Unbreakable bond

Weeeeeeeeell. Storytime.
Reaction-story for Saundras new form ♥
The story is for Mareena123 !

Words: 1265
Levels:
Ethyraz gains 19 levels! (+5 picture /// +12 word count /// +2 extra levels)
Saundra gains 15 levels! (+5 picture /// +8 word count /// +2 extra levels)
Lily gains 6 levels! (+4 word count /// +2 extra levels)
Ethyraz is also evolving!

It was a warm summer night.

Ethyraz was walking slowly toward the lake where he and Saundra met so often but this time something felt… strange.

His beautiful Snivy-lady had wanted to meet him very urgently but had only sent a letter instead of coming by herself. Therefore, Ethyraz had been rushing to the lake and was now a little too early here. He sat down at the shore and looked over the water.

On the other side, there was some other Pokemon, but he didn't pay much attention to it.

Time went by and the Snivy started to get really worried about Saundra… She should have been here already. Hopefully, she was okay...

While hanging after his thoughts, he noticed that the Pokemon was now flying over the lake, toward him.

Oh bother. Hopefully, it didn't want to talk to him. He really didn't have the time for that now.

But the Pokemon landed right in front of him, looking shyly and a bit anxious toward him.

With a sight, Ethyraz gave his full attention to her, but what he saw wasn't a stranger… it was Saundra but she looked SO different!

Petrified he scanned her with his eyed and noticed that she wasn't only a Snivy anymore - there were parts of other Pokemon species: Swanna and Lopunny.

If that wasn't bad enough, she was SO big now, much taller than him. What the hell had she been thinking?

The impulse to flee from this confrontation came over him suddenly and very strong, but he stayed where he was. Maybe she hadn't even wanted to change but was forced? Maybe she was just….

Before he could say any of his thoughts, the very nervous looking Saundra began to talk.

"Please don't be mad… I really wanted… no NEEDED to change! I..I just wasn't happy anymore…"

" Wasn't happy?" Ethyraz felt anger surge through him and Jumped to his feet. "You could have said something! We could have talked about it, but doing this?!" He gesticulated toward her and shook his head in anger.

"That is not how I meant it! It's not that I wasn't happy with us, it was just about me…"

"Yeah well, that I can see." He had never been cold to her before but at this moment he felt so betrayed, that he couldn't even think straight. He turned around and could only say: "I have to think…", before he fled into the sky and flew with strong wingbeats toward his home. He could hear her calling his name behind him but he didn't stop.

The following day he was torn between anger and a really bad conscience. He had never wanted to talk to Saundra like that. But still, a part of him thought that it was her own fault. Why did she even want to change, why was she so unhappy? Maybe he should have asked her… but no. He hadn't done anything wrong!

Because of his self-dispute, Ethyraz didn't notice that Lily had sneaked into the room. But now he suddenly saw her, standing in front of him with big eyes.

"Daddy…. Did you and Saundra have a fight?" She sat down next to him, looking at him with a troubled expression on her face.

"No… I mean… maybe. I'm a bit angry at her." Sighing heavily, Ethizas buried his face in his hands.

"Why…? Did she say something bad?"

"No… it's not like that…." with a shudder he realized that he was the one who had said something bad to her.

"Then… was she mean to you?"

"No…" Again… He had been the mean one.

"So… you didn't like her new form then?"

With a jolt, Ethyraz' head snapped up. "You… you knew about that?", he asked surprised.

Lily nodded and looked down. There was a lot of sadness radiating from her.

"Yes… she had asked me if it was ok… She wasn't sure if you would like it... She didn't want to disappoint you but I told her that you would understand…"
Oh Arceus. Oh no. What had he done?

Once again he saw Saundras nervous face before him, her hurt expression when he said all those things to her… And now here was Lily, looking so sad, it made him want to curl up in shame. She couldn't even look at him. Was his reaction really so wrong?

When he didn't say something, Lily looked up again, the sadness written all over her face.

"I know, you don't like other Pokemon species… I know that but… it's still Saundra. The nice, sweet, loving, beautiful, helpful Saundra who loves you very much and who I thought you loved just as much. Please, dad… only this time, try to understand."
"Stop.… He said the word softly and quietly but Lily stopped talking instantly.

Ethyraz stood up, feeling like the worst Pokemon, what he probably also was.

"I know…", he said softly and Lily understood. She smiled a little and nodded when he turned toward the open door.

Lily was right…. It was still Saundra - he needed to make this right.

At first, Ethyraz flew to Saundras ranch but there were only other Pokemon, looking coldly at him - they probably all knew how much he had hurt his lifemate and were angry at him. So, he didn't even land there and instead flew to the lake where they had their fight.

When she still wasn't there, he began to panic a bit but suddenly remembered where he hadn't searched yet: the place they met.

He flew there as fast as his wings could take him and the relief was almost overwhelming, when he finally saw her, sitting on the same tree trunk as before.

He landed without a word and Saudra didn't look up, even though she must have heard him.

He tried to look at her differently this time and was a bit surprised when he noticed, that she was not only beautiful but really stunning now. He had always loved the simple beauty of her but in this form, she looked like a real princess.

Idiot, say something!

"I… I'm sorry…" There was no reaction.

Greatly done, genius.

He took a step toward her and said softly: "Please, look at me… I feel terrible for what I said."

There was a short pause and then she turned her head toward him. He almost couldn't bear the sadness and insecurity he saw there.

"I just wanted to special… I'm sorry I didn't tell you...", She whispered and Ethyraz took her hands in his.

"You are special. And you will always be… I should have listened to you instead of getting angry… I know you often felt insecure about yourself and if this form is making you feel better, then who am I to say anything against it?"

She still looked at him with doubt in her beautiful eyes and he knew it wasn't enough. He had to show her that he meant it…

"It is your right to change if you want to and instead of being bitter about it, I should just change too."
At first, she looked at him questioningly but then her eyes widened when she saw what was happening. Ethyraz had stored energy inside of him for a long time now - and now it was time to release it. He let the energy flow through him and felt himself getting taller and stronger.

One second later he was in his evolved form, looking into the eyes of his beautiful lifemate.

She smiled.

There was no need for words.