Chapter 25

Alister

Everything happened so fast, Chip fell into the river and Cassius jumped in to save him. Alister didn't know how to swim. The idea of jumping into that cold water frightened him to death. Alister felt like a coward, so much so that he didn't even attempt to go after them. Hathor didn't waste any time and went downriver to catch up with her mate. Alister could respect Hathor for her determination. She desired to protect Chip even at the risk of her own health and safety. He wondered if he had that kind of grit and determination to protect Basil. Would he be willing to put his life at risk for hers or even Shawn's?

The rest of the group remained upriver debating what to do next. Basil had been pacing back and forth, the Quilava was muttering something to herself. Alister could tell that she didn't want Hathor to be alone, they were on unknown grounds after all. Kyuubi had suggested that they remain here for the time being until they figure out what to do next. No one including Alister was comfortable with that plan.

"I hope they're ok," Shawn says, the saur had been keeping a bit of distance from Alister. Alister grumbles. He didn't know if he should trust Shawn, he wondered what he was trying to do. What did he want? Crossing his arms, the Minccino leans against a tree.

"I'm sure they will be." Alister sighs. "I hate waiting, I should've gone after Hathor." Alister hated himself, he was such a coward. Hathor was out there alone and here he was being an idle bitch.

Kyuubi walks over to the pair, the fox was holding onto his map. As he approaches them, he lays it on the ground and spreads it out allowing them to see. The fox points to a small dot on the map.

"We're here." Kyuubi then directs their attention to what looked like a picture of the river. "This is where I think Chip and Cassius might have gone."

"Fine let's get moving" Alister says. "We're getting nothing done standing around here."

"All of us can't go running off, someone has to stay here so we have a base of operations."

"That's stupid," Alister says. "I hate to say it Kyuubi but that is a stupid idea.

"Why is that?" Kyuubi snaps back, the fox seemed to be trying to hold himself back from saying something he might regret. "And how about you learn to tac."

"I don't need to tac Kyuubi. We're wasting time just sitting around here. We should have gone after Chip and the others long ago. Instead, we're idling around here. You can stay here if you want to but I'm going after the others."

"Fine then." Kyuubi rolls up his map. "Take Shawn and Basil and go after Hathor and the others. I'm going to remain here and set up a camp. The others might be hurt or need attention."

"Then come with us, what's the point of the Pokemon who can play healer sitting at a camp by himself," Alister says as he pushes himself away from the tree. "IF you don't know how to fight that's fine, none of us are going to hold it against you."

"I'm not worried about fighting! I'm concerned that more of us could get lost if we continue to just rush around without thinking."

"Whatever, do what you want to do. I'm going to get our friends back, safe and sound." Alister signals for the others to follow him and without a second thought heads downriver. It took him a bit, but he was able to pick up on Hathor's trail before long. The Fennekin had made some series ground between them and the trek downriver. As they made their way along Alister heard Basil let out a little grunt.

"I don't understand why Chip had to try to cross the river. He can't swim and anyone could tell that those rocks looked slippery. I just hope he's ok." It was easy to tell that Basil was becoming upset.

"Ya...I don't know what Hathor will do if something did happen to him." Shawn says. "She already takes on so much stress that Chip never knows about."

"Huh, what do you mean?" Alister asked as they stop to take a quick rest, the group had been moving as quickly as they could. Alister didn't know that the water had been pushing Chip down so quickly. It dawned on him that the Zorua could be anywhere by now and they might never truly find him. No, he couldn't start thinking such thoughts, there was no way that Chip was dead, he couldn't be. They'll find and bring him back. Plus, Cassius had quickly gone after him and he was a Brionne. They were supposed to be fast right? Though Cassius was the first Brionne Alister met outside of reading books on them. Story books at that. They just had to keep moving forward and surely things would work themselves out.

They just had to.

"Well, Hathor and I have talked from time to time about you know...relationship stuff."

"Oh, you like to talk about boys huh?" Basil giggles. Alister saw Shawn blush which made him roll his eyes. Why did Shawn have to go and blush like that? It was so cute.

"Well, ya, I mean...she's good company. But anyway, she told me about how she is always having to take care of Chip and help guide him. He's a good Pokemon though he's not perfect and messes up from time to time. She sometimes feels like she might have to be you know more like a big sister to him than his girlfriend. Chip lacks confidence."

