Author's notes: A lot of the ideas for this fic came before XYZ begun and hence it will operate on a small level of AU from the XY series. These are mainly things for around XYZ and there will be nothing big. It's mainly been just me making the wrong guesses on what would happen and things like that. The biggest was that the hope that Shinji would appear after Satoshi got all his badges just as one of the show creators said he was hoping would happen.

Pokemon Heroics

Act 1: The Adventures of Shinji and Eureka

Chapter One: Call To Adventure

Snow lay on the ground in clumps. It had snowed the night before but the sun had melted a lot of the snow. Eureka, though dressed for spring, felt hot and sweaty. She knew where she was going: wherever Shinji was taking her. She wished that she was there already. Her one hand was warm as she clung to Shinji on her left and tightly wrapped around the strap holding Dedenne in his pouch on her right.

Shinji suddenly stopped. He turned to Eureka and plainly said, "Eureka kun, I want you to be on your best behaviour from now on. We're meeting Shirona san here and she'll be wanting to see what you're like. I want you to show your bravest face and your intelligence."

Eureka swallowed her fear. She opened her mouth but couldn't get out her words. Shinji was walking on again. Eureka quickened her step to match his pace. She tried to keep her face serious as Shinji took her out of the woods. There was now no snow to be seen anywhere, but Eureka did not notice. She did not notice the fence she was walking past either. It seemed sudden when she stopped outside a house. Shinji opened the door and took her inside. "Sit on the couch. I'll see where Aniki and Shirona san are." Eureka sat as she was told to and took a look round her surroundings. The room was not cosy or gritty. There were a few plants around but they didn't seem to hold any real note. There was a fire place with a few dying embers in it but still looked very clean. Eureka wondered if this was some sort of office. The TV suggested otherwise though.

Shinji came back with a pile of firewood in his hands. He placed a log in the fire, gathered up the embers, so that the fire would start up close to the log, then sat next to Eureka. "Aniki and Shirona san will come in in a minute. Aniki is just showing her his baby pokemon." Shinji didn't show his feelings but he was quietly annoyed that Shirona was acting like baby pokemon were something exciting. He refused to even consider the idea that the champion of Sinnoh either hadn't seen baby pokemon before or would be learning anything new from looking at Reiji's.

Though, it was clear that Shinji was in a bad mood, Eureka's eyes lit up. "Can I see the baby pokemon too?" She then wondered if she had said something wrong as Shinji failed to hide his annoyed face.

Ignoring Eureka's request Shinji signalled for her to sit down then sat next to her and waited for his brother and Shirona to come in.

Shirona came in first and smiled at what she saw in Eureka's enthusiastic face. "Hello again, Shinji kun. It's nice to see you looking well. I'm guessing that this is your friend."

Shinji nodded.

Eureka said, "Hello Shirona san. I'm a very brave and intelligent person that won't disappoint Shinji kun." She watched Shinji's face crumpled and so her own did too.

Shirona laughed, "Don't worry about impressing me. I know all about Shinji kun's high standards." To everyone's relief Eureka relaxed upon hearing this.

Reiji walked in and sat down opposite Shinji whilst signalling Shirona to sit too. "Shinji, why don't you introduce everyone. That might impress Shirona san more." He smirked knowing that he was embarrassing Shinji.

With a sigh, Shinji agreed and begun, "Shirona san, Aniki, this is Eureka kun. I know she's a little young but I can assure you be has a lot of potential. Eureka kun, this is Shirona san, the champion of Sinnoh. Also everyone, this is Reiji, my annoying weakling brother."

The smirk left Reiji's face but a more normal smile replaced it. "Thankyou Shinji. Eureka kun, how are you?"

"Sleepy." Eureka then remembered her manners as well as Shinji's request. "And you Reiji san?"

"I'm fine thank you. Are you excited for the idea of traveling with Shinji kun?"

"Yes, really excited. He and I are going to go all over Sinnoh and explore everything and Dedenne and I are going to have lots of fun."

Shirona asked, "Dedenne?"

"Dedenne is Onii- no, Shinji's pokemon. They traded, so that I can still look after Dedenne. I've been looking after Dedenne for ages and Dedenne will be my pokemon someday. Dedenne is my special friend."

