Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Bonding is imperative between partners, Gaoshun reminded himself as he indulged in the eevee’s soft fur, it let out the most adorably contented noise, almost a purr as it nuzzled him. Taomei sighed and rolled her eyes, he could see the lecture later of being ‘too soft’ on the creature. But he had found adapting to the pokemon’s presenting personality had always served him better when it came to his pipeline of protectors, though he did miss his little growlithe when the little fireball became an arcanine. 

While eevee had been equally playful he never missed an opportunity to be affectionate, especially when they were in select company. A rare quality in the Rear Palace, and one he quietly enjoyed. How many nights had he stirred as the little warmth curled up against his chest or his back, or his sigh was met with a little nuzzle along his leg paired with a concerned purring chirp. 

The eevee wasn’t his only concern, Gaoshun did hope to high heaven that the young prince’s Kirlia was male, a gallade would present as a better escort to him than a guardevoir, it was consistently showered with attention that couldn’t be extended to the Rear Palace manager. Over the years it had become more and more edgy regarding the emboldened consorts. Its move set had shifted in a unique direction with disarming voice, teleport, life dew, with future sight as its only real attack, he suspected it was mostly to keep the young man safe from advances without causing political issues. It seemed the most relaxed in the Empress’s home. Though, like his eevee, there was usually a rush to one standoffish apothecary. They both sought her attention without so much as a glance at the higher ranking individuals in the room. This made for multiple amused glances and a perturbed sigh from the reserved woman.

The attendant had been considering if it was time to retire mienshao as she had been serving originally under Suiren. While his rockruff had once been playful and wanted nothing more but to work and train and be the strongest lycanrock, this eevee had posed… challenges.

***

“Froggadier!” the Moon Prince charged in for another attack in unison with his partner, the creature laying down cover with water shuriken while his blade followed in quick succession. 

Gaoshun managed to parry the strike, and eevee’s quick attack went for the prince’s legs. Unfortunately the small beast only managed to trip him up for a stride. Jinshi rolled and came in for a killing blow. Luckily Hariyama’s counter landed just in time to send the young man back, staggering into the wall. 

The prince’s Lucario was prepping an aurasphere, but the whole fight dissipated to nothing as eevee cried out and ran to the prince and of all the moves used… “Charm?”

Jinshi chuckled and reached out to pet him, only to have a tail flick in his face as the little furball raised his nose in the air and trotted back to his master, sitting with tail flicking proudly and just the BIGGEST eyes of hope with the new move it presented.

The attendant opened his arms to the creature despite the twist in his stomach. It tilted its head in confusion as his brow knit. Ears drooping, the approach became unsure, it was clear the small one wondered if it had displeased him. 

***

“Oh good morning eevee,” Maomao startled as her elbow was shoved upward and the head tucked under, settling itself across her lap with a contented chirp. Realizing her day was about to be disrupted, she ground the herbs a little faster.

The door knocked behind her, “Coming.”

She passed the pestle to her little mushroom morelull who took over without question. Eevee seemed displeased at the cuddle disruption, but hopped to her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek, she responded with a polite pet as Gaoshun slid the door open, “Eevee, you can’t dash ahead like that.”

“Eevee,” the creature sassed the Imperial attendant. 

The apothecary tilted her head, “What happened with you two?”

So quick to pick up on these things, the attendant sighed, “I’m just… concerned about Eevee’s training.”

“Did something happen?”

“Yes, he presented… a fairy-type attack.”

Her hand went to her chin, glancing to her own grass-fairy pokemon, “Fairy has its advantages.”

He sighed his signature sigh, “Yes but my team isn’t built to field that strength.”

“For a man who often finds the peaceful outcome it makes sense to me.”

The man glanced at the creature whose tail was flicking in annoyance, and its look was very… Maomaoesque.

“And what gap are you looking to fill with this one?” Maomao asked flatly.

“Honestly, psychic or dark.”

“You speak as if you lack access to evolution stones,” just use him, he may be your partner, but he’s also a tool for the noble protection detail, she all but rolled her eyes.

Gaoshun’s lip pinched slightly, looking at the palace ‘cat’ who thrived because they hadn’t forced her, “Regardless, Master Jinshi is asking for you.”

Of course he was.

The ‘eunuch’ was seated across from the pregnant Empress, Lingli was playing with the litten they had deemed ‘admonisher of thieves’. It had clearly bonded with the child, but greeted Gaoshun warmly as he snuck it a treat. It grumbled as eevee had clearly taken its preferred place in the room on Maomao’s shoulder.

She couldn’t for the life of her understand why all these creatures gravitated to her, but the palace staff appreciated the additional protection they offered. The future Incineroar would certainly keep the kidnappers at bay for both the apothecary and the princess. Not that anyone was going to say anything beyond soft glances and hidden smiles that were covered in an instant. 

Jinshi cleared his throat, “It seems Lady Lishu is having some trouble.”

Ah, there it is. She was wondering how long this issue would come back to her, after the interaction at the bathhouse. 

Following the Rear Palace manager and his attendant she bowed as they greeted the Diamond pavillion, eevee ever balanced on her shoulder, “Lady Lishu, it’s a pleasure as always.”

The young high consort perked up, “Master Jinshi!”

But the other ladies in waiting scoffed, Kanan exchanged a sympathetic look with her lady. The apothecary felt the tight twitch of eevee’s tail against her hair, the little one could feel it, even if the male attendants hadn’t noticed. Maomao swore Jinshi threw a dazzling gleam attack to pacify them, she wondered if she ever got her hands on a rare pokeball if she could throw one at him. Would he be captured? She shuttered at the thought as he would relish in calling her Master. Maybe she could trade him for a poison-type from a distant region. 

They followed her to her bathing room and it went as well as could be expected, the ladies in waiting scolded the high consort for ‘seeking attention’. The apothecary felt the vibrations of a growl on her shoulder despite it being inaudible, she quietly smoothed down the raised heckles as Jinshi presented his own counter to the tactless behavior. She shuttered as the woman jolted under his freezing glare, the apothecary wondered yet again if he was a psychic type. Either way he managed to clear them out by pondering over a drink of sorts. Watching them fumble over each other to serve him was an ever amusing game for her. 

But that’s not why she was here, the billowing cloth and mysterious face were the actual mystery at hand. Adding to Jinshi’s to-do list with rotting floor boards and overly moist storage they came across a mirror. The apothecary studied its angle before having the cautious high consort hold it. Pulling away the curtain, daylight poured in and she adjusted the angle and everyone gasped as there was -indeed- a face on the wall. 

“What is this?” the ‘eunuch’ wondered aloud.

“A magic mirror, though I’ve never seen one in person before,” Maomao observed and explained, however tiny claws dug into her shoulder with a little growl. She followed the eevee’s line of sight to the mirror and the face… blinked?

Her eyes narrowed as she approached and the little growl increased, tail fluffing. Another step forward and it launched off her shoulder in a bite attack only for the feminine face to twist and a massive tongue came out of its mouth as a lick counter. In quick succession both Jinshi and Maomao rushed forward. The apothecary to catch eevee and the man to shield her while Lishu and her attendant screamed and fell backward in shock. 

“G-g-g-g-g-HOST!” Lishu cried out. 

Maomao blinked at the manager who quickly backed up, going back to back with her while looking around the space. Eevee was temporarily paralyzed in her arms, she found herself suddenly glad she was working on a general healing remedy back in her room. It chittered, clearly fighting to regain functionality. Her eyes scanned the space as the reflection was now on the ceiling from Lady Lishu falling to the floor. 

“Come on out, we won’t hurt you,” the apothecary spoke into the space.

“Speak for yourself,” Jinshi hissed as he dropped a rare pokeball, his bronzor releasing into the space, it looked to him for guidance, his tone carried absolute authority, “safeguard and prepare for hypnosis.”

Maomao blinked as shields settled over each of the humans, “Wait on the hypnosis,” he whipped a glance over his shoulder, “Please.”

Eevee chittered, desperate and unable to protect her. She held it close as she stepped away from Jinshi, circling as her eyes scanned the space, “Did you mean any harm?”

A laugh echoed through the space, she asked again, “Would you harm Lady Lishu?”

Jinshi eyed every floating dust particle, every breath, every movement in the space, the face on the ceiling frowned and he glanced at his bronzor. Maomao held out a staying hand and followed his gaze up. “Were you pulling a prank?”

The laughter was a little sadder this time. The apothecary motioned to the ceiling, “Come on down, it’s okay.”

A purple mass materialized in front of her, tongue waggling, claws gripping nervously, it glanced between the trembling Lishu and the protective Manager’s bronzor. Maomao reached out her hand, “A haunter huh? Well… you were right. It was a ghost,” she took the now solid claw, “You really scared us.”

The haunter chuckled and dematerialized, reappearing behind her as its voice echoed against the wooden room. 

“It has to go,” Jinshi stated clearly.

A ghost/poison type? ABSOLUTELY NOT. “Can I take it?”

The prince blinked in confusion as the creature continued to bounce around the apothecary in half-hearted jumpscares. “You’re joking.”

Maomao shook her head, “Would you like to come with me?”

The ghost looked rather sad, looking longingly out the window, the apothecary pondered, “Are you… trapped here?”

Its eyes fell, and Jinshi stepped forward, “Were you a previous tenant of this home?”

It nodded and he sighed, “Then you of all creatures know how inappropriate your behavior was milady.”

The ghost fiddled with her claws, pointing to where the other ladies in waiting had exited, “Haunter- haunt-haunt-er.”

There was a pause as they attempted to decipher what the creature was trying to convey. A glint flashed in the apothecary’s eye and she looked to the still-trembling Lishu, kneeling at her side she asked quietly, “May I make a suggestion Milady?”

Grasping her mirror a little tighter she nodded and Maomao whispered in her ear, her eyes widened “O-oh I don’t know.”

Turning to the ghost the apothecary asked, “Haunter, do you know palace etiquette?”

The ghost nodded.

“And has it been followed in this pavilion?”

Haunter shook her head.

Maomao eyed Jinshi, “Would you be willing to trust Haunter to… encourage the staff to adhere to protocol?”

He exchanged a look with his bronzor, “What are you suggesting?”

She tapped her chin with a mirthful grin, “I don’t know, perhaps she could start by returning all the hairpins and inappropriate accessories taken from Lady Lishu.”

A huffing laugh became a scoff, “I’m going to get a lot of complaints aren’t I?”

Haunter, however, looked very excited about this proposition, startling a little when Maomao pointed a finger sharply in her face, “BUT you have to promise not to scare Lady Lishu, it would mean your job was to protect her.”

The ghost snapped into a salute, bowing first to the high consort, and then the Rear Palace Manager. Eevee rose slowly from Maomao’s grasp, eyes narrowed as he chittered at the ghost, they seemed to have a rather involved conversation before it climbed back up on her shoulder and wagged his fluffy tail happily. Clearly the paralysis had worn off. 

“Eevee, you think this is a good idea?” Jinshi marveled at the little beast, the cheerful chirp and nuzzle of the Apothecary had him befuddled and a little jealous.

“And you understand if you violate these terms we’re going to have problems next time?” the Manager said sternly, to which the ghost nodded with a grin and he chose to recall his bronzor. 

Haunter offered a hand to Lady Lishu, the consort trembled. Maomao approached and offered her hand as well, “Are you still opposed?”

“How do you know we can trust her?” Lishu asked as the apothecary helped her up.

The ghost studied the mirror for a moment and vanished. There was a scream down the hallway along with the sound of china shattering, Jinshi tried to rub away the eye twitch that was forming, as moments later another ‘missing accessory’ was floating in front of Lishu, “I thought I’d lost that years ago,” it dropped into her open hand, she clasped it close to the mirror. 

Perhaps another treasure from her mother.

Reappearing with her arms crossed and eyes rolling, the ghost grumbled. Jinshi sighed, “Can you write?”

The ghost nodded.

“Then we need to have a long discussion of ‘how far is too far’. And I’m going to want reports delivered by Kanan.”

Haunter nodded exuberantly. 

“Perhaps a way to alert us to your presence before you scare Lady Lishu?” the apothecary offered. 

The ghost floated over to claw the wall, Maomao got ahead of that, “NOPE.”

She tried ruffling the curtains, Maomao shook her head, she went to tap the apothecary’s shoulder, “If you could come with me sure, but you’re going to give her a heart attack.”

Haunter looked around the room and her eyes settled on the basket next to the bathtub, tenderly picking up a bell and ringing it once. Maomao looked between Lishu and Jinshi. He seemed amenable and while Lishu was still nervous she nodded her head.

“What do you say we spend a week getting to know you and working out terms before I get inundated with ghost calls.”

The ghost bowed to Jinshi and vanished as the ladies in waiting returned with tea, looking rather shaken up, “perhaps Milady is right, maybe there is a ghost.”

Maomao and Jinshi exchanged glances and eevee chittered in greeting.

***

Gaoshun straightened as the pair came down the stairs, his eevee’s tail twitching proudly like it was expecting a reward, ruffling Maomao’s hair. 

“How did it go, Xiaomao?”

“Eevee did outstanding, identifying the key issue and offering negotiable terms.”

The attendant looked to the prince who was rubbing away another eye twitch, “We’ll talk in the carriage.”

***

Several weeks later Maomao received a summons to Jinshi’s pavilion, she was greeted by the Ma clan member and escorted to the garden, she subtly eyed the herbs she had worked into the landscaping. They were coming along nicely. Blinking at the gesture to the bench seating, she looked up at the attendant, “Sir?”

“Oh this visit wasn’t for Master Jinshi, I… I’d like your opinion on a delicate matter.”

Sitting she tilted her head, “Is there a reason this couldn’t be done in the Rear Palace?”

“It happened… this morning and I’m not sure what to do,” he produced a pokeball and stroked its seams.

Pokeball, a rare, imperially crafted item that allowed even massive creatures to be summoned at an instant. He tossed it to the stone and before her formed a creature of elegance, eyes a gentle blue reserved for the brightest summer days. Ears and tail and socks in the softest and pink with ribbons flowing from bows on his ear and collar. Its white coat shimmered in the sun. 

“He looks quite healthy,” she deadpanned.

The sylveon chittered sadly and rubbed along Maomao’s leg, draping it’s paws over her lap the moment she pet him, “What moves did he gain in his evolution?”

“It appears to be a buff called ‘helping hands’ as well as ‘psyshock’.”

“Congratulations on your psychic move,” she stroked the creature’s head, “and that helps your teammates?” I wonder if that would help in making medicine?

“Xiaomao, I… can’t keep him.”

The sylveon nuzzled against her closely, tears slipping from his eyes as he whimpered. Maomao clicked her tongue, “Why didn’t you use a stone?”

“I tried, he attacked any stone I offered him.”

“Isn’t this evolution only possible with a close bond?”
“Yes, but-”

Her turn to sigh, “He openly rejected all stones and made a point to be with you every moment he was out of the pokeball, what were you expecting?”

“He also has bite and shadowball,” the attendant countered, “he only ever used charm ONCE!”

“So you’re going to what? Abandon him?”

“No… but Master Jinshi can’t keep him, Basen would find him a disgrace, and Taomei-” he shuddered. 

Maomao looked at the creature, so feminine in his appearance, but powerful enough to be a protector in the Rear Palace. “He hasn’t bonded with many.”

The sylveon trembled in her grasp, she tried rubbing his ears to calm him down, he eased against her slightly. “You’re right Xiaomao, he hasn’t.”

There was a tone there… ooh oh no. “You’re not suggesting-”

“I would offer him to Lady Lishu, but they’ve only met a couple times.”

Her cat ears pinned to her head, “Master Gaoshun.”

“You know what the court would do.”

Of course, they’d disgrace the eunuch even further. He’d be the laughing stock of the guards. No one would take him seriously with ribbons flowing off of his partner in summer pastels. 

“Well then Sylver, would you like to stay with me?” she asked, naming the tearful creature. His whimpers were breaking her heart, “This is awfully cruel of you Master Gaoshun.”

The attendant looked at the creature who had soaked up all of his love, all the strokes and touches and hugs he couldn’t give in the court. All the hugs he couldn’t give Basen or Jinshi, or even Xiaomao. This creature had taken all of it and reflected it back only for him to abandon the emotion when it took physical form? He swallowed past the lump in his throat, his voice barely choking out a whisper, “I know, I’m sorry.”

He reached toward Sylver’s face to wipe a tear and the creature growled, baring his teeth. Maomao yanked the creature back, “Hey! Hey now,” she softened, guiding the creature’s blue eyes to hers, “He’s not sending you away, you’ll still get to see him, just… not as often as you like.”

Sylver tried to duck his head, burying it in her sleeve, “Besides,” she added, “I want to see what your helping hands can do.”

One ear raised slightly in hope, Gaoshun cleared his throat, “Sylver, Maomao’s right, you don’t deserve this.”

Sylveon growled. 

The attendant put up a hand, “But I need someone strong to keep an eye on Maomao, you know how important she is to me… to us. To this entire household.”

The apothecary blinked at his inference, but Gaoshun wasn’t talking to her, “Can you keep her safe for me? Be with her, in a place where you can be yourself?”

Master and pokemon exchanged a long, tearful look before a ribbon gently wiped away Gaoshun’s tear. The Imperial attendant choked back a sob as the other ribbon wrapped around Maomao’s arm and slowly led her away, head down and ears drooped, leaning against her leg.

The carriage pulled away as silent tears trickled down the attendant’s cheeks.

***

Jinshi watched quietly from his office. He could surmise what was going on at a distance. The prince was there this morning when they were sparring. Eevee was on his last leg, he could see the prince’s team was on the ropes, and with the last of eevee’s strength he offered helping hands to Gaoshun’s Sirfetch’d collapsing as the rest of his body evolved, earning them the winning strike. 

Ka Zuigetsu sighed heavily as his and Gaoshun’s hearts, their safe places, walked out the front gate… hand in ribbon.

Chapter Text

(Apologies I twisted my timeline up a bit, Gyokuyou is still pregnant with the crown prince, so she’s not quite Empress yet. Consider it corrected moving forward)

That night Jinshi stared at his partners, Lucario had given up and was meditating, however Froggadier studied him right back. The prince’s cheeks flushed remembering the cave, the fall, her delicate frame in his arms, the scent of her medicines, so close, his dismay as she compared what she felt to a joltik- a joltik!

“It’s not that small.”

“Why are you wiping your hand!?”

“I think it shocked me.”

“It DID NOT!”

“Bugs are gross.”

“Who are you calling GROSS!?”

Heavens a diglet, or even a froakie would have been better than the miniscule spiderling!

He stared with puffed cheeks at his amphibious partner, “Then again she probably would have called it slimy if she compared it to you.”

“Fro?”

Jinshi sighed heavily and retired. 

***

Gaoshun followed his charge into the Jade Pavillion, they bowed in greeting. 

“You summoned me my Lady?” Jinshi asked.

The glitter in her eyes said much as Ailan set out tea, “Master Jinshi I appreciate your prompt response, it’s actually Maomao who needs… Gaoshun.”

The men blinked, they had done this in reverse many times, but the apothecary wasn’t one to summon them. It was at this moment they realized she wasn’t even present, “You’ll find her in the storage room.”

“Is she still in punishment?” the attendant asked.

Lady Gyokuyou covered her amusement, “We can’t get her out.”

Jinshi’s eyes fell to the table, fondly remembering when she was trying to be moved to the stable in his home. As suspected, her misunderstanding knew no bounds. They bowed and went to find her.

She could be heard before she was seen, “Sylver -come on- you can help but you don’t have to -HEY- oh for heaven sake- would you JUST-”

They slid the door open quietly. No surprise the table was covered in herbs at various stages of processing. The little Morelull was breaking down dried plants. Leaves in one pile, blossoms in another, stems in another, scraps in the compost basket. There was both a mortar and pestle and a grinding mill and wheel. Judging by their position Sylver was assigned to the grinding mill, but apparently thought he could reach with his ribbons while draping himself over her lap. 

“You’re NOT an eevee anymore! You can’t just-” she sighed heavily, “Master Gaoshun his pokeball is defective would you do something about him!?”

The prince covered his mouth, split between entertainment and pure jealousy of this creature absolutely snuggled directly into a place where he could only dream of resting. Sylver’s ribbons wound around her waist while the other pair was holding the grinding wheel haphazardly. Gaoshun came over and offered his hands. The sylveon gently relinquished the tool and untangled from her, only to crawl into his lap, wrapping the soft ribbons around his previous master and nuzzling against his neck. The attendant wrapped his arms around the beast and was clearly calming them both with a much needed embrace. Jinshi masked his smirk. If the manager didn’t know any better he’d say they were charging.

Jinshi quietly shut the door behind him and locked it so they could have a private conversation. He took the pestle from Maomao and sat next to her. This easily superseded their awkward state, his tone soft and genuinely concerned with nary a sparkle in sight, “You alright apothecary?”

Her brows pinched in exasperation, dark, heavy bags under her eyes she groaned, “Master Jinshi he won’t stay in his pokeball for anything. He’s always nuzzling me and holding my hand at every opportunity.”

Yeaaaaah…. Jealousy.

She glared at Gaoshun, “What possessed you to train him like that!? At night he either lays back to back, or crushes me by laying on my chest, or demands to be the ‘little spoon’ when I’m on my side.”

Never had the prince wanted to body swap so badly with a pokemon. He spared an envious glance at the creature before regarding the obvious effects of the emotional smothering, “Are you getting any rest?”

“Hardly, he’s almost as bad a Pairin, just way less gropy or well-endowed.”

He choked on air, “Is he willing to work with the other ladies in waiting?”

“For short bursts, but as Gaoshun stated he isn’t bonded to many.”

Jinshi wanted to pull her into his lap so she could fall asleep. He wanted to tuck her in, as he had when the beam fell and she was injured. The prince would gladly kick them out in a heartbeat if he thought cuddling against his chest was a solution. But it currently looked like his inclination would be the same problem in a different body. “How can we help?”

She crossed her arms on the desk and buried her face in an incoherent series of mumbles and grumbles. He smiled at the rare lack of decorum, and leaned closer, “do we need to see if Suiren will take him?”

Her chest heaved in a sigh, “You want to hand a lady in waiting -who hid your toys to keep you from being overly attached- a Pokemon who specially evolved because of attachment? Who -even now- is desperate for touch because he feels abandoned?”

He winced, “point taken.”

Rolling her head to the side she peered through her bangs, “If I return to serving you in your pavilion it won’t matter so much because Master Gaoshun would be around, and he’s comfortable with you and your Pokemon. But while he is kind to the others here, he’s not seeking them OUT.”

Jinshi decided to be bold and gently rub her back, she didn’t move away, but her whimper was pitiable. He looked at Gaoshun and Sylver, “Thoughts?”

“Xiaomao needs rest.”

“Agreed,” Jinshi nodded.

The little Morelull wandered over and patted Maomao’s bangs, attempting to comfort her.

After several beats she asked quietly, “is there another Pokemon he’s bonded to that I could borrow?”

That was a thought. The gentleman exchanged a glance. One came to mind but it was definitely a Moon Prince ally and not something Jinshi would be seen with. And even then it’s not like they could hand her a pokeball. “Maomao… if I send this help it has to be kept a secret.”

She glanced between his legs and up to his face with a glower, ANOTHER SECRET?!?

He struggled to hide his amusement, softly brushing her bangs out of her face, “I trust you, and am prepared to do what’s necessary to keep you healthy too.”

“Your secrets are trouble.”

“They don’t have to be secrets with you,” he offered softly.

“Does Lady Gyokuyou know this secret?”

“Would that make a difference?” He countered. 

“I will not make her an enemy.”

“This won’t jeopardize your relationship.”

She looked… unconvinced.

Gaoshun sighed, Jinshi could hear him in his mind as a mantra, ‘just TELL HER’, over and over. And he had tried, and she was so exhausted that her prized bezoar was just out on the counter. He suspected she would have processed it by now if she wasn’t so utterly miserable. He picked up the treasured satchel and fiddled idly, “Whether you like it or not Apothecary you have earned the trust and the favor of the Imperial family. And the most you’ve asked for is to be heard, have access to rare medicine and to spend some time to be with Dr. Kan. It’s time we return the favor.”

We?

She jolted as his hand took hers, placing her treasure in her grasp, “Please let me send someone to help with Sylver. Leave your window open and light sandalwood incense that you burn in my villa. And if you like we can inform Lady Gyokuyou of what’s going on so you can get some sleep.”

As much as she didn’t want to be touched, his hands were warm and caring, much like the overstimulating creature in Gaoshun’s arms. But for once Jinshi wasn’t trying to take or trap… he was trying to give. Out of exhaustion or desperation, her head fell against his shoulder with a defeated whimper of, “okay.”

“Okay,” he echoed tenderly. 

***

As the last rays of the sun painted the clouds in golds and pinks Maomao opened her windows, two incense sticks of sandalwood burned as she was unsure how far the scent needed to travel. 

Sylver sniffed the air and whimpered at the reminder of Jinshi’s Pavillion. The apothecary sighed and went to brush her teeth, a soft ribbon gently draped around her shoulder. He seemed to figure it was the most ‘out of the way’ while still being in contact. 

After nearly tripping her down a staircase by wrapping an ankle, repeatedly getting scoldings for impeding a hand or arm, and the sharp looks he got from wrapping around her waist left him trembling. 

