Author's Note: (Update Jan 2015) I first got the idea for this fanfic in 2009 when I played Pokemon Emerald, and I sort of moved on (like a lot of people lol). It's now 2015 and I've finally decided to pick it back up. :P Since Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire were just released recently, I regained interest in this fanfic (and my love for Steven resparked, ugghhhh I love him) and I've decided to continue. It will still be based on Emerald for the most part, but I've decided to incorporate aspects of ORAS into the timeline (Omega Ruby, new cutscenes, etc). So what you're about to read in Ch.1 &2 is something I mostly wrote in 2009 (I've gone through and made some minor changes).

This specific chapter has nothing with the game, LOL. It's basically a prologue I made up so my love (read: Steven) could make some sort of indirect debut in this first chap.

I'll be shipping HoennChampionShipping (Steven x May), and will be throughout the entire story but it won't be a main aspect of the story. Why the girl's named "Eddie" instead of "May" I will explain later on - just so this won't get too lengthy. But just keep in mind Eddie is everything May is (appearance included), except the name.

Thanks for joining me as a reader, and don't forget to leave your thoughts!

CHAPTER 1: One Year into the Future

MEETING STEVEN has always been one of the most memorable events in my entire life. My original meeting with him stands out as being one of the few milestone events I have ever experienced. You know what I'm talking about; the kind of thing that sometimes happen throughout your life and you don't seem to forget about. Think of a wedding, or the death of a loved one - I know I'll never forget the day I lost my grandfather.

Meeting Steven was a milestone in my life. Many would agree with me that it certainly is an episode I probably won't be quick to forget, and I would not hesitate to agree with them. I still remember the details as if it had just happened yesterday; hell, I even remember the most insignificant details, such as the condition of our clothes and the little speck of dirt that was just below Steven's left eye. Also his eyes, his posture... ahem, I'm getting carried away. Anyway!

My own mother figures that if it weren't for her deep involvement in my childhood, I never would have met him. She seems to like to use that as most as she can into manipulating me, and half the time it makes no damn sense. "Eddie, dear, please do what I want because if it'd never been for me YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER MET STEVEN AND IT MAKES NO SENSE AND HAS NO RELEVANCE TO WHAT I WANT BUT SHUT UP AND DO IT ANYWAY." She's effing crazy, I'm telling you.

On the other hand, though, Mr. Stone (Steven's father) seems to theorize that if it weren't for his initial good eye in seeing me as a reliable errand girl (not exactly his wording, but pretty much what he said), I never would have even heard of Steven, so I have to give him all credit. Steven himself says we need to give all thanks to Team Magma and Team Aqua, and I'm highly suspicious to that theory being the reason he doesn't seem to totally hate Archie and Maxie.

Don't get me wrong, it's true all those events played significant roles in leading up to that sacred meeting. However, I just don't think any of them were that one significant "key" that led up to that beloved day.

Except Mom's, she's just fucking off the wagon cause her reasoning makes no sense. Does that mean she's also responsible for every meal I've eaten, every shit I've taken, and every other insignificant event in my life because she decided to be a controlling bitch growing up? Someone needs to put that woman in her place ASAP, she's not even 40 and she's already showing symptoms of dementia.

Man, I'm getting carried away again. Sorry, sorry!

Sooooooo... as I was saying... while it certainly can't be denied that my meeting with Steven is significant, not everyone sees it as a positive event.

My mother (aka the crazy woman) thinks Steven is a "horrible influence" on me (which is funny, because from what I've noticed, she seems to enjoy having him over). Mr. Stone originally agreed with my mother, but I think over time he started being a bit open-minded, and he's now switched to my side (although I really can't be sure about anything with him). Steven, shockingly, is still trying to decide whether us meeting was good or bad", but, to be honest, I've gotten so used to his way of thinking I don't get offended anymore.

Sometimes. I mean, I just see it as the BEST THING in my life, and it would be freaking AMAZING if he maybe, just MAYBE, he could stop being skeptical over it. He's like the overbearing character of a fanfiction who is overly stoic, never shows emotions, and the least human of all because he's too goddamn perfect. But he's not any of that, he's a freaking human being, so why can't he act like one?!

Actually, to be fair, Fire was the best thing to ever happen to me. My mom absolutely adores Fire. He's not a tiny Torchic anymore you can just pick up and cuddle up to, but a badass fiery blazing Blaziken (see what I did there? heeehee), yet my mom still loves him as if he had just hatched yesterday.

As we speak, she's out in Petalburg with Fire buying me the newest Pokemon doll for my huge collection. I'd have gone to get it myself, but I'm kind of waiting for a call.

Well, I wouldn't really call it "waiting" for a call, I'd say more like… expecting a call. I mean, I just happen to know Steven is due to call me any minute now, and I just find it rude to not answer him knowing full well he's about to ring. Otherwise, I wouldn't be going out of my way to do so. I'm just being courteous, really, and normally I'd call him back later.

I'm currently sitting in bed flipping through a Pokemon magazine as I wait – er, expect, I mean - for him to call. I glance at my reflection in the mirror opposite of my bed, where I can see some loose strands sticking out on top of my head. As I'm reaching up to try to flatten them down, my PokeNav starts going off. I nearly jump off my bed in surprise.

I let it ring for a few seconds before answering it, because, you know, I don't want him to think I've been waiting for him to call all day (which I obviously haven't). After the third ring, I answer, and lift the PokeNav up to my ear.

"Hello?" I say in what I hope sounds like a I-definitely-was-not-expecting-a-call-now-and-I-do-wonder-who-it-is tone.

