Leo Simon
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The All Mighty Earth - Pokemon SI Chapter 21
🕑 Added 2023-08-16 13:07:16 +0000 UTCAsher's Team:
Lago - Rhydon
Crust - Golem
Sebastian - Nidoking
Selena - Nidoqueen
Seraph - Clefable
Barret - Dugtrio
Sonic - Sandslash
Death - Marowak
Colossus - Steelix
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Sabrina is not a girl who understands other peoples feelings very well.
She's also not a person who understands her own feelings very well.
To summarise, feelings are not her strong suit. She has trouble with picking up on basic social cues, the general tension in the air, and her blunt overly honest demeanour usually comes off as unpleasant to others. Emotions truly are her greatest weakness.
But, for some inexplicable reason, all of her insecurities feel minor when she's with Asher. Ever since the day they met she knew that he was strange; even by her standards.
He had an abundance of knowledge about pokemon that an average person couldn't memorise if they had decades, and his accent would sometimes slip and he'd talk in a way foreign to Kanto with words she'd never even heard before.
But, despite his rough and crude outward appearance, he also had a strangely empathetic side to him. He had no problem with tolerating her social awkwardness, he just seemed to brush any of that off and guide the conversation himself. He was the only friend she ever had, and the thought of losing him, well-
It made her chest hurt for some reason.
So, when she was reminded that their journey would be coming to an end tomorrow, she started to silently sob, the emotions she'd built up all erupted and she lost control of her emotions.
Part of her was humiliated and ashamed at the time, but the rest of her didn't care. She had built up a strong friendship over so many months, she'd made her first friend, logic and rationality were both abandoned in place of raw emotion that she wasn't used to feeling.
Is that how normal girls felt all the time? She almost felt bad for them.
When she started to lose control she still felt some doubt, deep down inside of her, that maybe he would change his mind about her. Maybe he would just see her as everyone else did. As a weirdo, a freakshow, a deviant. All the feelings flowing through her mind felt so confusing to her, she didn't know if what she felt was really normal. She was scared even.
When he asked her the reason for her sadness she couldn't hold her tongue and told him the reason why she was letting tears flow down her cheeks for the first time in years. She told him how she didn't want him to leave her and that her travels with him were the most cherished time of her life.
She tried to wipe her tears away but they just wouldn't stop flowing... until he took her in his arms and told her what she so desperately wanted to hear. That he wasn't leaving her, that she was important to him, and that she made him happy.
Hearing those words on his lips was enough to make her cry, but the tears didn't flood out of her eyes like before, they were almost pleasant in nature. She's certain that she dampened his shirt, but he didn't seem to care.
When all her tears were flushed out she got carried away in the moment and her mouth ran wild. At the time she wasn't even sure why exactly she did it, but she told him how he made her feel.
At the time she thought that she didn't know how she felt, but... maybe she did know, maybe she just wanted to hear him spell it out for her; perhaps she was just trying to fool herself into telling him how she really felt.
She poured her heart out to him. Everything he ever did for her, both big and small. What he makes her body feel, and how her chest will surge whenever she thinks of him.
She asked him what all of it meant, what her feelings amounted to. Why she was having so many of these feelings swelling inside of her. She was anxious for his answer, and in response he actually blushed slightly as he told her.
"-I think that you likely have a crush on me."
Upon hearing those words Sabrina's mind went into overdrive, the world almost freezing as her brain raced at superhuman levels. She was trying to fully break down the words he'd just spoken to her.
A crush. In the dictionary that word means: a brief but intense infatuation for someone. Crushes are common in children and teenagers, some adults even develop them. Given the information he had coming to that conclusion was not unreasonable.
But... that word felt off. It was too minor, too insufficient to describe what it is she felt towards Asher.
Still though, she supposed that was an accurate enough description of what she was feeling, she was indeed infatuated with him. But, there had to be a better word to describe what she felt, the feeling which made her chest burn. A word that was more... permanent.
