I promise this, and future, author notes won't be as long as the first. That one… oof. Sorry about that, if you've come this far at least.
So, my plan to mitigate the confusion as best I can, is to put down the date, Felix's age and the location. And also depending on the when, how many pokémon that are on hand and how many badges.
But, as I said before, chapter one and two are the closest to a proper line that I have planned, I may have a chapter or two set between this one and the previous, but don't count on that happening any time soon.
Location – Sinnoh Four Years Before Start of Journey.
Age 7.
Solaceon Town.
It was quiet.
Not an overbearing quiet, a soft, comfortable lull in activity.
People were up and about, the town never rests, but most were still in their beds.
Felix smiled as he shifted in bed, he was warm, and he was comfortable. There was the familiar weight against his side, a small blue pokémon curled up on the top of his bed but had still pulled his blanket up to wrap around her.
His smile grew wider as he properly woke up, the excitement of the dream fading and leaving behind an overall feeling of happiness. Cracking his eyes open, he yawned and rubbed at the stickiness that was his eyes in the morning.
"IT'S MORNING!" He suddenly shouting, scaring his companion and causing her to leap off the bed with a shout. Or at least try, she was too tangled in the blankets and ended up slumping over his legs and then off the bed.
"Why?" The only response the pokémon could formulate. The idea of kicking the human occurred immediately after.
"Because it is," Felix replied, swinging his legs off the bed to join her. "And you know what that means?"
"That we should be sleeping?" she growled back.
"It means it's the holidays!"
The pokémon gave him an unimpressed look and jumped back on the bed. "Goodnight."
Felix pouted and hovered over the bed, poking at the pokémon to try and get her to react. "Come on Keira," he whined, poking more. "After my ten chores we can go out and do whatever we want!"
"Exactly. Your chores," Keira muttered back, already going back to sleep. "Meaning that I get to sleep more." He went to poke her. "Don't poke the ursaring, or the ursaring will poke you. Hard."
"You're not an ursaring," Felix said.
"Point still stands. Now, shh."
Felix got the message, laughed, and scampered out of the room.
It had been over a year since he had found a scared riolu stuck in a bundle of wires at his schoolhouse. Their beginning may have been rocky, and fraught with bruises, but Felix had fulfilled on all the promises he made to her, and she had stuck around.
Handling Keira was rather difficult at first.
Sneaking out of the house was not as successful as he had thought. One the other kids had woken up and found out he was missing, quickly alerting Miss Norrie of his disappearance.
His caretaker was mere moments away from calling into the local police before he returned and had not been happy.
Felix was sure the only thing stopping him from getting a spanking was the fact he had a bleeding pokémon in his arms.
A quick cleaning and bandage was the best they could do for the riolu, and Miss Norrie took the riolu to a Pokémon Centre as soon as possible the next day.
Needless to say, she did not intend on letting Felix keep her.
"Taking care of a pokémon is an enormous responsibility!" Miss Norrie's voice had been soft and stern. "And you are too young for such a burden on your shoulders, Felix. I'm sorry, but my answer is no."
Felix had been silent after her statement. Dozens of expressions flashed over his face as he scrambled for any words to convince his caretaker. His expressions nearly settled on an angry pout, but relaxed into a less childish expression. "What can I do?" He had asked. "Anything, I'll do whatever you want to prove I can be responsee... responso... respons... that one!"
It was only when he argued back, asking to prove himself, did the possibility become real.
Miss Norrie was hopeful he'd never realise, but it was due to his arguments that she entertained the idea. He never argued. He may have acted lazy in the face of chores, pleaded or sulked if he didn't get something he wanted, but he never argued.
Miss Norrie agreed to give him a chance to prove himself, and Felix took that chance.
She set up a chores rotation that he had to do to the best of his ability, unless sick or injured, without any prompting or reminding.
Felix delivered on his promises and after two weeks of perfect behaviour and responsibility, she told Nurse Joy the decision had been made and they would be taking the riolu home with them.
Felix was delighted. Miss Norrie had never seen him so happy and a part of her was happy for him. Felix continued on his promise, and never missed a chore.
He named the riolu Keira and the two were as thick as thieves.
Felix had impressed Miss Norrie, not that she'd ever tell him that in such direct words, and Keira had adapted well to being in the care of a human.
The first thing Felix had to do after getting the chance to have her, was work enough pocket money to buy a pokéball. Not the most difficult task, even convincing Keira to accept it wasn't difficult, what had been difficult was getting her to stay in it.
Such a battle was quickly lost, and Keira traipsed about, almost as smug as Miss Norrie's glameow. But none were as smug as Ellouise and the riolu and glameow clashed often.
