Training Isn't Just For Moemon: Golden Days Ch. 22

"What do you mean we can't just leave?" she demanded. "Why on earth would we stay? Our friends are back home in Hoenn. We can't just abandon them."

I frowned. I hated getting into an argument with Winona so soon after she'd been revived. "In addition to needing to finish Professor Elm's assignment for me, I'm also really close to becoming champion of Johto."

"Screw becoming champion! You're already the champion of Hoenn. I know that Professor Elm took good care of us, but I just came back from the grave. Put in your two weeks' notice. Let him find someone else to take over so you and I can enjoy some time together for once."

"I can't," I repeated, pulling her into my arms. She frowned, turning her head away when I went to kiss her. "Winona, you and I are going to be together forever. There is no amount of time that we spend apart. And I really mean forever. I didn't tell you this, but we're immortal now. We can't die."

"Vulpus, you can't be serious," she murmured. "That's...that's impossible. I mean, that's just fantasy. There's no way…" Her words trailed off when she saw the serious expression on my face. "So...when you say that we can't die…"

"I don't know the specifics," I admitted. "Ho-oh just said we were granted youth eternal. I don't think we ever age or get sick. I'm sure we can still be killed, just not die of old age."

"I don't mean to sound like an ungrateful bitch, but...don't you think that this should have been something of my choice? I mean, it's nice to be able to live forever, but the people who are close to us are all going to die. We have to watch them grow old and perish. Is that something you really want?"

"I didn't exactly get time to think about it," I answered. "Believe me, I know this sucks. Ho-oh said that our lives are fueled by our love. So long as we love each other, we'll stay alive. So, short of killing yourself, or ceasing to love me, well 'til death do us part' suddenly becomes a lot more damning."

The lavender-headed beauty nuzzled closer to me, enjoying the feeling of my arms wrapped around her. "I guess this really is a forever thing, isn't it?" she murmured.

"Afraid so."

"With no children, to boot."

"Like I said, we have other options," I pointed out. " We don't have to dwell on what's already passed. Take flight into the future, right?"

Winona gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Right." As we parted, she brushed her hair from her face. "So, who's next up on the League's chopping block?"

"Claire. She's a dragon type trainer, I think."

"Fuck," she hissed.

"What?"

"I was hoping it'd be a guy. Damn it, you're probably going to screw her." She took a deep breath before shaking her head. "You know what, no. I just have to accept that this is who you are. I mean, I knew that before I married you and I married you anyway. We can use our old deal again. Free pass until you're champion, then you're a one woman kind of man again."

As she continued to blather on, I gripped her shoulders to gain her attention. I gave her a loving smile and playfully nudged her nose with my own. "I'm not going to have sex with her," I told her. "I'm not going to have sex with anyone but you ever again."

"But your moemon…"

"They can entertain themselves. From now on, I'm not just a one woman kind of man. I'm your one woman kind of man."

Winona looked as if she were about to cry. Instead, she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly and pressing her lips roughly against mine. The two of us spent time making out for a little while longer.

When I rested my forehead against hers, she just smile. It had been so long since I'd seen that beautiful smile. "Why don't you come with me?" I whispered to her. "I'm so close to the end, and I'd love to have you travel with me."

"Won't your moemon get jealous?" she teased.

I just shrugged my shoulders. "They'll get over it."

"Just don't neglect them too much, okay? They love you almost as much as I do."

Taking her hand in my mine, the two of us walked side by side. Finally it felt as if things were getting back on track. Or at least, that's what I thought until I reached the entrance to the ice path.

There, a familiar man stood waiting for me. "Oh God, not this guy," I grumbled.

"Friend of yours?" Winona asked.

The man known as Carlos rushed towards me. "You! Ha! I finally managed to get ahead of you. You think you're so tough, but I already got the Glacier Badge."

"So did I," I countered.

"Well, I got it first! I've been waiting here for you. See you've been in my face since my journey began, and I'm getting sick of it."

"Hold on, hold on. I'm sorry, I've been in your face? Dude, you're the one who's been acting like my fanclub."

Winona tugged on my arm. "Vulpus, be nice," she whispered.

"You don't understand. This dude has been chasing me since New Bark! What even is your deal, man? Even if you beat me here, that won't make you Hoenn's champion. You know that right?"

Carlos gave a bold laugh. "Maybe not, but it will still prove once and for all which of us is best." His eyes darted to Winona and a skeevy grin crossed his face. "What say we make this interesting, hmm?"

Uh oh. I didn't like the sound of that. "How about you get out of my way? I've got business with Claire. If you want a piece of me, you can take your shot after I'm Johto's champion."

As I went to move past him, he shoved me back. "Absolutely not. This is the end of the line for you. Don't be a coward. I bet you, a blowjob from your girlfriend, that I can wipe out your team no problem."