Why was she thinking so deeply about this? In the real world she's wasted 0.0362 seconds.
The embarrassment and weight of the situation finally resumed as her thought exited their hyper-speed state and, despite the freezing night, her face burned and brightened up.
"Ah... that is a logical conclusion to jump to." Sabrina admitted, doing her best not to cringe. Even she could tell how awkward and stiff that response was.
Though, she could take some solace in the fact that she wasn't alone in feeling awkward. Asher was actually blushing -though mildly- for once and his golden eyes were focused on her with high intensity.
"Is that all you want to say?"
Hearing those words made Sabrina avert her eyes. She didn't answer him, but there was more she wanted to say, though she didn't know how to say it.
Asher looked to the side mildly, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and was silent for a moment.
"...You know, if you really do like me then I would love to be your... your boyfriend." His blush intensified slightly for a moment, but he quickly shook it off, not wanting to miss the moment to tell her how he feels, and an opportunity to deepen their relationship.
Sabrina felt her heartbeat quicken at Asher's words, and she knew in that moment she had a perfect opportunity to just out and say it. She always overthinks these things, so-
"I'd- I'd like that." She managed to utter out, her brain malfunctioning slightly and her head feeling light. Strange, she isn't a fire-type, so overheating shouldn't be possible. But, in that moment, she felt as though her face would just burst into flames.
Asher smiled at her as the reality of what she just said kicked in. Her legs felt slightly weak, but that proved to be the last thing on her mind as Asher took her hand and gently spoke, with a tender look in his eyes.
"Then I'll be the boyfriend you deserve, if you're sure that's what you want anyway. You ever change your mind then we don-."
Sabrina cut him off when she suddenly burst forward and wrapped her arms over his taller shoulders and started to embrace him. She was never a hugger before she met him, but things can change over time.
If they never met she'd still be that lonely girl from Saffron who hardly expressed emotions at all. If they never met she didn't know how long she'd have been trapped in the hole she didn't know she had to escape.
Now, more than ever, she is grateful to have met him.
His smile widened as he hugged her back." I guess we're boyfriend and girlfriend now then. crazy shit, I honestly thought that- mmph!" Asher grunted in mild surprise as Sabrina made a bold move, that surprised even her, and took his lips on hers.
Sabrina, admittedly, had a low amount of skill and doubted the action was actually very pleasant for him. Their teeth met more than once, their lips weren't perfectly locked, and she's relatively sure that she bit his lips.
When they pulled away Sabrina's blush returned as she panted slightly and asked." How was that?" She couldn't help but ask, slightly insecure about how he found their first kiss.
Asher quickly got over his shock and instantly answered with honesty." Terrible, your teeth were hitting mine too much plus you bit me at the end there."
Sabrina cringed internally. Was it really that bad?
His face told her he wasn't chastising her though. He added teasingly at the end." I guess we'll just have to practice then."
That last part made her lips feel dry for some reason.
He broke away from her, an act that made her hold back a whine, and charmingly lifted her hand up with great care, before laying a smooch on the appendage.
"It's getting late. Wanna have some dinner... girlfriend?"
She felt the corner of her lips tug up slightly at the act, and the heat on her face finally faded.
"I would love to... boyfriend."
This felt right.
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"Hey, what do you think they're talking about?" Sonic questions with a curious and hyper voice as he ate with gusto at some of the sweet, Oran berry flavoured, pokemon food which Asher made especially for him to suit his preference.
"I don't care." The resident Marowak declared with a bored voice as he ate at a more leisurely pace than his energetic friend. Though, despite his words, the side of his eye did linger on the scene of his trainer talking to the female they'd been travelling with. He was curious.
"Oh no need to pretend Death, we all know you're more curious than you wanna admit." Selena chimed in, pausing to give him some sass as Sebastian ate silently besides her. They were both eating a visibly bigger plate of food than the smaller members of the team, but they were bigger, so they needed more nourishment.
