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[THE BARE-BONES TRUTH]

Among the more unexpectedly enigmatic Pokémon in our world are Cubone and Marowak, commonly referred to as the Grave Pokémon due to their frequent presence around ghosts and graveyards. Despite being one of the earlier species given significant study, a great many rumors and myths still remain persistent in the human imagination. Three questions are more frequent than any other:

_-Do Marowaks really die on giving birth, and do their young really wear their skulls?

-Are the bones that Cubone and Marowak carry really bones?

-Is the Marowak’s skull really its head?_

These questions were answered a long time ago, but somehow that doesn’t seem to have reached common knowledge. But here we will clear up any and all confusion, and explain some important things about these special creatures! In fact, all of these questions are related in some way, tracing to the unusual observations about these Pokémon that needed an explanation.

_1) No, Marowaks do not die on giving birth.

It would literally be impossible for the species to survive if this were true. Well, ordinarily; intervention with Ditto throws a wrench in that. But there are still easy ways to test this question, and a good number of people have found out the natural way that their female Marowaks are alive and well after producing an egg - or maybe many! Not to mention all the female Cubones that breed as well. And given this fact, it naturally follows that that skull is NOT their mother’s skull. But then what is it?_

_2) Yes, the bones are really bones. Sort of.

No, we’re not hedging. It’s just a slightly more complex answer. The bones that comprise the skull helmets and carried bones of a Cubone or Marowak are comprised of a bone material that is similar to, yet distinct from, a typical bone. The constructive framework of the bone makes is significantly stronger than ordinary bone (which is already quite strong), and it has properties that allow it to cleave through earth very easily. These bones are tied to a particular Pokémon and they can be pulled to them by a thought, no matter how far away they are. These bones are alive and grow and repair themselves while in the possession of their owner; this repair is hastened if the bone is buried for several hours. In the case of an ‘adopted bone’ such as one taken off of a deceased Marowak by another, they can over time integrate their own bone material into it and give it the same properties as their own; this is why you might occasionally see a Marowak with two bones._

_3) No, Marowak’s skull is not its head.

Like its previous evolution, it is a helmet. However, it is a helmet that fits much better than the Cubone’s. And yes, it CAN be removed...but good luck doing so to a live one. You’ll need it, because you might not survive the attempt. In order to understand this, it’s necessary to dig into what makes Cubone and Marowak so unique, and the source of what spawned some of these myths in the first place._

While the origins of Cubone, as with many Pokémon, are a mystery, it is clear that they have a strong association with death. Cubones and Marowaks are drawn by nature to graves and graveyards, and to ghosts and Ghost-type Pokémon. In earlier times, Cubones were known as the Mourning Pokémon because many Cubones were seen crying at gravesites. Over time, this expanded into Cubones and Marowaks being protectors of graves, staving off grave robbers and desecrators. Eventually a belief arose that lone Cubones were mourning the loss of their mothers, and that the skull was actually that of their mother. Hence, the common legend we see today.

But while we know that that’s not true, it IS true that Cubones have a strong tendency to cry. And they also show other wild mood swings as well. For a Cubone, emotional instability is inherent in their nature - they can swing from one extreme to the next, and rarely seem to have any in-between. If their masks were to be taken away from them, this emotional instability would become even more pronounced - it’s clear that the mask is a sort of comfort to them, perhaps by providing a refuge away from a world that triggers such reactions.

When this emotional instability decreases, it is a definite sign that your Cubone is about to evolve. This unique evolutionary trigger is still unexplained, but the phenomenon is unquestionable - Cubones evolve into Marowaks when they learn emotional control. One could say also to an extreme, as Marowak is renowned for its stoicism - it is unwaveringly controlled except under the most heated of situations. In early times there were beliefs that it was dead, so inexpressive was it, and that what looked like a mask was actually its exposed skull. Since almost no one ever sees underneath the mask, that was a belief that was easy to perpetuate.

The truth is, much like Cubone, a Marowak’s mask is emblematic of its nature. Its fixture on its head is what helps it contain itself so completely. With the mask in place, Marowak’s true face and true self are bottled up, shown to no one and allowing no vulnerability. Extremely few creatures outside of a Marowak know how to remove the helmet, and such a thing should never be attempted on a live specimen. The act of attempting to remove a Marowak’s helmet can be interpreted as an attack on a Marowak’s very core identity, and is one of the few things that can inspire a murderous response. Reports of deaths are sparse but not non-existent.

In extremely rare instances, a Marowak may willingly reveal its true face to another. This should always be considered a momentous event, as there are only two situations where this will happen. The first is when a Marowak is in a state of anger so significant as to be imminently deadly - there have been wild stories long in the past of Marowaks removing their helmets right before routing entire armies, and while it is less common, some have reported it happening in the defense of a wounded trainer against a threat against their lives. The second is when a Marowak has such a deep bond of trust with an individual that it would be considered tantamount to a life bond; in this case, the reveal is a deep and pure expression of trust in the other, that the Marowak can show its true self without fear. How common this is is unknown, as almost invariably it is not revealed by the other half of that bond.

Hopefully now you understand a good bit more about the significance of the Marowak’s helmet, and how it and its predecessor form’s helmet inspired many myths and legends!

One caveat to the above: the story is distinctly different for the Alolan variant of Marowak. Inspired by the local tribal dances of their human counterparts, their form of development diverges from the standard evolution. While the key to evolution is still emotional control, in this case the control is EXPRESSIVE rather than internalized. The dances performed by an Alolan Marowak are powerful displays of emotion said to invoke that same response in almost anyone who watches. As a consequence, they are not nearly so stoic and are visibly much more animated than their typical counterparts. They also are far less rigid about their skull masks, and it has been said that many will remove the masks upon request for others to see what they look like underneath. The only time they absolutely will not do so is during a performance, as the mask is part of their expression and their dance would be incomplete without it. So if you just NEED to see what a Marowak looks like under the mask, a trip to Alola might be worth your while! (But then again, when wouldn’t it be?)

———

“Shit.” Howard could feel his gut churn as he read the online info page. It was at that moment that he realized just how badly he had fucked up.

“I told you, idiot!” That hissing smack came from Deuter, his Typhlosion. Howard’s first Pokémon, they’d long passed the point where they had to mince words around each other. “I told you to let it go! But no, you just had to sate your dumbass curiosity!”

Howard said nothing; he really couldn’t, the harshness was entirely deserved. Deuter was his first Pokémon, but as good a friend as he was, there was a stronger bond with someone else: his Marowak, Grimm. Another one who went back a long ways, together for seven years plus by this point. And some of the most intense battles of Howard’s life had been with Grimm as his sole supporter - not just challenges, this was life-or-death struggle. Going through that, it was impossible not to forge a fierce friendship; he admired Grimm’s steadfast demeanor, how he was never shaken by anything, and sometimes wished he was as strong as his Pokémon partner.

