ID: 13
Username: Jellicent Fanatic | Why Try For Quality
Title: Always and Forever
"Wake up Nidoking! You promised to help Wartortle with Ice Beam, remember?"
Nidoking stirred from his sleep, stretching gingerly as he turned to face his oldest friend. He paused, realising something was wrong. The voice was familiar but it was too loud, too smooth. This crimson haired child could not be his best friend. Defences still raised, Nidoking shook himself out of his stupor and waited for his memory to return. He knew this child, he was certain. Ashton, or perhaps Lance? Nidoking struggled to tell the two grandchildren apart on a good day, let alone freshly woken.
This one is Ashton. Lance is the tall one.
Ashton yelped and nearly fell over when he finally noticed Dazed looming behind him.
"Dazed! Stop doing that or I'll tell Grandpa!"
No doubt Friend-Trainer would be proud to know that in an entire year of travelling, you have yet to learn situational awareness.
"I have too! You're just quiet."
Nidoking snorted and rose to his feet, not particularly caring if he was being followed as he started heading to Oak Corral.
"And what do you mean Lance is the tall one?!"
That you are the short one.
"BY HALF AN INCH!"
That isn't a denial.
"IT IS SO - WAIT! DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT ME NIDOKING! WHERE ARE YOU EVEN GOING?"
As his family had grown, Nidoking had come to greatly enjoy teaching. Ashton's Wartortle was a quick and attentive learner, very much the opposite of her trainer. She couldn't yet stop his Flamethrowers but then very few could even now. Nidoking estimated she'd arrive at that point within the next year, after a long overdue evolution. Faster, if the Wartortle sought help from The Brat.
Thinking about it, where was Sneasel? Why wasn't he helping teach Ice Beam? Surely the young Wartotle could learn faster from a fighter more specialised into Ice. He would have to ask Dazed, if he didn’t see the brat first. On the way back home, Nidoking's memory returned to him, and he tried not to cry.
"What's wrong, Nidoking?" Ash’s voice was soft and full of concern. He had recognized his friend's sadness the instant Nidoking had arrived home, Ashton and Wartortle in tow.
Nidoking grumbled softly and shook his head. It wasn't worth dwelling on the past, when it all blended together. Dazed and Lotus would remind him of anything important.
"You forgot something, didn't you?"
Nidoking was silent. Ash placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I hate seeing you beat yourself up about this. It's not your fault."
Nidoking leaned into his friend's touch and made a weary vocalisation. "I miss Weavile."
Ash wrapped his friend in a hug. "We all do."
Ashton gave Nidoking a slightly awkward pat on the back. "I miss him too. Weavile always found time to play with Lance and I. Especially when we were supposed to be doing chores." He giggled at the memory. "Do you think he'd have liked Wartortle?"
Ash and Nidoking both thought back to the timid, jittery water type that Ashton had started his journey alongside. Hiding in her shell from loud noises and sudden movements. "He'd have loved Wartortle." Ash chuckled, "But I'm not sure it would be mutual."
Ash’s team could just about comfortably fit in the Ketchum House's small dining room, provided nobody else was home. Visitors meant picnics, weather permitting. Or dropping in on Gary at the lab. For all his protests, he never said no to unexpected visits.
This was picnic weather. Clear skies and a light breeze that was enough to send Nidoking a little closer to Infernus than usual. Ashton eagerly dug into a plate of Malasada as Ash and Dazed set out the other dishes. Ash had long ago discovered that Delia Ketchum's culinary blessings were very much not hereditary. He wasn't hopeless, but it was generally easier to hire a chef. It wasn't as if he needed to live frugally.
"So where's Grandma?"
Speak when your face gash is clear. What would your mother say?
Ashton resolutely ignored Dazed as Ash did his best to hide his amusement. Between Weavile, Claydol, Gary, and great uncles Silver and Lance. Ashton had developed more than enough bad habits without his Grandfather's encouragement.
"At Ever-Grande preparing for the conference. We'll grab your parents next week and teleport over to watch your older brother."
"I thought she was retiring? Wasn't Uncle Sterling going to take her spot on the Elite Four?"
Ash adopted his best impression of Flannery, Dazed adding a red glow to his hair to enhance the effect. "Your uncle Sterling can have my spot when he earns it by himself! Using his dad's Metagross is cheating!"
"But Grandma using Lucille isn't?"