Why was it he could perch on her shoulder or she would hold him as an eevee? What was wrong with him now? Rejection was almost a constant state of mind as he overstimulated her to exhaustion. And sensing her intense annoyance every time he tuned in with his ribbon was not helping. She did try to explain and they were working things out, but Gaoshun’s hug meant the world today. It was quiet, accepting and as loving as it had always been. 

A tear slid down his cheek as he tilted his head against the apothecary, feeling her sigh physically and emotionally through the ribbon. The apothecary finished brushing her teeth and hair and led him to the edge of the bed, squaring him in front of her so she could look him in the eye. She cupped his cheek and wiped the tears from his fur, “I’m sorry Sylver, you really didn’t deserve this. We’re gonna see if an old friend can help you.”

She shivered as a chilly north wind rattled the window. Sylver all but squealed in delight, untangling from her and bounding like a puppy to the window.

Whoa.

Maomao expected a flying or fighting type but this- it’s flowing purple mane billowed over its back, shimmering like an aurora in the fading light, its tails rippling forward like ribbons. The floorboard creaked beneath the beast that stood taller than Jinshi. It lowered its head to greet Sylver, giving him a sweet lick on the cheek. 

Maomao bowed, “Suicune, it’s an honor. I assume Master Jinshi asked for you?”

The legendary beast nodded.

“…Thank you for your help.” What have I gotten myself into NOW!?

Sylver on the other hand was thrilled to see the crimson eyed beast, seeming to regale its woes in whimpers and barks. The beast found an empty corner and laid down, sylveon nestling right against its side as it listened attentively. It’s white tails interacting with Sylver’s ribbons, a gentle wrapping of assurance as the Pokemon poured out his woes. 

The azure beast nuzzled the young counterpart and seemed to ask a question, Sylver shook his head like a human’s ‘no’. Suicune asked a second question after locking eyes with Maomao, she stiffened at the pointed look, even if it was full of compassion. Sylver, again, shook his head ‘no’, clearly trying to sort through whatever wisdom was being offered. If the apothecary had to guess by tone alone the visitor was asking Sylver if they had abandoned him, to which the answer would be no even if it wasn’t the best situation. Whatever the legendary beast said it was clearly calming Sylver down.

‘You look concerned child.’

Maomao jolted, “WAIT- how!?”

‘You humans call it telepathy.’

The apothecary stumbled back, nearly collapsing as two sets or ribbons helped her sit on the edge of her bed, one pearlescent white, the other tipped in blue and pink. They gave her a moment to process.

After several beats she surrendered to reality and smacked her face with her hands, “Okay, there’s a legendary Suicune in my room and it talks,” she met its quiet gaze, “I know it was a huge favor to request your assistance on such a trivial matter, may I be so bold as to ask some questions?”

“Trivial? The young prince was quite concerned for both of your well beings.”

“I’m sorry the young WHAT!?”

“Prince? Is that not how humans refer to him?”

“Master Jinshi? Tall, long hair, wears it half-up? Obsidian eyes?”

“The image in your mind aligns with mine, though I’m usually sparring with the young man and the one called Basen or his father Gaoshun. Sylver was his eevee until recently, correct?”

Maomao nodded, trying to sort out a proper title for the noble beast, meanwhile she looked at the snuggling sylveon, “Does he know I don’t mean to hurt his feelings?”

“Yes, but he is young and still trying to wrap his mind around the changes since he evolved.”

“Well he’s certainly bigger,” Maomao sighed.

“Indeed, it appears that physical contact requires… readjustment.”

“And Gaoshun left him with the one person who doesn’t want to be touched,” she grumbled under her breath.

She could swear the beast huffed ironically, ‘Untrustworthy humans?’

Maomao stood and pointed in the direction of home, “I come from the red light district just over there. I’m sure you’ve witnessed the struggles among your wandering.”

The creature studied her intently, after a long beat its voice was filled with concern, ‘Apologies, I will convey that in a way Sylver can comprehend. Can you help me understand what you want going forward with him so what contact occurs is… amenable?’

The apothecary pondered, “I have never felt threatened by Sylver in either form. I’m happy he’s grown up healthy. I wish Gaoshun had used an evolution stone so that this didn’t happen. I don’t think it’s fair to Sylver.”

Sylveon snuffed at her and whimpered to Suicune, ‘It seems there were multiple discussions of Sylver’s evolution and your name came up more than once as to why they should just let his tendencies develop naturally.’

“Sweet in theory, but now they are socially trapped.”

‘Explain.’

“The nobility have to play by all sorts of invisible rules to be given the respect they deserve. The way one physically appears to others plays a distinct role in the hierarchy. What type of fabric, how many layers, how many adornments all visually express status and roles within the palace.”

Suicune pondered this very human construct, it took several beats before it ventured a question, ‘but Sylver had more adornments than any other eevee variant.’

“Yes but Gaoshun is a guard, an attendant. It’s not his or his Pokémon’s place to be flowy and visually, it’s their job to be intimidating and powerful.”

The legendary beast stared between the girl and the creature nestled to its side, ‘but Sylver is developing his power which takes time and practice.’

“Yes but he doesn’t look intimidating at first glance.”

‘Do I look intimidating at first glance?’

Touché.

Maomao considered how flowy they BOTH were, tails and ribbons rippling in the air, soft colors, no hard lines to their physiques. “If you were Sylver’s size and a common creature I could see how the court might struggle with your look as a partner to Gaoshun. You’d more likely be with the high consorts.”

The legendary beast was not amused, “so this is not based on power or his ability to protect at all. So mew, celebi, shaymin or victini would be…?”

The apothecary thought she’d seen sketches of celebi and shaymin, “Unless individuals knew what they were they may not be taken seriously.”

Was that a growling sigh?

She hoped this favor wasn’t about to blow up in the court's face, “Please don’t be offended with Master Jinshi or Master Gaoshun, they were trying to protect Sylver from being belittled and scorned.”

Sylveon expressed something to Suicune with great concern, ‘I see. It also appears you are worth protecting young human.’

The woman blinked in confusion, “Me? I’m just an apothecary.”

‘And I was born a Suicune, elaborate.’

“By the human rules, my birth would dictate that I am no better than a servant, not worth protecting.”

‘Even I have witnessed conversations about you Maomao, I assure you your abilities are seen long before your origin,’ the beast regarded its smaller counterpart, ‘which is part of my confusion with you little one.”

Sylver’s ears drooped as it nuzzled the azure shoulder. Maomao pondered, why am I getting talked about so much? Shaking her head she refocused, “You asked about contact, Sylver, I don’t mind you, you’re just smothering me and I need breaks. And I know why you are seeking the touch, and that you aren’t trying to threaten me, it’s just coming across like leech seed or draining kiss.”

That was understood, the pokemon exchanged a look. 

Suicune studied the apothecary and the information, ‘I will stay here until Sylver rises, but for now, sleep.’

Maomao wasn’t sure what she was hit with, but it immediately dragged her eyes shut and drug her consciousness into a deep slumber, she barely felt the ribbons and tail tucking her under the covers.

***

“You need to tell her directly. She will deny it with her dying breath otherwise.”

I just sent her a Suicune to help her sleep, Jinshi sighed, remembering her blatant denial of her discovery in the cave, “I understand Gaoshun, but we need to decide how to deal with Lakan first. This has to be done carefully.”

His opportunity came several days later, a commotion drew his attention as a young laundry maid tearfully apologized to a eunuch taking ice to Loulan. He never expected to see Maomao step in on this girl’s behalf, she doesn’t have the means to deal with this on her own.

Then again, it was Maomao, when wouldn’t she step in if she had a solution in mind? It was one of her most endearing qualities. He waited with an expectant smile, appreciating that her sharp eyes looked better rested as she desperately sought a solution. Her gaze fell on him and the flash of a glare was gone in an instant, but was received like a blown kiss. Light flashed from her sleeve and Sylver appeared, feeling the desperation, tilting his head at Maomao, he nuzzled the crying servant.

“Is that a sylveon?” someone whispered.

“But she’s so standoffish,” another replied.

“It came out of a pokeball,” one observed. 

“Perhaps a gift from a nobleman?”

Rumors were a buzz as Maomao gathered the broken ice and retreated to familiar territory, Sylver leading the laundry girl with his ribbons. 

Approaching, the manager could see Guen comforting the girl while she sobbed, embracing the sylveon. Meanwhile the gears of creativity whirred to life as Maomao contemplated in a corner, he crossed his arms, leaning on the door frame while watching her fondly.

“Sylver do you know mimic?” she asked.

The creature nodded. But it wasn’t a guarantee, the move could fail or not produce another ice-type move. Her brain grasped for other ice types in her circle, one came to mind, as elegant as it was powerful. Purple mane billowing with the north wind, such an insult to ask such power for such a trivial favor… AGAIN. As she turned to the door her shoulders tensed, suddenly realizing who was there. She blinked at elegance made male.

“Go on, ask me,” he sounds way too eager.

I’m already in so deep, Suicune had stopped visiting after 2 nights helping her work things out with Sylver. And then there was the other matter hanging over her head.

“I don’t have anything to offer,” she huffed.

Jinshi studied her curiously, “Why are you doing this? You didn’t cause the ice to fall.”

He watched the way her eyes traveled through her memories, emotions flashing across her face. This young woman meant something to her, and the word friend didn’t exist in her vocabulary. “You’re correct but… I- I can’t abandon her to this, I’ll lose sleep again.”

The chuckles bubbled up from the depths of his soul, “After we worked so hard to correct that.”

“It will affect my work again.”

“Well we can’t have that,” but she was right, he needed to ask for something with these witnesses, “Fine then, when this is done you will find me, and you will listen all the way to the end.”

“Is that all Sir?”

“Too much?”

It was at this moment in her flustered state, shaking her head that the ribbon in her hair came loose, his hand reached out in surprise, “Why don’t you wear a hairstick?”

Nice catch, “I don’t have any accessories like that.”

Excuse me? “I believe I gave you one at the garden party, wear that one,” his eyes narrowed, “unless you sold it.”

“No I-” not yet anyway, she sighed, “Is that all you want?”

“Yes, now what do you need?”
“A kitchen, Loulan’s favorite fruit in season, sugar, salt, some Miltank juice and…” she looked at Sylver, “an ice type pokemon or for Sylver to meet our ‘visitor’ briefly.”

“Do you need that last part?”

“I’d rather provide another iceblock to make up for the delay, but the rest of it is in case that doesn’t work.”

His frogadier hadn’t picked up any ice type moves yet, neither had kirlia or lucario… perhaps another ice type or two would be helpful during summers. 

“Oh Sylver,” he sing-songed, the pink ears perked and he raised his head, “Can we rely on you?”

The feeling pokemon wasn’t sure if he wanted to leave Xiaolan’s distressed state, but if this was to help… he untangled from the girl and trotted over. The prince knelt down and whispered an ice-type move and a location in his ear, “Hurry back, Maomao needs you.”

“Syl!” he was off like a flash.

“Consider your request granted,” Jinshi smirked at his apothecary, watching her bite back a response before dashing off with the ice and the laundry maid. 

Little did he know, that was the last time he’d see her before everything changed. 

***

Sylver could sense Maomao from inside the pokeball, she seemed particularly pleased as of late when a particular elder male entered the Rear Palace. Even her voice had a calm to it when she was in the eunuch’s presence, it sounded… at peace. Like Sylver felt with Gaoshun. It was one such morning he could feel distance being made as she set the pokeball on the table to prepare Lady Gyokuyou’s moxibustion. 

The conversation, while muffled, carried tones of gentle commands or tasks in succession, he could hear the litten making a fuss before her energy faded away. The confines of the pokeball weren’t particularly strong but he was making a concerted effort to be a help by not smothering her. The evenings with Suicune had brought much into clarity, illuminating her past and why she struggled to reassure sylveon the way he needed. 

Loosening his ribbons had seemed to calm her, she had even invited him to lay behind her back on a chilly night. The second night Suicune had escorted Sylver to an imperial garden where a slowpoke taught him yawn. Several attempts failed in slumber, but the legendary pokemon patiently roused sylveon and encouraged him to try again. It seemed very helpful for Maomao in the following evenings. 

He waited patiently for her to return, but eventually felt the two eunuchs rising to leave and broke free. He looked to Maomao’s favorite with concern, “Syl?”

“Oh. Hello Sylver, it appears Maomao has left you behind by mistake, let us return your pokeball to Lady Gyokuyou.”

The pokemon sniffed around, Luomen observed softly, “No, she hasn’t returned, I can take you to the Jade Pavillion or Master Jinshi, do you have a preference?”

Sylveon snuffed, took his own pokeball in his ribbon and dashed out. 

“Sylver? What are you doing? Where is Maomao?” Hongniang demanded as he dashed into the Jade Pavillion, past the women to the pregnant one of elaborate clothing.

“Syl-VEE!” his voice was urgent as he placed the pokeball in her lap. 

The mother was quick, “Maomao isn’t here Sylver. Ladies please fan out and check her usual places, find out where she was expected today.”

“SYL!” he barked in frustration before dashing out, the apothecary’s scent was too faint, and he didn’t know where to start. 

Sylver needed the humans, his human. He ran while using calm mind on himself, he sniffed for sandalwood, racing towards a gathering hall. Ribbons nearly ripping the doors off their supports he stood heaving in the doorway. The officers and officials whipped around to view the spectacle as he found the two familiar faces “SYLVEE!”

Murmurs and scoffs rippled through the crowd as Jinshi and Gaoshun stiffened. A quick exchanged glance led to his old master bowing out and escorting him outside, “What’s wrong Sylver, where is Maomao?”

“Syl- syl- ve- SYLVE!” calm mind wasn’t WORKING! 

Gaoshun felt a chilly north wind and looked upward to an adjacent roof, his eyes locking with crimson ones, ‘Her humans are looking for her, both the elder healers and the women. I will join the search.’

The attendant’s blood ran cold, Suicune wasn’t one to jump to conclusions. Ribbons were insistently tugging on him as sylveon tried to drag him back to the court, “Yes Sylver you did the right thing. I’ll inform him now. Wait here.”

The prince and Ma clan member shut the meeting down and exited to a pacing, growling creature anxious to get on the trail. Her scent was fading, they needed to move! A carriage pulled up and all three loaded in. Sylveon wrapped his ribbon around Jinshi and was suddenly flooded with the same livid impatience he was feeling himself. He gasped as the frantic sensation mirrored and amplified his own. And yet none of it showed outwardly, he looked calm as ever, even smiling softly. 

Sylver knew he wasn’t supposed to be affectionate out of Jinshi’s pavilion but his lungs were squeezing, it hurt to swallow and unshed tears flowed from the human’s hand into his eyes. He draped his paws over the prince’s leg and nuzzled against his chest whimpering. Warm arms wrapped around him, and he felt the prince bury his face in sylveon’s soft fur. The voice was barely a trembling whisper, “I see you Sylver, I know. It’s gonna be okay.”

He didn’t know about that, but he could tell they both needed that hug. 

Chapter Text

There was an order of operations even in an emergency. 

Jinshi started with Lady Gyokuyou, getting the basic information and retrieving Sylver’s pokeball. They reentered the carriage and Sylver was immediately using calm mind for both of them, wrapping ribbons around the prince who seemed to need it more desperately than his old master. 

“Sylver, we need you to stay in your pokeball, just for a bit,” Gaoshun held it up, receiving a growl in reply. 

The prince cupped his cheek and drew his gaze, “Gaoshun’s right, I can’t do this as the Moon Prince, I have to be the calm eunuch ‘Jinshi’, and hiding reactions is difficult for you right now. Please, I promise to let you out the moment we can make use of your skills.”

Sylveon studied the prince, felt his internal struggle. The desire to step out with his whole pokemon team and hunt without mercy, striking fear into the hearts of friend and foe for taking his treasured one. And yet he stuffed it, crammed it, and shoved it inward with all his might. This was one of those ridiculous human things Maomao and Suicune had translated for him. The legendary pokemon had mentored him since their first sparring match, constantly offering fresh lessons in maturing as a partner to the humans and this was part of it.

The pokemon closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against Jinshi’s hand. His ribbon reached back and pressed the pokeball to recall himself. The men sighed in relief. Sylver was an unapologetic heart wrapped around both their sleeves, and for now they needed Maomao’s cold logic over his intense acknowledgement of their emotions. 

Jinshi offered to take the vessel, Gaoshun’s lip pinched, “Sir I-“

“Will not leave him to Taomei or Suiren. He stays with me.”

His tone brooked no argument and Gaoshun surrendered the pokeball. The carriage pulled to a stop in front of Guen (and now Luomen's) apothecary. The quack was of little help, however Luomen and his calm questions gave them a lead within mere minutes. The moment he pulled an odorous berry out to track Sylver appeared, sniffing with every ounce of focus his young mind could muster. He wasn’t a tracking pokemon per say, but between that and the litten’s scent there was a trail to follow. Wrapping a ribbon around Jinshi’s wrist he attempted to dash out the door, the hand gripped him tight and he clotheslined himself with a thud. Sylver whipped back on the prince, who he could feel wanted to dash out just as badly. 

“How are you staying so calm about this? Aren’t you worried?” Jinshi asked her adoptive father. 

The elder scolded every so gently, “Of course I’m worried, but fretting won’t do me any good if it impedes my judgement, my ability to help, or my job,” Sylver looked at the human Suicune, realizing that both he and the prince were absorbing this, “Besides, she once disappeared for almost a year and there was nothing I could do then.”

The guilt and pain that flooded sylveon’s ribbon made him stagger, the prince somehow felt at fault for that. Had he taken her away from this man? Sylver wondered if he could have Suicune translate at another time, but for now he could feel the young man take a deep breath, correct his posture, and release the ribbon. His eyes full of a deep calm backed by a steeled blade, “Okay Sylver, go.”

Feet skittering on the wood floor, sylveon raced out ahead of the kneecapped eunuch. Jinshi’s heart went with him, even if his body had to move at the doctor's pace. 

They had made it to the northern grounds when Sylver came dashing back, pacing and whimpering anxiously. They followed him to the litten and a shed beyond. While Dr. Kan was interested in the berries and the note, the sylveon was all over a shed nearby. 

“Sylv! Sylveon! Syl-vee!” He was scratching frantically at something on the floor. 

They discovered the trap door to the tunnel. Jinshi had to double wrap Sylver's ribbon around his hand and take a firm stance to keep from being dragged down the dark corridor. The creature was inconsolable, desperate to find and protect his charge. Jinshi couldn’t even get him into his pokeball. 

“Oh my,” Jinshi heard rustling behind him as Luomen marveled at the approaching Suicune. Sylver's tail tucked between his legs as he pleaded to the noble beast. Its mane billowed and eyes glowed as Sylver wavered and collapsed forcing a recall to his pokeball. The prince bowed, “thank you, can you track her scent from here?”

Luomen offered the berries and paper she recently handled. Taking a sniff Suicune nodded and disappeared into the tunnel.

“I believe there is more to be found here,” the elder eunuch held up the blank paper. 

Having a legendary beast on her trail and a physical struggle against emotions incarnate, Jinshi felt considerably more settled about returning to the doctors office. 

Multiple outbursts, and one attempted suicide later Zui was dragged into his bedroom, corralled by both Gaoshun and Suiren. Suicune hadn’t returned yet, so he held hope, but sleep wasn’t going to come easy tonight. He had to admit, he was surprised Sylver hadn’t come out when the clinic woman shattered his psyche by saying he looked just like his father. Deciding to risk it, he tossed the pokeball into his bedroom. Light flashed as a collapsed figure appeared on the floor.

Still asleep huh? Suicune must’ve hit you pretty hard. 

Lucario looked over sylveon with concern, but Jinshi took the opportunity to finish getting ready for bed. The aura Pokemon had roused his friend by the time the prince had changed and taken care of his evening habits. Pulling open the covers, the prince knelt before the drowsy creature, scratching a favorite spot on his neck, “Hey Sylver, how are you feeling?”

The pink ears dropped and he whimpered, “Yeah, I feel the same way. Suicune picked up the trail you found and is looking for her. We also found some of the humans involved, so I’ll be following up on that first thing in the morning.”

Soft fur nestled against his neck as the creature vibrated in concerned chitters. He wrapped his arms around the beast, “I know buddy, I know,” he pulled back a bit, “would you do me a favor?”

The blue eyes peered up curiously at him, the prince looked off, “I know I’m not Gaoshun or Maomao, but would you keep me company while we’re looking for her? I know she didn’t like your cuddles but they,” his eyes dropped in embarrassment, “…sounded really nice.”

Jinshi suddenly found himself on his back as happy chitters and soft licks covered his face. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Okay! Okay! Easy bud! Easy.”

He lifted the sheets and settled in, raising his arm as the soft warmth nestled against his chest, ribbons wrapping around his wrist. Lucario seemed less than impressed with this arrangement, but he wasn’t going to challenge it. The rustling of fabric subsided and the silence weighed heavy as flashes of the day began his unintentional ritualistic night time torture.

Images of the mortified elderly woman, Loulan’s tearful lady in waiting, Sylver heaving as he barged into the meeting, flashed one after another. Jinshi’s knees curled toward his chest and he pulled Sylver closer. There was a stirring as the creature let out a long yawn. Laws of nature made him imitate and he had no recollection of the darkness closing in. 

The prince rose to a sigh from Suiren, he could smell breakfast waiting for him in the other room. He blinked deliriously, “What happened?”

“I’m glad you were able to sleep, Master, but is this really necessary?”

He lifted his arm and looked down at what he thought was a pillow, Sylver peered back quietly. Yesterday's events flashed in quick succession and he gave the creature a scritch, “Until further notice, yes.”

“But Sir.”

“I’m not asking,” his tone was just sharp enough to make her jump, but not so harsh as to cut deep. She sighed very… ‘Gaoshunesque’ as she bowed out and busied herself with her next task. 

Jinshi scratched behind Sylver’s ear, “What do you say we work together to bring Maomao home?”

The pokemon nodded and rose, pulling the prince upright with his ribbon. Zui chuckled in amusement, “But you need to follow my lead, okay?”

“Syl,” nodded determined.

Yue could tell sylveon was using calming mind, the ribbon wrapped around him seemed to provide at least that level of feedback. He had checked the records last night to find that the calming aura was a consistent effect for the feeling pokemon. Zui also appreciated that Sylver seemed willing to share that effect with him, being that his ownership had been tenuous since his evolution. 

They walked to breakfast together, ribbon around arm, flanked by lucario and frogadier. Sparring had been moved in favor of several interrogations that needed to be handled quickly and quietly. Sitting down for food he noticed the ribbon unwound and gently draped over his shoulder, a behavior he hadn’t seen before, “We need to talk about this,” he said, eyeing the appendage.

Sylver’s ears drooped and he began lifting the ribbon away. The prince pinned it in place, “Now hold on, I’m not telling you to stop.”

“Syl?”

He sighed heavily, “When it’s just us in the house I know you’re trying to calm the both of us. I’m guessing you also put me to sleep last night?”

Ears pinned back and the creature looked off nervously. Yue chuckled, “Let me ask next time, but I appreciate the help. Did Suicune teach you that to help Maomao?”

Sylver nodded.

He stroked the white ribbon, “So Gaoshun, Suiren and Basen are the only ones allowed to see you helping with these, don’t try to be subtle when we’re out and about, people are sharp and rumors travel fast.”

Sylver tilted his head, Yue gave his cheek a scratch, “My responsibilities mean that I have to calm other people down. That gets harder to do when they see I’m upset.”

The pokemon considered the words of Luomen yesterday, just like when Suicune came to visit Maomao and calmly listened as he had poured his heart out. Is staying calm during other’s distress part of healing ?

Sylver’s goal training with Gaoshun was to be his best partner, and as an eevee it was trying as many different moves as he could. Healing was never part of the training, battling Basen and Jinshi’s pokemon to get stronger, protecting, sniffing out the truth, finding a solution, those were all parts of his upbringing. All the pets and cuddles and comments of how cute he was were just bonus… until they determined his evolution path.   

Tossing a ball into the air Jinshi’s kirlia appeared, “You two need to compare notes on how to have my back, without causing a fuss.”

Sylveon blinked at kirlia, the blue and white creature stared at him, ‘You’re serving my master now?’

‘I think so? I’m not sure if he’ll return me to Maomao when she comes back.’

‘We’re still mad Gaoshun rejected you.’

Sylver whimpered, Kirlia purposely wrapped his ribbon around her wrist, ‘You’re talking to one who will become a guardevoir whether or not they have a dawn stone, I understand. I’ve been avoiding evolution for as long as I can.’

“Syl?” ‘What do you mean?’

She snuffed, ‘The women around him will get jealous if I don’t evolve into a gallade, as if he has eyes for anyone other than the small cat-girl,’ The sylveon tilted his head, she rolled her eyes, ‘My heavens you evolved early, you really don’t understand the human interactions do you?’

Ears drooping he looked to the floor, ‘Master Gaoshun hasn’t even had me for four moons yet, are you saying I messed up?’

Kirlia considered Gaoshun’s team, his hariyama barely ever said anything. Lady Suiren’s mienshao snubbed everyone expecting them to follow etiquette without ever training for it. Arcenine was another stoic canine who picked up his master’s sigh, and did not correct anything without a command. Basen’s primeape and bagon were as hard headed as they come. They probably leveled eevee up so fast in the sparring they didn’t think to train him on the social aspects. The prince’s lucario and frogadier were devoted protectors, but under Suiren’s watch they were raised with a certain emotional distance from their master outside of sparring. 