Though he’d retired from active traveling and formal training a couple years back, his team was still all by his side, and Grimm was as much a fixture in his life as ever. More and more, Howard had started to tease him about how he never took off the mask, and started to ask him to show him what was under it. It was half in jest, but half serious as he was genuinely curious, he’d never seen a Marowak’s actual face and really wanted to know what it looked like. Grimm rebuffed him every time, either playfully or more sternly depending on the way Howard brought it up...so Howard had decided to try to find out himself, trying to remove the mask when Grimm was asleep. He had in no way expected Grimm to wake up and proceed to go ballistic on him, castigating him with words that he’d NEVER used towards Howard before - it had taken Chorea, Howard’s Gardevoir, to intervene and keep it from getting messier. Howard felt awful about the reaction, but also horribly confused…

Now he wasn’t confused. And now it was really sinking in what he’d done. And worse, he couldn’t apologize for it - Grimm had left, without so much as a goodbye, all on his own. He hadn’t said whether he would be back or not, at the time Howard had thought he would cool off and come back and they could talk it out. Now, he wasn’t so sure he hadn’t just pushed Grimm away for good.

“What possessed you to even try that? Was ‘I don’t want to’ not good enough for you?”

“I...I didn’t know that it was really that big a deal. I thought he was just playing around with me!”

“You think that after two years of telling you no, that was just playing? Fuck’s sake, Howard, you’re smarter than that!” Deuter smacked his head with a paw. “Now look at what you’ve done! He might’ve bolted for good!”

“I know…” Howard felt awful, and it wouldn’t be any easier with the others - the team was so tight-knit, they’d all known each other for at least four years and every one of them was good friends with each other. The knowledge that he might have cost all of them a very good friend would no doubt make all of them quite pissed at him...he was lucky they were all out except for Deuter, but they’d be back soon enough and he didn’t know if he could face them. “I feel terrible...I should have known, I don’t know why I just couldn’t let it go. Now...fuck. I don’t know what to do…”

“I’d say go apologize, but I dunno how you’re going to do that. And I don’t know if it would even be enough.”

“It might not be. I...I don’t want to lose him...but...even if he doesn’t want to come back...I can’t let that be the last time we talk with each other, I can’t let that be the last memory. I have to at least apologize to him, tell him how sorry I am...and then...I guess he’ll make his own decision.”

“Yeah, well, you might not have a choice, seeing as how he up and left without telling anyone where he was going,” said Deuter gruffly.

Very true...but, Howard did remember something. “Maybe...but I might have an idea. You remember that place he was always talking about wanting to visit?”

“Huh? Oh, wait, you mean that Cavern of Tranquility place?”

“Yeah. Maybe that’s where he went...I mean, it’s a stretch, but what else is there to go off of?”

“...Well, it’s something. I’m not sure where it is, though.”

Howard nodded. “I know, but there has to be someone who does. I’m going to try it...it’s the only lead I have.”

Deuter shrugged. “Hey, if you can get him to come back, I’m all for it. It’s gonna take a while to round up the gang, though.”

“Don’t bother. I’m going alone.”

“What? Okay, hold on, are you trying to solve your stupid mistake by making another stupid mistake?”

“Sorry, Deuter, but I have to do it like that. I don’t want all of us going and then him thinking that we’re ganging up on him or something. And if he really is that angry...I can’t let you guys be in that line of fire for my fuck-up. I need to do this alone. If he comes back while I’m looking for him, you can have Chorea let me know…”

“Fucking hell. Fine, but if you die out there, I’m going to find a way to bring you back to life so I can kill you again.”

Howard managed a weak smile. “And then find a way to bring me back again so you can berate me for making you feel so awful?”

“You know it. And I doubt either Xerneas or Yveltal would be happy with me, so don’t get me on the bad side of two gods.”

“I’ll do my best...tell everyone I’m sorry about what happened, and I hope to see them again soon.”

———

This was not the type of adventure Howard had been wanting or hoping to make. He felt very alone, very vulnerable...but that was how it should have been. He had to be punished somehow, and even if Grimm forgave him, he needed to know what it was like to have pushed away the people he cared about. To make himself never take that friendship for granted ever again.

He didn’t know anything about the Cavern of Tranquility, only that Grimm had been fascinated by it. His asking around in the city didn’t yield much in the way of details - the rumors about it were that it was extremely hard to get into and that once you were deep enough inside there was a place that was so wondrous that it took away every worry and care that you had. It sounded like a place that someone who needed to get rid of a deep pain might want to go to anyway, so perhaps a double reason that Grimm would be interested. Better news was that the teleport service could take him to the general area where it was near, even though it was a bit pricy. Not remotely a concern for Howard now - no price was too much to try to save things with Grimm.

The sun was going in and out of the clouds as he trudged around the woods, trying to find the entrance to the cavern. He had nothing to go off of initially, but if he was near the location he had to be able to get a Pokémon to tell him where it was...provided he could find one that wouldn’t attack him. Many wouldn’t, but some weren’t fond of humans and took every chance they could get when a human didn’t have someone to protect them. Despite the validity of his position that he needed to do this alone, he was finding himself wishing that at least for this part he had someone with him, to keep the threats at bay…

He was lucky again, though, as he ran across a rather helpful Linoone. Mostly helpful, anyway.

“Yeah, it’s right over in that direction a couple miles. The hills sort of rise up around the area where it is...but, uh, you’re not actually thinking of going in there, are you?”

That wasn’t anything that Howard had heard about. “I...don’t really know. Should I be worried?”

“You’re not gonna get in, if that’s your intention. I can save you time right now by telling you that. There’s certain, well, requirements that you don’t fit.”

“Oh...well, uh, can I at least get close to it? I don’t have to go in...I’m looking for someone that might be going there, and all I really need is to be around when they get there.”

“Well, yeah, that should be fine. Just don’t be disappointed if you thought you were going to go all the way inside.”

It was a warning that left Howard quite confused overall - why wouldn’t he be able to get in? Was there some kind of magic about it? Was there a gatekeeper that kept certain kinds out? It seemed odd that the Linoone wouldn’t tell him, maybe it was supposed to be a big secret, and Howard was doing something wrong by seeking this place out...at this point, he wasn’t sure he trusted himself to do anything right. But he went forth anyway, going in the direction that the Linoone pointed him towards. It was probably a good hour before he got to the location, but it was made pretty obvious, there was a large bottleneck where the hills rose up around a particular point - it would definitely keep the cavern opening sheltered and protected, probably making it a good place for peace and quiet. The name was making ever more sense…

As he got deeper into the crevice, the shade from the trees made things darker and harder to see. Not night-time dark, but well-shadowed, forcing him to slow down and keep his eyes peeled for the entrance. For a while, he wondered if he’d taken a wrong turn, as he wasn’t seeing anything and the rock was rising up right in front of his face, telling him he was all the way in the back. And then, by chance, he spotted it...and instantly understood why the Linoone had told him he wasn’t going in.

