Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Amethio questioned everything he was doing. He had to leave Zirc and Conia behind for their own safety. That's what he believed was right.

Right now, he could hardly think straight as him and Corviknight tried to avoid the incoming attacks. 

"Beheeyem, use dark pulse! Umbreon, shadow ball!"

Spinel called out to which his two pokémon obeyed. The dark pulse hit Corviknight on its steel wing, while the shadow ball hit Amethio on his back, causing him extreme pain.

'Crap, I can't keep this up much longer.' Amethio thought to himself as he tried to hold in his scream of pain. 'Ceruledge is already tired from battling.'

Before Amethio could comprehend any more thoughts, Beheeyem appeared in front of him and his Corviknight, sending a large thunderbolt on them.

Amethio and Corviknight fell from the gloomy sky with a loud thud.

Spinel smirked and kicked at Amethio's near lifeless body. 

"Beheeyem, dark pulse at his stomach."

Amethio's eyes widened before screaming in pain as the dark pulse hit his stomach. His body already felt fried from the thunderbolt. This was adding salt to the wounds.

"Don't worry, our Master Gibeon won't miss you. You were always dead weight."

Amethio weakly glared at his tormentor, who walked away.

Rain started falling from the sky, landing on the two. Thunder echoed through the dark grey storm clouds.

Ceruledge forced itself out of its pokeball, only to see her trainer barely holding onto life.

They were doomed. Ceruledge was struggling to stand. Corviknight's wings were damaged heavily and were currently no longer capable of flying. Amethio was bleeding from the inside out. 

Amethio looked at his two pokémon. He weakly placed a hand on Corviknight's wing and Ceruledge's face.

If he was going to die. He was thankful that his last moments would be spent with them.

_________

Friede and Captain Pikachu rode through the newly clear skies of the Galar region on Charizard's back. The storm had passed, and the Rising Volt Tacklers had gone to scout out any damage. 

"The storm did quite a number on this place."

"Pika Pi."

The three searched from the skies. Friede let out a sigh. "I guess there's noth-" Captain abruptly cut the white-haired male off.

"Chu Chu! Pikachu!"

Friede looked to where cap was pointing at before his eyes widened at the sight.

Lying on the ground was the teenage boy that had been chasing him and his crew for a while, Amethio, and next to him were his two injured pokémon. 

"Charizard, down there." Charizard nodded and flew down to the three. "Hey, what happened here!" Friede quickly got off of Charizard to check on them.

Before he could take a step closer, Ceruledge awoke from her sleep and pointed her blade at Friede's neck as a warning to stay away from her trainer.

"Ceru."

"Hey, take it easy. I'm just here to try and help. I mean no harm."

Ceruledge glared at them, but her body caved, making her pass out from exhaustion. Friede pulled their pokeballs from Amethio and returned them.

"He still has a pulse." Friede confirmed as he pressed his thumb over the pulse area of Amethio's wrist. "It's light, though. I have to get him to Mollie and fast."

Friede pulled his Rotom phone from his coat and made a quick call to Mollie.

"What is it, Friede?"

"Get ready. I have a very injured patient who's barely hanging onto life along with his pokémon."

Mollie nodded as Friede hopped on Charizard, who was gently carrying Amethio in its arms.

"I'm on it."

With that, Mollie hung up with Charizard flew quickly to the Great Olivine.

Boarding the ship, Mollie quickly ran outside with a medical bag. Her eyes widened at the condition their enemy was in.

"Sit him down. Moving him anymore than necessary could result in death."

________

Amethio groaned in pain as he slowly regained his consciousness. 

All he could do was move his hands and feet, which was already a struggle to do. 

The loud beeping of the monitor next to him didn't help. Only gave him a headache.

'Where am I?' Amethio questioned in his thoughts. He tried to sit up, but it only caused him more pain in his abdomen. 'Where are Ceruledge and Corviknight?'