Shirona assured, "And it looks like you've been taking good care of Dedenne."

"Thank you, Shirona san."

Shirona then turned to Shinji and said, "Dedenne is what got you interested in Eureka chan, right?" After seeing Shinji's nod, she said, "She isn't ten though. Indeed, I was expecting you to bring someone older and more experienced."

"I am experienced, Shirona... san. I've traveled with Satoshi and battled Shinji. I lost but Shinji thought I did really well and Oniichan said that he supported me traveling with Shinji and so Oniichan called Papa and Papa said that he thought it was a great opportunity for me. Satoshi said it was a great idea too."

Everyone looked at Eureka who was happily smiling now, feeling very confident in herself. Finally, Shinji decided to explain in his own words, "I found Eureka Noir here, traveling with Satoshi. She and her brother, Citron were helping him to train and I could see that she had skills. I spoke with the whole group. There was one other person I think. Then I had to talk to her father and his boyfriend and that was a pain. They did agree to let her travel with me since I impressed them. Her father said that he believes that there is a loophole in the law or something like that will help solve the age problem. He said that you would know what he's talking about."

Shirona smiled. She had a feeling that this would be the case, pretty early on in Shinji's explanation. "It'll take a short while, but yes, I believe I can sort out something."

"A short while?" Shinji frowned, impatient. It had taken long enough for Shinji to find a trainer that was any where near suited for the idea of traveling with him and after everything Shinji had been through in dealing with his old rival, Shinji wanted not to wait a second longer. He looked at Eureka who had leaned on him resting her eyes and then at Reiji. His brother looked so proud of him that Shinji felt calmer.

"About a week. I'll have to leave Tobari City for a couple of days too. Don't worry, there's a lot of stuff you can do in the meantime. Maybe you could start by getting Eureka chan better dressed for the journey."

Reiji added, "We could sort though your team and plan too."

Eureka sleepily said, "I wanna play with all the pokemon here."

Shinji put a hand around Eureka and smiled. "Fine then, I can wait." He didn't mind as Eurkea cuddled into him or as she went to sleep. He tried to keep up with Shirona and Reiji's conversation that drifted into the sort of conversation that Shinji had never really understood. There was nothing to be discovered so soon he found himself drifting off with Eureka.

Shirona smiled at the two and wondered if they were more childlike than either would ever admit, but said nothing, leaving her judgment to just her face. She looked at Reiji who was also looking at both of them but only showing a look of relief. With Reiji leaving the room briefly, she decided that it was time for her to leave. She smiled before she left, noticing that Eureka had been left on the sofa to sleep. Shinji was still her pillow and there was now a blanket covering them both. "At least he's finally found another friend."

Shinji woke up a short while later and was disappointed that Shirona had left without saying goodbye. He looked for Reiji but it seemed that he had gone up to bed. Sighing he almost got up, before realising that that would be cruel. With that he decided it would be easier to back to sleep.

The next morning Reiji woke up and went to find the two friends. He smiled at the sight on his couch. The night before he had tried to wake them, but Shinji and Eureka were well and truly asleep. He didn't mind. Finding the blankets hadn't taken too much time and it would do Shinji well to bond. He left the two to sleep whilst he went to make breakfast. He soon heard Shinji grumpily wake up and Reiji poked his head from out of the kitchen, "Hi, Shin chan, wonderful morning."

"What suggested to you that it's okay to call me that right now?"

"How Shin chan like you look, of course."

"Shin chan like?" Shinji half wondered if he wanted to know his brother's reasoning. He was just glad that Eureka felt like she was still asleep.

"All cute and your hair all fluffy."

"I'm not going to pretend that that makes sense." Shinji then looked beside him. "Eureka is still asleep." He looked at Reiji. "You tried getting her up?"

"No, not since last night."

Shinji pushed Eureka off him and let her fall on the floor, this time sure the effort was worth it. She woke up with a whelp. "Shinji, that's mean."

"Talk to Aniki. He knows mean way better than I do."

Reiji looked confused. "I haven't done anything." He resisted the urge to call him Shin chan at that point. He came in with a couple of glasses of orange juice instead. "Still that was mean ,Shinji. Be nice to Eureka kun. She is the one doing you the favour, remember."