Death sent a glare her way." Shut up, what do you know about me?" He snarked back whilst asking rhetorically.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the Marowak." Don't talk to my mate like that runt." His voice had a slightly threatening edge to it, as though he were giving a silent warning.
In response though, Death merely mirrored the Nidoking's actions and asked, coldly and challengingly." Or. What?"
The bigger of the two snarled aggressively." Or I'll smash your puny little skull in."
Death heard this and his narrowed eyes turned into a glower as he stood up, grabbing his twin bones as he did." I'd like to see you try, you big oaf."
The Nidoking stood up to full height, him easily casting a shadow over the Marowak, but the smaller ground-type was unfazed by this." Say that again." He dared the pokemon he loomed over to insult him once more, instinctually going into fight or flight upon being opposed.
Death's grip on his two clubs tightened, but he didn't back down." I said, that you're a big oa-"
"Alright, that's enough."
A voice suddenly cut the two of them off, and they turned to see that the starter of their team, Lago, had overheard them and had decided to intervene.
The Rhydon was the tallest amongst the group at that moment, being nearly ten feet tall and held a stern look on his face." There will be no arguments in this team, and definitely no fights. Both of you are battling tomorrow, you need to be in tip-top shape. So, apologise to each other and eat your dinner. We need to be ready."
Death glanced to the side, and Sebastian grunted slightly in frustration. But, in the end the two sat down and mumbled an apology to each other. They did this because they knew for a fact that they were no match for Lago, plus they internally admitted he had a point.
The ones left out of their next battle were Crust, Barret, and Sonic. The rest of them needed to be ready for the fight of their lives. The opponent they'd be battling was supposedly the strongest they'd have to overcome yet. Personally, they were all excited for such a battle. They hadn't really struggled much in the past, with the few times they did actually being in this tournament, so perhaps they'd find worthy opponents in the battle to come.
Selena, in an attempt to break the tension in the air, once again brought up the topic they were originally going to discuss." So, what do you think they're talking about?" They followed her eyes and locked onto the sight of Sabrina's red face that was a decent distance away.
Lago merely shrugged as he sat down, having already finished his dinner and decided to make conversation." Who knows, but maybe the two of them will finally become official mates, Arceus knows when she'll actually just come out and say it though."
Selena just shakes her head." I doubt the girl even knows it herself, but with so many psychics around her it's no wonder she's so emotionally stunted."
Death just sends a confused look the Rhydon's way." What the hell is an 'Archaos'?" He questions, never having heard of that pokemon before.
Lago briefly answers the question before continuing." Some all powerful pokemon in Sinnoh that Asher told me about. Anyway, who's to say that Asher won't step up to the plate and tell her himself. They're already basically mates anyway, not much would change."
"Oh please, he should just take her as his mate already and put an egg in her." The only non ground-type on the team gave his two cents as he walked up from behind Lago with Barret and Crust alongside him.
The massive Rhydon rolled his eyes, not even bothering to face Seraph." Humans don't make eggs you fool, they just do... something and a baby grows in the female, nine months later a baby pops out. No egg involved."
"Wait what are we talking about? He's talking about making an egg with a human you idiot. Did you not just hear him, humans don't make eggs!" Barret's heads bickered with each other, one of them trying to join in the conversation, but the others were bickering with each other.
The three personalities were ignored by their teammates, who had long since gotten used to the Dugtrio's eternal arguing, and Death decided to just state." Why should we care anyway? Asher can mate with whoever floats his boat. But, if he does end up mating with Sabrina, will we have to-"
The Marowak was cut off by a squeal, courtesy of Selena, as she waved her hand in the general direction of where their trainer was." Look, they really are mates!" She seemed excited at the prospect.
At those words the entire team turned towards what the only female of the group was pointing to, and was greeted by the sight of their trainer doing that- that thing which humans do! The thing with their mouths and their tongues!