She sighed, ‘no, THEY messed this up, not you. My master lets me closer than the other teammates when I’m escorting him in the Rear Palace,” Kirlia lifted Sylver’s chin, ‘Let me walk you through how to interact with the world how HE has to, and you’ll see why he needs you so badly.’

Sylver’s tail wagged at that.

***

Oh how his heart sank when the door slid open and there was a new pokemon at Gaoshun’s heel. Even Jinshi’s lips pinched, “Really? A meditite? So soon?”

“It has detect already as well as drain punch and psychic. You know we need all hands on deck for this.”

The prince glared at the attendant while Sylver crawled into his lap with a whimper, Zui caught the pokemon’s gaze, “Listen to me Sylver, you’re with me or with Maomao when she gets back. Gaoshun was trying to find additional help, Taomei probably found meditite.”

“But Sir-”

“It’s barely been two weeks Gaoshun,” Ka Zuigetsu hissed.

“And we have a missing ex-consort and a kidnapped lady-in-waiting directly out of the Rear Palace,” Gaoshun countered professionally.

Disarming voice from kirlia and calm mind from Sylver’s ribbon forced the tension to dissipate. Jinshi’s brow arched at the effectiveness of the fairy-type moves. Whether Gaoshun liked it or not, they were going to be the key to reigning in his fury… at least until he knew where to aim it.

They started with information gathering, the clinic ladies, Loulan’s Garnet Pavillion, Jinshi had an office in the Rear Palace set aside for this, the same one he had once fired Maomao in, it was empty save for a desk. Gaoshun and the eunuchs brought them in one by one, separated from their ridiculous gaggles and cliques. Interrogations were masked as interviews to keep the servants pacified. Jinshi asked sylveon to settle underneath so he could offer calm mind and allowed his ribbon to assist. Meanwhile kirlia remained visible stationed quietly by the door with frogadier. She had disarming voice while the frogadier had shadow sneak on standby should anything escalate.

Meanwhile sylveon was subjected to the rollercoaster of emotions Jinshi had to suppress in a given encounter. Kirlia had encouraged Sylver to pay attention to how he was interacting with the women and the men, what they were saying, what they weren’t saying, the tone of voice, what they were implying and attempting to draw out of the prince. As an eevee he had only worried about staying on a shoulder or by Gaoshun’s side until summoned forward, and even then he was allowed to chitter happily to the women and receive pets. The exchanges had been fun, honest, at the very least- straightforward.

Flustered women and eunuchs came in one by one, and it was the same story on a different scroll.

“Oh Master Jinshi, it’s you, thank goodness!” relief at a friendly face masked subdued lust, over and over. 

“Of course I’ll give you whatever I can,” many saw this as an opportunity to curry favor with the Rear Palace Manager, relieved at the private audience as Gaoshun and his team stepped out each time. Sylver may not have had his ribbon around them but he could hear it in their voice. The way they shifted over the floorboards, approached the desk, came closer than they were assigned with hopeful requests. A lilt in a question, a sudden drop in volume implying they might have more services available to him, a huskiness and a whiff of a scent reserved for mating.

If only they knew. 

The disgust, frustration, resentment, exasperation that came flowing through his ribbon while honeyed words sought for hints, tidbits, trails, crumbs. Something, anything that would give them a proper lead. Perhaps Jinshi was a fairy-type himself, he certainly had charm and dazzling gleam down pat. Alluring voice was a default for him, with disarming voice when he got close to a clue or someone overstepped. If something popped up his emotion would spike as he calmly made a note and decided if the woman or eunuch was directly connected or only passing along a rumor. Sylver could swear he had spirit break loaded for the moment he found a culprit. 

After frogadier shut the door behind the 27th visitor that day he sighed and slumped in his chair, utterly disheartened. These interviews had dragged on for the better part of a week, to the point where his normal duties were demanding return to his office despite everything.

“Syl?” he pushed another round of calm mind in, but was wearing out himself. 

Jinshi backed up and gave him a calming scratch, “Thank you Sylver, I almost snapped at her. It’s amazing how they still think they can flirt during an investigation, especially one of this scale.”

Kirlia approached and produced not one but three berries, one for each of them. Frogadier and Sylver took theirs happily, the prince noted the leppa berry for the sylveon. 

Jinshi smiled sweetly, “You take it, I’ll be alright.”

Her eyes narrowed and she placed the goldberry in his hands. He could almost hear Maomao scolding him for not taking care of himself. Jinshi’s heart panged and his lungs squeezed. Little petal hands rested on his wrist, while the other hand was nuzzled by sylveon. 

“Okay, okay I got it,” he resigned himself to his team’s care, his shiny kirlia watching closely until he finished, nodding in satisfaction and returning to her place only after he had finished the entire thing. Frogadier returned to his place, and Sylver’s ribbon squeezed at Jinshi’s ankle, “When this is all done do you want to spar?”

“Vee,” Sylver nodded, wondering what it would be like to spar on the prince’s team rather than Gaoshuns. The image of the meditite flashed in his mind, his ears drooped.

“You should show him why he made a mistake choosing that meditite over you.”

Sylveon whipped his face up to the prince’s, his brow knit and his eyes burned in umbrage. Sylver could feel he meant it.

“Sylve-on!”

He wished he could ask why Jinshi seemed to take this so personally. Perhaps Suicune could translate for him. 

BOOM!

They all jolted and looked toward the commotion. The door opened and Gaoshun entered, “Sir, you better come see this.”

Jinshi left his team out, releasing his lucario as they hurried to the smoke. 

It was… quite a scene. 

The Grand Commandant with his thievul, gabite, and red gyrados trying to press further into Rear Palace. Heaving like a berserking bewear looking for its cub.

It took two alakazam, a pair of meowstic, a hypno and an espeon all using hypnosis to bring the rampaging team down. 

“Teleport his pokemon to the infirmary and take him to a holding cell until he shows he can be calm,” Jinshi replied with a bit more authority than intended. 

Given the situation it seemed unnoticed. Sylveon picked up on a wave of nervousness crashing over the prince. Why? Who was this rampaging human? 

Sylver stared at the architectural carnage and social disruption. He paused, turning to kirlia, ‘is that what WE would look like if we charged ahead the way I wanted?’

Kirlia nodded solemnly, the young sylveon saw the ripples of rumors echoing through the court in real time. 

“Isn’t that the Grand Commandant?”

“Who is he after?”

“Is he saying his daughter works back here?”

“How terrifying, she’s a servant?”
“Does anyone know how she is?”

“Didn’t he say Maomao?”

“That weird quiet one from the Jade Pavillion?”

“The one who likes poison?

“That’s his daughter?”

“I thought Shishou’s daughter was missing?”
“I heard she served Master Jinshi.”

“I thought she was a laundry maid.”

“Didn’t she slap that maid in the Crystal Pavillion?”

“Well if he’s her father, no wonder she’s so brazen!”

“Wait, was she that courtesan he bought?”

“So she’s a whore?”

“Why would Master Jinshi buy out a sex worker?”

“Is that why Lakan left her back here?”

Sylver wobbled at all the emotions choking out his air, so many of them looking to cast suspicion and doubt. It wasn’t what they were asking, but the way they were asking it. The Maomao he knew didn’t fit with any of their descriptions, least of all the scorn and jealousy cast her way regarding relations with the man standing beside him. Truths laced with conjecture… so much conjecture. Is this why Luomen was constantly guiding Maomao to steer clear of speculation?

Jinshi’s fists clenched and Sylver could swear he was about to let off a hyper beam but instead he took a deep breath and clapped his hands soundly to get their attention with a dazzling gleam, “Okay everyone, please return to your tasks. Can all available eunuchs begin clearing the rubble, and I need a construction officer and an auditor to access the damage. Please post additional security until this is repaired.”

Tasks, commands. The prince directed the people as easily as his pokemon, giving the emotions a physical outlet, not to hide it, but to repair it. Returning the palace to a peaceful state. Fairy type indeed, maybe related to Cresselia?

“Sir? Where to?” Gaoshun asked.

The prince was exhausted. He could only imagine the state he’d be in without Sylver putting him to sleep every night and kirlia pushing the berry on him. “I’ve done what I can here, I’d like to bolster our defenses and prepare for the conversation with Lakan.”

Gaoshun nodded and they headed back to Jinshi’s pavilion, subtly recalling lucario and frogadier. 

***

Gaoshun and Basen were heaving, Zuigetsu had always been a skilled opponent but having 4 pokemon on his team certainly stacked the odds in his favor. But what had confused them the most was his key player…

Sylver.

While primeape and bagon would charge in he would take the slightest step, the attack would whiff by in a terrifying puff of air as a ribbon would make the most gentle pull. Turning a foot, pulling or pushing it so it landed just wrong. This wasn’t the powerhouse strikes full of yang and muscle and force. This was yin, pure and simple, going for the weakness, the balance, the knife's edge on which the power was projected, tipping the opponent and sending their momentum against them. The tumbles, collisions, and slaps against the concrete were as wince-worthy as they were amusing. 

Lucario was a master at keeping Basen busy. Sylveon was heaving, ribbons raised, ready for the next opponent, Jinshi was at his back facing hariyama while meditite’s eyes glowed. Sylver felt the energy gather around his body as he began to glow the same color as his opponent’s eyes, ribbons shot to meditite’s and the sumo pokemon’s ankles as he was dragged into the air. Meditite tried to release itself but was nailed by a hydropump from frogadier while future sight nailed Gaoshun and Zui’s blade sliced to the edge of a death blow position, paused along hariyama’s neck. 

All paused, heaving before backing off. The prince turned to his newest partner with a grin, “Well done Sylver!”

“Syl!” his blue eyes sparkled. He may not understand all the social interactions, but sparring made sense.

“Agreed, Sylver that was excellent- oh” Gaoshun wasn’t expecting an immediate glare from kirlia or frogadier, even going so far as to step between him and his old partner. Then to have sylveon turn away sharply with his nose in the air and trotting over the prince and his praise and pets... the attendant looked shot through the heart. 

“Master, you’re needed,” Suiren called into the courtyard.

Yue wiped his brow and knelt down, sparing another pet to the fairy partner, “Thanks for making us an opening buddy.”

“Syl,” he wasn’t worthless. Maybe, just maybe he could carve out a place for himself as he was… now. As a sylveon.

Chapter Text

After the abacus-wielding La clan member had left the office to hunt a new lead, Jinshi retired for the evening. Lahan was rather sheepish with the auditor’s quote in hand, but his findings were invaluable. He seemed to have a calmer head than his adoptive father. But still, this wasn’t how the prince had wanted to meet her family. 

Kirlia had done an outstanding job with Sylver, he was becoming a steadfast support during this emotional turmoil. Once the young Pokemon had realized they couldn’t hunt Maomao themselves he had devoted himself fully to being the healer and emotional anchor his fairy type moves allowed. His public behavior shaped up almost instantly after seeing Lakan. Between meetings he would sometimes push out from under the desk and ask Kirlia questions, clearly debriefing and going over etiquette in a way he could absorb. 

Sylver could now be out of the pokeball without dashing hither and yon trying to pick up traces of her scent. Though a whiff of medicinal herbs or a visit to Luomen did still leave him with drooped ears and requesting a ribbon hold in the carriage. It gave the prince a delightful excuse to offer (seek) comfort. Jinshi was sure to let him out in the Jade Pavilion, even if he’d disappear. They quickly figured out he’d go curl up on her bed or help her Morelull process some more herbs that were still hanging from her ceiling. 

Sylveon had clearly devoted himself to being the best partner possible despite every ownership shift forced upon him. Yue wondered if he would want to return to Maomao or stay in the prince's entourage when this was all said and done.

Then again, if she returned to his home it would be the same thing? He shook his head as his thoughts betrayed him, a sadder thought emerged. Could she return to my home once the Moon Prince is revealed? 

Entering his home Sylver’s ribbon slipped around his wrist. Contact was almost constant at home, much to the chagrin of Zuigetsu’s staff. Releasing the stresses of the day with a groan, the prince stretched. Something caught Yue’s eye from the garden, Sylver was nearly yanked off his feet at the sharp turn and hastened pace. 

Yue bowed, “Suicune, any sign of her?”

The creature’s gaze fell, ‘I lost her scent at the docks, I’ve searched both up and down river for several leagues to no avail.’

Damn it. Zuigetsu’s fist clenched, “Thank you for your concerted effort, a new lead has been found in the records.”

‘I wish you luck young Prince,’ and with that Suicune was off.

***

Lahan had returned a week later with his findings, reviewing with Jinshi, Gaoshun and Basen. Frogadier and Kirlia manned the door and Sylver was under the covered desk. 

***

“Syl?” he looked around in confusion. It was just the two of them in the office.

“Hey buddy, this is a really important conversation that I need you to keep me calm for. The La clan have been helping and this is the worst possible circumstance bringing us together. They are livid, and rightfully so. If things went the way I wanted, Maomao would return to stay in my home where I could keep her safe… forever. So please,” he set a couple leppa berries on a cloth under the desk, “Keep me steady for this.”

“Sylvee-on,” he nodded, determined. 

***

This man Lahan kept to the facts and smelled kind of like the ‘suicune’-doctor in the Rear Palace. Sylver suspected they were related as the men discussed human things about metal and grain and wood. 

Kirlia had spent evenings this last week clarifying many conversations and walking through how humans implied with speech and had many layers in their words. Clarifying moments when calm words would be used and he’d feel a sharp rise in the prince or his Ma clan attendant. It was as impressive as it was frustrating, but he appreciated that everyone in his world used direct tones with him. Logistics of the current conversation with Lahan were lost on Sylver but the tones told him something underhanded had been discovered. 

The doors burst in and the monocoled havoc-maker entered the room, “Do not spend too much time with this prestigious individual Lahan. People talk, and some find it hard to tell whether this noble is a man or a woman.”

Sylver’s heckles raised and lip snarled as he pushed calm mind into himself and the prince. That insult could be aimed at the sylveon as much as the man he was aiming to comfort. 

“Hey!” Basen growled.

“Hold on-” Gaoshun stayed his son, mentally noting that last time Lakan was in their presence it had been Ah Duo drinking the green wine with Shishou and the strategist.

“But father-”

Jinshi sat quietly, and Sylver could hear Lahan whispering to Gaoshun. The prince took the insults in stride, “Master Strategist, I understand your frustration with my shiftless cowardice.”

“Precisely.”

Calculation, concern, and nervousness swirled with guilt, pain and regret. Sylver was already debating that first leppa berry to help with his calm mind attempts, it was clear his master wanted to say many things but found it unwise to do so. The young pokemon wondered why he couldn’t show them why he was just as worried, probably losing more sleep than they were despite Sylver’s assistance. 

“Despite a certain someone freely wandering in and out of the Rear Palace at will, my daughter was still kidnapped right from under his nose!”

Well at least he’s being direct, Sylver winced, this was a result of sylveon’s failure as well. His head dropped to the floor, ears drooping.

Lakan eyed the stacks of paper on Jinshi’s desk and his onslaught continued, “While someone is leisurely taking his time about his paperwork. Can I assume you don’t care for the life of a single woman?”

Sylver grit his teeth as a wave of guilt and pain crashed over both of them, it was incredible how the prince managed stillness amidst this verbal beating. Had Gaoshun, Suiren or Jinshi come at sylveon like this he would have been trembling and weeping inconsolably. 

“I’ll allow you to vent your frustration, but our enemy is Shishou not me.”

“Now that you’ve finally figured this all out, why are you still standing here?” Lakan hissed.

Finally they had it, a direction to vent this anger, rage and tidal wave of emotions. The ‘stronghold’ was about to feel the full wrath of everyone in the room. 

But now, at this moment, a father had been given permission to vent about transgressions against his precious daughter. Basen was chomping at the bit to call this elder fox into line, Gaoshun steadied him. Sylver wished he could reach his ribbon over to the fiery sparring partner, or even the grieving parent, but he couldn’t reveal his position. Even with all the socialization, each member came in with their own reason to be angry, to hurt, to want to protect.

“Your appearance, your work, all half measures, and you think everything will just work out somehow?”

What on earth happened to make this human so cutting in his insults? Sylver wondered, as no one insulted the prince like this, it wasn’t directing behavior like his attendants, it was just cutting at him like a nasty leaf blade.

“What can you ever hope to achieve acting as a sorry eunuch!?”

“I had no idea you looked on my kind so poorly, Nephew,” disarming voice if ever he heard one. It was super effective, “I’ll remind you it was not my choice to become a eunuch.”

Sylver sat up, he knew that scent! It was the wise doctor Maomao liked so much! The human Suicune. Now that he had another whiff it seemed all three of these visitors were related. This was her family!

“Honored Uncle I would never-”

Listening to the man back track and trip over himself had Sylver silently snickering, serves you right! 

But when Luomen gently directed the berserker to ask nicely, sylveon sensed the entire room shift from family squabble to a full court gathering. He felt the vibrations in the floorboards as the monocled man knelt and formally made a request for something called the Forbidden Army. 

That which was malleable like a ditto steeled in the heart of the prince, Sylver’s ribbon released as Jinshi was forsaken and Ka Zuigetsu rose to the call. There was a flash by the door as frogadier became a greninja in response. 

Not one, but two evolutions. 

The call went out.

Sylver could feel it, the time of stuffing anxious and nervous energy was over. They had a location, they had an enemy, they had a target to take down. 

***

He trotted nervously next to the prince’s long stride back in the pavilion. The prince went to a shelf and pulled down a box, he looked to kirlia, “Follow me please.”

Lucario and Greninja hung back as Yue took her to the garden and crumpled onto a bench, setting the box down and burying his head in his hands, “I’m sorry kirlia, I don’t want to force the issue but I need you in top form.”

“Kirlia?”

He looked up at the moon for which he was named, “I feel like you’ve been holding back in sparring lately, and I haven’t figured out why. But I need you.”

He opened the box and she gasped, teary eyed, inside was a dawn stone. 

“I’m so sorry, I wouldn’t force it, but I want to make sure we’re coordinated with whatever moves you’re going to pick up.”

She cradled it to her chest and tears fell from her eyes, there was no way to convey this except letting it happen. Kirlia had no way to warn him, what if he rejected her, what if she was cast aside like Sylver was? What if- what if?

A ribbon wrapped around her wrist.

“Sylver, you weren’t invited-“

“Sylvee!” He sassed the prince, turning to Kirlia with a whimper, ‘It will be okay.”

‘But Gaoshun-’

‘He’s NOT Gaoshun!’

Sylver pushed calm mind into her, wiping her tear with another ribbon. 

‘Just be you.’

She took a deep, shuddering breath and stopped fighting. The glow was blinding in the moonlight, Jinshi felt something pressed into his hand as his eyes adjusted. 

“Oh,” his brow knit as his hand closed around the stone, “I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair of me to assume, was it?”

She shook her head, and he took her hand, “Thank you for trusting me anyway. This changes nothing, except that I’ll try to be a better master.”

Guardivoire threw her arms around him sobbing, so thankful he hadn’t rejected her despite being female. She hadn’t cried like this since she was a little ralts but she had truly dreaded this day for years. 

He set the stone back in its box and returned her embrace. How many times had she rescued him from unwanted advances, from overzealous and lonely consorts, eunuchs, concubines or ladies in waiting? Even the Rear Palace pokemon would throw pheromones and mentally disarming moves to attempt to subdue him. It was nice to know there was another female ally in his world that was immune to his facades. 

Lucario and Greninja approached excitedly to greet their renewed teammate, hugging her as she sniffled. 

“This day was always on the horizon, I’ll understand if you don’t want to serve the Moon Prince,” Yue looked off, “everyone will treat me differently now.”

Everyone who could cross their arms, did. Sylver rolled his eyes with a snort. “Alright I hear you…” the prince laughed before getting soft, “and thank you.”

He paused, assessing his team in real time, “fighting, steel, water, dark, psychic and fairy. Let me read up on how best to put your abilities to use.”

‘Why read when you have a Master Strategist who lives for tactics and is itching to rain hell down on Shishou?” 

Yue blinked, “Guardevoir?”

She nodded. 

Since when could she TALK!? He needed a moment to pick his jaw up off the floor, after several beats Yue shook his thoughts loose, “Perhaps he could offer guidance, but first- would the rest of you like names as well? Having Sylver be the only one seems… insufficient.”

The group nodded, and he studied them in their fully evolved forms, remembering his journey with each of them from the day they hatched. He turned to Lucario, his oldest and most devout Pokémon, raised from an egg when he was a child, the one thing he’d been allowed to keep growing up. “What do you think of the name Midnight, Zǐyè? You have guarded my sleep for years, giving me even a hope of respite amidst this chaos.”

Lucario seemed honored by the new title, he bowed slightly.

Yue smiled, and turned to his Greninja, “you have always had my back, from this day forward you’ll be known as the Shadow of the Moon, Yǐngyuè.”

The creature seemed pleased, crossing his arms with a confident nod.

The prince wiped the wet cheek of his beloved, shiny Pokémon, “to the woman who withstood everything by my side. From the day Ah Duo gifted you to me and we entered the rear palace you’ve handled each moment with grace and poise and protection. I give you the name of the Northstar, Běi Chén. May your grace always guide in the moments of peace, over exuberance, and tension.”

She choked up a bit under the honoring title, trying to stuff her tears while she smirked, ‘Your team has questions when you can spare the time.’

“Certainly! You four are my most trusted partners, I wouldn’t hide anything from you.”

“Lu-car,” she glanced at Lucario, ‘Are we going after your intended mate?’

Yue choked on air, “You don’t beat around the bush do you Běi?” She smiled at the nickname as he continued, “Yes we need to rescue Maomao and bring Shishou to justice.”

“Syl vee?” ‘Was that her family today?’

“Yes, and I need to do better by them, the La Clan has been pivotal to our success and my family’s survival. Lakan helped my brother overthrow the previous leadership, and Dr. Kan and Maomao have had a hand in every successful imperial birth since then. They’ve uprooted the rebellion before it was at our gate, and Maomao was kidnapped from them twice now. First when she was brought to the Rear Palace and now by the Shi clan.”

Sylver considered this with his previous knowledge, asking about something else, ‘What about her Morelull?’

“She’s been in the Jade Palace helping with medicines and teas for the pregnancy. I’m sure Maomao would love to see her, but the battlefield won’t be safe for such a small creature.”

‘Are you intending to bring Maomao back as a consort?’ Gardevoir asked.

He flushed bright red, “That… remains to be seen, there are obstacles.”

Lucario huffed with an eye roll, ‘Lakan is chief among them?’

Yue’s sigh answered pretty clearly, “My brother made his intentions clear about her when we went to the Shrine of Choosing, so I know as long as he doesn’t steal her, he’s not an obstacle.”

“Nin-ja” ‘Suiren and Gaoshun like her too,” Běi translated. 

‘As if we care about Gaoshun’s opinion at this point,’ Lucario snuffed.

The prince balked at Zǐyè’s flagrant disdain, it made him worry about their opinions of Maomao.

“What about her? Do you dislike her as well?” Yue asked, a little nervous.

‘She helps lots of people,’ Sylver perked.

‘She makes sure the right thing is done, even if she wears herself out to do it,’ Yǐngyuè observed.

‘Standing with confidence by the Moon Prince, she could make some excellent changes in the Rear Palace,’ Běi offered quietly.

‘How could we dislike her after all the risks she’s taken for you?’ Lucario smirked, arms crossed, ‘Besides, grass and poison do fill a gap in the team,’ 

The prince burst out laughing, “Didn’t take you for the joking type Zǐyè.”  

Midnight’s smirk became a grin, ‘Having a translator helps.’

He never expected conversing with his pokemon would be so …encouraging. They called him master but joked and chided him and each other. A whole new dimension added to years of partnership. The conversation went long into the night as they walked down memory lane and he soon realized just how opinionated they were. 

Guardevior had zero patience for the women who threw themselves at him, she had half a mind to learn reflect or light screen or something so they could just smack into an invisible wall. Yue’d never admit it, but he may keep an eye out for that move for lessons. The image was too tempting. Something told him even Maomao may find it amusing. Though it sounded like psychic was now an option and Běi was requesting to fling the lusty individuals into the nearest fountain or pond. To ‘cool their heads’ as she put it.

Lucario had spent so much time with Basen and Gaoshun he was merciless in his political opinions. He wasn’t wrong but he was utterly scathing, and the dirt that the pokemon shared at his opponent’s expense. Good heavens I should have gotten a telepathic pokemon years ago! Unfortunately, this included a rather unified opinion that Sylver evolved very young and that sparring with them led to the current predicament. To say they were pissed at Gaoshun was a terrifying understatement. 

Then again Zǐyè thought the prince should issue more challenges in general so they could pound submission into the court. Something told him all that time with Basen’s fighters gave him the idea. For as mad as Lucario was at the Ma clan, he did emanate their values and protective stance.

It turned out Greninja had been wishing to hang out with Ah Duo’s team for some time, but had no way to ask. Apparently they went out of their way to prank the Emperor during his visits to the Garnet Pavillion and now the villa, and he wanted in. Then again, he also wanted to help the haunter in Lishu’s Diamond Pavillion. Yǐngyuè thought Jinshi had let the ladies in waiting off rather easily despite the impressive stack of ‘super natural’ complaints he had been ignoring -er- procrastinating in addressing since he left the ghost there. Talking to the haunter would go very differently with a translator in tow, he considered that for when they got back.

