This New World Feels More Like Home

Ah, the Hoenn region. Sparkling oceans, beautiful cities, expansive desert and luscious forests. Most people visit Hoenn purely for Lilycove City's department store and beeches. Most people, however, are not getting married. In the middle of the woods. In secret. To a Pokemon.

Fletcher stood at the end of a long red carpet in a large, open clearing. Before him sat his most trusted family, friends and acquaintances, a few of whom had quite the political standing in the world. His mother, Isabela Caine, sat at the front of the lined of plastic folding chairs.

To his left stood the Bridesmaids, Winona and Flannery, both in stunning dark blue and cream strapless dresses that matched his bride's fur perfectly. To the right stood the Best Men, Chili and Solace, both wearing simple black tuxedos with flame patterns stitched into the cuffs of the blazer's sleeves. Solace's, of course, was drastically different, but the suit did... suit him...

Anyway...

Fletcher himself wore a dark blue suit with a cream-coloured shirt and a tie that looked to be on fire in the right light. He wrung his hands together for what felt like the hundredth time. eyeing the tent in which his beloved was set to emerge from.

Noticing this, Chili stepped over and placed a hand on Fletcher's shoulder, making him jump. "Chill out, man!" the fiery triplet said, snickering slightly. "Everything's gonna be A-Okay, mark my words. And if it's not, you have my express permission to punch Cilan." A shout of "Hey!" was heard from the back of the seating area. Chili snickered again, and this time Fletcher chuckled slightly too, calming the groom down.

"Thanks, Chili. You're a good friend, and that girl of yours is lucky to have you." Fletcher replied, grinning as Chili's face turned a shade of red that matched his hair.

"Girl? What girl? I don't have a girlfriend!" he denied, causing bot Fletcher and Solace to laugh at him.

"Whatever you say, kid." Solace said, slapping his paw on Chili's leg while still laughing. "But I still say that Roxie girl is pretty lucky."

Chili shot Fletcher a questioning glance. Fletcher shrugged his shoulders in response. All that the two had heard was a series of grunts and repeats of the word "Absol".

It was at this point that the girl they were just talking about began playing her guitar rendition of 'Here Comes the Bride', and both the men and the Absol scrambled back into position. The tent at the end of the 'aisle' opened up, revealing Cynder, Fletcher's Typhlosion, in a beautiful white gown. Fletcher's father appeared from within and took Cynder's arm in his, walking her down the aisle and stopping just at the edge of the seats.

The minister, a large man with a kind, understanding smile, asked; "Who gives this woman away?". Fletcher was glad he had found this man. A devote follower or Arceus, he believed what all present company did - that Human/Pokemon love was a thing to be celebrated, not punished.

"I, Thomas Caine, give this woman away to be married." Fletcher's father replied, then released Cynder's arm and went to join his wife. Cynder took the last few steps to join them, clutching her bouquet of Gracidea flowers nervously.

The minister beamed at them, then looked up to address the guests. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in order to enact the will of our deity, Arceus."

At this, the guests all raised their right hands with the ring and pinkie fingers pointed skywards. "May the Creator smile upon us." they all called.

"We are here to unite this man," he gestured to Fletcher. "And this woman," he gestured to Cynder. "Under His name, and to ask that He grant them eternal happiness."

The minister carried on the sermon as Fletcher and Cynder stared into each other's eyes. To Fletcher, Cynder's scarlet eyes were a gateway to the burning passion within that drove her to be the best that she could possibly be. To Cynder, Fletcher's viridian eyes were like a calm forest clearing, ready to be explored.

"And now, the vows. Fletcher?"

Fletcher jumped slightly, earning a small laugh out of the guests. He fumbled about in his blazer until he found a small slip of paper, then pulled it out and began reading.

"Cynder, I have known you since I was thirteen years old. I have seen you laugh, seen you cry, seen you angry and overjoyed. And not once have I thought anything other than 'I love that about you'. When you said 'yes' that day, I thought I was dreaming, I was that happy. I never want to lose you Cynder, and I promise that, no matter the odds, I will always fight for you."

Cynder wiped a tear from her eye before turning to their Trevennant friend, Link, and nodding. Link nodded back (though it was more of tilting his whole body forward), the wave his huge hand, a blue glow spreading over the guests. A translator.

"Fletcher," Cynder began, smiling. "Ever since I first met you, I knew I wanted to end up here one day. You took me in when no one else would. You've saved my life countless times, despite not having any Pokémon's powers. I know for a fact that you would never let anything happen to me or our son. And for this, I thank you. And I promise, I will never let anything come between our family."

"Aww"'s rang out.

The minister cleared his throat and wiped away a stray tear before continuing.

"Ahem. Now, do you, Fletcher Caine, take this Typhlosion as your wife, knowing full well the dangers of such a commitment?"

"I do."

"And do you, Cynder the Typhlosion, take this man as your husband, knowing full well the dangers of such a commitment?"

"I do."

"Then I now pronounce you Man and Wife. Fletcher, you may kiss your bride."

Fletcher and Cynder slowly moved their faces closer together, lips almost touching, feeling each other's brush over their skin, and...

*thud*

"AAAAA!!!!"

"Oh, come on!"

Everyone whipped their heads around to see that Roxie had collapsed and was lay, unconscious, on the ground. Before anyone could blink Chili was by her side, cradling her head in his arms.

"No, no no no." He said, brushing her silver hair from her face. "Come on Roxie baby, don't do this right no-"

Chili fell silent as he fell backwards, Roxie's head now resting on his lap. All around people were dropping the ground, flat out. Fletcher grabbed Cynder and held her close, pressing his lips to hers.

And then the world went black, and one sentence was heard, only to be forgotten again before those who heard it woke up.

"Rest now my children. For when you awaken, a whole new world shall be your home.”