Note: I will be typing out SCH in third-person POV from this chapter onwards. I'm just not used to first-person POV. Sorry for causing any troubles/misunderstanding.
Chapter 2: Courage and Determination!
Onward to reviews and replies!
DestinationOblivion: Thanks! I look forward to your support!
SiriuslyFanatic: Yeah, sorry about that! Thanks for that character profile tip. My plot? All I can say is that it is indeed following the anime's plot - May going after the Ribbon Cup and all. However, Max is also here to find the Ralts he had to leave behind and become a Pokemon trainer! I think it's original enough- (smack'd by other pokemon writers). And may I just add, my dear reviewer, this is just the first chapter... Of course, Team Rocket won't always be there to steal the limelight. This story is for Steven and Blythe. Although, I might just add a little Contestshipping, I guess? Not to worry, though, Blythe is there to shake it up! Thanks for your review! (Gosh, sorry if I babbled too much... I tend to do this. .)
"Blythe, May, Max," Professor Birch yelled out, popping his head out of the door just as they left. "Before you go and find Steven, how about you drop by Rustboro City to visit his father, Mr. Stone?"
"Sounds like a plan," Blythe grinned at him, and Fang barked with agreement. "How far is Rustboro City, Max?"
"It's near here," Max commented. "We just follow this road into the forest near Petalburg City and out, and we'll be there in no time!"
"Alright," the brunette cheered, pumping her fist into the air. "Let's go!"
After saying so, they started walking down the road, the professor yelling out good luck to them as they waved goodbye to him and started their journey.
Soon, they reached the forest that intertwined the roads to Petalburg and Rustboro city. Seeing as to how thick and dense the forest was; they lost their way rather quickly.
"Strange, the Pokénav says it's just this way," Max announced while pointing at the dead and fallen tree before them.
"There must have been a storm last night," Blythe told them, staring at the fallen tree that blocked their path. "Oh well, guess we're going to have to jump over it."
"Jump over it?" The siblings yelled together, shock evident on their faces. "How do you expect us to jump over it?"
Blythe just stared at them, and waved her hand over to Fang, asking them silently to grab onto him.
"Uh... Do you want us to hold onto Fang?" Max asked, tilting his glasses while May furrowed her eyebrows.
"Okay...?" They both replied softly to her strange request, before holding onto Fang tightly.
"Hold him tightly," She warned them. "You won't hurt him, and you don't want to fly off either."
Once she made sure they were holding onto him tightly, she grabbed onto Fang as well.
"Fang, use extreme speed!" She told him, and he sprung forwards in a burst quickly, and then cleared the log without much difficulty.
"Whoa!" They yelled out as they clung onto Fang for dear life as he sprinted forward in a mad dash and jumped over the log.
"There we go," She smiled and released Fang's fur, patting him. "All cleared, now how's the path, Max?"
"F-f-fine," Max stuttered, thrown off by the extreme speed jump they just experienced. "That was... impressive..."
"Arcanine are known for their speed," Blythe grinned and slapped Max in the back. "Let's get going then, Tech Boy!"
"W-Wha," Max uttered before falling flat on his face, "Ow..."
"Oops, sorry," She apologized as she helped Max up. Really, how could I do that to Max? He was still a kid! She mentally scolded myself as Max got to his feet and brushed himself down.
"Let's go then, this way," Max said, pointing forward.
"Alright~" Blythe sang as they continued on their journey towards Rustboro City.
"By the way, Blythe," Max tapped the brunette on the shoulder. "Have you challenged the gyms here in Hoenn region?"
"Uhh..." Blythe blinked and raised a finger to her lips at that sudden question. "I think so..."
On saying so, she started to rummage through her bag for her badge case, "Ah, here it is!"
Opening the shiny blue case, Blythe revealed a case full of shiny badges – all from Hoenn region's best.
"Man, those were good times," the brunette grinned happily, reminiscing.
"At least now we know there's nothing in it for you," Max sighed again, albeit heavier this time, and glanced at his sister. "Now we need to rack our brains thinking how to thank you for doing this for us."
"Hey, like I said no problem, no need! We're all family, right?" The brunette turned and winked at May, who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I still think we should do something for Blythe," Max whispered to May, hand cupped to his sister's ear in conspiracy. "What she's doing for us is really a big deal!"
May nodded enthusiastically, but just how could they help Blythe...?
They finally arrived in a brighter part of the forest, and Blythe suggested a lunch break. Laying out a picnic mat, they sat on top of it and said brunette started to take out the ingredients she had prepared with Caroline before they had left.