"Lucile is getting pretty old. Metagross is Metagross. Besides, Wally and Brendon need all the help they can get."
"Can't Uncle Sterling help?"
"Uncle Sterling spent too much time around Claydol and Drake growing up."
"Huh… hey Grandpa, I just thought of something.”
That's wonderful news. I was worried you'd never learn how.
"Grandpa, Dazed is picking on me again!"
Nidoking snorted as he watched the exchange through half lidded eyes, idly surveying the scene before him. Lotus lazily flitted in and out of its keystone, simply enjoying the company. Tangrowth and Aggron were entertaining all of Ashton's team save his Spearow, who was fawning over Plume as she made a show of lifting berries to her beak with the air currents around her. Oz and Bruiser sat in attentive, companionable silence as they listened to a Crobat chatter about her day. Nidoking started, eyes snapping open briefly before he sighed in annoyance. The Crobat was Seeker, obviously. The timid Zubat he remembered had long since become a fearsome fighter.
Lotus appeared at Nidoking's side, extending a comforting stream of emotions and memories. Seeker evolving into a Golbat mid spar with Steven's Skarmory. Seeker flying beside Plume, perfecting dazzling acrobatics. The entire team circled around Seeker as she evolved to her full potential. Seeker in the elite four challenge, slipping a Confuse Ray past Hitmonlee's guard and duelling with Honchkrow. Countless quiet nights on the road, enjoying the company of family. Seeker fluttering down a decorated aisle with Molly and Teddiursa, all bearing flowers and beaming smiles.
Other memories slipped through as well. Unfamiliar people and places dredged up from the depths of the Spiritomb's being, the few happy memories it could salvage from the time before a little boy who had grown up too fast pulled Lotus from its lonely vigil. All of them radiated the same sentiment.
Happiness. Contentment. Peace.
"Anything you forget, I will remind you. If you ever feel lonely, all of us will comfort you. Your family is here for you, always and forever. Even if you lose us all. Even if you no longer recognize the ones standing by your side, you will know that you are loved."
Nidoking smiled and allowed himself to drift away. He dreamed of a bright eyed young human leaning towards him. "Do you want to be friends?"
"Nidoking is what, 70? He isn't getting any younger Ashy-boy."
"He's 67 Gary. He should have a few years, not a few months."
Beside them, Nidoking slept deeply, though his breathing was fast and shallow. He had not moved from his spot since the picnic that afternoon and now the sun was setting. Gary was flanked by a pair of Alakazam and his Clefable, the former two focusing deeply as they concluded their assessment of Nidoking's condition, aided by Dazed.
"You can always get a second opinion, if you can find someone better than the Oak Alakazams. I'm sure the League would be happy to help."
"You work for the league Gary."
"As a professor, sure. Good as I am, I ain't technically a medical doctor. Besides, you were the champ for like 30 years, Ash. Betcha still have better clearance than I do. Got anymore of that glitter you used on Stone?"
"That… was a one time thing."
"Then I don't know what to tell you. You might buy a few more weeks if we toss enough ditto cells at the problem." Gary shrugged regretfully. "Unless you want to snatch your magic necklace from the vault, all we can do is make him comfortable."
"I… thanks for looking him over, Gary. Will he be able to come to Ever-Grande?"
"Don't mention it Ash. He should be fine to travel. His memory'll keep getting worse but Nidoking has at least another month of full motor function. I wouldn't ask him to battle seriously, but training with the others should be fine. How are you getting to Ever-Grande?"
"I was just going to teleport."
"Probably smart. Want Alakazam or Clefable to help?"
We will rely on the league, if I am not up to the task.
"If you say so Dazed. Give me a ring if anything comes up."
"Smell you later, Gary. And thank you."
"I already told you not to mention it. Call me over to Ever-Grande when that grandson of yours makes top 8."
"C'mon big brother!" Ashton shouted down towards the arena. "Beat his ass!"
"ASHTON TREVOR KETCHUM! WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE?!"
"Uuuuh… the TV, mom. From the TV."
Flannery, Sliver, and Gary all focused intently on the match unfolding below, trying not to draw attention to themselves.
Lance Ketchum, following in his namesake's footsteps, had won the second conference he had entered. His first elite four challenge, against Wally, had been very close so far. The former Ever-Grande Champion was down Gallade and Azumarill, while Lance had expended Medicham and Mr. Mime, his newly evolved Metagross glaring expectantly across the field to Wally as Azumarill was recalled.
