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Description

Happy Pride Month!

Deep and Core arrived together at the new ranch on the island of Paradise as yet another gift from Hisei to the older trainer. The moment Core spotted Royal and the others, he excitedly sprints toward them like an impatient, tail-wagging puppy, leaving Deep behind without any words. Can't blame him though, ever since Core was exiled by his father, he missed his pack dearly and glad to be reunited with his relatives once again.

Core skidded to stop when he's less than three feet away from crashing into his relatives. He and Royal exchange a brief nuzzle as they greet each other. Core also craned his neck in awe of Nero's mega form who teasingly boop his much, much smaller (also younger) uncle - almost accidentally squashed the light-weighted canine away in the process from the friendly boop alone.

Deep lightly chuckled at the sight, taking his time to approach the small family-branch of Prix's pack, to greet them himself. Bowing his head down to Nero in paying his respect toward the defacto leader of this small pack.

The old Samurott soon excuse himself however, giving Core time and space to spends a nostalgic family-time with his pack, without him. He padded away, deliberately taking his distance from the small pack with occasional glance back over his shoulder. When they all were out of his sight and earshot, Deep eventually flopped down to a rest under the shade of a tree. Stretched his limbs out and rest his head on the soft grassy ground as he breathed out a soft sigh.

The breeze was nice, gently sways his thick furs as they were pampering him for a nap - until flaps of wings could be heard from above. A male voice soon greeted the old Samurott.

"Feeling blue?"

Deep raised his head up to look at the owner of the voice - it was Elite, Royal's mate, roosting on one of the lower branches of the tree.

"No...?" Deep titled his head, wasn't sure why the Honchkrow asked him such question. "Why would I? This ranch seems like a nice place and there's no need to worry about territory rules and such."

"I didn't mean the ranch, oh wise, old one!" He snorted, waving his wing and chuckling mischievously, "Well, I was asking whether you're feeling jealous cause your young, beautiful mate forgot about you once he saw Nero and the others?"

Deep chocked on his own breath so hard from the statement casually thrown out by the large bird Pokemon just now. Realization quickly hit Elite from Deep's reaction alone. He squinted hard at the Samurott below.

"...Wait-- you two are not..."

"No!?? At least, as far as I am aware of...?" A clear hint of confusion in his voice.

"Huh... weird, heard from the trainer that you two were an item. You know, just like the head-guards back at home?" Elite continues with a shrug, "Otherwise, it would only be you alone who would be sent here - you, alone, without that boy."

Deep's jaw lightly dropped and cringed in disbelief, gaze turned to stare down at his paws. Sure he and Core were almost always together ever since Prix disowned the younger canine from the pack back in the previous ranch, but never in his life Deep had ever thought someone will assume them as mates, at least, not until now.

"Besides," Deep looked up at Elite once again. "I saw you keep looking back to him when you walked away earlier too."

"...I did?"

"You did."

With gaze returned to his own forepaws, the Samurott tried to retrace his memory from minutes ago... Did he? He couldn't remember nor sure of himself... Did he really unconsciously looking back at Core along the way from there to here?

Elite eyed the hesitating large Pokemon as the awkward silence fell between them. He merely came to him to tease the retired-leader, asking how it was like to be the knight in shining armor for the unwanted son of the infamous Prix; a well-known story told by Star himself whenever he had the chance back in the previous ranch. The Honchkrow could always laugh it off when Deep told him they were not mates - he was going to, in fact, to tell him he's merely teasing the old Pokemon; yet from the obvious hesitation shown, Elite was convinced Deep (and possibly Core, too) didn't realize their own feeling.

"My apologies for disturbing your resting time, I'd be going now." Elite opened his beak again as a soft sigh escaped him. Spreading his wings wide, he's ready to take off to the sky and return to his own mate, "Good luck..."

The Honchkrow took into the sky and Deep watches on as the large bird Pokemon gradually disappear into the horizon, didn't understand why Elite wished him a good luck.

His memory trailed back toward the time where he encountered Core for the first - high in pride, quick to judge, and challenge him to a fight without much warning - and lost miserably. Deep likes Core's never giving up attitude, of how he keeps coming back to challenge him despite all he did was adding more lost count after count to himself.

Deep also remembers how he stood for the younger male when Prix stormed at his son furiously for sneaking out without the leader's permission; an act which resulted in the younger Pokemon being exiled by his father. Core was lucky that he was in Deep's territory that night...