The opening was maybe three and a half feet tall.

Howard’s face fell as the reality set in. It was possible that he could crawl inside for a bit, but that wasn’t going to be viable for long, he was certain, and there was no telling if he could get out. If something went wrong, he was going to be completely trapped - backing out would be next it impossible. If Grimm had really gone inside there, then all he could do was wait and hope he came back out...but what if he simply dug out? Or never left? There were all sorts of scenarios that he could imagine that would result in a total failure...his heart was heavy as he leaned against the rock, wondering what he was going to do now. He just wished he could go in there and make sure...

The answer came in a most unexpected way. “You look like you’re in need of something, traveler.”

Howard’s gaze turned towards the voice, and for a moment he was rendered utterly mute. Floating in front of him, not far away, was...Jirachi? He was stunned, legendaries didn’t often make random appearances and he was definitely not envisioning ever being one of the lucky ones. If it was here, though… “You’re...Jirachi, right? The legendary Pokémon of wishes?”

“Hee, you know your legends well. Shayat, at your service...I could hear your wish and have come to help you. You want into the Cavern of Tranquility, do you? I’m curious, what would a human have need for in there?”

“It’s...complicated...I need to find someone who I think is in there...I hurt him badly and I need to apologize to him and at least try to make peace with him. I don’t know if he’ll forgive me, but I need to at least try.” Howard wasn’t sure if he should be telling the whole story, certainly wasn’t sure he wanted to, but if he was probed further, he would…

But Shayat (he didn’t realize Jirachi had another name, perhaps that was how it referred to itself and Jirachi was a name humans had given it) seemed content with that. “How sad, to have such a bond break...I can get you in there for sure. Your wish is to be able to enter the Cavern of Tranquility...allow me to grant that!”

An aura surrounded Howard, before he could say anything more - he hadn’t even confirmed it, but Jirachi WAS supposed to be psychic. A strange tingling erupted through his body, he wasn’t sure what that was supposed to be...but it was when the dizziness started that he realized something was happening to him. He was staggering a bit, soon ended up falling down, and was suddenly aware that his clothing was unusually baggy. It hit him in a moment of sudden, unpleasant recognition, he was getting smaller! Why that was happening, he didn’t know, was this really what was supposed to grant his wish? He had to fight his way out of his clothing, which was harder than it looked as his diminishing frame seemed to be getting caught up in it a lot more than he wanted. The dizziness certainly wasn’t helping with that…

His head finally started to clear up and he was able to work his way out into the open again. His face flushed as he was aware of his nudity, none of his garments had shrunk with him...he was quite a bit smaller than before, probably less than half his original height, and he felt substantially more vulnerable now. But, he was well within the size of being able to enter the cavern… “Uh...thank you. I don’t suppose I could wish my clothes to match my size, could I?”

Shayat chuckled. “These are things to think of before the wish is granted. I must recharge, so I can offer you nothing more for now...but you can go in and fulfill your mission of great importance.”

“I guess you’re right...okay, thank you for that, at least.” Howard took a deep breath and turned towards the cavern entrance. It loomed over him now, more imposing than it had been...but now he could actually take it on. Hopefully it would be worth it…

———

It wasn’t long before Howard was starting to feel as if this had been a mistake.

He hadn’t anticipated the darkness...really, he should have, but he hadn’t. There were occasional glowing stones but more often than not he was stumbling around nearly blindly. And the floors weren’t very even, and his feet were not equipped to handle the rough surfaces very well...maybe if he had shoes it would have been easier, but that was out of the question. On top of that, it was pretty cool inside, and with no layers to keep heat in, he was alternating between merely uncomfortable and shivering cold.

Despite this, he pressed on. After all, he had gone through quite the change to get inside, turning back now would render that all worthless. And that certainly wouldn’t have been fun to tell to Shayat, he had heard that wasting a granted wish could offend Jirachi and you didn’t want an unhappy Psychic on your case, especially a godly one. Of course, there was no guarantee Grimm was even in here...but that was something he had no control over, and the wish hadn’t been to find Grimm, it had been to enter the cavern, so it wouldn’t really be seen as a waste if he couldn’t find his friend, right?

Howard hoped not. It was hard to know what legendaries were thinking sometimes.

It was a long and winding cavern, and it got slightly larger deeper inside. That didn’t help Howard much, as it didn’t get easier to see or navigate, but at least he wasn’t quite so constrained...even at his smaller size, some of the ceilings early on had been brushing against his head. He was very glad he hadn’t tried to enter at his regular size, it would have been fruitless and he definitely had a good shot of getting trapped. Though, he was starting to realize that it was entirely possible for him to get lost inside this mazy cave at this size, as well…

He was trying to keep his hand on the side of the cave, both for support and to keep himself from getting too lost. If he just followed the walls, he would have to get out eventually - it was something like the right hand rule, he was pretty sure. The fact that he could barely see most of the time, and couldn’t see at all part of it, made trying not to get lost even more important...emphasis on trying, as he had to take turns and forks to try to get deeper. He only kind of had an idea where he was going, figuring that down was probably progress, though he knew that that was purely a guess and not based on any experience or knowledge. But up probably led back to the forest, so down made the most sense to him.

Howard had been walking for what felt like an eternity, and was starting to feel a little bit weary. It made sense to take a break soon, once he reached a spot that would be good for it. He thought he could hear running water, if he did he could get a drink at the same time...but before he could reach that theoretical destination, all hell broke loose. A sudden screech was all the warning he had before he was assailed by a swarm of something that had to be Zubats. He cried out as he felt sharp fangs and strong wings scratching and smacking him - they didn’t seem to be attacking directly, just going nuts around him, but that was bad enough as he felt himself get battered around. Even after finally managing to duck down and cover himself a little, he could feel them swarming around, punishing his weary body and opening up some wounds. Terror gripped him as the cacophony rang in his ears...this seemed like it was the end for him, he couldn’t get those Zubats away from him and they were going to keep at it until he was a bloody lump on the cave floor…

A loud yell from nearby broke through the chorus of screeching, and suddenly the onslaught ceased as the sounds of battle rose briefly. Howard could soon hear the Zubats flapping away down the cave, some of them sounding pained, leaving him alone...hurting not insignificantly, but alive. He uncurled from his ball on the floor, wincing and trying to hold back tears as he felt blood trickle down some parts of him. But there was light, and in the light he could see a bony face looking towards him...and eyes going wide with shock as they registered just what was in front of them. “...Howard?!”