"Keira?" Felix called, an hour later. He finished doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the loungeroom, cleaning the bathroom, washing down the shower, scrubbing the toilet, gathering up the dry laundry, folding the dried laundry, placing dirty laundry in the washing machine and neatening up his bedroom.
After a year of this there was relatively little work for him to do, as the chores had to be done each day, simply multiple different tasks. He didn't enjoy it, but if it let him have Keira than he'd continue doing it.
Keira had pretended to continue sleeping even as he made his bed, with her under the covers, but eventually wriggled her way out. "And to think," she sighed as she stretched. "I was having such a wonderful dream."
Felix giggled and pulled her along. "Come on, I want to play!"
Keira let herself be dragged along, while she didn't act it Felix knew that she did enjoy it, she just enjoyed being difficult.
"Glameow, already?" Ellouise called as they passed her, Felix stopped to wave, but continued running right after.
It'd been a year since the nonsensical sounds pokémon made began making sense to Felix. It was disorientating at the best of times, especially when among several different pokémon. Not everything made sense, so the constant flipping of random syllables and words he could understand led to a headache.
Keira was the only one who, almost entirely, always made sense to him. However, she often spoke with unnecessarily big words that he didn't understand in the first place, oftentimes making such clarity meaningless, but she refrained from it for his sake.
"Where are we going?" Keira asked as they raced along the streets of Solaceon Town.
"Dunno," Felix replied, not slowing down in the least. "Somewhere fun!"
"And where is that?"
"Everywhere!"
Keira laughed, Felix's mannerisms were endearing to her and his constant enthusiasm made it difficult to not join in sometimes.
Their favourite game was one Felix invented in his head, he called it Kena Kai Knives. When asked about the name, Felix shrugged and said it sounded cool to him.
The game was simple, they took up imaginary roles and played out imaginary battles. It was something that Keira did enjoy, it gave her ideas for potential strategies she could employ in a real battle, but it was genuinely fun to see what mad plans Felix could invent as well.
He'd never beaten her in their games but winning wasn't really the point.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Turbo Laser!" Felix yelled out, making loud laser-esc sounds and pretending to fire a beam of energy.
"I dodge!" Keira replied, doing a jump and a flip. Felix was not to be deterred, however, and he countered with.
"Lava Burst, now lava comes from the ground you land on."
"Protect! This stops all damage."
Their games were long and a back and forth of who could place the other in a situation they couldn't think their way out of.
"Now." Keira smirked. "I use Aura Snare, to freeze you in place for ten seconds."
"Oh no!" Felix cried and struggled against the imaginary bindings.
"I've got you with Force Palm, bam!"
Felix hesitated, but he couldn't think of an out and he pouted. "You win."
Keira laughed and smacked her paw into her palm. "Aura for the win."
"I'll figure you out one day!" Felix declared, smacking his own fist into his palm. "Then we'll see who's laughing."
Keira just chuckled.
They were both panting for breath, Felix more so, and Keira posed the question of what to do next.
"Not sure." Felix paused to catch his breath. "I'm thirsty."
"Me too, let's go to the Pokémon Centre."
It wasn't uncommon for Keira to wind up at the Pokémon Centre for one reason or another, she enjoyed getting into battles, more often than not outside of her league, and Felix wasn't experienced enough to hope to direct her properly in battle.
The nurses loved her though. She was the troublesome patient, never wanting to lie down and relax, caused endless grey hairs from Nurse Joy and constant cheerful threats from the chansey that were employed there.
She was never too harmed, though, so they still greeted Felix with a smile.
"Good afternoon," Nurse Joy called out from the front desk, Felix giving an energetic wave in response. "And how are you little Keira?"
"I won't tell you because you are part of the hivemind and wish to assimilate my brains," Keira replied, just as cheerfully. It had taken more than a few trips to the Pokémon Centre for Felix to catch himself before he laughed at what Keira said.
While she liked the Pokémon Centre for the healing, she seemed everlastingly distrustful of Nurse Joy, claiming they were all one minded and creepy. Felix hadn't seen many Nurse Joy's, so he didn't understand her paranoia.
Still, the way Keira enjoyed insulting others with a perfectly cheerful voice and pleasant expression, nearly killed Felix from having to hold in the laughter. He had learned not to try and tell anyone he could understand pokémon, such claims early on had only left him labelled as the 'weird kid' even worse than before.
"We were wondering if we could get a drink?" Felix asked Nurse Joy, giving his sweetest voice possible. It never failed.
"Oh, very well, no letting the sugar go to your heads alright?" Joy laughed, shaking her head. One of the chansey, upon seeing Keira undamaged, had already gone off to get the drinks. She couldn't approve of it in excess, being a nurse, but both Felix and Keira seemed to have a taste for pokécola.
She could understand Keira, the drink was designed with the tastes of pokémon in mind, but Felix's enjoyment of the drink was a less common occurrence. Still, it didn't have anything that'd harm them, in moderation, so she caved every now and then.
