EEVEEpokemonDEDENNEdragonair24, you are a life saver :)

Atychiphobia

She wasn't perfect, not even close. But the world didn't need perfect, it only needed possible.

Chapter I: Alone

Serena never asked for much. A place to sleep, things to eat, and somewhere she could watch her mom race without human contact. In reality, she had never asked for these things, but they were all given to her anyways. Assumed to be satisfactory.

They weren't what she wanted, but they were enough.

From the beginning, Serena didn't have very high expectations for herself. Her mom insisted she go on a Pokémon journey, although Serena had never battled before and could only grimace at the possibilities. She liked to think she'd give it one good shot-maybe make it to the first gym, then turn around and stay with her mom and her Rhyhorn.

She never asked to be forced out of the house, a life of solitude and dependency was enough. It's what she wanted.

But she couldn't ask.

So when her mother announced her plan-to quit racing and move to Vaniville Town, to finally settle down and let Serena live her life, she was less then pleased.

She didn't voice this.

She didn't voice her displeasure of the large fence surrounding the town, or comment about the headache the beating sunlight and thick pollen were giving. She didn't even tell her mom about the unnerving stares she received from the fellow towns people-like they expected great things from her.

Or like they were waiting for her to implode under the pressure and to wipe everything they cared about with her.

Okay, maybe that last one is a little paranoid, she thought, opening the door to her room with her hip and setting the last box down among the others marked 'Collectibles'. Pushing her single braid over her shoulder, Serena glanced at herself in the mirror and frowned, noticing the dark circles around her eyes and the hair sticking to her forehead from sweat. A sigh escaped her as she turned away, refusing to acknowledge her lackluster appearance and focusing instead on the series of thumps and crashes echoing from downstairs. Grudgingly opening the door, Serena peered down the stairs and winced as the fire alarm started chirping.

Taking the stairs two at a time, her frown deepened when she saw her mom precariously perched on the counter, frantically waving a cloth to disperse the smoke. Forcing a small smile onto her face, Serena grabbed a second rag from the open moving box and joined her mother on the counter.

Just as some of the smoke began to clear, the doorbell rang, surprising Serena and causing her to lose her balance and fall to the floor with a crash. And of course the stranger took this opportunity to open the door and let himself in, disregarding all respect for common decency.

His sheepish grin as he observed the calamity that was now their kitchen did little to quell Serena's annoyance, although she was mostly cursing her own luck as she herself observed the scene. A pot of rice that had somehow managed to catch fire, a middle aged woman flapping around on a counter with a rag in her hand like she was performing some ancient magic ritual, and a teenage girl, around the same age as him, sprawled on the ground over a broken moving box with metal kitchen utensils scattered about and digging into her side.

Great first impression Serena. You deserve a pat on the back.

Overall, the boy appeared to be fairly nice, and legitimately guilty for his invasion of their home. After helping her up-and not mentioning her appearance or the state of the kitchen- he proceeded to handle the source of the smoke first before just shutting the main power supply to the fire alarm off. He even offered a hand to her mother to help her down although the woman vehemently refused, choosing instead to just tumble off and magically land right side up on her feet.

Serena really wanted to find a secluded corner and just roll over and die, but her plans of death via mortification were halted when he turned to her again and asked if she wanted to come meet some of his friends. As they always do in front of others, her words failed her and it was only her mom denying the request for her that saved her from further embarrassment.

His already microscopic smile dwindled before saying that it wasn't a big deal and handing a letter to her from someone called the professor. As the door closed behind him, Serena found herself wanting to call out, a request on the tip of her tongue. But she didn't.

After all, it wasn't her place to ask for something.

Bonjour Serena!

I am ecstatic to make your acquaintance tomorrow and hope you will be satisfied with the options I will give you for your very own starter Pokémon...

Pulling at her high-waisted skirt, Serena tenderly closed the front door behind her, careful not to alert her mother still rambling about how proud she was. Rhyhorn cracked a single eye open to look at her from its alcove on the yard. Huffing, it gingerly stood up and pushed her from behind, nearly knocking her over.

A breathy laugh escaping her, Serena reached behind her to pat the rock-ground Pokémon who had always brought her mom back to her. "Take care of her for me. I won't be gone long." The Pokémon gave her a long, unbelieving look as if to say Sure you will. A sad smile replaced her familiar one, "I'm no good by myself and a shadow should never leave its owner." Rhyhorn shoved her unexpectedly hard, sending her tumbling into the street.

Steadying herself, she looked over her shoulder to see Rhyhorn blocking the walkway. This isn't where you belong. An old Fletchling-her mother's first Pokémon- flew down and landed in front of Rhyhorn, spreading its wings. "You too, huh?" A broken cry escaped her lips, half laugh, half screech.

A calming hand placed itself on her shoulder, taking her by surprise. Her breath caught in her throat, she slowly turned around coming eye to eye with the boy from the day prior. His smile was small and perhaps a little guilty-she wondered if he would always look that way around her- but his eyes were understanding and he didn't say anything about what he had heard as he steered her towards the front gates with a tip of his hat to the two Pokémon squaring off with her in front of her own house.

