Here is the last chapter in this short story. I've learned a lot over the course of this story and I will have my final opinions and notes on this story after the chapter has ended. I don't ask this too much, but I strongly encourage you to read my final A/N. Enjoy the finale.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon but I do own my OCs.

Chapter 7- The Final Test of Vermilion

Alex woke up to his phone ringing at 5:30am which made him literally jump out of bed. There was no way that he was late, so what was the point? He stumbled around his room attempting to find his phone in the dark. As far as he knew, he still was employed and was going to put in his two weeks after his shift was over.

"Hello?"

"Alex! It's Emily. Good morning."

"Emily? How did you get my number?"

"Your paperwork," Emily responded bluntly.

"Oh! Sorry, not quite awake at the moment. Is it busy at the docks? I can come over now."

"It's fine; an hour more of sleep does make a difference. Anyway, let me clarify what I meant yesterday. You don't have to come into work anymore since your replacement already knows their duties. Second, I have your official gym battle time. You battle Lieutenant Surge at 11:00am sharp."

Mixed emotions ran through Alex's head once he digested what Emily had just said. He was officially out of a job now that he was a trainer, although he had an adequate amount of time to prepare for arguably the biggest battle of his life.

"That works…I guess. I think I'm going to leave the apartment tomorrow. I have a little bit of packing to do, but most of the stuff came with the apartment." Emily hummed on her end to make sure she heard him.

"Very well. You may leave your keys inside the apartment or drop them off by my office earlier. I'll stop by later with something for you. Good luck in your battle!" The phone clicked and Alex was left staring at his phone in the dark.

"Should've remembered that she said that. My ass is going back to bed," he mumbled to himself.

A quick glace was given to his two Poké Balls and Ultra Ball as he thought about calling them out. He thought better of it after realizing they needed some rest. He read the instruction manual of his Pokédex to help him fall asleep with the help of his phone as a light. His eyes eventually shut after he was looked over all the features it didn't have.

Alex woke up around 9:30am to give him enough time to get through his usual morning routine. All three Pokémon were let out to relax as he showered and prepared breakfast. The meal was a very simple with each member getting type-specific food while Alex had toast. Vomiting at any point before or during the battle crossed his mind so he wanted to make sure there wasn't too much in his stomach.

"Do you not have work today?"

"No work today. Our gym battle in less than two hours. I've thought about what I've wanted to do. Surge is an electric type specialist so Sandslash is going to be the key factor when we want to gain a big advantage. Nidorino, you're a well-rounded battler so I might lead off with you and take it from there. Ninetales, you..."

"Will be using Quick Attack and Flamethrower." Her being so confident about this threw him for a loop since she had been so reserved in the short time they knew each other.

"I'll see how the battle goes, but that information is handy since my Pokédex doesn't have the function to tell me any moves. At least the instruction manual told me that so I don't look like an idiot on the field."

Flamethrower was a powerful move for sure, but Alex was afraid to rely on her alone to win because he had never seen her battle. The upcoming battle wasn't an alley fight which may have her at a disadvantage because she was used to seeing ruthless fights or deaths. Would she be able to control herself in the heat of battle?

"I'm going to watch television on the recliner to relax before the battle. You three can do whatever you want except eat and spar. Regardless of what happens, I'm confident you guys will do a good job." They nodded in solidarity before going to play with their favorite toys for the next hour. Alex left the apartment early when the time came so that he would get to the gym early and get used to his surroundings.

Official Pokémon League statues lined the pathway to the electric leader's domain on the south side of the city. Raichu statues were prominently displayed in front of the entrance and once he stepped into the lobby of the gym. His attention was turned to a large muscular man walking closer to him. Alex felt intimidated as Lieutenant Surge was about seven inches taller and at least 30 pounds heavier in pure muscle alone.

"Are you the brat that works at the docks?" Lieutenant Surge really didn't give much hope to the rookie trainer in words or body language.

"I am. Now let's get to it," Alex sternly replied while making direct eye contact, not wanting to show any sign of backing down. Surge boisterously laughed then got right in Alex's face before poking Alex's chest.