The door slid open to reveal Mollie and her partner Chansey. She narrowed her eyes at Amethio. 

"You're awake." Mollie stated as she sat down on her chair. "It's a good thing Friede found you when you did. Any longer, and you would've been dead."

Amethio flinched as Mollie mentioned Friede's name. It was just embarrassing to have to be helped by his enemies.

"Where are my pokémon?"

"Liko and Roy took them to a pokémon center a little ways out for nurse Joy to help so I could mainly focus on your injuries. They should be back shortly."

Amethio clenched his teeth and his hands in annoyance. 

It was already bad enough that he was being helped by the people he hated, who also hated him.

But it was worse since he won't be with his pokémon.

Mollie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look, I don't want you here as much as you don't want to be here. But you're injured, and it's my job to help the injured."

Amethio groaned and turned away from Mollie. He was acting like a troubled child who wanted to hide from everybody else.

"I'll go get some food for you."

With that, Mollie left the room, leaving Amethio to his thoughts as she went to get food.

What felt like a lifetime turned out to be only a few minutes.

The door opened with Murdock walking in with his Rockruff and Alcremie at his side.

"Good morning, kiddo."

Amethio sent a glare to Murdock but didn't say anything as he didn't want to risk anything bad happening to him.

"I have some food for you." Murdock held the plate of food to Amethio. "You must be hungry."

Amethio ignored Murdock. He wasn't going to risk any poison getting into his already sore body.

It smelt too good not to eat, though.

"You need to eat. It's bad for your health to not eat." Murdock couldn't help but sound somewhat concerned. 

Amethio sighed and built up what little strength he had to sit up. Murdock smiled and placed the plate on the bed next to Amethio. 

Amethio grabbed a piece of toast and nibbled on it.

Murdock smiled as he watched Amethio eat. "Yeah, I didn't know what you liked, so I kind of just put something together."

Amethio nodded as he nibbled on his piece of toast. He gave a thumbs up to Murdock, signaling that the food was alright. 

Truth to be told. Amethio didn't eat much. There were days when he completely forgot to eat from working too much. This was probably the most he had in a while.

"Liko and Roy should be back shortly with your pokémon." Murdock said as he walked out of the infirmary. 

Amethio's mind raced with thoughts he didn't want. He was kicked out of the Explorers by his own grandfather. 

Not only that, the Rising Volt Tacklers rescued him from death's door. 

Right now, all he wanted was to be left alone.

________

Liko and Roy walked together up the steps onto the Great Olivine. Suddenly, her Hattena that rested in her hood started to look down.

"Is something wrong, Hatenna?" Liko questioned her pokémon with a concerned voice.

"Is it sick?" Roy asked as they walked up the steps.

"I don't think so?"

Ceruledge's pokeball shook in Liko's bag, forcing herself out of her ball.

Liko and Roy let out startled squeaks at the violet pokémon's appearance. 

"Ledge Ceruledge."

Ceruledge desperately looked around the airship for Amethio. She was desperately trying to find her trainer to protect him from any possible threats.

"Nya?"

"Fue?"

Floragato and Fuecoco tilted their heads as they watched Ceruledge. 

Liko quickly understood what Ceruledge was looking for and smiled softly at the pokémon's concern for her trainer. 

Picking up Amethio's presence, Ceruledge quickly rushed to the infirmary. She busted through the door to see her healing trainer, eating. 

Liko followed behind Ceruledge with Floragato. She smiled as she saw the two reunite. She placed Corviknight's pokeball next to the door before walking away.

"Come on, let's leave them be."

Chapter Text

Liko came back after an hour to check back up on Amethio. She knocked on the door before slowly opening it. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

Amethio glanced at Liko before focusing his attention back at his resting Ceruledge. His chest and abdomen were wrapped tightly in bandages with several stitches in his arms, legs, and side from the fall, making any movement slightly restricted.

