A/N: Alright! First chapter!
I suppose I should preface this with a warning, for anyone reading this who may care: one of the main characters in this fanfiction is gender fluid, so if you're not okay with that, stop reading now. If you are, sweet, keep reading!
I'm sorry for the delay in updating this chapter. I scrapped it because I didn't like how I had been laying it out, and tried to make it a bit more interesting and better written. Do you like this version better, to those of you who have read this before? To the people who haven't, how does this sound? Poke me! (see below.)
Besides that, I only have one thing to say to you: Review review review. Please, please, please. It would make my day. Please, tell me something, especially because I'm never going to update this if you don't. Poke me, prod me, correct little grammar mistakes, tell me I'm treating a character wrong, do something and I will love you forever. You, lazy reader who's thinking "whatever"- yes you- get your lazy head off your hands and type a few sentences in that review box. Thank you!
Chapter One: Me and Us
"Oh come on Treecko, dodge!"
Max was ready to tear his hair out in frustration. Five minutes into his Kalos adventure and he'd lost a Pokemon battle. His challenger, a boy of maybe thirteen, laughed and returned his Froakie. "Guess you owe me some money, kid."
Max gave the boy his best scowl, rummaging around in his pocket for some change. He slapped a few dollar bills in the challenger's hand and turned away angrily, right into the face of his sister.
"Did you just give away our lunch money?" she demanded.
"May, it's etiquette. You lose a battle, you pay the winner."
"Well then, maybe you shouldn't have challenged him! Come on. All you've got is some half-wit Treecko and my Munchlax. A year of training and you've gotten nowhere. Now I had to drag you along to Kalos with me and I've got to play babysitter again!"
"You didn't 'drag me along'!" Max snapped. "And, for your information, I don't need you taking care of me! I'm traveling with Bonnie and we won't need any help!"
"From what I've heard, Bonnie has a Dedenne as a starter," countered May. "And you've got a Treecko that can't win a single battle. Oh, yes, you'll be a great team."
The badmouthing became a bit too much for Max's Treecko, and it slammed into May with a Quick Attack. She stumbled backwards angrily, gave Max a final scathing look, and slipped into the crowds.
"Good job, Treecko," said Max tiredly. "I've had quite enough of her."
"I still don't see why you have to follow me, big brother," Bonnie sighed. "You know I'm fine on my own."
"I can't help worrying!" Clemont said. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm not going to get hurt!" Bonnie laughed. "I have Dedenne to protect me!"
At the sound of its name, the electric mouse Pokemon stuck its head out of Bonnie's bag and took a look around.
"Well, yes, but Dedenne isn't very . . . fierce," Clemont explained. Indignant, Dedenne showed off the sparks that flew from its cheeks. "I would feel better if you took one of my Pokemon with you."
"It's okay!" Bonnie said brightly. "I'll find some Pokemon of my own and train them! Then they'll protect me."
Clemont felt like mentioning that she was missing the point, but decided against it.
The two were sitting in a clearing by a river. Night had fallen, but they had a fire lit, which provided suitable light. Bonnie's tent had been pitched, and the two were simply waiting for one of them to give in to the argument that had been raging most of the day.
"I wish you'd at least pick up a starter Pokemon," Clemont said. "Like Chespin! Chespin's cute, isn't it? Or you could use Fennekin- you always liked Serena's- or Froakie? Froakie's nice, you loved Ash's Greninja, didn't you?"
"Greninja's okay," Bonnie replied, "but I'd much rather start with a Pokemon that I already know. Dedenne and I have been friends for years! Isn't that right, Dedenne?"
It grinned and nodded, chirping its name and clambering onto her head.
"Tell you what," sighed Clemont. "I'll spend the night with you, and go back to Lumiose City tomorrow morning. Is it a deal?"
"Fine," said Bonnie crossly.
Serena wasn't exactly what May was expecting, but in other ways, she went above and beyond.
Her hair was a mousy brown, cropped messily short at the back of her neck. But she hadn't done the same for the front, and two long lengths of bangs reached down across her shoulders. She wore a pink hat, black band around the bottom, and a long red coat covering a light, short dress with black leggings underneath.
The most remarkable thing, though, was the Scizor standing next to her. It looked remarkably like a bodyguard, arms crossed, glaring through its slit-like eyes at passerby. Serena seemed remarkably used to it and settled herself down across from May without batting an eyelash.
For a while, they sipped coffees and stared awkwardly at each other, until finally Serena placed down her cup and looked May straight in the eye. "So, you want to be a Pokemon Performer?"