Swiftly, Blythe cut the carrot, potato, cabbage and meat then put them into the pot and stirred. It was her favourite meat stew, full of vegetables for extra vitamin and minerals, good for growing kids like May and Max.
May let out her Pokémon as Blythe did, and they all begun to eat their Pokémon food that she prepared especially for Pokémon of all types.
Soon the stew was done, and Blythe poured it out into three bowls before serving it to them. They also started to eat as their Pokémon ate happily alongside us, and the siblings were full of praises for Blythe's stew.
"This is about as good as Brock's," Max told me. "Brock is a great chef! You should meet him and swap recipes with him someday."
"How'd you learn to cook like this," May commented as well. "It just tastes so good!"
"Well, travelling does make you acquire various skills," Blythe grinned as she washed and packed up the utensils with some help from them both. "Thanks."
"Let's go!" May and Max cheered, both pumped since they were very close and had eaten their fill.
They all packed up the picnic mat and continued their way through the forest without much trouble, and soon they could see the clearing in the distance. Glancing at each other, they then clenched their fists together as their thoughts echoed as one: Rustboro City, here we come!
Just as the trio stepped out of the forest glade into the fresh, open air, a net suddenly came out of nowhere and snagged Fang.
"Fang!" Blythe yelled, startled by the sudden capture of her beloved Pokémon. She was then aware of a Meowth-shaped balloon that was floating away with Fang in tow. "Who are you people, and where are you taking my Arcanine?"
"Your Arcanine?" A female with long, pink hair laughed. "We stole it, it's ours now!"
"That's right," A blue-haired male beside her agreed with a thumb up. "Ah, did she just ask who we were?"
"That's your cue!" A talking Meowth leapt onto the edge of the basket. "Recite the motto!"
"Prepare for trouble!" The female announced, crossing her arms as she smiled, her blue eyes glinting.
"And make it double," The male claimed, green eyes shining like the female's.
"To protect the world from devastation," She said as she struck a pose.
"To unite all peoples within our nation," He made a big claim as he, too, struck a similar pose.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love," The female said with a flick of her pink mane.
"To extend our reach to the stars above," The male spun around in the tiny hot-air balloon.
"Jessie," She introduced with a glint in her eyes.
"James," The male did too, with a large grin in sight.
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light," Jessie announced as she struck another pose.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight," James grinned down at us from the balloon.
"Meowth, that's right!" The Meowth sprung onto the edge of the balloon again.
"Wobbuffet," The tall blue Pokémon interrupted with a salute, and a Chimeco joined him, producing a soothing bell sound.
"Team Rocket!" May and Max gasped. "You guys again?"
"No time for your silly poetry," Blythe growled at the trio, angered at the fact that they even dared to fire a damn net at her beloved Arcanine. "Fang, use fire spin to break free!"
"Arcanine!" Fang cried out before releasing the powerful fire stored in his mouth in a spin, breaking the thread of the net in an instance.
He landed right in front of his trainer, and she pointed to their Meowth-shaped balloon.
"Thunder Fang, let's go!"
"Arcanine!" Fang sprung forward and charged at them with a jump and boosted himself more using his extreme speed. His fangs begun to glow as they became electrified, and the sharp canines pierced through the balloon in just one touch.
As their balloon let out all the air, they landed on the ground harshly.
"Fang, finish them off," Blythe pointed towards Team Rocket. "Ice Fang; and then use hyper beam!"
Fang leapt forward, his canines encased and glowing blue with icy power, and struck at the thieves with lightning quick moves before jumping away and charging up a powerful hyper beam.
"Ar-canine!" Fang howled as he unleashed the stored up energy and hit the trio, sending them flying into space.
"We're blasting off again!"
After watching the trio fade out into nothing but a twinkle in the sunny sky, Blythe turned back to her companions and asked if they were alright. Once she got their replies, she turned to Fang and started to fuss over him until he licked her cheek to assure her he was really fine.
Blythe ran her hands through Fang's fur to make sure he had no scratches or scars from that sudden ambush, and soon they were well on their way towards Rustboro City, Blythe still a little upset about Team Rocket's bad intentions.
May and Max noticed the silence from and the turmoil of emotions troubling Blythe in her cyan eyes, her furrowed brows and her stance. Her arms were crossed, as if she was afraid someone was going to attack her, and Fang looked like he was stuck onto her leg with glue.
I wonder what's wrong with her, May thought, upset to see her long-lost friend so trouble. I should help her out however I can.