Sylver was just so young and itching to please, each of his questions had been clarifying, childlike, and full of innocence. He was like a little eager sponge. This pup, his questions were so damn cute.

Běi covered her chuckle before asking, ‘He wants to know if you’re a fairy type too?’

Yue laughed, “What makes you ask that Sylver?”

Sylveon laid it out; ‘In the Rear Palace you’re constantly using charm, dazzling gleam, alluring voice, disarming voice, they’re all fairy type moves.’

Sylver may not have been there, but the others exchanged a knowing look. Yue searched the others, “What?”

Guardevoir looked upward, ‘Nothing… Moon Fairy.’

“HEY!”

‘What? It was a lovely ‘lunar dance’, the frosmoth were a nice touch.’

The entire group chuckled, Yue managed a redirecting counter question to the young sylveon, “And what type do you think Maomao is?”

‘Steel/poison.’

This should be good, “W-why?”

‘She’s immune to you.’

Collapsed, rolling, howling and heaving with laughter they tried desperately to shush each other so they wouldn’t wake Suiren. Clutching their sides, breathing was so difficult! Sylver looked so confused at how thoroughly he had broken the entire team. 

‘What? Did I say something wrong?’ his blue eyes glistened in the moonlight, yet again seeking approval and reassurance. The conversation settled and Yue found himself looking at his own insecurity in the creature. This creature wasn’t trying to be part of some prestigious royal’s team. Sylver just wanted to know he was a help, all while he slowly worked his way into the prince’s lap for scritches. 

Běi gave the prince another pretty thorough mental tongue lashing for raising his level so quickly without training Sylver on the nuance of the job. (Even if some of the pup’s questions between interrogations and meetings had been hilarious). Yue raised his hands and passed the blame to Gaoshun, but promised to address it. He found Sylver’s favorite spot along his neck, “You all are free to be mad, but I’d be on a much shorter fuse without his calm mind and yawn.”

The three elder pokemon needed to think about that.

As Yue crawled into bed and Sylver settled in after him. The prince heard a small whimper and looked to Běi for translation. She was about to recall herself into her pokeball and looked back, ‘He wants to know what’s going to happen when you find Maomao?’

“Throw a pokeball at her?” sylveon snickered, “No, I wouldn’t do that, she’d never talk to me again.”

He paused, giving the creature a pet, “Are you worried about losing this?”

Sylver nodded, Jinshi sighed, “I… look you’ve been through enough. If you want to stay with me, I’ll gladly keep you here with us. But if you’re willing to go with her and keep her safe, know that I’d be eternally grateful to have such a caring spirit keeping an eye on her. Keeping her safe, making sure she rested… even if she’s not as thrilled about cuddles.” Yue yawned, “Know that if I had my way, she’d be right there,” he pointed to the other empty pillow, “but ultimately the choice is yours.” 

The sylveon needed to think about that. 

“Now, can I get an assist so I don’t have nightmares of Lakan busting in here like he did at that gate?”

Sylveon nuzzled him and let out a big yawn.

Tomorrow was going to be fascinating.

***

“Is that the sylveon that had been following Maomao?”
“Forget that! Kirlia became a Guardevoir!”

“If he was so lonely he could have just come here.”

“Didn’t one of the court ladies say something about ‘interesting proclivities’?”

“I wonder if he uses the ribbons to tie them up?”

“Shhhh he’ll hear you.”

“The moon can shine in my doorway any night.”

Sylver was out and walking beside Yue, it was one thing when Maomao first went missing but this felt… different. Those double meanings were applying to him now too, the rumors, the conjecture, but they were more standoffish than before. News of the Forbidden Army and the Moon Prince had swept the palace overnight. They were leaving soon, and Yue was making his final preparations, one of which was the Jade Pavillion.

“Excuse me!”
“Don’t stand in the door!”

The ladies in waiting were rushing by, nearly knocking Guen to the floor, after several failed attempts to be of service he was put in charge of the litten. Maomao (the litten) seemed less than thrilled with this arrangement. Sylver quietly used his ribbons to bait her away from the thoroughfare. Guen followed frantically. 

Hongniang stepped out of the chaos, “She’s gone into labor, is there something pressing Lady Gyokuyou needs to know?”

“We’re departing to take down the Shi clan,” the Moon Prince stated loud enough that she could hear.

‘And bring back Maomao,’ Běi Chén added. 

The head lady in waiting blinked at the guardevoir but nodded, “Luomen is here, if Maomao trusts him so do we.”

He nodded, masking his small smile, “I’ll bring her home.”

“YOU BETTER!” a very unladylike shout came from inside paired with a contraction. He wasn’t sure whether to wince or chuckle as he bowed to depart. 

***

The army proceeded as quickly as they could, given the weather. Lakan and Lahan requested a strategy meeting. While they expected to see Greninja and Lucario by the door, they were not expecting Guardevoir and sylveon to be flanking the Moon Prince. While that may have drawn some scathing commentary, the Suicune laying in the corner had the opposite effect. 

The La members bowed to the noble man and beast, “It is an honor to have you fight by our side Suicune.”

‘I do not take sides in human conflicts, I am here to ensure a rescue.’

The men exchanged a look before regarding the prince, Lahan set a map before them, “This would fit into our strategy rather nicely, if you’d hear us out?”

“Proceed,” Zuigetsu listened to the plan, the strengths, the concerns, the concept of ‘honorable’ attacks.

He looked to Suicune, “we can initiate the avalanche with or without you, but the more effective it is, the more likely they won’t be able to access their weapons and we can minimize casualties.”

‘If that is your intention then an avalanche you shall have.’

“Běi Chén, once we have located Maomao can you teleport her, Yǐngyuè, Lihaku and Sylver outside the compound?” Guardevoir nodded. 

“Ah this must be the little escape artist Kirlia that escorted you in the Rear Palace,” Lakan observed slyly.

‘It would be wise not to draw the ire of the team rescuing your daughter,’ she glared, wishing to toss him around the room like a psychic ragdoll.

“I wouldn’t dream of it my dear, as you can see by our proposal, we seek efficiency over all else.”

“Syl- sylvee!” ‘Sylver wishes for you to know he’s not doing this for you, but for his friend Maomao.’

Lakan scrubbed his stubble, pleased, “Legends tell of sylveons going up against dragon types for ones they care about. I’m coming to appreciate your team Moon Prince, what they lack in visual intimidation they make up for in spunk.”

Suicune studied this interaction, it wasn’t worth interrupting, but it was worth noting. 

“Earning trust in my household and with my team is no small feat,” Zuigetsu treaded carefully, “Maomao is a remarkable individual, and while I’m here with dual purpose, my team comes with one.”

The master strategist hummed thoughtfully.

Chapter Text

He looked to Suicune, “we can initiate the avalanche with or without you, but the more effective it is, the more likely they won’t be able to access their weapons and we can minimize casualties.”

‘If that is your intention then an avalanche you shall have.’

“Běi Chén, once we have located Maomao can you teleport her, Yǐngyuè, Lihaku and Sylver outside the compound?” Guardevoir nodded. 

“Ah this must be the little escape artist Kirlia that escorted you in the Rear Palace,” Lakan observed slyly.

‘It would be wise not to draw the ire of the team rescuing your daughter,’ she glared, wishing to toss him around the room like a psychic ragdoll.

“I wouldn’t dream of it my dear, as you can see by our proposal, we seek efficiency over all else.”

“Syl- sylvee!” ‘Sylver wishes for you to know he’s not doing this for you, but for his friend Maomao.’

Lakan scrubbed his stubble, pleased, “Legends tell of sylveons going up against dragon types for ones they care about. I’m coming to appreciate your team Moon Prince, what they lack in visual intimidation they make up for in spunk.”

Suicune studied this interaction, it wasn’t worth interrupting, but it was worth noting. 

“Earning trust in my household and with my team is no small feat,” Zuigetsu treaded carefully, “Maomao is a remarkable individual, and while I’m here with dual purpose, my team comes with one.”

The master strategist hummed thoughtfully.

***

Zuigetsu stood before the army flanked by Lucario and Greninja first, but Guardevoir and Sylveon were behind them, “Do not use your fire or electric pokémon, reports and scouts state they are producing gunpowder and the fumes are dangerously volatile. The avalanche will start when we’re in position. Expect ice, steel, ground, and gas types. We suspect there may also be ghost and poison types. We don’t know how many are trapped against their will or under the influence of psychic types so capture any who lack the will to fight. Aerial team, braviaries and skarmorys only, no charizards or talonflames we need to know what we’re up against as soon as that avalanche settles. Take out any remaining canons. Ground team, we go in under mist, do not release your pokémon until I give the signal. 

If anyone criticizes or attempts to dishonor the Forbidden army for the strategy in place they can direct their complaints directly. This choice falls to me and me alone. Now move out!”

Stunned was an understatement. Lihaku never expected the little lady’s boss to be the Moon Prince. He also didn’t expect to be placed on his vanguard with the Ma clan members. The climbing team in place, the fire archers aimed for the western flank over the fortress.

The trembling boom almost overtook the haunting howl echoing off the ridge from further up the mountain… almost.

Rock and ice rumbled loose in a deafening roar as it hurled down the mountain, burying the enemy from their rear. The ghost types made it out first, dustclops and dragapult, an avalugg rose from outside the walls. The ice and rock types were next, beartic, glalie, empoleon and graveler tunneling pathways out through the rubble and ice for their humans. 

But Zuigetsu was quick on the charge, meeting them just as they were emerging from the snow, “Quickly before they can regroup!”

Reports rolled in that their barracks was buried and their gunpowder production had exploded. The prince made the signal to enter. Lihaku knelt, his mabosstiff bowing it’s head, “Permission to speak freely Sir.”

“Granted.”

“Perhaps we can be entrusted to lead the vanguard for you Sir?” You’re far too valuable to be on the front line.

“Of those trapped, the Grand Commandant’s daughter is here. This team,” Sylver, Běi, and Yǐngyuè stepped forward, “is here with me to get her out.”

“Then allow me to assist.”

Zui smirked, handing him a whistle, “I was hoping you’d say that Lihaku.”

The fact that chandelure lit every hall inside was unnerving, smart with the smell of sulphur in the air, but didn’t their light come from the victim's souls? The prince summoned his bronzor and cast safeguard on his team, advising others to do the same. They spread out, kicking in the doors, suddenly Sylver perked sniffing the air and bolting ahead.

‘The apothecary,’ Běi stated, rushing after the beast.

They got to the door, unsure if she was being held captive. Guardevoir readied psychic, while Sylver readied bite as the prince took a deep breath and kicked in the door. 

“Ooof! S-sylver!?” joyous chitters and kisses covered the pinned down cat, faltering and staggering off of her after a flash of jealousy and a tsunami of relief fell off his master. 

“Master Jinshi,” she asked, petting the creature insistently nuzzling her, “Might I ask for your protection?”

Sylveon sniffed at her jacket, the prince approached concerned, “You’re bleeding!”

“It’s okay, it’s not mine-”

“That’s not okay!”

“It’s just ekans and seviper blood,” she licked her lips.

Maomao unintentionally cast confusion; it was super effective.

Sylver sensed her amusement and relief at the familiarity. It felt closest to when they had gotten back to the pavilion after a long, stressful day. An… unwinding in a safe space.

Zui approached to check her over, spotting not one but two bruises blooming on her skin. Yue’s hand reached out unconsciously, “Are you hurt-?”

“Crown Prince-” the hand froze and returned to his side.

“I’m not the crown prince anymore, Lady Gyokuyou gave birth to a son,” he shut down quickly. Sylver and Maomao had questions for another time… well Sylver anyway. 

“Lihaku!” Zuigetsu called.

The rising official expected to find some delicate, terrified young woman, but came in to see Master Jinshi’s -wait- the Moon Prince’s little lady? 

“I leave her to you,” the royal departed for his second mission. 

A debate was had with the cat over the children she had been watching over? Guarding? Lihaku called in officers to take the bodies back to camp and Guardevoir stepped up to teleport them out. Sylver happily wrapped ribbons around wrists for contact and they winked out of the stronghold, outside the walls. Maomao swore she saw a blue and purple creature watching from the ridge. The high pitched whistle Lihaku blew on carried on the north wind before they reappeared in camp. 

The sylveon immediately started dragging Maomao to the cooking fire, not particularly thrilled hearing about her last meal. Lihaku, Běi, and Yǐngyuè stayed right on their tail. If this was the Grand Commandant’s daughter they are not taking any chances. 

At least Lihaku and Sylver are familiar. She eyed the other two as food was prepped for them, the greninja and shiny guardevoir seemed awfully relaxed to be strangers.

‘Something wrong Maomao?’ Běi asked, the apothecary startled slightly.

“Are you Master Jinshi’s kirlia and frogadier?”

They nodded.

“Well congratulations on your evolution, do you both use telepathy or just guardevoir?”

The creatures exchanged an amused glance, ‘Just me, Běi Chén, though translator seems to be a new primary role.’

“I’m sure, and he goes by?” looking to greninja.

‘Yǐngyuè, though knowing you the names won’t stick,’

“Named pokémon aren’t as common Běi Chén, know that I’ll try. Though your names being related to the Moon Prince helps.”

Guardevoir nodded, expecting to give several reminders regardless.

“The children’s bodies will still be on their way, where would you like them Lady Maomao?” Lihaku asked.

“DON’T call me ‘Lady’,” the group found her grousing rather entertaining, “is there a carriage we can lay them out in and I can rest?” 

The guard set them up in the big one where the Moon Prince had been having strategy meetings. Maomao curled up in a corner with Sylver while she waited. Běi and Yǐngyuè waited on the inside of the door and Lihaku kept watch outside. The apothecary wasn’t nearly as cuddly as the prince, but she clearly valued the warmth as her body succumbed to a safe place. 

Gaoshun strode up as he saw several bundles being carried into the royal carriage, “Can someone explain what’s going on here?”

“The little miss -I mean- the Grand Commandant’s daughter, Lady -I mean- Maomao made a request,” Lihaku was clearly trying to sort out where she fell in the new pecking order. 

The attendant followed the last bundle in and saw them laid down one beside another in a corner, he scanned the room and found Maomao stirring in the corner with Sylver, watching the goings on closely. The stoic attendant’s shoulders dropped with a relieved breath, “Good to see you’re alright Xiaomao, can I get you anything?”

“Lihaku made sure I was fed and hydrated, thank you.”

“Can you… explain this?” he motioned to the bundles. 

“The children? I wish to bury them properly,” assuming they don’t wake on the way back.

“Oh Xiaomao, we can’t-”

“I can’t leave them,” Sylver stepped in front of her protectively, ribbons up, ears pinned, head lowered, snarling at his old master. Greninja and Guardevoir crossed their arms. 

“Dead bodies don’t belong in a royal-”

‘Then no royals need to enter,’ Běi Chén countered sharply, ‘less humans makes for easier protection.’

Strange, Xiaomao’s not one to push back, let alone the prince’s team. And even then, she was barely standing, Sylver was clearly assisting her. Gaoshun could see he wasn’t going to win this without the Moon Prince. It may be the frozen north, but the glares made the room feel even colder than outside. 

He could see he wasn’t welcome, he had several guesses as to why but that was a battle for another day. Sighing, he shook his head in defeat and handed Gardevoir a fluffy cloak, “Please stay warm, and if you need anything-”

‘We will handle it,’ Běi Chén responded with a curt bow before taking it to Maomao. The door was held open for him, he never knew Zuigetsu’s pokémon held such disdain for him. Li may have won today, but he had clearly lost. 

It was several hours before the rest of the Forbidden Army regathered. The attendant was mortified to find the prince in the medical tent receiving stitches, his son being punished outside. What on earth happened!?

To no one’s surprise he stepped in and the first words he heard were, “The apothecary?”

“Resting in the meeting carriage with your team. They have taken their guarding mission quite seriously.”

Zui caught his tone and wondered what Běi would say when he got there. The bandage sinched tight in its final knot and he rose, heading toward her. Gaoshun put a hand on his chest, murmuring insistently, “Sir, I wouldn’t, there are… bodies in there with her.”

“What!?”

“The Shi clan children you found her with, she insisted on keeping the bodies. You know how she gets.”

“You can’t seriously think I’m not going to check in on her after everything.”

This was not Gaoshun’s day. 

Lihaku bowed and Zui climbed the steps, “Běi it’s me, let me in.”

‘What happened to ‘no nobles’?’ she taunted while opening the door a crack. 

He gave her a lame look and she opened the door for the prince. Guardevoir didn’t miss the bandage, but he was also approaching his favorite healer. 

There she was, nestled on the floor with her back against a wall, still in the blood and soot stained clothes he found her in, cloak wrapped around her back and Sylver stretched out along her front. The bundles just within arms reach for her. Her breathing was steady and quiet, the creature’s ear perked up and he opened his eyes in silence. The prince wanted nothing more than to lay down and fall asleep surrounded by her scent, her presence, her safety. Sylver was clearly waiting for the word to knock him out with a yawn.

A ribbon quietly wrapped around Yue’s wrist as he lowered himself next to her, looking for any additional signs that she was injured. The bruise on her neck drew his eye as it had back in the fortress. But the second one peeked out beneath her collar. His fingers were gently moving the fabric before he realized, “What are you doing?”

He froze, “What happened?”

“I came across a bad person.”

“Did he assault you?”

Always questioning virginity, “SHE wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.”

“Don’t let it scar.”

As if my arm isn’t covered in scars, “You act as if a scar lessens my value.”

“It doesn’t but-”

“Speaking of which, let me see,” she sat up, he scooted back.

Her eyes narrowed and she followed, leaving Sylver behind and rather confused. He watched the apothecary crawl after the prince until he was pinned to the wall. She undid the bandage and her nose crinkled in disgust, “Those should be redone,” he could see her watch her own trembling hands she clicked her tongue in frustration. She began redoing the bandage properly.

“I’ll be fine.”

“What if it scars?”

“I’m a man, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” she tied the knot a little tighter than necessary.

“Does a scar lessen my value?” he clapped back.

Maomao pondered, her eyes softening, “No, if anything it probably helps. Makes you look more manly.”

The sharp ears in the room heard a hearty thump against the underside of his armor, Sylver and Greninja winced. All pokémon eyes disengaged as Yue struggled with the rare kind words from his treasured apothecary, “I thought I could control myself but this-”

Maomao started backing up, her words rushed, “Sir you look exhausted, perhaps you should go rest-”

Sylver had been backing towards the exit, ears down, tail tucked, unsure what to do with the emotions and scents flooding the room. But his ears caught a noise he wasn’t expecting, he whipped his head toward the bundles.

“I can last 30 more minutes,” he gently caged her against the wall.

“For what!?”

“SYL! Sylvee-”

All eyes turned to Sylver who was sniffing a moving cloth. Maomao was up in a flash, ripping open the bundle, a little puff of chilled air spoke of life, “I need blankets and hot water!”

The prince and his team blinked in shock as Sylver tugged another one open. Guardevoir used psychic to loosen and readjust the rest of the children’s bundling so Maomao could rub and assist circulation, “Běi help. Sylver, guard the door, Shadow over here.”

Close enough.

“That clever fox tricked me,” Zuigetsu chuckled to himself over Loulan’s final request. They had indeed ‘died’, so now what?

Greninja imitated Maomao as she attempted to warm the children’s skin. The last bit of resolve crumbled from the fading prince. He murmured in her ear, “Pick this up later?”

“Yeah, sure,” clearly not listening but he’d take it. 

He watched her and his team for another moment before, “Master JINSHI! The water!”

Chuckling at her command he stepped out and ordered blankets and hot water. Guards came with Suirei, another who had once died. He looked back into the tent, “The children could use your help.”

The look of bewilderment before the realization hit her feet, she stumbled out of the guards grasp and rushed inside. The Moon Prince stopped the soldiers despite protests, his cousin wouldn’t try anything with all his pokémon in there. He let Gaoshun lead him away to sleep.

***

Maomao had worked tirelessly with Suirei to bring the children out of their near-death state. Běi and Yǐngyuè had been extremely helpful, as most of the children came up unscathed. Even the little brat got away with some minor numbness and loss of fine motor movement on one side. It seemed everyone's memories were intact, the extra hands had clearly made a difference. She was suddenly very glad for the Go and Shogi boards left in there, because these children could not be seen, but they needed something to entertain them on the way back. 

Master Jinshi did not return, though his Lucario… (Midnight?) would drop by with supplies, with Lihaku, Gaoshun or Basen helping bring in more blankets, food or water. Maomao handed the medicine to Suirei and looked at Gaoshun curiously.

“Yes Xiaomao?”

“How did you piss off Yǐngyuè and Běi Chén this badly?”

The attendant looked sadly at sylveon who was playing with one of the children.

“...Oh. Have you tried talking with them?”

“We’ve been… a little preoccupied,” he really was so glad she was back safe with them.

“Why not now?”

“You act as if they’ll allow me to try.”

She understood their frustration, but even the children could feel their icy glares, and it was making them wary of the trusted attendant. Maomao motioned guardevoir over, “Běi, are you all still mad at Gaoshun because of Sylver?”

‘You don’t just ABANDON your teammates like that,’ she crossed her arms.

Gaoshun’s gaze fell, “You understand how it would look for me to walk around with him as a guard.”

‘He’s not even a YEAR OLD Master Gaoshun,’ she gestured harshly, pointing to the pup and then to herself, ‘the only reason his level went up so fast is because he was sparring with us,’ Greninja saw the conversation and wandered over.

“I know,” his shoulders dropped.

‘And then you immediately replaced him with that Meditite!’ Yǐngyuè added through his translator.

“I needed a full roster to be built, and my wife acquired him without warning me. Though morning meditation with him has… helped. I’m sorry about the timing.”

The two pokémon snuffed heartily.

Maomao’s arms crossed, “And you allowed him to be extremely affectionate behind closed doors.”

“He served as a very friendly connection to the women in the Rear Palace, and…” he looked off.

‘And WHAT?’ Gardevoir asked harshly.

Gaoshun looked at the embodiment of the prince’s soft spot and rare attachment his inner circle allowed him to keep. His sad gaze then passed to his old partner, "Tenderness is considered a weakness in the Ma clan.”

The apothecary sighed heavily, “you needed him as much as he needed you.”

Greninja and guardevoir’s gazes whipped to her, catching his brow knit and his lip pinch. Sylver was Gaoshun’s safe place, his soft spot, just like Maomao for the Prince. Even sylveon’s replacement didn’t leave room for softness, only steadiness.

Crap.

The attendant looked off, sounding so broken, “I thought I could have him protect Maomao and they could keep each other safe. I’d still treat him the same ‘behind closed doors’... if you let me.”

A ribbon slipped around his wrist, he jolted and looked down at the teary blue eyes, his voice choked, “Can you ever forgive me Sylver?”

Pink and blue tipped ribbons pulled him to kneeling so the sylveon could nuzzle his neck. He wrapped his arms around the beast with a sniffle, “I’m so sorry Sylver, I know it comes across so cruel I was just… this was the way I could hurt you the least. Meditite meets a technical need, but he could never replace you.”

‘Do you see his value, as he is NOW?’ Gardevoir translated for greninja.

Gaoshun held Sylver tighter, “The prince and I couldn’t have gotten through this without you steadying him. I’m pretty sure you’re the only reason he ever got any sleep.”

“Is that why I keep falling asleep in weird positions or while grinding medicine?” Maomao glared.

Sylver buried his head against Gaoshun’s chest, facing the other way. The attendant sniffled a chuckle, “Yawn and calm mind have been his most practiced moves since you were taken from us.”

Was Jinshi really THAT worried about me? AND Gaoshun? She had no idea what to do with the lump in her throat, the squeeze on her chest, or the foreign desire for…contact? Her hands settled for fussing with her sleeve.

Gaoshun cleared his throat, “He has tried to return multiple times, but the Moon Prince can’t be seen with the Grand Commandant’s daughter unnecessarily.”

‘That’s RIDICULOUS, she served in his home,’ Běi facepalmed.

“I know that, and you know that, but just like with Sylver, we are trying to protect Maomao from rumors and jealous individuals.”

‘But WE can be here?’ Greninja tilted his head.

“You’ve been seen with him once in battle, you could have just as easily been on my team. “

Guardevoir and greninja were realizing how complicated this was, and how -even the right move- came at a cost. 

‘Is he getting any sleep?’ Běi asked, concerned. 

“Not as much as he should but the exhaustion and relief are helping.”

“Syl.” ‘Sylver is offering his services.’

“Oh sweet bud,” Gaoshun hugged him, “There’s some big changes coming, and you need to decide if you’re staying with us or going with Maomao.”

“Going… where?” the apothecary was now equally confused.

“Jinshi, Manager of the Rear Palace no longer exists. As the revealed daughter of the La clan, it's not appropriate to have you as a poison tester, even if Lady Gyokuyou is named Empress.”

“But I’m just an-”

“Apothecary, we know,” Běi and Gaoshun spoke and sighed in sync.

‘Can we just forego this mess, bring her home with us? Then she doesn’t have to be separated, Sylver’s happy, the prince is happy, she and morelull get fancy medicines and can be happy?’ Běi groused.

“That would require her to be a consort or a wife,” Gaoshun sighed, and Maomao choked on air, “And even then it puts the target on her back again the moment she accepts the position.”

“I just want to make medicine,” Maomao groaned.

“Well,” Gaoshun pondered, “The Verdigris House is now without assistance, and we’d like to keep Dr. Kan if he’s willing to stay.”

