The Blade and the Embrace

by galladefenrir44

The adventures of a Gallade named Rick who arrives in the Sinnoh region from the Hoenn region to fulfill his late trainer's dying wish. It also follows the story of a Gardevoir named Alara whose journey start by accident. Their stories will eventually innertwine and they will have to work as a team to succeed in their goals.

3. Chapter 3: Old Days

Hey guys, chapter 3 is finally out. Sorry but I didn't incorporate a fight into this one. This one is more story telling than anything else but I still like it. Well have fun in reading it and show some love. Also I got some request to make a lemon in this but I don't know if I should but I'll let you guys choose. PM me your decisions.

"speech"= talking out loud or conversing

*speech*= thoughts

speech= Pokemon moves

speech= telepathic communication

[Rick's POV]
Once again I find myself on the road, traveling on the range of Mt. Coronet. However, this time I finally had company, Serenity. Even if it was temporary, I really needed the company. I started to look off the edge of a cliff to see any way to make it to the base faster. Then Serenity turned to me with an inquisitive look on her face.
"Rick, is it alright to ask you about your time with your trainer?"
I looked back at her. "I have no problem with it, but why do you want to know about my past?"
"I'm just curious and we're going to be together for a while, so we might as well get to know each other a little better."
I looked at her, what she said made some sense. Me personally, I would love to know the history of anyone I traveled with so I agreed to let her question me. "Very well what do you want to know?"
She then started to think, she obviously wasn't expecting me to agree to her questions. "Ummmmm...when did you get captured and by who?"
I crossed my arms and continued to walk as I recalled the events of my past. "I was captured when I was Kirlia by a rather old human. He was old but he was still strong and had a lot energy."
"How much of a fight did you put up against him at first?"
"I never really fought him. I kinda allowed myself to get captured. I was young, hungry, and lonely. I would of given anything for a home, so I didn't fight him. Besides his pokemon would of easily destroyed me if I fought him."
"Oh he had other pokemon?"
"Yeah, he had five other pokemon with him at the time I met him: a Machamp, a Combusken, a Grovyle, a Pidgeot, and an Alakazam. I would of been captured regardless, besides I was already injured when he found me."
She seemed shocked at the fact that I was actually injured. "How badly hurt were you?"
I had to stop and think about my answer. "Umm...I had a huge slash on my side. I could barely walk. My trainer found me when I was passing out from the lack of blood. So I would be dead right now if it wasn't for him. He was an awesome and caring trainer, a little scrict in training but he meant well. Thanks to him I'm this strong. Yet like all mortal beings he had to pass on."
"Did he die of old age?"
"No, age wouldn't of dared harm that man, he was that strong. He fell ill and the illness then killed him."
Serenity could sense something in my voice...pain. "I'm guessing you were close to your trainer."
"I was, I was so grateful. He saved me from death, he gave me a home, he gave me friends, he trained me, he took care of me, and he gave me a new name."
Serenity was confused at the last part. "A new name? So your name is not really Rick? What is it?"
I quickly stopped walking and shook my head. "I'd rather not say it. My parents gave me my name. When they died I felt like I no longer deserved it. I couldn't help protect them or my baby sister. I abandoned my name when I couldn't keep my promise that I would protect her. I failed as a big brother, that's why I protect all the innocent creatures that need my help...like you."
Serenity quickly paled. This caught my attention. "Are you alright Serenity?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or make you remember such horrible memories. I think I'm done asking questions."
I chuckled. "Don't worry. It's been so long I can barely even remember what my family even looked like anymore. Call it what you will but I don't really care to talk about it. However do not dare ask me how they died. Also, go no further in my past from the point when I met my trainer. What passed has passed and should stay in the past." Serenity nodded at that and seized asking questions for a time while we continued out walk.
"You've been awfully quiet. You haven't said a word since you were asking me about my past and that was 20 minutes ago. Is something bothering you? If it's about my past, don't worry about it. You can continue to ask me."
"I just have nothing else to ask. I don't know where I can start and where I can end." She then thought again until she thought of a question. "Oh I have another question."
"Go ahead and ask away."
"What happened to all your friends when your trainer died?"
I stopped and looked up to the sky, which was beginning to turn orange with the sunset. "For a time we stayed together with the Alakazam leading us but then we went our separate ways. We've run into each other at times but never came back as a team. We're all still registered as owned pokemon though."
"So let me get this straight. You have no trainer anymore and yet you're still registered as owned. How does that work?"
I then stopped and pulled a black and yellow pokeball with a diagonal slash from my bag and showed it to Serenity. "Because of this, this is my pokeball and the reason why I'm still registered as owned. Pokeballs are pokemon capturing devices. When one is caught it will automatically be registered as owned by the trainer that caught the pokemon. Makes sense?"
"It does but why would you want to stay owned."
I sighed, "because it prevents trainers from capturing me. Me and all my friends kept our pokeballs, just in case. Many of them want to be a team again but that would be risky."
"Wait, how many of you did your trainer have by the time of his death and what risk is there in that?"
"My trainer had a combined total of 16 pokemon. He would rescue injured pokemon and care for them. We all lived together in his home in the forest outside of Fortree City in Hoenn. Also, the risk is that we were powerful pokemon and we were very sought after by others. We decided to split to make sure that we didn't draw too much attention to ourselves. It was a sad farewell, we were all so close. It was the closest thing I had to a true family. I was one of the only ones that decided to go on my own, I even left my own best friend behind. I never thought I would see a Blaziken cry before but that day I saw him cry. It made me feel like I betrayed him." I sighed as I sat on a nearby rock. "I haven't seen him in years but I did find him when I was traveling in the Hoenn region for the 2nd time."