"Thanks Nurse Joy." Felix beamed as he and Keira ran off with the drinks, hoping to use the energy to play even more.
The drinks were good, but by the time they made it back to their designated private play place some other kids were already there. Not wanting to socialise, they ran off to find somewhere else.
But the full swing of the break from school seemed to have swung into effect and the children of Solaceon Town were all over the place.
Disappointed, Felix slunk back home, but that was even more boring, so he and Keira decided to see if they could find anyone participating in any battles.
Felix wasn't confident in any way of ordering Keira around in a battle, but he still enjoyed watching others.
They made their way to the market area of Solaceon Town, trainers most often found battle opponents there, and watched in wait for any signs of a battle about to be made.
It was a slow day, however, and the only interesting person was a woman who suffered over the choice of what ice cream to have for far too long.
She had been standing there for ten minutes by the time Keira nudged Felix, pulling his attention to her.
"But then there is the chocolate swirl," she said, brow furrowed in concentration. "At the same time the vanilla is always a strong point." She was even developing a crowd. "The boysenberry looks fascinating." There were even excited whispers breaking out, someone commented on the daring fashion choice the woman wore in her hair. They were like a lucario's tassels. "Then there is the mint chip, refreshing for a warm day like this."
She had a full belt of pokéball's and such a showing caught Felix's attention. Keira's, however, was on a different target.
"The bubble-gum looks delicious…"
"Excuse me?" Someone called, catching the woman's attention. "Are you Cynthia?"
The woman paused, seemingly weighing her options. "…yes."
And, within seconds, the marketplace erupted into a cacophony of voices.
"It is her!"
"Sinnoh's newest champion!"
"She destroyed the previous champion with her garchomp!"
"I love you Cynthia!"
"Can I have your autograph?"
"The youngest champion in history!"
"CYNTHIA!"
"Marry me Cynthia!"
The one thing preventing the newest champion on the global scene from being mobbed, was a flash of light and a separate loud growl. Cynthia's garchomp pulled herself out of her pokéball to defend her trainer, while a lucario Keira had her eyes on rushed to her side as well.
Warding the excited people off with a Bone Rush, Cynthia lucario gave the garchomp time to grab Cynthia and take off into the air, the lucario rapidly following, tracking them only with aura.
"Wow…" Felix was awed, he had heard of Cynthia, everyone in Sinnoh had at least heard of their newest champion. "That was awesome, did you see her pokémon Keira?" Felix looked down to the riolu.
Only. She wasn't there.
"Keira?" He blinked, looking right and left. A bead of panic slipped into his gut as Felix looked for his friend. "Keira?"
Keira was a riolu. It wasn't uncommon for people to be interested in her, sometimes a little more than he would have liked. Felix was relieved he technically didn't own Keira, Miss Norrie was the owner of Keira's pokéball as he was too young to be a trainer, but that didn't mean people didn't try and offer him trades.
The worry that in the excitement of the crowd, Keira may have been swept away, needled at his gut until he saw a flash of blue fur disappearing into the crowd. Following the direction Cynthia and her pokémon had gone.
Felix burst out running, pushing through the crowd and weaving through them with his smaller stature. He caught enough glimpses of Keira to keep him on the trail and soon she ducked in a completely different direction the rest of the crowd was stampeding towards.
Focused on Keira, not the champion, Felix followed her.
"Wait up!" He called, and Keira's ear flicked, she looked back to see Felix charging forward and slowed enough so he could catch up. "Where are you going?" He asked as he reached her.
"I want to talk to that lucario," Keira answered, before setting off with a blazing speed again. Felix groaned, he had energy but not as much as a Fighting type pokémon, before following on.
"But they went a WAY different direction," he shouted, doing his best to keep in sight of Keira.
"No, I'm certain that was a trick. This way."
They ran until they left Solaceon Town and entered the grassy plains, it was there they found Cynthia.
Panting and wheezing for breath, Felix staggered to a stop and let himself fall, slowly, into the grass. Keira had stopped as well, freezing up as three sets of eyes turned to her.
"Well." A cool, familiar, voice reached them. Familiar only in the ways of ice cream. "I'm impressed someone managed to follow."
"There is a riolu there," a gruff voice began to unfreeze Keira as Felix picked himself up. "So, it is not unfeasible."
Cynthia stepped forward, smiling pleasantly as Felix pulled himself to his feet. "Well met young trainer. Or…" she looked over him and realised he must be too young to even be a trainer. "Younger still."
"Hello." Felix managed, spitting grass out of his mouth and trying to wipe his trousers clean of grassy stains.
"Hello." Cynthia smiled back. "I am Cynthia, you may have already known that, but introductions are important."