As if reading May's mind, Blythe turned around and smiled at the siblings.
"I'm fine," She assured them. "It's just, that was the first time someone tried to steal my Pokémon from me..."
"It's alright," May patted her friend's shoulder. "I understand. My first time watching Ash's Pikachu get stolen was hard, too."
Blythe smiled, and they continued their journey towards Rustboro City, and they could see it just over the horizon. Seeing the city pumped adrenaline through their veins and made them even more excited than ever; they wanted to get there as fast as they could, and there was only one way that Blythe knew how.
"Let's race to Rustboro City," Blythe clenched her fist. "Last one there has to buy lunch! Fang, use extreme speed!" She grabbed hold of the Arcanine just as it started to lurch forward in a burst, and they were well on their way towards the city.
"Hey, that's cheating, Blythe!" The siblings yelled out before they glanced at each other.
May started to run with Max, both determined not to be the one paying for lunch, and the race was on to see who reached the city first.
Finally, the two of them caught up to a waiting Blythe along with Fang, who stood outside the Pokémon Centre looking so refreshed. Grabbing them both by their hands, Blythe dragged the siblings into the Centre, and took May's pokéballs off her and gave them to Nurse Joy along with her own.
"Please help us take care of our Pokémon Nurse Joy," Blythe gave a sparkly smile. "Thanks!"
With that settled and out of the way, the brunette then dragged the two to a cafe for lunch.
"Wait, so who's paying?" Max yelped, anxious to know since he and May reached at the same time. "I don't have any money! I'm just a little kid!"
"Don't be like that, Max," May frowned, noticing the attention they were getting. "I'm sure Blythe won't make you pay."
"You two are so dense," Blythe sighed. "That was just for fun, silly little May and Max! This cafe is an extended part of the Pokémon Centre; the food is free for people here!"
"Oh," May and Max uttered, thrown off and partially speechless.
"So, let's eat," Blythe grinned before heading towards the salad bar. "Come on, slowpokes!"
May and Max both stared after the brunette, completely lost in her quick change of pace. Blinking a couple of times, they then finally got the clue and went after her to take their food.
"Now where do we sit...?" May looked around, holding a plate that held a mountain of food.
"Over here, May," Blythe called out, waving to May from a table nearby. "Have a seat and let's wait for Max before we eat."
"Okay!" May went over and sat down, happy to finally rest after that race.
Meanwhile, Max was walking all around the salad bar looking for something scrumptious to eat. All he saw was lettuce, tomatoes, raisins... well, most of the food there were vegetables. That was all he saw.
"I hate vegetables..." Max muttered, sounding like the kid he was. "Oh! I see some food at last!"
He went over to the other salad bar that had actual food – spaghetti, rice and bread. However, he was too short to actually take the food.
"Oh, man," He groaned, wanting the food more than anything else. His stomach agreed with him on that with a loud growl. "I don't see Blythe or May anywhere... Ah!"
Max had turned and bumped into a person, tumbling backwards onto his behind.
"I'm so sorry!" Max apologized as he got up to his feet and faced the person he had bumped into.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry..." A man waved his hand. "Max? Is that you?"
"Steven?" Max's eyes widened once he recognized the male before him. "It is you! It's been so long, Steven!"
The two of them shook hands and started a conversation; both immersed in the talk of Pokémon and related things. Soon, Steven knew of Max's hunger as the boy's stomach growled loudly, He helped Max to get the food, and Max was now trying to find Blythe and May.
A whole crowd of people blocked him, and he could barely see anything at all due to his height's disadvantage.
"Over there," Steven put his hand on Max's shoulder. "I see your sister and her friend."
"Alright, let's go," Max smiled, holding his plate of food carefully so it wouldn't spill.
Steven led the way; hand on Max's shoulder all the way so as to not lose the little boy in the crowd. In his other hand, Steven held a plate of food as well. Once they got out of the bustling, hungry crowd near the salad bars, Max could finally see the two females waiting for him.
"May, Blythe!" Max yelled as he went over to them, excited to have finally found them at last. "Guess who I met near the bar?"
The male standing next to him smiled at the two females. May stood up on seeing Steven, evidently surprised.
"Steven?" May gasped, shocked to see the stone-hunting male here. "How are you doing? It's been so long!"
"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners here," May gave an embarrassed smile. "Steven, this is Blythe, my long-term friend! Blythe, this is Steven, the one I've been telling you about!"
May waved her hand to introduce the two to each other with awkward gestures along with her words.