Liko frowned at the silent treatment he was giving her. She slightly stepped in the infirmary, softly closing the door behind her and sitting in a chair.  Floragato sat next to Liko, using her vine as a yo-yo. 

"I know you don't like me, and you don't have the best history with the Rising Volt Tacklers." Liko looked down at Hattena, who was sitting on her lap with Terapagos. "But I wanted to thank you for saving me against the black Rayquaza."

Amethio responded with only a nod.

Liko sighed as her blue eyes trailed to his two resting pokémon. "You really care about your pokémon, don't you." It was more of a statement than a question. 

Amethio nodded again. He cared for Ceruledge and Corviknight than anything as he had them since he was a child.

"I'll be leaving." Liko slowly stood up, holding Hatenna and Terapagos in her arms. "Let me know if you need anything."

Floragato quietly shut the door behind them, leaving Amethio with his pokémon. 

'I have to get out of here.' Amethio breathed in, causing a sharp pain in his lungs. "I'll leave when Corviknight is good to fly." Amethio mumbled as he lied back down under the covers.

________

The cold wind blew through Amethio's black and silver hair. He held Ceruledge's pokeball in his trembling hand with Corviknight next to him. 

"Are you good to fly, Corviknight?"

"Corvi!"

"Let's g-

A hand rested on Amethio's shoulder. Amethio tensed up and backed away.

"And where do you think you're going?" 

It was Friede. Of all people. Of all members of the Rising Volt Tacklers. It had to be him.

Amethio glared at him. The glare only made Friede's smirk grow bigger. Friede had a feeling an escape attempt would happen, though he wasn't expecting it to be one in the morning. 

"Come on, kiddo. You need to be in bed at this hour."

Amethio stayed quiet. His glare hardened as Friede stepped closer. This was going to be very difficult for Friede. 

Friede could see through Amethio's walls that he forged. Behind those purple eyes was just a scared teenager. One who saw too much at a young age and wanted to shut out his emotions from the world. 

"Easy Amethio. I don't intend to bring you any harm."

Friede had to be careful with his words. Amethio was like a pokémon that was too injured to be on its own.

"I'm leaving, and that's that."

Friede sighed. "Fine." Amethio narrowed his eyes. "Force it is." Friede grabbed Amethio, wrapping his arms around Amethio's arms to restrain him.

"Let me go!"

Amethio shouted as he tried to get away. Corviknight instantly reacted with pecks at Friede's hands, but Friede's grip remains as he dragged Amethio back to the bed.

"Why did you try to leave? You know you're still injured."

Amethio just stayed quiet and clenched his pants. He gritted his teeth. "That's none of your business."

"Well, I brought you onto my airship to save you from death. I'd say the least you could do is try to stay put for a while until you're healed."

"Yeah, you made a bad choice. You should've left me for dead. I would've preferred it."

Friede scoffed as he sat down and crossed his arms. "Tough luck, cause I'm not going to sleep until the others are up to watch you."

That turned out to be false, as expected. 

Friede passed out within two hours of watching Amethio. This gave the Espurr looking teenager the chance he needed to escape. 

As soon as Amethio felt the coast was clear, him and Corviknight went back out on the deck.

"Alright, let's try this again."

Amethio took a deep breath. He was about to hop on Corviknight's back before his second attempt to leave was interrupted.

"Pika Pi!"

Amethio turned and groaned as he saw Captain Pikachu. Pikachu looked at Amethio with stern eyes. The looked that told Amethio he was not happy. 

"I'm leaving."

"Chu Pika Pika."

Even if Amethio didn't quite understand pokémon speech outside of his own pokémon's, he had a good feeling that the Pikachu was scolding him. Especially since he was pointing to the infirmary room door.

"Alright, can I go out for a small flight then come back since you and your crew are so opposed to me leaving permanently?"

Pikachu pondered on it it before hopping onto Corviknight and nodding. 