“Grimm…” Howard wanted to just rush him, hug him, beg for forgiveness and thank him endlessly for saving his life, but exhaustion rather put a damper on those plans. “You are here...Grimm, I’m so sorry about what I did…”

“Okay, we talk about that in a moment. First, those guys did a number on you...here.” The Marowak held out a Sitrus Berry. “Eat up...and then we’ll head towards the stream. That’s a better place to relax.”

Howard nodded, accepting the berry. Tears were definitely coming now, and it wasn’t due to the pain of the wounds from the Zubat. The fact that Grimm was willing to talk with him at all was enormous...maybe there was hope for them after all.

———

The stream was cold and refreshing, and Howard didn’t know how much he needed it until that point. Hours of walking without any water...he wasn’t even remotely prepared for this, and was smacking himself over and over mentally for being so foolish. Of course, even if he had thought ahead, his sudden change of status would have thrown a wrench in those plans anyway, but really he should have known better. Then again, that went for a lot of things lately, it seemed…

On the other hand, it was all worth it to see Grimm again. And to hear that the hard feelings had softened.

“You were?”

“Yeah. I was definitely angry...that’s not something I can take lightly, trying to remove my mask like that. I really needed to let off some steam, and I thought a trip would do me some good while I tried to sort out my feelings. But, well...honestly, it was partly my fault that you didn’t realize why it was such a big deal. I just should have told you about the whole thing behind it, rather than just brushing you off. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I sort of led you on...it wasn’t fair of me to lay it all on you. So, yeah, I was going to come back after I was done looking around in here...I mean, you know I’ve wanted to explore this place for a while. It was the kind of thing I had to do on my own, because...well, you know now that it’s not exactly made for humans.”

Howard nodded. “Yeah...definitely not. I’m glad to hear that...I really feel terrible, I should have known better. I don’t know why I didn’t think to research it before pulling a stunt like that…”

Grimm shook his head. “It’s not fair for us to expect you to know everything about Pokémon. Thousands of species with their own unique aspects and lores, at some point we need to be the ones to clear things up. Still, I’m glad you understand why I was so upset...it means a lot to me. And it means a lot that you were so desperate to try to make it up to me...though, this isn’t the length I would have recommended you go to. What did you do to get so small?”

It was definitely a change...Grimm was significantly taller than Howard in his current state, and they both weren’t used to having to look the opposite direction from normal when talking to each other. There was something weird about seeing Grimm so large for Howard, getting a much different perspective on that rugged body that carried such strength in it...he was certain that he himself was weaker after the size drop, and he was starting to appreciate even more the power that some smaller mons had.

“It wasn’t really anything I had planned...I had just gotten here and was wishing I could go in, and...well, my wish was granted.”

“Granted? Wait, do you mean by Jirachi?”

Howard nodded. “Yeah. Or Shayat, I guess he called himself. He granted my wish to make me small so I could come in and look for you. Though, I kind of wish he had shrunk my clothes, too, but I guess...uh…” He trailed off as he saw the look of great concern in Grimm’s eyes. “Is something wrong?”

“You said...he called himself Shayat? Not Jirachi?”

“Yeah...I mean, maybe that’s a different language or something, I don’t know-”

“It’s not. Jirachi is Jirachi. Jirachi’s avatars are SUPPOSED to be Jirachi.” The Marowak sighed and sat down. “Howard...that was a rogue legendary.”

“Rogue legendary? What?”

“You know how legendaries are beings of a higher power who just have avatars on our world, right?” Howard nodded; that was common understanding for most anyone in the world, it was why you could see some trainers with legendaries on their teams - their avatars were lending them power for a certain purpose. “Well, those avatars are supposed to fulfill the purpose of the legendaries, and they’re supposed to act in accordance with their essence. But because they’re autonomous beings, they still get their own personalities and such...and some of them aren’t as nice and friendly as you would hope with the power they wield. Rogue legendaries have their own agendas...sometimes they have master plans they’re trying to accomplish, others just like to dick with people, especially humans. You can’t always tell if the one you meet is rogue...but a surefire sign is if they give you a name that ISN’T their god’s name. Not all rogues will take their own names, but any legendary that does IS rogue.”

“So that Shayat...he’s rogue? He doesn’t follow his rules?”

“He doesn’t follow any he doesn’t have to. And that makes me very worried, because I’m worried that he doesn’t have any intention of undoing this.”

Howard’s eyes widened. He hadn’t even thought about the return - his mind was so fixated on trying to find Grimm that he hadn’t really given much else thought. But now that Grimm was here, he had more than enough mental space to think about that alarming prospect. “Is there...anything we can do?”

“I’m not sure. We’d have to look into it. Technically, he granted your wish, and there’s no rule that he has to undo it or grant another wish you make...we can’t get him by just the raw rules. But there might be other ways of getting him to cooperate. I just, well, don’t know what they are. Maybe the others might have some ideas...I guess we’ll have to try to get out and get back to them…”

“H-hang on,” Howard protested. “You don’t want to go see the Cavern of Tranquility?”

“Huh? Well, I mean, I do...but this is serious.”

“Yeah, it is. But it’s not gonna be undone right away anyway, right? And we’re all the way this far in...I don’t want to get in the way of you finally getting to see the place you’ve always wanted to see with your own two eyes. And...well, honestly, I’m kind of curious, too, and it’s not like I’m ever going to be able to do this again if we do get me back to normal…”

Grimm contemplated this. “Are you sure about this? I mean, you did just get beaten up by a flock of Zubats…”

Howard smiled weakly. “That berry helped a lot, I’m not bleeding anymore at least. I should be okay as long as I’m not doing any fighting.”

“You’re not made for it anyway. Okay...I guess you’re right, it’s not like a few hours will make much difference. Let’s go do it.”

———

The cave was no different for Howard, it was still dark and cold and rough on his feet. But everything had changed now that Grimm was there with him, walking alongside him. No longer was he so stressed out, the prospect of an irreversible wish was hanging over him but that wasn’t having nearly the effect of his fears of losing Grimm from before.

And the Marowak was definitely a big help. He had a glowing stone light with him that ensured that Howard could see at least a little, enough to actually be able to tell where walls and pitfalls were. He had food and water and restoratives in his satchel. He had that strength that helped keep Howard upright and help him over some tough spots. And best of all, he had the innate sense of the earth that ensured that they’d be able to get out any time they had to. Saving Howard from a lot of his foolishnesses...he would have to think of a way to thank him that would be adequate. And also be an adequate apology at the same time…

The trek didn’t get much easier deeper in. They ran into another colony of Zubats deeper inside that left Grimm a bit more roughed up, though he was fine once he took a berry. Thankfully Howard was able to avoid the chaos that time, though he wished there was something he could do to help. The terrain also got a lot rougher, slowing Howard down as he tried to avoid cutting up his feet on them, and the chill in the air was making him shiver more. He’d been through his share of less-than-hospitable environments as a trainer, but never with this level of adversity, and he was starting to think that the shrinking had had more effect than just making him small, it had also made him more sensitive and less hardy.