It looked rather disgusting to most of them, but it's the gesture that counts!
They had ranging reactions to this. Lago smiled and crossed his arms at the sight of his trainer having a mate, Crust and Sebastian didn't really care, Sonic was hopping up and down with joy, Selena was squealing, Seraph was smirking in a rather disturbing manner, Barret was having a range of reactions from all three heads. And, finally Death sighed.
"Are we gonna be interacting with the psychics even more now?" The Marowak asked, dread clear in his voice.
In response to that Lago tried to placate his worries." Oh come on, they aren't that bad. Besides, we see them plenty already, even if we do see them more it won't be very much more."
Hearing that reasoning Death's response was merely a roll of his eyes." I know, I know. But, they're all either weirdos, quiet ones, or stuck ups. I can't tell you how far that Espeon has pushed my patience. If I have to tolerate them anymore then I might lose it." He remarked, his voice straining slightly, his eye staring into the reflection of one of his clubs as he played with it slightly.
"I dunno, that Exeggcutor was pretty cool. A little boring if you ask me. I hate him."
The group had learned to just listen to the middle head at this point, so Sonic just responded." Please, you're just saying that cos he's got three heads, just like you-"
"They're coming over here, everyone act natural!" Selena dramatically spoke, completely unnecessarily since humans couldn't understand them, and at that moment the team noticed that their trainer was indeed returning to them. With the hand of the female clasped in his own.
Their trainer had a smile on his face just like the female he was walking with, though hers was smaller, and he greeted them before swiftly asking." Hey guys, you all eaten good?"
In response they all merely nod and grunt, since they couldn't talk to him they could only really do gestures for yes and no. Not ideal, but it got the point across.
He nodded in approval." Good, Sabrina and her team are gonna be eating with us now, so please, do try and get along with them."
Hearing those words made Death scowl slightly. The females human's psychics are all either weirdos or stuck-ups, he just can't click with any of them.
But, instead of voicing his opinion he merely nodded, knowing that complaining would do no good. Asher couldn't even understand him, plus he was willing to do his trainer a solid and tolerate them if he needed.
Asher shot a grateful look their way." Thank you, Sabrina you release your team, I'll get us two something to eat." He briefly gave an explanation on his actions before breaking off from his mate and leaving them to go do whatever he had to do.
Sabrina stared at his back slightly, but shook her head and pulled out six pokeballs and proceeded to release her entireteam.
The pokeballs gave off a white light as they unleashed those contained within them. Those of which were an Alakazam, a Mr Mime, an Espeon, an Exeggcutor, a Slowking, and finally a Starmie.
'What might you need of me Sabrina?' The Alakazam was the first of which to converse telepathically with his trainer, with every psychic on the team already forming a telepathic link to use their minds to communicate with each other at a much faster speed than would be possible using their mouths.
'It's merely time to eat Alakazam, Asher's pokemon will be battling tomorrow so they need to be fighting fit. He thought that it would be a good idea for us to join him.'
'Very well then, I suppose they aren't terrible company.' Alakazam graciously accepted the invitation with open arms as he floated peacefully in place.
Espeon, however, was of another opinion. If they were speaking in the real world then she would have given a sneer of distaste.' Do I truly have to mistress? All of those lot are either brutes or ignoramus', such as that Marowak. Must I tolerate those baffoons?'
Sabrina sent a feeling of disagreement through their link.' I'm going to have to ask that you get along with his team from now on, me and Asher are, as you'd put it, 'mates', and any disagreement between this team and his could prove detrimental to our relationship. So, I ask, as your mistress, that you not chastise his pokemon.'
Espeon sent a message of resigned acceptance through their link.' Very well mistress, but my patience is very finite. If they were to push me far enough then holding back would be an impossibility.'
Sabrina relented, knowing that was the best she'd get.' Very well, but please, do try and be friendly.'