"You've got guts kid. You're right; let's get to it." Surge backed up and pointed to the large metal doors leading to the battlefield then folded his arms. "My associate told me you don't have a single badge but I have to battle trainers of all skill levels. Step into my gym so I can show you how much hope you really have." A rectangular dirt floor with white chalk lines was the standard based on all of those battles he watched on television and this one was no exception. The referee stood in the middle surveying the area as both trainers stepped into their corners.

"This will be a three on three battle with only the challenger being able to substitute. The match is over when all three Pokémon for one side are declared unable to battle. Begin!"

"Pikachu, show this kid what it means to battle!" Alex took deep breaths as his palms eventually were covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Surge stood tall with his arms folded and his Pikachu let off small sparks to show it was itching for a fight. Alex shut his eyes for a few seconds to refocus before making his selection.

"Nidorino!" The confidence in his voice echoed through the gym yet it felt like a false confidence deep down; bells rang to signal the start of the battle at the referee's command.

"Start off with a Thundershock!" Bolts of electricity struck Nidorino dealing moderate damage. The poison type shook it off and stood firm still growling. The look in its eyes got Alex "in the zone"; any remaining fear left the rookie. The adrenaline rush from battling average trainers paled in comparison to this moment. He was going to own it.

"Double Kick!" Nidorino charged up for a powerful series of kicks that leveled Pikachu from the side.

"Use Thunder Wave to slow it down!" Nidorino couldn't dodge the paralyzing move as the quicker Pikachu maneuvered around it to find an opening. "Follow up with Quick Attack!" Again, it was hit from the electric mouse; still no command by Alex to counter the onslaught of speed. "This is the big leagues kid! You can still back out without me severely injuring your Pokémon! Pikachu, use Quick Attack again! Finish it!" Closer and closer it charged in until it was just at the right distance for Alex's liking.

"Body Slam!" Nidorino surprised everyone by pouncing on the incoming Pikachu. "Don't think for a second that I'm getting stage fright now that we've started," Alex said with a smirk on his face.

"Jump and use Thundershock!" Surge ordered with some urgency in his voice.

"Poison Sting!"

Pikachu squirmed free to jump and fire its attack from above while Nidorino aimed upward to launch dozens of poison needles. Instead of colliding like Alex had thought, the attacks went for the opposition. Nidorino panted heavily because he wasn't used to the pace, but he noticed Pikachu struggling to stay balanced since the poison ran through its body.

"Quick Attack! Beat…it…down," Surge ordered with a snarl; Pikachu sprinted ahead recklessly.

"Body Slam!" Nidorino tried to move but paralysis stopped him and he took the full force of the attack with no way to defend himself.

"Thundershock!" Nidorino took another zap of electricity and struggled to its feet. "You waited too long to call it back kid. Quick Attack!" Alex could see the poison's effect kicking in so he took one last risk.

"Double Kick!" Nidorino roared for the extra power as he kicked the incoming Pikachu square in the stomach. The force of the kick made Pikachu faint on impact and after it hit the ground, Nidorino felt the adrenaline rush out of him and he too collapsed.

"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! This round is a draw," the referee stated. "As per league rules, the gym leader must send out their Pokémon first to start the next round when a draw is declared." Lieutenant Surge laughed it up again.

"That was a gutsy performance!" He went back to a serious face once he saw Alex wasn't falling for the praise. He couldn't tell if it was real or fake so he did his best to block it out. "But now it only gets harder kid. Voltorb!" Another electric type rolled onto the field looking agitated.

"Shit…so much for gaining an edge," Alex mumbled under his breath. "Return, Nidorino. Great job!" He looked down at his belt to make his next selection; it was obvious what he wanted to do. "Sandslash!" Surge was not phased at all; the bell rung for round two.

"Screech!" An uncomfortable sound wave traveled throughout the gym resulting in Sandslash trying to cover its ears along with Alex.

"Dig!" Alex attempted to scream over the noise. Sandslash managed to hear him and happily obliged by quickly going underground.

"Remember to wait for it to come up Voltorb!" Alex wanted to draw it out as long as possible, expecting one of them to be caught off-guard; neither one of them showed signs of anxiousness. Silence returned to the battlefield until Alex decided to move.

"Now!" It came back up fast to deliver a super-effective hit.

