That was the first night Row would spend in the cave that would soon be his home. Although it was obvious that it was not cold, Rowlet slept uncomfortably and poorly, while the rest rested peacefully, although Cinderace had laid down next to him, keeping the egg by his side to make sure they were both well. Audino had decided to spend the night with them, since he wanted to check on the wounded wing's progress. For a change, Lucario didn't arrive until the early morning, since he had gone to train far away from the forest, which didn't make Sapphire angry, but it annoyed her a little: why did he always have to go so far away, where almost nobody could reach him? He was a father, what if someone tried to attack him, what if some joker wanted to hurt him and hit Lucario as a target? But, anyway, there was nothing more he could do, since he arrived just when everyone had fallen asleep, but at least he could see Row as he slept, next to Eevee and Percy, the latter hugging him tenderly to help him rest, which was something he couldn't help but smile about, while Eevee was on the other side, next to his mom. Even though it was dark, he could notice something too strange. He noticed Row and began to scan him with utmost attention. His smile disappeared, looking surprised by something he had never seen in his life, and perhaps he would be the first to have seen such a thing:

  Row's aura was blocked. He could not perform his powers. It was the only pokémon incapable of defending itself or, in bigger words, being a normal pokémon.

  "-But... how... What is this?" he had asked himself, almost in a whisper, too shocked by it. What was a pokémon without powers? No one had ever seen that, it was certainly unthinkable, especially for him. But what really caught his attention were the golden spots on its fur: it was as if, somehow, something wanted to manifest itself through them, something that couldn't break free from its chains: its powers. "How is this possible?" he kept asking himself.

  Now his wing was bandaged and immobilized. The swelling had reduced quite a bit, though swelling could still be felt. Occasionally, Row would moan in his sleep and even let out a few tears because of how uncomfortable he was sleeping. The Lucario just stroked his head tenderly as he watched him in such a precarious way. No doubt he wanted to ask him many questions and help him, but maybe tomorrow would not be the right time. Perhaps he would be in great distress and pain, being treated by Audino, who was already of considerable age. Most likely she had warned Dragonite to be quiet, since they were a tender married couple with a beautiful Deerling for a daughter.

  Percy stirred in the straw, snuggling under Row's healthy wing, hugging his round body. He thought of his friend, it grieved him too much to see him so badly, weeping at times for the discomfort and, surely, for what he would have experienced that day, which would have passed into his dreams.

  "-You're going to be fine, you're going to heal, you're going to fly again" whispered the Riolu. From one moment to the next, while repeating the same thing he began to cry silently while hugging him tighter. "I love you, I'm not going to leave you alone, you're going to be okay." Row moaned a little softly from the discomfort of the wing, but his healthy wing squeezed Percy against his body, reciprocating the hug, a very cute scene for two little boys, even Row showed a very tender smile as he dreamed.

  Luc smiled as he watched his son give Rowlet affection. His son was very energetic and lively, but when someone got hurt and took time to recover he couldn't help but get excited, which indicated his good heart. She often thought that he had a lot to learn from Percy.

  "-Good night, my children," he said to them warmly, giving them each a kiss. Then he lay down on the floor against the other wall, placing his arms so that they supported his head. "This really is something exceptional..." And he continued to watch Row as he fell peacefully asleep....

  ***

  "-Ooooooooow!"

  Suddenly, a strong scream woke Lucario, startled, getting up in less than a second by making an attack position, showing his teeth widely.

  "-Who is there, who dares to enter our house?"

  But suddenly, he realized that there was no danger. It was already daytime, probably almost noon, because the sun could be seen to enter to a good part of the cave.

  "-We have almost finished, hold on a little more!"

  "I can't, it hurts a lot, please, stop, hurts me!"

  Everyone was already awake, even Umbreon, who used to snore until the beginning of the afternoon, observing with an uncomfortable expression. There was Rowlet washed under the bandada wing, while the rest of his plumage was soaked. Audino passed a sponge below this as soft as he could, but still caused unbearable damage, crying without stopping for that. Meanwhile, Cinderace held him not to move while Percy and Eevee tried to help him. Vaporeon only remained in the water, looking and immersing each time Row exclaimed again.