Amethio sighed as he realized Pikachu was only going to let it happen if he could go with them.

Too tired to fight, Amethio just accepted it and got onto Corviknight's back. 

"Let's go, Corviknight."

Corviknight nodded and took off into the night sky, flying slowly away from the Brave Olivine. 

Chapter Text

Amethio took a deep breath as he flew through the night on Corviknight's back. It felt as if getting away from the Rising Volt Tacklers for a while was something he needed. 

Captain Pikachu looked satisfied, letting the wind flow against his fur as he sat on Amethio's shoulder. "Chu Chu Pika."

Pikachu pointed back into the direction of the Brave Olivine, signaling it was time for them to head back. Amethio sighed but didn't argue. Mostly because he didn't have the energy. 

Amethio didn't want to stop flying. But, if he did head back, Friede would head out and find him. He really didn't want to deal with him.

"Let's head back, Corviknight."

Corviknight let out a soft chirp. "Corvi." She turned around and headed back to the airship. 

Amethio rubbed his tired purple eyes as he stepped onto the deck of the Brave Olivine. Pikachu jumped off his his shoulder and walked into the infirmary with Amethio and Corviknight following behind him. 

Amethio lay back down on his bed, cuddling under the covers. He opened Ceruledge's pokeball, allowing her to rest next to him for the next few hours. 

________

Amethio groaned as he was gently shaken awake. He sat up, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve. He glanced at the person shaking him.

"Good morning." Liko smiled at Amethio. "Murdock is making breakfast. Do you have anything specific you want to eat?"

"I don't want anything. I'm not hungry." Amethio stood up from his bed before walking to the deck with Ceruledge and Corviknight following.

Liko watched in a bit of worry as Amethio walked off. He didn't eat much yesterday. Just a piece of toast, and that was it from all she knew. 

"Nya?"

"Pagos!"

Liko snapped out of her thoughts as Floragato shook her shoulder, and Terapagos rubbed against her ankle. 

"Don't worry, you two. I was just thinking." Liko bent down, picking up Terapagos in her arms. "Let's go get some breakfast."

Liko walked out of the infirmary and walked into the kitchen, casting a small glance at Amethio and his pokémon as she passed by. Liko sat Terapagos down next to its food before sitting down between Roy and Dot.

"Good morning, everyone!" Murdock happily greeted as he sat down plates that held blueberry pancakes topped off with cream from Alcremie. "Dig in!"

Liko smiled as she cut up her pancakes, taking in small bites and savoring the flavor. Roy, on the other hand, was scarfing his pancakes down whole.

Friede sipped his cup of coffee. "I take it that Amethio won't be joining."

"No." Liko responded. "He said he wasn't hungry and just walked to the deck with Ceruledge and Corviknight."

"I'm not surprised." Mollie swallowed her food. "His digestive system was badly injured, so it might be difficult to eat."

"Why was he so injured?" Dot questioned as she gave a small piece of pancake to Tinkatink and Quaxly. "Those injuries didn't look to be an accident."

Friede took a deep breath and pulled out an unlocked phone from his pocket. It showed the text messages of Amethio and his two allies. 

Liko, Roy, and Dot looked at the messages. All of them were of Zirc and Conia asking where Amethio was and if he was okay. 

"Is this Amethio's phone?" Roy questioned. 

Friede and Pikachu nodded simultaneously. "If you read a little further back, he texts mention that he was released from the Explorers."

Liko tensed up as she had a gut feeling on what happened. The rest of the crew felt the same feeling, but she had it the worst.

"You don't think the Explorers did that to him?" Orla questioned, showing some worry in her voice. 

"It's a possibility." Friede crossed his arms. "If they were behind his injuries, then they'll likely come back to finish the job if they find out he's still breathing."

"Chu Pikachu."

"This is a problem." Mollie groaned and leaned back in her chair. "If we keep him here, the Explorers will attack. If we let him go off on his own, he'll likely get killed."