The world resumed and each team kept to themselves for the most part, the psychics weren't left waiting for their food long, with their food being served to them and the humans of the group conversing as normal, though the psychics noticed that their trainers were slightly... different than normal. As though there was a tension they had never noticed between the two of them and it had been lifted. Their usually stoic trainer was smiling slightly and her eyes held a sudden warmth that wasn't present before.
As they ate to their heart content they telepathically had a conversation as a team.
Starmie broke the ice by asking.' What is happening with those two? Am I missing something here?'
'Mistress told me that the male became her mate very recently, personally I believe that she could do far better, but her choices are hers to make.' The Espeon practically grumbled that last part out.
'That's not entirely surprising, considering how terrible she is at expressing her feeling the very fact she even confessed to him at all was surprising. Then again, he could have been the one who told her how he felt. Either way, good on those two, they're practically made for each other. Plus Asher is a pretty cool guy.' Mr Mime pointedly decided to join in on the conversation going on, not having anything better to do.
Espeon expressed irritation as she mentally gave her opinion on the other trainer of their group.' He is most certainly not 'cool', him and his pokemon are nothing but a cluster of mindless brutes that encourage thuggish and crude behaviour. Mistress would be better off without him.'
Mr Mime would have rolled his eyes if he could at that moment.' I'd hardly call him a brute, didn't he help us all grow stronger as a team, plus he taught me I was a fairy-type and how to use a bunch of different moves. He's actually kinda smart in his own way.'
'That isn't the point, ever since mistress joined him she has been getting more and more emotionally unstable. I'm simply worried about how she could be hurt if she stays by his side.'
Exeggcutor, who had been mostly silent until now, finally spoke through their link.' I'd hardly call allowing her to feel emotions as being in danger, perhaps the reason Mistress is in emotional turmoil is because she is finally allowing herself to fully feel them.'
Espeon went silent at that, carefully considering the words, before admitting to her fellow pokemon.' Perhaps you are right, but still I cannot help but worry for Mistress, she is emotionally vulnerable, and we have a duty to shield her from harm.'
None refuted Espeon on those words, for the longest time their trainer was alone, they were her only companions. They did their best to be by her side, but they knew that they couldn't replicate the same unique feeling that came from human interaction. However, one day they were called out to battle a trainer, and they knew he was... different.
Just his presence felt like a taboo for them, he felt like an anomaly when it came to existence. They couldn't sense him, they couldn't read his thoughts, they couldn't use any of their powers on him asides for teleportation. By all means, he shouldn't exist. If they didn't have eyes then they wouldn't even be able to tell he existed.
He was a blind spot.
They lost against him, just being so close to something like that was enough to completely throw them off their game. He kept on distracting them just by being in the same room as them, and as a result they were soundly beaten into the ground.
They were in their pokeballs so they didn't know what would happen next, but their trainer ended up travelling with him. They'd constantly battle and learn along the way, teaching this other trainer and being taught by him in return, and soon they found themselves growing stronger every day. He still distracted them every blue moon, but they were used to him at that point.
However, in the back of their minds, they couldn't help but have doubts about Asher. What were his intentions? What were his goals? Who was he really? As someone who they couldn't read their paranoia ran strong, they could never completely trust him, because humans were normally open books for them. They could see into the most empty corners of their minds, find their dirtiest and most humiliating desires and secrets, they could even alter their minds to a certain extent.
Not Asher though. He was, by every sense of the word, a wild card. They couldn't read him, so they couldn't trust him. They always had second thoughts on what he said, because humans are good at lying, but a human could never lie to them before, so what if this one that could lie to them did choose to mislead them?
Espeon was the one who trusted him the least out of the lot though. She could never trust one she couldn't read, no matter who or what it is, she needs to keep her mistress safe.
Because, psychics are bonded, both in mind and in spirit. They need to protect their trainer, no matter what.
She is the one they put above everything else.
