Gardevin Ring

Chapter One

"I am so glad we are getting to hang out at the Blade Town beach, you guys!"

"It's too hot for me, Eric. I know you're an Ekans and all, but this heat is murderous."

"Oh, Eva, you're such a grump! Come on, get in the water to cool down. No Sharkpedo would dare to chomp on your tail."

"Yea, you're too salty!" Eva glares at Dan and thinks about taking him down with one of her special moves. She ponders for several seconds, knowing that she is the top in all of her classes and could do it, but decides to just enjoy the time with her friends, even though a good wrestle was always a good time for her. She follows Dan and Eric down to the water, thinking about what an odd trio they are: a Gallade, Ekans and herself, a shiny Umbreon. She slows down before getting into the water to watch her friends for a few moments. She chuckles at Dan as he sends a wave of water towards Eric to surf. The cool water gently washed over her paws, cooling her considerably.

"COME ON, EVA!" Her friends were getting impatient, so she bounds over to them, making as big of splashes as she can with her athletic form. The three friends swim and play for what both seems like forever and no time at all. As they walk out of the water shaking themselves off, their parents watch them lovingly. All except one. Eva looks around for her father on the beach and then in the water, knowing how much he loves to meld into it and startle children by suddenly appearing in front of them with his blue skin and fins as only a Vaporeon could. Sure enough, she hears several squeals several feet away and her dad's distinctive play growl.

"Let's build a sand castle!" Eva looks at Eric, rolling her eyes.

"It just gets destroyed, Eric."
"So? It's fun and creative."

"Can I bury you in it?" Eva grins at him, her eyes alight with mischief as Eric scoots a little closer

to Dan, watching her closely. "I won't, I won't. I promise."

"I'll protect you, Eric," Dan says towards him and starts to build the castle.

"Always the noble knight, Dan."

"You say that like it's a bad thing, Eva. Wouldn't you want someone to help protect you?"

"Ha! I can protect myself." The two boys chuckle while shaking their heads and the three friends become silent as they work on their masterpiece. Eva's mood dampens as she watches her friends she's had since middle school. They had a lot of fond memories and adventures together, but she knew it would end, as all things do.

"What's wrong, Eva?" Dan had noticed her staring off into space with a single tear rolling down her black cheek. She quickly wipes it away and smiles at him.

"Just bummed out that summer is almost over. We won't be able to hang out as much anymore."

"You'll see us at school, Eva, besides, isn't school like your favorite place?"

"I mean, yea, but we're getting older and we don't have much time left before we have to grow up and join the real world. I just feel like you guys make me better. On my own, I was never fun." Dan gently sets his bladed arm over her shoulders and Eric leans his purple head against her.

"You just have fun in a different way." Eva looks down at Eric fondly, he was always so sweet.

"Hey, let's go back to my place and play some videogames, that'll cheer you up, Eva!" She nods at Dan and the three teens tell their parents and head off.

Arriving at Dan's house always felt like another home to Eric and Eva. So much so, that they walked right in and straight to the kitchen for a snack and something to drink.

"I'll be in there in a second, I have to use the bathroom."

"TMI, Dan! Ew." Eva laughs to let him know she's joking and Dan rolls his eyes before walking off. The two friends settle in and put in their favorite game while Dan does his business and then quietly walks into his room. His eyes went straight to the drawer in his dresser where he kept one of his most favored possessions. He opens the drawer and reaches under the pile of papers and knickknacks to take out a small box. Inside the box is a ring, a purple ring with a stunning red gem.

"I hope you're having as good a summer as I am," he whispers while looking deeply into the gem, "but I hope we see each other again soon even more." As he stares into the ring, the day he met its owner plays through his mind.

It was a few years ago and I was only a Ralts. Eva, Eric and I were at the park swinging when we heard a scream from the forest. I remember that all three of us looked over, startled. I wanted to help, but Eva was more concerned about our own safety, we were all unevolved at the time. Her bushy hazel and silver coat bristled up as she warned me it could be dangerous, but how could I just ignore someone in trouble? Eric sided with Eva and they wathed me run off into the thick forest by myself.

It became dark quickly and something didn't feel right as I ran towards where the scream came from. I hollered out to the voice that I was coming to help. The branches tore at my clothes and scratched my arms and legs, but I didn't really notice at the time. Eventually, I came into a beautiful clearing. The grass and flowers were illuminated by a full moon and everything seem to have an enchanted glow about it. I hollered once more and the voice responded, but it sounded as if it were echoing, which I thought was strange. I should have been paying more attention as I followed the sound of the voice because I stepped on a pretty big rock. I hopped a couple steps and then turned to kick it. When I looked down however, it wasn't a rock, but a skull. I yelled out frightened by it, shook myself and took a deep breath before walking further along until I came to a deep pit.

"Hello," I called out, "I'm here to help, where are you?"

"Down here," came the voice, "I was running away from a monster when I fell in this pit. I really hurt my leg so I can't climb out by myself."

"Um, okay, hold on. I see a place I can climb down."

"Please hurry, I'm scared." I climbed as quickly as I could. The deeper I descended, the darker it became until it was pitch black. My eyes weren't used to this intense darkness so I called out to the voice softly. It responded and I followed it until I came up against what felt like another Ralts. I helped it up and over to the wall to climb up and out. "My leg, I can't climb, I can barely walk with your help."