“Then I know he’ll be fed and housed properly,” Maomao pondered out loud. Man doesn’t have a lick of business sense.  

“You have my word we’ll make sure he’s well cared for,” the Ma clan member knew he could make good on that.

“But can you keep me away from the Old Fart until then?” her eyes narrowed.

“The strategist?” his brow knit and sleeve came up to hide his reaction, “Is that what you want?”

‘His visits have been… chaotic,’ Gardevoir rolled her eyes.

‘He’s even more cuddly than ME,’ Sylver added.

“Oh dear,” Gaoshun winced at the very fed up apothecary, “I’ll see what I can do?”

Maomao bowed, “Thank you Master Gaoshun,” she looked to the pokémon, “If you’ll excuse me, Suirei is summoning me.”

Not once had Gaoshun put Sylver down, petting him softly and giving him scratches in his favorite places, “I can take you to the Moon Prince, but he’s going to have to learn to get along without you if you go with her to the Verdigris House.”

‘But, he needs me.’

“He needs both of you, but neither he nor Maomao are ready for that.”

‘Is there a reason Lihaku or I can’t escort him between the Verdigris House and the prince’s home?’ Yǐngyuè asked.

“If someone tracks the pattern, we paint a target on her back again,” the attendant replied.

‘Can you bring the prince to her with a disguise?’ Běi pondered.

“I have before. But he’s about to be buried in all the logistics of his new position and cleaning up the business side of all this embezzlement and Shi clan mess.”

They all groaned. 

The attendant pondered for a moment, “Perhaps an exchange would benefit us all.”

Guardevoir’s eyes narrowed, “What are you proposing?”
“Sylver tries to teach meditite yawn in exchange for you learning light screen from meditite, with the promise that I will make every attempt not to scold you when you use it on humans.”

Greninja, guardevoir and sylveon shared their thoughts among each other, (Sylver was still snuggled up to Gaoshun). The attendant watched quietly as he could only catch tones, they seemed hesitant. He knew he had driven a wedge between him and the prince’s team, but he didn’t know how big until this conversation. As usual, Maomao’s presence fundamentally changed things for the better. When is she going to understand that the prince will literally move mountains for her?

Wasn’t that the entire downfall of the Shi clan? Shishou’s unending adoration for Shenmei opened the door for all this corruption. Then again, power or revenge were never pursuits of Maomao, she wanted medicine, chances to experiment, and to not be physically smothered by the men in her life who adored her. 

That last one seemed particularly difficult.

‘We agree to your terms, we also wonder if we should be there to tell him about Maomao returning to the Verdigris House.”

“You… would help me with that?”

‘We’re frustrated you trapped a pup in a complicated social situation, we’re not monsters.’

Well… technically…

Gaoshun was so thankful, “When would you like to start training?”

‘Now is fine,’ Běi replied. 

The children were restless anyway, it became a fun game to see if they could resist Sylver’s yawn. Meditite was a diligent student and a patient teacher. Běi was working on light screen and as soon as one started forming for her the kids were there with a new game of testing its strength. So at one end of the carriage children were whacking and throwing themselves at light screens and at the other they were being dragged into unconsciousness by yawn. It took several sessions for Gardevoir to get her light screens, and even longer for meditite to pick up yawn as it wasn’t in his normal array of available techniques. 

Lakan’s visits to the carriage didn’t stop entirely, but (after a chat with Gaoshun), he was mobbed with children asking to learn Go and Shogi. Meanwhile Maomao sat quietly in the opposite corner, attempting to hide among the blankets. Sylver and Běi tag teamed him between ribbons, light screen, and a little psychic and yawn when things really got dire. Maomao appreciated the backup. She did enjoy Jinshi’s team. It was clear they didn’t mind her presence, even offering to help with menial tasks when she didn’t ask. 

Though she should probably stop giving greninja ideas on how to prank the Diamond Pavillion, it’s probably for the best that haunter didn’t go with her. Her menacing tendencies may have run rampant. Then again those crazy ladies in waiting would probably leave her alone with a ghost floating over her shoulder.

That’s what she wanted… right?

To be left?

…Alone?

Safe… where no one could hurt her. Where she could make medicines in peace, where she would only have one element of mystery coming through her door at a time. One body, one illness, one malady. Something she could find a solution for and they could go on with their lives a little more rested, a little less in pain.

A ribbon wiped away a tear, “Syl?”

“Sylver! I wha-” he crawled into her lap and looked up at her with his big blue eyes, full of sympathy.

She wiped the unexpected wetness from her face, “I’m fine.”

His eyes half lidded in annoyance and he pulled her arm around him with a ribbon and put his head on it disagreeing in a huff, “Sylvee-on.”

You’re right Sylver, she’s not ‘fine’, Běi thought to herself.

Chapter Text

Lakan’s visits to the carriage didn’t stop entirely, but (after a chat with Gaoshun), he was mobbed with children asking to learn Go and Shogi. Meanwhile Maomao sat quietly in the opposite corner, attempting to hide among the blankets. Sylver and Běi tag teamed him between ribbons, light screen, and a little psychic and yawn when things really got dire. Maomao appreciated the backup. She did enjoy Jinshi’s team. It was clear they didn’t mind her presence, even offering to help with menial tasks when she didn’t ask. 

Though she should probably stop giving greninja ideas on how to prank the Diamond Pavillion, it’s probably for the best that haunter didn’t go with her. Her menacing tendencies may have run rampant. Then again those crazy ladies in waiting would probably leave her alone with a ghost floating over her shoulder.

That’s what she wanted… right?

To be left?

…Alone?

Safe… where no one could hurt her. Where she could make medicines in peace, where she would only have one element of mystery coming through her door at a time. One body, one illness, one malady. Something she could find a solution for and they could go on with their lives a little more rested, a little less in pain.

A ribbon wiped away a tear, “Syl?”

“Sylver! I wha-” he crawled into her lap and looked up at her with his big blue eyes, full of sympathy.

She wiped the unexpected wetness from her face, “I’m fine.”

His eyes half lidded in annoyance and he pulled her arm around him with a ribbon and put his head on it disagreeing in a huff, “Sylvee-on.”

You’re right Sylver, she’s not ‘fine’, Běi thought to herself.

***

Sylver thought the REAR PALACE social rules were confusing!

The Verdigris House was a whole other beast. 

It was a breeding center… that didn’t breed?

It definitely did the initial part.

Maomao was constantly making poison so the women… didn’t breed successfully?

And males came to seek partners, but only if they had enough money?

They were kicked out if they were unruly. (Thankfully).

But judging by the sounds it was distressing and fairly violent?

The women did courtship displays in ornate colors and shimmering fabrics. The dances were like a field of bellossom and oricorio with music. They passed out confusion drinks and the women made the Prince’s fairy moves look like child's-play.

The one called Pairin kept trying to train him on something called bondage? (He’d definitely run and hide behind Maomao or yawn right in the courtesan’s face to deter her, she’s been found ‘napping’ in strange places since he showed up).

The ones known as ‘The Three Princesses’ had not one, but multiple pokémon assistants to serve a given client. The most successful apprentices would be gifted one if they brought in enough clients. Though Sylver was pretty sure the men couldn’t tell the difference between the humans and the creatures by the end of the night. 

No wonder Maomao was immune.

***

Gaoshun had her Morelull brought to her after they dropped the Shi clan children off at Ah Duo’s villa. He delivered her to the Verdigris House and after Granny and the Princesses let him ‘have it’ for her getting kidnapped they let him say goodbye.

The attendant knelt before the sylveon, “Keep her safe alright?”

“Sylvee!” he nodded sharply.

“I’ll bring the Master by as soon as we can manage.”

Sylver’s ribbons drooped and he whimpered, glancing back at the apothecary, Gaoshun scratched behind his ear, “I know, I don’t like it either. We’ll look into a flying type so you can send messages or help if you need.”

The creature nodded, and looked nervously at the sparkling eyes and grabby hands.

“Is that a Sylveon?” Joka asked.

“Maomao it’s DARLING!” Meimei marveled.

“Come here sweet thing!” Pairin bated.

Maomao stepped in front of him protectively, “His name is Sylver, he’s my assistant, and you’re gonna keep your hands OFF him Pairin.”

“Oooooh you’re no fun!” she pouted. 

***

Sylver quickly found that Joka was the least problematic of the three, her salazzle and froslass kept most suitors at bay as she had carved out a more… intellectual market. Her analyzing detachment felt most like home and when he needed a break he could sometimes be found curled up the corner of her room. 

Meimei’s altaria and lilligant were as plush and warm as she was. While she was likely to flirt it was in jest, as a form of banter, a frilly cover for her sharp wit. She loved playing with his ribbons and turning him into a purring puddle. When he found himself missing Gaoshun or Jinshi’s affection she was the one he’d wander up to, even if she chided Maomao and her sisters in response. Her pets felt just as effective as his yawn and he often found himself waking draped over her lap. She seemed to find it amusing.

Granny’s lurantis and florges made for a welcoming visual but their movesets were terrifying when guests got unruly. Greeted by lurantis’ sweet scent, the clients were putty in the crone’s hands, but if they got uppity the scary face was an easy warning before anything went down. Disarming voice and psychic from florges easily delivered the rejected and ejected humans, and their combined petal blizzard was as beautiful as it was devastating.  

And then there was Pairin…

Her tsareena’s charm could knock over a man down at 20 paces. Or was the woman herself? He could swear she was the human embodiment of attract. The tsareena walked and danced by her side during performances, but she had a lickitung and a tangela that she trained in ways he didn’t even want to know. All he knew was the tremors running down his spine when she licked her lips and moaned at the sight of his ribbons. At first he had tried to push her away with them, he balked when she pressed and leaned into them further, trying to entangle herself further. He tried to sting her by whipping once and she moaned, he had the feeling binding any part of her would only make it worse. 

Is this what the prince felt like in the Rear Palace!?

After one such encounter, Maomao peeked under the apothecary desk after the courtesan left, “It’s okay, she’s gone. She’s actually gotten better since those other two came along, she used to go after the staff and apprentices.”

HOLY VICTREEBEL she was INSATIABLE!

Which is what Lihaku… LIKED about her? 

SO confused.

(Yes he had seen the man once, but his focus was… elsewhere).

Was that why Maomao didn’t like it when Sylver wrapped his ribbon on her? He shuddered at the thought. But her morelull had developed defenses. Sleep powder and amnesia were the favorites, but light screen was the most entertaining, as it would be across the doorway and she’d just smack into it and pout loudly from the other side, pressing her curves against the surface like a slurpuff. He was glad Gardevoir had light screen in her pocket now, he hoped to compare stories next time they saw each other. To that end, if he ever tilted his head at something or an interaction the apothecary made sure to circle back and explain it once they were alone. 

And then there was the place where he slept with Maomao, what she called ‘home’. 

No wonder Gaoshun left me to protect her! It was the size of a shed in the palace. The path to get there (not even a road) was littered with drunkards, destitution and illness. Morelull on her shoulder and Sylver wrapped around her wrist, Maomao’s guard was quietly raised from the moment they’d locked up the apothecary to the moment she’d put the beam across the door of the ‘house’. Busting through the window would have been a simple task. No closets, no indoor bath, toilet, let alone a closet! Dirt floor, firepit with rudimentary stove setup and a couple shelves. Not even a bed, she slept on the floor with him.

Laundry, in a bucket.

Bathing, with a bucket. 

Water, from a bucket, stored in a big jar. (Okay maybe this was like home and he didn’t know it).

Restroom, in a (different) bucket.

Cooking, in a metal bucket she called a wok. 

He did like the garden. Maybe because it was familiar? Maybe because it smelled like Maomao? Maybe because it was so live and sparkling and so well cared for wild pokémon would come visit. 

Sylver hung up another bundle in the eaves before they opened another day in the apothecary. Maomao began to take stock of the medicines when, “Ouch!”

Morelull had light screen up in an instant. Sylveon used hyper voice and they heard a tiny thud. Maomao tilted her head and pulled out the entire drawer down and all three looked down into the dried plants. Upside down and twitching was a tiny joltik.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but you shouldn’t be in there,” she glanced around the space, “Sylver go to the laundry, there should be some wool or silk scarves. Bring one of each if you can find it.”

She had gone over fabric types and their uses for heat, cold and medicine, especially after they had reunited in the frozen north. Either way he returned quickly so the ladies of the house wouldn’t hassle him unnecessarily. Meanwhile the joltik had remained in the box, now trembling in a corner despite morelull’s attempt to coax it out. 

The moment the fabric touched Maomao’s hands she started rubbing them together quickly. Sylver sat and tilted his head but the little creature perked up and peeked over the edge of the wooden drawer, “Here you go little one,” she peeled the fabrics apart and static snaps filled the air. The tiny spider was all over it, feeding on the electricity. 

She repeated the process several more times, “You were hungry weren’t you? Did you come in on a client?”

It didn’t understand her question, but it did decide to hop on her arm, petting the spot it had zapped her, “It’s okay, you were just protecting yourself.”

Though now looking at it, calling Jinshi such a creature was rather insulting, it was far cuter. Fuzzy little legs and sparkling emerald eyes. She chucked at the image of Rear Palace staff fleeing from the little spiderling. Her mind was already considering string shot thread and comparing it to silk, or electroweb experiments. 

Her hand went to her chin as she considered electric types nearby, “I think there’s a pachirisu that hangs out near the garden, maybe you could ask it for a charge?”

“Jol-” the tiny squeak sounded pleased. Maomao debated how to lure the forest creature close enough for it to get the energy it needed, but for now the spiderling decided her shoulder was a perch.  

That was when the letters arrived. One for the apothecary…

And one for Shisui.

Sylver felt the wave of grief overtake her as she opened the letter from her one human friend. It didn’t matter that it was brought in by Seki-u (who clearly wanted out of there, and away from her new electric companion). The pleasantries felt so brief and detached, Sylver could feel the apothecary pulling inward, even during their shared lunch.

It took courage for her to open it. Murmuring the contents to herself and then turning it over in her hand multiple times, looking for some return address. She read it again, and then a third time, tears falling onto the paper. Sylver nestled up to her leg and whimpered, morelull and joltik did the same along her neck. To sylveon’s surprise she pulled him back up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his neck as the paper crumpled slightly in her grasp. He nuzzled her, pushing calm mind into her as he did his best to wipe her tears. 

Sylver knew who she really needed but the man was trapped in his own chaos just a pidgey flight away. 

***

From that day forward there was a dedication to her work. Like she was emanating Master Gaoshun as he detached in deep breathing with meditite. The harvesting, the grinding, inventory and analysis, satchels and prescriptions. Her sisters made comments of her picking up her experimentation again? Injuring herself so she could test her remedies. 

Lucario was right, grass/poison.

Sylver was vehemently opposed, but Maomao walked him through all of her precautions, and notebooks of data she had gained from her experiments, and what remedies she had developed for humans because of it. He tried to use calm mind, but she was already calm… too calm.

When she took the bandage off her arm the first time he cried and wrapped it up in his ribbon wishing beyond a hope that he had heal pulse. He nuzzled and licked and whimpered at the scars, trying to get between her and the flame, the blade, the toxin, the acid. Morelull said nothing, and joltik wasn’t sure where to stand on this either, it settled for a low grade discharge to shock them out of arguments. 

So she would send sylveon on an errand and sneak the initial injury, leaving him to sniff blood or charred skin and come rushing back. She would calmly be applying a poultice and quietly writing down the immediate effects. It made him very leery of leaving her side. 

Sylver noted that she tended to eye her ‘crooked’ finger, he licked it and tilted his head. He never expected to hear that her mother had cut it off. It did explain her odd collection of slowpoke tails. There was one in the Verdigris courtyard garden that she was constantly hassling and studying, the girls kept it well fed and nicknamed it after dense clients on a given day. The apothecary even tried different poultices and foods to see if she could get the tail to grow back faster. 

Did she think emotions were dangerous? Did she truly feel like the safest thing to do was detach them and flee with everything else intact while they flailed and twitched involuntarily? How was he supposed to counter that? Calm mind wasn’t the problem here!

One day she had a ‘promising’ combination of poultice and medicinal meal she prepped. A freshly sterilized knife was set on the table. Sylver wasn't sure why she was tying something higher up on the finger as tightly as she could but his hackles raised. He didn’t like it. 

Then he caught it… a whiff…

Of sandalwood. 

He bolted out the door and latched the ribbon on the masked man’s wrist, dragging him back in as fast as he was able. 

“WHAT do you think YOU’RE doing!?” Sylver was heaving.

She lowered the knife, “Oh- Master Jinshi, did you finish all your work?”

“I’m allowed to take a break now and then,” the masked noble scoffed as he removed his shoes at the edge of her work platform and settled in. The knife was set down.

But Maomao’s attention went straight to the cleaned up sutures along his healing cut, Pops must’ve redone it.  

Sylver growled “Syl-sylvee”

“I’m with him, are we going to talk about whatever you were going to do with that knife?”

“An experiment…” He narrowed his eyes at her nonchalant shrug, “Is meditite’s yawn not cutting it? You look tired.”

“He can only use yawn when I have time to sleep,” he grumbled, “I’ve been managing the Rear Palace on top of all additional responsibilities and the Shi clan lands and so on.”

Her focus went back to her liniment grinding, disengaging as she considered the new information. I heard most of the executions have been carried out, and the lands were taken over by the government. I think? Should be good for the royal treasury. Maybe we can get more paper out of all those trees-

She’s just gonna go back to work isn’t she? “Oi- don’t act like I don’t exist.”

“Sorry Sir, old habits.”

“Fine, you have a promise to keep.”

The apothecary pondered openly before remembering the icecream incident, “Ah where I listen to the end, oh-” she suddenly looked sheepish.

“What?”

“Oh just… the hairstick, I.. uh, don’t have it anymore.”

“You didn’t sell it did you?”

“N-No, I uh… gave it away,” her voice dropped to a murmur, “maybe we’ll find it when spring comes.”

Sylver sat down quietly next to her.

“Why spring?”

Or better yet, “Maybe we’ll never find it, or it will end up in a shop somewhere.”

“You DID sell it!”

“No! I, uh…” Sylver’s ribbon draped over her shoulder and he tilted his head against her, pink ears low, “gave it to Shisui… Loulan. I asked her to give it back to me someday.”

Another ribbon reached out to the prince as he processed this, “I see,” she’s still in mourning, “she was your friend wasn’t she?”

It would have been one thing if he’d asked back in the carriage, but an emptiness had solidified in Shisui and Xiaolan’s absence. The expectation they’d peek their heads around the corner and bring her some amusing chaos. There was something… missing. A lump formed in her throat and a thumb wiped her cheek, “Hey I’m right here, it’s okay.”

His forehead pressed against her temple, his breath ghosted over her lips when the door slammed open, “SYLVER is Everything OKAY!?”

Granny rolled her eyes and pushed past the disheveled Gaoshun to quickly offer snacks and tea while the prince collapsed on the platform, grumbling to himself. Běi entered and slowly shut the door as the attendant tried to explain himself, “I’m sorry, there was this tangela trying to drag me up the stairs and-”

The gardevoir sighed and crossed her arms with an eyeroll. Sylver trotted over to talk with her quietly, after hugging her of course. 

“Are you okay Master Jinshi?”

“Yes, and I’d like to finish what we started if we can be left alone for more than five minutes.”

Maomao squared herself into a proper kneeling position, “Okay, what did you want to tell me?”

His brow knit as he debated the original intentions.

“Sir?”

“You already know what I was going to tell you.”

Yeah, your position as Moon Prince is old news.

“Perhaps I’ll make good on the other promise then,” he said, coming closer yet again, “to pick up where we left off.” 

She wasn’t sure what to do about the closing distance, but the wet warmth on her neck wasn’t exactly what she was expecting, “Sir, I give up. What are you doing?”

Yeah what IS he doing? Sylver asked Běi.

She shrugged, I don’t know, I haven’t seen this human ritual.

“You know what this means right?”

“Human saliva can be poisonous?”

“Well it takes more than a little poison to bother you doesn’t it!”

Did he just use bite? Běi tilted her head.

Doesn’t look very effective, Sylver was equally confused. This didn’t sound like the noises he heard here in the Verdigris house as Maomao was soundly smacking his back in some version of struggle.

“Yowch!” he shook his hand and backed up, glaring at the little source of discharge, “you’re kidding.”

The joltik wiggled its forelegs in an attempt to be threatening.

He could see he wasn’t gonna get what he wanted here. With an exasperated sigh he tried to make sense of things, “You want to explain why Sylver came barreling out to get me? And then how you managed to get that?”

“An experiment, and joltik made a home in one of the drawers while my father and I were absent.”

‘Correction, she’s trying to imitate slowpoke regeneration on her little finger,’ gardevoir translated for Sylver.

“Maomao!” He yanked her into an embrace, “I didn’t leave him here so you could spiral! Ask for help!”

“From who, Master Jinshi!? Gaoshun’s busy serving the Emperor, Lihaku is trying to raise his status to buy Pairin. My sister's lives are hard enough as it is. Apparently the old fart doesn’t want me as poison taster for the Empress, let alone the ‘scandal’ if I continued training under Suiren. You!? You can’t even sleep!”

“Běi was right,” he clicked his tongue, “I should have come weeks ago.” He shifted back against the wall and dragged her right with him. “You can’t be doing shit like this.”

“Sir! I-“ this is an awfully intimate position! It was like when he carried her from the wall, but seated on the floor. “What if someone comes in?”

“Běi has psychic to reinforce the door.”

Maomao glared at Gardevoir, the creature rolled her eyes, ‘Come now, like I’m going to let anything unsafe happen? I’m THIS CLOSE to demanding extraction with what Sylver’s telling me.’

That message must’ve been for her mind alone because Jinshi didn’t react, “Look, I know from watching you with Sylver that this isn’t your favorite, but can you just pretend I’m him for a little bit?”

Maomao glanced at the pokémon right as Sylver let out a long yawn and she immediately wavered. 

Damn it Sylver! 

She didn’t feel the psychic repositioning, not one but both of them so they wouldn’t wake up sore, Jinshi collapsed on the floor curled around his beloved apothecary. 

Gardevoir promptly ignored the pair and turned sharply on the sylveon, ‘Okay WHAT on EARTH is going on!?’

Sylver regaled his woes and social readjustments, his mentor looking increasingly mortified after each tale. Morelull had the most context but each answer it provided left Běi more concerned. She shook her head and tried to keep her questions calm and detached but Maomao’s definition of ‘normal’ was SO far from anything she experienced since she hatched in Ah Duo’s Garnet Pavillion.

It also brought so many of the apothecary’s outlandish behaviors into focus as well as her understandable disassociation with physical and emotional intimacy. Not that the palace was much better in that regard, but it had a different flavor of defense. 

She looked over at the sleeping pair and one thought came into focus, These two need rest and SAFETY above all else. 

As much as Běi’s Master had repressed his emotions, Maomao had managed to stunt hers altogether. So while he was bursting to share his, she needed peace and quiet for hers to sneak through the cracks. And if Sylver was correct, the moment she started experiencing them, she’d move to expulsion methods as if they were poison. Does she conflate emotions and poison? As things to be controlled and expelled?

What a mess. 

***

Maomao stirred against the warmth and quietly heard clear thoughts that weren’t her own.

‘Apothecary, please don’t move, you’ll wake Master. I’ve gotten good enough to read thoughts if you’d be willing to answer some questions silently?”

Her eyes flashed open, soft warmth ran the length of her back, behind her legs and draped over her waist. There was a warmth against her front too. Sylver had sandwiched her against the prince! An arm was extended under her head with inkstains on the calloused hand in front of her. Gardevoir had her hands up motioning her to stay still, ‘Please?’

‘Why- HOW!’

‘Please don’t panic. You both needed this desperately -ah, you don’t believe me- okay,’ Běi sighed, ‘look past the adrenaline for just a moment, what did the prince ask before you fell asleep?’

‘If I could treat him like Sylver.’

‘Has Sylver ever been a danger to you?’

‘Of course not, but Jinshi," images of the ‘wild mightena’ in the cave and in the carriage came to mind.

‘I see,’ Běi huffed, ‘okay setting his inexperience with mating and physical intimacy aside, do you feel he’s ever been a DANGER to you?’

Maomao sorted through her memories. Any discomfort did indeed fall within Běi’s “mating” parameters, ‘…no.’

‘Judging by what Sylver has told me, do you think being a wife is like being a courtesan?’

‘Abortifacients aside, after serving in the Rear Palace there is a fair bit of overlap, yes,’ Maomao deadpanned. 

‘I said wife, not consort.’

‘You act as if there’s a difference,’ Maomao thought, perturbed.

Běi sighed, ‘And how long ago did the prince ’buy you out’?’

It had been at least a year now.

‘And in all that time, did he ever demand for your ‘Verdigris trained’ services?’

‘Well, NO but-‘

‘THIS -right here- is what he needs more than anything. You are the ONLY one who can actually and fully restore him with this.’

‘Surely Sylver-‘

‘Can put him to sleep? Yes, offer cuddles? Absolutely. But all the ‘calm mind’ moves in the world never compared to your presence.’

‘But I’m just-‘

‘The only woman I’d trust with him,’ Běi stated unequivocally, ‘I’ve NEVER felt the need to teleport him away from you. In fact, I’d teleport him TO you if I could figure out how.’

‘But he’s royalty.’