"I don't like the sound of that," Basil says. "She's young too and for her to believe that she must act like the older fox is silly. She should enjoy her time the way she is now and not worry about always having to be the shoulder someone cries on. Now when it comes to you two on the other paw...I sometimes must be the oldest one here-- "

"What? Please I'm more than able to take care of myself, I don't need anyone to watch over me." Alister boosters as they pick up the pace. The trio was closing in on Hathor, her scent was becoming stronger and easier to track. Alister thinks about what Basil said. He couldn't picture himself needing her help like that. He was tough and didn't need anyone else to watch to what over him 24/7.

"You still need others Alister even if you think you are more than "strong" enough to handle things on your own. What's the point of having friends, mates if you can't learn to lean on them when you're weak."

"But I'm not weak," Alister says, he couldn't believe Basil would say such a thing. What did she know, she wasn't him, she wasn't a fighter like he was. Fighters had to learn to depend on their strength, they were in that arena by themselves. In the ring, it was either strong or dominated by the strong. There was no other outcome, there wasn't a "call for help" button that he could press and have Shawn or Basil come in to help him. Basil wasn't even there when he fought Shawn, she left him. She ran off because it became too much for her to watch. As for Shawn...he was a dirty tail-lifter who wanted nothing more than to feed his needs. That's what all tail-lifters wanted. They were needy Pokemon who cared only about their sick fetish. Look at his father. Alister had to accept that he was alone. There was a denying that, and he needed to learn to deal with that fact one way or another.

It was a bit later when Alister and the others reached calmer waters, the river was slowing down. Alister walks over under a low-hanging branch and noticed something pinkish walking about. Alister didn't know what to think at first but before long Basil pushed him aside. The Quilava had realized that they had finally caught up to Hathor.

"Hathor," Basil calls out.

"Basil, Alister, Shawn, when did you guys get here? Is Kyuubi with you?"

"No, he decided to stay behind and be by himself like the weirdo he is," Alister says as he approaches her. "Any sighs of those two?"

"Yes." Hathor points to a pair of paw prints. They looked somewhat like fox prints. Beside them appeared to be flipper prints. Alister noticed that there was a third pair of unknown prints, it was much larger than the other two. Sand, stone, and grass were tossed around as if a fight had taken place there. Hathor was sniffing the area; the fox was trying to find a scent trail to follow.

"This didn't happen that long ago, and those prints, those are Chips for sure. I can sense his latent energy, he had fought well, and from what I can tell he won. I think if we move fast, we might find them."

"How did they get so far away?" Shawn asked as he tapped the prints. "I hope they're ok."

"They had a big fight that's for sure, whatever it was they fought it was large," Hathor says. "I can tell that they were hurt, they didn't get out of this without some bruises at the minimum."

"Let's hurry up then. They need their friends." Basil says.

"Chip's a fighter." Alister takes the lead as he didn't want to hear any more about this "power of friendship" crap. He could feel Basil glaring at him, but he didn't care. Fighters were fighters and they walked a lonely path, a path that only other fighters would understand.

"We're going to have a talk later," Basil growls as she and the others follow him.

"For what?!"

"You know what," Basil says in that stern voice she gets when upset.

The group didn't get too far before they heard something coming out of the water behind them. Turning around, Alister and the others saw a Dragonair rise out of the water. The beautiful long dragon comes onto the shore, its eyes staring down at the group. Alister sensed both wonder and anger behind those big beautiful purple eyes.

"Huh?" Everyone says.

"Trespassers what are you doing here, why do you disrespect my territory?"

"What the heck?" Alister asked. "What do you want?"

"A pair of Pokemon disturbed my territory earlier, one of them was a fox, and the other a seal. They disturbed me so I tried to make them pay for it, but they got away. I can sense that you are friends with them, and I want you to send them a message. I want to finish what we started."

"You're coming on a little hard here." Alister mocks. "I mean what you're talking about you're out of your mind."

"I know what I saw you little runt!" The Dragonair slams its tail against the ground shaking it.

"ALISTER STOP MOCKING HIM!" Basil screams. "Your making things worst."

"No, I'm not!" Alister was becoming a little tired of Basil being on his case. He could only handle it so much per adventure and she was getting close to that point.