Yet, it was all worth it to reach the destination.

The glow of light up ahead of them heralded their arrival, and they made for the beacon like their lives depended on it. And as they entered, awe overtook them. The inner sanctum, the true Cavern of Tranquility, was breathtakingly gorgeous. Glowing stone, different from the one Grimm was using, curled in spires from the grown and hung like stalactites from the ceiling, with several larger ones coiling towards a grand sphere hovering high in the air above the center of the chamber, emitting a powerful yet comforting glow. The air was far from the chill of the passages they had traveled, instead being a perfect warmth that soothed their weary bodies. A fresh spring bubbled and fountained under the great glowing stone, streaming off in three directions with cool, clear water. There was even plant life, grasses and small berry bushes with luscious-looking fruits in bountiful quantities by the streams and the spring. And there was an overall air of just pure calmness that sapped away all the stresses and anxieties they had endured up to this point.

“It’s...unbelievable…” Howard whispered in awe as he gazed around, his eyes feeling so much relief from the strain of trying to see through the dim light and the darkness. “I never knew a place like this could exist…”

“The stories never could have given the impression that being here does,” agreed Grimm, who sounded just as much in wonder - a rare thing for Howard to hear on his voice. “It’s a miraculous place...just being here feels so good. I feel like I could lay down here and just stay for an age and a half, and it wouldn’t even matter.”

“It’s just so relaxing...I know what you mean, if I closed my eyes days could pass before I opened them again. I wonder if anyone’s ever gotten so drawn in that they forget about the outside world?”

“I don’t see anything that would suggest that. And I don’t think it has that kind of effect, really...I don’t feel like I’m forgetting about anything, or anything like that. Let’s go check out the spring, I’ve heard that it’s supposed to be fantastic for the body.”

Howard nodded. “My body could probably use it.” He followed the Marowak to the water, and they slid into the central pool. Immediately they felt the aches of traveling get lifted from their muscles. It was surprising how warm the water felt when they were soaking in it, like a hot spring that was at the absolute perfect temperature. Yet, when Howard experimentally tried to drink a bit of the water, what he tasted was cool and refreshing. This was definitely no ordinary water, which was fitting for what was clearly no ordinary location.

After the rejuvenating soak, they tried out some of the different berries in the bushes. It came as no surprise that they were tasty, but they found that almost as soon as they ate some, they could see new berries pop up in their place. And there was a very satisfying variety of flavors, even ones that tasted different to each of them depending on their likes. After eating them, they felt extremely satisfied and pleasantly full, and spend some time napping on the more grassy patches near the spring. Even that felt different, more restful and with totally pleasant and tranquil dreams.

“This place is incredible...it’s hard to believe that people wouldn’t get addicted to this,” said Howard as they stretched after their nap, getting back up and getting themselves ready to leave. “But I guess I know why...you feel it too, right?”

Grimm nodded. “Yeah...it’s like all the things in the world I want to do are calling to me. I guess maybe there’s a built-in protective thing in here, so that it keeps people from just totally losing themselves and just wasting away. It’s a really nice place to visit, but it reminds me of home, too, and there’s something telling me I want to go back there.”

“Same. I guess we do have stuff to do...at least, I guess I have a lot of obligations, you’re more of a ‘putter around’ type, but there are things you enjoy doing that you can’t do here.”

The Marowak snickered. “That sounded an awful lot like ‘you don’t do anything.’”

“I didn’t mean it like that! Just, you know, what you do has a different, uh...level of demand from above.”

“True, and I thank the legendaries for that. But I think first order of business is finding this Shayat fellow and getting this whole situation addressed.”

“Well, why would you need to go hunting? I can come when asked, you know.” Without warning, the Jirachi appeared, popping into the cavern like it was nothing. “Especially to a nice place like this...it’s a nice refuge from annoying interlopers.”

Immediately Grimm’s eyes hardened. “You took advantage of my friend.”

“Nonsense,” replied Shayat in a tone of such obviously false indignation as to precisely confirm that it was NOT nonsense. “I merely granted his wish. He was so eager to have a reunion with you, and it seems like he got what he sought, so isn’t that all very nice? You even got to live out one of YOUR fantasies...I’d say everyone won on this one, wouldn’t you?”

“Be that as it may, you put him in a position where he was in serious danger. You knew he wasn’t capable of handling this place on his own, and even if he had decided not to risk it, he would have been no better suited to travel the forest. He could have died because of you.”

“Ah. Well, he didn’t, so no harm, no foul.”

Grimm growled, and Howard tried to jump in and defuse things a bit. “Please, Shayat, I’m very thankful for your help, but I have things to get back to as well...I don’t know that I’d be able to do them at this size.”

Shayat just laughed at that. “Well, I suppose you should have thought of that beforehand, shouldn’t you? I only grant wishes, I can’t be held responsible for their consequences...lots of people wish for things they regret later, but those are the life lessons they have to learn. Careless wishes get people in trouble, whether I’m the one who grants them or not.”

“I...well, I wasn’t wishing for this to be a permanent thing. Just to be able to go in and find Grimm, if he was in here...and I guess I really shouldn’t have even done that, even if he did turn out to be in here. I never imagined that this would be the way that would happen…”

“Seems to me that there aren’t a lot of other options, mm?” Shayat stuck its tongue out at him. “Hm, but perhaps I’m feeling generous, so I’ll give you a one time offer for a reversal, right here and now. Take it or leave it.”

“W-wait. R-right here?”

“Of course! I have other things to do with my life, I can’t just be at your beck and call. So if you want to be back to normal size, now’s your chance…”

“You know he can’t take that!” snarled Grimm. “He’d be far too big to ever get out of here! He’d be trapped in here for good!”

“Oh, too bad. Guess he can’t take me up on it. Well, I made the offer, didn’t I? It’s his choice to accept or refuse, and that’s my duty done. Unless he wants to make that sacrifice…”

Howard deflated. It was unfair, yes, patently unfair, but what could he do? It was a rogue avatar of a god, he couldn’t demand anything of it, and if it wanted to make up its own rules he had no power to deny it. “I can’t do it...I have to get back to my life, it would be terrible to be stuck in here, even if it is a wonderful place.”

