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Thankfully, it was not Gunner's first time catching a ride on a Celesteela. He had a good idea of how to secure himself onto the Pokémon's body. With his free hand, he gripped Gideon's arm, keeping the elder Graves from slipping off.[break][break]

Glancing down, Gunner watched as the jungle fell away at an alarming pace. The curve of the world became visible, and soon, all that surrounded them was a dark sky filled with glittering stars.[break][break]

When the Celesteela touched down onto the surface of the moon, Gunner hopped off with a face full of awe. He knelt onto the rocky ground and touched the hard, cold surface. Some distance away, the majority of the Celesteela had gathered.[break][break]

"I don't understand," he said, his voice full of unnatural giddiness as a smile lit up his face. "How can we breathe? I guess it doesn't matter, though." He collapsed onto his back and spread his arms and legs wide. "We're on the moon, guys!"

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Despite any tenuous hope, Gunner knew Gideon was right. Time was slipping through his fingers. He had to talk to Summer Atreides — and soon. Otherwise, the suffocating claustrophobia he'd started feeling in recent weeks would only worsen.[break][break]

But in the moment, there was nothing he could do. So Gunner simply clasped his brother's shoulder and gave it a grateful squeeze. The accompanying smile was genuine, though fear still tinged its edges.[break][break]

"I know. You have no idea how much I appreciate that, Gideon."

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Gideon was right. His words validated Gunner's feelings, and a measure of relief stole into his expression. However, his brother's advice was difficult to put into practice.[break][break]

"I do care about her, though," Gunner said. "And I feel responsible for the child. I can't just abandon it or Summer, not when she's happier than I've ever seen her before."[break][break]

Devotion, as a personality trait, defined him — both in a wholesome way that made him a loving son and brother, and in a harmful way that complicated his life time and time again.[break][break]

A glance alerted Gunner to Gideon's near-empty glass. On instinct, the younger Graves raised his hand to get the bartender's attention so both brothers could order another round of drinks.[break][break]

"I'll think about it more, okay?" It was the best Gunner could offer at that moment. "There's still time, right?"

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11:30 pm.[break][break]

Gunner should have been home hours ago. With the high workload lately, however, he found himself staying as late as midnight sometimes. He thought about shooting Summer Atreides a text to check on her, but put his phone away almost as soon as he took it out.[break][break]

He could check in another time, during reasonable hours.[break][break]

Footsteps commanded his attention as he removed his mug from the coffee machine. His eyebrows rose into his forehead at the sight of @rosanna.[break][break]

"Miss Belmonte," Gunner greeted her in kind. "Yes, just finishing up some analysis for Miss Livy before I head home. Why are you here so late?"

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Abortion.[break][break]

Of course, Gunner had considered abortion. After the first twenty-four hours of numbness and panic, his mind had latched onto the solution that would make the situation go away.[break][break]

But then he'd remembered Summer's trauma over losing her last pregnancy and her hope of keeping the new child. He'd remembered the way she asked him if he wanted it — almost begged him, with the way she'd looked at him.[break][break]

Gunner hadn't wanted to upset her.[break][break]

"I… Not yet. I don't think I can. Summer wants to keep the baby," he admitted, sounding more defeated than ever before. "She's had difficult pregnancies in the past. It felt wrong to deny her this one. And I thought… well, you know I had always wanted to be a dad."[break][break]

From the expression on his face, however, it was obvious fatherhood was the last thing he wanted.

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Gunner appreciated the validation. He'd used the same reasoning reassured himself whenever he wondered if he was being too secretive with Summer.[break][break]

Sayori's death had been a trauma he'd struggled to live with until recently. Even now, the pain of her passing still caused his heart to ache at times. A new girlfriend didn't need to feel the burden of that truth right away.[break][break]

That omission was reasonable. What Gunner was about to admit was not.[break][break]

"Summer's pregnant," he said before taking another large swig of his drink. He knew no other way to share the news besides blunt confession.[break][break]

"Maybe a month or two along. Don't reprimand me," he quickly added, shooting Gideon a warning glance. "She said she was on birth control. Apparently even then, there's a chance for pregnancy."[break][break]

Gunner rubbed his face with a hand, looking troubled, pensive.[break][break]

Afraid.

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Gunner looked up at Angelo's shout and at the rumble of the earth beneath his feet. The nearest Celesteela was launching. If they wanted to catch a ride, they had to move — now.[break][break]

"Coming!" Gunner yelled back. He snatched an empty Pokéball from his pocket and opened it. The young Kartana zipped inside.[break][break]

The younger Graves hurried toward Angelo. He was only halfway there when a furious rushing sound, similar to crinkling paper, filled the air. It was loud enough to compete against the roar of the Celesteela's engines.[break][break]

Gunner chanced a look over his shoulder. A swarm of Kartana raced toward them, weaving between the bamboo with incredible speed.[break][break]

"RUN!" he shouted to Gideon before bursting into a sprint toward the Celesteela.