‘And his parents, his protectors, his staff, his team, and the Empress and her team ALL trust you with him… implicitly.’

‘What are you getting at?’ She asked, specifically not asking about the mention of ‘parents’, plural.

‘While the decision is yours and yours alone, you need to look clearly at what he has given and what he has asked.’

‘Meaning?’

‘He’s given you access to his home, access to his inner sanctum, to us. He’s constantly asking about rare medicines for you, or how you were doing in the different pavilions or recovering. He has asked for your skills, your intellect and your presence. Does he ‘want you’? Yes, yes he does, but when he wakes he’s wanting THIS, RIGHT HERE. This is his dream, like so many others that he’s not allowed to have.’

The apothecary had no idea how to take this, balking at the assured tone Gardevoir had taken. This ‘listening to the end’ was biting her in the butt, but Běi’s candor was giving her an odd sense of security, ‘What are you asking?’

‘If you find yourself remembering this moment, this sensation, this position with ANY relief, peace, desire, or want, know that he’s absolutely dying to make space for it. I can’t promise he won’t be erratic while you figure the rest of it out. I won’t pretend his upbringing didn’t create its own set of issues. But you need to KNOW that THIS is ultimately what he wants. You, as you are, who you are, by his side.’

‘Lineage? Position? Political standing? Offspring?’

‘’All be damned’. His words, not mine.’

Damn it.

Then Běi had the gall to quietly leave them and resettle at the other end of the room, out of sight beyond the platform and her apothecary workbench. 

The apothecary took stock of her position, rather glad they were still in the cool season. Heat radiating against her stomach and her back would have left her dripping sweat. The adrenaline had indeed settled, but where did that leave her?

This felt like when her sisters piled in after a rough shift. Like leaning on Shisui and falling asleep in the bowels of the ship. Like… when she was very little and woke up from a nightmare and would crawl over to Luomen. What WAS this?

She sighed.

And that’s all it took. 

A deep breath occurred behind her, a tensing of muscles, a groggy, “Apologies Apothecary, I didn’t expect Sylver to do that.”

“Use yawn on his exhausted Master?” She deadpanned. 

“Not with you there, no,” he sounded frustrated, unsure, his arm lifted off her side. The missing heat was immediate and obvious as he shifted to rise. The temperature shift was like the night he cuddled her in a drunken state when he finally stood.

Then his body froze, the arm pulled back by a ribbon. His tone was tender even in scolding, “Sylver, let me go. We’re making her uncomfortable.”

Are they?

“Syl-“ the creature pleaded. 

“You made me smother her, I’m not- she’s not-“ he clicked his tongue as searched for words and pulled his hand away again. 

She dared peek over her shoulder, her cheeks felt hot, but her eyes were calm. Jinshi stilled, locked in place, his breath caught, “I’m sorry, I should give you space.”

Her stomach erupted in foreign spasms most would define as ‘butterfrees’. She debated an herbal tonic, breaking the spell of eye contact. 

He rose to a seated position and glared at gardevoir, “You’re just as guilty as he is. Don’t smile at me like that, that was not okay.”

‘Does she look mad, your Highness?’

The Prince whipped back around on the apothecary. Did she just squeeze Sylver a little tighter like a stuffed animal?

That image would live in his head rent free forever.

Chapter Text

She sighed.

And that’s all it took. 

A deep breath occurred behind her, a tensing of muscles, a groggy, “Apologies Apothecary, I didn’t expect Sylver to do that.”

“Use yawn on his exhausted Master?” She deadpanned. 

“Not with you there, no,” he sounded frustrated, unsure, his arm lifted off her side. The missing heat was immediate and obvious as he shifted to rise.

Then his body froze, the arm pulled back by a ribbon. His tone was tender even in scolding, “Sylver, let me go. We’re making her uncomfortable.”

Are they?

“Syl-“ the creature pleaded. 

“You made me smother her, I’m not- she’s not-“ he clicked his tongue as searched for words and pulled his hand away again. 

She dared peek over her shoulder, her cheeks felt hot, but her eyes were calm. Jinshi stilled, locked in place, his breath caught, “I’m sorry, I should go.”

Her stomach erupted in foreign spasms most would define as ‘butterfrees’. She debated an herbal tonic, breaking the spell of eye contact. 

He rose to a seated position and glared at gardevoir, “You’re just as guilty as he is. Don’t smile at me like that, that was not okay.”

‘Does she look mad, your Highness?’

The Prince whipped back around on the apothecary. Did she just squeeze Sylver a little tighter like a stuffed animal?

That image would live in his head rent free forever. 

***

“Maomao say something.”

She shook her head, ducking behind Sylver’s ears.

‘Yes Maomao, THAT THOUGHT, out loud,’ Běi huffed to the group.

Equal parts adorable and vexing he shot a glare and a thought sharply at his psychic companion, ‘Don’t pressure her. You two pushed us too far.’

‘Do I look like I learned how to fling pheromones? No. I grew up dragging you away from that,” she crossed her arms.

He nearly gave himself whiplash trying to catch Maomao’s minuscule murmur, “Did you say you’re cold now?”

She nodded, barely. It took every shred of self control to speak the truth, to not dodge, duck or deny it, and even then it was the slightest of nods. This was dangerous whatever this was. Vulnerability was not a word in her vocabulary. His outer robe was off in a flash and draped over the woman and the sylveon. She rose and held the embroidered edging against her chest.

Sylver and Běi looked pleased, Jinshi looked like he was watching Lingli do something utterly innocent and precious. He caught her unamused look and snapped out of it, glaring at Běi, “You all are going to be the death of me.”

What was THAT supposed to mean?

‘You’re welcome Moon Prince,’ Gardevoir grinned back, ‘would you like me to retrieve ‘it’ now?’

He sighed, “Yes please.”

Běi exited with a bow and Jinshi produced a small scroll from his inner robes, settling at the work bench, “I… I had multiple reasons for visiting. I’d… like to build a team for you out here.”

Settling next to him with his robe over her shoulders she opened the scroll, “pokémon?”

“To help you, guard you, transport you when they’re big enough.”

“Some of these are rare or not from this region.”

“Yes?”

The apothecary blinked at the second most powerful man in the country, trying desperately to read his expression. Did he really have no idea how big of a deal this was? How difficult some of these acquisitions were? She looked around, Sure NOW the snarky mind-reader leaves.

She didn’t dare ask why he would build such a team for her. Pandora’s box should always stay shut after all. 

Joltik, Morelull and Sylver peered curiously at the calligraphy. Maomao read the list out loud for their benefit.

“Flying: rookidee, dratini or alpha alolan Rowlette. 

Grass: sprigatitto, budew, or foongus. 

Water: sobble, mareanie, horsea 

Fire: fennekin, hisuian cyndaquil, houndour.

Sir, you realize you’re offering both poison and ghost types correct?”

“Well Empress Gyokuyou thinks a sprigatitto would make a lovely playmate for Princess Lingli’s litten.”

“You’re joking.”

“Oh no, not at all,” and Lakan has a rookidee ready to offer once he figured out I was trying to increase her security. Not that he would share that.

The door slid open and Gardevoir stepped in with an egg in a very plush basket, “But first and foremost the Empress and I agreed you should have this one.”

What on earth would these two dig up for her?

Maomao gently took the egg out of the basket, its smooth surface was warm to the touch. She thought she could feel something shifting within, “what kind is it? I don’t see any particular coloration or markings“

She wasn’t sure what to do with a mischief in his smile, “I don’t know, I think you should hatch it and find out.“

“Well maybe I should just eat it instead, eggs are highly nutritious after all.“

The way he attempted to snatch the egg out of her grasp told her it was rare and difficult to get a hold of. “You know I’ll never be able to stay hidden if you hand me a legendary pokémon.“

He rolled his eyes, “Yes, I tried to explain to the strategist that suicune does not -in fact- have a pokéball. He also had the audacity to request lugia, entei, articuno, zapdos, shaymin, absol, lunaria and darkrai on your behalf.”

She immediately held the egg away from her, “He didn’t find this, did he?”

“No,“ he chuckled, “but the team he tried to develop for you could fill a haunted house and destroy anyone with several leagues. While the Emperor found his shortlist entertaining, even he felt… trepidation. Needless to say we did not go with the strategist’s recommendations outside of the final evolution having more than one type to pull on.”

Maomao looked over the list again, “most of these are types you don’t have.”

“Correct, outside of assisting you in the garden I have consistently found that you act as an excellent counter balance. I would expect your team to do the same.”

“You act as if we are going to be spending a lot of time together,“ she didn’t realize how quiet her voice had become, or when her thoughts slipped out, “you’ve already been gone for so long.“

Oh how he wanted to touch her, pull her into his embrace and cover her with sweet kisses to be the comfort he rarely knew in the palace. 

Leaning on the table, he drew her gaze, “Choice is a rare luxury in my position. I don’t get to pursue the things I want because everything is about serving the people of Li. I have seen you fighting day in and day out to live as you choose, I want you to live with as much choice and freedom as my position can grant you. Know that I will be as close or as far away as you want me to be.” his voice dropped to a dejected murmur, “I... understand that being close to me has its own set of consequences.”

“Working in your pavilion was fine, Sir.”

She has no idea how encouraging that is. He huffed a laugh, “I’m glad, but don’t let Suiren hear you, she’ll snap you back up in an instant. I suspect she would even ask Lady Anshi to reinstate you.” 

A terrifying thought.

‘Don’t let fear of the decision makers around you drive you to mental paralysis,’ the psychic pokémon added.

“Has she been lecturing you as well?” Maomao glared at Běi.

The prince cleared his throat with a laugh, “every day, every meal, every chance she gets.” 

‘I’m sorry, no one else is willing to say anything and I have watched you two go round and round for years. Frankly, it’s ridiculous, and annoying. Everyone else is too polite or too worried about status to say something about it.’

“Is this,” motioning to Gardevoir, “why you’re more… direct than usual Master Jinshi?”

“Oh of course,” he rolled his eyes, “it has nothing to do with being dragged in at a run while you were brandishing a knife. Do I need to send Suicune to check in on you again?”

“There’s no way that would stay a secret.”

He chuckled, “Fair.”

When had he settled behind her shoulder? He wasn’t touching her but his hand was supporting him behind her back, to the point she could feel his body heat even through the extra layer, the scent of sandalwood lingered around her. Pointing at different options on the short list, he was calmly comparing statistics and logistics and movesets of one choice over another. The egg was settled in her lap and Sylver was resting along her leg on the other side. 

It wasn’t unpleasant… being this close. While her team currently leaned fairy between Sylver and Morelull, grass was covered, but he seemed insistent that she’d probably want more help in the garden. Sprigatitto seemed favored as the most ‘handy’ bipedal as it grew.

“Sobble is the better choice for water, the movesets available at full evolution are more conducive to your work environment.”

“Then why not scrap the other two entirely if you’re worried about them drying out, and go for a marshtomp. Ground and water if you’re going to deny me poison again. And if you’re that worried about my safety, why not a hisuian sneasel? That gives you a fighter and me poison, and can learn rain dance.”

Not a terrible compromise.

“I like the idea of both a ranged and hand to hand combatant on your team,” he looked off, imagining the sneasel’s long talons. It seemed like he wanted to get closer, his voice sounded… hurt, “you have to promise me you’re not going to teach your Pokemon to wound, maim, poison or injure you.”

Sylver whimpered in agreement, ribbons wrapping tenderly around her forearm.

“Master Jinshi, I’m fine.”

“If you saw me brandish a blade to force this cut back open what would you do?”

“Call you a masochist and take it away.”

“Okay masochist,” he tossed the blade to Běi who caught it with psychic and began looking around for the sheath. 

“HEY! Mine has a purpose.”

‘So does his overwork and lack of sleep,’ Běi countered, ‘doesn’t make it healthy.’

Maomao glared at the pokémon and turned to counter Jinshi when she paused. It was the same look he’d given her when the beam fell, his thumb caressed her cheek the same way too, “Apothecary, I want you safe. I…” she could tell Běi said something as his eyes flicked in her direction, “I need you safe. I’d take you home right now if you let me.”

She glanced down between his legs and back up to his face nervously, he chuckled, his fingers gently lacing in her hair as he kissed her forehead, “As usual Běi was right. Okay let’s talk about this.”

Maomao wasn’t sure what to do with the tender gesture. Staying quiet seemed like the most prudent choice. The warmth unlaced from her hair and readjusted her additional layer to make sure she was warm, “I don’t want the throne, you don’t want children to make you Gyokuyou’s rival, correct?”

She nodded.

He swallowed nervously, “Which means any relations we have would require… countermeasures.”

“Correct,” she motioned to their location, “A process I’m very familiar with.”

Sylver and Běi huffed. 

He looked off, making every effort not to pressure, his Adam’s apple bobbing before he managed out, “Is it that you don’t want those relations at all or just with me?” 

What a dangerous question!

The ribbon around her wrist suddenly felt constricting even though Sylver hadn’t moved, if anything he loosened them and winced, shaking his head as adrenaline made her heart race and breath shallow. Gardevoir silently moved the egg with psychic back to its basket and approached. 

‘Whoa Maomao what’s happening?’ Běi approached and wrapped a ribbon around her wrist, the emotions hitting her doubly between her psychic and Sylver's empathic senses, ‘Calm mind NOW!’ Images were flashing through Maomao’s mind at a rapid pace.

***

Jinshi on the cave floor pinning her with her leg up.

Pairin shoving her tongue down Maomao’s throat with tears streaming down her face. 

Worthless apprentice.

The side eye day in and day out as a courtesan, her body a visual thing to be ‘enjoyed’ by the patrons. 

Not even worth looking at.

Jinshi trying to force honey on her.

Men binding her wrists and stuffing in a basket to be sold to the Rear Palace.

“Maybe we can sell her to a brothel.”

“Nah, not pretty enough, laundry maid would be better. We make more from that anyway.”

A woman with a deteriorating nose screaming vile obscenities and curses as she chased Maomao out of the annex. 

Cursed daughter.

Whispers of ‘bitch’, ‘prostitute’, ‘worthless cunt’ as she was stalked home in the evening hours.

An unsatisfied patron stumbled into her apothecary before Ukyou and Florges found him.

An unsatisfied Pairin pinning the apothecary, taking an opportunity to ‘train’ her until the courtesan slumped onto the bed.

Running and ducking from drunk and unsatisfied men on her way home who were incapable of paying at an establishment.

“I’ll have to settle for you, ya little whore, 'c'mere."

Maomao in a dress Běi had never seen before with a silver moon and poppy hairstick, the prince’s hands around her neck, gasping for air. 

***

The three of them gasped as their eyes stopped glowing. Out of pure instinct Běi shoved Jinshi against the wall with psychic and threw up a light screen, Sylver was caught in her grasp as he snapped and yowled and struggled to get at the prince. Gardevoir wrapped her arms tighter around the struggling beast, ‘The last one wasn’t REAL! Sylver STOP!’

Cries and yips and snarls like none of them had ever heard emitted from the flailing creature until he bit down on Běi’s arm. 

Everyone gasped and Sylver came to his senses, immediately letting go and whimpering, tail between his legs as he backed under the workbench, ribbons tucked tightly against him as he trembled. 

“What was THAT!?” The prince NEVER expected such a visceral reaction to that question, let alone for his pokémon to guard her from HIM!? He glared at the top of the shelf where joltic had zapped him amidst the ruckus. Little eyes peered down as a furry leg waggled in a wave.

Běi was heaving, tears streaming down her face, No WONDER she doesn’t want to access her emotions! I’d want to cut them off too!

The prince’s hands were pressed up against the light screen that had him pinned to the wall, “Běi talk to me.”

Maomao was already in the drawers pulling out bandages and poultices for gardevoir’s bleeding arm. Triage trumped emotions… always. 

The psychic pokémon was heaving, ‘I’m sorry Master, you were right, I pushed too hard,” she let the light screen down, ‘I… I knew it was bad. I didn’t think it was THIS bad. I… I’m so sorry.’

The apothecary was still catching her breath too, but was readying distilled alcohol to sterilize, “Hold still, this is going to sting.” 

Běi winced but left her forearm in Maomao’s care, warm tears trickled down the pokémon’s cheeks, her mental voice barely a whisper, ‘I’m so sorry for all that has happened to you.’

Maomao suspected this was private, so she answered back in her mind while she wiped away the blood, ‘Nothing you could do about it.’

Gardevoir openly sniffled, ‘You’re right, I could only protect him. I didn’t know you yet. If I had-’

‘I’m not worth fussing over, it’s okay,’ the blood smeared but was still flowing freely. Maomao clicked her tongue, “Boy Sylver, you got her good, Jinshi can you come put some pressure on this?”

Sylveon whimpered from his shadowed corner while Jinshi set his confusion down and followed her directions. Maomao started barking orders, “Joltic, plantain leaves, Morelull calendula and violet flowers, fresh ones from this morning’s garden harvest. They should be in the basket over there.”

She whipped up a poultice and applied it before bandaging up Běi, “Any other spots or just the one?”

‘Just the one.’

Maomao turned to the prince, checking him over, “I’m sorry I- that spiraled really quickly, are you hurt?”

“Only my pride.”

“You don’t strike me as prideful, Master Jinshi.”

He huffed a laugh and shrugged, not sure whether to admire or be concerned over her immediate recovery. But she was still in triage mode.

Attention turned to the shivering, whimpering creature under the desk, Maomao approached first, “Come on Sylver, it’s okay, no one’s gonna hurt you.”

He whimpered and shook his head fervently, his ribbons curling around him tighter. Bei stepped up, holding her arm out, ‘I agree that was overwhelming, come see -look- I’m okay.’

Sylveon cried and turned his head toward the corner.

“Sylver, come out please,” the prince attempted authority, he wasn’t expecting a growl in response. Ouch, his brow kit as he looked to Běi, “Please help me understand, what the hell just happened?”

Gardevoir whispered into his mind, ‘It’s a mess Sir, I’d like to take more time to sort it out myself, but what I can say is her relationship with mating is AWFUL. Like nothing you and I have ever seen or even considered and Sylver and I just got a front row seat to it.’

His heart fell into his stomach, his hand scrunched in his own hair, his murmur wavered, “Oh, oh no. Did I?”

‘Yes, memories of you were laced into that.’

Since Sylver wanted space, Maomao started cleaning up the extra materials on the bench. “Sir, as Běi mentioned earlier, you bought me out a long time ago and have made one real slip on the hunting trip, two, if you want to count the carriage, but overall you’re far more respectable than the average individual I interact with, despite the status difference.” The prince rolled his eyes as they sat in the brothel. Her standards were… on the floor, and he’d still managed to trip. She continued, albeit hesitantly, “I.. you, I can’t fathom what you think you see in these chicken bones, but I would make a terrible partner.”

He snorted at her self-assessment, but gently took the bundle of herbs he recognized from her hand and put it back in its top shelf drawer, “Even the Emperor, who prefers a very different type, mentioned making you a consort.”

“As a joke.”

“Only barely,” he grumped.

“Not sure what I’m supposed to say to that.”

“Would you let the rest of us determine how worthy you are or are not of our time and attention?”

“Hap?” 

They blinked and looked down at a tiny pink pokémon offering Sylver… Maomao’s pestle? 

Jinshi and Bei’s eyes whipped to the basket, the shell pieces strewn across the floor.

“Syl?” sylveon turned his head as tiny little nubs for arms tugged on his ribbon.

“Happini? Hap hap?”

“Is that… a HAPPINI!?” Jinshi could see he picked the right one as a first gift. Maomao was glowing, her hands grabbing the air, wanting to snatch the newborn out of the alcove. He’d seen that look before, but only with cordyceps and ox bezoar. 

The prince caught her belt and whispered, “Give her a moment.”

‘She must have sensed our distress and wanted to come out and help,’ Běi offered.

Since Sylver didn’t seem to want the pestle, Happini put it back in her pouch and took it over to gardevoir, offering it to her instead. 

‘Thank you little one,’ she took it graciously, subtly floating it to Maomao. 

Happini toddled back into the alcove and climbed into the middle of Sylver’s curled up panic and nestled in with a little yawn. He followed suit, then they heard a small ringing, Sylver stopped trembling and Běi looked down at the infant, ‘heal bell’. 

The prince was pleased but Maomao was over the moon! He saw the gears whirring to life and caught her arm, with a quiet and very stern whisper, “If Sylver or I catch you experimenting to test the limits of that move I’m taking her to live with Luomen.”

She looked as if she had been struck by lightning, withering into a dejected, “Yes Sir.”

He gently pulled her into his grasp, whispering, “I have other things I want to discuss, but I don’t want to retrigger any of you. Should I save it for another day?”

Her brain was a whirl in baby tasks. There was so much to do with this little one plopped in her lap, food, a place to sleep, baby-proofing, they needed to find a better egg substitute than her pestle, let alone the days tasks here at work (that they had interrupted) and dinner and- “Maomao?”

Oh, she was still held against his chest, his head nuzzled against her neck, “I’m sorry for the times I frightened you. That’s never been my intent.”

“Frightened is a strong word, Master Jinshi.”

“Is it though? Sylver and Bei have never done anything like that before.”

“They overreacted.”

‘You underreact,’ Běi deadpanned, ‘even in the Rear Palace I never had to defend him from that level of malintent. Overt flirtation, yes, but they sought him as a prize, not an object to be viewed, used and discarded.’

Judging by Jinshi wrapping tighter around her, that must have been for multiple minds.

“That’s not okay Maomao,” the prince growled.

“Sir, as you can see, I’m fine.”

He loosened his hold so he could study her, “Hypothetically, if I formally took you as a wife, are you expecting the harassment you’ve received to continue?”

Duh, he huffed at her expression as he let her go, “Even with the Strategist and myself fully and publicly backing you?”

She shuddered at the amount of attention she’d receive, “I would expect it to become… more underhanded, covert.” But then I might get to try poisons!

“Do I need to get a ghost type for you?”

She snickered at the thought, “I don’t think you’d appreciate the list of complaints.”

“Lady Qian, the haunter, seems to have whipped the Crystal Pavillion into excellent shape.”

The apothecary burst out laughing. Sylver and happini emerged to the sound.

“What about your reputation Sir?”

He reached past her to offer a hand to Sylver and eyed Běi, “People can think what they want. What use is this power if I can’t help my inner circle flourish?”

An unsure ribbon tentatively wrapped around his hand to feel where he was at emotionally.

Maomao sighed, “Part of my ability to attain information for you was because of my low status.”

Sylver crawled into the prince’s lap for reassurance while Jinshi scoffed at Maomao, “You’re creative, you’ll find a way. Besides, I have a larger issue I’m trying to tackle.” 

Happini started toying with one of Sylver’s ribbons, he waggled the colored tip and enticed her to chase it.

“And what issue is that?”

“We aren’t making eunuchs and I basically just crippled the Rear Palace women’s clinic. I had to clear out a good number of them due to my father. They need care back there just as badly as the Verdigris house.”

Morelull and Joltic descended to check out the infant pokémon.

“But you have Pops.”

“That doesn’t mean the women will go to him.”

Happini went to put Morelull and accidentally pulled off a mushroom, panicking she tried to put it back, heal bell rang out again to no avail, since it was more for status ailments than wounds. Morelull pushed it to her insisting it was a gift, and she tried putting it in her pouch. It fit. She was delighted.

Maomao took a moment to ponder women not going to Luomen, “What makes you think they’ll trust me?”

“The famed apothecary who’s saved the lives of Empress Gyokuyou, Lady Lihua, openly aided the Garnet and Diamond pavilions and consistently dug out issues and maladies in the Rear Palace since she arrived? I have no idea.”

“Běi is rubbing off on you.”

‘I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you,’ she crossed her arms with a smirk. 

The apothecary took one of the snacks Granny left and handed it to happini, she joyously munched and crunched, scattering crumbs that morelull went after. Běi brought the basket over, pulling out a small scroll, ‘The breeder had some recommendations for food and training.’

“Thank you, I’m… are you okay?” she’d never thought her memories would traumatize others to that degree. 

‘I will be, and I will adjust my behavior with what I’ve learned, I promise not to push so hard.’

“You act like I’m not used to being pushed.”

‘There’s a difference between being nervous and dodging traumatic situations you’ve lived through more than once. I thought you,’ she glanced at Jinshi, ‘THIS was the former.’

‘Was that thought for just me or all of us?’

‘Just you.’

“Maomao,” the prince caught her gaze, “I’m with Běi on this one, I have pushed into your space plenty over time, but if I’m running into memories that drive my team to do that then I can’t take the reins on this. So I’ll say it again clearly. I will be as close, or as far as you want me to be.”

Her gaze fell to the floor, Jinshi caught her chin and brought her back, “Consequences be damned, you call on me if you need me.”

Happini reached up towards the table, Maomao handed her another cookie, “How, your Highness?”

He scoffed at the title, but he understood why she was using it. “Can I bring a rookidee next time? We’ll train it to fly to my pavilion between now and then so you can send messages directly.”

She didn’t shoot him down, but she didn’t jump at the idea either. Looking down at the ribboned pokémon in his lap, Jinshi stroked his cuddle buddy’s shoulder, “You okay bud? That was rough.”

Sylver whimpered and nuzzled him, licking his wrist. The prince looked to Běi for translation, she sighed quietly, ‘I’ll tell you in the carriage.’

He nodded, realizing how late it was, “Have you eaten dinner?”

“I have some food at home.”

“Can we walk you home?”

