Author's Note: Next Chapter is up!
ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO GAME FREAK except for those that I create myself. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and GameFreak.
Please, enjoy! R&R is much appreciated- that way, I know that people are interested in the story, so it is worth continuing one! Much love, and enjoy the story!
Riley took a stride through the route, 'Splosion by her side. She sighed. That creep earlier really thought she was something. She smiled. It was weird... She felt insecure. She felt, well, WEAK. And she liked it. Back in New Bark, no one had any real interests or hobbies. They didn't draw like her, they didn't sing... They didn't collect random stuff.
Yes, Riley was an artists, or so to speak. You see, honestly, Riley hated her drawings. She thought she was terrible... Not even worthy of someone looking at her crappy stuff. The only reason she thought she was the best in town was because, well, it was TRUE. NO ONE else had hobbies- they just sat around watching T.V. or texting friends, watching the Pidgey and Bellsprout move about. That really was it. If Riley had no competition, she was the best- and she hated it. Being the best was boring. There was no one to compete with- no tense, lively action or adventure. Life was boring without a little rivalry.
So, Riley didn't want to be weak. But she wanted to FEEL weak- it was something new to her. While she mulled this over, she slammed into someone, falling flat on her bottom, nearly crushing 'Splosion. He let out a small cry of pain, pushing Riley from ontop of him. 'Splosion eyed the boy who crashed into Riley.
Riley stood up and shook her head. "Hey... Watch where you're..." She recognized the boy on the ground... He was from her town! He had dark blue-black hair kept together by a black and gold cap worn backwards. He wore red with black sweat pants and a cute Marill in tow. Marill hopped up and down at the sight of 'Splosion, probably hoping to play a game. 'Splosion turned his hot little head away, shunning the water type. Fire types and water types didn't get along, but making new friends was Marill's thing. Marill followed 'Splosion, no matter how hard 'Splosion tried running away. Riley didn't notice the squabbling Pokemon- just the boy on the ground. After she noticed she had been staring at him for about a minute now, she realized he might have been hurt.
Rushing infront of him, she held out a hand. "Hey, ya need a hand? You kinda took a bad fall there..." she scratched behind her head, awkwardly. Surprisingly, the boy rose with a dorky smile. He coughed a cloud of dust, then gave a sheepish thumbs up. "
"Naww, it's okay!" After he dusted off his neat clothes, he held out his hand. "You're from New Bark, right? I think we were in Pokemon type-match up class together! You know, the elective class? I saw you!" his dark blue eyes opened wide. He was cute... But Riley didn't think about boys often. She still couldn't help but notice his geeky little smile. It made her laugh inside... So she took his hand and shook it hard.
"Come to think of it, ya! I remember you! My name's Riley- nice to meet you!"
"Pleasure!" the boy said tilting his head to one side. "I'm Gold. This is Marill-" but just as Gold was about to point Marill out, he noticed Marill had vanished...
"Marill...?" Gold looked from side to side, blushing with embarrassment. Losing his Pokemon in front of a neat girl... Smooth move, Gold, smooth move, he thought.
Riley felt bad for Gold, who was now checking every bush for his missing Pokemon. She shrugged. "You know, Gold 'Splosion and I could give you a hand if you need..." she glanced at her side. 'Splosion was gone. "...'Splosion?" Riley took her place beside Gold, looking through nearby bushes and trees.
"... They're gone!" Gold finally sighed, giving up on his search. "Man... We were headed to Cherrygrove to see Mr. Pokemon, too..."
Riley's bright orange eyes lit up. "Mr. Pokemon? I was going to see him, too!" Gold smiled shyly.
"Maybe we should team up! We'll find our Pokemon first, then we'll go see Mr. Pokemon!" Gold and Riley gave each other sharp nods and high-fived. Side by side, they headed down the route... Toward Cherrygrove.
Cherrygrove lay west of New Bark and the route Gold and Riley had taken. Shoulder to shoulder, the 2 walked silently to the town. It was awkward to say the least... Riley had never walked alone with a boy, and Gold had never walked alone with a girl... It was weird. But Riley hated awkward silences more than anything. So, she pretended to be texting her mom with her PokeGear. Of course, since the 2 were side-by-side, and Gold was, well, a snoop if nothing else, he could tell she was just trying to break the ice with pretending to be busy with other matters...
Eventually, the silence was broken with the hustle and bustle of Cherrygrove. Shops were busy with people, families walked the flowery streets, Bellsprout danced along the side walks- it was pure harmony to Riley! Back in New Bark, the air wasn't as clean. It was just normal. Boring, as always. But this- this brand new world she was in- it really was something.
Gold walked stiffly beside Riley, still keeping a sharp eye for Marill while Riley eyed the scenery for 'Splosion. No luck so far...
BAM! Gold was back on the ground again. Someone had rammed into him... For the second time in one day? Gold was covered in dust, and Riley stood defensively beside him. "Hey! Who..."
It was an old man... Who looked around 80. And yet, he was bursting with energy. The wrinkles in his face and the snow white hair made him look all around ironic... But he seemed as though he was about to do a back-flip from excitement.
"Uhhh..." Riley said, uncomfortably. Gold gave a moan from the ground as he propped himself up with an arm, the other scratching the now formign bruise on the back of his head.
"HELLO! HELLO! HEEEEEYO!" The man said over and over again. "HELLO THERE, HELLO HELLO HELLOHELLOHELLO AND WELCOME! HELLO-"
Riley stamped her foot. "Okay, OKAY, old guy, knock it off. We get get get GET THE POINT." Riley wasn't having a good day. First, her mom gives her a lecture before she leaves, her battle with Alice is postponed, some smart-ass pisses her off, Gold gives her a bruise on the head from bulldozing into her, 'Splosion goes missing, and now some old dude is trying to make sure she's annoyed as hell by his cheezy greetings? Not a good day at all, I'd say.
Gold was finally up on his feet. "Hey... Mister... Have you seen 2 Pokemon running around? A water type and a fire type, maybe?" His hand covered a black eye (poor Gold).
The old man's squinted eyes shot open to reveal light grey ones. "YES! Indeedy, I did! I have them at my house- they were playing a little game, but must have gotten lost... I took good care of them! We can go see them!" Before Riley could utter even a "thanks," the man had both Gold and Riley by the wrist, pulling them away toward a little house on the southern side of town.
Are Marill and 'Splosion okay?
Is there any chance 'Splosin and Marill made friends?
Does Gold have a crush on Riley? (Gold: ... NEVAAAAR! *blush*)
Is the old guy Micheal Jackson in disguise?
We shall see! Tune in for the next chapter of the Fanfic- Pokemon Heart and Soul, Chapter 4 to find out!
See ya soon!