(Flashback/ 2 years ago) [Overall view]

Rick was walking towards a nearby town clutching his battered and torn arm. He had recently gotten into a battle with a pack of Mightyenas. He won but not before one of them bit down on his arm and started to flail, ripping a large piece of his flesh off. He made sure that Mightyena dies swiftly before he could cause more damage.
He saw a sign on the road that said "MAUVILLE CITY. 2 MILES WEST." It made him think that there was finally some hope in repairing his arm. But the more he walked the more blood that spilled onto the floor. He was loosing blood fast and he knew he was in trouble. He walked about half a mile until he could no longer walk and began to crawl. He kept going for a few more seconds until he blacked out.
Some time later Rick could feel a comfortable warmth around him. "Is this what you feel when you die?" he said as he felt around until he noticed that the warmth was coming from bed sheets. He quickly opened his eyes even though his vision was still pretty blurry. It took some time but his eye sight returned and he could see that he was in a room at a Pokemon Center. He sat up on his bed and heard a low chuckle coming from his room. He looked up to see someone sitting on the couch across from him.
He could make out that it was a human male by the body shape and tone of the chuckle. The man had a red and yellow sleeveless shirt, red and yellow cargo pants. His hair was short spiky and it was white but he was still young. The man then spoke, "So, you finally wake up. It's been very boring watching you sleep here you lazy bum."
Needless to say Rick was confused at his presence. Rick didn't respond because he usually didn't speak to humans entirely. Rick sat there staring at the stranger until the man let out a low laugh.
"You have no idea who I am, do you?"
Rick nodded his head.
"Oh come on. We grow up together and you can't even recognize my voice. Some bestfriend you turned out to be", he said with a sly smile of his face.
Rick's eyes quickly widened as he paid attention to the man's voice and recognized the smile. This prompted him reply to the man. "There's no way...Jean?:
The man then laughed louder. "Now you're getting it. Good to see you too buddy." After he said that he stood up and a orange glow filled the room until the man was gone and a shiny Blaziken appeared in his place. The Blaziken then ran up to Rick and hugged him tightly. "Buddy how have you been? It's been so long, three years to be exact. It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too but how did you use the humanshifting ability? Last I remembered you could never get it right when master taught us the ability."
"Oh come on! You honestly believed that after three years I would of not figured it out? Some hope you had in me!"
"Jean how did I get here? Where did you come from? Did you rescue me?"
Jean then sat back down on the couch and sighed, "Questions, questions, questions, can't we just play Catch Up?"
Rick narrowed his eyes and Jean understood it as him saying "stop playing games."
Jean then sweatdropped, "Can't I just find out how you've been? Come on! Three years of not seeing my own bestfriend makes a guy want to find out how said bestfriend has been fairing."
Rick then squeezed the area between his eyes to show his contempt. Jean stared at Rick, waiting patiently, then Rick set his black aura out and it made him somehow step back.
"Fine! I'll humor you damnit! Yes, I did rescue you. I was on my way back to Fortree for a little walk on memory lane, until I saw you on the ground bleeding. I didn't recognize you immediately until I turned you over and saw the amulet around your neck and your red, torn up scarf. Then I turned to a human and carried you quickly over to Mauville City and into the Pokemon Center. The nurse was barely able to save you, you lost so much blood. But somehow you made it through and I personally carried you to this room I rented. I was happy to see that your arm started to heal quickly, it let me know that you were still very much alive."
Rick looked at his arm, it still had some damage but it was healing. A bandage was around the part that still had a large opening. However, the hole was smaller and his flesh started to grow back. At that point Rick was grateful that he had the power to regenerate his torn limbs, but still slowly. "Jean, how long have I been asleep?"
Jean then looked up and thought, "Ummm...about 5 days."
"Five days!", this made Rick jump in his bed.