"Sonicboom!" A different wave of energy hit the ground type to send it skidding across the ground. "Kid, I've seen ground types all around since I moved here after the war! You think I don't know how to handle them? Now use Screech again!" The frequency returned so Alex started to shout before it got too much to handle.

"Poison Sting! We can't risk another combination!" Unfortunately for Alex, the move was so weak that Voltorb used Screech again after getting hit. "Again!" A third round was fired at the ball Pokémon but this time it was poisoned based on hearing the frequency die down quicker than last time. "Finish it with Slash!"

Using Slash was the end-all solution whenever Alex was in a pinch at the docks. Although Nidorino was more experienced in battle, it's attacks were more effective if it had room to maneuver. The precision Sandslash offered was unmatched by any other trainer or Pokémon Alex had ever seen in his life up to now. Combine that with the fact that Slash had a high chance to deliver a fatal blow, and Alex had a powerful move to win the battle after wearing down the opposition. Surge put his head down with a smile as Sandslash was charging.

"My Voltorb doesn't have much left in this battle so it's time to end the round." He snapped his fingers and a bright light filled the gym flowed by an explosion with only a few feet of distance between the two Pokémon. Dust settled and both Pokémon were seen knocked unconscious.

"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! The round is a draw! With two draws, the winner of the next round wins the match. Lieutenant Surge, please make your decision first on who to send out," the referee ordered. Alex's mouth hung open still trying to piece together the last sequence of events.

"What was that!?" All that confidence he had built up was shattered in an instant. Sandslash would have the obvious type advantage going forward but now his ace was gone. A smirk came from across the way.

"Just my personal way of getting rid of ground types. Lowering the defense then coming in with a big boom thanks to Self-Destruct. I'll admit you're better than the usual runts walking in here though, especially when they think they can beat me with a tiny Diglett." Alex internally cursed after suddenly remembering in school how gym leaders had to cover their weaknesses somehow. Surge's tactic was ruthless yet effective in defeating pure ground types. "But your hope for a badge ends here kid! Raichu, get out here!"

Stories about his Raichu's power were heard all over the docks and extended to people living in the city. Citizens had a theory that his Raichu saved him in combat and was afraid of nothing, but Surge never talked about his service to anyone. The thing could easily stun or even kill scores of people with a few bolts of electricity based on how long he's had it. Ball in hand, Alex called on his newest member in the clutch.

"Go, Ninetales!" She elegantly materialized and quickly shifted to her battle stance after seeing the sparks fly from Raichu's cheeks. Although she held her own against a pack of alley Pokémon, this was a whole new ballgame for her and Alex since it was their first battle as a team. Raichu was no slouch; it could be argued that it was on-par with Zapdos' power if the rumors were true.

"Awww how cute. That red bow on her neck is adorable," he taunted. Ninetales let loose a little bit of fire with each breath to match the sparks flying on the other side. There would be no way that she would let anyone bully or underestimate her after what she went through.

"Our opponents are strong…but they are also fools," she angrily relayed to Alex. "I will be happy to teach them a lesson."

No response came from Alex as he froze in fear after surveying the situation. He didn't know if he should forfeit for her safety or battle. It was just a badge and he could challenge Surge when he had more experience. The concept of gutting it out wasn't as black and white as he thought when he was living the moment. Raichu was licking its lips in anticipation of what it saw as an easy opponent; that was the tipping point. The referee was about to signal for the bell to ring but Alex grabbed his attention.

"Excuse me, sir. I fo…"

"Do not quit!" Ninetales pleaded. "We talk about trust all the time and now is time to act on it. It is okay to be scared for me, but you have worked so hard for this moment. I will be fine." Alex nodded in support, albeit nervously.

"You going to stand there all day kid? Forfeit or fight! Pick one!" The words that Ninetales offered gave him newfound confidence in addition to the order to make a decision.

"We'll fight!" The bell rang to signal the final round.

"Hit 'em with Thunderbolt, Raichu!"

"Oh no you don't! Use Flamethrower!" A powerful stream of fire broke up the electrical attack and still hit Raichu with plenty of power to spare. "Ninetales, Flamethrower again!" She repositioned herself to strike from the side for a heavy hit. Surge was well-beyond infuriated.