"F-Felix," Felix stuttered and nearly swatted himself for it. "And this is Keira," he gestured down at the riolu, who was still staring at the lucario.
"A fine pokémon." Cynthia nodded, making Felix feel all bright and happy. "She seems quite healthy, even for one so young…"
"I take care of her!" Felix said, fearing anything untoward from Cynthia. "I do ten chores a day to prove I am respon… response… respoe…"
"Responsible," Keira corrected, and Felix nodded quickly.
"Right, responsible!"
Felix missed the twitch in the smile Cynthia wore and beamed as Cynthia looked back to Keira.
"I see," she said, briskly. "Perhaps she has a question for Orion?"
The lucario stepped forward, prompted with his name, and sat down before Keira. "You have trailed us here little one," he said, roaming his eyes over Keira, then Felix. "Speak as you will, you deserve nothing less."
Keira hesitated, glancing back at Felix with a conflicted expression in her eyes. Felix nodded to her, giving her the go ahead for any concerns she may have had with anything about him, but it didn't seem to help.
Orion caught on, however, and the slightest twitch of his tassels had Cynthia pull Felix aside. "You must have some questions too?" She asked, smiling again. "Go ahead, we'll make a stroll of it."
Felix flushed a little, gave Keira a beaming smile, and walked off with Cynthia. He had so many questions to ask, all bubbling to the surface at once, that he didn't know which to ask first.
Cynthia seemed to realise his issue and spoke instead. "Perhaps we make a game of it? I ask you a question, you ask me one, and we continue until the stroll is finished?"
Felix nodded, and Cynthia started. "You live in Solaceon Town?"
"Yep." Felix found his tongue again. "I live with Miss Norrie and my foster brothers and sister. Oh, also Elly and Keira too!"
Cynthia nodded, and Felix asked a question of his own. "What's your coolest pokémon?"
Cynthia laughed, but fortunately it was not a teasing laugh. "That is a question I ask myself every day, and if you were to ask my pokémon each would give you a different answer."
Felix grinned, sounded like Keira to him, and Cynthia took her turn. "What is your coolest pokémon?"
"Keira for sure!" Felix replied, beaming. "She's my only pokémon though, but I bet even in the future she'll always be the coolest! Who's your favourite pokémon?"
"I cannot answer that." Cynthia shook her head, Felix frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because I love them all, I don't favour any over the others, that would be an unkindness as a trainer. I believe it is unfair to choose favourites as all my pokémon play an important role, and I care for them all. I am sure a majority of trainers would think of their starter, beginning a journey together lends a lot of love there, but all pokémon should be treated with love and care" Felix nodded slowly, he didn't completely get it, but he knew he loved Elly as well as Keira. "They are the reason why the world is so beautiful to live on, and why new adventures are always possible. Do you want to become a trainer?"
"Definitely." Felix nodded, smile remaining but a more resolute glint in his eyes now. "I might even battle you one day!"
Cynthia smiled, but didn't laugh.
"How can I be as strong as you are?" Their stroll was already coming to a close, Cynthia not drifting too far from Gloria the garchomp or Orion the lucario.
"Many would say to train hard," Cynthia replied, looking askance. "To always train, train, train. Fewer would say to work hard, this means that you as a trainer should train yourself, even if not in the same way as your pokémon."
"What would you say?"
An approving expression covered Cynthia's face at the question and she looked right at Felix. "Never give up. Always treat your pokémon as you would want to be treated. And work hard of course!" Her expression turned less serious, but still pleasant, and Felix nodded, taking in the words of the champion. "The first is most important if you wish to be a powerful trainer," Cynthia continued, becoming more somber. "The third is most important if you with to be a great trainer. But the second is the most important if you want to be a good trainer."
"What's the difference?"
"That's for you to figure out." A trickster's grin adorned Cynthia's face and she patted him on the shoulder. "Take care Felix. I hope to battle you one day."
Keira and Orion had finished whatever conversation they were having, and Gloria swooped in, snatching Cynthia right as she lifted her hand from his shoulder. Orion rolled his eyes at the dramatics and bowed to Keira, before racing off, following their flight by ground and sense.
As Keira turned to Felix, she raised an eyebrow at his wide smile. "You seem delighted."
"That was the CHAMPION!" He screamed and jumped many times in place. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! AH!" He flopped to the ground and laughed, Keira cackling at his antics and jumping on him.
The day had been a good one.
Cynthia! She's probably the coolest champion, I decided I wanted her to come to Solaceon Town not long after she took the championship title, coming to the place to get a breath of fresh air from all the publicity, and maybe even look into the ruins that are close by.
I do plan on showing what went on right after Felix returned with Keira, but that was not to be this chapter. A future one, where we will get a much more in-depth look at how he convinced Miss Norrie that he could handle a pokémon, will be made.
