paw grabbed onto Leon’s back and forced them into a hug. Dylan was quite larger than Leon, so Leon’s face got a handful of white fur. “Leon, listen to me.” Leon kept sobbing, but otherwise remained silent. “I can’t attest to facts. You know I’m just as a stranger to the world as you are, even if I was born here. I can’t say for certain what’s the right or wrong way to live. I can’t answer you questions that only those that live those lives can answer, but…” His paw reached out to the back of his head. “I can tell you one thing.” The paw went down towards Leon’s shoulder, pulling him back slightly so Dylan could stare at his eyes. “You. Will. Never. Disappoint me.” He said those words very slowly, with strength behind each and every one of them. Leon’s eyes widened at that. “You are confused, and that’s something that I can only imagine how hard it is. And it’s not something I can give you an answer for. But I want you to remember this.” Dylan leaned his forehead against Leon’s. “Whichever identity you decide to take after you’ve found yourself, be it boy, girl, or non-binary, or anything in between and outside, I want you to know, I’ll love you the same way I do now.” “B-But, if I were to change, that means what we had so far was fal-” Leon was interrupted by Dylan’s paw in his mouth. “-That everything we had was true, and everything else we will have going forward will be just as true as it is now. You know me, Leon. We’ve known each other for a year now. Do you seriously think that discovering your true feelings and identity would change anything for my feelings?” “B-But, what if…” “Do you trust me, Leon?” Dylan asked with care in his voice. “Of course I do. More than anyone in this world and the other.” “Then please. Trust in me to trust in you.” Those words hit Leon in a way he couldn’t expect. His face clustered in confusion and worry, before suddenly bursting in laughter. “Pffff…” “W-What? What did I say?” Now it was time for Dylan to be flustered. “N-Nothing, sorry. That just sounded like something I heard from an anime once, hahaha…” Leon’s mouth was sporting a faint smile. Dylan rested his head against Leon’s. “...Was it a good anime, at least?” “It was… Maybe one of the best out there.” He said, his eyelids closing slowly. Dylan just giggled as he let his body settle on the floor, letting the Pikachu rest on top of him, exhausted, and snoring. “Sleep for now, Leon. We’ll sort it out. I’ll be with you for as long as you want me.” Dylan said to him, even if he knew Leon couldn’t hear him anymore. And so, the Sylveon also closed his eyes, allowing himself the brief respite of a nap after such an eventful afternoon. After all… They both needed the rest after today. _________________ The sun was already setting by the time the duo had left the cave and found their way back to the hotel’s beach. The orange skies shone calmly against the calmer waves. Everything was calm, except for the noises from the remaining experiments and the sound of Leon’s heart beating with nervousness. “Do you think Folia is angry?” Leon asked, his face showed regret and shame for what he had done. “I’m sure he isn’t. We might have left them hanging, but we were the first group for the second half! I’m sure he just passed on us for the time being and let the others take their turns first. Besides, it sounds like they aren’t done quite just yet.” Dylan pointed out. “Alright. Let’s go, then.” Leon walked towards the crowd. Most of the eyes were on the ongoing experiment, but a couple of looks were spared to the returning duo, alongside some shushed whispering. Leon began feeling self-conscious. He gulped, thinking maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all… But while thinking that, Dylan laid a paw on his shoulder, making the Pikachu turn to see the comforting smile on the Sylveon’s face. Seeing Dylan made him feel more at ease. He took a deep breath, and then exhaled, before making his way towards the outskirts of the group, waiting for the current participant to finish. The Eelektrik spent the last of their power, before stopping and gasping for air while standing on their long snake-like body. “Damn… Sorry, I’m all out.” The feminine voice said. “Haha, it’s okay, hun. You tried your best. Go on and rest a little. You more than earned your keep.” Folia comforted the participant, before she made her way towards the remaining participantsparticipants. Dylan noticed by his side the Pawmo that had succeeded earlier that day. He whispered towhispered to him. “Hey, sorry to bug you, but has anyone else been compatible so far?” The Pawmo looked towards the much bigger Pokémon. “Oh hi! Ummmm, yes, actually. The Dedenne girl managed to make it work about an hour ago. She seemed really happy with it.” He made a glance with his eyes towards the Dedenne,, on top of her partner, a, Gliscor. “I see. Okay, thanks!” Dylan made a gesture before turning around. “Hey.” the Pawmo asked before he could get farther. “Are you both okay? Your friend seemed in a bit of a bind earlier.” “Oh, that. Don’t worry. We’ll just try one more time before we call it a day.” Dylan answered, briefly glancing towards Leon while at it. “I see. Good luck to you two, then. Just trust in yourself and you’ll do great!” That last comment was directed towards Leon, which the smaller rodent noticed, as he had been listening to the