"Thunderbolt! Give it everything you got!" Electricity made its way to the fire type as flames engulfed Raichu yet again and it dropped to the ground. Ninetales had taken the full power of the Thunderbolt after she fired her attack but she shook it off and took her battle stance.

"Ninetales, use Quick Attack!" Her first step was so quick that it was almost like Raichu's attack bounced off her harmlessly. The impact forced Raichu to slide on its back all the way to Lieutenant Surge's feet; a flag went up shortly after the dust settled.

"Raichu is unable to battle. The winner is Ninetales! This match goes to the challenger, Alex!" Cheers of joy came from Alex as he jumped and waved his fist in the air out of pure joy. He then sprinted onto the field to embrace his newest team member.

"We did it! We actually did it Ninetales! I'm so proud of you!"

"I have never been so happy in my life!"

Nidorino and Sandslash were called out to partake in the celebration as well. They joined in on the hug in the middle of the field as Alex started to give them praise and affection for their roles in securing the victory. Lieutenant Surge and the referee came over to congratulate them and hand them the Thunder Badge as proof of their victory.

"That was some Pokémon you had there, kid. Raichu hasn't gone down that fast in a long time; guess it's back to training for us. I think you have what it takes to go far in Kanto even though you're a rookie." Just like that, they both left, leaving only the group of four to stare in awe of the badge.

Pokémon Center technology never ceased to amaze Alex after he took everyone there to heal up. He made a stop by the mart to pick up some items for the journey he would start tomorrow morning. Over the course of four months he saved about 35,000P between working on the docks and winning money from some casual trainers looking to battle. After food expenses plus traveling necessities, he still had more than enough money to hit the ground running.

One final feast was held in apartment 317 around dinner where everyone was celebrating their achievements from the battle. The party was interrupted by Emily since she wanted to see him before he left. Her items to drop off were a farewell card as well as a 5,000P Christmas bonus. Alex still had not moved the couch which was a good excuse to stare out the window at the beautiful harbor one more time in the sunset before he was to depart the next morning. Saying farewell to Vermilion was going to be a tough pill to swallow.

"Tomorrow morning, we are out of here and on the road to the Indigo League," Alex said with healthy dosage of hype behind it. "Free reign on the apartment tonight everyone, but don't break anyth…" he was cut off by the sound of Sandslash running to the heater; Nidorino jumped on the recliner behind them like a trampoline. "As I was saying, just don't break anything." Nothing really piqued Ninetales' interest other than curling up next to Alex.

"So how did I do today master?"

"You told me your attacks but you never told me that you were so strong. You don't have to call me 'master' if you don't want to as well. Calling me a 'friend' in front of your pack meant a lot to me." She adjusted herself so that her head was just under his neck and looking at the window; a laugh followed.

"You never asked about how strong I was! I don't think we'll lose for a long time." She turned her head to look at his eyes. "Master?"

"What is it pretty girl?" Alex replied while stroking her head.

"Are you not scared of the uncertainty out in the world?" He zoned out as flashbacks of his life ran through his head. Alex then flipped her so that her chest was on his and softly caressed her face.

"Long before I met you, there was a fair amount uncertainty in my life. My parents have been in another region working long hours since I graduated, my grandparents sent me on a small journey before I got here, school was its own case, then there was uncertainty about getting the job on the docks. Rolling with the punches is probably the best way to go with it. Not many things in this world are set in stone."

"What about when you saw me? Or when I told you that you could touch my tails? By the way, you may touch them as much as you want for all eternity if comforts you. Also, it makes me feel…you know," she said while blushing. There was no denying how much pleasure she received from it.

"That too. There was no doubt that you needed food the first time and getting you off the streets the second time I saw you. The uncertainty only came from if you would trust me that night. Regardless of what you would've done, I would've left the apple." Alex gave her a quick kiss on her maw. "Look at you now; a beautiful Pokémon that's just as strong." Both just laid there continuing to stare out into the harbor for a little while longer.

"Hmmmmm. Masterrrrrr. I think I am starting to fall asleep. Can we go to bed together? The ball was okay last night but I prefer you next to me." Peeking at his other two partners was the confirmation he needed to go to bed as well. It was late and he had to start packing his things in the morning. The other two were acting like their first day after work; Alex could make a decent amount of noise and they wouldn't hear a thing. His entire collection of cooking pans spilled from underneath the sink onto the floor and they never flinched.

