FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Will motioned for Nina and Ardent to stay outside the Center, giving a small smile as he walked through the automatic doors. The Umbreon simply lying down on a box nearby.

"Hey Ardent" his ears perked, peeking an eye open at the vixen who surprisingly was eye level with him, despite being on a box. "Hm?" was all the effort of speaking he made, though he had a light smile on his muzzle.

"You seem to know your stuff in battling for being in the wild so long. Were you ever involved with humans before?" Her crimson eyes followed most of the people walking by, noticing their staring at her friend as they passed.

He closed his eye again thinking then glanced out at the passerbys, mostly interested in the pokemon that were with them. Then spoke up after a few seconds of silence. "To be honest, I don't remember much before I evolved." his grey pools softening when he looked over at the vixen. "I get some flashes, but...not long enough for me to understand. Most are of me being trapped in a burning tower, surrounded by autumn trees with their colorful leaves." He looked down at his own paws for a moment. "Nope, none of them make much sense to me." His expression hardened with some nervousness. "May ask you something?"

"Sure! Ask away." Her voice returning to it's perky self.

"Have you ever...seen things that...don't seem to fit reality before?" He shifted uncomfortably as he sat up, still looking down at the box he was sitting on.

She tilted her head a little, going into thought. "No I haven't, even with some of my psychic abilities. Why?" An eyebrow raised with curiosty. "Oh..then nothing...at all..really. Just was curious." He laughed.

"Well alright." She wanted to press further but noticed some pokemon were staring at Ardent. "Hmm, looks like you're quite the pokemon. They're all staring..." Ardent glanced up blinking. "Huh...is..this normal?"

Nina giggled at his shyness, not saying anything except giving an expression that he read all to well of 'You're on your own on this one.'

He shifted with discomfort making a slight realization that the majority of them were female. He made a small smile, giving a light wave of his paw. Only hearing a couple of giggles, mostly from Nina though. He looked down at the ground but glanced at the door in relief at the sight of Will walking out.

"You both ready?" His question was dropped when he noticed all the attention was on Ardent. "What'd I miss?"

Nina smiled warmly, "Not much, other than Ardent becoming a celebrity." This only earning a soft grumble from the Umbreon. "I'm ready if you are Will."

Will nodded, shouldering his backpack while looking up at the sky. "Alright, let's go. It'll be clear all afternoon through tomorrow. I want to make some progress through Coronet." He started walking, ignoring the gawking crowd. Ardent silently followed the two just looking at Will's moving feet.

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After what seemed forever of walking through the trail up the mountain Will spotted a cave, "We'll rest here for the night and make for the harbor tomorrow!" He shouted, earning a nod from Ardent who was a bit behind.

"I forgot how much I hated the snow..." Nina groaned, her voice echoing in a cave they settled into to shelter from the chilly wind of the mountain. "Comes with the territory of being a fire type, I assume?" Will chuckled teasingly.

The Ninetales huffed, curling up while wrapping her many warm tails around herself. Ardent only watched in amusement. "It's not that bad. In fact, everywhere you stepped it all melted. Take that any way you like." Will laughed at the Umbreon's humor but sheltered in his completed tent to lose the shivers he was experiencing, even under the thick blanket he had. "I have the wood by the way Nina, you can ignite it whenever you like." He glanced at the small campfire wood a few feet in front of him. "Yea, yea.." She spat some flame at the dry wood, smiling contently as it slowly crackled to life into a sizeable flame.

Ardent paced around, then stopped right outside the cave's opening. "Quite the view. Never thought about how it would look from all the way up here." Will smiled, cured of his shivers but looking outside as well. "Lake Valor is pretty beautiful. I think Acuity is much better, despite being surrounded by snow. It never seems to freeze either."

Nina only grunted at the sound of more snow. "Blech.."

Ardent chuckled, "Is that where we are heading?" he turned to look at the bundled up trainer. "Nah, just going to the harbor to catch a cruise to Olivine in Johto." He perked his ears not sure what a 'cruise' was. "Cruise?" Will only nodded. "Yea...a boat to another region. Personally I prefer flying on a plane...but Nina is afraid of heights." He only received a whiplash of the vixen's tails in response to that. "Am not!" Will only snickered but didn't press the issue. "You don't mind boats do you Ardent?"

"I don't mind, just don't expect me to willingly battle on them. I get dizzy on moving things." Ardent simply smiled before padding over to Will's bag, making himself comfortable only releasing his mother from her ball in the process. The Espeon yawned then jumped at the sudden cold ground under her paws. "Ack! It's so coold!" She glanced and saw Ardent trying to hide a smirk while comfortably resting on Will's bag.