"You know," Dot spoke up. "Since we'll be in Paldea for a while for our Tera training, he'll have more of a chance to recover with us being able to watch him."

Mollie looked outside to see Amethio on the deck. "If he doesn't sneak off and gets himself killed."

"Pikachu."

Liko grabbed Amethio's phone from the table. "I'm going to take this back to him. I'm sure he's probably been looking for this. Watch Terapagos for me."

Liko pardoned herself from the room as she walked out to the deck with Floragato. Finding Amethio with his two pokémon, as expected, Liko and Floragato walked up to them.

"Here, I figured you'd want this back."

Amethio turned his head, his purple eyes locking on his phone. Expecting a snatch mixer in with anger, Liko prepared for the worst.

Amethio, however, just simply took it. "You went through it, didn't you?" He questioned as the first thing that was opened on his phone was his messages, despite him remembering closing all of his apps out before he was hunted down by Spinel. 

Feeling Amethio deserved honesty, Liko told the truth. "Yeah, Friede went through some of the messages to see if he could find anyway to get information about what happened to you, and, well, found a bit more than I think we needed to know."

Liko leaned against the railing next to Amethio. Ceruledge watched her and Floragato for any chance of sudden wrong movements.

"You know I've been released from my job. You can stop beating around the bush."

"Yeah, Friede just told us at breakfast. I'm sorry you lost it because of me."

"I teamed up with that idiot to fight the black Rayquaza, so I probably would've lost it anyway from that. At least Spinel didn't get his hands on it."

Liko had a good feeling who he was talking about. Most likely, the one who stole her pendant in Levincia. "You know, your two friends are really worried for you. You should probably inform them that you're OK."

"I don't have friends." Amethio bluntly stated. "If you mean Zirc and Conia, they're former allies and coworkers. Besides, a call or text can be traced."

Liko and Floragato tilted their heads. "What about Ceruledge and Corviknight? Are they not your friends." Liko asked, giving the two pokémon a look.

"I'm hardly worthy enough to be their trainer, let alone friend." Ceruledge and Corviknight gave Liko and Floragato a dismissive wave with their wing and blade to show that this was a common thing for Amethio. But they viewed him as their friend. 

Liko knew what it was like to have low self-esteem. It sucked. She just didn't think that Amethio would have it as well. "Well, since Friede and Captain probably won't let you leave their sight any time soon, do you think we could be friends."

"I doubt it."

Liko clenched her fist. Maybe she'd have to get a better understanding of humans first. "You know, showing more emotions like happiness once in a while wouldn't kill you."

To Amethio, they absolutely could. One wrong moment of weakness could get you put in the claws of the grim reaper. 

Liko could see the small amounts of discomfort on Amethio's face. He was always stoic around her whenever he was doing his job about capturing Terapagos. 

Amethio let out a sigh.

"Fine, I'll try emotions out."

Chapter Text

Amethio held his belly where his stitches as he looked in the bathroom mirror. He looked awful. Lack of sleep from pain and the constant guilt, refusing to eat, just taking a shower showed his exhaustion. 

"Alright, it can't be bad."

Amethio finished drying himself off from his shower. He put on the new clothes he was given, a plain white shirt and some black pants.

Amethio stretched his limbs, letting out a small yawn.

The crew had just arrived and docked in Paldea last night for repairs on the ship and for the kids' Tera training tests.

Amethio had kind of given up on any chance of escaping. Mainly, after a few pound attacks from Chansey along with Pikachu, who gave him constant scoldings.

Amethio walked out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Amethio walked out to the deck where Ceruledge was waiting. 

"Ah, there you are." Amethio turned his head to see old man Ludlow with his Quagsire. "Liko, Roy, and Dot are at Naranja Academy with Friede. Murdock, Mollie, and Orla are out at the town right now, so it's just us for now."