"Besides he's harmless..." Alister didn't know if he entirely believed himself. "What did you try doing to them anyway?"

"Drag them to the depths and make them never see the light of the sun again. That is the price one must pay for disturbing me. How about I let you finish what they started."

Alister smiled, he didn't mind getting in a good fight. Why he was getting bored anyway. Walking towards the Dragonair, Alister felt his fur bristle, he was eager for a good workout. He felt Basil's glare once more.

"You know you're stupid right? He's saying he wants to kill you; this is not some arena match or some school brawl. Pokemon out here sometimes play for keeps."

"He's a fish out of water." Alister snickers. "Come on let's have some fun."

"Then I'm helping," Shawn says as he joins Alister.

"What I can do this on my own-- "

"He's a Dragonair, a DRAGON Pokemon Alister." Shawn's vines come out. "Even a small one can be a problem if you're careless."

"Let me help too." Hathor joins them.

"Yes, the more the merrier, maybe you'll even have a fighting chance," Dragonair says as it slithers further onto land. "When I win, I'm dragging you to the depths.

"Be careful everyone." Basil stays back.

"You're not going to help?" Shawn asked.

"Three is all you guys should need, if any more of us fight we'll just get in the other's way. I'll give support from here."

With that, the fight began as Dragonair's tail glows, and an icy wind blows over the area. Alister saw the dragon quickly close the distance. It swung its tail at him knocking the Minccino back, he landed several feet away near Basil whose paws were on her hips.

"That was quick."

"Don't start..."

Alister got up in time to see Hathor and Shawn blocking the dragon's path. Shawn used his vines to grab the Dragonair while Hathor pelted it with fire. They were thrown off as the dragon began rampaging. Shawn lands near Alister while Hathor ran out of its range.

"Could use a bit of help," Shawn growls as the dragon nears them, it slaps the area with its tail throwing the trio back. Alister dashed at the dragon slamming it with his tail before leaping out of range. Shawn follows up by sending several seeds to it pinning it after the seeds grew out. Alister could see that the seeds were draining the dragon's energy, but it wasn't enough. Dragonair flung itself at the pair knocking them up.

Alister hit the ground, his body was in a bit of pain, but it wasn't anything he couldn't shake off. Getting up he slams his paws together, and energy surges through them.

"You want some!" Alister leaps at the dragon who tried to block him with its tail. But it wasn't anything Alister couldn't manage as he broke through its defenses. He lands a powerful attack on its face. Dragonair falls over through quickly recovers.

"Huh, I'm actually having fun." The dragon's orbs glow bright blue. "But the fun ends now." As it spoke a powerful wind blows against them sending the Pokemon backward.

"You can't win!"

"Oh, can't we!" It was Hathor, the fennekin's fur turned black, her claws were out. Alister almost thought he was looking at an evil-looking version of her, what did they call them...kitsune? Hathor releases a stream of shadowy flames at the dragon, it became instantly stunned by the attack.

"Now finish it!" Hathor, yells.

Alister looks at Shawn, the pair nod and Shawn follows behind Alister as they close the distance. Alister's tail glows as he felt energy surging through it. Once he got close enough the minccino swiped at the Dragonair hitting it once against the face. He then hits again and again and again, each strike stronger than the last. The Dragonair falls onto its side before Shawn slams into it with his vines knocking the dragon back to the edge of the beach. Dragonair tried to get up but quickly fell back down too tired to fight any longer.

"We did it..." Alister says, the Minccino falls onto his paws, worn out from their fight. He couldn't believe how tough that Pokemon had been.

"See...you needed help," Basil says as she takes a seat near him.

"Basil not now..." Alister wanted to deny it, he really did but she was right there was no way he would have won that fight if he had fought alone.

"Let's hurry up and find Chip and get back to Kyuubi." Hathor walks by the pair, her fur slowly changing from back to pink.

"Agree." Basil pats Alister's head. "You did good sweetie, I'm proud of you."

"Ya but-- "

"Don't ruin the moment," Basil smirks as she began walking away leaving Alister alone with Shawn. The saur took a seat near him. Shawn looked like he was thinking of something to say but refrained from speaking. Alister oddly felt a little bad since it was, he who had caused this. Shawn wouldn't be acting like this if he just...if he just took his head out of his ass. But he was a tail lifter though...