“Ah, well, you snooze, you lose. I’m outta here, then…” With a wink, the Jirachi disappeared again...but the moment it snapped out of existence, something fell and clinked down on the ground. And before either of them could react, they could FEEL an intense series of expletives in their minds - it wasn’t quite like hearing them, the words weren’t there but the sentiments were, and so powerfully it was like they were screamed repeatedly in the most profane rant either of them could imagine.

“I guess it could have used a bit more time in here,” remarked Howard a bit shakily. “What on earth set it off like that?”

“Wait...I think…” Grimm stepped over to the object that had fallen, and picked it up, and his eyes went wide with excitement. “It is! It’s a Wish Stone!”

Howard definitely took notice of that - Wish Stones were objects created by Jirachi that could grant wishes with its power. Most stones could only grant one wish and disappeared, but there were allegedly a few that existed that could be ‘recharged’ over time and be used over and over again...that seemed like it was ripe for abuse to Howard, and he wasn’t even sure it was true. But the ones that could grant one wish were, and Grimm was sure this was one...and he was pretty sure as well, otherwise Shayat wouldn’t have been so pissed. “With this, I’ll be able to get back to normal after we’re out of this cave!”

“Yes! Heh, that jerk thought he was being all clever...Jirachis HAVE to drop these sometimes, it may be rogue but it can’t get around its nature. I think we’re set, then...let’s get back on our way out of here and get you back to the way you should be!”

“Yeah, that sounds like a great plan. I’m gonna miss this place, but it’ll make for a good memory.” This place really had restored his tranquility, in ways he never would have anticipated. Things were definitely looking up.

———

The trek out was a little bit less hazardous than the one in, with Grimm leading the way and lighting the path. Howard’s eyes needed to adjust again as their way was revealed only by one glowing stone, but it was far better than nothing. Thanks to all the resting in the Cavern of Tranquility, he was in better shape than even when he first entered the caves, and Grimm seemed to be in the same boat - they were making the trip out faster than the way in, even after they had run into each other.

The path Grimm was taking was unfamiliar to Howard, at least after a certain point. He hadn’t really realized just how twisty and turny this place was, he’d been lucky just going the way he did...but he got the sense that Grimm’s path was as much about where he DIDN’T want to go as where he did. The Marowak was wary of something, it was pretty clear - perhaps he was trying to avoid those colonies of Zubats that had been trouble for them on the way in. Which was fine by Howard, he didn’t want to risk losing his Wish Stone in that kind of chaos. Grimm wouldn’t get lost, so he would follow wherever he wanted to go, and trust in his sense of direction and good judgment.

Neither of them was ready for the screech that suddenly rang through the cave, making them both cry out in agony and clutch their heads. And that was when the nightmare struck.

Grimm had dropped his bone to clap his hands over his helmet to try to dull the sound, so he was unarmed when the Golbat slammed into his back. Fangs sunk into him, latching on and starting to feed on him. He tried to thrash around and get it off, but a Crobat flew in and tried to pin him down, keeping him from getting his bone or throwing either one off of him. Even in the chaos, Grimm knew what it was - revenge, swift and brutal. He had met them on the way in, he had told Howard about it as they were heading towards the Cavern of Tranquility - the two had proven to be bullies, trying to cause trouble for him as he was attempting to pass through their area without disturbing them. Although he had apologized for the disruption, they weren’t satisfied and had tried to prove themselves better than him...his bone had sent them packing that time. Not so much now…

The Crobat latched on and joined in the draining, as Grimm’s movements became weaker and more listless. It wasn’t a feeding so much as intent to kill him, and it was working...he wasn’t a large creature, it didn’t take a lot of draining to leave him dry, and the Golbat alone had been on him for too long. His movements stilled as shock set in, but the two bats refused to relent, reveling in the glory of their victory.

It was a short-lived revelry - without warning the bone smashed into the Golbat, sending it flying into the cave wall. The Crobat had just enough time to disengage before Howard swung again, bashing it in the face and tossing it several yards away. The heavy bone was quite the weight for him, but fueled by panic and adrenaline, it felt almost weightless for the moment...he raised it again, but the two bats, their fangs broken, weren’t about to stick around and take more abuse. They fluttered off haphazardly, their wingbeats echoing deeper into the cave.

Howard didn’t care, he had more important things to worry about. He had been deafened and shocked by the screech, and now it was looking like he’d come around too late. He was trying to shake Grimm, trying to get a response, but there was a glassy look in the Marowak’s eyes and he wasn’t moving. The puncture wounds on his body were barely oozing any blood at all, and his entire body looked dull and cold. Even if he wasn’t dead, he’d lost so much blood, and they were too far away from any emergency clinic...no berry was going to undo this, this wasn’t a typical Pokémon wound or drain. His eyes were welling up with tears...it couldn’t end like this, he couldn’t lose Grimm this way, not after they’d just been in that dream place, not when they’d just reconciled…

He scrambled back to where he’d fallen. Frantically searching around, he found the Wish Stone that he’d lost a hold of in his rush to try to get the bats off of Grimm. He could feel an unnatural warmth to it...there was a power there, one he’d planned to use to restore himself. Any thought of that, though, was cast aside - there was only one wish that mattered to him now. He hurried over to Grimm, praying with all his heart. Please make him okay, please make him alive and well, I don’t care about anything more than that, just please, please grant this wish…

A glow enveloped the two of them as Howard made his silent entreaty. As the stone disintegrated in Howard’s hands, the wounds closed up on Grimm’s body and the color returned to his form. Focus slowly returned to the Marowak’s eyes as the glow faded, leaving only the light from the stone to illuminate his revived form. He had scarcely shaken off the cobwebs before he was clung to by a sobbing Howard...what happened would take a bit of time to sink in for the both of them.

———

A campfire in the middle of the forest. It had been a long while since Howard had needed one of those. The mood now was decidedly more somber than it had been back then.

They had mostly been silent on their way back out into the open, both of them feeling the weight of what had happened. Of course Grimm had vowed that he would find a way to get Howard back to normal even without the Wish Stone, but at the moment Howard cared more that Grimm was alive...he doubted that the reality of his own fate would sink in for a while. The brush with death, though, had left them both quite shaken, and neither one was much in the mood for anything other than getting out of that place - thankfully with no more interruptions from anyone.

It was the middle of the night when they emerged, and there was no question they weren’t getting far after all that. So they only got out far enough to keep away from the mouth of the cave before settling down. Now they were sitting together, coming to terms with everything that had happened.

“How’re you holding up?” asked Grimm.