...Lucky? - a pause - Was he...?

If Prix had waited for Core to return instead, will the boy still be kicked out of the pack as well? What if he was disowned because Prix assumed Core sided with him? The more questions formed uncontrollably in his mind, the more doubtful he became and the more guilty he felt, assuming that Core would have still stayed with his father - possibly got yelled at for trespassing, but undoubtedly would have stayed within the pack.

Deep shook his head and rested it down, placing a paw over his head, trying to block off this own mind and possibly getting some sleep...

-

For the next few days, Deep found himself unable to turn his gaze away from Core, he wanted to call for him yet a part of him preventing him to do so. The guilt of believing Core being driven out by his father was his fault made the older Pokemon hesitate to greet him; nor want to be a bother for Core who was now happy with his family, his pack.

When Core realized his presence however (not that hard considering the size), Deep would always lie that he's simply passing by... He didn't expect himself to act like some love-struck, shy teenager. Hell, he was way too told to even fit into that category; yet suddenly not having the younger male by his side felt so empty for the older Pokemon. Deep has no choice but to keep distracting himself by doing other things or finding someone different to talk with. Anything, to keep his mind off this old, aching heart.

After a while, even Core himself realized the frequency of Deep's visit was getting lesser and further in between - today was one of those days where Deep didn't come to see him. Core sat on top of a small hill of the ranch overlooking the horizon. The canine's back slouched down once he spots the said Samurott in the far distance - talking with Saber the Dewott, a fellow ranch-mate. A soft growled escaped his throat as he watched on. He could straight up waltzed toward Deep, yet something was holding him back and he wasn't sure what it was.

"Hey!"

Core almost jumped out of his skins from the sudden female voice just now. It was none other than Royal, his niece, although he's being younger than her.

"Jealous much?" Asked the feline as she sat down by the canine's side.

"Wha-- NO!!" Core spat back at her.

"Yeah, right," Royal smirked back at Core with the trademark Spiritomb-grin. Her mate had told her about Deep's case as well and she couldn't help but snort at how similar their reactions regardless of this matter was.

"If you missed him, you should have just walk to him and say it to his face, you know?"

"I... I'm not!!" Core stuttered as Royal chuckled in amusement, "I- I don't miss him, no!"

The female Liepard eyed at him; as if she's going to buy that weak reason of an excuse. When Core realized that he's seeing less of the Deep the last couple days, the canine has become restless, pacing around in a circle waiting for the older Pokemon to show up, waiting for the Samurott to pass by, and when Deep didn't, Core's mood was sour for the remaining of the day.

"Tsuki?" Near whisper in her tone, Royal tapped her claw a few times to the ground. Her gaze to the ground as she waits. Core eyed her skeptically, wondering why she's calling for Tsuki - and not long after, a large Tyrantrum head poked out of the ground immediately in front of them - greeted them excitedly and almost scared the life out of Core.

"You sure are as jumpy as a feline despite being a canine," Royal teased at the younger male before returning her attention to Tsuki, waving her paw for him to lean closer. Tsuki did as told and Royal whispered something to his ear.

"Aww~ of course!!" Tsuki eagerly howled before diving back and disappear among the shadow.

"Wha- what did you tell him?"

"It's a secret!" She hummed, trotting away from the scene, leaving the dumbfounded Core alone.

The Houndoom glanced back toward where Deep was - Tsuki was now poking half of his body out between Deep and Saber; clearly saying something to the large Samurott whose face clearly blushes red despite the distance between them.

Deep turned toward where Core stands and the Houndoom's heart skip a beat. Tsuki happily waved at Core once before he disappears into the abyss among the shadows once again. Saber soon excuses himself and walked away, leaving Deep and Core together in the area.

Core watched as Deep walks closer and closer toward him. A part of him wished to get away as far as possible despite he doesn't understand why he wanted to do so, yet his pride prevented him from doing such - no son of Prix is going to turn tail and run.

"...Hey," Deep greeted him softly and Core merely shrugged back. An awkward silence quickly fell between them.

The Samurott exhaled a sigh. He studied the canine who's clearly avoiding eye contact with him. Deep stretched his paw out toward Core, gaining the Hounoom's gaze returning to him.