"Yeah is there a problem with that? Did you have some place to be?"
"Yeah I wanted to catch the ferry to Kanto but that was 3 days ago."
Jean raised an eyebrow, "You were planning to go to Kanto? Why?"
"You know me. I travel to occupy myself. Fights just come to me while I visit places. Too many people trying to capture me. Speaking of which, did you keep your pokeball?"
"I did. Also, I know that's not the only reason you wanted to go there. I know the score you wanted to settle. But in true fashion between us, I won't speak anymore on that matter."
"If you did go to Kanto you probably would of ran into Seras and Celand. Last I heard both of them were there but not with eachother. I was there a few months ago to visit Seras. Our Espeon friend tells me that if I ever see you again to hit you over the head for never going to visit her."
Rick couldn't help but give a small laugh. "Oh yeah right! If she wanted a visit she should of sought me out. I didn't even know where she lived. Sometimes I swear there's more to you two than just a close friendship." Rick laughed again while Jean glared at him.
"Hey! She's just my best female friend. Don't start assuming shit."
"That's what Lucian says. That you two are some how dating."
"When I see that stupid Lucario again I am going to kill him."
"Ha! So it is true!"
"Oh calm down. If you two are dating how is that a bad thing. Also, I kinda read you mind to find out what you have in your bag just now. That's a nice gift for her." I then started to laugh louder while Jean turned more red than his feathers.
With a vein bulging from his head he went to the side of Rick's bed and glared at him with smoke coming out of his nostrils. "You're a bastard, you know that?"
Rick then gave him a deviant smile. Jean then asked, "By the way, when did you see Lucian?"
"He's actually here in Hoenn. I saw him about two months ago at the top of Mt. Pyre meditating. He hasn't changed one bit and he tells me how he explored Kanto with you."
Jean sighed as he recalled the time. "Yes we did team up to go to Kanto. We stayed with Seras at her home at Fuchsia City."
Rick raised an eyebrow, "She lives with a human?"
"No, she lives there using her human form and works at the Safari Zone that's located there. She has a good sized home, big enough for about 6 of us to live in. We stayed there for 6 months. Then I came back here to Hoenn just to run into you. Lucian and I separated once we got here. I wish it was like the old days man."
"Once all this shit is all said and done with, only then might we be a family again."
Jean then glared at Rick, "WHEN WILL IT END! WHEN WE'RE DEAD! WHEN DOES THE FIGHT END RICK!"
Rick then shot up from the bed and looked Jean in the eyes, "Jean, the fight never ends. You can defeat one enemy but then another will take their place. It's an endless cycle. It ends when we do find peace and we can rest. The fight doesn't have to be over but it must be delayed or calmed."
"Sorry for losing my temper. I just miss the old days. Master tried hard to protect us from the shit that goes on in this world. He prepared us as best as he could to survive."
Rick then pat his friend on the back, "I know how you feel. I just want to live as a normal pokemon. To find a home, a mate, and start a family. But that can wait. I still have to complete master's final wish. I have to go to Sinnoh but to get there I need to go to Kanto first."
Jean then formed a smile. "ROADTRIP! I'm joining you regardless of what you say. It'll be like old times. You and me kicking ass...well me at least, you still have to worry about that arm." Rick nodded.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Jean quickly changed back to his human form and opened the door. There stood Nurse Joy with a bottle of pills and handed them to Jean before she told him, "Your Gallade is free to go. Just give him one of these pills once a day for a month. It should help in the healing factor and it will prevent him from forming a permanent scar." Jean thanked her and closed the door.
"Pack your bags. We're heading out. If we go now she should arrive at Slateport by this afternoon. Plenty of time to catch the ferry to Kanto and book a room on the ferry. From there it's a 2 day sail to Kanto." Rick quickly grabbed his bag which was next to the bed and flug it over his left arm so that it didn't hit his injured arm. He tried standing but he was still a bit weak to walk fast.
"Hey Rick, just pass me your pokeball. I'll take you there myself." As he finished Rick tossed him his ball and Jean recalled him as he started to walk out.