"Excuse me?!" I snapped. "First off, she is my wife. Secondly, you're lucky I don't shove my foot down your throat."

"You're on," Winona interjected.

"What? Winona, you can't be serious."

"Vulpus, how long have we been together?"

"Coming up on two years."

"Mmhm. And how many times have you lost a pokemon battle in those two years?"

"...Never," I murmured, trying not to incite this guy further."But still, I'm not just going to let this guy…"

My wife took my hand in both of hers, holding it to her chest. "I swear to you, it will be okay. I have faith in you. Besides, we haven't named our terms yet." I was bewildered by my wife's declaration. Still, she turned back to Carlos, unwavering. "If Vulpus wins, you have to give us all your clothes and walk on all fours until you've beaten Claire's gym. And if anyone stops you or asks why you're doing it, you can only respond by barking like a dog. Got it?"

Damn, my wife had a kinky streak. I'd never have guessed. She'd always seemed so...plain. "Deal," he agreed. "I hope you give decent head."

"You'll never know," she countered before moving to stand behind me. "Get him, Vul. If you win, I'll give you a reward of your own."

My libido flared to life, and my competitive spirit raced through my soul. I wouldn't lose to this jerk. No way, no how. "Face the might of my dragon pokemon! Go Altaria!"

"Is that the best you've got? Go Falcor!" My small dinosaur-like moemon emerged from her pokeball ready to fight.

"Ha! A ground type?" Carlos scoffed. "You realize my pokemon can fly, right?"

"You realize my wife is a flying-type gym trainer, right?" I shot back. "Falcor, rock slide!"

She jumped high into the air, even high enough that the Altaria looked up in confusion. The stone in the ground raced to gather beneath her before she surfed straight towards the dragon-bird.

With a powerful strike, the Altaria was buried in rubble, just as Falcor landed smartly next to me. "Well Carlos? Are you going easy on me or should I start calling you Fido now?"

"Don't count her out just yet! Altaria, Earthquake!"

A massive boom echoed out from under the rubble, causing the ground to split apart. It shook violently beneath my moemon before ripping open. As Falcor began to drop, my eyes went wide. I dove to catch her hand, but I missed only by a few inches.

Damn it! I should have known he'd use such a dirty trick. "Surprised?" he asked. "For someone who's wife is a flying-type gym leader, you think you'd have seen that before."

"Oh I have," I growled at him. "I just didn't think you'd be skilled enough to use such a tactic. Looks like I'm going to have to take you seriously."

"Heh. Altaria, close up the ground on his Pupitar."

"No!" I cried, but it was too late. With a heavy crunch, the earth shifted back in place as it had once been. Falcor was gone. He'd crushed her to death.

Fury exploded in my eyes. "You're going to pay for that," I hissed. "Go, Shelly!" The purple-haired girl appeared, ready to do battle.

"Ha! What is she going to do?"

"This! Ice Beam!"

The frigid blue blast erupted from her chest, encasing the dragon-bird in ice until she sank to the ground. Carlos scoffed. "You think that's enough to stop her? Altaria, use dragon rage! Melt that ice!"

Before she could though, the ground rumbled beneath our feet. It was a violent earthquake, on the same level that I'd felt from Groudon back in Hoenn! A green fist shot upward from the earth, shattering the Altaria into bloody pieces.

Scratched and bruised, a moemon emerged from the ground. She was tall and fit like an amazon, in a flowing green short dress. Her shoulders were draped with a matching poncho, and a helmet that covered her long flowing hair.

Both Carlos and I were absolutely shocked. What the hell did he wake up?! "You...jerk…" she hissed, glaring at Carlos with her blood-red eyes. "You thought you could beat me with a dirty trick like that?! My Master and I are too strong to lose to the likes of you! You want an earthquake? I'LL GIVE YOU AN EARTHQUAKE!"

"Falcor?" I gasped in awe.

"Who else would it be?" she asked. "Don't you recognize me?"

I hugged her tight. "You evolved! You're a Tyranitar!"

"I am? I am! Yay!" Her mood transformed from angry to excited in a blink.

Carlos cleared his throat. "Hello? I'm not done yet! Go Miltank!" As the large breasted woman appeared, Winona had to hide a snort.

"Looks like he has the same taste in moemon that you do," she teased me.

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled. "Falcor! Earthquake!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Miltank, rollout!"

The bovine girl curled into a ball, spinning quickly. Soon, she rushed forward, but Falcor slammed her hands down on top of her. The cow was shoved deep into the rock, pinned completely still by the much larger dino-girl.

For a moment, nothing happened, but then there was an ear-splitting crack as the girl was flung deep down into the earth, leaving behind a long hollow tunnel straight down. "Ha! What else you got?"