He didn't shove, but his hand was firm leaving little indecision of where they were going. "Howdy doody new girl!" A high pitch voice sounded, bringing Serena out of her reverie before a figure ran into her from the left and knocked her to the ground.

"Shauna!"

"Oomph- my bad, new girl!" Shauna crawled off her back and rested on her haunches, her smile so bright it would be cringe worthy-if Serena's face hadn't just been shoved into the dirt. Rubbing her eyes to clear them, and to rid the tears, Serena opened them to find the same guiding hand from earlier directly in front of her face, the boy looking at the girl next to her extremely annoyed.

"You'll have to forgive Shauna, she's a bit of an airhead." Placing her hand gently into his outstretched one, he pulled her up, never taking his eyes from Shauna. Bouncing onto her toes, the girl leaned forward with her hands behind her back, her smile growing.

"Sorry about that," her eyes sparkled, "I get a little excited from time to time."

"A little?" She swiftly kicked him in the knee.

"Yes a little, Mr. Poopy-Pants. Anyways, our friends are waiting just beyond the gate with the Pokémon from Professor Sycamore. Come on!" Turning on her heels, Shauna raced towards the gate, her arms held out like airplane wings and a mock engine sound coming from her mouth. The throaty chuckle from behind her brought Serena's attention back to the boy behind her-still holding her hand. Shaking the midnight black locks from his eyes, he looked down at her and smiled.

"Let's do as the lady says, yes? Wouldn't want a repeat," he muttered the last sentence under his breath before stepping around her and following the same path Shauna had taken.

"W-wait." Her voice was soft and nearly inaudible even to herself, swept away by the wind. The boy kept walking. "What's your name?" She whispered, eyes downcast as she heard the large gate open for the second time to swallow the unknown boy.

"It's Calem." Her eyes widened, snapping to the silhouette of the boy who should've been too far to hear her, who was only partially facing her, who was surrounded by the morning Sun and looked like he was glowing. He smirked and replied, "Hey neighbor."

Her holo caster lit up with several messages, one in particular grabbing her attention.

Calem: Please respond.

Powering off the device with a shaky hand, Serena glanced at the mysterious grunts one tunnel ahead of her, dressed in all black with a red F on the chest. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and quietly made her way to them, noting the various fossils they were carrying that couldn't have been theirs.

I can't be a burden to him. If I'm worth anything I have to do this myself.

Getting their attention was easy, stumbling on a rock in Glittering Cave and sending it skidding down the tunnel was totally the best way to alert them, and was totally part of her plan. Totally. Cough. Internally grumbling at her luck, she quickly expelled Frogadier from his Pokeball and grimaced when both thieves released a Pokémon of their own of equal level.

Carefully reaching for the second ball in her bag, Serena wondered if she dared send out Fletchling-her only other Pokémon still conscious- before deciding against it, she was already poisoned and at critical health. Frogadier would have to handle the fight himself.

Her voice shook as she sent her Pokémon to a guaranteed KO.

"Frogadier, use-"

"Wait!" Calem's voice echoed across the cavern, his breath coming in short gasps as he raced to her side, throwing his own Quilladin's Pokeball into the fray without observing what he was getting into. "We'll talk later about your stunt with your communicator, for now let's kick some butt." His smile was tired, but he looked at her with all of the confidence in the world.

She nodded shyly.

With the combined power of both of them, the battle was over without too much damage to their own Pokemon and the grunts quickly dispersed, leaving the fossils where they had found them and shouting something about rotten kids. "Geez," Calem grumbled, ruffling his Pokémon's fur, "We're fifteen. Not really what I would consider little."

A light laugh escaped her, as Frogadier perched himself on her shoulder and she headed for the exit to the cave. She hadn't even taken two steps, "Hold it." Keeping her back to him, Serena returned her Pokémon to his Pokeball and stared at the path that would lead them both to the surface. "I get that you like to do things on your own, really I do." He placed his hand on her shoulder, gently nudging her to face him. She didn't budge.

"But it isn't okay to make us worry, or to turn off your communicator. I mean, for goodness sake, Shauna was seconds away from having a panic attack when she realized her messages weren't being received anymore. She thought something happened to you." His hand dropped. "And so did I." He whispered, voice shaking.

Inhaling, Serena turned to face him, bracing herself for whatever she would see. But she didn't see anything. He had lowered his head so his bangs covered his face, and Serena found that that was worse than any emotion she could've seen. He's forcing me out.

"That's not okay. That's never okay!" His breath hitched. "We're your friends, we're supposed to help you. Please don't shut me out again." Striking blue eyes met hers, glistening with unshed tears. "Anything you need. You just have to ask."

"I.."

Serena had never asked for much.

"I don't want to be alone anymore."

I have no idea why the HTML formatting showed up but even while uploading this copy (a different file from the original) Doc Manager still gave me trouble.