  "Do not follow, please!" He begged, trying to move.

  "Audine, I think we shouldn't be doing this, just a normal bath would have been enough!" Cinderace exclaimed, without realizing that the boy he loved was looking at him.

  Suddenly, she stopped passing the sponge and turned away from there, squeezing the sponge of water on the wet earth. It had come to the conclusion that it was not a fracture that the wing suffered, but a hard contraction from which it was not going to recover immediately. Until that time, he had not said anything to worry the little Rowlet.

  "-0I am very sorry, but I was not calm with the interior of that wing. It was very dirty and had to wash it as soon as possible."

  Little by little, they put the bandage back on the wing with great care, making sure that it stayed fixed and that the wing did not slip in that kind of sling made of a long piece of small tablecloth.

  "-Wait...." the Lucario said to himself. He began to advance towards them "What's going on here?"

  Suddenly, everyone turned.

  "-Luc!?" Cinderace exclaimed, "But can you tell where you've gone!?

  "-That?" the canine Pokémon asked. "What do you mean? I slept here."

  "-I mean, where did you go yesterday! Vaporeon was looking everywhere for you and couldn't find you anywhere!"

  Lucario snorted and crossed his arms, somewhat annoyed.

  "-Well, I guess to train."

  "-To train! And you go where no one can locate you, almost disappeared, and for the entire afternoon!" Cinderace was indignant, on top of the fact that she didn't tell where she was going, she didn't care. "We were in the middle of a very serious matter!"

  Row looked at them both. Was that the aforementioned couple of friends that she was "in love with"? Maybe after all, the saying "those who quarrel desire each other" was completely true, although only in the comedic sense. She looked at Percy, who returned a funny look at her father, while Eevee did the same with her mother. The three of them couldn't help but chuckle.

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  "-I didn't go that far either!" He growled. "I simply went behind the mountain, to the elevated area of the Rock Galleries!"

  "-But it's the most dangerous area there is! How can you think of doing something like that!?"

  "-But why do you get like that!? Of course, you have stood up with your left leg, there is no doubt about that!"

  "-You really are a grumpy dog!" She shouted, beginning to expel a hot aura around her.

  Lucario only showed his teeth and Cinderace the same, clashing head to head and squeezing hard while giving each other a threatening look.

  "-Oh, I don't like this at all!" Audino murmured. "Come on, you two, please talk, it's no use...

  But the fairy-type Pokémon's plea was of no use, because they both addressed her with the same annoyance:

  "-No!"

  Audino stepped back, somewhat shocked. Row also thought that it wasn't worth fighting and arguing over something that could be fixed so easily. They were both parents, but because they were young and had different personalities they could stay that way again and again and again.

  "-You don't care where I go! I'll let you know next time when I'm going to get lost there!"

  "-Oh, yes?! Well, don't ever speak to me again, is that clear!?"

  Row was not going to allow that, much less with her two friends in front of her. She gathered her courage and took a deep breath, finally exclaiming:

  "-THAT'S ENOUGH!"

  That sounded throughout the cave. Suddenly, surprised and confused, everyone looked at the Rowlet, even Lucario seemed to have been left speechless. Umbreon and Vaporeon looked at each other, unable to guess what would happen. Eevee ran towards Vaporeon, somewhat scared, who hugged her with one of her paws."

  "-What?" they muttered between them both, puzzled.

  Row plucked up his courage and began to address them both with some annoyance, but Percy tried to dissuade him by drawing him to himself, but Row paid him no heed:

  "-Do you really think that's the way to talk? I've never seen two friends like you before! You look like two kids fighting instead of two adults, or whatever you guys are these days!"

  Cinder blushed a little at that, though with a look of disappointment, since she had to admit that he was right. Meanwhile, Luc just looked at her with indifference.

  "-Of course, you change moods more than a half-asleep Skarmory!" growled the Lucario underneath crossed his arms....

  "-What!!!!???" She answered him, with a noticeable blush on her face, indicating her annoyance.

  "-I said-" but she didn't have time to finish, as Rowlet again spoke loudly to get their attention instead of fighting.