Eureka nodded and said, "Yes, be nice to me, Shinji."

Shinji sighed. He wished Reiji hadn't met Shirona here of all places. Having Eureka and Reiji together was sure to be a pain. Reiji alone wasn't bad and often could be fun to be around with and Eureka too was very irritating. Shinji could already see that together though, they would gang up on him.

Eureka then got up and started to stretch. "Where's the bathroom. I need to freshen up."

Shinji directed her and once they were both ready for the day, they found a fine breakfast waiting for them. Eureka looked very happy to be getting such nice food and quickly tucked in. Shinji used to his brother's cooking settled down with a book and absent mindedly helped himself as he read.

Reiji didn't say anything, eating quickly then getting ready for his days work. He then let Eureka and Shinji be.

Eureka asked, "What are you reading?"

"The Truth About Bug Types by Ayume Hito." Shinji showed her the book. "You might as well read it. It's not a great book, but we might as well do something whilst we're here."

"Okay, but I can cuddle Reiji san's cuties and we can go shopping too right." Upon Shinji's nod, Eureka started to look at the book too. Soon they were calmly sharing the book together eating between page turns. Eureka couldn't really understand some of the words, but she found a lot of the pictures adorable. Shinji never turned a page until Eureka gave her okay and smiled glad to be such a good influence.

They spent most of the morning absorbing information about bug types including their strengths and weaknesses, where they could be found, their cuteness and common behaviours. The book entrancing them until Eureka started to twitch and Shinji let her go. She ran off and started to play with her Dedenne. Shinji continued with the book by himself and ignored his apprentice.

Eureka let Dedenne settle on her head and let his tale hit her fingers whilst she made different pitched sounds, occasionally forgetting which finger was which note. Her noises were at first quiet but soon she forgot about Shinji's reading and Dedenne started to hit her fingers harder. Shinji pulled his book closer and tried to ignore Eureka's noises. He was about to close the book and throw it towards her when Reiji entered. He looked up at Reiji willing him to quieten Eureka down for him.

Reiji felt a strange feeling upon looking at the scene. Even though he was unaware of Shinji's thoughts, the way that Shinji was looking at him was enough to confirm old feelings. He had had confidence in Shinji's ability to make friends right from when Shinji had lost against Satoshi in the league. However the idea of Shinji traveling with someone still seemed like a huge jump to him in terms of social interaction. The feeling that Reiji was feeling, a feeling that is hard to describe, was something that was something that was on coming for a while.

Around a year ago, Shinji had lost at the Sinnoh league to Satoshi. Shinji had then returned home unusually happy for a loss and had discussed with Reiji his plans to defeat Jindai. Reiji had hoped that defeating Jindai would have more of an impact on Shinji but in a way it felt more like a footnote than anything else. Shinji had even said that much himself. It took Shinji around three months to then complete the Kanto Battle Frontier and all the time, it felt like little was happening. Somehow Satoshi had felt like more of a challenge even though Satoshi had only beaten Shinji once. Then as Shinji was planning to visit home and making his way through Sinnoh, he met again with Shirona and they started talking. Shirona had just been in Isshu and it disappointed Shinji to find out that his rival did not sound like as much of a challenge as he had once been. Shirona said that she was impressed with Shinji's drive and that Shinji actually considered his problem a problem at all. With that Shinji gained a second friend. They often would battle, fight strange people together, and even once discuss strategies. It was around three months ago that she had set up a particular task for him and spoken of how she was likely to loose one of her Heavenly Kings and need a replacement. Shinji would though need to prove himself as more than her friend for it to work.

Shinji must have taken this task of finding an apprentice seriously and yet Reiji couldn't help but wonder what had lead him to Eureka. Shinji had made a concious choice not to go to Isshu or seek out Satoshi even though they had kept in touch. Shinji did not want to be holding on to his past anymore and Satoshi was ultimately the past.

Around a week ago, Shinji had rung up to say that he had come across Satoshi and the next day to say he had found an apprentice. It had felt like no time at all had passed when Shirona was approaching his Day Care requesting to stay until Shinji came home and Reiji hadn't had time to think until now. Now he was considering this, he wanted to brush the feeling away whatever it was. Surely the fact that his brother had given him a lot to be proud of was more important. Deciding to ignore the feeling for now, Reiji said, "I was wondering what you two were planning on doing in terms of lunch."