"Alright, get ready. Up you go." It was the second time she had been awake when he carried her in his arms; such a strong yet gentle grip like last time. She whimpered as he turned on the lamp and it turned to sobbing once they got into bed. "Hey now…what's wrong? Don't cry," he cooed.

"I-I-I'm f-f-finally realizing how lucky I am to be with you. Please never let me go even if I can never battle again," she sobbed quietly. Her maw found his lips again for comfort. "No matter how I think about it, I am not good enough for you. But I am scared and selfish for thinking that nobody is good enough for me. I should be on the streets now. I should be having kits after all the favors I asked from him. How am I not alone right now? How am I not hopeless? I have been running away all my life and got lucky one time."

Powerful words continued to hit Alex hard as she buried her head in his chest. He came to a sad realization that she may never be "normal" despite all he had done for her. He wasn't sure if she would tell him everything that happened in her time in the city at some point, but the least he could do was avoid doing anything that made her relive those memories. She may be fine at first, but she could just snap in an instant.

"One lucky break is all it takes sometimes. There may be some situations where it's too dangerous on the road, but you can always sleep with me if that makes you comfortable." Ninetales weakly pounded her paw against his body in frustration.

"But what if I accidentally burn you if I have a nightmare or just burn you out of fear!? It is going to hurt you Alex; I do not want to hurt you!" Alex let her cry as much as she wanted. Time was no factor as she stopped at times, only to start again at random intervals. His shirt was soaking wet by the time the tears stopped and she was sniveling profusely.

"I will hold you at the risk of getting burned. I will hold you in the depths of your despair whenever you return there. I want you to think about this every time you're battling any pain: you are never alone." Ninetales eventually calmed down and kept her eyes away from Alex's.

"Water…I need water." Alex made the trip to the kitchen and returned with a bowl without causing a stir from the other two Pokémon in the living room; she drank it as fast as she could when he returned.

"I was right about you the day we met. Thank you for everything, master…I mean Alex. Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Can…you lay me on my back? I want you to make love to me so that I can look into your eyes and never be afraid again when I am in a vulnerable position. I do not want to be scared anymore." Alex was taken aback by the blunt statement; he thought it would be about his "soft touch" instead.

"I'll take it slow. Just give me a second." He discarded his clothes and stood at the foot of the bed looking her over in the room lit by his lamp. She was still on her side as he slid next to her. "Tell me when you're ready." Deep breaths came from the fire type as she intended on going through with her demand.

"Roll me over," she said, trying not to cry. Alex was ready to speak, but she waved her paw to silence him. He slowly put her on her back before straddling her chest. Tears started to form in her eyes so he went in slowly for a kiss to help her get through it. The soft caress of her face got a moan out of her as the tears started to fall. Alex broke the kiss once he felt them on his face.

"Ninetales…you are so beautiful, so strong, and so brave right now. I want you to not worry about a thing, okay? Let me make love to you and not the other way around. If you're not comfortable at any point, tell me. I love you and I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Hold on," she quietly sobbed. The paws cleared any remaining tears and she took a few more deep breaths. "Do whatever you want to me," she squeaked; that wasn't the first time she had used that phrase. Alex had an idea after hearing her tone.

"How about I tell you what I will do in order so you won't be scared?"

When his first relationship was past the fourth date, his girlfriend was all about randomness and being spontaneous. Different times, different places, even different themes if they were feeling adventurous which never happened, although they talked about a few things. Neither of them demanded it often or did it just for fun; they weren't maniacs. The act of telling Ninetales the rundown was so that she could feel more comfortable and maybe save himself from getting torched with a Flamethrower.

"Please…"

"First, I'm going to kiss you passionately while feeling your soft body. Then I'm going to give you quick kisses all the way down your body while still rubbing it. I'll rub your lips followed by licking them until you're ready for the next step. Then I'll spread your legs and make love to you like you wanted. After that, we can cuddle and fall asleep together. Occasionally I'll talk to you like I always have as well. Does that sound good?" He felt awkward telling her everything instead of doing it as he went along, but he knew it would help the situation more than hurt it.