  "-Can you two stop fighting at once!" he exclaimed again. "Even your children get along much better than you two, who are their parents! I don't know if you're finally a sentimental couple, or sweethearts, or whatever you are, but I don't think this is a good example, neither for you, nor for them, nor for anyone else!

  Eevee and its other two evolutions remained silent, not knowing where this was going to end. Percy and Audino didn't know what was going to happen either, maybe they would pass him by or something worse...

  "-That Rowlet's got some nerve!" whispered Umbreon, nodding.

  Row didn't cut himself twice and continued, since he already had the attention of both of them:

  "-Were you never taught to talk things over? That we all have our differences, but that doesn't justify that every time that happens you're like that, even if you haven't for days! Percy and Eevee get along a thousand times better than you two, and I've never seen them fight or anything like that! A friendship is the one you value and care for, not the one you're arguing with while you both want to be right!"

  Suddenly he shut up: maybe he shouldn't talk like that; after all he was just a wounded man they had taken into their home, he wasn't the one to tell others how they should behave, after all he was a child.

  "-Okay, maybe I shouldn't have spoken, I'm sorry.... But it just makes me sad to see you like this, when two friends like you could get along so well, and..."

  I didn't finish, since they both ended up breaking into loud laughter. Audino also laughed softly. Only Percy, Eevee, Sapphire and Umbreon were left confused.

  "-But what?" the Vaporeon cocked its head. "And what's this about?

  Neither Umbreon nor Eevee answered, since they literally had no words either.

  "-Wow!" exclaimed Luc smiling "Well, you sure are a spunky Rowlet!"

  Row was confused: was it all a joke? It couldn't be, not evidently. Luc took him in his arms and hugged him gently, not wanting to hurt him.

  "-Basically they tend to be like this all the time!" said Percy, sighing with relief. "You'll get used to it eventually!"

  "-Yeah, don't worry about it! We're really sorry though, you're right about us fighting nonstop..... " then, he looked at Luc again with a serious look. "So you can see that I'm good, I forgive you, but I don't want you to go so far away again without warning!"

  "-Well, that will be if-" but she didn't finish the sentence because of his look, which was even somewhat intimidating to her. He decided to rephrase his words, "Well, it's okay, I'm really sorry too!"

  "-B-but that won't do!" the Rowlet exclaimed again without dropping his seriousness, even though the matter seemed to have been settled already. They all looked at him in confusion.

  "- Eh? And why not?" asked Luc, arching an eyebrow.

  "-Because... because..." he began to say timidly. "Because families aren't like that, and I... well... I always thought a family should be happy and united, but it's just that seeing you two.... Besides, you're not even dating, so I'll understand if..."

  "-Wait," interrupted Cinderace, wanting to find out what she was referring to. "Do you think we...?" She looked at the Lucario, who, seeing what she was referring to, began to blush heavily. She was quick to do the same, though she didn't even realize it.

  "-I'm sorry! I-I shouldn't have said that! It's just, it's just..." he began to stammer nervously. "It's just that I thought... Percy and Eevee... all that stuff Umbreon said and..."

  "-Wait, Umbreon?" and the Lucario, leaving Row on Audino's head, turned to him. "Hey! What are you hiding from me?

  -"Me?" stammered the blackish/golden boy.

  "-Yeah, you, there's not another Umbreon in this cave!" he said, reaching his side in less than two seconds. "What don't I know?"

  Umbreon was at first going to shake his head, trying to dissuade him, but seeing that his friend was watching him with some irritation, he decided to tell him, but then he saw Cinderace, who was very nervously shaking her head at him and waving her arms from side to side, asking him not to say it

  “-Eeeeh... I...” he tried to mumble, but Luc didn't want to know at once.

  “-Agh, tell me at once, it's not that hard!”

  “-For me it's not, but for someone else it is!”

  “-And who is this other one?”

  “-It's... it's...” he watched Cinder over the bluish pokémon's shoulder, looking like a lot of anguish was being held back on his face. He had no choice but to say it. “She's the girl who loves you, and you feel the same way about her too.”