Eureka looked up, letting Dedenne slide a little. "Lunch?"

Shinji nodded and said, "It is getting around that time." He put his book on one side, now distracted by thoughts of food. "It would be better if Eureka could cook, I guess." He looked at his brother for confirmation and Reiji nodded thinking it wasn't a bad idea at all.

Eureka though wasn't so sure, but she didn't want to annoy Shinji so soon. She had promised her brother that she would behave for Shinji. Satoshi had stated the importance too in a way. At least that's what she guessed he was trying to impose on her anyway. He had kept on saying that Shinji was super strict but had a good side too and things like that. Serena was the only one who had said very little on the matter. On the other hand, she hated cooking. It was boring. Something that someone like Citron would like but not her.

Unsure she followed Shinji to the kitchen. There were already three pans on the stove, letting off a nice aroma. Eureka sniffed hopefully and was disappointed when Shinji dismissed the smells, "that's pokemon food Eureka kun."

Shinji went to the fridge and pulled out some vegetables and said, "Eureka kun can cut the veg and I'll work on the pans."

Eureka decided that this wasn't so bad. She knew that she could make up her mind to accidentally forget the carrots. She watched as Shinji got out the rice and some oil and spices. She realised that Shinji trusted and expected her to get on with her set task. She smiled, working on the beans and casually ignoring the foods that she detested. She wondered what else she could get away with removing as she went to the fridge to get more peas. There was something nice about being trusted to get things right rather than to be helped all the time. It made her feel grown up.

Of course Shinji did notice the replacements when he put the ingredients in as well as Eureka's ill practiced chopping skills but decided against saying anything. He merely said, "You can help Aniki when he cooks tonight too."

It had been Reiji's idea that everyone should meet at his house and at the time, Shinji had seen that as a great waste of time, but now he wondered if Reiji had had a point. He knew that Reiji would handle her when it came to this better than he would. He for the first time, felt glad of the hold up created by Shirona having to sort out the age problem. He liked the idea of taking Eureka on and she did have an enthusiasm for pokemon that reminded him of his own around the same age. He was sure of her potential out of more than just nostalgia though. Plus, if Reiji could help with maturity in areas that weren't pokemon related that would make things a lot easier all around. She already insisted on a Wednesday phone call to her family. Both these things should make it easier for him to deal with going from travelling alone to travelling with someone that was clearly used to being around people.

When he came across Satoshi, he realised that it was worth battling him for Satoshi's sake and hopefully would make it worth it in the future for his own too. Shinji was pleasantly surprised by how much of a challenge Satoshi was so he didn't leave after the battle. It was then that he started to notice Eureka. She was saddened by the loss Satoshi had had and was helping Satoshi to build up their spirits. Shinji had done likewise back when he had seen battling value in his brother. He wouldn't as Eureka would do the same for Serena's pokemon which were clearly pretty week, but there was a similarity nonetheless. It was enough to get him to talk to her. It soon became clear that she knew a lot about pokemon for someone her age and Shinji challenged her to a friendly battle.

Shinji huffed at the memory. Satoshi had said that he wasn't aware that Shinji was capable of friendly, never mind a friendly battle. Shinji hadn't replied to such a ridiculous comment. It still interrupted Shinji's mind however much he pushed it out. He was sure that Eureka would consider the battle friendly enough, even though she naturally lost.

Her Dedenne was well looked after but it was clear that they didn't train. If nothing else, Shinji felt that he should be able to sort that out.

He also decided that it would be good if she were to capture more pokemon or at the very least be in procession of them or in other words capture in everything but name. Looking after something very different from Dedenne would be good. Eureka had had a very nice reaction to Dodaitose. Shinji wondered if it was his personal bias that he wanted Eureka to have a pokemon like that. It wouldn't do if she took too much after his style after all. It would be best if Eureka choose her own pokemon.

As Shinji pondered all this, he continued making his spiced vegetables and rice. The rice cooker took care of the rice so he wasn't too worried about that. He liked cooking though he preferred when his brother did it. He often felt though that it was easier for everyone involved to just eat out or open packets. Still, when his brother was around that reason did not stand with Shinji in the slightest.