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Gunner tossed back half his drink in one go. Like Gideon, he needed to be more inebriated to deal with their next topic of conversation.[break][break]

"I told her about what happened to me in Kanto, but I haven't told her about Sayori. I haven't told her about what I was going through during these past few years."[break][break]

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed Summer Atreides knew nothing about him. Of course, she knew about his childhood and young adulthood, his family, his dreams and ambitions as a kid. But to Gunner, all that seemed a lifetime away.[break][break]

He was a different person now. He had different goals, a different perspective on life. And it all related to his work, of which she was oblivious.[break][break]

"And also, I'm starting to have doubts about what I want. I thought I liked her but…" Gunner trailed off, struggling to be vulnerable. But as the alcohol flooded his system, the looser his tongue became. "Honestly, I feel kind of trapped."

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Gunner's body relaxed with relief, and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Thank you. That means a lot, for you to help me out like this."[break][break]

The discomfort and uncertainty returned to his face within moments, however. He stalled by finishing off his drink and flagging down the waiter for another. Then, when there was nothing else to do but proceed, he said to Gideon:[break][break]

"Summer doesn't know, either. And honestly, I don't ever want her finding out."[break][break]

Not just for her safety, but because Lion Heart Trading Co. was Gunner's case for the HBIC. He had no idea how she'd react if she found out the truth. Of course, that led to another complication he didn't know how to address.[break][break]

One he was desperate to voice at last.[break][break]

"She doesn't know a lot of things, actually," Gunner admitted, feeling more lost for words than when he and his brother had first arrived at the bar.

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The Winter Solstice arrived. Gunner stood on the frozen wall that was his charge for twenty years, staring with somber visage at the bleeding sky. A beam of magenta light lanced skyward from a distant, southern point.[break][break]

From behind him, a dog's howl pierced the tense silence that blanketed Circhester.[break][break]

"Gunner!" Jonas' voice reached him as the young man raced up the stairs. "It's time to go. Queen Summer Atreides and King Raziel Beckett are gathering the army to leave. I've already packed everything we need."[break][break]

Gunner turned. The sight of Jonas' face, filled with eagerness and determination, nearly broke his heart. Gunner stepped up to his adopted son and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.[break][break]

"You'll stay," the old man said, in a voice both firm and bittersweet.[break][break]

The disbelief that overtook Jonas' face twisted the knife in Gunner's chest. "What? No! You trained me for this moment, didn't you? I want to fight for Circhester too!"[break][break]

But Gunner shook his head. "I trained you to protect the city. To be a shield for the people." His grip tightened. "You're in charge now, Jonas. You're ready."[break][break]

Though Jonas' eyes turned wet with unshed tears, the shock and rebellion in his expression hardened into resolve. He nodded. "Give them hell, Dad."[break][break]

[break]

[break]

On the battlefield outside Wedgehurst, Gunner stood among the defenders of Circhester. He turned slowly to look at each of his companions in the face, those men and women who'd become family.[break][break]

Serena Malcolm, whose companionship he'd treasured for a short time — and whose tavern he'd enjoyed for longer. angelo vestri and skyler dross, whose Christmas dinners did more to bring them all together than any of them had expected.[break][break]

parker jones and Naomi Sato, whose wedding was one of the most beautiful and joyous occasions of the last two decades. Aidan Hereford, Rowan Wrynn, Adrian Malcolm, and Eris Halla — all treasured friends.[break][break]

mikael rosenberg, his second-in-command. Raziel Beckett, whose leadership as king was instrumental in Circhester's growth. GIDEON GRAVES, his dearest brother.[break][break]

And last of all, Summer Atreides. Gunner gave her a single, slow nod of understanding.[break][break]

Then he faced the armies of the enemy and banged his armored fist against his shield. WIDE GUARD shimmered into existence around all of Circhester's fighters and their Pokémon.[break][break]

"Let's go, Circhester!" he roared.[break][break]

His Ditto jumped forward, TRANSFORMing into the likeness of the opposing Cinderace. Before its feet could hit the ground, however, a fireball swelled up beneath it. Before their eyes, it joined the other towering Pokémon.[break][break]

Then, targeting the Rillaboom, it launched a G-MAX FIREBALL.[break][break]

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Gunner nodded, his eyes following the rising Celesteela as they flew toward the moon. Many seemed to launch from the same location.[break][break]

"Yeah. Maybe we can catch a ride," he said, his legs moving of their own accord. Mordred followed his trainer through the bamboo forest.[break][break]

Their last attempt at reaching the moon had failed, through no fault of their own. Their Pokémon simply could not reach the same heights as the Celesteela. Perhaps the unique, rocket-like propulsion of the Ultra Beast made the difference.[break][break]

Flitting movement caught Gunner's eye. He slowed, turning his head to follow it. A Kartana whizzed past, stopping just a few feet from his head. Though the Pokémon was already small in size, this one was smaller still, as if an adolescent.[break][break]

A second one joined it, pausing in its flight to regard the three men with curiosity.[break][break]

"That's strange," Gunner said to his companions, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Normally they attack right away."

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