"I…I guess that is fine. I do not have to do anything, right?" she asked with some hope in her voice.

"I will do whatever you tell me to do. To start, lean back and let me do all the work. Now let me kiss that beautiful mouth of yours."

Alex started slow with his tongue then gradually sped up as her tongue found his. The warmth radiating from her body made Alex moan in delight and the softness of her fur made him feel like he was on a cloud. He broke the kiss and shifted down so he could start kissing her neck. The red bow still rested comfortably on her so he decided to keep it on and work around it. He could hear mild purring as his hands continued to work their way down before stopping. A small grin formed on her face when she looked up at Alex getting ready for the next step.

"Time for my favorite part," Ninetales cooed. A smile formed on his face as he started to rub his hand on her lips. She let out a moan as Alex continued to rub her inner thigh with his free hand.

"There we go," he encouraged. "Relax, pretty girl." Ninetales started to fidget when Alex started licking her not out of fear, but of how good it felt. It wasn't enough to put her over the edge, but it felt like a constant wave of mild pleasure.

Alex continued to keep her squirming and moaning before increasing the intensity little by little. Ninetales' breaths went from long and deep to short and labored. She let out a small yelp and her hips buckled when she climaxed. Alex stopped licking her and used just his hands to gently ease her back to a calm state while still making her feel good.

"Do not stop Alex. Keep going until I do it again. It feels so good," Ninetales moaned.

"Let me give you a little break first."

"But why!?" she complained; Alex moved back up so that he was nose to nose with her.

"Trust me," he whispered with a smile. "In the meantime, I'll keep you busy."

His plan changed a little bit from what he had told her, but only because she wanted a second round. Also, he remembered that his girlfriend had climaxed multiple times in a short span and the pain she felt exceeded the pleasure after a certain point; no way he was going to make that mistake now of all times. He was deliberate in how he stroked her or kissed her, making sure she wouldn't get too worked up so quickly. If he felt like he was doing too much, he would take his hands away. When he felt it was time, he shifted back by her tails.

"What are you…ah!" Alex's slipped two fingers from his right hand inside of her and started to move his hand around slowly.

"You'll see why I gave you a break right…about…now."

His left thumb and index finger started to rub the tip of one tail. Based on her entire midsection jolting up in the air, he knew that another climax was not far away. Rubbing the tail turned into stroking it as his right hand sped up. She let out another yelp and her entire body jerked as the climax hit her harder than anything she had felt before in her life. Alex was worried he didn't wait long enough, but didn't hear anything indicating she was in pain. When she had stopped moving and her breathing was more drawn out, he shifted next to her.

"How was that?"

"A…ama…amazing," she panted. "That…was the second best feeling I could have ever imagined."

"What was the first?" Alex asked curiously.

"It has not happened yet."

"That doesn't make any…wait." Ninetales sat up and lowered her head.

"You told me that I did not need to do anything, but I want to make sure you are truly ready to make love to me."

She started to paw around his groin to get him erect before using her tongue. Alex hummed in delight as she worked her whole mouth around him. She used his method of stopping before he got too worked up, only to start up again. When she thought it was time for the next step, she laid on her back and gave him a lustful stare.

"Make love to me Alex. Make love to me the way I have always wanted." Her tone was passionate. At this point in time, she was no longer afraid or felt uncomfortable. With Alex beside her and a nudge from him either physically or mentally, she felt like she could do anything with confidence.

"My beautiful, beautiful Ninetales." He kissed her one last time before getting into the most comfortable position as she adjusted herself too. He spread her legs and admired what was in front of him. "Ready?" She nodded and he made his way inside of her. A quick gasp escaped her mouth and he started to gently move his hips while holding onto her sides.

Ninetales had gone through previous heat cycles in the wild along with her pack, but it was quelled only on a physical level. There was never a Pokémon that she truly connected with enough to raise a child between her and her mate for the cycle. Some males only saw her as a way to relieve themselves, so she burned up whatever traces they left inside of her after they pulled out of her to avoid something she didn't want. Females sometimes treated males as a way to relieve themselves as well, so the males would relieve themselves in front of them just to tease them before walking away.