"So, couldn't handle the mountains without sharing the cold with me, hm?" Will chuckled softly while watching the Umbreon come up with a response. "Wasn't on purpose, it is your ball that is in there you know." Clair simply scowled, before hopping on her son's back and sitting. "H-hey!"

"What? Just sharing the bag with you, Ardent." she cleverly retorted while grooming a paw. He only grumbled in submission. She hopped over to the fire and sat looking around curiously. "How far did we go while I was in my ball?" Will shrugged, "Can't say specifically, but we're halfway to Lake Acuity." Claire smiled, quite impressed with the distance. "And then where are we headed?"

"Snowpoint Harbor, our ride is there to Olivine." Will yawned, noting how dark it was getting outside. "I'm going to get some rest. Nina will fill you in if you need more info.." Only thing left of Will was his soft breathing as he drifted off.

Claire continued grooming before speaking again. "Never thought we'd be going back to Johto, it's been a while." Ardent was oblivious to the conversation deciding to go for a walk deeper in the the cave. "I'll be back, going to take a walk." Nina nodded with a smile. "Don't be too long, don't want to leave us ladies without protection!" Claire teased. He only rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. "You got it!"

The fems voices slowly dissipated as he walked. Noting how oddly warm it was as he went deeper in the cave. "You tease.." was all he muttered as he walked. There was a faint glow around the corner, stopping in his tracks to curiously peek around the stalagmites. His maw opened slightly in awe from the sight. Blue moss coated most of the ceiling, luminating the second cavern. There was a large pond of turqoise, completely empty and crystal clear, with a small island in the middle. He warily looked around seeing no signs of other pokemon around and deemed himself safe for now.

"Hmm..odd." He murmured looking down at the water of his relfection. He was in awe at how clear the water was.

"..Ardent.."

That chill he felt before back in town crept up his back again. Quickly looking around for the origin of this voice, only to find himself, in fact still alone. He sighed, glaring down at the water before quenching his thirst. He splashed his face with some of the water with a paw. "I must be going crazy.." he looked down again to find his reflection was gone. Blinking some he looked closer nose practically touching the surface when a disfigured version of himself lunged from water causing him to jump up with a yelp.

"What the hell!?" he gasped out, panting with his back against a stalagmite. He opened his eyes to see nothing was there. Only disturbing thing now present was now the pond was completely frozen. That familiar cold was back, and it was biting at the warmth of his paws. He shakily stood up, looking on at the island where what was empty now had something inhabiting it, and it was moving! Not wasting any time, he charged up a shadow ball loose at this assailant. The dark projectile hit its target, causing the icy pond to shatter. Ripples flowed across the water now from the impact. Ardent glared at where his opponent once stood waiting for retaliation. Only silence came for the Umbreon yet it was still frigid, seeing as his breath was still visible.

"You missed, Ardy" silent giggling filled his ear at point blank range as this 'feminine' presence manifested around his body.

He couldn't move, his mind told his legs to move yet they wouldn't budge. "What's wrong, little boy? Too frightened to fight back now..?"

"Enough!" he shouted. He growled menacingly, a sudden black aura burning off the mist that surrounded his body.

"Hmph..not bad..I'd continue to play with you, Ardy, but seems the other part of you is awake..try not to get close to anyone while I'm gone..I get jealous easy."

"Wh-what..?" he collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. Steam rising from his body as he stared at the pond which settled somehow like it was before he found it. Many thoughts ran through his mind, especially around the fact he was being haunted by this femme fatale...spirit thing.

After a long time of sitting still he strolled a lap around the entire pond before heading back, not much to his surprise his mother wasn't to be seen but Nina was still awake brooding about the snowfall outside.

Nina looked at him and nodded, himself nodding as well with a small "Hey."

"How was the walk?" she asked with a small smile. He remained pensive but answered bluntly. "Quite the eye opener, there's a colorful cavern with a pond farther in...if you're thirsty." She nodded before asking, "I heard you shout though, something happen?"

He looked away for a bit not desiring to talk about it. "It was nothing, just was practicing some of my moves."

She frowned, standing up and flopping on him playfully, much like his mother did to him earlier. "If you wanted to spar, then you should have asked. Stalactites and stalagmites aren't very good partners."

He growled softly in protest, "H-hey, what's the big idea?" He quicly blushed and turned away from her realizing what she was doing, even if she wasn't aware yet. "I'm just making a point that you don't have to be so detached from us. We became friends when you decided to come along with us. Act like it."