"I missed you," He said with a gentle smile, causing Core to take a step back with blushes hard face. Not going to stop the Samurott from getting his feeling across however. "The last couple days without you by my side has been nothing but a pain for me, I wished to be with you, I want to be with you, I-" a moment of pause from the larger Pokemon, "I think... I love you."

"You 'think'?" The Houndoom eyed at him sharply.

"I mean-" Deep stuttered a bit for being caught off-guard. He shook his head and took a deep breath, "I love you, Core, I can't live without you, and I mean it!" He continues, "Please stay by my side from now and ever!"

"W- well," Now its Core turn to get stuttered worse than Deep was. He stares at the large paw for a couple seconds before he placed his own on top of it, "s- sure, not that I hate you or anything..."

Deep's face lightened with joy and pulled the canine into a one-arm hug. Core's body stiffens from the sudden gesture but soon melt into the embrace as he shyly nuzzled into Deep's thick mane.

-

"So... What did you say to Tsuki back then?" Out of cuiousity, the large Honchkrow asked his Liepard mate by his side. The pair has been watching both Deep and Core from a small hill not too far away. They could see them clearly though couldn't hear what they were saying down there. "What did Tsuki said to that ol' Samurott?"

Royal simply snickers back at him as her split-tails flick in confident and she hummed to herself in satisfaction.

"It's a secret~"

Total: 2081 words

LVL log:
Core : lineart 1 lvl + color 2 lvls + shading 1 lvl + BG 1 lvl + story 10 lvl + pride month(fairy type) bonus 2 lvls = 17 lvls
Deep : lineart 1 lvl + color 2 lvls + shading 1 lvl + BG 1 lvl + story 10 lvl = 15 lvls
Elite : story 10 lvls
Royal : story 10 lvls + 1 CC
Tsuki : story 10 lvls

EXP share log:
> all Pokemon exception for Tsuki were already in their lvl of 100
> total leftover lvl: 17+15+(10x2) = 52 lvls
> gives 9 lvls to: Tsuki - reached lvl 100!
> 43 lvls left
> give 29 lvls to Nozomu
> 14 lvls left
> gives all 14 lvls to Pacific

eugh i suck at story like this XD;;;
I've actually finished the pic almost 2 weeks ago but stuck at the story for days
but I also really want to make them canon before this month ends so yeah >w>)b

Description

Happy Pride Month!

Deep and Core arrived together at the new ranch on the island of Paradise as yet another gift from Hisei to the older trainer. The moment Core spotted Royal and the others, he excitedly sprints toward them like an impatient, tail-wagging puppy, leaving Deep behind without any words. Can't blame him though, ever since Core was exiled by his father, he missed his pack dearly and glad to be reunited with his relatives once again.

Core skidded to stop when he's less than three feet away from crashing into his relatives. He and Royal exchange a brief nuzzle as they greet each other. Core also craned his neck in awe of Nero's mega form who teasingly boop his much, much smaller (also younger) uncle - almost accidentally squashed the light-weighted canine away in the process from the friendly boop alone.

Deep lightly chuckled at the sight, taking his time to approach the small family-branch of Prix's pack, to greet them himself. Bowing his head down to Nero in paying his respect toward the defacto leader of this small pack.

The old Samurott soon excuse himself however, giving Core time and space to spends a nostalgic family-time with his pack, without him. He padded away, deliberately taking his distance from the small pack with occasional glance back over his shoulder. When they all were out of his sight and earshot, Deep eventually flopped down to a rest under the shade of a tree. Stretched his limbs out and rest his head on the soft grassy ground as he breathed out a soft sigh.

The breeze was nice, gently sways his thick furs as they were pampering him for a nap - until flaps of wings could be heard from above. A male voice soon greeted the old Samurott.

"Feeling blue?"

Deep raised his head up to look at the owner of the voice - it was Elite, Royal's mate, roosting on one of the lower branches of the tree.

"No...?" Deep titled his head, wasn't sure why the Honchkrow asked him such question. "Why would I? This ranch seems like a nice place and there's no need to worry about territory rules and such."

"I didn't mean the ranch, oh wise, old one!" He snorted, waving his wing and chuckling mischievously, "Well, I was asking whether you're feeling jealous cause your young, beautiful mate forgot about you once he saw Nero and the others?"

Deep chocked on his own breath so hard from the statement casually thrown out by the large bird Pokemon just now. Realization quickly hit Elite from Deep's reaction alone. He squinted hard at the Samurott below.

"...Wait-- you two are not..."