About five hours later Jean brought Rick out and passed him his pokeball. "We're here. We made it here faster than I expected. Let's just see if the ferrie is here and at what time it leaves. Don't worry there's no need to change into your human form here Rick, everyone thinks you're my pokemon."
They walked for the pier and saw that the ferry was there and it was loading on passengers. Jean looked to a bulletin bored that was next to him and noticed that the ferry left in an hour. "Good, I can go buy the ticket and book the room. Also, I forgot to give you these." He then handed Rick the bottle of pills and he took one and swallowed it. It was very bitter but it made the pain in his arm go away so he didn't complain.
After a little while Jean came back and put Rick back in his pokeball and boarded the ferry. *Rick I know that you can hear me telepathecally. I'm keeping you in your ball until we reach Kanto. I don't want to risk you getting more injuries, knowing the people that board these ferries." Jean waited for a little bit until Rick gave him a reply, "Thanks for looking out for me. I need to sleep anyways."
(fast forward 2 days)
Rick was sound asleep in his pokeball until he was brought out by Jean.
"I'm guessing we're here?"
"Yep. Welcome to Kanto! That pier over there is Fuchsia City. I called Seras she will be waiting for us there. She's excited to see you again."
Rick chuckled, "I bet she is. Also, look my arm is way better. Those pills really work, all that's left is this small hole in my forearm. It doesn't hurt anymore and I can draw my blade again."
"Good to know bud."
As they arrived at the pier, Rick could see a woman dressed in a pink gown, purple eyes, and with pink hair. "I think I already see her. So that's what she looks like as a human?"
Jean smiled as he saw her, "Yep."
All of the sudden a voice came over the horn, "Thank you everyone for sailing with us. We have arrived at Fuchsia City, Kanto. We hope you have a nice day and we hope to see you again." As soon as the voice stopped the gates to the pier opened to let them out.
Jean quickly grabbed his things and walked down the ramp where an eager Seras was waiting for him with open arms. Jean quickly picked her up in a hug and carried her. Rick was just getting off the ramp when he saw them kissing each other.
Rick laughed, "Ha! So it was true?"
Seras then disconnected from Jean and ran towards Rick and hugged him tight.
"Rick, it's been so long. You've grown...and you let your hair grow out. Too long for a Gallade I say." Jean then walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "He's been through a lot. Let's get him to your house." Seras nodded.
After a few minutes of walking they arrived at a three floor house. Rick was wondering why it was that big if only one person lived there.
"Seras, why do you have such a large house? I thought only you lived here."
"I saved up to build this house. I always had a hope that my friends might come see me, so I had more floors added onto it. My job at the Safari Zone pays really well, so that's how I could of afforded this home. Also, I forgot to tell Jean but we have another one of our friends here."
Jean was curious, "Really? Who?"
Seras giggled a bit at him, "You'll see."
She then took out her keys and opened the door to the house. They all walked inside to see a huge living room with someone looking at a tv. The person had black hair and was male but it was hard to make out who he was. All of a sudden yellow rings began to glow in his hair. Rick quickly recognized him after that. "Dartz is that you?"
The man then stood and turned around and a smile was visible on his face. He then turned into an Umbreon and ran towards both Rick and Jean. "Hell yeah it is! Damn it! It's been too long you son of a bitch!"
Rick then sweatdropped as he hugged the Umbreon, "Yeah it has, thanks for the warn welcome, deuce!"
Seras then walked up and hugged both of them. "My brother came here just last week. It was an unexpected surprise but he says that he wants to stay here and take care of me since I live alone and Jean doesn't visit too often because he's always searching for the team."
Rick then looked at Dartz, "So you "retired"?"
Dartz laughed at the remark, "Call it what you will but I came here to look after my baby sister. That's what older brothers do."
"I have to say, I admire the way you set your priorities."
"Thanks. My sister is all the family I have left. I have to protect her."