He remained silent for a minute before speaking again.

"A-alright, I get it. Now could you um...stop using me as a personal cuddle toy. Unless...that's part of being in the group..." if it wasn't for him not looking at her he'd have seen how flustered she was now. "Oh! Um...sorry...was just mimicking your mom. Sorry." she backed off retreating back to her spot.

"Nina..?"

She glanced back over to him once the color of her face was somewhat normal. "Y-yea?"

"Thanks. For putting up with my uh...lone wolf attitude.." he took a minute before glancing over with a smile.

"Heh, don't mention it. Try to be more co-operative though in the future. We always like the help as well as returning the favor." returning a smile of her own.

It wasn't long before the vixen was sound asleep. Ardent not so much, his episode in the cave still lingering in his mind. "I'll try, even if it may kill me.." he muttered softly. Sleep finally over took him, hopefully he'll be dreamless this time.

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"What? I was just having a bit of fun with the boy. He held is own quite nicely I might add. Much like you when you were his age-" the female was cut short by a masculine voice.

"The deal was you'd only visit him in his sleep! Not while he is awake and manipulating his abilities against him!" the male vulpix growled, flames licking at his lips like he was ready to singe the mightyena.

She sighed softly before laughing. "What about you? You haven't done a single thing since you co-existed in here with me. He is your son and all, I was expecting you to be more involved."

"You're right. I was hoping to do so as well. He is an umbreon now. You have more power to do so than I, but if you want him so badly then from now I'll make sure you do your job... properly." He glared at the fem before sighing. "Of all the hosts for you to grow to like why my son? You've had centuries to do so, why now, why him?"

She smiled down at the ground. "Isn't it obvious, Shen?"

The vulpix rolled his eyes. "You? Legitimately in love with my son? Don't make me laugh."

She only grinned more deviously. "Then you better start laughing."

"His prowess, determination, un-realized strength and power...makes my immortal heart skip." her face softened while looking down at his sleeping form.

"Would you risk you existence to express these feelings then?" Shen looking down at his own son, who for once is sleeping peacefully.

"Perhaps. I'd think it'd be best he get stronger first before we dance in the beauty of combat side-by-side." She walked off into the rest of the blackened wasteland they inhabited, humming to herself before stopping and looking back at Shen. "Don't worry about me for a while, though if you wish to spar again I'll be over here."

"Whatever, Lillith, you she-wolf." He glanced one more time down at his sleeping son, soft proud smile before walking to the opposite direction of the Mightyena. "Sleep well my son."

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"Ardent.."

"...mh..?"

"Wake up..please?" a slight whine sounded out this time.

"Mhm.."

"...Fine...you leave me little choice..." she gulped.

Ardent groaned softly feeling a VERY warm body around him. It was shivering rather violently too. He opened his eyes only to have vanilla fur in his face.

"Whfamfmfm!?" he muffled out against Nina's stomach, only making her start laughing from being ticklish.

"Don't do that!" she squealed while squirming a bit. "Wh-why are you over here?" he stuttered out.

"..." She remained quiet for some time. "Nina..?" She jumped a little then looked over at him with a vulnerable expression. "Nightmare...and I'm freezing cold.."

He looked over where she was sleeping before and noticed there was an inch of snow there with the indentation of where she was laying. Will had the tent so he was good, which left Nina wherever she wanted to be.

Ardent sat up making her whine a little, "I'm just stretching." He yawned then walked over to the tent noticing Will had left a blanket folded by his feet. "Jackpot.." he carried it best he could without getting the 'dreaded' snow that she hated so much on it.

"Here, if you need me to keep you company and warm, I want to be comfortable, don't you agree?" she smiled shyly looking down at her paws.

It was a rather large one too. He crawled under the blanket on one side leaving the other half to be slept on by the vixen.

"Hurry up, before I change my mind..." he grumbled tiredly. She complied assuming the same position she had before they had a blanket.

"Better?" he asked with his eyes closed. "Mhm..." was her response.

"Good, get some sleep you fox." only getting a light nip to his stomach.

He frowned glancing over at a smiling ninetales. "...Thanks..."

With a sigh he returned a tired smile. "You're welcome. Night."

"..Goodnight.." it took him some time to drift off again but the sound of Nina's breathing while she slept made him relax more and actually rest his head on her stomach like before.

'This is...actually...very nice.' his thought echoed in his mind before finally passing out into his dreamless sleep.