“A bit better…” It was the cold that was bothering Howard, the fire and his close proximity to Grimm was helping somewhat but it hadn’t been fun coming out of the cave to air that was barely any warmer than inside it. He had hoped that he could find some of his clothes to at least wrap around him - something he probably should have done in the first place - but they were gone when they emerged from the underground. Most likely claimed by some Pokémon who had no idea that they belonged to anyone still around. The warmth of the fire was staving off the shivers he had before, at least, and Grimm had his arms wrapped around him, almost encircling Howard to shield him from the air. “I hope this doesn’t bother you too much...I know you’re not a fan of the cold, either.”

“I’m good with this kind of cool. It’s just the really cold that bothers me, like ice and snow. Underground it can get pretty chilly, until it gets way the other way.”

“Well, now I know personally. You’re not hurting or anything, are you?”

“No, I feel fine. A lot better than I was before I went out, for sure...I’m sorry, Howard.”

“It’s fine...I told you already, I wouldn’t have even thought of not doing what I did. I’m just glad you’re okay...whatever happens next, we’ll just have to figure it out from there, but I wouldn’t ever want to be figuring it out alone.”

“I...thank you.” That weight in Grimm’s voice clearly suggested he wished he could think of more to say and that he couldn’t. He slid a little closer to the fire, scooting Howard up a touch as well...the human sighed and pressed back into the Pokémon, letting himself relax against that broad, tough body. It was all still a whirl, but he knew a couple things - he was glad to be out of that cave, and glad to be with Grimm. Those things relieved him enough that he could leave thoughts of his size off for later...the others would definitely be harping on that for a while, so he was glad to let it go for the moment.

“Do you think Chorea can do anything about this? I know Psychics are known to be able to play with stuff like that…”

“I don’t know. There’s a certain power in what legendaries do that makes it harder to undo than when a normal Pokémon futzes with you. Especially Jirachi, I don’t even know what power lies behind wishes but I hear that a lot of them just can’t be undone except by that same...power, for lack of a better word.”

“Huh...there’s a lot I don’t know about all this stuff, isn’t there?”

“There’s a lot I don’t know, either. And I wish I knew more. Times I envy Chorea, her brain just sucks in info and can spit it back out on command…”

Howard gave a very quiet laugh. “I know how you feel. But you have something she doesn’t...that nice rugged brawn.” He rubbed himself up against Grimm more, enjoying the slight scratch of his sandpapery hide - it was smoother than one might have thought, bringing a pleasant heat and relaxation to him. “Never thought we’d be sitting with you in the big seat...reminds me of all the times you were sitting on my lap by the fire…”

“Ah...er, Howard…” Grimm’s voice was strained, and Howard was confused...until an odd scent hit his nose, the scent of fresh soil mixed with something oily and heavy. It took a moment, but he recognized it...you didn’t spend years with a Pokémon and never get exposed to the scent of their arousal. Usually nothing more than an awkward thing to joke and tease about, but Howard was realizing it was probably because of him rubbing up against Grimm...he might have been teasing the Marowak’s slit without noticing, and of course Grimm would try to tough it out until he couldn’t anymore.

He wasn’t really sure what possessed him to keep going, knowing that it was turning Grimm on. Or maybe it was precisely that knowledge that did it, because all of a sudden, he knew what it was that had been niggling at his mind this entire time. Why his gaze had been so drawn to Grimm’s form, why his mind strayed to thinking about his body...Grimm was sexy, and Howard wanted him in that way. And though he hadn’t said anything, there was no way his movements now could be interpreted as anything but a raw, physical demonstration of that desire.

Grimm didn’t waste breath trying to talk him out of it, either, after that first hint. From the moans he was giving off, quiet and restrained though they were, it was clear he wasn’t minding this turn of events either. And it didn’t take long for more evidence to pop up, or rather out, as the Marowak’s member began to push out of his slit and press against Howard’s back, its own rough surface mollified somewhat by the grainy fluid coating it, which smeared onto the human’s back, warm and sticky.

Eventually, Howard pulled away from Grimm, giving him a bit of a moan of disappointment as that wonderful contact was removed. But it wasn’t meant to be a long absence, as he brought his hand to replace that contact and improve on it...he wanted to see what it was that the Marowak was packing as well as feel it. And he was definitely not disappointed - Grimm’s cock was impressive in every way. From the blunt star-shaped end to the sandpapery surface to the sheer size of it relative to Howard’s own, it was delightfully exotic and immensely appealing...and this wasn’t even the first time he’d seen it - again, years of shared experience - but somehow it felt like it was, for all that he was suddenly very interested in it.

The scent of Grimm was a lot stronger now that it was initially, Howard’s nose was almost flooded with the temperate musk that was making him feel a bit dizzy. It smelled so good, in a way that he couldn’t precisely define, not in the same way as stiffing a flower but in a way that spoke to a more primal part of him. He was curious if it would taste as good as it smelled...but as he leaned in, Grimm’s hand stopped him. “Ah...let’s...not, this time...okay?”

“Uh?”

Grimm looked away a bit, clearly embarrassed. “I, uh...I need to...NOT have any mouths on me for a little bit…”

Oh. Howard’s face flushed; maybe Grimm had no physical wounds remaining, but he still needed to recover from that memory. “That’s fine...you don’t mind the other end though, do you?”

“Heh...I think I’ll be fine with that.”

Nodding, Howard pulled away again, this time to lay on his back and spread his legs. He wasn’t a virgin, not even with Pokémon - in fact he’d lost his virginity to a surprise turnabout by a Zoroark - but it had been a long time since his last sexual experience, and Grimm was definitely going to be the largest in relative terms that he’d taken. Fortunately, that only seemed to be an asset when it came to Pokémon, so he was able to tamp down the nerves that the massive member naturally incited. “Please, Grimm...I need you…”

Grimm looked like he needed it just as much, but he was as restrained as ever as he took his place over Howard, his arms wrapping underneath the human’s body as he got his cock into position. A deep moan rang from him as he pressed into Howard, eliciting a crescendoing cry from him as he felt his ass part for that thick tool and stretch him deliciously wide. He clung to Grimm as the Marowak dug into him, slow but unrelenting, that thickness spearing deeper inside until he felt Grimm’s body meet his. Already there was a sensational heat within him from the friction of that rough surface scratching against every bit of his sensitive innards...and Howard couldn’t wait to feel more.

As Grimm slowly pulled himself out, Howard could feel more of that sharp rubbing - the Marowak’s dick felt rougher in that direction than on the way in. But to him it was just incredible and pleasurable, sending shivers down his spine and making him shudder in those strong arms. His voice called out his ecstasy, ringing into the air as a beautiful complement to Grimm’s groans and grunts, and his back arched as he pushed himself into the Marowak’s thrusts. His own cock was fully hard and leaking, further stimulated by Grimm’s hot hide rubbing against it.