"He had a good run." Flannery sighed. "Think he'll get a trainee position?"
"I don't doubt it." Ash agreed, "I didn't even make it to the elite four when I got mine."
Ashton looked up to his grandparents in confusion. "Lance has three pokemon left and Chrome! He can still win!"
What's this?! Elite Four Wally has already unveiled Magnazone! I'm sure we all remember its shocking performance against former Champion Steven Stone! What is our challenger going to do?
Ash simply nodded along to the announcer's words and gestured to Magnazone, which had already sent Metagross hurtling across the arena and skidding along the ground. Ash, Flannery, Silver and Gary all spoke in unison, imparting valuable wisdom they had earned through experience over long and decorated training careers.
"Wally's Magnazone is bullshit."
"Mom, why do they get to swear and I can't?"
"Firstly, they shouldn’t. Secondly, they’re absolutely right. Just don't repeat it around, ok sweetie?"
"That fuc… stupid Magnazone! We were so close! It was basically even!" Lance complained from between his parents' arms as they cried tears of joy. "Chrome was basically fresh! HOW?!?" Beside him, Chrome grumbled in agreement, the Metagross clearly just as frustrated as his trainer.
"We're so proud of you Lance! My little boy, all grown up and winning a conference!"
Lance continued to ignore his mother, still firmly set on analysing his defeat. "What did I do wrong? What - URK"
He was cut off by Tangrowth enthusiastically joining the group hug. Gurgling happily and lifting the others off their feet as he bounced from side to side.
"You used a Metagross." Sliver told him bluntly. "Magnazone can beat the Stone's Metagross one on one. Why did you send out Chrome before you dealt with It?"
"He was statistically the best option for Azumarill!"
"Chin up kiddo!" Flannery exclaimed. "You did great! You'll take my spot in no time at all."
"I thought Uncle Sterling was going to take your spot?"
"Your uncle Sterling can have my spot when he earns it by himself! Using his dad's Metagross is cheating! … What? What's so funny?"
Nidoking tuned out the noise around him as he glanced curiously at the young human before him. Did he know this child? The others seemed to. He had won a conference, and Nidoking’s family was celebrating with him. He must be important somehow.
This one is Lance. The child of Friend-Trainer's child. He was named to honour Champion-Mentor. Dazed narrowed her eyes in a smile as she shared scattered memories with Nidoking. They are easier to distinguish by height. Lance is the tall one.
"He isn't that tall!" Ashton objected.
“Compared to you I am!” Lance immediately retorted
Nidoking snorted in amusement. Somehow, he knew he had heard this conversation many times before.
"Hey Flannery?"
"Sup Ash?"
"Do you mind if I take the long way home?"
"How d'ya mean?"
"It's Nidoking."
"Oh. He's getting worse isn't he?"
"Gary says 4 months at the absolute most. A few weeks until he starts losing motor function."
"Shit." Flannery's face fell as she wrapped Ash in a tight hug. "I'm sorry Ash."
"It isn't anyone's fault."
"But it still sucks. Do you want me to join you? On the way back I mean."
"That would be nice. I'd like some time with just the team though. One last journey with Nidoking."
"Of course. I have paperwork to finish anyways. Just give me a ring when you want to meet up."
Despite everything, Hoenn was still beautiful. Ash and his team largely retraced the route they had followed when they first journeyed with Steven. Nidoking was often relieved to discover that more often than not, the others found the landscape just as unfamiliar as he did. Getting lost in the wilderness had been the point anyways. One last adventure with his family. When had the last one even been? Nidoking raked his brains before sighing and simply turning expectantly to Dazed and Lotus.
2 years ago when we journeyed across Johto with Soul-Like-Beaming-Brute. It was a very enjoyable few months.
Nidoking shook his head. The last time it had just been them. Like in the days before they had been champions.
Four years ago, if my own memory serves. Or was it five, Friend-Trainer Ash?
“Weavile was with us, so closer to six. Although he slept through most of it.”
Lotus happily projected memories of past travels to the others. Seeker flitting through the dazzling crystal caves of The Great Crater. The team meditating with Lotus in sombre Sinnohin ruins. Verdant forests in Kalos concealing a diverse pack of pokemon. The places blended together into a pleasant haze as they spent the greater part of the day reminiscing about past travels.
