This is the first thing I have written in a while, and my first FanFic. I would love to get some feedback on the story, so please review :)
This story was meant as a one-shot, but an idea for the next events sort of popped into my head, and I had to write more. It has been very fun to write so far, and I hope you will enjoy reading it too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
Chapter 1
We were sitting together, looking at a lake in the sunset. I stretched my slightly sore muscles and nugdged myself against her. Another contest done. I cringed from the memory of our loss.
«It's okay, Glaceon, you were great today!» I looked up at my trainer as she spoke. «We will just have to train even harder, and come up with some good combinations.» Her smile did little to convince me. I have been with my trainer for some time now, and I know she has been struggling lately. I nugded against her again, wanted her to understand that I am here for her.
We sat like that for a while, looking at the lake water glowing in the setting sun. It was beautiful, offering peace and serenity for troubled minds as ours. As we sat there, I became aware we were no longer alone. I looked up, noticing worried green eyes. I curled down as subtely as I could, pretending to mind my own business. This could be interesting. My trainer was still deep in thoughts, and not aware of him before the boy said «Hi, May», already sitting next to her. My trainer was taken completely off guard. Honestly, humans amaze me sometimes, to be so aloof. I find it kind of cute.
The boy smirked at my trainers reaction. She recovered, and gave him a smile. «Hi, Drew, I didn't see you,» she said.
«Obviously,» he retorted, rolling his eyes.
«Well, I didn't even know you were in town! What are you doing here anyway, since you weren't entering the contest?» she answered, narrowing her eyes at him indignantly.
«I wanted to check up on the progress of my number one rival,» he said nonchalantly as he flipped his hair. I had to fight not to smile, the gesture being too obviously an attempt at looking good in front of my trainer. As he spoke next, his expression betrayed that worry again. «I wanted to talk to you about what happened, though, that loss.» I cringed, and glanced hurriedly at my trainer. Her face clearly reflected how the loss was eating at her from the inside.
«Why did I have to lose to Harley?» she groaned, her hands gripping her head in frustration. «There are simply no one worse to lose to!» she exclaimed.
«Really? Worse than me?» he asked dryly, looking coldly at her. He didn't seem to like the idea of Harley being the greater rival.
She raised her eyes to his, and seemed to calm down a little. «Well, of course I hate losing to you, but then at least I can be happy for your win,» she answered, the tiniest hint of a blush coloring her face at her last words.
«I see,» he said, smiling now. «And you would be happy for me,» he took a breath before locking eyes with her. «Because you care about me?» he finished. He seemed at ease, calm, but I sensed the vulnerability behind the question.
My trainer, being who she is, became frantic, a blush blooming freely on her face. «Of course, I care about all my friends,» she said, waving her hands in front of her as if to ward off the idea. He smiled at her reaction, a strange mix of amusement and disappointment in his face. I am quite good at reading people. Of course my trainer was too wrapped up in her cover-up to notice anything.
And that was it. Their never ending dance, him making a move, a step ever so slightly forward, her too flustered by her own feelings, always stepping out of his reach. Their strange relationship started as rivals at a beach i Hoenn, but over time had developed into something more. We had all noticed how much our trainer valued his opinion, how she always pushed herself, and us, to earn his respect. He had started out patronizing her, able to ignite her fury and dazzle her with just some words and a rose. A while back, his demeanor towards her had changed, sarcasm often replaced by care.
I felt frustration wash over me, and knew I would not be alone. Both Beautifly and Blaziken had watched this dance from its start, and we were all hoping for it to break out of this repeating pattern. After all, our trainers' happiness was at stake. Although she didn't seem to know what was best for her. I guess she couldn't be blamed, with their rivalry and friendship at stake, and with all those fan girls of his and his sarcasm in mind.
«I have noticed, you have been struggling since you came to Johto,» he said, snapping me out of my grueling thoughts. My trainer lowered her gaze to the ground. «Tell me, is it because you now travel alone?» he insisted. She nodded, and sighed.
«Ash, Brock and Max always cheered for me. They helped me, and inspired me. Still, I had to break out. I was getting too dependent on them, and my battle style became so influenced by Ash'es. I had to go on my own, working with the weaknesses I discovered at the last Grand Festival. It has been harder than I expected.» She looked so vulnerable saying this, and so sad. «I miss them all the time. And as for Solidad, and you, I only barely see you at contests.»
As she talked she stroke my fur absentmindedly, her focus was on him and he sat beside her, listening. They had clearly forgotten about my presence, and I was content with that.
«I thought so,» he said. «So I wanted to ask you if you would travel with me for a while, training for your next contest and the Grand Festival.» His statement was completely unexpected. My trainers eyes widened, she looked utterly shocked. Even I was surprised. He waited for her answer, smiling but with uncertainty in his eyes.
A smile broke loose on my trainers face, and to me it seemed as if the sun emerged from behind the clouds. «Really? I would love to!» she burst out. «But what about your contests?» she said with doubt creeping into her voice, looking down in her lap.
«I already have five ribbons,» he answered smugly. He then looked at her intently, until she lifted her gaze for blue and green eyes to make contact. «Besides,» he said in a low voice, never letting his gaze waver, «I want to help you.» Of course my trainer blushed fiercely at this, while he started to smile. He seemed to really enjoy his effect on her, and from seemingly nowhere he produced and offered her a rose.
«So do you want to be my traveling companion?» he asked again, and this time he looked confident. She accepted the rose and nodded, smiling. «I care about you, May,» he said, perhaps encouraged by her smile. «More than as a friend,» he continued, arching an eyebrow, and I had to stifle a laugh remembering my trainers poor cover-up some minutes ago. My trainers eyes widened and her smile deepened, together with her blush. I have never been so proud of her as when she answered, «I care about you too, Drew.» I could feel within me that their dance had finally changed, as their fingers met and twined together.