Summary: Grovyle had just started to lose hope when he is reunited with none other then his once-human partner and best friend, though on not so good terms. But what really hurts is that she doesn't remember a thing about their time together. Can he somehow manage to salvage their lost partnership, all the while hiding his true feelings?
Man, this idea suddenly struck me while playing PMD Explorers of Sky for the fourth time. Then I noticed that there are hardly any Grovyle/OC or Grovyle/Main Protagonist stories.
Chapter One: "Musings of a Sarcastic Fox."
Grovyle, needless to say, got his ass kicked.
"Don't play with fire, lizard, and you won't get burned," the fox had taunted him, speaking for the first time, as she and her partner slowly advanced on him. Not one to sit around and wait for something to happen, he had leapt into action, attacking the shinx with a Leaf Blade that had him reeling. Grovyles triumph was short lived because as soon as he landed the hit, the fox was on him with a Flame Charge. Combine this with the unnatural heat in the room and it was Grovyles turn to reel back. The vulpix covered her partner completely as he staggered to his feet. Then, after making sure the electric type was okay, without words of course, she turned back to attacking Grovyle.
Some things that he noticed about the fox Pokémons fighting style was that she held an incredibly relaxed yet aware form. She seemed totally in her comfort zone as she easily dodged his attacks, and not because of her speed. She was, in a barely noticeable way, more slow moving then her size should have allowed, but not in a sluggish way that hindered her movements. Instead, the lack of normal speed seemed to be working to her advantage. She had amazing agility to make up for it, ducking and weaving around every attack Grovyle threw at her.
What irked him more than he would care to admit was what she had said previously. Don't play with fire, lizard. It repeated in his head without preamble, even as the said vulpix finally burned him with a point blank Flamethrower, fired right after she had ducked under one of his Slashes and appeared right in front of his face. And then, seemingly our of nowhere, he was hit with a blast of electricity that forced his muscles to lock in place as if a Haunter had Licked him.
This was not good. He needed to escape, pronto, before he was captured for good with no way out. He was treading dangerous waters and he knew it. So, out of sheer force of will, he broke through the paralysis momentarily, yet just long enough to use Dig and burrow into the ground. He could hear the frustrated growl of the shinx from up above, and he could hear the light footsteps of the vulpix as she prowled about, waiting for something that would never come. Using this opportunity to escape, he dug deeper into the ground and off in a random direction. He would come back later, when he could find a way around in peace.
OoO
Shadow growled in frustration. Ahri just sighed, realizing that the Grovyle wasn't coming back up for a sneak attack.
As Shadow went to check on the guardian, Azelf if she remembered correctly, she got lost in thought as she stared vacantly at the Time Gear across the lake. Her heart sped up, as if her excitement was triggered by just seeing the Gear. This, of course, had happened every single time she had seen a Gear, or had just been in a Gears resting place. She had no idea why she felt so... Relieved every time.
She'd never told Shadow about these feelings. Who knew how he would take it. Despite being so understanding about her visions, she had a feeling that if the truth about her were to be revealed before it was ready to be accepted, then it would only mean bad things for her.
Not to mention Grovyle. He seemed so familiar... If only she could just remember why that was. Even while she was staring him down when she first entered the underground cave, she couldn't figure it out.
Once Officer Magnezone and, surprisingly, Wigglytuff, appeared, Ahri allowed herself to snap out of whatever trance she had induced herself into.
She and Shadow were steered back to the guild, Shadow grumbling incoherently the whole way back. Ahri stayed silent. Frankly, she was glad to be away from all this Grovyle and the Time Gears bullshit. She just wanted to crash into her straw bed, pass out, and never wake back up again.
"I mean, seriously!" Shadow exclaimed, pacing back and forth in front of the window in their shared room, his agitation clearly displayed by the way his star like tail sparked and by the way his fur seemed to stand on end. "We could have had him, if he weren't such a coward!"
Something about that statement just didn't sit well with the vulpine female resting in her bed. She raised her head and fixed the shinx with her best glare. He shrunk back.
"Idiot. He obviously takes this... Career, of his very seriously. He didn't want to risk capture by giving in to his pride," it was one of the rare moments that Ahri spoke more that a few sentences out loud, and with such fervor too. It made her wonder why exactly she even bothered to defend the outlaws honor. Still, it had a positive effect on her partner, who had finally calmed enough to sit down on his bed and breathe a resigned breath. He looked at Ahri.
"You know what, you're right," he admitted, looking quite shamed at his behavior. Ahri rolled her eyes, but caught herself before saying anything harsh. At least he would shut up now.
"I should just be happy that we stopped him from hurting Azelf any further to get to the Time Gear. At least he can't get to it now." Finally. So now he learns. With a satisfied nod, Ahri rested her head on her front paws and closed her eyes. Through her lids, she could see the room lose the rest of its light as she heard Shadow blow out the candle she had lit earlier. "G'night, Ahri..." He said and yawned.
Then there was silence. She would figure this out. She would. But first she needed to sleep.