"This looks like a good spot." Ash declared to the others as they reached a large clearing. "Do you still feel up to training, Nidoking?"
Nidoking grinned and roared his agreement. Failing memory be damned, Nidoking was a warrior. The proud partner and protector of the greatest trainer in history. Moreover, when was the last time he had a proper workout? So much of his life had been spent like this.
Testing himself against his family, doing what he loved with the people he loved. Not even a decaying brain would take this away from him.
The Harbinger followed them for a time as they approached what remained of Mount Pyre. Ash only glimpsed it occasionally, except for the small handful of evenings on which it deigned to join them for a meal. Once, it joined their training to proudly display a new technique. Another time, it searched quizzically for Weavile. On the last day, it chatted briefly with Lotus, before disappearing back into the shadows and resuming its hunt.
The entire time, Nidoking glared at it suspiciously, refusing to let the strange visitor out of his sight. The others recounted to him their encounter with the Absol and the subsequent training. It sounded familiar, Nidoking thought, but better to be safe than sorry. He couldn't let his family come to harm.
A day later Nidoking awoke to his family encircling him, setting up camp alongside a human he did not recognize. He rose to his feet and hesitantly glanced at the others. Surely they would react to a stranger in their midst. So this person was harmless. A guest of his King no doubt, some new mentor or challenger. He turned to Dazed for confirmation.
Friend-Trainer Ash has not aged very gracefully, has he?
Dazed’s tone was light, joking. But through their mental link and long familiarity, Nidoking could not miss her despair. He raked his brain desperately. This elderly human was Ash? It didn't make sense. Ash wasn't an old man!
He was…
He had…
Ash had been killed on New Island. And Nidoking had been Useless. He had failed his best friend and now Ash was dead, and he and his family were in the care of an old man who Nidoking did not recognize. An old man that Dazed had given the same title as his King.
Nidoking roared with rage and sadness, eyes locked on the imposter. Daring the human to make a move. Ready to take whatever revenge he could for how unfair the world was.
"Nidoking. Don't you recognize me?"
Lotus was by his side in an instant. Sharing decades of experiences in brief glimpses. Ash sitting with Nidoking as he plumbed the depths of the Moon Stone. Countless evenings spent training together as years blended together. Ash finally learning a song on his flute he couldn't instinctively play. Everyone comforting the newly evolved Aggron as he grappled with the fact he was now too heavy to fly. Quiet mornings spent on a sprawling beach, watching the sun rise. Entirely too much paperwork, day in and day out as Lance all but taunted them with regular updates on his retirement. In truth an extended training journey as he eagerly searched for a Dragonitite. An exhausted Flannery, grinning and holding a screaming infant in her arms, the newest member of his family.
Nidoking wept bitterly. He understood what Lotus was showing him. That this was the life he was forgetting. But seeing a thing through another's eyes did not replace his own experience. Experience he was doomed to lose. How had he forgotten his best friend?
"It's OK Nidoking. We knew something like this would happen eventually."
(The old man) Ash was wrong. Forewarning didn't make this better. Ash hugged Nidoking before Tangrowth enveloped them both while Lotus continued to share every comforting memory it had. Nidoking eventually fell asleep against the grass type, curled up in his usual place at his best friend's side. He dreamed a half remembered haze of small moments. Little, unremarkable conversations that he clung to desperately, even as they bled away into the dark.
Visiting Fino's grave two days later, (Nidoking swore it had only been it had been only a few months ago the old Master had cheered on Ash from the stands of a contest hall) they were joined by an elderly woman Nidoking understood to be his King's mate. He accepted this quickly. She did not look the same, but Soul-Like-Beaming-Brute had changed very little and her Torkoal and Magcargo had changed even less, being perhaps slightly bigger than he remembered. He idly wondered where Torchic had gone.
"You hanging in there buddy?" Flannery asked gently, by way of greeting.
Nidoking shrugged. It was truly wonderful to be on the road again. He had missed travelling and training with the others. On the other hand it was distressing to be confronted so often with proof of his mortality, the prospect that even surrounded by his family, he might die alone.
"Think a battle would lift your spirits?"
Caldera was cautious not to injure Nidoking too severely. It made him sloppy. Within minutes Nidoking had overwhelmed the Torkoal completely, constantly tossing it off balance with earth that flowed like water. He scoffed at his opponent as they crawled out of the pile of dirt and stone Nidoking had buried him under.