whole conversation. “O-Oh.” Said Leon, a bit startled. “Ummm, thanks!” He answered with a raised paw before the very fluffy rodent disappeared among the bigger crowd. “He’s right, you know?” Dylan said, letting his shoulders touch against Leon’s body. “I know… But, crap, I know it’s true, that I gotta believe in myself to make my sparks work. But after everything I’ve gone through today, don’t you think my subconscious or whatever might hold me back?” Leon said, his ears twitching in clear anxiousness. “Hun, there’s nothing to worry about.” Dylan leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek, getting a small zap back. “Just do your best out there. Whatever happens, you did your best, and I couldn’t possibly ask you for more than that.” Leon smiled, and he could feel some tension lifting up. “Okay.” He raised his paws and slapped both his cheeks with them. “I’m ready.” Once the Eelectrik had returned to her spot, Leon stepped forward towards Folia, who noticed him immediately. “Oh! Leon, dear, are you okay? You ran off so fast before.” Folia rushed forward a few steps, stopping in front of the smaller rodent. “If there’s anything wrong, you can tell me, okay?” “Oh, hahaha… About that, sorry… I wasn’t feeling too hot then.” Leon said, at first avoiding eye contact with the host. But knowing that was only dancing around the subject, he raised his eyes to look back at him. “I needed a moment alone, just me and Dylan. I’m feeling better now.” “Whew. That’s a relief, you gave me quite a fright back there.” The Quaquaval pet Leon’s head softly. “We can postpone your turn for tomorrow, if you’d prefer. There’s no rush to-” “No.” Leon interrupted. “I… think I’d rather do it now, if you don’t mind.” His voice had a bit of a shake behind it, but unlike before, there was also some confidence behind it as well, albeit subtly. “Well… If you say so.” Folia beckoned, bringing them both closer to the machine. “Just in time, then. I was about to turn it off and bring it back inside. Let me reiterate, you’re getting paid regardless of success, so just do your best and leave with your head held high, okay?” Leon acquiesced silently, nodding his head. “Alright. Then get ready. I’ll start the procedure.” The bird said and started pressing some buttons and levers on the nearby regulator, bringing the MFG to life. Leon took a deep breath. He could do this. He could do this. He just had to trust in himself. But… could he, really? Leon looked back towards where Dylan was. And his eyes widened. Dylan was showing off the scarf that Leon had made him. Leon hadn’t seen him use it since last night due to the heat outside, but it seemed his boyfriend had been carrying it with him all along. Dylan whispered something from far away. Something that not even those close to him could hear. But Leon could. Even without sound, he knew what his mate just told him, and he could feel a spark of confidence burn within him. Leon smiled. “Alright, go for it, hun.” Folia relayed. Without missing a beat, Leon got into high gear. Sparks immediately flew out of his cheeks and made their way towards the receptor. Seeing his powers working again gave the Pikachu an extra boost of confidence, putting his all into feeding the machine. But even with the receptor drawing the majority of his electricity, it was so much that some leftover sparks overflowed and leapt close to the audience. Not hitting anyone, but still giving them a scare, drawing surprised and impressed whispers from the watchers. But most important of all, the dial moved. Quicker than possibly all the others, the marker had reached the max efficiency point, and it quivered and shook as it pressed as far as it could go. “Congratulations, Leon. Your energy is compatible.” Folia said, smiling towards the smaller Pokémon. It took a moment for the words to hit the Pikachu. He had done it. His energy was compatible with the MFG! He had done it. He had… Leon’s legs buckled and collapsed. He was about to hit the floor before Dylan swooped in and managed to catch the falling Pokémon with his fluffy back. “Are you okay, Leon?” “O-Oh.” He hadn’t even realized he was falling. He wasn’t feeling much of his body, in fact. “Y-Yeah, I’m okay. Just feeling a little sleepy…” “Oh, thanks Arceus. That’s a relief.” Folia rushed over. “Still, congratulations, Leon. We have much to talk about. But I guess we can save that conversation for tomorrow before you both leave.” Still, even with his mind getting foggy and doozy, there was still something else he had to do. “H-Hey, Dylan, Mister Folia. Could I be selfish and make a request?” “What is it, hun?” Dylan said, shifting his back so Leon could lay his body on top of it. “Would you mind if we spent a couple more days here? I’d… really like to stay a little longer.” His voice was soft, while asking it. “Haha, that’s it?” Folia laughed. “Sure thing, hun. I don’t see a problem with that!” “Yup! Just rest up. Then we can enjoy a couple days and have a private vacation. So, make sure to feel better soon, okay?” Dylan smiled along, caressing him with his ribbons. “Thanks, guys…” Leon said before his mind drifted away. It was hard to explain, but he felt lighter than he ever felt before in his entire life. Sleep never came to him this quickly. Maybe the future will be bright after all. As long as he could spend it with Dylan. However he may.