Slowly the pace built, Grimm holding Howard tighter as he began to buck in faster. His leaky fluids were smearing all over the human’s insides, adding an extra grittiness to each thrust that sent the heat soaring higher inside him and emboldening the pleasure. And whenever Howard clenched, it got even more potent, making him gasp and plead wordlessly for more. As he twisted a bit in the Marowak’s grip, Grimm found his prostate almost by accident, and then started working it over much more deliberately as he felt Howard’s ass spasm around him in bliss.

Soon the Pokémon was really giving it to Howard, slamming in with intense force and pushing him towards a mighty climax. No matter what Howard tried to do to hold himself back, he could only ride out the ride, at the mercy of the powerful pounding that was unlike any he’d ever felt before. Before he was ready, he let out a silent scream as he hit the pinnacle, spraying his seed onto Grimm and himself in a messy deluge that got caught up between them, spread over his skin and Grimm’s hide by their close-contact thrusting. He clutched to that dick like it was sustaining him, tightening down over and over as he was flooded with ecstasy.

Moments later, he was flooded with something much more tangible. Grimm let out a mild bellow as his own orgasm hit, and he pumped out round after round of thick, grainy cum, which spurted all throughout Howard and clung to him in sticky clumps that felt like they were massing together inside him. The pleasure high was receding from him, but Howard was feeling some renewal from the sensations of fullness that made him moan and pant in need and want. He twisted a bit on that wonderful tool, trying to draw as much out of it as possible...even though he was feeling so well-filled already, nothing seemed like too much for him.

Finally, it all came to an end, at least for the night. Grimm’s flow ceased, but he didn’t part from Howard...the two laid there for a bit, panting hard and chests heaving into each other as they tried to catch their breaths. The passion had abated, but the desire for closeness hadn’t...somehow Grimm managed to get Howard turned around on him, and held him close with arms wrapped around him, cock still embedded in the human’s backside as they laid on their sides by the fire, letting sleep claim them and bring the bliss to a tranquil end.

———

When Howard woke up the next morning, the sun was shining overhead, warming him despite a slight nip in the air. He still felt the sensation of slight fullness and grittiness from Grimm’s fluids in and around his ass, though they were noticeably not accompanied by Marowak at the moment. He rose slowly, looking around, but it didn’t to long to find Grimm - he was a short way through the trees, looking out down the hill at the view of the forest.

Curious, he made his way over to the Marowak, setting down next to him. “Grimm? Is something wrong?”

“Not really.” The Marowak sighed and let out a wry chuckle. “Was just kicking myself a bit...woke up this morning and I had my arms wrapped around you, half-on still being massaged by your rear, and caught myself wishing that that would never end.”

“Ah...it’s okay.” Howard leaned against Grimm, rubbing his body a bit. “I kinda felt similarly...I guess it’s not all bad being stuck at this size, however long that is.”

“It was more the whole ‘wishing’ thing. If there’s anything I want to be done with for a good long while, it’s that.” Grimm shook his head. “What annoys me most is that that bastard of a Jirachi was right about one thing...trying to fulfill your wishes can get you in trouble. Figured it wouldn’t be any harm trying to make one dream come true by going to the Cavern of Tranquility...awe-inspiring as that place was, with all that happened around it, I don’t think it was worth it.”

“That’s not your fault, though. It didn’t have to be like that...it was my fault, my own stupid wish to see what you looked like without your helmet on. I should have left well enough alone...that started all this. If I hadn’t started all that off, neither of us would be where we were…”

Grimm went quiet for a bit after that. Howard was worried that he might have upset the Marowak by bringing that up again...but instead, Grimm seemed to be getting more relaxed. He stood up, turned, and then knelt in front of Howard, who looked on curiously.

When his hands went to his helmet, the human’s breath caught in his throat. Was he…?

He watched in awe as Grimm worked the jawbone of the helmet off carefully, detaching it and setting it on the ground nearby. Slowly, with slightly shaky hands, he took hold of the front of the helmet over his snout and raised it slowly, arcing it back from his skull. As the helmet was dropped to the ground, Howard was presented with the sight of what he’d been so curious about for so long. An earthen color like the rest of his hide, the Marowak’s head looked almost draconian, a narrower snout reaching almost a point at his nose, curving into a reptilian head complete with short, pointed horns. It was amazing how similar it looked in shape to the skull, like that bony plate was molded to perfection to fit him...and Howard’s first thought, after getting over the shock, was just how handsome he looked.

He leaned forward, reaching out a hand to stroke Grimm’s face, making him flush a bit as the human’s hand made contact...he’d never had the chance to see Grimm blush before, the mask hid all that. And while Grimm had done a rather decent job looking expressive with that helmet on, his real face was so much more so...Howard could see all the emotion written on his features, his apprehension at such a momentous act, his fear of judgment, his embarrassment at responding so sharply to Howard’s touch, but most of all, his growing relaxation and contentment at baring himself fully to Howard. And how much that meant to him, as well, knowing what he knew now...that Grimm felt so strongly towards him, that he would make himself vulnerable to him and show what he never showed to anyone...this was infinitely better than just sneaking it off, this felt like he’d done something to be worthy of it.

As he leaned in closer, he pressed his lips up against Grimm’s snout...and it was almost a shock how quickly Grimm reached, closing his eyes and letting his tongue dart out to join with Howard’s. The two brought themselves closer together, arms wrapping around each other as the kiss deepened; Grimm’s face wasn’t quite equipped the same way Howard’s was for a kiss, but he was making do with his tongue working into the human’s mouth and pressing against him to keep them twined together. Howard couldn’t help but love the taste of Grimm, a bit gritty but it was so freshly earthen and it had this quality about it that just spoke to him. He couldn’t get enough of it, and Grimm was more than content to give him as much of it as he could ever want.

It felt like an age before they parted, and even then they didn’t part much, just enough to break their mouths away from each other and look into each other’s eyes. “Haah...that’s...a lot easier without the mask on,” remarked Grimm to break the silence, making Howard giggle a bit.

“You look amazing...are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“I should’ve been okay with it before. But after you risked everything to come apologize to me and sacrificed so much to save me from a terrible fate? If I couldn’t trust you now, there would be no one in the world I could ever hope to trust enough to show myself to. No matter what happens going forward, I’ll never be afraid of showing you what’s beneath the mask.”

“Grimm...I’ll never betray that trust again, I promise.” Howard closed his eyes as Grimm resumed kissing him, a prelude to more vigorous activity to come as their arousals woke up again. And though it was still a mystery what the future would bring, whether he would find a way to go back or would be destined to stay this way...if it was the latter, well, he might find he was entirely at ease with that if it meant being able to share moments like this with Grimm all the time. Just the two of them together, nothing to hide and nothing to fear...what a wonderful thought that would be.