Hello everyone! Wow! I'm glad you all like my pokemon fic! I love it too. It's fun to write. This chapter, not much will happen. I need to bring in Matthew. That's about it…

If you're wondering about ages, Sadiq is 20, Gilbert is 19, and Matthew is 18. BTW.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air startling the three of them.

"Someone's in trouble!" Gilbert dashed ahead. "Come on Hitmonchan!"

"Here we go again…" Sadiq rolled his eyes following them.

The screams came from the path in front of them. It sounded like a girl's scream, but Gilbert wasn't too sure. Up ahead someone dashed through the trees and tumbled out to the path. A blonde trainer sprawled out in the dirt. His shoe laces caught in the bushes, and the trainer panicked.

"SHINX!" he covered his face. "Where are you!" He was in tears and shaking.

"What is he running from?" Sadiq slowed down, but still had a hand on one of his Pokeballs. All he could hear was a soft buzzing. Moments later, thirteen Ledyba flew out and circled the fallen trainer. The trainer wailed and curled up in a ball. Sadiq stopped completely, "He's afraid of Ledyba? Really?"

Gilbert and Hitmonchan halted too, "I… guess? The Ledyba are smiling. I believe they think he's playing with them? They're not even attacking."

"Should we… do something?" Sadiq scratched his head. "I don't want to attack the Ledyba if they're not doing anything wrong."

"Shinx…" the trainer trembled. "Please come save me…" One of the Ledyba dove close and patted his shoulder. The young man freaked out, throwing out an arm. His fist slammed into the Ledyba's face knocking it down. The bug Pokemon froze.

"That's not good," Gilbert snatched a Pokeball from his belt.

The Ledyba swarmed around the trainer, rising high above him. Each tilted their wings towards the man ready to attack.

"They're all about to use silver wing!" Sadiq gasped. "They'll tear him apart!"

"Jolteon!" Gilbert threw the Pokeball out, his electric type exploding out. Jolteon shook out his spikes and crouched, ready to act. "Use thunderbolt! Try not to hit the Ledyba! Just scare them away."

"Jolt?" he glanced back at Gilbert like he was insane.

"I know it's a weird command, but just do it!"

Shrugging, Jolteon shot out several thin tendrils dancing them around the Ledyba and the trainer. The startled bug type scattered flying away and leaving the trainer on the ground.

"Hey kid!" Gilbert jogged forward to him and kneeled down. Touching his shoulder, Gilbert fell back to dodge the trainer's fist. Gil snatched his wrist and held him tight. "Whoa! Watch it!"

Uncovering his face, the trainer peaked up through tear filled eyelashes. Gilbert froze and gawked at the deep purple eyes staring back at him. Damn. Whoever this kid was, he was gorgeous. Heat rose up in Gilbert's cheeks as he took in the trainer's fair white skin. Though it was covered in dirt, he was still very cute.

"Sir?" the trainer had a higher pitched voice for a man. "Did you make the Ledyba go away?"

Gilbert just nodded like a dummy. Hitmonchan rolled his eye and strutted forward. With a swift punch, he knocked Gil out of the way.

"Ah!" the trainer froze watching the scene unfold. He relaxed as Hitmonchan pulled his shoelaces from the bush before helping the young man to his feet. "Thank you very much, Mr. Hitmonchan." The trainer ruffled the Pokemon's hair.

"What the fuck, Hitmonchan!" Gilbert shot back to his feet, holding his ribs. He bent over and rubbing his sides, "That really hurt."

"Chan, hitmonchan hit."

"I was not acting like a jackass!"

"Monchan!"

"You shut up!"

"Monchan!"

"No, you shut up!"

Jolteon laughed as it circled behind his trainer. Her rubbed up against Gilbert making sure he was okay.

Sadiq hustled forward and stuck a hand between Gilbert and Hitmonchan, "Will you both shut up! You're acting like hooligans. I'm sorry you have to see them acting like children, sir."

"Please, call me Matthew. It's totally fine. Thanks for saving me. I sort of have a deathly fear of Ledyba," he blushed and looked away. "I got off the path with my Shinx and-" His eyes grew big, and he spun around. "Shinx! Shinx! Where are you!" He dove back through the bushes ignoring the briars tearing at his jeans.

Sadiq looked to Gilbert and pointed after Matthew, "Should we follow him?"

"Hell yeah we do!"

"Hitmonchan…" the fighting Pokemon rolled his eyes before shrugging to his electric friend.

"Jolt?"

"Chan."

They laughed together and Sadiq smirked, "Your Pokemon are making fun of you."

"They tend to do that." Gilbert lightly nudged Jolteon with his toe before pointing to the bushes. "Since you have that spiky tough fur, do you mind going first to make a path?"

Jolteon shook its head, looking up to his trainer. Hitmonchan waited and did the same.

Sadiq cocked his head, "What are they doing?"

"What are you two doing?" Gilbert glanced between them. The Pokemon exchanged very knowing glances before Jolteon dashed into the briars. He easily cleared a path. "Pokemon are strange creatures."