Flannery looked pleasantly surprised, a familiar glint in her eye as she surveyed the devastation before her. "Wow! You haven't slowed down at all, Nidoking!"
Nidoking snorted in annoyance. Of course he hadn't! He was the pokemon of (an elite four trainee) indigo league champion.
"You caught Caldera off guard with that one. We're gonna kick your ass in round two, just you wait!"
Soul-Like-Beaming-Brute quickly ate those words, as Nidoking nailed an unfamiliar Blaziken with a perfectly timed Moonblast.
The rest of the family joined them in Lilycove, Lance's psychic types inundating Nidoking with reintroductions and memories until Dazed stepped in. Give the King some space, friend-students. He does not need seven voices in his head.
They entered a tournament together which Ash, of course, won. Nidoking sat out the finals though. His limbs were heavy, and some time in the last few days his tail had stopped moving as he wanted it to.
Nidoking spent his last two months drifting in and out of consciousness in a fugue. His vision quickly following his sight and his muscles. He lay curled up on the porch, stretching occasionally when it was time to eat, or he knew that he was missing training. At all times, there was beside him a yellow blob that called herself Dazed and a purple mist that called itself Lotus. They were often joined by various humans, who spoke softly to Nidoking and brought him food, and a vile, bitter drink that Dazed and Lotus often explained to him was medicine.
One human in particular visited him daily. Talking to him like an old friend. He liked this human, who spoke in a quiet, raspy voice, fondly patted Nidoking's hide, and always told the most exciting stories.
Dazed and Lotus explained to him that this human was their friend Ash, and that he was Nidoking's friend too. Most days, he was delighted by the news. Nidoking was happy to have made such an interesting friend, one who was always kind and patient. Occasionally, faint memories stirred as he recognized Ash. On these days Nidoking cried himself back to sleep, while his family gathered to comfort him.
"It wounds us to see you blame yourself for your condition. Even if you forget our faces, we will love you all the same."
As Nidoking fell fitfully asleep, Lotus would share moment after moment. Nidoking did not always recognize the people and pokemon in his dreams, but they were comforting all the same.
"Hey Nidoking. It's Lance. Ketchum, not the champion, that was Great Uncle Lance. Oh and Chrome is here too."
Greetings to you, Venomous-Mentor."
"I came to tell you I got offered a trainee position. In the Elite Four! Wait sorry, you probably forgot Chrome and I didn't you? So I'm Lance, and Chrome here is a Metagross. I never expected to get a Metagross, but Grandpa Ash did some kind of big favour for Great Uncle Steven once. Nobody ever told me what but I think it's related to the 'Storm Tamer' stuff that my teammates keep going on about whenever Grandpa's around. Anyways he did this big favour and he got four Beldum as a thank you. But Grandpa was too busy to train four Beldum so he turned it down. But then I tested for psychic sensitivity and Great Uncle Steven decided he had the perfect birthday present for me and it really was, Chrome's pretty awesome. Anyways back to the elite four thing…"
Nidoking drifted back to sleep.
“Why hello Nidoking! Yours truly has come to visit. Do you recognise me?"
Nidoking looked at the black smear foaling in front of him and shook his head.
"Fret not. I am Claydol. I was a mentor to you and your team once, until you all so rudely left Steven and I in the dust. I came to say my goodbyes, and hopefully provide some levity. Hmm. I know! Do you recall the seventh time we got Steven kicked out of a pub? You played quite the pivotal role."
Nidoking shook his head again.
"Wonderful! The twist remains unspoiled! Allow me to regale you."
“OH SHIT HE'S DEAD!"
"Jon, he's sleeping. Calm the hell down."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive. You just woke him up."
"Oh. Sorry Nidoking. Anyways Amelia and I came to say goodbye. Mind if we sit with you for a while?"
One morning, Nidoking awoke to searing pain. The medicine did very little to lessen it. As he thrashed about, he did not notice the arrival of a large, regal beast.
"Hello Suicune." He dimly heard someone say. "Is… is there anything you can do to help?"
The pain disappeared, scattered by the North Wind.
"Thank you. Would you like to sit with us for a while?"
Nidoking drifted back to sleep listening to a beautiful song. He recognized the sound of Ash's flute, and Plume's singing but he could not place the mournful howls that accompanied it.