"Hey, Eddie," I hear from the other end of my PokeNav. My stomach does a weird flip-flop at the sound of his voice, and I try hard to keep my breathing even as I answer. God Arceus, why does his voice have to sound so… so sexy?

"Oh, hello," I finally manage to say. "Who is this?" Shit, maybe that's pushing it a bit too much.

I hear chuckling from the other end, and I close my eyes trying to control the pounding in my ears. Keep it cool, Eddie, keep it cool.

"I thought my father installed Caller ID on your PokeNav last week," Steven answers, his voice sounding amused. "Didn't you see my name before picking up?"

I knew I pushed it too much.

"I must've forgotten to check," I quickly mutter in reply, my face turning red. I'm so glad he can't see me. "I thought it sounded like you, Steven, I just wanted to make sure."

"Yea, it's me," he says, sounding more amused than before. He knows me too well, he probably can already tell everything I'm thinking right now even through just listening to my voice. That's just brilliant. "Look outside, Eddie."

I don't really need to be told twice. I immediately jump out of bed and rush to my window, pulling my violet curtains aside. Or well, I try to pull them aside. Instead, a part of the damn cloth gets stuck in some crack in the metal rod. Stupid curtains, I think angrily, I knew they were going to be bad news. I knew. The colour itself is a fair warning, purple being a combination of red and blue, the colours for Team Magma and Aqua. The curtains are just pure EVIL. I make a mental note to take them down first chance I get, and make sure Fire burns them to ashes.

I hear a faint ripping noise as I finally manage to pull the curtains apart. Not caring to see the damage caused to them, I instead look straight down my window. Sure enough, standing outside my house and looking as good as ever, is Steven. He waves up at me, a small smile on his face.

"Come downstairs," he says, and with that, he hangs up.

I don't need to be told twice.

I toss my PokeNav towards my bed as I cut across my room in about two long strides, not even doubling back to see if the thing landed in its destination. I rush down the stairs two at a time, and almost fly to my front door. I half-expect him to already have left, but he didn't. He's still standing in the same position he had been a few seconds earlier (and still looking as good as ever).

"Want to take a short walk with me?" he asks as soon as I reach him, gesturing towards the pathway in front of him. I barely manage to mutter "yes" and give a small nod as I follow him out into Route 102, which is located just a few feet away from my house.

"Well, this is unusual of you," I comment as we walk alongside each other, having once again found my voice. "You never come here out of your own accord." I want to look over to him and stare at his face, but I'm already struggling to keep my composure; to play it safe, I stare at my feet instead.

"Yes, it is unusual," he agrees. "It's almost as unusual as you wearing a skirt today. I thought you hated them?" He turns to face me, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

What on Earth...?

Oh damn, I am wearing a pink skirt. Blast it.

Why didn't I take off the damn skirt before meeting with him? Somehow, whenever Steven is involved, I end up turning into a complete oblivious idiot. I don't even know how I manage to breathe and walk.

"Yes, well, you know my mom," I reply, swallowing. "She wanted me to wear one today."

I'm not lying, not really anyway. My mom did want me to wear one today…. and just about every other day in the year. Not that I listened to her any of the other days, but today I really had been in no position to reject her. If I had, she wouldn't have gone to get my doll.

Not that I couldn't have gone get it myself. It's just, you know, I had other things to do.

"The new Pokemon doll came out today, I heard," Steven says abruptly. "Is your mother getting it for you?" I turn to face him incredulously, wondering for a flitting instant if he can read minds, until I catch a hint of a sneer on his lips.

Oh fuck, he's caught on. Why does he have to be so damn observant? Why can't he just buy my story for once without question? We'd both be completely happy. Well, I'd be anyway.

This time I really can see no way around it without flat-out lying. If I lie and say "no, Mom is home, I'll get the doll later myself", he'd ask to go and see her. Yet if I say I'll get it later, he'd ask to go and get it with me.

"Yes, she's out in Petalburg right now," I finally admit, praying for him to drop the subject. "She wanted to check up on Dad."

I see him open his mouth to reply back, but before he can say anything, I quickly say, "So what is your business? Why did you want see me?"

Almost immediately, I can tell he has been trying to delay this question for as long as possible. His amused expression instantly evaporates, instead to be replaced by one I've never seen him sport before. It surprises me a bit to see that he can look like that, seeing as he's normally cool and composed. I can't quite put my finger on the emotions that are display on his face; there are just too many. Hurt? Pity? Shame? Sadness? Which one is it?

"Yes, well, I needed to talk to you," he says, avoiding my eye. I open my eyes wide in surprise at the sudden change in atmosphere, but stay quiet, waiting for him to continue. "This wasn't something I could say over the phone."

Almost at once, my heart starts to beat erratically, and my entire face lights up. Could he... Maybe he's finally changed his mind... Oh my God, I knew this day would come soon, I knew it. I should have been more prepared, should have expected it...

But as Steven begins to talk, it doesn't take long to realize that these aren't the good news I had anticipated. As the seconds pass by and words slip out of his mouth one by one, my smile slowly falters, only to be replaced by a confused frown. Finally, after a few more seconds, I'm left speechless with a terrifying look in my face as I realize what he's trying to tell me.

No.

No.

The last time I remember experiencing this horrible empty feeling in my stomach was over a year ago. It's such an awful feeling, it's hard to forget it that easily. I didn't think I would have to go through it again so soon after.

But it wasn't that horrible in the end, I hear a voice in the back of my head say. Last time you met Brendan on the exact same day.

That is true. As a matter of fact, the key event and most pivotal chapter in my life happened right after some terrible news. The day I met Brendan Birch.