If a male ever abused her in the middle of mating, she wouldn't hesitate to burn them or flat out fight them since most of the time they were equal in strength. With Persian, he was arguably weaker than her. If she did burn him in the middle of his passionless mating, she could only assume that she would be subjected to a fate worse than death until the day she actually died. An entire network was at his disposal and he was not afraid to use it if he felt something was wrong.

Alex was someone she never considered having kits with; she didn't even know if that was even possible but he made a strong case for a full-time mate as weird as it was for both parties. She was a little sad after their previous endeavor in bed because the warmth she provided burned up whatever he left behind inside of her. The joy she vicariously felt through him in the afterglow eventually outweighed her own sorrow. Him making love to her on her back was a sign that she had found the right mate for her regardless if she would become a mother.

"Alex…I can feel you are almost ready. Let it out," Ninetales softly urged between her short breaths. When the time came, he stayed inside of her as he climaxed. Alex collapsed on top of her stomach and they both tried to catch their breath. Ninetales placed him by her side before passionately kissing him, eliciting another moan until she broke it off. Alex haphazardly pulled the comforter up to their necks to get comfortable.

"Are you okay? Did it feel as good as you thought it would?"

"I am fine and it was better than I would have ever imagined. Thank you," she replied while rubbing her paws on his back.

"I'm proud of you Ninetales. You will always be strong and beautiful in my eyes. Nothing will ever change that." They continued to embrace each other as they started to feel sleep overtake them.

"I am nervous about tomorrow. There are so many things going on in my head. I'm scared," she mumbled in Alex's chest.

"Remember what I said to think about?"

"That I am never alone?"

"That's my girl. Tomorrow is a new chapter in our lives and we'll help each other through the tough times. Sleep peacefully, Ninetales."

"Easy to do when you're holding me. Goodnight Alex." She quickly fell asleep to him rubbing her head.

He stayed awake a few minutes longer to watch her sleep like that first he took her home. However, this wasn't like when he was awake for 33 hours straight with almost 12 of those hours worrying about her well-being. He knew he would never have that kind of night again for a long time. Obviously they would not have sex every night on the road, but Alex could watch her go to sleep knowing how much she cared about him and how much he cared about her.

"Goodnight Ninetales. I love you."

The next morning was a much warmer day with the temperature almost like spring. Sunlight was reflecting off the snow and there was no wind swirling or clouds in the sky when he finished packing for good and left the key inside. Alex, along with the three Pokémon he cared for, walked through the city to the northern end to buy any remaining supplies for the journey ahead. He made sure they all were in an even horizontal line once they approached the city line up north so that they would take their first step into the travelling trainer lifestyle together.

After they took the first step, they were ready to take on whatever Kanto threw at them.

Minor things to get to first: "Thundershock" was how I wanted the attack to be spelled even though it has changed throughout the generations. Surge's team was from Red/Blue. No healing items since they are not used mid-battle in the anime. Next up is the major stuff. It comes off as pretty strong from me emotionally so I apologize for that in advance if you end up reading my drabble below.

I threw in one last lemon for you guys as a "thank you" for your support. In all honesty, each mature scene took me a lot longer to write than I would like to admit. I don't have a knack for writing romance so this was out of my wheelhouse by a mile. However, I do have more of a knack for writing hurt/comfort. I hope what comes from this is that the story has "staying power"; I want it to be just as meaningful in the summer compared to fall or winter.

Too much fluff? Not enough? Too many lemons? Not enough lemons? Maybe this was the worst lemon story you've ever read, maybe it was the best, maybe it was an average one. Whatever you may think or feel about the story, just know that I am content with what I have written but am still open to any & all feedback even though this is done. I may be content with what I have written, but that does not make me immune to both positive and negative criticism.

I had a passion for writing this story but passion only got me so far. It was all in my head but actually putting it down wasn't so easy. For that, I am a man of my word and I offer my thanks to author Better A Freak Than A Fake for helping me get started with the first two chapters and Archangel2462 for helping me clean the story up as well. A little nudge is all it takes sometimes to get the ball rolling.

That is all I have for "You Are Never Alone" so I thank you one last time for taking the time to read it and have a good day :)

-W4f