"How about this?" Carlos snarled, snatching up a ball from his belt and hurling it out. With a beam of light, a blue-haired girl appeared with a dark brown coat. On one shoulder, she held a rocket launcher, and in her other hand, she held a longarm hand cannon.

"A Blastoise?! Where in the world did you find one of those?" I demanded.

Carlos sneered. "Surprised? Maybe you're not half as good at catching pokemon as you think you are."

I shook my head. "If you think that intimidates me, you've forgotten how badly I beat you last time. Rose!"

My Meganium leapt forward, her hand snatching the collar from around her neck. It unwound from her before reforming into the razor sharp chakram.

"Blastoise, Ice Beam!"

Damn! I hadn't considered she'd know an ice type move. "Rose! Dodge! Don't let her hit you. Use magic leaf!"

My team leader dipped and dodged as icy blue lights erupted from the woman's gun. Everywhere it struck left an icy patch on the ground, but Rose was just a bit faster. She hurled her necklace again and again, each one narrowly missing the Blastoise.

As it came back to her hand though, it left an after image hovering just in the air. Just as she were about to throw it again, Blastoise's beam hit her ankle, freezing her to the ground.

"Ha! I've got you now," Blastoise bragged, leveling her gun straight at Rose.

Carlos realized my plan just a moment too late. "No! Blastoise, watch out!"

The after images raced inward from all directions. The turtle girl didn't have a chance. Her head whirled around to see the phantasmal blade, just before it sliced through the barrel of her gun and left a horrible gash in her side. The next tore through her coat. The last one severed her arm completely free from its socket.

As her limb fell to the ground with a sick plop, she looked down in shock. She fell to her knees, taking sharp gasps. "You'd better recall her," I lectured. "Otherwise she'll bleed out."

Carlos trembled with fury. "N-no! Blastoise! Ice beam! Finish off his pokemon!"

She tried her best to aim her gun at Rose, before firing. Shelly jumped between the two, using her shell like a shield to block her partner from a potentially lethal attack. The ice engulfed her completely, forming into a opaque white ball of frost.

Blastoise collapsed forward, her body spasming as the life in her eyes started to fade. "At least I took down one," Carlos grumbled, recalling his moemon.

"Don't be so sure," I countered. "And how could you be so heartless to your moemon! Don't you get it? She could die!"

"And if she does, it will be well worth it to put you in your place."

Suddenly Winona placed her hand on my shoulder, causing me to turn to look at her. The amused grin was gone from her face, replaced with a furious wrath. "Vul…No mercy. Teach this guy a lesson so harsh that he never wants to fight again."

I'd never heard my wife sound so bloodthirsty, but I could tell from her tone it wasn't a topic to discuss. Her love for moemon shone in her eyes, and I knew this wasn't malice. It was justice.

I nodded in understanding.

The ice around Shelly cracked before breaking apart to reveal that she'd evolved. She stood tall and regal, purple and white hair flowing behind her. Her long purple dress seemed to seam flawlessly with the two large shields that covered her arms.

Carlos reached for his belt, only to find he had but one ball left. His eyes met mine, and I clenched my fist. "Send it out," I ordered. "Or concede like the coward you are."

"I'm no coward!" he screamed. "Go! Pidgeot!"

As the bird-like moemon appeared, I shook my head in disgust. "You're done."

"Hardly. Pidgeot, wing attack!"

"Shelly, counter with Clamp."

"Ha! Good luck with that. Pidgeot is far too fast for…" His words were cut off as the bird made her flyby.

My newly evolved Cloyster deflected the sharp feathers off of her left shield before using the right one to slam down on Pidgeot's back. The force of the strike bounced her off the ground, allowing Shelly to clap her shields together hard, pinning her by the throat.

The Pidgeot kicked her legs, struggling to breathe. "Well?" I asked. "Do you surrender?"

"Never! Pidgeot, whirlwind!"

She tried to flap her wings to build up a fierce gale, but with her energy fading quickly, she wasn't able to stir up anything powerful.

I looked at Winona with a concerned expression. Carlos was an asshole, but did that really mean killing his moemon was the best course of action?

Winona nodded her head solemnly. Deep down, I knew she was right. This wasn't something I wanted to do, but in the end, Carlos was dangerous. If his moemon weren't killed, they'd suffer even more. At this rate, he didn't deserve to be a trainer.

"Finish her, Shelly. Ice beam."

Carlos said nothing, simply gritting his teeth in anger.

Shelly blasted her bright blue beam straight into Pidgeot's face. Unable to defend herself at all, the moemon's eyes began to freeze solid. Her mouth dropped open, trying her best to scream, but her tongue was flash frozen.