"Hello," Blythe got up, hand outstretched. "It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance."
"It's my pleasure as well," Steven smiled at the female. "May I join all of you for lunch?"
"Sure, go ahead," May smiled at him. "We're all friends here, after all."
Steven slid into the bench beside Max, and the four of them ate together. Through bites, they shared stories of their own different adventures – May and Max about their adventures in Hoenn with Ash, Blythe about her adventures in the Kanto, Johto and Hoenn regions, and Steven about his adventures in dark caves, hunting for special rocks.
It was quite an unusual and unique lunch for all of them, having gathered together and sharing bits and pieces of adventures they had, journeys they made, and Pokémon they caught.
It was all about the Pokémon, the travels, the excitement, the adrenaline pumping through one's veins, the pride of finding and achieving goals, to fight with Pokémon as partners, and have Pokémon as supporters.
Finally, the four were done eating, and Nurse Joy came up to clear their plates – seeing as to how empty the cafe was by the time they were done talking.
"It's already evening," May marvelled at the darkness outside. "I can't believe we talked so much till this late!"
"Hey, at least our Pokémon are all rested up," Blythe added with a smile. "It was great meeting you, Steven."
"It is always a pleasure to meet new friends," Steven smiled back kindly. "I hope to see you all again soon."
"Oh, wait," Blythe uttered quickly, remembering the stone at last. "Professor Birch wanted me to give these to you, Steven."
She handed it over, and the male smiled his gratitude.
"Just what I needed from him," Steven took the items. "Thank you so for bringing them to me. I owe you for this."
"It's not a big deal," the brunette waved her hand. "See you around!"
"Yes," Steven nodded, agreeing. "I hope to see all of you again."
With that said once more, the tall male turned and left the Pokémon Centre cafe.
"Oh, by the way, May," Blythe started again, turning to the other brunette. "Do you think there's any Pokémon Contests near here?"
"I'm not sure," May replied. "But if there is, I'm so psyched!"
"Are you looking for Pokémon Contests?" Nurse Joy smiled kindly while she finished clearing the plates. "There's one up in Silverwing town, it's near Rustboro City."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy!" The two girls grinned at each other.
"Max, how far is Silverwing town?" May asked her brother as he took out his Pokénav.
"It's really near here," Max commented. "All we have to do is cross the bridge that links Rustboro City to it."
"Where's the bridge in the first place?" Blythe questioned, curious about any obstacles in their way.
"It's... west of Rustboro City," Max told them, eyes still focused on his Pokénav. "We have to walk a long way to get there, though."
"It's alright," Blythe assured them. "We'll go in the morning, so let's stay at the Pokémon Centre for tonight."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," May nodded. "Well, let's go to sleep!"
"Wait," Max stopped his sister. "Before we do, do we even have a room?"
"Of course," Blythe interrupted brightly. "I took the liberty of booking us a room to sleep in, so come on! Sleep waits!"
"Alright," The siblings followed her down the hallway into their room.
Claiming the beds they chose once they stepped in, Blythe put her bag at the corner. May took off her bandana and fanny pack, placing them beside Blythe's bag as well.
"Goodnight," They told one another before climbing into their beds and finally falling asleep, the moonlight on their faces.
Silently, the night crept by and cyan eyes met the sunrise. Blythe sat on her bed, on the bottom bunk under May, Fang with his toasty fur on her feet. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them, albeit slowly so as to not wake the dozing Arcanine sleeping at the foot of her bed.
Her attempts proved unsuccessful as Fang immediately opened his eyes, and glanced at his trainer. Muttering a swift, soft apology to the Pokémon, Blythe was soon greeted by the Arcanine with a big lick to her cheek.
Hugging the dog-like Pokémon to her, she lay her head on Fang's shoulder, and they watched the sun rise together, like they did ever since they started travelling. Blythe pulled the blanket around the two of them, stroking Fang's warm fur as the sun continued to rise, and dawn broke before the awoken pair.
"Here's to a new adventure," Blythe whispered, the light from the sun lighting up the fire inside of her – the fire that encouraged her all along her journey. "I'm going to help May and Max no matter what."
Sheer determination and courage shone in cyan orbs as they looked up, right into the dawn of a new day.
Sorry if this seems short, LOL. O.O" I'm mostly focusing on DA, my Hibari x OC fic. This one is just a hatched idea from when I first encountered Steven in Pokemon. Fell in love with him at first sight, always will xD anyway, enough of my blabbering. Enjoy!
