everyone is a consenting adult

Of course he does lol

Dot still videos cause she's been blogging their painful pining journey lmao

So new idea:

Friede and Amethio grew up together; currently 23 and 19 respectively

Friede works as a scientist for the Explorers, studying to effects of Laquium and the crystals from the Crystal Pool and Area Zero

Amethio is in the field, searching for the Six Heros and any info on Laqua

Friede got hurt one time during an explosion when mixing the crystals and Laquium, causing part of his chest and arm to be covered in crystal (no Amethio doesn't know)

Charizard is now a Charmander as Friede never battled much as a scientist; Charmander also has a crystal covered arm from the explosion

One day, Liko is brought into the base with the pendant which is radiating the same energy as the Crystal Pool crystals.

Friede refuses at first when Gibeon orders him to take the crystal by any means necessary then agrees when Gibeon threatens to have Spinel do it instead.

Friede yeets off with Liko and the two eventually end up hanging out with the Lapras Pirates for a while

Friede gets a spark to find out more about the Explorers true motives when he sees Rayquaza speaking to Lapras

First he needs to get Liko back to Paldea and to her mom where she'll be safe

Liko befriends a Sprigatito along the way, earning its trust after helping it

Roy eventually joins the little group; Roy has amnesia and is hanging with the Krookidile family in the desert ruins with Fuecoco. The ancient Poke Ball is the only thing he has to figure out what happened.

Spinel will be a much more active threat (as Amethio is probably told not to interfere as his friendship with Friede will cloud his judgment) and that eventually causes Friede to decide that he, Liko and Roy should participate in the Paldean Gym Challenge to get stronger and to obtain rights to a Tera Orb

Order of the Hero Finding will be: Lapras, Arboliva, Kleavor, Moltres, Entei, Rayquaza

Arboliva is actually being protected by Brassius and YES that man will yeet himself into a forest fire to save it

Amethio eventually joins the group during the Moltres arc but may swap Kleavor and Arboliva

I just love Pokémon evolving to protect their trainers 😌

Here enjoy a snippet of unhinged Spinel lmao

>>> "Give me one chance," Amethio begged, keeping his voice level despite the pounding in his chest. "I beg you, Master Gibeon."

"I will not," Gibeon's voice reverberated through the area. "Your emotions towards the target will cloud your judgment. Spinel will handle the situation. He will be the one to take care of the traitor and capture the crystal."

Spinel glanced at Amethio out of the corner of his eyes, a razor thin smile crossing his face.

"Please," Amethio repeated. "Just one chance and if I fail, I will resume my quest to find the whereabouts of the Six Heroes."

Gibeon remained silent for several moments before he said, "One chance. That is all."

Spinel's smile dropped and he narrowed his eyes at Amethio.

Amethio bit his lip to stop himself from smiling, giddiness going through him. He could do this. Friede would come back if he asked him to. He'd make sure Gibeon forgave Friede for his actions.

Spinel approached Amethio, Umbreon by his side.

"You will fail," Spinel whispered, touching the bottom of Amethio's chin with a cold smile.

Amethio resisted the urge to flinch away from the unwarranted touch, staring steadfast into Spinel's eyes, refusing to cower.

"And I will enjoy making him squirm as he bleeds."

Spinel definitely has a one sided crush on Friede and a little bit of an unhealthy obsession with him

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m3izYJhZeXU

👀👀 ohhh I'll have to listen to it

Enjoy two dumbasses

>>> "Don't go." Friede grabbed Amethio's wrist when he turned to leave. "Just stay the night."

"It's too dangerous. They'll track me and I don't want to put you or Liko directly in Spinel's gaze." Amethio attempted to pull his wrist out of Friede's grasp, but it was half- hearted. "Friede, please."

"A few hours then. Come on. You still need to recover."

Amethio refused to look at Friede and instead stared at Charizard and Ceruledge sleeping in the corner.

Despite their close encounter with the forest fire, the two Pokémon were pretty much unscathed thanks to their typing.

Sighing, Amethio turned to Friede. "Two hours."

Friede grinned, releasing Amethio's wrist and moving to the side to allow more space in the already small bed.

Amethio sat on the edge of the bed then scooted closer to Friede, careful of his tender ankle.

Without saying anything, Friede pulled Amethio against him, resting his cheek on the top of Amethio's head.

Amethio closed his eyes, savoring Friede's warmth and gentle breathing.

Just like old times.

---

Also enjoy another cute one, further down the line where Friede is vibing with his feelings towards Amethio and Amethio is just baffled (I never said he was smart when it came to his own feelings ok)

>>> Friede leaned his forehead against Amethio's, closing his eyes.

"What are you doing," Amethio muttered. He didn't pull away from the touch.

Friede chuckled softly. "Just let it happen, Amethyst."

Amethio hummed quietly, closing his eyes.

"Friede!" Dot yelled. "Crocolar ate my dinner!"

"And moment over," Friede sighed, pulling away from Amethio and standing. "Come inside before it gets too cold, Amethyst."

"All right." Amethio watched Friede return to the hotel room before setting his fingertips against his forehead.

Friede: I totally like my best friend but I don't want to ruin our friendship so I'm just gonna be more snuggly than usual and hope he gets the hint

Amethio: he's being weirder than normal. Maybe he's just happy I'm working with him now.

Also enjoy another snip (I have run out of snips, gomen 😔)

>>> "Hey there, Friede."

Friede halted at the entrance to a dim alley.

Leaning against the left wall was Amethio, arms crossed with his same dour expression. Beside him, Ceruledge's blue flames cast an eerie glow and long shadows along the walls.

"Amethio." Friede said as Charizard growled quietly, wings flaring.

Amethio held up a hand to stop whatever first attack Charizard was going to launch. He slid down the sleeve of his jacket, revealing white bandages wrapped around his forearm.

Friede stared at the bandages then Amethio. "The tracker. You took it out?"

"I planted it on an Unfezant. When they look for my location, they'll see 'Amethio'."

Grinning, Friede took a step towards Amethio. "Does this mean..."

"I can't let you have all the fun looking for the Six Heroes and finding Laqua before me."

Friede laughed, enveloping Amethio in a hug and squeezing him tightly. "I knew you'd come around."

"Let go of me, you idiot," Amethio grumbled, trying to get out of Friede's vice grip. "People are staring. This is embarrassing. Friede!"

----