"Right, hmmm. You can climb onto my back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea, here, I'll help you get on." We worked together to get the Ralts on my back and I started slowly climbing out. As I did, we started hearing noises coming from behind us.

"Please hurry."

"Hey, it's ok, listen, it's getting farther away. You know, singing always helped me to stay calm, why don't you try it?" The Ralts hesitated, clearly shy, but started to very softly sing. As I climbed and listened to the music, I couldn't help but want to see the face of who was singing. "Your voice is so beautiful."

"Thank you." Finally, we reached the top and I helped the stranger off my back. I turned and finally saw her face.

"Hi there, I'm Dan." She blushed a little.

"I'm Gloria."

"Nice to meet you, Gloria, let's get you into town, huh?"

"Yes please."

"I should probably look at your leg first though."

"Oh no, please, you don't have to."

"It could need attention."

"Uhm, well, ok." She slowly stuck her leg out to show me the fairly deep cuts and bruises.

"There should be some medicinal leaves nearby, they'll help for now. Stay right here!" I started running off quickly before she could say no. I wanted to help her, I had to help her. I ran right past the odd looking skull again and took in its details quickly. It had a triangular head with a horn, it was like nothing I had ever seen, but I didn't have time to study it further, Gloria was waiting. It took a minute to find the right leaves and a couple to get back to her. She was sitting with her arms crossed over her chest as if she were cold. "Here, I'll put them over your cuts and they'll make you feel better." The leaves were a rich green with white veins coursing through them and I did my best to lay them as gently as I could, but she still winced a little. I looked up at her and caught her staring at me before she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing a bit.

"So uh, how did you know about the leaves?"

"We learned about them in school."

"Oh, I'm glad you remembered them." she chuckled nervously.

"Yea, me too."

"Wow, these leaves are awesome, I'm feeling better already so we should get going." Her words came out in a tumble, like a waterfall eager to get to the river below.

"Hhere, let me help you stand and walk still, wouldn't want you falling again."

"Ok, thank you."I helped her up, but we both kind of slipped. Thankfully, I caught her in my arms before she could fall. I looked into her beautiful midnight eyes and swore I could see the universe in them. We both kind of jerked away, laughing nervously. "Did you see the monster?" She pointed towards the skull.

"Oh, yea, um, it's just a skull."

"Oh, well now I feel silly."

"Hey, it startled me too."

"But you didn't run straight into a pit."

"True. It was really dark down there, could you even see?"

"After a time I could. I was just really starting to see when you found me. I, uhm, well I saw something strange down there." Her voice had become a whisper. "If I tell you though, you can't tell anyone." I shrugged and nodded. She reached into a pocket and pulled out a ring. The first time I saw it, I felt something, like it was powerful. Without even thinking, I reached towards it and when it touched my skin, it sent a shock through me and I pulled away quickly. "Did you feel it too?" She looked at me, her eyes wide and I nodded again. We made our way back to town and Gloria found her mother before we parted ways.

"Dan! Hurry up!" Eva's voice floated up from the den and Dan quickly put the ring back in its hiding place and ran downstairs. The three friends played until Dan's mother came home calling to him saying they needed to talk. They looked aat each other curiously before Dan shrugged and went to the front room where she was waiting on a chair.

"Come sit down, son." Dan walks towards her and sits across the small table so he can look at her, his friends stand at the entryway to the room they were playing the videogames. His mother takes a deep breath before her lovely voice says something he was hoping to never hear. "We are moving to Sciotown in three days."

"WHAT?!" The three friends say together.

"Why now?"

"But that's so soon!"

"How will we see each other?"

"Kids, calm down, it's going to be okay. Look, I got a new job at a lovely furniture shop that will bring in more money. You can always talk to each other on the phone, play online and of course visit for holidays. Look, I know I should have told you sooner, but I wanted you to enjoy these past weeks without having to think of them as your last here because they won't be." Dan's mother looks towards him, pleading with her eyes for him to understand and he slowly nods his head. He has to be strong for them, for all of them: his mom, his friends and his little sister, Rachel. His mother smiles back at him, stands and walks over to him for a hug. Dan hugs her back and then feels his friends join to make it a group hug.

"We can help you pack and stuff, that way you don't have to do it yourself and we still get to hangout."

"Yea, thanks, Eva."

The next few days are a whirlwind of packing, moving and trying to get every last drop of fun out of the time they had together. Every night was a sleepover and everyday was full of packing and trips into town, or to the beach. Dan wanted to see everything before he left so it was all fresh in his mind. Moving day finally came and the friends were sullen even with everyone bringing sweet treats to say farewell to Dan and his family. The well wishers didn't stay long and all that stayed were Dan's two best friends who hug for a long time before Dan climbs into the car with his mom and sister and waves goodbye. Eric and Eva sigh sadly and walk home in silence as Dan drives off to his new town and his new life.

Little did they know that nearby a darkness was stalking the area. Three dark figures stand in the treeline, watching the farewells and then the two teens walking home. The black humanoid in the center stands shorter than the two hulking creatures that flank it, but is just as menacing though elegant in a sense. The creature on either side of him growl softly as the obvious leader whispers, "Soon they shall all know my suffering as their own." With a final growl from each creature, the three disappear, leaving the town in peace this night.

Storyline and characters: Spinolover1180

Writer: Pandora153