"No!?? At least, as far as I am aware of...?" A clear hint of confusion in his voice.

"Huh... weird, heard from the trainer that you two were an item. You know, just like the head-guards back at home?" Elite continues with a shrug, "Otherwise, it would only be you alone who would be sent here - you, alone, without that boy."

Deep's jaw lightly dropped and cringed in disbelief, gaze turned to stare down at his paws. Sure he and Core were almost always together ever since Prix disowned the younger canine from the pack back in the previous ranch, but never in his life Deep had ever thought someone will assume them as mates, at least, not until now.

"Besides," Deep looked up at Elite once again. "I saw you keep looking back to him when you walked away earlier too."

"...I did?"

"You did."

With gaze returned to his own forepaws, the Samurott tried to retrace his memory from minutes ago... Did he? He couldn't remember nor sure of himself... Did he really unconsciously looking back at Core along the way from there to here?

Elite eyed the hesitating large Pokemon as the awkward silence fell between them. He merely came to him to tease the retired-leader, asking how it was like to be the knight in shining armor for the unwanted son of the infamous Prix; a well-known story told by Star himself whenever he had the chance back in the previous ranch. The Honchkrow could always laugh it off when Deep told him they were not mates - he was going to, in fact, to tell him he's merely teasing the old Pokemon; yet from the obvious hesitation shown, Elite was convinced Deep (and possibly Core, too) didn't realize their own feeling.

"My apologies for disturbing your resting time, I'd be going now." Elite opened his beak again as a soft sigh escaped him. Spreading his wings wide, he's ready to take off to the sky and return to his own mate, "Good luck..."

The Honchkrow took into the sky and Deep watches on as the large bird Pokemon gradually disappear into the horizon, didn't understand why Elite wished him a good luck.

His memory trailed back toward the time where he encountered Core for the first - high in pride, quick to judge, and challenge him to a fight without much warning - and lost miserably. Deep likes Core's never giving up attitude, of how he keeps coming back to challenge him despite all he did was adding more lost count after count to himself.

Deep also remembers how he stood for the younger male when Prix stormed at his son furiously for sneaking out without the leader's permission; an act which resulted in the younger Pokemon being exiled by his father. Core was lucky that he was in Deep's territory that night...

...Lucky? - a pause - Was he...?

If Prix had waited for Core to return instead, will the boy still be kicked out of the pack as well? What if he was disowned because Prix assumed Core sided with him? The more questions formed uncontrollably in his mind, the more doubtful he became and the more guilty he felt, assuming that Core would have still stayed with his father - possibly got yelled at for trespassing, but undoubtedly would have stayed within the pack.

Deep shook his head and rested it down, placing a paw over his head, trying to block off this own mind and possibly getting some sleep...

-

For the next few days, Deep found himself unable to turn his gaze away from Core, he wanted to call for him yet a part of him preventing him to do so. The guilt of believing Core being driven out by his father was his fault made the older Pokemon hesitate to greet him; nor want to be a bother for Core who was now happy with his family, his pack.

When Core realized his presence however (not that hard considering the size), Deep would always lie that he's simply passing by... He didn't expect himself to act like some love-struck, shy teenager. Hell, he was way too told to even fit into that category; yet suddenly not having the younger male by his side felt so empty for the older Pokemon. Deep has no choice but to keep distracting himself by doing other things or finding someone different to talk with. Anything, to keep his mind off this old, aching heart.

After a while, even Core himself realized the frequency of Deep's visit was getting lesser and further in between - today was one of those days where Deep didn't come to see him. Core sat on top of a small hill of the ranch overlooking the horizon. The canine's back slouched down once he spots the said Samurott in the far distance - talking with Saber the Dewott, a fellow ranch-mate. A soft growled escaped his throat as he watched on. He could straight up waltzed toward Deep, yet something was holding him back and he wasn't sure what it was.

"Hey!"

Core almost jumped out of his skins from the sudden female voice just now. It was none other than Royal, his niece, although he's being younger than her.

"Jealous much?" Asked the feline as she sat down by the canine's side.

"Wha-- NO!!" Core spat back at her.

"Yeah, right," Royal smirked back at Core with the trademark Spiritomb-grin. Her mate had told her about Deep's case as well and she couldn't help but snort at how similar their reactions regardless of this matter was.

"If you missed him, you should have just walk to him and say it to his face, you know?"