Seras then ended the conversation by asking who was hungry. Just then Rick's stomach growled prompting everyone to start laughing.
Seras laughed, "Well let me cook something quickly."
((6 months later) Sorry guys in order to save time I'll have to fastforward a bit)
Rick was laying down on a hill outside of Fuchsia City while chewing on a wheat stalk. He was staring at the clouds until Jean, Dartz, and Seras walked up to join him.
Jean looked down on Rick while holding Seras. "Hey bud, we missed you back home. Is everything okay, you've been acting weird lately."
"Nah I'm just thinking."
Seras looked concerned, "Don't think too much. You know how you can get there Rick dear. We're just worried."
Rick then opened one of his eyes and looked up at Seras, "Are you guys going to join me or just stand there looking at me?
When everyone heard that they quickly laid down on the hill. It was a nice warm summer afternoon and everyone seemed to enjoy the nice breeze.
Dartz then sighed and said, "I wonder why we don't do this more often."
Jean then answered him, "Because you're home bound and Rick is always trying to stay alone."
Rick replied to Jean, "Hey shut up! We give you and Seras alot of alone time. I don't see why you're complaining."
Dartz then highfived Rick with Jean and Seras glowing red. Then Dartz and Rick started to laugh. Rick sighed, "I'm going to miss this so much."
This made the laugh die down. Jean looked at his friend with a confused look. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'm planning to leave for Sinnoh soon. To fulfill my promise."
Seras looked over at him, "You will come back, won't you?"
Rick shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. I want to finish this, find a home, and a mate. Then grow old and die. That's how I want to live. But I wouldn't mind dying in battle, as long as I deliver this amulet." Rick lifted the amulet from his chest and held it to the light.
Jean wasn't very happy at his answer, "Bro, listen, I know that you're trying to keep master's honor but you can still live here. Hell, we can help you find a nice Gardevoir here in Kanto. No need to leave permanently."
"You act like it's so easy to repair a broken life. I never said that I was going to abandon you guys. I would never do that but I need to see what fate has in store for me and sitting here isn't going to help me find out."
There was an uneasy silence amonst them. Seras then rolled onto Jean's chest and laid there. "He's right, you know?" Jean looked up to her, "How?" She then stared at him, "Because you we all had the pleasure of having lives before we joined master. We know how to live peacefully. Rick didn't have that luxury." It took a little while for her words to sink in to Jean but he eventually understood. "I see. Well Rick, I don't like it but if it will help your life then go ahead and do it. But I don't want you to forget us."
Rick then smiled put his fist over his head so that Jean could hit it. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Rick then sighed and sat up. He looked at his friends and then spoke, "Jean you are a great friend and you have a great mate. Seras, you're a great sister and you have an awesome mate. Dartz, you're an amazing brother. I wish I could of been like you. When I leave I won't forget you guys. If I do leave, I would go to Johto first so I can finish a request I got from a friend a while back. Then I'll head to Sinnoh...one day."
Dartz then left and came back in his human form holding a box. "A gift from me to you. If you do leave."
Rick opened the box to see a wristwatch, "A watch?"
"Not a watch a Pokesketch. It has a built in phone and a lot of other applications. I made sure I put our numbers in there so that you can keep in touch."
"Thanks Dartz."
After an hour or so the four got up and walked back to the house to retire for the night. During the middle of the night while everyone slept, Rick snuck out of the house and began to walk away from the town with his bag on his back and the Poketch on his wrist.
"Thanks guys. I promise I'll comeback one day to visit. Goodbye."

(End of Flashback) [Rick's POV]

"So that's what happened Serenity. Any more questions?"
"Nope. It's just sad how you just left like that without telling them."
I sighed, "Well I didn't want to upset them like that. I could never stand watching Jean and Seras cry."
"Maybe you'll see them again."
I looked up and then back down to Serenity, "Yeah. Maybe one day."

This one took me some time. Hope you guys liked it and show some love.