You know, I think I like writing this story slightly better!

Light: Why's that?

Me: Because, even though less people read it, it has more positive reviews!

Light: I'm guessing you don't like constructive reviews?

Me: If you mean the completely negative ones, then yes!

Remember guys, constructive doesn't necessarily mean completely negative! (Looking at you Septentrion!)

On with the story!

Light: He hasn't even read this story, so I doubt he's going to know that you said that…

A New Era

Chapter 4: Plot intensifies!

I flopped down on my bed in frustration and gave a long, hard sigh.

"I swear, I knew those thugs from somewhere…" I said to myself. "I mean, I thought I recognised them for a moment…"

I closed my eyes, and thought about it for a while. Where had I seen an Emboar, a Blaziken and an Infernape before, so willing to kill me?

Could it really have been those bullies from all those years back?

Wait… I thought, suddenly having a revelation.

DOES THAT MEAN I'M NOT DEAD!? I thought.

"Wow, you really are a genius, aren't you Light?" Shade said, sitting down next to me.

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement.

"First off, how did you hear me thinking? Second, what are you doing in my room?"

"First off," she replied, mimicking my surprised voice, "you were shouting it out loud. Everyone in the house heard you. Secondly, I came… to apologise…"

Her voice trailed off at the end, as if she was reluctant to say that.

"Um, what?" I said, a bit more shocked than before. "It's not like you to apologise…"

"W-well, the point is, I'm sorry for blasting you 30 miles through a forest, and I hope… you can forgive me," she said.

I stayed silent for a while.

"…Get out of my room, you alien, and give me back the real Shade."

"…What do you mean?"

"This obviously isn't Shade I'm talking to. Shade would never act like this."

"Wow, I'm just trying to be nice for once…"

"Don't."

"WHAT!?"

"I don't want you to be nice to me."

"W-What do you mean!?"

"Come on! First of all, your personality suits your name and your backstory. Second of all, every story where there's a guy with a group of girls around him needs one girl to be particularly mean, and you'll have to be that one!"

"Who says there's not going to be another character introduced?" Tears were starting to form in her eyes. "I just wanted to be nice… but if you're going to be like that…"

"Just… Shade…"

"What? Don't even think about insulting my kindness ag-"

Her words were lost as I pulled her into a deep hug.

"Shade… I'm sorry. You're perfect however you want to be."

Shade, however, was speechless. With one movement, she pulled away from my hug and ran out of my room with a giant blush on her face.

"Well that was unexpected," I sighed. "Time to go cook dinner I guess…"

I walked out of my room and made my way downstairs. However, halfway down the stairs, I heard heavy breathing above me again, just like when I had first come to the house. Looking up, I saw Kaze there, smiling at me.

"Hey Kaze, what's up?" I asked him.

"Eh, nothing much. Just wanted to tell you that Valysira wants to see you. She's in her room at the moment."

"Ok then, thanks Kaze."

"No Problem," he replied, flying off.

I made my way back up the stairs and into Valysira's room, where I saw her sitting there waiting for me.

"Hey, Valysira, what did you want me for?"

She looked a bit more shy than usual, which I found odd. Why are Shade and Valysira both acting odd all of a sudden?

"W-well," she said, "firstly, I wanted to thank you for all you've done for me so far since coming here: introducing that awesome game to me, standing up to those thugs, and even saving my life, so I wanted to give you something."

She rummaged around a box for a moment before pulling out a chef's hat. Presenting it to me, she said,

"Since you cook so well, I thought I should give this to you. My father was a cook, and this is all I have to remember him by… so please, look after it.

"I will," I promised her. "What was the second thing?"

"Well…" she said, trailing off.

"Well?" I asked.

Reaching in, she gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"Call me Val," she said, before running off.

I stood there, still dazed.

What just happened? I asked myself.

"What just happened?" I heard Nate say from just outside the doorway.

"I don't even know, man," I told him. "I don't even know anymore."

"Well, anyway, Celestia's just called a house meeting. Another Eeveelution's turned up. In fact, this time, I don't think it's just one Eeveelution…"

"Oh, ok then. At least I'll get to know how I turned up here…" I said, following him downstairs.

A.N: Yes, this was a short chapter. I wrote it in a day, for goodness sake, what do you expect?