Amethio responded with a nod as Ludlow sat in his normal fishing spot.

"Would you like to join?"

Amethio froze at Ludlow's question. "I'm good. I'm not the fisherman type." Ceruledge rolled her eyes at her trainer as she knew Amethio just didn't know how to fish.

Both Quagsire and Ceruledge gave Amethio a push forward, making him stumble to the railing. 

"It's not that hard." Ludlow patted Amethio's shoulder, trying to give him a small amount of support. "Just stay calm, and when you feel the perfect moment, reel it in."

Amethio sighed and stood still as he didn't have much of a saying in the matter. "Like this?"

"Sire"

The silence was deafening for the teen.

Why were they being so nice to him? He chased them down. He caused many problems from them. Why were they sheltering him? Why did the girl he tried to hunt for his goal want to be his friend? Why wouldn't someone just yell and reprimand him for the wrongdoings he's done.

What was wrong with them?

What was wrong with Amethio himself? 

"The body can only do so much depending where the mind is at." Amethio's attention turned to Ludlow. "Those with the wrong mindset will be weighed down as others climb high."

"Weighed down?"

Amethio's grip on the fishing rod tightened as Ludlow nodded. 

"No one here hates you."

'Why not!'

"Sure, they hold some resentment."

'They should despise me!'

"But they like to see the good in people. Especially Liko."

'Why her of all of them!'

"Tell me, how do you think Ceruledge and Corviknight feel when you speak so low of yourself."

Amethio froze in place. "How did you," Ludlow let out a chuckle. 

"Everyone has their own stories to share. Some are more obvious than others. The way you like to be around your pokémon, how you like to distance others, how you don't eat much, how the only small emotions you show are negative."

Amethio slowly rubbed Ceruledge's head. He didn't really think about what his pokémon felt when he talked bad about himself.

"I guess I didn't really think that."

Maybe he was just overreacting from the new environment. One that was healthy and supportive. 

"You got a nibble."

Amethio's attention went back to the small bobber that was being slightly tugged under water. To be honest, Amethio forgot that he was still fishing. 

"Quags."

"Just a little bit longer." Ludlow watched in silence until the bobber was completely pulled underwater. "Now, reel it in."

Amethio obeyed and pulled back, reeling the line in. Out from the water and onto the deck came a Vaporeon. The Vaporeon gracefully strutted around the deck, leaving Amethio standing there in confusion. 

"Here, feed it this." Ludlow handed Amethio a bit of pokémon food made by Murdock. "It'll help you befriend it."

"OK." Amethio bent down to the Vaporeon's height, holding out the food. "Here, have some." The Vaporeon delightfully ate out of his hand, letting out a happy yell.

"Go on, pet it."

Amethio was hesitant but carefully patted the Vaporeon's head, gently scratching behind its frilly ears.

"Ceru."

Ceruledge nodded towards Ludlow and Quagsire as a thankful gesture for helping her trainer with Amethio's mental state.

"Would you like to do some more fishing?"

Amethio nodded. He seemed to enjoy it slightly. But on his life, he would not let Friede know.

As the sun slowly set, Mollie, Orla, and Murdock returned to the Brave Olivine. 

"We're back."

Mollie called out but was silenced as Ludlow placed a finger over his mouth with a small 'shh,'. He pointed towards Amethio, who was surrounded by pokémon. 

The more Amethio had fished, the more pokémon gathered. It started with a few Magikarp that swam up to the airship, then a few Swablu that flew by, after that was a Banette and some Shuppet.

"Looks like he's having fun." Murdock smiled as he watched the scene. "In his own quiet way."

"He's slowly adjusting here." Orla commented with her arms crossed over her chest, with Elekid mimicking her movements.

Mollie just frowned. "Still, we shouldn't be too carefree with him in case for some reason he's still loyal to the Explorers."

"Chanse, Chansey."

"I doubt he is. He would have no reason to." Ludlow chuckled.