"Ready to go?" Alister asked.

~ You should tell him how you feel. ~

'I can't.'

~ Bullshit, just admit that you're afraid that you might share the same feelings for him, and he feels for you. ~

'What that's fucking gay, and we don't do gay.'

~ Ok buddy you keep standing on top of that soap box of denial. ~

"Ya, I'm ready," Shawn spoke.

"Good, we might finally finish this little detour and then we'll be able to get some real progress done." Alister wanted to do anything possible from having "that" discussion. The discussion that he wasn't ready for, that he might never be ready for. It was better this way; they could focus on their friendship. Were Pokemon meant to be in such relationships, were they meant to like someone else of the same sex? Sure, there were Pokemon doing it, heck his sister was a great example. His father found some sort of weird balance to indulge in his weird fetish. But was it right? If you asked him, it wasn't.

Shit, why was he even considering this? Of course, not and he should be focused on finding Chip and Cassius and getting their group back on track. The sooner they could find Meadow the better. They had a schedule to keep.

"Hey, Alister?"

"What is it, Shawn?"

"You want to um, well you know...talk about earlier?" Shawn was trying to keep himself calm as he spoke those words. Alister didn't respond at first, how could he? Shawn was bringing back up the forbidden topic, the topic that he wasn't ready to discuss.

"Why are you asking me about this again?"

"But I can tell that it's eating you up and to be for real I want to...no, I need to talk about it." Shawn says as they near a clearing. Alister saw Hathor and Basil hurry forward, the girls had spotted Chip and Cassius. The pair were snuggled up together in the clearing. Alister couldn't believe his eyes, why were Chip and Cassius so close together? Alister was about to use it as a chance to end this conversation but as he tried to move forward, he felt his paw snatched by a vine.

"Alister please I want to-- "

"Shawn come on this is not a good time, we just found our friends and now you want to make it all about you," Alister says to the Bulbasaur though he saw Shawn's look of determination, the saur's eyes were fixed on him.

"Alister I can't, and I won't make you love me but...I can't hide how I feel about you anymore."

"We've already done this song and dance Shawn..." Alister tries to look away from him. Maybe if he looks away long enough then Shawn will stop pestering him. But the more he kept his eyes from meeting Shawn's the tighter the vine seemed to become.

"I value our friendship Alister, I love you as a friend, my best friend..."

"I feel the same Shawn." Alister keeps his eyes form meeting Shawn's. But the longer he did the more he seemed to want to look at him.

"But I love you too, I love you a lot and well...I want to ask if we can explore our feelings."

"Shawn don't..." Alister felt himself starting to shiver. His entire body was shaking, the minccino felt more uncomfortable now than he ever had been in his short life. Finally, he worked up the courage to look at Shawn, the suar was staring at him, and he was oddly shaking as well. Alister couldn't believe his eyes, Shawn was scared, just as scared as him.

"Shawn I..." Alister takes a long breath, he needed to compose himself for this.

"I can understand if you say no." Shawn gives him a weak smile. "But just know that I'll always love you Alister Blacktail."

"Shawn this...this isn't right, I mean...we're both males and-- "

"And?" Shawn never takes his eyes away from Alister. "Are we going to allow that to stop us from being ourselves and exploring our interests? Watching you just now, heck watching you ever...I feel so inspired by you Alister. You're so strong, your determination never gives way, and you are always pushing forward. Even if it's not perfect you don't care and well...I want to be a part of your life."

"But you're my friend..."

"I've thought about this for a while Alister. And I... I want to be not just your friend but your boyfriend. I won't make you do anything..." Shawn lets go for Alister, the saur bows and then oddly turns around and presents himself.

"What you doing?"

"I don't want you to fuck me if that's what's your thinking." Shawn smiles. "I want you to know that I'm willing to give myself to you when you're ready. Basil told me she did this for you when she courted you-- "

"Hey, I courted her!" Alister pouts.

"She said that you would say that and told me to just humor you." Shawn giggles and the saur returns to face him properly. "Take your time Alister, I'll be here for you no matter what." Shawn bows and then walks away to join the others. Alister is left alone as everyone else was grouped together.

Oddly for the first time in a long time, Alister felt like he was all alone.

And he hated it. He was left with one question and one question only.

Was this truly what he wanted?