"You're a strange creature," Sadiq snickered before following after Jolteon.

Reaching out, Gilbert stopped Hitmonchan, "You and Jolteon are right by the way. I think that trainer is cute. But I don't know Sadiq well enough to come out to him. You're my best friend though…"

"Monchan," Hitmonchan smiled back, understanding his trainer and the position.

"Thanks buddy. Now let's go find that trainer!"

Matthew and Sadiq knelt beside a briar bush about twenty yards off the path. The sharp thorns wrapped around the smallest Shinx Gilbert had ever seen. It had to be less than a few months old. It cried out along with Matthew, who was panicking once again. "I'm so sorry, Shinx! I was so scared that I didn't mean to outrun you! Please be okay! Mister, don't let my Pokemon die!"

"Hush," Sadiq pulled a small pair of scissors from his bag, "Your Shinx won't die. She's just tangle, though she might have a few scratches." Taking his time, he slowly snipped through the thorny vines.

Sensing the baby Pokémon's distress, Jolteon crawled on his belly and laid his head beside the Shinx's. He gently nuzzled his nose into her neck keeping her calm. Shinx tensed as a thorn was pulled out from her thigh and accidently discharged electricity. But Jolteon absorbed it to keep Sadiq from being shocked.

"Good job, Jolteon," Gilbert crouched beside Matthew and rubbed his back. "It's okay. You're Shinx is in good hands."

"Are you sure?" Matthew cringed as his Pokemon whined.

"Totally! I've known Sadiq less than a day and seen him work wonders."

"That…. doesn't make me feel any better," Matthew shrugged away from Gilbert.

A few tense moments later, Sadiq pulled off the last briar and handed Shinx to Matthew. The tiny Pokemon whimpered in her trainer's arm and trembled. Matt rocked her while cooing quietly. Smoothing her fur, he looked between Gilbert and Sadiq, "Thank you both for your help. I really did mess up that time."

Sadiq put his scissors away and hoisted his bag back on his shoulders, "It's not a problem. Now let's find some water so I can clean up her scratches."

Nearby, a stream crossed the path as it raced under a bridge. The travelers paused there to set up for lunch. Sadiq plopped Shinx on a stump, gently spraying her cuts. She whined but stood her ground. He could tell she wanted to seem brave in front of Gilbert's Jolteon.

Gilbert built up a fire to heat up some tea followed by making sandwiches. But his gaze drifted back to the blonde. Matthew pulled off his shirt before changing into a pair of shorts. His jeans had torn from the thorns leaving gaping holes in the legs. Still shirtless, he washed off the dirt from his arms and face. The water trickled down his chest in shimmering beads.

Jolteon rubbed against Gilbert snapping him out of his trance. Gil just grinned to his Pokemon and rubbed his head, "I'm hopeless aren't I?"

Shaking his head, Jolteon nuzzled his trainer. Suddenly, he bristled up appearing startled. Glancing back very unamused, he saw Shinx sitting on his back wagging her tail.

"Looks like you have an admire too," Gilbert laughed scratching his Pokemon's ears. "Be nice to her, okay?"

"Oh Shinx, leave him alone," Matthew, now fully dressed and cleaned, picked her up and tapped her nose. "You're looking so much better now! Thank you, sir." Matthew trotted to Sadiq and shook his hand.

"No problem. I'm Sadiq. Pleasure to meet you."

"You too."

Gilbert clambered up and held out his hand, "I'm Gilbert! Nice to meet you too!"

"Oh," forcing a small smile, Matthew appeared a little put off. He quickly turned back to Sadiq (which bummed out Gil), "So are you some kind of traveling Pokemon doctor?"

"No I'm a breeder. What about you?"

Matthew and Shinx both puffed out their chests, "I'm a coordinator!"

"Cool," Gilbert tried to get back in the conversation, "So how many ribbons do you have?"

He frowned as Matthew deflated a little not meeting their eyes, "Um, I have two."

"Just for this year?" Sadiq questioned.

"Ever. I just have two."

Gilbert scoffed, "How old are you?"

Matthew didn't answer, gripping his Shinx a little tighter. The tiny Pokemon frowned at Gil as she sensed her trainer's embarrassment.

Gilbert tried to cover, "But you probably just haven't come into your own yet! I'm sure you're going to be awesome one day! Grand Festival material…" He was never good at this stuff.

"Thank you… So where are you two going?" Matthew sat beside the fire, accepting a sandwich from Sadiq.

The breeder smiled back to him, "Canalave City."

"Me too! I'm from there. My parents' house is just outside of town. We should travel together," Matthew quickly added, "Not that I'm inviting myself in your party!"

Gilbert and Sadiq exchanged looks and nodded in agreement before Gil said, "No, you're more than welcome to come along."

"Really? Thank you both!" Matthew smiled wide.

Gilbert swooned.

Sadiq rolled his eyes.

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