Gladion woke in his bedroom. To ward off nightmares, he'd tucked Nyx, his Umbreon, into bed.
As sunlight filtered through the window, Nyx stirred,[Master, you choked me all night,] she purred. [Are you into that stuff? Should I tell Sabrina you're getting kinky?]
Gladion's face flushed with embarrassment, "Nyx, behave!" he snapped, his voice half-laughing. Nyx flicked her tail, her face smug. [You love my cuddles, admit it. It would be a pity that once you get a girlfriend or a wife, you would replace me. Poor me.. Sob Sob Sob.] Gladion rolled his eyes, 'She's impossible.'
He grabbed his phone, checking messages. Agatha and Koga had sent texts congratulating him on his first successful Aura Guardian mission.
"Good job, brat," Agatha wrote. "Didn't expect dead bodies on your first go, but you'll see worse. Toughen up."
Koga's message was colder: "Well done. Death is part of the job. Expect more."
Their words carried no pity, only expectation from him.
'They're from the war era,' Gladion thought, 'They've seen so much death it's just another Tuesday to them. They're grooming me to be an Aura Guardian, so they expect me to handle worse—situations where I won't have time for Ultron's pep talks or Nyx's cuddles.'
He sighed, 'Fine. I'll adapt. But I should have asked for more concessions for joining Aura Guardians. I did not account for the nightmares I would be having. I am pretty sure that there would be more dead bodies in my next missions. And maybe I would be the one responsible for their death.'
Gladion shook his head as he got up from bed. His first task was to meet the Froakie he'd smuggled from Goldmane's illegal stash.
'It would be hard to convince him. It's been ripped from its home, its parents, its region,' he thought, 'Poor thing's probably terrified. I need to make it feel safe.'
He decided to bring Hydros, Mystique and Guy to the meeting.
'With two other water types, he should feel comfortable. Hydros is tough but kind, Mystique would help him calm down, and Guy's the best motivational speaker on my team. They'll help Froakie settle down.'
Nyx, eager to join, stared at him with pleading eyes. Gladion shook his head.
"Not you, Nyx. You'd scare the poor thing with your sadistic nature."
Nyx's ears drooped, her voice dripping with mock innocence. [Me? I'd just tell it the truth—that it'll never see its parents or friends again, that they've probably held a funeral for it already.] She licked her claws gleefully.
Gladion shook his head, stifling a laugh. "You're a menace, Nyx. Stay here and… I don't know, plot world domination or something." Nyx purred, [Already working on it, Master.]
Gladion headed to the gym's secure room where Ultron had teleported the Froakie's cage.
He removed the cloth covering it, revealing the small, blue frog Pokémon, its eyes wide with fear and defiance.
He opened the cage, and a Water Pulse shot straight at him. Guy, standing nearby, punched the attack into oblivion with a casual flex of his fist.
[No water balloons today, young friend!] Mystique wrapped her tail around Froakie, who struggled but couldn't break free against her bulk.
'Is Mystique getting fat?' Gladion thought, then froze as her eyes glared at him.
'Oh crap, did she hear that?' he thought. Mystique's tail twitched, but she focused on Froakie, her voice soothing. [Now, now, aren't you a rowdy one?]
Froakie thrashed, its aura blazing with anger. [Release me this instant! I've been caged too long—I refuse to be trapped again! I'm the heir to the Greninja clan of Rees Island! And what even are you? Where am I?]
Its voice was sharp, confused, not recognizing the Kanto Pokémon.
Mystique preened with pride. [I am a Milotic, the most magnificent and beautiful Pokémon out there. I go by Mystique.]
Hydros grunted, his cannons whirring.
[I'm a Blastoise, the strongest starter Pokémon of Kanto. Name's Hydros.]
Gladion swore he heard a distant roar from his mom's Charizard, as if protesting Hydros's claim.
Guy stepped forward, flexing his four arms, with enthusiasm.
[I am a youthful Machamp! Young friend, your muscles are so tiny! We must start your youthful training to build them up!]
Froakie stared at Guy as he thought, 'Is this guy for real?' But then its eyes gleamed as it turned to Mystique, its tone suddenly polite.
[Beautiful sister, your body is truly magnificent. Forgive me for not recognizing your beauty. Please, could you release me?]
Mystique blushed as she loosened her grip. Froakie seized the chance, using Double Team to create multiple copies, the real one darting for the exit.
Guy grabbed it with one hand, his face puzzled. [Why are you running? Do you need to pee?]
Froakie slumped and it started crying, its small body shaking.
Mystique, Hydros, and Guy crowded around. Mystique cooed, [There, there, little one. You're safe now.] Hydros grunted, [No more cages, kid.] Guy flexed dramatically, [Your youth will shine with us!]
Gladion watched, shaking his head. 'This guy's gonna be a handful,' he thought.
'The right thing would be to send it back to Kalos, to its home.'
But a maniacal glint appeared in his eyes. 'No way I'm letting a Greninja slip through my fingers. Once it sees how strong it'll get with my training, it'll join the team willingly.'
-------Author Notes------
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