  Suddenly, Luc was greatly surprised: he blushed heavily and saw Cinderace just as he did. They looked at each other for a few moments and suddenly she started to run outside the cave until she was out of sight.

  “-Cinderace, wait!” he said, and started running after her, afraid of losing her forever, until he finally ran out of the cave too.

  They all fell silent after that.

  - “Jo, the mess I've made...” lamented Row, disappointed in himself. “I'm nothing but trouble...”

  “-Don't say that, little one!” said Audino leaving him next to Percy, who stroked his head. “This is a normal thing, any couple of friends who like each other could react like this!”

  “-Actually, I shouldn't have played with that. “ Umbreon said approaching with Sapphire and Eevee, who joined his two friends. “I made him a promise, but it was obvious that it was going to come out...”

  “-Well, but at least it was for a good cause, right?” Percy said trying to look on the bright side. “Maybe I can have a mom at last,” he said to himself, though Row elbowed him, indicating that she had heard him.

  “-Bro, what's going on here?

  Suddenly, a voice outside the cavern rang out. Eevee didn't take long to recognize the voice: it was his brother.

  He immediately turned around and saw it: a Raboot was standing in the doorway, wearing his typical reddish/black sports suit, leaning against the wall while pulling up the balaclava that covered his mouth a bit.

  “Matt!” exclaimed Eevee and ran towards him, forcing his head against one of his legs. “I missed you so much, I didn't see you last night!” he stroked her head affectionately, before walking further inside.

  “-I know... I stayed outside the cave, it was better there. I don't think Mom bothered, I saw her with business on her hands.... If you can call it that,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets and shrugging his shoulders.

  “Ah, so you didn't miss anything...” surmised Percy.

  “Actually I haven't even been here, but since I knew Mom and Luc were in love, I'll be damned.” He looked at Rowlet, his eyes widening in shock. “You're Row, aren't you?

  “Well, this, yes...” he said, somewhat discouraged.

  “That looks bad...” said Matt, looking at the wing on the makeshift sling. “How bad is it?”

  “It's just a little more contracture than it's worth. Right now it has to be the wing can't move. It'll be a few days before he can fly again, still, he'll have to have some rehab...”

  “That Braixen and her henchmen are unforgivable!” said the Raboot somewhat indignant.

  “Wait, how do you know that?” asked Eevee, quizzical.

  “I was able to spy on her as they fled the forest clearing. I was practicing my Igneous Balls when I suddenly saw that you were being bullied. When you threw Row against the tree, I quickly followed them.” He began to laugh. “If you knew the look on Incineroar's face when he saw them, you would have been paralyzed!”

  But none of them reciprocated his laughter, though Row smiled at him all the same.

  “You're strong, man!” and held up his hand for a high-five, to which Rowlet did on the spot. “Don't stop being like that, even if it hurts, it'll make them rage at that crappy team. By the way, Pilplup and the rest have asked me to give you a heads up, they're waiting for you in the woods, where they always do.

  “Thanks, Matt!” exclaimed Eevee. Let's go, Percy!”

  Percy was hesitant to go. He wanted to take care of his friend, but at the same time he wanted to introduce him to his gang.

  “-Go Row, go with them!” he told him. Then he turned to the other three. “I don't think I need to remind you all how careful you should be with him.” said Audino, reminding them of the great responsibility. “He should be laid to rest, but I can see that Row has rope for quite a while, so go and have fun!

  Percy and Eevee cheered up a lot, starting to laugh and run out of the cave, heading for the path down the mountain.

  “-Come on, I'll go with you.” said Matt to the Rowlet, and the Rowlet nodded. They said goodbye to the other three and left the cave at a slower pace.

  “Be careful!” Sapphire exclaimed, waving them off with her paw in the air.

  In that manner, both of them also left the cave, disappearing on the other side of it.

  “-And the egg?” asked Umbreon.

  “-Don't worry, I'll stay in charge. Maybe it won't have anything left for it to-”

  Suddenly, a resounding “crack” came from behind. The three of them turned around and ran to the straw sofa: the egg was quite cracked, moreover, it had started to move a bit on its own.