(Next-Day in the Cave Mid Morning)"So all we"re separated and didnt pay attention at all?" Gray asked again for confirmation. He allowed them to rest the full morning after the treatment.
"Well... Pyron was falling out of the sky.." Growlithe started to say.
"So I ran towards him.." Midnight said. "I used Agility to help me get there faster. But.."
"He didnt count on the amount of Bellspout with Stun Spore ambushing him." Growlithe said with his head down. "I didnt count on myself missing my first attack. Then I was ambushed as well. I was. .h.i.t by some Sleep powder and went down."
"Ok.. and you Gale?" Gray said taking everything in.
"I heard the scream from Pyron as he fell. I have good perception. As I ran through the forest I came across a group of Jumpluff." Looking at Growlithe she pointed at him. "Some Growlithe burned through them earlier and they were quite angry. So angry they chased me down and dropped Stun Spore on me."
"Well, I kind of know whats going on. But it is only a hunch. Have any of you had this much trouble fighting before." Gray watched as they all shook there heads no. "One of the reasons I let you train on your own is to make sure you dont lose your instincts. I may have not pushed you hard enough. Therefore tomorrow you will all go out and fight in pairs. Except for you Pyron."
"Something has been bugging you for a while. So go out there and take care of it. I dont care what it is. Understand?" Gray watched them all shake there heads in understanding. "For now rest and let us check your nutrition levels."
After that Gray had another busy day dealing with everything. The good news his Pokemon Breeder, and Medical was giving him information as he focused on using them both instead of anything else.
(The Next Day)
They were all raring to get started.
"Ok fine. Have fun and be safe out there." Gray told Pyron who flew off into the air immediately. Watching him, he couldn"t help but shake his head.
"Ok, you two. Keep each other safe." He looked at Growlithe and Midnight. The duo dashed off running in strange patterns.
"Guess it"s just me and the girls then," Gray mumbled. Empress then appeared looking at him angrily. "What is it?"
"I am not a girl!" Empress said staring at his with her bird eyes. A slight glow could be seen around her fingers. "I am a young woman hmph!"
"Gray I am definitely not a girl. I am in the early stages of half my lifespan." Gale said neutrally. She was about even with Gray in height now that he noticed it. "I would be around the age area you humans call the 30s"."
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"Ookkk." Gray was at a loss for words on this. "Just... no never mind it." Rubbing his eyes he took a small breath of air. "What I should have said it"s just me and you ladies. Is that better?"
"Yes," Empress said happily. "Just you wait and see. Once I get my power back you will be amazed at what I look like in my human form."
"I bet I will." Gray smiled. He was glad she was happy. She teleported and wrapped herself around his midriff as usual. In a matter of moments, she fell asleep. As he rubbed her head he noticed Gale look at him weirdly. "What"s wrong?"
"You have a habit for each of them. But what about me?" Seeing Gray questioning look she pointed at his petting of Empress"s head. "That."
"Oh. Wait but I do have one for you." Gray grin and told her to come here. "Alright just like that. Now dont move." He then ran his hands gently down her scars. "Still so amazing. You have done a great deal of battling."
"Ay.. yes.. yes I have." Gale started to get embarra.s.sed and felt herself heating up. "I am too tired to talk. This is tiring." Just like that, she stopped her human speech.
"Ok, just rest for now. You deserve it. Dont think I didnt notice you giving the others pointers yesterday. You taught Midnight and Growlithe that movement pattern didn"t you." Gray continued to rub her scars gently. When he came to an area that looked like a terrible burn he tried circling his aura to see if he could do as Tricia did. "You might feel a little pain. But bear with it."
Channeling his aura he watched the scar fade only a little. Gale moved and shuddered to the feeling. Gray thought it was from the pain. He was very wrong. With her back to him, he didnt see the blush in her cheeks. For once Gale was very happy she hadn"t obtained her human form yet. Gray stopped after a minute when he realized it drained too much aura energy.
"Sorry Gale, but it would leave me to wiped out. I tell you what though." Gray reached forward and pulled her back to him. Placing her head on his legs he channeled little physic energy of him doing the same of what he just did. It worked wonders. He felt the joy that her mind sent out. "This will have to do for now."
"Thank you," Gale said as she watched Gray close his eyes and sort of meditated. He was trying to restore his aura energy to at least fighting levels. Looking around Gale kept watch. More than ever she was determined to keep everyone safe. "I want to become human if only for a moment." Looking at Gray she felt a warm feeling spread in her core. A trace of aura left him and entered her. "Only for a moment. I have to find a way to get more aura power. But how?"
(Over with Pyron)
"You have been following us for a while. You even came here. Why?" Pyron asked the Spearow.
"Here to survey and make sure Gray is ok." The little Spearow said. He was not scared of Pyron in any way. Despite the size difference. "He is important to us."
"Oh, and why is that?" Pyron asked.
"Cant say just yet. Before I forget, be careful. There is a very powerful bird clan here. Off that way." Turning it flew off in the other direction.
"Pyron looked that way. Flying up he used Brave Bird and sailed up high and fast. "Nothing will stop me from getting stronger!" A silhouette of a Pidgeot was behind him as he gained speed.