"I... I'm not!!" Core stuttered as Royal chuckled in amusement, "I- I don't miss him, no!"

The female Liepard eyed at him; as if she's going to buy that weak reason of an excuse. When Core realized that he's seeing less of the Deep the last couple days, the canine has become restless, pacing around in a circle waiting for the older Pokemon to show up, waiting for the Samurott to pass by, and when Deep didn't, Core's mood was sour for the remaining of the day.

"Tsuki?" Near whisper in her tone, Royal tapped her claw a few times to the ground. Her gaze to the ground as she waits. Core eyed her skeptically, wondering why she's calling for Tsuki - and not long after, a large Tyrantrum head poked out of the ground immediately in front of them - greeted them excitedly and almost scared the life out of Core.

"You sure are as jumpy as a feline despite being a canine," Royal teased at the younger male before returning her attention to Tsuki, waving her paw for him to lean closer. Tsuki did as told and Royal whispered something to his ear.

"Aww~ of course!!" Tsuki eagerly howled before diving back and disappear among the shadow.

"Wha- what did you tell him?"

"It's a secret!" She hummed, trotting away from the scene, leaving the dumbfounded Core alone.

The Houndoom glanced back toward where Deep was - Tsuki was now poking half of his body out between Deep and Saber; clearly saying something to the large Samurott whose face clearly blushes red despite the distance between them.

Deep turned toward where Core stands and the Houndoom's heart skip a beat. Tsuki happily waved at Core once before he disappears into the abyss among the shadows once again. Saber soon excuses himself and walked away, leaving Deep and Core together in the area.

Core watched as Deep walks closer and closer toward him. A part of him wished to get away as far as possible despite he doesn't understand why he wanted to do so, yet his pride prevented him from doing such - no son of Prix is going to turn tail and run.

"...Hey," Deep greeted him softly and Core merely shrugged back. An awkward silence quickly fell between them.

The Samurott exhaled a sigh. He studied the canine who's clearly avoiding eye contact with him. Deep stretched his paw out toward Core, gaining the Hounoom's gaze returning to him.

"I missed you," He said with a gentle smile, causing Core to take a step back with blushes hard face. Not going to stop the Samurott from getting his feeling across however. "The last couple days without you by my side has been nothing but a pain for me, I wished to be with you, I want to be with you, I-" a moment of pause from the larger Pokemon, "I think... I love you."

"You 'think'?" The Houndoom eyed at him sharply.

"I mean-" Deep stuttered a bit for being caught off-guard. He shook his head and took a deep breath, "I love you, Core, I can't live without you, and I mean it!" He continues, "Please stay by my side from now and ever!"

"W- well," Now its Core turn to get stuttered worse than Deep was. He stares at the large paw for a couple seconds before he placed his own on top of it, "s- sure, not that I hate you or anything..."

Deep's face lightened with joy and pulled the canine into a one-arm hug. Core's body stiffens from the sudden gesture but soon melt into the embrace as he shyly nuzzled into Deep's thick mane.

-

"So... What did you say to Tsuki back then?" Out of cuiousity, the large Honchkrow asked his Liepard mate by his side. The pair has been watching both Deep and Core from a small hill not too far away. They could see them clearly though couldn't hear what they were saying down there. "What did Tsuki said to that ol' Samurott?"

Royal simply snickers back at him as her split-tails flick in confident and she hummed to herself in satisfaction.

"It's a secret~"

Total: 2081 words

LVL log:
Core : lineart 1 lvl + color 2 lvls + shading 1 lvl + BG 1 lvl + story 10 lvl + pride month(fairy type) bonus 2 lvls = 17 lvls
Deep : lineart 1 lvl + color 2 lvls + shading 1 lvl + BG 1 lvl + story 10 lvl = 15 lvls
Elite : story 10 lvls
Royal : story 10 lvls + 1 CC
Tsuki : story 10 lvls

EXP share log:
> all Pokemon exception for Tsuki were already in their lvl of 100
> total leftover lvl: 17+15+(10x2) = 52 lvls
> gives 9 lvls to: Tsuki - reached lvl 100!
> 43 lvls left
> give 29 lvls to Nozomu
> 14 lvls left
> gives all 14 lvls to Pacific

eugh i suck at story like this XD;;;
I've actually finished the pic almost 2 weeks ago but stuck at the story for days
but I also really want to make them canon before this month ends so yeah >w>)b