Maomao looked off, “Better not Sir.”

His eyes narrowed, “Why not?”

“You’ll draw attention to yourself, me, my home, and might get mugged on the way back.”

“Do you normally go home earlier?”

“Yes, going home before the sun sets preferably.”

“So… you want to come home with me tonight and we’ll send you home in the morning.”

It took about three seconds to register the look he got from Běi, Maomao and Sylver. He threw his hands up in defense, “No! NO nononono! Eat Suiren’s cooking, stay in your old room!”

“It would be safer for Happini I’m sure,” Maomao pondered, “Or I can sleep here, I do that from time to time.”

“Like a room with a bed?”

“With all that noise? No, down here,” she opened a cabinet door and there was a blanket. He facepalmed, “Maomao, come on. We can do better than that.”

“You maybe, but some of us work for money, and I don’t do courtesan work, so I get paid significantly less and have overhead costs. Speaking of which, please consider food requirements for this team you’re offering me before you bankrupt me with protection.”

His head tilt was as cute as it was vexing. 

“I would feel better if you came home with us tonight,” His voice carried concern.

‘Agreed,’ Gardevoir and Sylver nodded.

She sighed, “I’m not winning this one am I?”

The group rose and Jinshi put his mask back on, Maomao relinquished his outer jacket, but looked a little chilly. He vowed to reacquire a warm cloak for her.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Grams called across the foyer.

‘It is too late to escort her home tonight, so we will return her in the morning,’ Běi answered professionally. 

“You better, rent is due next week,” the old hag grumbled. 

Gardevoir was pretty pissed at the ‘training’ this woman let occur under her nose. She reminded herself that this was a very different world from the palace. She glanced at her master, ‘We still need to talk.’

‘Is it something you can just tell me quietly now?’

‘I’m… concerned how you’ll react.’

‘I’m exhausted and just want to go home and wind down, what’s this about?’

They met up with Gaoshun at the carriage, eyeing the significantly larger group, but after a quick whisper he didn’t question.

‘I think you were correct, one of the instances shown to Sylver and I was a most likely version of future sight.’

‘Is that what made you two react so badly?’

He helped Maomao into the carriage.

‘…yes.’

The apothecary settled with Morelull and voltik on each shoulder and happini in her lap. Jinshi sat next to her with Gardevoir and sylveon on the other bench. 

‘Was it… me?’

‘…yes.’

He swallowed against the lump in his throat, ‘What makes you think it was future sight?’

‘Remember that hairpiece you had sketched up and sent to the craftsman yesterday?’

‘Yes?’

‘She was wearing it.’

His heart skipped a beat, ‘Shouldn't that be a good thing?’

‘One would think, but you were livid.’

He had a bad feeling about this, ‘I need to know Běi.’

She looked out the window, lips pinched and brow knit, ‘Sir… you had your hands WAY too tight around her neck. She couldn’t breathe.’

Well now, neither could he.

Chapter Text

‘Was it… me?’

‘…yes.’

‘What makes you think it was future sight?’

‘Remember that hairpiece you had sketched up and sent to the craftsman yesterday?’

‘Yes?’

‘She was wearing it.’

His heart skipped a beat, ‘Shouldn't that be a good thing?’

‘One would think, but you were livid.’

He had a bad feeling about this, ‘I need to know Běi.’

She looked out the window, lips pinched and brow knit, ‘Sir… you had your hands WAY too tight around her neck. She couldn’t breathe.’

Well now, neither could he.

***

NO WONDER they reacted like that!!!

He was glad he hadn’t taken his mask off yet, he was sure his skin had lost all its color as he stared mortified at his gardevoir, ‘can we stop it?’

‘I don’t know Sir, visions are new to me.’

‘But you won’t let it happen.’

‘I told Sylver that it was Maomao’s worst fear.’

‘So when he asked me that last question-‘

‘He was asking if you would ever hurt Maomao like the ‘scary men’ he saw.’

Jinshi was gonna be sick. 

‘Does he hate me now?’

‘No he’s just… very torn on what to do if you two escalate in a way he can’t aid.’

‘Protect Maomao.’

‘But Sir-‘

‘I said what I said,’ maybe a little harsher than intended.

A ribbon crossed the carriage and wrapped his ankle. Sylver whimpered, Jinshi sighed, “I’m okay buddy, today was unintentionally taxing for all of us.”

Suiren was delighted to see the evening’s additions. Bei cut off her sparkles before the elder said something unfortunate, ‘We kept her out too late and didn’t feel comfortable sending her home with a newly hatched Happini. We will return her in the morning.’

The lady in waiting nodded subtly, “Have you eaten?”

Jinshi and Maomao shook their heads. The apothecary stepped forward to help, while the prince hung back. Gaoshun bowed out for the night and took the carriage away. Běi silently got Sylver's attention while lucario and greninja met joltik and happini.

The prince took his mask off and led them to a shadowed corner, sitting down heavily on the stairs and taking a ribbon, “Sylver, bud, are you okay?”

He whimpered, ‘why were you so mad at Maomao?’

“I-“ he clicked his tongue, “I’ve never even considered putting my hands on her in the way Běi described. I don’t ever want to hurt her. If you ever see something like that, you have my full permission to protect her.”

‘But-‘

“I’m bigger and stronger than her and if I’m getting influenced by some psychic or ghost pokémon or something, know that in my heart of hearts I want her safe.”

Sylver whimpered and licked Běi’s bandage. 

“Sure, maybe use your ribbons first, but if that’s what you need to do, I’ll be the last one to bring punishment.”

‘That was also an overwhelming amount of emotions and years of trauma hitting us all at once,’ Běi rubbed her head, ‘I’m gonna need some time to sort it out myself, so you come to me if you need to talk, Sylver.”

“Same goes to you Běi,” Jinshi insisted.

Her lip pinched, “These are not my memories to share, I think that’s a conversation for you and Maomao.”

“I appreciate your discretion, but you got hurt in this encounter. And I’m not just talking physically, I’m here for you in… whatever capacity I can be.”

She looked off a bit, hesitant, but she knew what she needed. This was SO MUCH WORSE than fearing rejection when she evolved. Gardevoir had lived through violation after violation through Maomao’s eyes, all except the last one… perhaps that was her or Sylver’s perspective. Wrapping her arms around Jinshi’s neck, her body trembled as tears burned her eyes. He pulled her close as Sylver wiggled his way in. Both creatures' tears broke his heart, trembling against him like children after a nightmare. He never imagined a passing question about freckles before a garden party carried this much pain. Maomao’s ability to function was as impressive as it was concerning. 

‘There’s a reason dissociation is her go-to.’

“No kidding,” he hugged them a little tighter.

***

When they entered, greninja and lucario were in the garden quietly following happini as she picked up rocks and offered them as gifts. Joltik was on Yǐngyuè’s head as he padded after the infant. When their hands were full they’d slowly start setting a rock or two down when her back was turned. The staunch warriors had always been good with Lingli. Jinshi smiled softly. Sylver’s ribbon was back around his wrist and he’d offered the other arm to gardevoir. She rarely needed contact, but she was more than a little shaky after all that. Someone from afar may have made assumptions, but -like with Maomao- he didn’t care. She was one of the few he was allowed to support properly, and by the emperor’s beard, he was going to do just that.

There was a spread of food forming on the table as he entered. The prince knew Maomao would get squirmy if he sat and waited for her, so he decided to change into his sleeping attire. Sylver followed him in just like he used to when Maomao was gone. It was a peaceful presence he missed, the ribbon against his skin, the little paws ticking against the wood, the tender nuzzles. He wasn’t sure if it was because Sylver missed it too or if he was also recovering from what he had seen, or if he felt his own need to be protected, but he seemed to be sticking  particularly close.

Jinshi was relieved that the creature was quick to forgive, perhaps it was because the prince was equally mortified. He never wanted to see the sylveon snapping at him like that again, the young creature was ready to tear him limb from limb. Sylveon didn’t have the control he had exhibited in sparring, it was a pure desperation to protect. The same desperation Jinshi once felt when a feifa shot kicked up dust by his and Maomao’s feet and he launched them off a waterfall. The prince understood deeply where the pokémon was coming from. If individuals had gotten close enough for hand-to-hand on that fateful hunting day they would have seen his ‘teeth bared’ as well. Sylveon must’ve felt all the emotions through the ribbon, as there was a whimper and nuzzle against his leg as he quietly donned his outer robe. 

“You’re okay Sylver, we all got a little scared today. I’m not mad, and I hope you know even when I messed up in the past,” he blushed, considering his wording, “it was always with the hope that… Maomao and I would get closer…somehow.”

The young pokémon had questions, but he suspected this had to do with mating. Even today the prince’s affection attempts with bite had been …confusing. Granted, Jinshi was trying to get closer to her gently. He certainly sat closer than he did with anyone else, and he gave hugs right? Those were affectionate. And he felt so happy for the briefest moment when he woke before nerves took over.  

Jinshi took his time returning from the restroom and he noticed Suiren had set out some clothes for Maomao… on his bed. He facepalmed and sighed before returning to the group. 

The food was ready when the door opened, his elderly lady in waiting spotted the ribbon around his wrist and sighed in disappointment, “you know she’s back and safe now your Highness.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that I miss him too?” He tried not to snap, but he did relieve her for the evening. As soon as the door closed behind her he motioned for Maomao to sit and enjoy. 

Suiren had set out more than enough for all of the visitors. Okay… most of the visitors. Jinshi blinked as Maomao produced a wool sock and a silk scarf from her sleeve: Joltik hopped up on her shoulder, shuffled back and forth in excitement as she frisked the two fabrics together vigorously. The creature rushed to her wrist as the little snaps lit the air.

Fascination won out over offense, “Is that how you feed it?”

“That is what it eats. It’s also the best way to befriend it. It’s not like electricity is common outside of thunderstorms.”

He looked like a bashful kid, “c-can I try?”

She handed him the fabric and he imitated her, joltik offering the same behavior as it skittered around and absorbed the little crackles. The way the prince’s eyes lit up, it was like a child who was just told they could go horsey-back riding for the first time. Despite his forgetfulness about food, Maomao took the opportunity to dig in as well as feed happini. The infant was pretty tuckered from all the rock gifting, especially since she still had 3 in her pouch and they had been weighing her down. 

Static electricity aside, it was a peaceful meal. It was first they’d had together since now-Empress Gyokuyou had ‘borrowed’ her. Sylver had finished his food rather quickly so he could drape himself over both of their feet. Just because he was fading didn’t mean he wasn’t keeping track of his masters. He huffed when Maomao rose to put the infant pokémon into a larger basket with a plush blanket and pillow. 

Sure, she makes a soft and warm bed for the INFANT while she shivers and sleeps on the floor back home, Sylver huffed to himself. A hand pet his shoulder, “you alright Bud?”

‘He seems… dissatisfied with their current living situation.’

“Probably a big jump from the palace, huh?” Jinshi scratched along his neck as the creature grumble growled under his breath. The prince chuckled quietly, “I’d take you back if you want, but I appreciate you keeping her safe.”

‘I second that Sylver,’ Gardevoir added and the other two evolved pokémon nodded. 

Soon plates and platters were empty and Maomao tidied up quietly so as not to wake happini. She came back for the last of the dishes and saw clothing for her on the table?

A sigh escaped the royal, “she left it on my bed.”

“I see. Did you want some tea to help you sleep?”

“Yes please.”

She went off to boil water and get changed. 

Běi was very pointedly not making eye contact, he thought in her direction, ‘what now?’

‘I agree with Lady Suiren.’

‘Even after today?’

‘Especially after today, I don’t ever want that future to happen.’

‘Sure, but there are other ways to prevent that.’

‘What do you have in mind, Master?’

‘Some basic defense lessons would do her good.’

Gardevoir pondered the possibility, ‘would you administer the training yourself?’

‘I COULD, but I don’t specialize in technical defense as the smaller opponent.’

‘No… but the Ma clan women might.’

A smile spread across his stunning features, ‘Běi you’re brilliant.’

She shrugged with a smirk.

Meanwhile, much to his amusement there was now a small fuzzy sensation curled along the curve of his neck. The full and content joltik had made a new friend indeed.

‘He apologizes for zapping you earlier, with all the other attacks he thought that’s what he was supposed to do.”

He pet the fuzzy thorax lightly, “that’s fair, but you're supposed to wait for a command from your trainer.”

Sylver and Běi looked a bit sheepish and he threw his hands up, “No, no- I get why you two did what you did, joltik here- just added insult to injury.”

The little apology pat on his neck tickled. He resisted the temptation to swat at it. “Do you mind if I call you Spark?”

The spiderling seemed rather pleased with the designation. Maomao came in with the tea, “Naming my pokémon?’

“You named Sylver.”

She hummed thoughtfully as she sat, “You know you could also just use yawn tonight.”

“And miss out on your tea? Not on your life.”

Maomao wasn’t sure what to do with that. 

‘Translation: he misses you. A lot,’ Běi rubbed her temple. 

 “Really? You… miss me?”

He shot Gardevoir a sharp glance and sighed, “Maomao, you seem to think your only value to me is - as Běi puts it - ‘breeding’,” he blushed furiously, “but in the interest of being candid, I miss you. This. Tea in the evening and watching your brilliant mind pick apart the world in fascinating ways. How your honesty holds true, even when presenting unfortunate information to those of rank. Watching you light up with happini today or over some rare medicine. That’s what brings me joy,” he gave joltik a light pet, “The same way I miss Sylver for pets and cuddles and his ribbon while I am home. I want to make electricity for Spark and help feed happini. I’d help with the menial chores if you let me.”

Her eye twitched at the last one, “You sound like you want to be a housewife. Suiren would kill me.”

He hummed with a dashing smirk, “Househusband? Sounds good to me.”

Slackjawed and utterly befuddled the apothecary stared for several beats while her brain attempted to reboot. Her voice was a little rushed as she sought out an exit, “Well you probably have a million things to do in the morning and I ate up far more of your time than a nap, so if you’ll excuse me-“

Rising to bid the prince goodnight a ribbon settled around her wrist as well.

“S-Sylver?” A tug pulled her sideways as the creature headed toward Jinshi’s room. The prince chuckled and knelt, “thanks for the offer Bud, but you don’t know what you’re asking.”

A rather sassy husky-ish yowling retort ended in a snuff. The humans looked to Běi. She sighed, ‘He’s saying you did it this afternoon and doesn’t see the difference.’

“You tricked us this afternoon Sylver,” the apothecary huffed, “if we are seen-“

Gardevoir stated clearly, ‘You won’t be, I’ll make sure of it.’

“What happened to not pushing?” Jinshi scoffed. 

‘I’m not. But I am stating clearly that I will guard the door and make sure it doesn’t open if you want to REST with Sylver and Maomao.”

“Syl- sylvee!” ‘And he will put you both to sleep immediately with ‘yawn’ if that makes it any better.’

“Why go so far out of your way for this Běi?” Maomao asked.

‘Because try as we might it’s not just WORK keeping him up.’ Her voice shifted to a private whisper which Maomao was beginning to pick up on, ‘nightmares plague him, and most of them are about losing you.’

“Sir, are there additional reasons Sylver was able to help you sleep this afternoon?”

His gaze fell to the floor, his voice equally fallen, “more you than him… as previously stated, I miss you.”

What am I supposed to do with that?

The prince ran a hand through his hair and looked toward his room, “Look, when that ceremonial beam fell, I couldn’t sleep then either. It wasn’t until you were in my room, safe, where I could see you, hear you breathing, smell medicinal herbs, that I could get some rest.”

That’s right, I did wake in his bed.

“Where did you sleep?” 

“On the couch.”

“Your Highness-“ she scolded.

“What! What do you want me to say here? That I crawled in with you!? You were in terrible shape, bludgeoned in the head and had a massive laceration on your leg! I needed to stay out of the doctor’s way as well.”

Prince of the nation kicked himself to the couch for a courtesan's daughter. Maomao facepalmed mentally.

‘Correction, the man made respectful space to relieve his fears while keeping an eye on the one he treasures most,’ Běi grumbled quietly in her mind. 

“Removing his status doesn’t make it better,” Maomao groused out loud.

Běi crossed her arms and projected her thoughts, ‘Fine, then the Moon Prince made extensive concessions to care for the highly coveted La Clan Princess in his charge… better?’

Jinshi snorted, ‘Damn Běi.’

Maomao glared daggers at Gardevoir.

‘Don’t look at me like that, he’s not the ONLY ONE trying to forsake his birthright, you just had the benefit of being born AWAY from the palace, house, estate- whatever property your clan lives on.’

“Easy Běi, we’ve all had a long day,” Jinshi attempted to dial her back a bit.

“What do you want from me Běi!?” Maomao spat.

‘Tonight? I want you to help your FRIEND sleep soundly after months of worry and giving up the last vestiges of his freedom and anonymity for you! I want you to look him in the eye and tell him you’re SAFE and okay.”

The humans balked. 

Images of when the ice block fell rose to Maomao’s mind. How he smirked when she spotted him, or his genuine laugh when she told him why she had to help Xiaolan. When -she too- would lose sleep if she didn’t help. They were the same looks Shisui had given when she took them to the bathhouse to give massages. His childish tendencies in the early morning when she worked in the Pavillion, or how he pouted over the entire Moon Fairy situation. His fussing over her leg for WEEKS after dancing on the wall. When Shisui accidentally squished a bug on her head, Jinshi startling her when she was thinking. Xiaolan lighting up when Maomao shared food, Jinshi also lit up when he offered food.

Was this… friendship?

High Consort Loulan outranked her too, but she only knew Shisui. The rest of the world sees the Moon Prince, does he have to hide his true nature like she did?

She took a deep breath and decided to treat him as she would the women in her life, looking him in the eye and taking his hand for reassurance, “Jinshi… I’m okay. Thanks to you, I made it home …safely.”

Oh that hit so deep. His lip wiggled and pinched, eyes brimming with tears. The prince’s heart panged in repressed agony that drew her into his arms as he trembled around her and wept. 

Běi sighed in relief. This was a long time coming. 

Maomao was floored. Is this what normal emotions are supposed to do? Xiaolan bawling in fear over punishment flashed in her mind. Lady Lihua shattered to an empty husk after her son’s death, the old fart wailing outside the Verdigris house for Fengxian. 

Meanwhile Jinshi was reliving the feeling of her being pulled away by Gyokuyou, ripped away by Shishou, and then after the briefest of moments in the carriage, being barred from seeing her all came crashing down. Seeing the blood on her clothes, bruises on her skin, blade raised against herself. Weeks and months of nightmares, sleepless nights, and pleasantries through agitation and anxiety. 

She was safe. 

It was her fingers running through his hair to try to calm him, her hand rubbing his back. She was here, she was real, she was safe. The apothecary cooed softly in repeat, “Hey, It's okay, I’m right here.”

She could feel him gripping her clothes, never having risen from gently discouraging Sylver. His head was against her torso, his arms wrapping above and below her hips. There was zero flirtation, this was grasping debris during a squall at sea. This wasn’t a prince, this was a person finally cracking under the extended pressure in full survival mode.

‘Běi he’s not calming down,’ the apothecary who spent her life abandoned to dry her own tears searched for a solution. 

‘He’s alright, go help him lay down, he’s needed to let this out for so long.’

Maomao tried to step back and he gripped her tighter, “please don’t go.”

“I won’t, but it’s late, come on,” she pulled him up and led him to his bed by the hand. He didn’t dare let her go. She pulled the sheets back and he got in, pulling her right along with him in a series of surprised and perturbed cat noises. Maomao found herself in the same position as the afternoon. Sylver hopped up on the bed and nuzzled his way under her arm.

“Is everyone piling in!?” She looked at the three evolved pokémon, they exchanged an amused glance and shook their heads. Though Spark and Morelull took the free pillow. 

‘Zǐyè said he’s got happini tonight, Sylver wants to know if you need ‘yawn’?’

The grip around her waist and under her legs scrunched a bit tighter, his voice was strained through the sniffles, “In a little bit, please? I just… need a little time.”

Lucario nodded and went to keep an eye on the infant, Greninja recalled himself to his own pokeball. Gardevoir settled in to make sure no other humans would interrupt the peace she fought so hard for.

The tears were coming more quietly now. He did try to keep his fluids contained with a handkerchief but she suspected the pillow was drenched. While her lower arm acted as a pillow for Sylver (a habit they had sorted out in her chilly home), her upper one quietly stroked Jinshi’s hand on her stomach, returning to, “You’re alright, I’m safe, I’m right here.”

The shaku distance between the mind and the heart felt like leagues. In his head he knew she was there and was torn between severe embarrassment at his own state and astonishment that she hadn’t run, backed away, chided him, or scolded him. In his heart little Yue had found his treasure that he thought he lost forever. His fear of being abandoned honing in on her repeated reassurances. Her touch was grounding on his hand, her back warm against his chest. Her scent of medicinal herbs still clinging to her skin despite changing. 

Heavens above he’d wanted this for so long. Sylver was a help, but Maomao, she really -truly- had no idea the depth of relief he was experiencing with each breath, each tear, each muscle slowly unknotting. The prince’s anchor when Ah Duo left, when the beam fell, the one thing Gaoshun and Suiren hadn’t hid from him. His puffy eyes grew heavy as he wiped his face clean and dry, daring to nestle into her hair, her scent enveloping him as he slipped into unconsciousness. 

Maomao waited ‘til his breathing evened out before tapping Sylver’s shoulder to request a yawn.

Chapter Text

‘Zǐyè said he’s got happini tonight, Sylver wants to know if you need ‘yawn’?’

The grip around her waist and under her legs scrunched a bit tighter, his voice was strained through the sniffles, “In a little bit, please? I just need a little time.”

Lucario nodded and went to keep an eye on the infant, Greninja recalled himself to his own pokeball. Gardevoir settled in to make sure no other humans would interrupt the peace she fought so hard for.

The tears were coming more quietly now. He did try to keep his fluids contained with a handkerchief but she suspected the pillow was drenched. While her lower arm acted as a pillow for Sylver (as they had sorted out in her chilly home), her upper one quietly stroked Jinshi’s hand on her stomach, returning to, “You’re alright, I’m safe, I’m right here.”

That shaku distance between the mind and the heart felt like leagues. In his head he knew she was there and was torn between severe embarrassment at his own state and astonishment that she hadn’t run, backed away, chided him, or scolded him. In his heart little Yue had found his treasure that he thought he lost forever. His fear of being abandoned honing in on her repeated reassurances. Her touch was grounding on his hand, her back warm against his chest. Her scent of medicinal herbs still clinging to her skin despite changing. 

Heavens above he’d wanted this for so long. Sylver was a help, but Maomao, she really -truly- had no idea the depth of relief he was experiencing with each breath, each tear, each muscle slowly unknotting. His puffy eyes grew heavy as he wiped his face clean and dry, daring to nestle into her hair, her scent enveloping him as he slipped into unconsciousness. 

Maomao waited til his breathing evened out before tapping Sylver’s shoulder to request a yawn.

***

Despite not ‘seeing’ anything Suiren had cleared out the morning’s schedule. Jinshi and the pokémon hadn’t considered that one peek in Maomao’s old room and the untouched herbs growing around the pavilion made for an easy conclusion. But the elder joyfully used her discretion to alter several meetings, and a simple, very pleased glance between her and Gaoshun saw to scheduling room for his health. 

His experience of it was a bit different…

***

For he had, indeed, slept through the night. Deep and dreamless. He couldn’t remember the last time he had konked out that hard. But that would also require him to remember what century he was in, or if he was late for tutoring lessons he had received as a child. All he felt was the heat under the covers, he rubbed the warmth through the fabric, his voice was gravely and rough with sleep, “Sylver, you * yawn * gotta move bud,” he groaned, “Suiren’s gonna be mad at you.”

The grumble in response pushed him towards the surface of consciousness as he pouted, hugging the warm pile, “Syyyyylver, she’s gonna lecture us about not bathing you again.”

A scoffing noise was followed by a shift under the covers. His eyes peeled open as he pulled the covers down, “Sylv-” 

That’s not Sylver.

His muscles moved before his brain and the blankets whipped back up over her as he stared wide eyed at nothing. He felt a shifting behind his legs as a sleepy Sylver flopped his head up over the man’s knee, one eye barely open as the creature licked the air in a bleary daze. 

He felt a poke on his arm, “I'd like to breathe please.”

“SORRY!” 

The prince yanked the sheets back down to reveal the perturbed cat. “I see how it is, you finally get me in your bed and are so dissatisfied you say I need to bathe and resort to suffocation.”

She had no idea someone’s cheeks could turn that shade of crimson.

He really is SO easy to tease. 

The apothecary had never seen him stumble so hard to get a coherent sentence out, “You-I, you’re here! S-sorry I just-“

She blinked slowly at the bright light and rubbed her eyes with a yawn, “You gonna take care of that or am I supposed to?”

“Take care of what!?” Her leg shifted against his morning wood.

I didn’t know he could squeak that high.

Sylver was launched off the bed with a yelp as flailing limbs fled the sheets with reckless abandon and a hearty thud. 

“REALLY WOMAN!?”

She snickered, “Apologies, waking up with my sisters is a… different experience. Especially Pairin.”

He blinked before managing a retort, “And you’re giving ME crap about suffocation?”

“Did you just make a courtesan joke? So proud,” she said as she pulled herself up onto the pillow, resettling the blanket back over her shoulder and to her chest. 

He crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks from the floor, “That was mean.”