Reiji entered to move his pokemon food from the pans into several large jars. Shinji then realised that this was probably something that he made lots of at once so that smaller measures could be added to dishes later. Eureka too took an interest in what Reiji was doing too. "Too much of this one at once isn't healthy but a treat can keep a pokemon better behaved. Plus it's useful for making friends." Eureka having now handed over her vegetables to Shinji, decided to help Reiji, eager to hear what he had to say. Reiji then indicated to a bubbling mixture on the cooker and said, "This one is really useful too. It keeps pokemon healthy. I give it to them if they start showing signs of sickness before they get fully sick to help prevent it. I'm not very good at making it though. You'd have to ask a different sort of breeder for that."

Eureka asked, "Different sort of breeder?"

"Sure, some breeders are better at some things than others. That's why typically at a place like this, they'll be two or three breeders. Unfortunately Hana kun is off sick at the moment so I'm having to fulfil her role too. Hana kun is a better cook than I am whilst I'm better at battling so we even each other out."

Eureka grinned. "Can I help out too?"

Reiji said, "If that's fine with Shinji. He might have other plans for his apprentice."

Shinji thought for a few seconds about this idea. His plans for the next few days involved reading and studying but he knew that that was nothing in comparison to field experience. Plus it would be a way of letting her play with his brother's 'cuties' that didn't get on anyone's nerves. "I think that should be for the best."

Eureka cheered happy. "I think that I should fit in fine. I can't cook though so I can't take Hana's place." She smiled and said, "Oniichan says that I'm good at grooming though."

Reiji agreed, "Yes, I noticed how nicely groomed Dedenne is and I'm guessing you've been helping Shinji's pokemon too."

"You noticed!"

Quietly Reiji thought to himself that it would be impossible not to. Shinji's on hand pokemon often went far too long without being groomed for Reiji's tastes. Sure, Eureka looked skilled but pretty much anything was an improvement for Shinji's pokemon. Shortly he said, "Of course I did. You did a great job too."

"I like Dodaitose. She's a cutie. Ringuma threw me off though until Shinji told him off."

"Her." Reiji corrected without thinking. Upon Eureka's surprise Reiji explained, "Ringuma is female."

"Oh. Well, Shinji told her off and they had a bit of a debate over me. I don't think Ringuma likes me very much."

"She's just being protective of Shinji. I reckon she must have lost some cubs at some point and has taken Shinji on as a way of coping. Once she sees that you mean no harm she'll calm down and let you groom her. I had to go through the same thing though it'll be easier for me. I have a similar scent to Shinji you see."

Eureka looked down feeling bad. She had no idea that anything like that could happen. "Lost her cubs."

"Yes, lost her cubs. I mean, I can't be sure. Shinji caught her in the wild after she started chasing after Satoshi. I've never been able to find out more information than that. I'm just assuming from her reaction towards Shinji as well as a time that she was here and some himeguma were here."

"Himeguma?"

"The unevolved form of Ringuma. They look like little teddies."

Shinji pulled his zukan from his pocket and showed Eureka a picture of Himeguma. "Cute. I don't blame Ringuma for wanting some. I'd like some too."

To this Shinji blankly replied, "It's no use owning an unevolved pokemon if you can't deal with an evolution." Reiji quietly agreed. It wasn't as big a deal to Reiji as it was to Shinji but it was something which did bother him a little. However, he didn't want to hurt Eureka's feelings hence he kept quiet.

Eureka pulled her best pose of determination, though really she lacked Satoshi's confidence to really pull off the one that she was trying. "I'll start by learning about Shinji's Ringuma then!" With that she ran off.

Shinji was about to go after her when Reiji stopped him. "Shinji, I would like to talk to you about Eureka kun. Are you sure that this is a good idea?"

Shinji replied, "Of course it is, Aniki. I'm sure that she'll do great. Even if this isn't though, I don't see why it should bother you."

Reiji sighed. He feared that Shinji would give him a reply like that. Still, there was nothing he could do: Shinji had made up his mind. Still, Shinji and Reiji's stubbornness had always been evenly matched and now that Shinji had made it clear not to be involved, there was no way that he wasn't going to be.