He awoke the next day to a rare moment of lucidity. His vision was blurry and dim, and he couldn't make out his surroundings. Nidoking called out to Ash.
"I'm right here buddy." Nidoking felt a warm hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"
"I'm sorry for failing you."Nidoking thought, knowing Dazed and Lotus would convey any meaning he could not. "Some protector I am, forgetting you exist."
"You've never failed me." Ash gently rebuked. "Not once"
"I needed The North Wind to even think clearly. To recognize you."
"And I'm grateful to Suicune for helping you. Easing your pain and letting us talk one more time. But you've already said goodbye, Nidoking. It would have been alright without him. We'd still be by your side. None of this is your fault."
Nidoking sighed, not wanting to waste however much time he had been given arguing. "Where are the others?"
"Dazed is right here with us. Lotus went to grab the rest. They'll want to talk to you."
"I want to talk to them too.”
…
…
…
“I’m scared.”
"We all are, Nidoking. We're going to miss you. I'm going to miss you." Ash wrapped Nidoking in a hug and leaned against him for a while. "Mewtwo made the same offer he did when Weavile got sick."
Nidoking growled. He had never trusted Mewtwo and needed no part of whatever unnatural miracle cure it could offer.
"I thought so. Just wanted to let you know."
Nidoking curled up comfortably beside his best friend. "I'm going to forget you all again before I go. I know I will. Will you stay by my side? Even when I don't recognize your voice?"
"Of course I will. You're my best friend Nidoking. You're family! I'll stay with you as long as you need and then some."
When Lotus returned with the rest of his family, Nidoking spoke with them tearfully until sleep took him once more.
"Thanks for teaching Wartortle Ice Beam. I'm gonna miss you Nidoking."
"I need to take Lance to Ever-Grande so this is probably Goodbye. Thanks for looking after Ash, Nidoking. I'll miss you."
"Did I ever tell you how grateful I am for the time you and Dazed took me to the doctor's when I was six? When Plume tried to teach me how to fly I mean. I'm especially glad you never told Uncle Sliver or Gary. I don't think I'd have lived it down."
Nidoking drifted in and out of consciousness, before he awoke in total darkness. There was a comforting presence at his side, radiating a gentle warmth and filling his head with unfamiliar yet pleasant visions.
"Mother, is that you?" Nidoking asked the warm presence. "Is today when I start the adventure?"
"I am not your mother, Nidoking. I am called Lotus. I am your friend."
Nidoking had never met a talking lotus before. He didn't even know flowers could talk. What an exciting friend to have! Lotus chuckled softly.
"I am not a flower, simply your friend. You have a lot of friends, Nidoking. You're very lucky."
"Where are they? Can I meet them?"
"I'm sorry, Nidoking. They can't reach you in this state. Even I have difficulty communicating with you without help from Dazed."
"Who is Dazed?"
"Another friend. She is part of our family. Would you like me to show you?"
Nidoking saw yet more unfamiliar scenes and people. He was even in some of them! It looked like fun.
"Is this my adventure? Do I really make this many friends?"
"You do. We all love you, Nidoking.”
"So it starts today? Where's the big human?"
"What do you mean?"
"Mother and the big human in the white coat." Did Nidoking know the big humans name? He thought long and hard. "Mother and Oak told me that soon, I would meet some humans who would be my friends and one of them would take me on an adventure! Are you the human I get to adventure with?"
"No, I am a pokemon like you, who is also on an adventure with Ash. That is the human's name."
"Ash is a weird name for a human. Is he nice?"
Lotus chuckled again. "I suppose it is a strange name. He is very nice, Nidoking. Would you like to see him?"
"Yeah!"
Nidoking saw a small human covered in scars, smiling serenely. He tried to approach the human, but couldn't move his legs, so he called out.
"Hello! I'm Nidoking and mother and Lotus and Oak say I'm going on an adventure with you! Do you want to be friends?"
Nidoking heard a distant voice that could not belong to the little human. It was raspy and quiet and deep. It was also comforting, full of kindness and fond affection.
"Of course I do Nidoking. You're my best friend. I love you, always and forever. We all do."
Nidoking smiled and drifted back to sleep as Lotus shared with him adventure after adventure. Someone nearby was playing a beautiful, comforting song that he idly tried to identify until he settled into a peaceful sleep. Nidoking dreamt of the adventures ahead, of time shared with family, until he could no longer wake.