Not rude. Not improper… mean?

Oh she wanted to tease back so bad.

“I’m sorry your highness, it was my understanding that banter is part of friendship,” she snarked with a stretch.

“Don’t give me titles laying there, looking like that.”

“Looking like what exactly?”

He studied her for a moment before stomping off to the bathroom, muttering under his breath. Maomao looked at a drowsy Běi, who rolled her eyes, ‘Don’t look at me, I kept my promise. I’m going to sleep now.’

And with that she tapped Greninja's pokeball twice and excused herself into her own. Yǐngyuè appeared and took the next shift. 

“Sylver, do you know what that reaction was about?”

The translator was gone, he sniffed the air, there were definitely pheromones, but how to convey that? Instead he started hopping off and back onto the bed as zoomies came out in full force. Despite the frustrating banter he could feel how elated Jinshi was, and it had been difficult for the pup to maintain his composure. 

“S-Sylver! What are you doing!?” She laughed as he bounced around the bed, rubbing along her like a cat, demanding belly rubs and bouncing up and down off the plush blankets with exuberant yips. He really was SO excited that the pair had finally, finally gotten some decent sleep. In a real bed no less.

One such belly rub he had his arms fully extended forward and his legs stretched fully back, draped across her lap as he sprawled over as much of the plush covers as he could. Maomao paused when she felt eyes on her. The prince was leaning on the bathroom door with a tender look like she’d never seen. 

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“What would Běi forcibly translate at this moment?”

He chuckled, “Something between I’m jealous of Sylver and that I should say that thought out loud.”

Jealous huh? “And what thought is that?”

The prince sat down on the other side of Sylver and rubbed the white fur softly, “I can’t remember the last time I slept that soundly, period. And my team here is going to want to try this again-“

“GreNIN!”

“Sylvee!”

“Case and point,” he sat on the edge of the bed and motioned to the nodding pokémon, “but the last thing I want to do is trap you. It. Must. Be. Your. Choice,” he said, eyeing them more than her.

The apothecary examined his pulse and tongue in a cursory check, noting the bags under his eyes had reduced significantly. “If I’m seen coming here consistently won’t your reputation tarnish regardless of what we do or don’t do behind closed doors?”

Jinshi pulled Sylver toward him and hovered over his cuddle buddy, petting the tender spots around his face and under his ears. The pokémon was in his happy place. “Sleep and a clear head will make me more functional, I consider my end worth the risk but this makes several elements more difficult for both of us. I don’t want to put you in the line of fire and I risk upsetting the strategist among others who may force a union, including my brother.”

All this blunt communication was as nerve wracking as it was illuminating. Maomao shuddered and imagined the scandal racing through the court like a rampaging rayquaza. Her fate would be sealed to his. “Would giving me a tour of the clinic be a help to cover this trip to your home?”

“Are you asking personally or politically?”

“You’ve never made that differentiation before.”

“You’ve never made jokes while laying in my bed before.”

She flushed, “what’s your goal?”

“Běi was right last night, and you were right this morning. I’d like to explore ‘friendship’ with you. I want you to speak as freely as she does-“

“No you don’t,” she replied bluntly.

He huffed a laugh, while nuzzling Sylver over her legs, who offered licks in return, “with the knowledge that you’re going to make me incredibly uncomfortable with your Verdigris banter, yes, yes I do,” his voice softened. “As I said, I will be as close or as far as you want me to be.”

The apothecary turned inward, he really wants to let me into his innermost space? The prince wants a friend, that part makes sense, he does seem lonely, even with his team. He is very cuddly with Sylver, and it does feel more like waking up to Xiaolan, Shisui or Meimei… But he also bit me yesterday, she rubbed her shoulder, feeling for teeth marks.

Jinshi clicked his tongue, “Damn it, did I hurt you?”

“I… no, I mean, it’s fading quickly.”

Tenderly the fabric was pulled away and he palpated cautiously, huffing when her eye twitched a touch, he clicked his tongue again, “I’m sorry, I’ve spent my whole life diplomatically deterring advances. It seems I’m just as bad as they are.”

She studied him, lips pursed, brow knit. “May I ask what you were trying to do?”

He looked off with a snuff, “Enough has been expressed and revealed that it’s a mute point.”

“What is?”

“I’m not going to push.”

Does he actually want me to speak my mind? “Don’t push, explain.”

Sylver slipped out from between them and hopped off the edge to go sit with Yǐngyuè. Jinshi’s hand pressed the bed on the other side of her legs, “Maomao nothing would make me happier than having this… every morning. But yesterday made it abundantly clear that I need to tread more carefully with you.” He hovered a breath’s distance from her, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes had fallen to her lips, “So I will be as far or close as you want.” 

“And you want affection or friendship?”

All of it, he backed up a bit and returned to eye contact, “Whatever you feel comfortable expressing. I’ll explore any and every facet of this that you’re willing to give.”

“Well right now you look like an overeager apprentice courtesan,” she eyed cautiously, with a hint of amusement.

“Oh? And you could do better?”

She hooded her eyes and tilted her head with a courtesan smirk, “Is that a challenge, Moon Prince?”

Heavens yes!!! He caught himself, “What if I push too far?”

“Then you get a hearty bite on your shoulder,” she teased, “but indulging you would probably be unwise regardless.”

“Explain,” his lungs squeezed and his heart fluttered.

“Courtesan training is designed to entice and ensnare the hearts of clients. Slowly bleeding them dry with false or shallow affection, feels rather manipulative to be your safe sleep space, your friend, and then string you along like that.”

“Little late for that,” he chuckled.

The apothecary blinked, “Pardon?”

Ignoring her question, (as she often does to him), he offered a different approach, “Perhaps it would be best if I were… given instruction in this skillset. It’s clear from previous attempts I am… incapable in this capacity.”

“Is your goal to seduce or get to know your partner when you find them?”

‘When you find them’ you’re RIGHT HERE! No wonder Běi is frustrated with us. Okay, don’t push… explain. 

“I want to know my ‘partner’ in every sense, what makes her blush, what makes her breath catch, what makes her melt, what she needs to let me be her safest place so she can feel free to love without fear.”

Good gracious, the Celestial Nymph already makes the masses swoon. “So a bit of both, but mostly the second. Alright, come a little closer. There you go, now this diagonal line on the neck is quite sensitive,” he imitated the caress on her neck, “It’s a good sign when they tilt in such a way as to give you more access. Every touch should be searching for your partner to soften, especially in the early stages,” he felt her head fall into his hand a little. “Now don’t bite, the skin is currently sensitive, breathe. That’s much better.”

“What if I want to kiss her?” He whispered in her ear.

“How shy is she?”

“Very.”

“Get her to kiss you.”

He huffed a laugh, “Yea right, that’s not something she’s just going to give me.”

“With your looks, pedigree and physique? Doubtful.”

“And yet, here I am, seeking instruction.”

“I’m sure she’s just as nervous as you.”

The prince chuckled, “Doubtful, I have far less experience.”

“Would experience take the pressure off?”

“I mean- yes. But-“ warmth pressed against his mouth. He grabbed her before he even realized what was happening.

“No no, stay soft, she’s gonna be terrified that she’s kissing the Moon Prince,” she let him try again, her lips tender and supple. He wanted to bite, to lick, to devour, but she was kissing him! Every time he pressured too hard or clicked teeth against her, or didn’t let her breathe she’d pull back, reset and close the distance. Again and again, softly until she hummed her approval, “There it is. Just one or two of those and pull back.”

He pouted, “Why?”

“If she’s as shy as you say she needs room to take the lead, just a little.”

“Yes ma’am,” he offered another, fingers lacing into her hair and tracing along her arm.

“Well aren’t you eager,” she teased, “don’t do that until she starts pulling you closer, you’re trying to get her worked up, not the other way around.”

“You make it sound so easy,” he huffed.

“She’s not responsible for the fact that you’re repressed. If she’s as difficult as you’re describing you have to wait on her. Go satisfy yourself beforehand if necessary.”

“Maomao!” He backed off a bit.

“What! You can’t just jump down her throat, imagine the shy Lady Lishu, she’d absolutely panic and flee! Or worse, just take it because of your position and submit out of fear.”

“Is that how someone with experience like you would react?”

The apothecary clicked her tongue, “My experience has limits. My theoretical knowledge goes much farther than practical training. But a daughter of the Verdigris house would turn the tables on you and turn you to mush in three humiliating heartbeats.”

He shivered at the hope, muttering, “don’t give me a dream like that.”

“What was that?”

“Is this how Pairin would wake you?”

“Oh no, she expects to be pleasured until the conclusion. Multiple times.”

“By you?”

“By whoever is too close. Sometimes that was me, or a staff member, or apprentice. Days where she’s available to clients are far less of a problem than when she’s ‘taking tea’.”

“Wai-wai-wait, how?”

She tilted her head at his question, “How did I pleasure her?”

Wow this conversation took a turn, his cheeks were burning, “It’s not like you have-“

“Fingers?” She wiggled, “A leg for her to rub against? Come now Jinshi even the eunuchs of the rear palace get caught in trysts from time to time. Didn’t kirlia’s teleport develop because others wanted you regardless of equipment?” 

He choked on air, she wasn’t WRONG, but this begged the question, “And you woke up to this? Did you want it?” Shivering from his own experience at such attempts.

“Of course not, but it’s training. Didn’t you mention military camp? Did they ever wake you up at a stupid hour for drills? It’s a high end brothel and she’s one of the three princesses. Learn to satisfy her, and any client is easy after that. Intimacy is a skillset, feelings of attachment are a way to lock in clients. It’s job security, like earning the Emperor's favor in the Rear Palace.”

That grounded him. He had notes to compare with Běi later. “And what if your client wanted you long before you made contact?”

“Well I’m not a courtesan, now am I?”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“I can stop. I thought you just wanted the pressure taken off for when you find a suitable partner.”

“So, what then, you’re just offering ‘lessons’ until a demure, politically savvy clan princess catches my eye.”

“Better than a lowly runt apothecary from the red light district.”

Why am I surprised? Despite direct communication she still denies it. How to word this? He sighed heavily, “We need to get moving today. Forgive me, and know none of this is a command. If I had my way l’d want to develop this ‘skillset’. I also want to sleep, and behind closed doors just… be friends. This is perfect, don’t change it. No hierarchy, be honest like yesterday and today. Even if it’s difficult. I also want your help with the clinic in the Rear Palace, but that puts you in my immediate circle… quite often.”

Zǐyè walked in with a fussy happini. Maomao rose to take the infant, “Sounds like I need a rookidee. Meanwhile you’re trying to topple a nation?”

“Maomao!”

“What? Those looks and that skillset are a dangerous combination.”

“Except for the one place I wish it would work,” he grumbled, crossing his arms and puffing his cheeks. Sylver snickered as the fairy failed against steel… again. “Can I ask a blunt question?”

“Not as good as Běi but you’re welcome to try.”

He shook his head in amusement, “Say you continue these ‘lessons’ with me and my ‘skillset’ develops enough for attachment to develop. Would you consider staying then?” 

“Sentiment is rather dangerous in the palace is it not?” She looked down at her petite frame and the little happini in her arms, “Why don’t we just get it so you’re not trying to haphazardly jump your partner and we’ll go from there. I’m really not trying to tie you to me.”

Jinshi never wanted to be ‘tied’ so badly in his life. 

The Moon Prince was beside himself, on the one hand she kissed him, on the other hand it meant nothing to her, it was a courtesy at best. No different in her mind than the self defense lessons he was about to set up for her. 

Sighing heavily in defeat he plopped down onto the bed while she made her way to her room to change for the day. She peeked back in the door, “Looks like Suiren set out breakfast for us, I’ll be right back.”

Sylver hopped up on the bed and licked his cheek, tail wagging profusely. The pup considered this a success by all accounts! The pair got some real rest, talked without a translator, and the prince got some of the affection he wanted!

But sylveon is young and adults are needlessly complicated. 

Maybe Gaoshun was right to keep her away from me. The emotions had been like a bucking rapidash. It had been quite a ride just from stepping out of the carriage yesterday afternoon. Thoughts couldn’t have wandered to work and politics if he tried. 

He touched his lips, still warm from hers. For years he had dreamed what that would be like and she offered it freely as ‘lessons’. By the stars even in instruction she was utterly intoxicating. Running his fingers along her soft skin, the subtle shiver in response to his breath, it wasn’t like previous times. She didn’t run, pull back, or shy away. Perhaps her definition of friendship was colored by her upbringing in the red light district, but it was a way for him to learn her intimately. His stomach wrenched, this isn’t how I want to do this. 

Even tag teaming with the abrupt gardevoir and communicating directly gave her room to dodge and deflect. He’d purposely started avoiding words like marriage or wife as she froze up every time. But friend and partner seemed to open opportunities. Could he show her with alternate words and similar actions that he’d build a place in his world for her? 

Tying his sash, he stepped out to breakfast where Maomao was already working static electricity for Spark while intermittently handing happini food. Sylver looked up from his bowl, trotting over happily to take Jinshi’s hand with a ribbon. He was surprised Suiren and Gaoshun were nowhere in sight. Perhaps they were trying to offer privacy. The prince was convinced they had already moved at least two meetings judging by the sun’s position. If only they could get it through her skull that this entire group wants to make room for her as she is.

“You should eat.”

He blinked and realized she was studying him, “Sorry, still trying to sort out some things.”

“I see that, you can do that while you eat.”

The prince smirked, “Says the woman with an empty plate.”

She clicked her tongue, “I was feeding the young ones first. Unless you want to be serenaded by happini’s tears.”

He imagined that conversation with small children instead and shook his head at the impossibility, loading up both their plates and setting hers in front of her. Her glance was annoyed but she muttered thanks and took a bite, “Should I expect to be sent home right away, or do you have plans? Bear in mind I need to get supplies for happini.” 

“What if I have supplies and food gathered for you and you tour the women’s clinic with me?”

“Oh hoh, you have an appointment with the Emperor I couldn’t move your Highness,” Suiren entered with the schedule.

Jinshi looked over the day and saw not only how long he had slept, but realized that it was almost midday. “Then can you summon Ma Chue here and get some food and supplies for Maomao and her happini when she is sent home later?”

“Certainly Master,” the elder smiled.

“Erm- no more than a basket worth please, I’ll need to carry it.”

“One basket Gaoshun-sized, got it.”

The apothecary reached out helplessly as the lady in waiting vanished, Jinshi snickered. It looked very much like when Gaoshun took the mystery mushroom basket away from her, ears drooped, eyes sad. Damn it, he’s gonna flip when he sees the shack.

“I can have the rookidee delivered here later today, but I’d like some time to train it,” he was already penning summons even as he grazed.

“What does it need?” Maomao asked between bites. 

“Well it needs a roost in my courtyard for one, and to train to deliver to that point when you send messages. It will also need a crest on its leg so the guards their flying types don’t attack it.”

“What kind of crest?”

“Well I’m actually having one made for each member here. It will give them free access to roam with the Moon Prince or any of his retinue.”

“Joltik and Morelull as well?”

“Do you want to deal with the guards with special permission for them? They’ll need to run it by their superiors every time, or can I just give you a crest for each of them and they’ll leave you alone.”  

“And then you can track where I’ve been,” she smirked.

“Easier to keep you out of trouble,” he chided.

Her glare earned a chuckle. 

She had to admit, treating him like Xiaolan, Shisui and her sisters was… pleasant. The apothecary needed to think over the options he was offering, as his health had clearly been suffering. Curious about his symptoms and environment she wondered if there was a way to imitate her presence more effectively.

Chapter Text

“I can have the rookidee delivered here later today, but I’d like some time to train it,” he was already penning summons even as he grazed.

“What does it need?” Maomao asked between bites. 

“Well it needs a roost in my courtyard for one, and to train to deliver to that point when you send messages. It will also need a crest on its leg so the guard’s own flying types don’t attack it.”

“What kind of crest?”

“Well I’m actually having one made for each member here. It will give them free access to roam with the Moon Prince or any of his retinue.”

“Joltik and Morelull as well?”

“Do you want to deal with the guards with special permission for them? They’ll need to run it by their superiors every time, or can I just give you a crest for each of them and they’ll leave you alone.”  

“And then you can track where I’ve been,” she smirked.

“Easier to keep you out of trouble,” he chided.

Her glare earned a chuckle. 

She had to admit, treating him like Xiaolan, Shisui and her sisters was… pleasant. The apothecary needed to think over the options he was offering, as his health had clearly been suffering. Curious about his symptoms and environment she wondered if there was a way to imitate her presence more effectively. 

***

Jinshi stepped out and Maomao straightened up his collar line before they made their way toward his office. (Suiren was more than happy to let her do the final fussing). He took her to a side desk and she frowned at a map desecrated with red ink. With a mental apology to the cartographer and the high quality parchment she looked at the circles and ‘x’s. She didn’t dare speak but he caught her curiosity, “Villages are experiencing an over abundance of grasshoppers which are affecting crop yields.”

Something tickled at her memories. 

Sketches, pages… Shisui spitting out skewered grasshopper legs and claiming the locust was better. Hadn’t the previous apothecary at the Shi clan fortress documented some volumes on this?

“-Apothecary!” he’d clearly been trying to get her attention.

“Apologies Master Jinshi, what information do you have on the bugs?”

He twitched at the title, as they were still in his home, but the question derailed his annoyance, “What do you mean?”

“I think the Shi clan had some books on this when I was trapped in the fortress.”

He ran a finger over the map, hovering over the conquered and thawing north, “If I retrieved the volumes, what are you assuming we’d find?”

Her fingers went to her chin, “If I recall he was looking at plague preventatives.”

That got his attention. 

“I’ll send Basen and Salamance to collect what they can find.”

“Congratulations on his teammate’s evolution,” she offered the brute, still trying to think, something lingered, a thought, an unsolved thread. 

Suiren bowed, “Master, Ma Chue is here along with Master Gaoshun to take you to the Emperor.”

“Excellent, I’ll return after that,” he turned to Maomao, “I have a task for you.”

“This isn’t another court exam is it?”

He chuckled, releasing greninja and lucario, “No, self defense. I… would feel more comfortable if you had a couple tools to get out of someone’s grasp. I already know you’re pretty good at getting away when you want.”

She gave him the lamest look, one eye twitching openly, “You know I couldn’t beat you or Basen in a fight. Let alone them.”

“I don’t need you to defeat, I want you to be able to free yourself.”

“It’s not about strength anyway,” the human embodiment of a taillow hopped in, throwing paper confetti for her own entrance. 

“Maomao, meet Ma Chue, she’ll be your instructor today. Chue, did you have any questions?”

“Nope!” The woman flitted around the cat, “Miss Chue has heard a lot about you Miss Maomao! Especially how you keep getting kidnapped. Fear not! Miss Chue is here to help!”

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? The Ma clan member bowed to Jinshi and he departed with Gaoshun. Meanwhile the woman linked arms with her and almost skipped to the courtyard, dragging the stumbling, confused feline along with her. 

Sylver trotted along behind as did Jinshi’s fighters, catching Morelull and Spark as they tumbled from her shoulders. The apothecary noticed this new individual was almost the same height as her and of similar build, “I don’t know what you expect me to do against men who are twice my size and triple my weight.”

A playful grin spread across the brunette’s features, “How does the saying go? The bigger they are, the harder they fall?”

“You’re acting like I could beat Master Basen.”

“Oh little brother Basen is master level for sure, but you can still catch him off guard. But first let’s talk about weapons. You’ve got at least one on you currently.”

Maomao looked wildly at her clothing, checking her sleeves and folds, “pretty sure all I have are medicines.”

“Sure, but would anything burn or sting if you threw it in their face?”

Okay, I can see where she’s going here. 

“And your belt can do all sorts of things! Even a long strapped bag can be a choke cord, binding, or help redirect a strike,” she counted on her fingers, “Imagine if you had a hairpin, those are sharp!”

“I have a sewing kit.”

“Oh! That’s amazing! Now you’re thinkin’! There’s some SUPER painful spots you sink in a needle, while you run away.”

Say what you would about this creature, she was an enthusiastic instructor. 

Chue caught herself, “But the Moon Prince asked to go over grabs and chokes, so we better start there. So here, take my wrist.”

Maomao grabbed the wrist with the same side hand, the woman smirked, “Grip harder.”

The perturbed cat gripped harder and deadpanned, “If ‘little brother’ Basen is your baseline, I’m not going to beat that.”

“Don’t you fret Miss Maomao! I’m just making a point, see where your thumb reaches around to meet your fingers? That’s the weakest spot in the grip, so if I rotate my thumb towards it,” there was now a gap between the apothecary’s fingers and thumb, “And try to push my elbow to touch your elbow, then it makes it super hard to hold doesn’t it?”

Maomao pondered this as Chue took her wrist lightly. She gave a test pull and found herself trapped. “No no, don’t pull, just push. Worry about the wrist for now, we’ll work the lever so it doesn’t matter the size later. Put your feet there, rotate your hips, there you go. Now your whole body is moving your wrist! Look! You’re out!”

Sylver watched quietly from the stairs while Morelull baited happini and joltik over to the small pond. The healing pokémon tried to give them rocks. They had no way of holding their gifts. Suiren’s mienshao joined them to keep an eye on the infant, though her hands were soon full of decorative stones.

Meanwhile the apothecary was working through the mechanics of pronating her arm palm down and out of this woman’s grasp, learning to keep it near her core and step away from additional attacks. Then she learned how to get out of a cross grab. Same thing, rotating her thumb towards the weak point, except now she needed to supinate her palm up to get the desired alignment and touch elbows. They went over two hands taking one of hers, one on each hand. How to loosen a hug from the front, one from the back. 

“There’s more but he made it clear you may not be here very often so let's move onto choke escapes.”

“Why chokes?”

Chue shrugged, “Not sure, but Miss Chue has never seen him so concerned before, did you get hurt there or something?”

Maomao considered the bruises he saw on and around her neck and shrugged, “That wasn’t the cause, but okay.”

“Oh, do we need to work on parries?”

“Miss Chue, dodging would have only escalated the problem.”

“Well Miss Maomao,” she sassed, “the Moon Prince, second most powerful person in the country wants that to stop. So I think he’s giving you permission to fight back should the opportunity arise in the future.”

“Running was not an option,” the apothecary stated succinctly.

The bird pondered for a moment, her voice quieting with the tone of understanding from one woman to another, “You made the right choice given the situation, may I give you more options for the future?”

“You ask that as if saying ‘no’ is an option Miss Chue,” Maomao sighed. 

A string of flags appeared and vanished, “Having more options isn’t a bad thing Miss Maomao. And I won’t leave bruises in the training, safety first and all.”

A fuzzy head nuzzled Maomao’s hand, she looked down to a concerned Sylver, “It’s okay, she’s just trying to help me.”

“Then I’ll ask your friend,” she turned to Sylver, “can I help Maomao learn some counters to chokes?”

The apothecary hadn’t quite put together how far back this woman’s relationship was with the sylveon went. Chue smiled at the once affectionate eevee she played with and helped train initial socialization after he hatched, she could see how much Sylver had grown. The woman could also see how much he wanted to protect the master in his charge. There was a long pause as he studied her, taking a couple of steps back and sitting with a nod. It should be noted his ribbons were not relaxed, but up and aware of her movements. Chue nodded to her old friend and addressed the new, “Shall we?”

Maomao’s sigh was annoyed and a little defeated. 

Chue loosely put her fingers in contact around Maomao’s neck, “So this is a much better position for you than you think. Both their hands are occupied! Some people forget they can kick, and as long as you aren’t pressed to a wall or floor they can only be strong in one direction.”

She let go and motioned for Maomao to make contact with her neck, “If you press a little harder, yup, okay so you’re pushing forward and going for the air, look,” with two fingers she reached over, touched her own collarbone, and traced along them toward her shoulders. “And I’m out. This DOES work on Basen, but you’d have to do it before he gripped down on your windpipe.”

The bird chortled at the look of disbelief, “Now press in on the sides of the neck to cut off blood supply, good, now I’m just gonna keep your hands in place and step back.”

“You’re just being nice to me.”

The glint in the woman’s eye said otherwise, “Okay choke me like you mean it.”

Maomao clamped down on the sides, same motion, Chue’s touch was light but super effective, one step back and she was out. “I’m too weak for a proper demonstration.”

“Yǐngyuè, Zǐyè, Mienshao, can I borrow you? Sylver, keep an eye on the little ones. Miss Maomao, are they strong enough for you?”

Trained protectors of the Moon Prince’s household? Maomao nodded. 

The pokémon approached and Chue motioned Mienshao forward and bowed to her, “Please apply a choke and prepare to sutemi.”

Mienshao nodded, Chue watched her opponent take her neck and explained, “If they’re overpowering you then change the angle,” as her neck was endangered she waved her hands to draw Maomao’s attention to them. Pressing on the back of her opponent’s elbows she locked them out and fell backwards, putting her foot in the pokémon’s stomach catapulting the creature. The sharp smack against the stone tile sounded painful, Mienshao got up quickly. Chue grinned, “Being the smaller opponent has its advantages.”

And so Maomao submitted to the tutelage, starting with those two techniques with various opponents, but also learning how to grab in between the forearm bones and crumple them with supination. Thumbs were also a surprisingly easy point of attack. The side of a thumbnail bed was even worse. There were a multitude of ways to get away, some more sly and subtle than others, but she found with proper technique, even her strength was sufficient for both Chue and the pokémon.