Soon her entire body had turned pale. The light from her eyes was gone, and she'd ceased struggling. With one last squeeze, my Cloyster shattered her into dust, letting bits of Pidgeot trail through her fingers into a pile on the ground.

"That's it," I breathed. "You're done, Carlos. You have no more moemon. I'll give you one last warning. Leave me alone. If I see you again, I swear to you, I will not hesitate to kill every last one of your moemon, until you cease to be a trainer completely."

He hissed through his teeth. "You cocky son of a bitch. You think you're so much better than everyone, don't you? Well, I know who you are. You're a god damned monster. You rape and you murder and you destroy the lives of everyone around you. You think you have a right to lecture me? You're the one who deserves a last warning. I will never stop coming for you. Not until you rot in hell where you belong."

He turned to storm off, before Winona called after him. "Stop!"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. "You should rid yourself of this trash," he stated. "You know of his crimes. To ignore them is just as bad as being guilty yourself."

"We had a deal," she stated firmly. "Your clothes."

Carlos scoffed. "And why should I honor our agreement?"

"Because if you don't Rose there will cut them off of you," she threatened. "While she has good aim, I'd be a bit worried about what may happen when she cuts off your boxers."

He growled, shooting a glance from my wife to my moemon and back again. He slid out of his white trench coat, and packed it into his bag. He did it with his shirt and his pants, until he was only in his underwear.

"Satisfied?" he asked.

Winona was about to protest, but I rested my hand on her shoulder. "If he gets caught in the nude, they'll arrest him," I reminded her. "No need to give him respite from his punishment."

"Fine," she said. "Now, scram mutt."

Carlos scowled, but instead of speaking, he instead vanished into the Ice Path, leaving my wife and I alone outside. We stared in silence at the blood-spattered ground, torn up by our fighting. This wasn't a normal battle. This was like a scene from a war.

Winona shivered beside me. "Cold?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I was just thinking. Is this what our lives will always be like? Fighting the next jerk in line to the detriment of his moemon?"

"I wish I could say, 'no'. But as Champion of Hoenn, and soon-to-be Johto, that's what our future looks like."

"That's my point," she sighed. "Why do you even want to be Champion? We make good enough money as it is. Your moemon don't even need you to defend the title anymore. You've trained them to the point that they know what they're doing, even without your commands."

"It's not just about the money or the title."

"Then what is it about?" Her voice was pleading for an explanation.

"I...I think it's because I want to be a hero." Winona remained silent, so I continued. "Imagine if I wasn't around. If I just stayed home with you, without work. Hoenn would be gone."

"That's true…"

"Then again," I murmured. "If I wasn't around, Roxanne and the others would be normal still. Dad could have saved Hoenn from Groudon and Kyogre. Wally would be a decent human. May would be happy with him. And you…"

"Don't you dare," she gasped.

"You'd have never died."

The realization crashed over me like a wave. I collapsed to my hands and knees as my heart pounded in my chest. Winona knelt beside me and caressed my back. "That's not true! It's not your fault I was shot!"

"Yes, it is! She shot you to spite me! If not for me, you wouldn't even be in Johto. You were right Winona. I am a douche. In fact, I'm worse than a douche. I'm a monster."

She grabbed my cheeks and wrenched my head to look into her eyes. "That's enough!" she lectured. "Ho-oh saved you, too! She judged you worthy of immortality. If you were truly such a detriment to the world, do you really think she'd have let you live forever?"

"Still…I've been a horrible person."

"Then become better!"

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is. You've already made so much progress, Vul. You saved me. You could have left me for dead. You could have let me be tortured by Team Rocket. You could have just tossed me aside and went about chasing tail for the rest of your life. But you didn't. You chose me. You saved me. If nothing else, you're my hero."

"She's right, Master," Rose chimed in, coming beside us. "That's what I've been trying to tell you all along. I've seen your kind heart. I know it's there." She turned on Winona. "And he should be Champion. He's not only the best trainer in the world, but I can't think of anyone more suited to protect Johto."

Winona shot a glare at the Meganium. "But why does it have to be him? He has other responsibilities, you know? Like that of a husband, and a friend, and...and…"

I wrapped my arms around my wife and held her close. "I understand your worries, my love. But Rose has a point. I've met Lance, and he's a good man. But if I can beat him, what's to say someone else can't?"

She scratched her cheek in thought before giving a sigh of surrender. "Fine, but I'm staying with you. It is not only your responsibility, understand?"

"But your Gym…"

"Hey, before I was a Gym Leader, I was a trainer, just like you. I am more than capable of helping you fight. In fact…"

Before I could protest, she swiped an empty pokeball from my belt and rushed into the Ice Path. I gave a sigh, watching her go, before a smile spread across my face. "Ready Rose?"

"Always, Master."

With that, I pursued my wife, eager to resume our adventure. Together.

To be continued...