(Back in the Cave)
Gray slept peacefully. His aura washed out on its own. Bathing his Pokemon in it. Slowly Gale fed on the aura as she slept. Empress opened her eyes and helped her along.
"Ah, what a helpless thing you are. But no matter, Gray accepts you so I accept you. Let"s see if we can get your human state faster. It would be best if he gets comfortable with it early." Empress thought as she turned the dark aura energy into the pure aura. She wasn"t as good as Gray at doing it but knew enough to help it along. She licked her lips and closed her eyes once Gray"s excess aura followed the path. "I wonder how you will look."
The next day Gray woke up feeling refreshed and clean. "How did I get clean." He looked down and noticed his shirt wasn"t on. His pants were unbuckled and his shoes were untied but on. "What in the blazes did I do last night?"
Empress and Gale walked back inside the cave. They had a few Remoraid on a few sticks. Seeing Gray"s state of undress Empress blinked and kept walking. Gale, on the other hand, stood transfixed. She was looking at the scars around his sides. As well as the electric burns from his fight with Ash.
Walking over she was startled by how confused Gray looked. Reaching out slowly ahead watched as he finally relaxed and took notice she approached him. Placing her partially changed hands on the burns, her small aura energy soothes the skin some. Visible to the naked eye the burns healed. But only a little.
Gray caught her as she wobbled and pa.s.sed out. Scanning her over he couldn"t figure out what happened.
(Gale Condition: Aura Depletion, Exhaustion)
"Empress, what did you two go do?" Pulling some berries from his bag he started to mashed them up. Setting Gale down with the other he grabbed an Energy Root next.
"We went fishing. She worked a little too hard as usual." Empress said in her human voice. She was getting closer to a normal volume more and more. Fewer whispers for the most part. Sitting down nearby she cradled Gale"s head and rubbed the temples. A small glow of physic energy on her fingertips.
"She has been doing this for how long?" Gray asked thinking he wouldn"t like the answer but needed to know.
"About everyday. She trains me and then trains the others. Afterward, she would meditate trying to increase her aura. She really wants to become human." Empress said with an eye open looking at Gray. "You should help her out in that area. Find a way to increase her aura abilities. You are the Trainer." Empress"s voice came out a little angry.
It did not go unnoticed by Gray. Looking to her, he saw the black l.u.s.ter in her opened eye. "What is it?"
"You were not lying when you showed her you two embracing right?" Empress tone was more stern than Gray ever heard it. "If you were I think you will be stuck here by yourself."
"Ok.. dont know what"s come over you. But do I look like that kind of guy?" Gray"s tone was serious. As he continued to grind the root into the berries informed into a weird paste.
"Then prove it." Empress propped Gale"s head upturned her moth towards Gray as he reached for the small spoon to feed her with. "Use your mouth to give her the medicine."
"No. I dont have to prove anything. Besides this is her health we are talking about here. You should know not to joke that way." Gray grabbed the spoon and start to slowly feed Gale. He placed little small amounts inside and ma.s.saged her throat to help. "Explain to me what"s going on. If you dont I have no way of helping."
"There is nothing going on. Just wanted to see what you would do. Glad her health comes first." Empress opened her other eye and stared at Gray. "You won"t get rid of her right?"
"No. Am I suppose to?"
"No. But you remember what I asked you?"
"That no matter what, I would never abandon you." Gray spared her a look and went back to taking care of Gale. "Did you have another nightmare?"
Empress shook her head no. She continued to rub Gale"s temples. "I have not had any more lately. But.. I think we should get me stronger soon. You need to draw on my power when you are using your Pokesoul. So far you have only tapped a little bit of my power."
"Hmm, you may be right." Gray finished feeding the medicine and sat back. He moved Gale"s head onto his lap. "However I have to train my own power as well. It is one of the reasons I let others go train on their own. Even more so since the loss. I cant spend too much of my focus on them. There just is not enough time in the day. You are also getting stronger in the medium state so that is something. The only thing I can think of is that you partic.i.p.ate in battles more physically."
"Ugghh dont want to do that. Hurt too much. My defenses are to low. But then again... I can rest inside Gale and fight that way.
"You could but Gale does not like fighting. Tjay has been one of the other hurdles we face.
"I do not like unnecessary fighting," Gale said as she tried to sit up. Gray didnt allow as he pulled her head back down. "I am fine just was tired."
"Enough. Never lie to me ok?" Gray said rubbing a scar on her neck. The smooth semi carapace felt cold to his touch. "It is amazing how the more you go into your human state the more your body changes."
"Yes, I suppose it is." Gale said wanting to turn away out of embarra.s.sment. Gray didnt stop as he held her in place. Seeing as he wouldn"t stop she gave in and enjoy it. "Gray.. how do you feel about us. I mean Pokemon."
"Be specific," Gray said teasing. "I like certain Pokemon. There are some I dislike."
"Right. Do you like the Pokemon you have?"
"Yes, I do. Very much." Gray moved his hand down to her back and focused on the scar there. "I want to spend more days like this with you all.. but I have a job to do as well. That"s why I enjoy things the way I do. It may be extreme but my days are numbered the same as everyone else"s. "
"If.. someday June asks you for something unusual will you help her?"
"If it doesn"t go against any of my princ.i.p.al"s then yeah." Gray said skeptic.